Domeier flips to sports host

While viewing Facebook one night, Mark Domeier came across something that piqued his interest. A New York company was looking for someone to do some programming for the Minnesota Twins.
With a life-long interest in sports, Domeier wasn't about to strike out in letting the company know about his love. Once he reached out, talks with the company branched into doing all Minnesota sports.
And last week, he began a three-month commitment to doing a one-hour sports show on the Internet at www.365sportscasts.com. The show, "Whatever Flips Your Waffle," will air Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Domeier plans to ease into doing the show to see if it's a good fit for him. The initial broadcasts will be recorded in a makeshift studio from Domeier's home in Ellendale.
"I'm afraid if I went live, I would be staring at the clock wondering what I would say next," said Domeier, who grew up in New Ulm.
Though he has no broadcasting experience, Domeier has dabbled in some play-by-play announcing of volleyball and basketball for NRHEG schools, where he has taught junior high English for 26 years. After the COVID-19 pandemic began raging two years ago, NRHEG began livestreaming games with Domeier behind the microphone.
Domeier also is the announcer for the home varsity games at NRHEG. "Having some success with that gives me confidence for this endeavor," he said.
He is often found at area games as he officiates various sporting events, including football, basketball, softball and baseball.
Domeier said he plans to give his radio show a little different twist by spotlighting high school sports. In fact, he picked Wednesdays because they are traditionally a non-sports night for high schools.
While high school sports will get some play on his show, Domeier also wants to cover the gamut of all levels of sports, including college and professional. He also plans to offer some Minnesota sports history on the show. "Whatever I feel like talking about that week, I will do," he said.
Domeier is striving to find "great conversation" on his show. He plans to interview some athletes on the show. And, he said, he wants to bring some small-town flavor into it as well.
"It will change along the way," Domeier said. "I will ad-lib and make things up as I go along. I don't preplan stuff, and I have to go with what I see."
He thinks staying off-script will make him stand out a bit from other shows. "I don't have anything in mind," Domeier said. "I'm just going to be who I am and see where it takes me."
His biggest goal with the show is to make it relevant and timely to what's going on in Minnesota. For example, Domeier hopes to offer a different perspective by getting inside the minds of athletes and umpires.
"The tricky part is to make it relevant to a wide audience," he said. "I want listeners to get an appreciation for all levels of sports. I want them to be able to express that pure enjoyment for sports."
Domeier played basketball and baseball in high school, but "I didn't play them very well," he said. However, he said he thinks his lack of play helped him develop greater knowledge of sports. "I became a coach because I spent so much time on the bench to see things," he added.
Domeier said it's hard not to get cynical about watching pro sports. That's why he wants greater emphasis on high school sports. "To me, watching high school sports is a pure form of athletics," he said. "They are out there to battle and have fun."
Asked what excites him about sports, Domeier said: "The competitiveness. The competition is what drives them and you can see that in athletes."
One of his favorite players is former NRHEG standout Carlie Wagner, who set a school record of nearly 4,000 points and led the school to two state basketball championships. Wagner went on to play in the WNBA for the Minnesota Lynx.
"I said her name over the microphone more than any other player."
As for the show's name, Domeiere didn't have to look far as it is the same name that he has been using for the past 10 years for a weekly column in the Star Eagle newspaper. One of his former students, freshman Eden Eads, designed a waffle logo for him to use.
Domeier said the phrase, "Whatever Flips Your Waffle," was coined by a friend while going to college at Winona State University. "It doesn't make sense, but it does," he said, adding he has always used it with his students.
And it didn't take long to wrestle together the equipment to transform his basement into a radio studio. His son had all the recording equipment. "I'm using the microphone I gave to my son a few years ago for Christmas," Domeier said.
As he ventures into his latest endeavor, Domeier said he is feeling both excited and nervous while not knowing what success he will achieve with the radio show.
But he plans to lean on something he's always taught in the classroom. "I teach my students that it's okay to fail as long as you try to get better," Domeier said.
And he hopes to take advantage of something else.
"I always joke that I have a face for radio," he said.
Whatever Flips Your Waffle
• Internet sports show
• Hosted by Mark Domeier of Ellendale
• Access at www.365sportscasts.com
 
• Airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m.