Voice of the Bluestreaks

The Chisholm basketball program can be difficult to describe to an outsider. Nowhere else in Minnesota will you find the tradition and storied history found in this small town. A town pure from the transfer sagas of metros yet dynastic in it's dominance of the Iron Range over the years. With such great history comes a closeness of the characters involved whether they be fans, managers, coaches, or players. This closeness is like that of a family. Chisholm lost a member of it's family today.

Howard "Howie" Janesich passed away today. Howie had the distinction of being a player, coach, and play-by-play man for the broadcasts of the Chisholm games. He's been a staple in the program for a countless number of years, often volunteering his time to help coach the B team. I can't even begin to imagine the number of hours he put into helping the young men in the basketball program.

I am stricken with sadness over Howie's passing. He kept himself in tip-top shape whether it was walking or biking. I recall mowing the grass around the lake this past past summer and talking to Howie as he walked by. He always wore a smile on his face to greet me and I could tell he loved running into his former players. As a coach, he treated me with utmost respect. He knew our teams were capable of great things and wouldn't allow us to underachieve.

Broadcasts of Chisholm's games will certainly never be the same. Through the years both Chisholm and opposing teams in the area knew no other voice calling Chisholm games than Howie Janesich's. He rightly called himself the "Voice of the Bluestreaks". With color-man Tom Gornick, the two formed a duo that was both entertaining and informative. Us players were always interested in hearing some of the "old-school" phrases that Howie would utter during the course of the games.

Above all, I believe Howie tried to instill respect and honor in us. He was the first to let me know if my hair was getting long and the last to give us a break in workload. With Chisholm's full press strategy so dependent on fitness, I can certainly understand why. I distinctly remember the times that Howie would tell us about what being a Chisholm player was all about. It was a sense of honor and discipline that wasn't found in other programs in the area. This was what Howie tried to instill in us from 9th grade on.

The main reason I wanted to write this is to thank Howie for all the time he put into us. He volunteered his time simply because he loved the Chisholm program. It's not fair that someone who worked so hard to keep in shape gets unlucky with cancer. I know he fought as hard as he could. I am so proud that Howie got the chance to see his hard work pay off in the form of multiple successful seasons, including two trips to state for our team. I wish I could play one more year just to dedicate the season to him. He deserves it.

Rest in peace Howie. Thanks for all the good times. We'll miss you.