December 2nd, 20th, 23th, if it's 7 o'clock, on Saturday morning it's time for
this week in Waukeshaw. I'm your host, the unsinkable Don Brown, coming to you live in
local from the office of former Alderman Don Paul Brown, also known as the Wauk radio studios
here in the old Nami building at 217 Wisconsin Avenue, right around the corner from the Adora
Yalman's park where we are proud to honor our suffragette heritage in the shot. And I am joined by
producer Greg Bach filling in for Anya who's a little under the weather this morning. We wish her
well. And Greg glad to have you here. Greg is a Waukeshaw native and resident. So really glad to
have his his knowledge and experience here on the board. How you doing, Greg? I'm doing well. How
about yourself, Tom? Very well. Really glad. It's an honor to be working with you. I know you don't
think that way, but I certainly doing. All right. Thanks, man. Happy Saturday. You'll hear Greg
throughout the civic media stratosphere. The support he provides for as goes Wisconsin and for
up north news with Pat Crite Low. And again, it's it's great to have him here. And I want to say
right away, don't forget today is the cookie walk at Waukeshaw South cafeteria for the black
shirt marching band. And I say this now because it starts soon. I think it starts around nine, but
you should get there ASAP as they have sold out early in years past. Santa will be there as well.
So be sure to bring them along and to get there. Come early. Come often as they say. And then
speaking of South. Our first guest this morning is Limantes, a lifelong resident, just like Greg
of our university city and a graduate of Waukeshaw South High School who has served his alma
model for is it over 25 years as an assistant basketball coach? It's been 20 years, 20 years.
Okay. And was recently named head coach after the resignation of Oh Richter just a few weeks,
a few months back. And welcome coach Montez. He is also joined by two of his senior captains,
Brighton Stobb and Evan Stout. Third senior captain Charlie Morales was unable to attend, but he
has expected to practice at eight, right? I believe so. Sounds great. We are grateful that all three
of you could be here after suffering a tough 7246 loss to Kettle Moraine in the conference opener
last night. And then you have practiced at eight at Whittier. And why is it at Whittier again?
South is having a wrestling tournament today over the field houses over 20 high schools.
A lot of kids. Their own version of WrestleMania. So that's great that Whittier is available to you
guys. And hey, we're taking your calls this morning, two, eight, four, four, nine, six, seven, two,
seven, eight, nine. And you can also text us at that number two. So I'd encourage you. I still
get a lot of text on my phone is you hear my phone blowing up already. So coach Montez and you
played sports at Waukeshaw South when you were there. Class of 94, is that correct? Correct.
Sounds great. And what sports did you play when you were in high school? I just played baseball
when I was at South, but really? I did. I was in the basketball program as the manager.
Okay. Back then I knew I wanted to coach basketball. So I started early. That's great. Was
it your dream to come back to your alma mater and be head coach? It was a dream to be a head coach.
Just have the opportunity to do it itself makes it even better. Sure. Sure. That's true. And
you know, usually when nothing against coach, coach director, your predecessor, but usually
you know, when a coach decides it's time to step down, it's usually have the benefit of time
the school does. You know, hire a new coach and then that new coach has the benefit of a few months
at the very least to build the program and to start working on things. And what have you done
to kind of, because you're kind of in it, it's fair to say you're kind of in a disadvantage,
knowing the announcement came on, I think, like in September. Yeah, we got a late start.
So trying to get bus schedule and everything lined up. Sure. And then, you know, not only
put a plan together with players and a staff and stuff like that. Sure. And how much of a resource
have your senior captains been for you in terms of building the program up? They've been
they've been really good. They've been great leaders so far. I couldn't ask anything more of them.
So I've been very happy and pleased with their efforts so far. So so in addition to, I guess you
could say, you know, a late start. You also had one rich, really one returning regular starter
from last year's team. You lost two all state guards. And so would really kind of starting behind
the eight ball, if you will. What has been your plan to to kind of move forward to move the needle,
if you will? It's it's a slow process here. I think the kids are trying to fuel me out. I'm trying
to figure out what's our best option right now. Sure. Our best route to be successful this year.
