The most-read GrandForksHerald.com stories online are listed on Page A3 of the Herald every day. This list is closely monitored by the newspaper's columnists and reporters, because it either feeds or wounds their egos.
The running joke in the newsroom is to insert the words "UND hockey" or "Fighting Sioux nickname" in every story because they're the topics that drive the most online readership.
We now can add a third subject to obtain readership gold: "Marilyn Hagerty."
The following sentence should guarantee that this column is an online hit:
"While Fighting Sioux nickname supporters picketed outside, 11,640 fans -- none of them named Marilyn Hagerty -- rooted on the UND hockey team to a 4-3 victory over Bemidji State Saturday night."
ADVERTISEMENT
Even with that trifecta of readership stimuli, there's no guarantee that it will make the top five, however. That's because the list has been dominated in recent days by Marilyn's restaurant reviews and stories about Marilyn Mania.
Marilyn Mania began with her review of the long-anticipated Olive Garden in Grand Forks. The GrandForksHerald.com story went viral, prompting visitors to seek her other Eatbeat reviews. This led to her monopolizing the list of most-read stories.
The saga continued when virtually every television program other than "Cheaters" and ESPN's "SportsCenter" sought her for interviews.
Her appearances included one Saturday on the CBS "This Morning" show. The show's producer initially requested that someone from the Herald accompany Marilyn to the CBS studio in Fargo, where she would be interviewed. Apparently, the producer was concerned the 85-year-old needed someone to hold her hand during all the fuss.
But then the producer learned otherwise and canceled my chaperone duty with these words: "I just talked to Marilyn. She's a spitfire. We won't be needing you."
People who know Marilyn know that no truer words were ever spoken about her. She's Grand Forks' version of Betty White -- energetic, fun and independent.
On Monday, her tour of national media appearances continued. Who knows when it will end?
When it does end, I'll return to planning this year's garden. I'm hoping to have olive plants. Yes, I'll have an olive garden.
ADVERTISEMENT
When the crop is ripe, I will invite the UND hockey team, Fighting Sioux nickname supporters and opponents and Marilyn Hagerty to taste it.
By then, I also hope to return to the most-read stories online list.
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send e-mail to rbakken@gfherald.com .
