Happy Friday, folks! Here are the topics for today’s commentary:

• A Damn Shame
• November 5, 2024
• Montana Football Championships
• One More Thing

A DAMN SHAME:

Several sources, including KPAX in Missoula, are reporting the long-time tradition of the University of Montana and the Montana State University bands performing at the big rivalry game came to an end as a way to increase the number of tickets available. KPAX reports that the long-time tradition of both bands performing for the big game came to an end this spring as a way to increase the number of tickets available to fans.

Now just the home team’s band will perform.

It’s all about the money – and that’s too bad for the students involved in these bands who have devoted their young lives to playing music.

In the words of the MAGA star Oliver Anthony, “It’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to…”

NOVEMBER 5, 2024:

We are a little less than a year away from the 2024 Election. If you watch the local television stations here in Montana or are checking out YouTube very much, you might think we are a month or so out from Election Day because of all the campaign ads.

I think Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy was the first to air a campaign ad and it wasn’t long until Jon Tester, who is running for a fourth term as U.S. Senator, joined. Now we have third-party ads hitting the airwaves.

I love politics. I eat, sleep, and drink politics, but this is all a bit much. It’s too early. It would be great if campaigns pulled their ads for the holidays. It would be great if there was a law or something prohibiting political ads six months from election day. We have a rule for campaign signs, why not one for commercials? I know some say it’s a freedom of speech thing and I get it, but my mute button is already getting worn out.

MONTANA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS:

I missed mentioning the following in my Football Roundup section earlier this week, but Montana High School football championships will take place this weekend.

The AA championship takes place Friday night. The rest of the championships (Class A, B, 8-Man, and 6-Man) all take place on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. It’s too bad that four of the five games are scheduled at the same time as the Brawl of the Wild game between the University of Montana and Montana State University. Click HERE to see which teams are playing.

The Montana High School Athletic Association should work out something schedule-wise so the schools that are in the championship won’t take a back seat to the Brawl of the Wild.

ONE MORE THING:

Ever notice how many towns are named after their water tower? -Pinterest

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##