Sure. So in now, your black shirts are one and two had a very impressive opening win last Friday
against Polaski at a tough loss on Tuesday to New Berlin last where you're actually leading at
half time in New Berlin. Well, it's just they opened up a new gear in the second half and almost
like kind of didn't look back. But and then of course, you know, kettle marine last night.
Correct. Yeah. Like I said, it's going to be a slow process and we're all trying to learn
different roles and, you know, we'll get there. Sounds great. Yeah. What would you like? I mean,
obviously you coached with coach Richter for many years and I believe his predecessor and
one thing I noticed right away. It's different is that you've gone pretty deep into your bench.
You know, a lot of guys are getting some time. A lot of younger players too. Whereas like coach
Richter, would it maybe go seven at the most? Sometimes eight. Yeah. I think we have enough guys that
can compete. And you know, if it's not their night, you know, we have options. So I don't know if
it's going to be like that the whole year. Right. As of right now, that's that's how we're going.
Sure. Sure. And I know with with our seniors, Brighton and Evan here, this is your first I mean,
it's not your first rodeo with coach Montez because you've worked with him before when he was an
assistant coach. How do you feel the adjustments, Ben? First you, Brighton. Get right up there in
the mic, my man. I think probably offense, my neighbor is so much better and that he knows his
stuff. So that's that strategic wise. We all rely on him. And that's I think a big part of how
we're playing this season. That's good. How about you, Evan? I don't feel like it's a huge adjustment
just because we've been with coach Montez for all four years. We've known him. It's just like a
it was a good thing that he was our head coach just because I feel like everybody can rely on him
and just trust him already without having to get a new off and set in. We have some new stuff,
but everybody's kind of adjusting really well. Sounds good. Yeah. And also with again, with
it's your first role as a head coach, but not your first rodeo with the South basketball program.
And it's important to mention that I guess it's two seasons ago. South won the classic eight
after losing 60 straight conference games in previous seasons. And we're one game away from going
to state. And then that year coach Montez was named a classic eight assistant coach of the year.
But it's a big honor, in my opinion. Yeah. And you know, it just wasn't about me. We had some
some great kids, some really good talent. And you know, we just we figured it out and put it all
together. Sure. Just happy to be a part of it. Yeah. Well, one thing that one aspect of the
the program's big turnaround that got a lot of attention in the news was that the team was using
a sports psychologist is that is that do you still have that in your arsenal of tools?
Well, we use Dr. Matt on those years. Unfortunately, now Dr. Matt has moved to
believe Phoenix, Arizona. Oh, really? Okay. So I have been looking for a place. Someone. Yeah,
a replacement to help us. So, so you hear that, Greg, if you know any good sports psychologist,
watch us South has an opening. I can just I can talk to them if they want. You know, what's up?
Yeah. Shoot the ball. I got you. Greg would be great. I'd be amazing. He would. So Greg's a CMH
grad, but I think has some affinity for salt as well. Being a South. I mean, yeah, I mean, I love
I love all the walkers your kids. They're all wonderful. Yeah. I'm too old to know any of them
now. And I sleep a lot. So I wish them good luck. Love it. I love it. So coach,
my test is there a college basketball coach that you would consider a role model or someone
you look up to or maybe pattern yourself after? I don't think that there's like one coach
that I want to pattern myself after. I do admire like
some aspects of each coach and you try to take a little bit from them and implement it
in your program. So sure, sure. And what about is there a brand you'd like to establish that's
like the Montez brand or signature on the South program? I don't think so. I want us to be really
good at fundamentals. I want us to play I want us to compete every day just not during games. I
want us to compete at practice and just and just keep working hard. Sure. I like that. I like
what about in terms of your experience at high school? I said, I know you got to work with
Coach Richter for many years where there are other coaches that you had the pleasure of working
with that you learned some things from. Yeah. Well, I started coaching at Waukesha West with Dave
Schultz and then Todd Pazora after Dave. And then when it came to South, it was Billy Swartz
and then Bo Richter. Sure. But I've had I've been coached by you know, Bill Swartz senior,
Mark Christensen. Sure. So I've had some Hall of Fame coaches that I've coached under and
worked for. So that's great. And I'm glad you mentioned Billy Schwartz because on December 16th,
Billy Schwartz and his younger brother Julian are my guests. And I believe this December 19th is
Julian Schwartz night. Is that the date we set aside? I think it is. I think it's a Tuesday night.
