BASEBALL Column in Northwest Arkansas newspapers - March 28, 2018 by David Wilson Arkansas junior catcher Zack Plunkett was not in the starting lineup for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first game of a double-header at home against Kentucky on March 17. But he did make some noise as a pinch-hitter. Plunkett is a product of Texas and played for two years at TCU before transferring to Arkansas in 2017. He has seen a baseball crowd with plenty of TCU purple in it, but there was none of that at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville on March 17. The crowd was mostly Razorback red, dotted in a few places with folks wearing Kentucky Wildcat blue. And because it was St. Patrick's Day, there were several fans wearing green. The Hogs dominated the first game, belting their way to a five-homer, 14-2 win. One of those home runs came at the hands of Plunkett. He led off in the bottom of the eighth inning with Arkansas leading 13-1 and when he connected with the ball he sent it...

BASEBALL Learning Every Day has a section of insights and reflections from sports, with much to say about baseball.  Here is an excerpt from page 76: "I have always appreciated how baseball is interwoven in our country's history and culture. To learn about baseball--its origins, its players, and the great cities that have served as baseball's stage--is to learn about America." David Wilson, EdD,  is a communications director and former high school principal. His book Learning Every Day is available on Amazon.com. You may email him at ledauthor@gmail.com. 

BASEBALL Traditionally, if a person liked baseball and grew up in Arkansas, it was hard not to follow the Cardinals.  This piece was originally published in newspapers on M ay 11, 2016 by David Wilson St. Louis Cardinal baseball, over the course of its 124-year history, has developed a strong regional appeal that stretches in several states in the central part of the country, including Arkansas. Part of the reason for that development is that in the earliest decades of major league baseball, St. Louis, as the westernmost team, was geographically situated to capture the attention of most of the Midwest. It is understood that there is a growing interest in Northwest Arkansas with the Kansas City Royals, especially with their success in recent years, but the Cardinals simply have a longer relationship with Arkansans. I grew up in Northeast Arkansas, where I learned of Cardinal baseball at a very young age by listening to Jack Buck, Harry Caray, (and later Mike...

WRITING Note:  In the spring of 1981 I first read the book On Writing Well by William Zinsser.  Since that time, I got a new copy each time a new edition came out and read it again.  It is the best I can recommend on communicating effectively in writing. I have written about Zinsser on several occasions, and the following piece was printed in the Jefferson City News Tribune on March 18, 2012: by David Wilson Last week in this space we discussed the importance of students having opportunities to learn to write well.  By practicing writing, students develop a skill essential for success and can enhance their learning in any subject area. William Zinsser is a lifelong journalist and nonfiction writer who has much to say along these lines. His classic book On Writing Well has been through multiple editions and sold more than a million copies. It is a cherished favorite, not just for writers, but for educators, for students, for those in business, ...

BASEBALL Column published in newspapers on March 7, 2018 by David Wilson My Dad loved watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball but my Mom didn’t like it much. But somehow, they made the marriage work. In recent decades Dad had a Cardinal game on television almost every night and every weekend.   Mom sat with him in the living room, and I could say that she suffered in silence, but actually, she wasn’t always silent about it. I told Mom once that she and Dad should go to Florida during March and watch the Cardinals in spring training. “Oh I can’t do that—” she said. “Wait a minute Mom,” I said.   “It won’t be like going in to St. Louis and fighting the crowds to see a game. You will be around a different group of people, including a bunch of retired folks.   And the weather won’t be like sitting in the heat and humidity of St. Louis in July.   It will be pleasant.” Mom was listening. “Just go with Dad for one game,” I continue...

You may find out more about the book Learning Every Day at amazon.com/author/dwilsonnotes