WHY?

     Buckle up. The Kornerman is ready to vent.

     I've been sick for a few days now. COVID19? Not really. Let me explain.

     On the internet, I was perusing some Des Moines Register sports offerings. Much to my surprise, there in large lettering, was a promise of 22....that's 22 photos of Boone vs Carlisle high school basketball activity.

     Further investigation revealed the excellent photos, which would seem very praiseworthy. After all, the times our community has ever had that much Register publicity is very limited.

     But, as Lee Corso, former Indiana University football coach and now a panelist on TV's Football Game Day program, likes to suggest, "Not So Fast."

     Further examination of the photos shows the Boone boys in nice uniforms BUT adorned in huge letters with "Dors." What a sudden kick in the gut......a queasy feeling.

    Look, I'm not that naive. In recent times, on occasion, I've noticed that "term" mentioned. Heavens, there's even some kind of school faculty award named the Dors award. But my question is WHY? What has happened to Toreadors?

    Did our school board hold a midnight meeting to embrace this change? Did a superintendent think this idea would brighten up his agenda? Please.....don't tell me.......this was a Booster Club idea. I'm thinking, in a vote by some unknown group, maybe there were two contenders for this "new" thing and Dors had a handful more votes than Tors. Ridiculous!

    Ironically, a few days later, in the Sunday edition of the Register, there was a similar nice action picture taken during the girls Boone/Carlisle game and I noted that the girls uniforms had a very nice BOONE on its front. By the way, congratulations to both teams.....boys and girls, both winners.

    For any who  may be unfamiliar, it was actually a Boone/Marshalltown basketball game followup newspaper article in the Marshalltown Times Republican in the 1930's that resulted in Boone's Toreador nickname. The writer was so impressed with Boone's play, he suggested it was, as if, the Toreadors were bullfighter choreographed. That was quite a compliment from, normally, an opposing force.

    Yes, admittedly, the term Toreadors is unique, the lone such team nickname in Iowa and isn't that neat? Uniqueness is something to pride, to build on, not to destroy. Think.....Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad changing its name to Tooterville.

    Sure, change is certain and it can be good, bad or uncertain, but tradition is solid, is proven, is established and long lasting. Its been earned over a period of time.

    So there you have my take. I was a Toreador athlete and there's been no better Toreador supporter since my family arrived in this beautiful community in the late 1940's.

    Once a true Toreador, always a Toreador. To me, Dors.....whatever that means....... just doesn't "cut it."

     Please tell me why I'm wrong about this and/or why I should care.

K-----K

     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Duilio Mordini, 73, Madrid. MHS-65. Drake-69. Married Cheryl Ahlquist in 1970. The couple lived in the Zookspur/Madrid area. He was a teacher, a well known musician as the leader of the Duilio Mordini Four, worked in insurance, owned and operated DuMor Music store in Johnston where he taught piano lessons and in retirement, he worked at the Madrid Market. Survivors include his wife, two sons and a brother..........Donald Vernon Meadows, 62, Boone. BHS-77.........Kathryn "Kay" Swanson Hill, 90, Ankeny. Was born in Boone..........John "Jack" Byrnes, 90, Waukee. Survivors include a sister, Helen Jacobson, of Boone.........David Kelley, 64, Stratford. Stratford HS-75. Earned a degree from Indian Hills Community College. Worked at Naden, the Webster City school system and the Hamilton County Court House. Survivors include a sister and a brother, Steve Kelley, of Stratford.........Charlotte Wagner, 80, Des Moines. Formerly of Madrid. MHS. Survivors include a brother, Frank Milani Jr., of Madrid.........Donald Phipps, 93, Madrid. Attended school in Boone County. Marine vet. Married Marlys Westgate in 1958. Sold and drove trucks. A son and daughter survive.........David Hindahl, 64, West Des Moines. Survivors include a cousin, Ann Volkers, of Stratford.........Ramona Maile, 91, Stratford. Lehigh HS-46. Earned a degree from a Fort Dodge Business College. Married K.C. Mitchell Jr. in 1949 and the couple divorced. Married Vernon Maile in 1969 and the couple lived in Lehigh. A daughter and four siblings survive.

K-----K

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