We host West. So me. So in Billy's been on the show before. He's the varsity soccer coach and
done a terrific job there. And Julian, I believe it was class of 99, is considered perhaps the greatest
basketball player in South history or one of them for sure and was on that Wisconsin final 14,
finished his career at Cornell and then has had a really promising collegiate coaching career
having been at Georgia Tech. But more on that when we come back from these important messages,
going to talk to our captains Brighton Evan a little bit more as well as learn more about
first year head coach Lee Montez. And don't forget me or Sean Riley is my guest in the next segment here.
So lots of unpack here and this beautiful morning in the Shah as the holiday season begins. Do not go away.
I
And you're just here to the board you don't play gathering up charity to make the day.
For me, I was one stage once I was young, but I know I have my family to fall back on.
Hey, we're back. This new walk is shot. I'm your host Sound Brown. You're listening to If I Should Fall
from Grace with God by the Pogs. One of Evan's favorite songs and he was a little boy. Evan's
stopped by the way. Senior captain is also my son full disclosure. And Evan used to call that song
Go Boys because it's mentioned the chorus science. We still refer to that. But you'll be here a lot of
Pogs on my show this morning, maybe throughout the holiday season after it was announced on
Thursday that Shane McGowan, the frontman and musical genius of the Pogs had passed away. And
still dealing with it. It's very much like a death in the family. And
his music had a huge impact on me and a lot of other Irish Americans. And just
lovers of music, especially combining traditional Irish music with modern rock and even new wave and
kind of punk rock that Shane McGowan was part of. So very much a very much alive in my heart here.
But I'm also I'm here with again, I mentioned the captains of the basketball team Evan's
out. And right and stop Charlie Rose can up you with this. And of course head coach,
Lee Montez. And wanted to talk to the captains here for a little bit. What's the role you guys
have in helping with what's running the practices or again being being senior leaders? What
do you perceive your roles to be? Talking to the mic gentlemen.
It's just kind of an easier role just because we've known these guys for so long,
like just playing with Brighton and Charlie for so long since seventh grade and just knowing like
guys like Yovani, Praira and say it's a wall just knowing those guys. It's kind of easy to run
around practice because it's really competitive. But it's really nice to know that like
at the end of the day, we're all family. And then so it's really good to just get after
and practice just we get on everybody. But everybody knows it's all love from everybody. So
just making sure practices stay competitive stay on task and everything like that.
Sounds good. How about you, Brighton?
But what do you perceive your role to be as a senior captain?
I think my role is just to keep everybody's heads up, trying to keep like a good attitude during
practice, during games, when something doesn't go right on there, pick someone up, help, give advice,
that's all. Sounds good. And I was going to say yeah. And again, we're bummed that we're missing
Charlie and we know Evans committing to UW-Oclair for football and Brighton is committed,
or at least they both assign letters of intent and Brighton assigned his with Carol University
for baseball. And in Evans' three sport athlete, Brighton's a two sport athlete.
How does do you view your work in each sport as good cross-training?
Yeah, I feel like every sport just kind of goes into each other.
Basketball is for sure like a huge conditioning point. I feel like I have to like,
that's the sport that I know going into it that I'm going to probably be the most sore in my
legs, everything like that. Everything just goes into each other because everything that you do
just athletically has to go into every sport, I feel like.
Sounds good. How about you, Brighton? Being a pitcher and with all the basketball condition,
that's really going to help come spring season. And it just helps with my legs,
my legs stronger, but when I do have to pitch, it's like a leg day for four months straight.
Nate, Nate. So now back to Coach Montez, you know, one of the highlights of last night's
game was a gigantic presence of young fans, very small fans and black shirt uniforms. And it
was it was youth night. And it was really neat to see the varsity team welcoming the different
youth teams out before the game. And then there was a great, great halftime performance. It was
like a rock concert cheering on the young kids. And that's got to make you feel pretty encouraged
and I know Coach Richter has now moved, kind of devoted his efforts towards developing the youth
program. How does that make you feel knowing that you got a lot of talent to look forward to
reviewing in the future, to developing, I should say. It's exciting. You know, our youth program
is our future going forward. So we want to donate and put as much time as we can into our youth.
