SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/448298
FROM THE SIDELINES R ecently I came across a headline on the internet: "South African man 3D prints a working lawn mower in just 9 hours." Now I'm no engineer, couldn't even play one on TV and I cannot even get my mind around how 3D printers work. What if there's a plastic jam halfway through? Does the mower come out folded like an accordion? Another headline I have seen online more than once: "Milk more dangerous than ciga- rettes." And much harder to light I assume. Studies show that eating a high protein diet may result in a greater chance of getting cancer vs. lower protein diets. So your chances to live for 100 years may depend on your skipping bacon cheeseburgers in favor of Greek salads, though if you eat the latter regularly you may prefer death over multiple meals of sodden veg- gies and olives. Either way, a smoke after your meals isn't recommended. Remember late last year when the Ebola virus dominated the news? I saw an onscreen headline on CNN: "Ebola: The ISIS of Biological Agents?" How low can the media go in trying to attract an audience? What's next? "Have an itch?—could be Ebola!"? Has this frightening scenario ever occurred to you? Because it has to me: "Boa constrictor slithers out of clogged toilet." You think I'm making this up, don't you? Not so; this hap- pened in San Diego just last month. I'll be double-checking for months! Here's one I can never resist: "People of Wal-Mart." There are 11 separate editions of photos of Wal-Mart shoppers from around the country in cyberspace. If ever a warning label was justified, this series is it. Don't view imme- diately after having a cheeseburger or a salad. "Two-year-old shoots mother dead." Our all-guns-are-good-all-the-time culture begs to be satirized but it's tough to do when reality takes all the best headlines. HeadlInes I wIsH I would read "Kardashian family returns to native Turkey." I've never seen the sex tape, never watched an episode of the TV show, and couldn't pick any of this famous for being embarrassing family members out of a lineup, but their notoriety surely proves that you can never underestimate the American public's interest in talentless fools. "Congress taken over by patriotic adults." I estimate 20% of American voters think they and their representatives' opinions are right 100% of the time. The rest of us are stuck in the middle while (can I use "talentless fools" again?) politicians do nothing to improve our country. Ask yourself: is my guy (or gal) doing anything for me or is everything they say and do for one overriding goal—reelection? Congress is sponsored by Big Energy, Big Pharma, Big "Farm"-a, Big Insurance, Mr. Billionaire, etc. They aren't putting their names on the buildings yet but your rep and mine are beholden to their cash. Stop blaming the "other side" and realize that money (and gerrymander- ing) is ruining our political system. "Spammers decide it's not worth it, get real jobs." Apparently my personal, uh, shortcom- ings in the manhood department are no longer of interest to the odd folks who spend their days emailing strangers by the millions in hopes of . . . I really don't know what. Now these los- ers are more concerned with improving my credit rating and telling me about Rachael Ray's workout routine. "Squeeze your garlic! Really squeeze it! Now let's work those fish balls!" "Champs thank grounds crew." I do not know how often this happens; instinct tells me not much. But then again, dear readers, I do know that recognition, while long over- due, isn't what motivates you to do your best work, 24/7/365. ■ ST Eric Schroder Editorial Director eschroder@specialtyim.com 717-805-4197 6 SportsTurf | February 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com ePG Media/specialty Information Media 3300 Fernbrook lane n, suite 200, Plymouth, Mn 55447 The official Publication of The sports Turf Managers association President: Allen Johnson, CSFM Immediate Past President: David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRP President-elect: Jeff Salmond, CSFM secretary/Treasurer: Timothy Van Loo, CSFM Vice-President Commercial: James Graff Professional Facilities: Dan Bergstrom academic: TBD Higher education: TBD Parks & recreation: Sarah Martin, CSFM K-12: Bobby Behr, CSFM Commercial: Doug Schattinger elected-at-large: Jimmy Simpson, CSFM elected-at-large: TBD Chief executive officer: Kim Heck sTMa oFFICe 805 new Hampshire suite e lawrence, Ks 66044 Phone: 800-323-3875 Fax: 800-366-0391 email: STMAinfo@STMA.org www.sTMa.org edITorIal Group publisher: David Voll editorial director: Eric Schroder Technical editor: Dr. James Brosnan art director: Brian Snook Production Manager: Karen Kalinyak stma editorial Communications Committee Chairman: Brad Jakubowski; Tyler Clay; Jim Cornelius, CSFM; Mark Frever, CSFM; Jamie Mehringer; Scott Stevens; and Brad Park SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by Specialty Information Media at 75 Pike Street, Port Jervis, NY 12271. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at (847) 763-9565. Subscription rates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1 year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. All sub- scriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send payments to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076- 7823. Phone: (847) 763-9565. Fax: (847) 763-9569. Single copies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign. Periodicals postage paid at Port Jervis, NY and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2015, SportsTurf. Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form with- out the written permission of the publisher. HeadlInes: seen, and desIred