National sports news of note. Michael Phelps reeled in fi ve gold medals and one silver at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Rome (Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009).

(SSA) – I think you and I have gone through this before; you know, the issue over the fact the Iowa (BOYS) High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), and the Iowa GIRLS High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) exist as two separate entities in our state.

(SSA) – Congratulations to prep seniors Josh Gross and Luke Frankl (Elk Point-Jefferson), seniors Kyle Hooks, Brad Farwell and sophomores Joey Feilmeier, Matt Lupes (Dakota Valley), and senior Eric Docken (Beresford), on their selection to the Big Sioux All-Conference basketball teams. Hooks also received MVP in the (South Dakota) Conference.

(SSA) – Haven’t heard a thing from our friends at the Iowa (BOYS) High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) regarding the expanded prep football playoffs.  C’mon guys, silence isn’t golden; it says something is amiss.  Pick one of these options: (1) Keep the expanded football playoffs and let the host schools keep the gate money instead of turning it over to you, or (2) drop the extended football playoffs and return to what we had previously.  You guys at IHSAA told us “it’s not about the money.”  If it isn’t, how come you collected the bucks for yourselves?