And hopefully they can develop and, you know, become great black shirts in the future.
Sure. Now there's like, I saw there's like the halftime game I believe was second grade against
third grade. Correct. Yeah. And how do you develop those guys? When a lot of them, I think, you know,
can't even get the ball over the basket with the kind of the strength they have at that. Right.
Maybe they can, but they got to get in close. But yeah, it's more of, you know, teaching jumps
stops there and passing and, you know, correct form, you know, once they get old enough and they
get taller and they get stronger, you know, they'll be able to get the ball up over the over the room.
Sure. I teach them the Mike and drills. I assume we will get there at some point. So I think
at second and third grade, it's probably trying to keep their attention.
That's more than anything. So I wasn't grieving. It's about the kettle marine team as they did.
Great job of scoring, but you had guys scoring from the left side using the right hand,
like on lay ups and whatnot. And I like, they're not doing their Mike and drills over there.
I can't speak for, you know, coach Rickard. And he's a first year coach too. So I had to be
interesting, right? He's a first year head coach at KM. He's, um, he's coached before it. I think
St. John's military academy. Okay. Sure. His where he where he started. So that's great.
Well, in the three minutes we have for next break, I want to switch gears towards the
Carol minute. And we're staying on basketball, though. The Pioneer Women's basketball team has
had a great week. They won their second game in a row on Wednesday night beating rivals north
central 92 to 62. That was their conference opener at Van Male Field House. Sophomore Natalie
Grisius let all piles with 18 points followed by 15 points from Sophomore Emily Wiesner and 14
points from junior Olivia Rangal piles moved to five and two. And we broadcasted last Saturday's
victory at Van Male over Ripon College 69 54 when Rangal scored 28 points and Grisius netted 13. And
both the men's and women's teams play a double header today at CCIW opponent Illinois Westlion.
And then we'll be broadcasting next week's game double header when the pile men's and women's
teams play at two and four or 15 on the ninth. So and then also on the ninth, my guess is Gina
Nordram, a family and consumer head teacher at Watch Us Alt who heads the salt program with salt.
It's not strategic arms and limitations treaty like for any of his Cold War people that remember
it's student athlete leadership training and she'll also be bringing a couple students as coach
Montez here. So be sure to tune into that. So in the minute we have before the next break to
what's your practice ritual like on Saturday's?
Well, we just we're just trying to get better every day. So coach Tato and I kind of came up with
a plan for for today and you know we're going to go out and work hard today and that's good.
Try to get better. A lot of running. No, I'm not a firm believer in you know punishment,
you know we didn't play well last night at times, but you know running's not going to solve anything.
Sure, sure. Yeah, I didn't mean in terms of punishment, but just conditioning that just
probably probably the decent amount of it in your routine, I imagine. I think we work hard enough
in drills. Yeah, we'll condition maybe a couple times a week, but
I don't know. After these important messages, more with coach Montez and captains,
Brighton style, Evan Stout, before they head over to the 8 o'clock practice, as this week
and watch, I continue to do that. Go away.
Hey, we're back. This is Clark Shaw and Battle of Smoke by the Poes. One of my favorite songs.
Well, they're all like my favorite songs, but again, remembering Shane McGowan this
said week. Hey, also to December 2nd is actually it's also the 4th anniversary of we had some
school shooting threats at South and at North that were thwarted. Thank God. And it's amazing
that's become a memory like a long time ago, especially after what we had gone through with the
Christmas parade, but there are other, you know, we were much more fortunate in other schools,
like Sandy Hook. I know that anniversary is coming up and then Centennial in Denver where my
niece was a sophomore when all that went down. We keep those families, those children's, those
survivors in our heart. Again, Sandy Hawk, we know there were several young children, young
children that were killed. And then also at Centennial, I know there was at least one. And so,
and thank God for our student resource officer program. It's always great when you see officer
Josh there at the basketball games. And I think he had a couple assistants with him too. And
so for a big crowd like that, it's certainly it's comforting and knowing the relationships
these officers have with the young people with the students is incredible. It is great.
