During the course of a typical work week, my duties are many. Cover ball games or other events. Interview coaches or athletes. Answer the phone. Write stories. Write blogs. Schedule photo assignments. Research the archives.

All of the aspects are enjoyable, but I've become particularly fond of one. The research.

DANVILLE -- When the 75-year-old Eastern Illinois Baseball League holds its interleague all-star game tonight (7 o'clock) at Danville Stadium, the players will be on a historic field.

Spending an hour-plus waiting in a visitation line at a funeral home on a Friday evening is a good thing.

It is the ultimate tribute a family can receive. To see first-hand how adored, admired and respected their departed family member was is fitting proof of the impact the individual had on a multitude of lives for many years.

Major news from the IHSA this week.

The Bloomington-based organization announced what current enrollment figures mean for the 2010-11 school year, and the results create some huge changes for area schools.

It seems that there is some confusion and misunderstanding about what encompasses inclusion for the 19-sport All-Decade teams, which we have been publishing every Monday and will continue to do so through May 10.

What seemed obvious to me may not be that clear to others. The decade started on Jan. 1, 2000 and ended on Dec. 31, 2009. Period. What happened during those weeks and months is taken into account and what occurred prior to or thereafter is not considered.

PEORIA -- We're courtside, and we're 30 minutes away from tipoff for the Class 1A state championship boys' basketball game, featuring a Salt Fork Storm team with 26 consecutive victories and a Sessier-Valier team which endured a stretch starting in early January when it lost seven of 10 games.
Sessier brings a 26-9 record into the finals. Salt Fork is 32-1, a school record for wins for the Catlin and Jamaica all-sports cooperative.

PEORIA -- Nine minutes until tip-off of Salt Fork's first boys' basketball state semifinal game.

Carver Arena is about half full. The Salt Fork cheering contingent is loud -- as usual -- and could be the proverbial sixth man.

The Storm left the floor for their final words of wisdom from coach Aaron Hird before tipoff. Warmups looked good. No obvious signs of tension.

It didn't strike me until the final girls' basketball regular-season game I covered. It was a Friday night (Feb. 5) at Champaign in a non-conference contest where Fisher defeated Judah Christian.

The regional tournaments are in full force for Class 1A and 2A girls' basketball teams. Throughout the area -- and throughout the state -- schools are viewing the postseason as a second chance for success or to make a statement about how much they've improved.

On one hand, it's great to see the underdog or unheralded teams shine in the tournament. It's further proof that on that proverbial given day, most teams can be beaten. It's a testament that hard work -- quite often -- does pay dividends.

Out-of-state choice helps alleviate pressure of expectation