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Bonita Today: I'm just looking for the community's view

By CHUCK CURRY (Contact)

Friday, March 9, 2007

One of my most pleasurable duties at The Banner (and one that, conversely, is the worst) is gathering one of the two weekly "Banner on the Street" features.

We ask questions for each edition of The Banner and print people's comments. It's pretty much in fun, except for a few very serious questions as the news of the day warrants, and should be easy and quick to accomplish.

However, I have come to learn that outside of those special souls who spend a couple of enjoyable minutes in conversation, I am nothing more than a telemarketer or other shill in some people's eyes.

One gentleman blew me off on Thursday while I was trying to ask if he was prepared for the upcoming change to Daylight Savings Time. Guess what, sir? I wasn't trying to sell you something, even though I'm sure that was your evaluation of why I approached you.

Ninety-nine out of every 100 people I encounter are at least polite and have a smile, but he was one of few with a curt word and dismissive gesture.

I'm just looking for the community's view. Our weekly question allows residents (and visitors) to express themselves on a variety of topics and The Banner and the Daily News prides themselves on getting out into the community and reflecting its views.

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Another fun assignment for last week was covering the Naples Rugby Club's exhibition match. The Naples Rugby Club calls Estero home (its full-time 'pitch' — its field — is in Estero off Williams Road adjacent to Estero High School).

This makes rugby one truly Southwest Florida sport.

The rugby club also brings back fond memories of a former Naples Daily News staffer named Chris Sadler. Sadler was one of the first members of the rugby club when it was founded in 1993. He is now married, has a beautiful daughter and pursues a career outside of journalism in Wisconsin (I don't know if he still plays rugby and uses electrical tape to make sure his ears don't get pulled off in a scrum).

I asked for a quote about rugby and this is what he passes along: "Rugby has tremendous potential in the United States, but there are a couple of hurdles that must be cleared. First, it's a foreign game and we don't have a lot of patience to learn and appreciate something new. So, we need a better marketing effort. Once people start seeing it regularly on TV, it will be more accepted. Second, we need more participants exposed to the game. We're already seeing that by the explosion in high school sides forming across the country. And these two things have to happen simultaneously. Broadcasters will have no interest in airing rugby until there's demand."

• • •

The rugby story also brings full circle a new generation of Daily News staffers involved in the community. While Sadler, who was on the news desk in the early 1990s when I was news editor, was once a member of the Naples Rugby Club, another staff member today (I won't embarrass Brad Kane by mentioning him) is part of the team. It is a pretty cool transition from one decade of the newsroom to another.

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Finally, one reader sent an e-mail about the popularity of rugby in the United Kingdom.

"We are English and at present are living three months a year in Bonita Springs. It was interesting to read your article in The Banner about rugby.

"There are 'golf widows' (and) there are also 'rugby widows' in the U.K. I am not sure if this is phrase known to the United States, but in case it is not, it means wives whose husbands are lost to them on Saturdays due to the absolute necessity of their menfolk playing their particular fom of sport.

"I did not see my husband and our children did not see their father on Saturday afternoons from 1962 until 1989 during the winter season due to rugby.

"It stopped in 1989, not because of age (48), but because we moved to Houston. Not much rugby playing there! "The only thing that the women did on Saturdays was make the tea for the two teams: sandwiches, cakes, scones, sausage rolls, etc. Not much tea actually, mostly beer!" I'm sure many families can share the same thoughts about football season here in the states. As to beer, well, as Homer Simpson says, 'Doh!'