And I know officer Josh is getting close to his 10 year. He's only got a couple more weeks
itself. And then we will have a new SRO. So, oh, wow, I didn't know that. So let's get him on the show.
But coach Montez in this age of like youth sports overkill. I mean, we're using it. It's
17 billion dollar industry now. And a lot of wreck programs have been gone by the waste, you know,
where that that could a lot of families could afford to play have gone by the wayside of these
really expensive club sports. And you have a lot of dad coaches and as a new coach, how do you
rise above the politics and the pressures that come from the parent base?
You know, I'm still trying to learn that.
You know, I've only had the job here for, you know, less than two months. So,
my focus has been, you know, trying to get the varsity ready, the high school program ready.
Sure. So I haven't had much to do with that yet. And I'm kind of hoping that, you know,
we give each kid an equal opportunity and, you know, they want to be itself and, you know, make that,
make their youth, make our youth program a memorable experience. So they, they want to be
itself and continue itself. It's great. There's a famous saying from legendary
coach football coach, Duffie Dirty, from my alma mater, Michigan State, the alumni are with you,
winner tie. And it sounds like today, you could say the parents are with you, winner tie and
as long as my kid gets the most playing time. Do you have a process for how you deal with some of
those, you know, parental pressures? You know, we've, we talked a little bit about that in our
parent meeting and, you know, it's not going to be easy. And I've tried to teach my kids at home
that, you know, life isn't fair. You can be really, really good, but there might be someone
ahead of you. Sure. It's always going to be something better than you.
Correct. And that's how, you know, that, that's how life's going to go. And, you know, I think
the sooner kids learn that, the better off they're going to be in life.
Sure. How do you, how do you steer the focus towards building a team concept?
You know, away from that, again, that maybe that parental pressure, maybe some of these young
athletes with stars in their eyes. You know, I've, I've leaned on, you know, the captains here,
you know, like you said, Charlie's not here, but Evan and Brighton. And I've kind of like,
I told them when we met that, you know, this is their team, you know, and, you know, I'm just,
just a part of it. I'll kind of push them and steer them in the right direction, but this is their
team. And, you know, you guys got to be a part of dealing with, you know, the ups and downs of
a season and being, being leaders and captains, that's part of your role.
And keeping that even emotional temperament then. Correct. That's good. As well as making,
it's got to be fun too. Yeah. I'm really enjoying it. I'm tired. You know, I don't get a lot of
sleep in, but, you know, this is what I always wanted to do is be a head coach. So, you know,
here you go. This is what it takes. So sure, sure. Absolutely. What do you like to do when you're not
coaching and thinking basketball? My family's a big baseball family. I grew up playing baseball.
My brother's the head coach at Arcushaw West. That's right. You're talking about that. You
guys still talk to each other though, right? We do. We do. But my kids play baseball. They play
travel ball. So we're in the summer. We're traveling a lot. And, you know, as a family, we enjoy
going to different major league ball parks. We try to catch the brewers when we're like out of town
and, you know, at a different park. Oh, neat. But yeah, we'll just sometimes we'll just go to a game
just because we're in town. So sure. That's great. What major league parks have you been to already?
So we've been my wife and I have been to San Francisco. The boys have not. But as a family,
we've been to, of course, Field in Denver. We've been to Target Field in Minnesota. We've
been both Chicago, White Sox and Wrigley, obviously American family field Cleveland,
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Boston. Sorry for the hiccup. Mayor Sean Riley just entered the building
and I'm glad that he gets to meet Coach Montez and our future leaders here, Brighton and Evan.
Sean will be, excuse me, Mayor Riley will be our guest in the second segment. I can calm Sean
because we're friends and I was on the council and we've called each other worse than that.
Well, we've been Mayor Riley before, after I think it was two years ago. We got the proclamation.
We got the proclamation. So we got to meet them and there's a very proactive
aldermen for the first district that made that happen. So I was really I'm really glad that
that that that that's a meet there guy someday. That's it. Yep. So, but it's neat because the
Mac trial team has gotten two proclamations. So I don't think some other great clubs and I know
I'm working on one for the fusion volleyball team. It's had an amazing year. So but really glad to
have Mayor Riley on deck. So we would be able to get him on sooner since you guys have a practice
to get to. But we've got about, I think, what about five minutes Greg before the next break?
