Sports Column: Differences between the states extend beyond athletics

When my colleague at Fort Scott made the suggestion that Nevada explore the possibility of joining up with the SEK conference, it is something Nevada athletic director Kevin McKinley had already thought about.

One important reason Missouri and Kansas schools can't join hands is that both practice and games open at an earlier date in Missouri.

Now, if I know coaches, and I've known quite a few in my day, there is absolutely no way they are going to allow an opponent to have more reps than they've had. Coaches are big on reps.

You would think SEK members would be drooling with anticipation at the thought of getting a shot at Nevada in view of recent records. But you must remember that it was Fort Scott, not Nevada, that dropped the series after the 1999 game.

The way I understood it was even though Fort Scott dominated Nevada in terms of victories, the game simply meant too much to both sides. It was an annual battle royal.

But that was then and now is now. Nevada has rarely fared well against Fort Scott and stands at 11-29-1 in the series that began in 1925 and ran unabated through 1954 when Cassville joined the Southwest Big 8, making it the Big 9 and filling an extra week.

As far as Pittsburg goes, I don't suppose the Tigers from this side of the line would fare much better than they did so long ago when they met in 1921 and 1922 with Pittsburg winning both times. Nevada is even with Parsons in two meetings.

It is exceptionally difficult for anyone who is not a native of Nevada to understand just how deep the feelings are. People move to Nevada and fail to grasp the meaning of Bushwhacker Days. If you have any knowledge of the history of this area, you will realize that different types of people inhabit the two locations. Like it or not, they are not the same.

The people of Fort Scott had a vision sorely lacking in Nevada. While Nevadans sat idly by, historic building after historic building went down until people looked around and discovered there was little left. On the other hand, Fort Scott went after its heritage and preserved history.

Sure, you say, look at the Bushwhacker jail. The sad thing about that is rather than move the jail that predated the Bushwacker -- you know the one on N. Cedar that survived the burning of the town -- they tore it down unlike the Younger home near Harrisonville that was carefully dismantled and stored away until a suitable place to put it was found.

It seems that every train depot in the country is still standing with the notable exception of the one in Nevada. See what I mean?

Nevadans have to be just a wee bit jealous.

And don't forget that Nevadans and Fort Scotters have been fighting since the 1850s. They aren't about to stop now just because someone thinks its not nice. Dogs chase cats. You can't change nature.

I don't know how many foreigners (a foreigner is someone born somewhere other than Vernon County) can't seem to understand the rivalry. These same people also seem to have difficulty grasping the basic concept of history as it applies here. We are different.

But let's get to what used to bring us together.

I feel sorry for the current generation in that it will never have memories of a different, far better time, when both Nevada and Fort Scott had something wonderful to offer the citizens.

Fort Scott had a barbeque joint known as The Land Inn that that played host to thousands who loved their delicious sandwiches and crinkle cut french fries, to say nothing of the 3.2 beer that was not available to 18-year-olds in Missouri. Of course, I couldn't guess how many fake draft cards poor Betty, the greatest, gruffest waitress in all history had to endure over the years. My mother, who graduated from Nevada High School in 1941, had warm memories of that unique barbecue with relish. I mean real relish, like the little green kind that set it apart and gave it a certain tang.

The Land Inn was Nevada's home away from home as was the lake here in Nevada for our visitors from the west, who enjoyed our dances at the pavilion. They would fill the place on Friday or Saturday night whenever Eric and the Norsemen showed up. Heck, I ever remember Buz Adams and the Confederates. But that was local talent. It didn't matter one whit. The Land Inn and Radio Sprngs brought us together. But the powers decided to rip the heart out of Nevada's Baby Boomer generation by destroying their memories. At Fort Scott, the owners of the Land Inn simply got old and wanted to retire. Their equipment was old and they figured no one would take over and put their heart into it as they had.

They say you don't know what you've got until you lose it. Oh, we knew all too well.