MURPHY’S LAW: Sears Opens, Gabby Rocks

Happy to welcome John Sears back home. Tens years after his internship at channel 13, John returns as a sports reporter. He’s worked the past six years at KCRG in Cedar Rapids under the leadership of respected Sports Director, John Campbell. John Sears graduated from Dowling Catholic and the University of Iowa. John’s wife, Maria, is an attorney, and they have a cute daughter, Adrienne, who just turned 1. (I feel like I’m writing his biography. It’ll have to be a short one.)

You can follow John on twitter @JohnSears (clever), or reach him at the station through old-fashioned email at John.Sears@whotv.com, though he won’t have time to read it Thursday while covering eight state softball games. Welcome, John!

Gabby Douglas is one of five United States gymnasts on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. I tried to think when the last time I saw a gymnast on the cover of S-I was. I couldn’t. I knew Shawn Johnson never made it. The Des Moines Register’s Mark Emmert looked it up: 1984. No one since Mary Lou Retton. (Editor’s update: We’ve since learned from the Register that Kerri Strug appeared on cover in 1996. We regret the error.)

Gabby will appear on Thursday’s Rock Center with Brian Williams. On the news at 6, I said she’d appear on 30 Rock with Brian Williams. That sounds more interesting, but though Brian Williams does do cameos on 30 Rock, that’s more Tina Fey’s show.

I just read that Snooki has two New York Times bestsellers. I weep.

As I type, my Mediacom internet shuts down every few minutes, and the TV goes black every 30 or so. Mediacom came out, said it’s a big problem on its end, and will get back to us within 24-48 hours. It’s eye-opening how much I need wireless to work reliably to get through my day.

I’ll pick this up again soon. The surges are breaking what little train of thought I have left.

Email me any time: keith.murphy@whotv.com