See here. Let's see. Oh, we got about seven minutes. Oh, we got plenty of time. All right.
I don't know how to tell time. I can do it. I read thing.
Hey, we're taking your calls or eight, four, four, nine, six, seven, two, seven, eight, nine,
or you can text the messages and for coach Montez. And you know, I think there's a lot of people
might still be sleeping in because you know, we actually went to a Christmas party after the game
on one of our softball families has a Christmas party in honor of they have a sister that had passed
away from cancer as a younger child and on her birthday every year. They do like a gift wrapping
kind of party. It's really neat. And so it's really fun to be a part of that. And so but I didn't
stay out too late. I had the family has a Swedish roots and they make this wonderful
blog. Great holiday punch for your grownups. That is. So you guys got the weight a couple of years
having it right. So but yeah. So so Tuesday, you have East Troy, a non-conference opponent.
And then Friday, you'll be at North, cross-town rivals, where I believe I think you guys
won like maybe eight straight games against North. So any any plans of attack or expectations or
or scouting or I haven't. I've put some film up on our our huddle account. I haven't really
gotten too far to North yet. But yeah, no pressure. You know, if we I can't remember how many we
have in a row, but we're just hoping and looking to add one more to it. So sure, sure.
Sounds good. And then how many players do you have in the varsity lineup right now?
We have full set. We have 15 guys right now. So that's a nice size. It is. You know, with injuries and
and in other things that you can't see. Sure. You know, it's always nice to have more at the
beginning. Yeah. Yeah. You know, we did have a. Morgan Schwartz was injured in the New
Berlin West game. Talked to his dad, Billy. And you know, fortunately, it's not a fracture.
But there will be a process for his his recovery. And yeah, we're we're hoping.
I was at the hospital with Morgan and Billy and
we saw the X-ray doctor came in and said it was negative. And so we're just hoping it's a
spring. And he'll be back hopefully, you know, Christmas time. So
sounds great. And what I know you get a lot of support from Caitlin Weber and the children's
Wisconsin team that supports South. And what are some measures that you do to maybe to do your
best to avoid injuries as part of your routine? Yeah. I think I kind of do let Caitlin, you know,
kind of be the eyes and ears. You know, she hears the kids coming in, you know, saying,
you know, this is hurting. This is hurting. And you know, I always
value her opinion when it comes to the kids. So. Okay. So that's good. That's good. Now going
back to Evan and Brighton here. Because like I said, you guys are I know you coach Montez being
a huge baseball fan and you guys both playing baseball. What do you do to stay focused on basketball?
Like you're around or just right now during the season?
During the season. It's kind of easy. You're there after school every single day. Just kind of
focused on basketball. I'd say one thing is just kind of the sticking with your teammates the
entire time. Like those are your teammates right now. I feel like I always just get
really close to my teammates during the season. Everything like that. We're always close outside
like the season. But definitely during the season, you got to get close with your teammates.
You got to stay in and stay focused. So it's kind of a good way just with people.
Sounds good. And how about you, Brighton? Talk into the bike now real close. Pretend like you're
talking to your catcher during a time out here. He's coming to the mound. You have a pretty
obviously just being close with teammates watching film a lot. That's always a key way I keep
like stay on basketball. And then obviously just putting in work outside of practice.
Like on my on my days off, just getting better at the sport in the season.
Sounds great. So in you know, I played on some teams and things can get chippy and practice
sometimes even during games. Like how do you guys best communicate? Say you have a grievance
against coach or grievance against another teammate. How do you guys best handle that?
Between teammates, it's pretty easy. We just all know. Leave it on the court. Something happens.
Just leave it there. I'd say we have that sometimes just because of how competitive practices are.
So you're always going to have that. You want that just because it's more competitive. You want
people to want it. So I feel like it's really good. Stuff with coaches. You know how to handle that.
