Yes, there is good new in the paper

We hear it all the time.

"Why don't you put some good news in the paper? There's never any good news in the paper. All you put in the paper is bad news."

I realize there's a lot of negative things on the wire recently -- the Ted Williams mess, the Allen Iverson mess in Philly, another impending work stoppage in Major League Baseball, corporate scandals, etc. etc.

But get out of your pessimistic, cynical, glass is half-empty, paint it black, oh woe is me, the sky is falling, there may be a drought but there's black cloud hanging over me, I think I'll crawl under a rock poor excuse for an existence.

There is some good news in the newspaper -- it's in the sports section.

The good news comes from the kids in this area. They are putting on quite a show, and if you don't shake yourself out of your blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blahs, you're going to miss all the fun.

Besides, psychologists (SICK-ollie-jists) say that it takes more energy to be "grumpy Gus" than "little Mary Sunshine." (OK I just made that up -- are you happy?)

But here are few area sports items that will perk you right up:

* The 44th annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Football Classic will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium at Lincoln.

Three area standouts will compete for the South team. They are McCook's Clayton Gaunt, Arapahoe's Jordan Crawford and Cambridge's Rusty Fuller.

I unintentionally left Jordan out of an article I wrote for last Sunday's McCook Daily Gazette sports section. The game will be televised on NETV.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is also coming up soon.

These games are played for a good cause. Proceeds go to Shriners' Hospitals.

* The McCook Rebels 16- and 14-year-old fastpitch softball teams captured state championships.

The McCook 16 squad finished the season with a 36-10-2 record, but won't be competing in any further postseason play.

The Rebels 14 squad will compete in a regional tournament in Omaha this weekend, bypassing a national tournament in Santa Fe, N.M.

The Rebels will represent the state of Nebraska in the regional tournament.

* The McCook National Bank Seniors will try to continue the American Legion baseball program's tradition of excellence in postseason play.

Last year's Seniors finished second at state with a 39-16 record. The group placed third in 2000 and fourth in 1999.

The first step for the Seniors, currently with a 37-14 record, is Area 6B Tournament Play this weekend at Gothenburg. The winner advances to the state tournament Aug. 2-6 at West Point.

The McCook Juniors are 25-18 and open Area 6B Regional Tournament play Wednesday at Gothenburg.

The regional champion advances to the Class B Juniors State Tournament Aug. 2-6 in Schuyler.

* If you like swimming, the McCook City Pool is the site for the Southwest Nebraska Swim League Championships. Action begins at 10 a.m.

* For those University of Nebraska football fans salivating over the start of the season, take a deep breath and chill. There hasn't been any Husker news recently because it's still summer.

The first game is Aug. 24 at home against Arizona State.

* And for those keeping track, the first day of fall sports practices for Nebraska high schools is Aug. 19.

McCook High School opens the 2002 football season Friday, Sept. 6 at Gering. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

I'm not sure, but I think that's enough notice.

Check out the sports section. There's always good news in the sports section.

John J. Mesh is the sports editor of the McCook (Neb.) Daily Gazette. He had two teeth pulled Tuesday and putting out the sports section the last few days has been like ... you know. Just don't say it. He hates that expression now. You can e-mail him some soup at sports@mccookgazette.com.