My favorite Duerr isn't on the rocks

I woke up early Friday morning and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Typically, I just lay there and hope my brain shuts back down in a rollover, but no luck.
So I did what most people do and grabbed my glasses and cellphone and tried to distract my head. Well, any fourth grader in science can tell you that ain’t gonna work because that’s activating your brain. And you don’t want that at 1:30 a.m.
But here I go scrolling for cat reels or Vikings news and I stumble upon something that I wanted to read.
It was Chris Duerr’s annual Do or Die prep boys basketball round-up.
Now, Chris and I are peers and media friends. When we dabbled with a podcast about four years ago, Chris was a weekly guest on our show. He and John Bohnenkamp made that so damn easy.
Reading through that totally encompassing recap hit me with a realization. News organizations don’t typically report on other news outlets stuff. But there are moments when things are so good, they actually become part of the news.
Chris, without a doubt, wants those pieces to focus on the kids. And it does. The reactions following the piece certainly attest to that. But as someone who travels around following the kids, I think some things need to be pointed out.
For Chris to have the ability to write in that detail about all these kids says something remarkable. I have trouble remembering the kids’ names at our three schools, Chris is covering three states. And for him to be able to bring in those stats to back up his choices for these awards speaks volumes about his commitment to these kids.
A lot of people think we write because we get paid to. Well, yeah, but look at the emotion in any of Chris’ broadcasts. This guy is having a blast doing what he loves. He certainly doesn’t make it seem like work.
When Chris comes into a gym or to a field with his camera in tow and in the summer his panama hat keeping the sun off his bald head, it literally changes the energy at the event.
He's not rarely seen, but he rarely gets to stay for a whole game because he has so much to cover on any given sports night in the tri-state area. This guy has been doing this for decades and what makes him the ultimate professional is you can actually feel his passion for his work. He genuinely approaches his work like he owes it to his viewers and followers to be his best every day.
Chris and I always share a hello and a conversation when he’s at FMHS, or Central Lee, or Holy Trinity. His knowledge of our kids is as good as anyone here. He lives it. He breathes it.
There are few people in the area including Bohnenkamp, Matt Levins, and Joe Geren, who can recite names at the snap of a finger. Chris can do that too, but his area of coverage is mind-boggling, and to be able to access those memory files on a regular basis is extremely impressive.
When I was reading through his Do-or-Die, I started thinking oh, so and so should have been here or there, but then as you work through the story, there they were. He didn’t miss a beat.
I can say honestly that I don’t think even I would’ve been that comprehensive with just our three schools. It creates perspective for the rest of us. Not just to create a do-or-die list, but it makes at least this journalist remember how important the kids and families are to the job.
Yes. It’s a job. And we all work for the resources we need to live. But Chris is a nice example for kids and adults alike that he’s not just doing a job, he does it with a purpose. When you see him, it isn’t necessarily about you or your kid, it’s about a man who’s committed to chronicling the events of our young student athletes. His example isn't just the work, but the way he goes about it.
I get the same feeling having John on our team. This is a steeped resource in all three of our school's coverage. He knows and seeing him on the sidelines makes people feel just a little more important. And makes us look a lot better.
Matt Levins has been around for a long time and has written wonderful pieces on local athletes, and Joe has been part of area journalism for decades.
I guess the point is this. It’s a privilege to work beside these folks. I think I’m older than most of them and no one ever should be done learning, but I look up to these fellas and reading Chris’ stuff this week reminded how lucky I am to be able to say “Hi” to these guys and call them friends.
Great work, Chris. Great work, boys. Thanks for reminding me why we chose to do what we do and how lucky we are to be doing it.
I’m off to the Ozarks for some golf this week on a spring break of sorts. I have the laptop(s) and will sneak work in (sometimes even on the golf course). So those that go with me, it’s your annual warning – I’m always watching and no one is safe, but that’s Beside the Point.
Chuck Vandenberg is editor and co-owner of Pen City Current and can be reached at Charles.V@PenCityCurrent.com.