Metro Sports Report

MSR beats odds with 5 million pageviews

A friend told me awhile ago that most new website companies do not survive their first year of operation, but I had no idea how bad it was until I googled the topic Sunday afternoon before writing this column.

I found a couple of sobering articles on the subject. One was titled "Why Are So Many Internet Start-Ups Failing Today?" Another was labeled "A Start-Up's Odds of Success are Very Low."

I'm glad I didn't know all that when we decided to launch the Metro Sports Report five years ago, but we probably would have jumped in and tried anyway just for the heck of it. I'm sure glad we did.

I'm delighted to report today that we've beaten the odds. We've not only beaten the odds, we've destroyed them. Mutilated them, kicked them in the fanny and sent them into cyber-space somewhere.

The Metro Sports Report - the little website that could - surpassed 5 million pageviews on Friday. As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the number had reached 5,006,243 and was climbing every minute.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

When those articles talk about website failures, they are talking about companies whose entire business revolves around their website. Like us.

Proud Cougars take 9th at state swim

MARSHALLTOWN - The Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls swimming team did not have any superstars or state champions on the squad this year, but the Cougars featured a talented pool of athletes who epitomize the team concept of the sport.

It showed Saturday.

Kennedy scored points in 11 out of 12 events and finished a gratifying ninth at the 50th annual state meet at the Marshalltown YMCA.

"I'm very proud of the team effort that we had," said Coach John Ross. "Getting top 10, that was one of our goals. I'm really pleased with that. And to see kids on the podium, that was another aspect that we wanted.

"It's been a long time since we've had somebody up on the podium.

KCC volleyball team makes nationals

ESTHERVILLE - The Kirkwood women's volleyball team will be taking a trip to Arizona later this month, but it won't be for Thanksgiving vacation.

The 17th-ranked Eagles won the Region XI-B tournament in Estherville Saturday and qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament that will be held at Phoenix College from Nov. 19-21.

Kirkwood topped Iowa Central in five sets, 25-16, 25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 15-6, on a neutral floor at Iowa Lakes Community College.

The Eagles needed five sets to defeat Southwestern Community College in the regional semifinals at home Wednesday night and they went the distance again Saturday against Iowa Central after taking a 2-0 lead.

Beyer shines as Cougars top Warriors

Call him Mr. Fabulous. Call him Mr. Wonderful. Call him Mr. Marvelous.

His real name is Shane Beyer and he's a major reason the Kennedy Cougars are headed to the UNI-Dome next Friday afternoon to meet Bettendorf in the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

Beyer hauled in a 61-yard touchdown pass and broke Washington's back with a spectacular 88-yard interception return for a touchdown on the play of the first half Friday night as the Mean Green Machine defeated the Warriors, 21-7, in the quarterfinals at Kingston Stadium.