You just talk to the coach yourself. Coach Montez is really good at just being straight up with
you right when you go to him. So that's one of the best parts about coach Montez and having him
here. So I feel like it's pretty easy that way. Sounds great. So we have two minutes and then we
got to let you guys get to practice. What is it you want? Walk a shout out to know about the South
team and the Lee Montez era that we haven't talked about yet? I think it's more of about the kids
the program. I want the future black shirts to know that we're going to work hard and we're looking
forward to the day you can put on the South Jersey and just have a great time and build memories
as we go. Sounds great. How about you guys? Anything real quick for Sean Nation to know about the
black shirt hoops team? This year we are a younger team and with us seniors captains Evan Charlie
me we are the stepping stones to the youth and we want to make it known that when they're up at this
level they can do what we can do. So you said you're raising the bar that's great. So well terrific. So
when we come back after these important messages Mayor Sean Rye who's come here early will be
stepping in taking over for coach Lee Montez and for Brighton stop and Evan stop. I'm really glad
you three could join us. Have a great practice this morning. Best of luck with the rest of the season
and you're always welcome back here and this week in Waukeshaw and don't forget my guests next week
is Gina Nordram and the student athlete leadership training program. So more to come is Mayor
Sean Rye Lee joins us next here in this week in Waukeshaw. Do not go away.
Last time I saw you was down at the grinks. There was whiskey on some of the tears on that
juice. Hey we're back this week in Waukeshaw. I'm your host Don Brown and that's right you're
going to hear a lot of pokes this show and in shows throughout the the holidays here as we remember
family Shane McGowan one of my favorite musicians and possibly a favorite musician of my next guest
is our first Irish Catholic mayor in Waukeshaw history is that correct or am I off. I missed the
vote on that. I have no idea. I think it is. Mayor Sean Rye Lee, you're welcome. Yeah thank you
very much. Good morning. And are you a Shane McGowan and pokes fan? I think you are. Yeah I am.
I wore my Guinness shirt. I saw him in 1999 and the Chicago Speedway at the Guinness Flaw.
Oh cool. Was it the race track or though? I think it was well. It was a park. Oh race
yesterday. The year before it was at the old race track. 98 is 98 and 99. I'm not sure which one
I went to. Yeah. I went to one of them. Shane played it both. And was Schneidel Conner there too.
That's it was Schneidel Conner, John Lee Hooker, Tracy Chaman, Wilco with Billy Bragg. I think
that's 98. That's when I was at. Okay. I was one. I believe I was the year after you're after
at the race track. Like Shane McGowan and the pokes. Yeah. Like him. My memory of it. It made
me a little fuzzy. Yeah. No doubt. So but Mayor, we're glad you're here early filling in. So
Coach Montez and the boys could make the practice on time and I'm glad you got to meet. Now I'm
also glad that he goes. Oh yeah, I met Mayor Riley at the proclamation that we put together
when I was in the council. And that was for the classic eight championship that the basketball
team had won a couple of years ago. Same year coach Montez was named a coach and coach of the
area. Okay. Yeah. So but we got a big event tomorrow. The 60th annual walk show. Christmas parade.
Are you ready? I'm ready. I got my I know Santa hat. I saw that. Yeah. So we're not we're not
streaming. So we don't have the the video. But we I think we got it for the picture anyway
that we took with coach Montez. Okay. Yeah. So and I was wearing it last night at the tree
lighting too. That's why I wanted to. How was it? I missed the tree lighting because I was covering
the basketball game. But how did that go? It was nice. I mean, I was very worried about the weather
to begin with. But it turned out okay. It really turned out nice. Yeah. I was afraid of
a solid rain instead of wet snow. I was working during the afternoon or at home. We're
working at home and I was up pretty early. In the end, the afternoon started raining. Like,
oh, God, this is going to be terrible. I hope it's not like this for the parade. And then
as I was driving to go get my gear for the basketball game, like the snow was kind of beautiful.
It's like that's the kind of snowfall you want. Yeah. We had so the lights worked so much better
when there's snow behind them too. Right. We had a little bit of snow. The crowd was not as
big as last year, but a good sized crowd. We did the caroling down Main Street and through
free run alley and then lit the lights on the riverfront. If you haven't gone by Friedman
alley, take a drive by there at night. Yeah. I saw the signage during the day and that looked
pretty impressive. So I'll have to get there at night. I was surprised when I saw it. I was like,
I wasn't there. It had been described to me and I really didn't think, you know, it's like,
oh, that'll be nice. I was impressed. Sure. Yeah. And what was also impressive too was,
you were essentially the master of ceremonies when we had the
the anniversary, the second anniversary of the parade attack and the dedication of the new memorial,
which looks fantastic there. And you said something that was really profound to me that you
were really glad for this turnout because it meant so much for the families of the victims as well
as a lot of the survivors that it is very much a healing process that continues to the present day.
Yeah. You know, I mean, it's the community experience of death as almost the way we're,
you know, if you had a parent pass away or something like that, I come from a really big family.
All of us reacted differently. Sure. You know, some internalized their grief, some were
out with it. But it also is something that it, you know, it's not like it ends. Right. It kind of
keeps on going. Yeah. It doesn't mean that you're always sad. It means that, you know, it can kind of
hit you from, uh, right, a different direction. Sure. And years later, um, as a community, we,
we were all traumatized. And so the healing for that takes time. Sure. Um, and people are going to
do it differently. And, and, right, you know, and it meant a lot to that governor, even her,
evers came to speak in a Senator Tammy Baldwin. I believe our congressman was there as well.
Congressman Fitzgerald was there also. So, um, you know, we didn't want to open it up to, uh,
a whole bunch of speakers because you want to have these things be timely. Um, yes,
you don't want them to last an hour, you know, half an hour. And that necessarily, you know,
highlight reels for the legislators or the political leaders, but some, you know, for the people
that, um, you want this to be a real, it's still very kind of a serious, sober, special moment.
Correct. And when the governor is there, um, as the, you know, he's, as a representative of
the state, it was right. And I, um, it was, it was an easy choice for me to say the governor
gets to speak, um, you know, the, and then we'll have the people on the ground, um,
yeah, our police chief fire chief, yeah, chaplain. Sure. And, and I don't, I'm sorry, but, uh,
the, the two ladies who spoke were, yeah, that was, that was beautiful. Sherry Sparks. And I forget
the daughter's name tomorrow. Cool. Yeah. And so yeah, those were, it was very well spoken. And, uh,
to share that pain too, that that's still very real for them. Yeah. And they, and they did such a
great job. He really did. And I was also impressed. You know, Chief Thompson was on my show. I believe
the week before. And, um, he was, he did a great job. And then, um, fire chief, um, Steve Howard.
Yeah, I really liked what he had to say because he did, he highlighted that it's still very difficult
for a lot of people to come to downtown that witnessed all of that. Yeah. He said he struggled
over the beach, which, which we all do to do that. You know, sure. Absolutely. So, but, um,
but it's not, you know, in our planning, because we're doing the pre-prey broadcast
at three o'clock tomorrow, that, um, in kind of the team, meaning it's like, let's not, you know,
emphasize the tragedy so much. But at the same time, it's become a part of us. And then the idea
of the parade is, it's a sign of our resilience. And, um, and the expression of the holiday spirit,
and we continue to move forward while also keeping victims and survivors, um, in our hearts.
You know, there's a good example that is the dancing grannies. Yes. You know, they, they kept on dancing.
And they were so impacted by the, um, sure, great tragedy. Yes. Mayor, I forgot. This is,
I have a special producer this morning. My, my regular producers, um, out sick, but Greg Bach is a
fellow, uh, CMH alumnus. Oh, nice. What year? I like Greg. Uh, 96. Okay. I was a little before you.
79, 79. Yeah. I looked it up. Actually, you got there one year after coach Bill Young got there.
And he's still there. And that is ridiculous. I was in freshman football for a short period of time.
I didn't, I didn't, I, they didn't cut me, um, but I had 10 and 90s and both ankles and coach
Young was he's, uh, his history and his winning record is unbelievable. Oh, yeah. Um, he was a really
tough coach in the beginning years, but, uh, I still respect him for it. Good man. Good man.
When we come back from the break, I've got a great story about coach Young that the two of you
appreciate as well as more about the big parade to my own other holiday happenings with Mayor Sean Riley.
When this weekend lock shot continues, do not go away.