Jack’s Blog

The football season has officially started.  Bring on the nuts (the kind you eat and the kind you’re forced to listen to), pretzels, trail mix, chips & salsa, beer, soft drinks and more beer.  On the West Coast especially, a fan can wake up to a televised football game and go all day without leaving the comforts of the living room.  Unless it’s for the comforts of the bathroom.  And how lucky for us that it’s a holiday weekend!  More games, more chips & salsa, more beer - and more bathroom.

There are so many televised games that, if one turns out to be (or looks as though it has the makings of) a blowout, you can simply hit the remote - even if you only have basic cable.  For those lucky souls who have the “package” (and Tivo), well … there just isn’t enough time in the day.  Several people in this country have decided watching an overabundance of football on the tube can be justified as long as they multitask.  For example, someone I know very well grades his students’ math quizzes and tests while watching games.  That is probably why there’s so much time in between plays.  Sure, I he misses the replays, but it forces me him to pay greater attention to the live action.

There are varying degrees of couch (or rocker-recliner) potatoes.  The “normal” variety: rooting for your favorite team, alma mater, someone you know who plays or coaches for a certain team, or possibly another reason (maybe financial) - all the way up to the “misfit:” that person who’s watching a game and doesn’t realize which teams are playing, or has no idea who’s winning, or has ignored the spouse’s/child’s/dog’s pleas (for the past hour or so) to do something that doesn’t involve a play-by-play man.  These individuals are serious candidates as people who might be are overdoing the seated (lying) spectator routine.  As far as my thoughts on fantasy football, I refer you to my recent (8/27/08) blog.

After all, it’s a long season and you certainly don’t want to peak too early.  Besides, there’s a chance there might be, believe it or not, some other worthwhile events to do or learn - or learn to do.  As Lillian Hellman (obviously someone who did a little more on her weekends than sit in front of a TV) said:

“It’s a sad day when you find out that it’s no accident or time or fortune, but just yourself that kept things from you.” 

Fresno, CA isn’t on the “places you have to visit before you die” list.  Yet, it’s a wonderful city in which to raise a family (as my wife and I have done with ours, this marking our fourteenth year in the ‘No).  Our boys were six and one and a half when we moved here in 1995 and now, one’s in college and the other in high school.

The San Joaquin Valley is the number one agricultural area in the country, but what people talk about (at least the people I hang out with) is Fresno State sports - and at this time of year, that means football.  Pat Hill, a former assistant coach on Jim Sweeney’s staff when they were building the Bulldogs into a truly national football team, as well as making it a major social event every time the ‘Dogs played, returned to Fresno with a plan.

A plan all coaches aspire to, yet only a (small) handful make public.  To play with the Big Boys, crack the Top 10 and, once the BCS was created, bust into one of their Bowl Games and, naturally, win it.  Everybody was on board, especially after hearing Pat speak.  He is a stand up guy, with lofty goals, ready to take on anybody, anytime, anywhere and isn’t shy about telling anybody what the ultimate goal is.  The team took their lumps in a couple of the the early years, but then started to make some serious noise by beating several BCS schools - on the road.  Everybody wanted to be part of the excitement when Pat’s dream was realized.

The one chink in the armor has been the inability to win the Western Athletic Conference, due mainly to a school with a similar vision (Boise State) and, at least when June Jones was at the helm, Hawaii - a difficult place to win even if Don Ho were coaching the Warriors.  One shared title is all the WAC hardware FSU has, but there are many big-time scalps in the trophy case - so many that schools were buying their way out of return games to Fresno (to the tune of six figures).

This year’s slate sees Wisconsin come to Fresno and the Bulldogs go on the road to Toledo (a school with the same beliefs as Fresno) and UCLA.  These are in addition to the season opener at Rutgers.  By the way, it really upsets me (having grown up a mile from the RU campus) when people ask me “What is a Rutgers?”  It happens to be - to New Jersey - what the University of Michigan is to Michigan, the University of Tennessee is to Tennessee, the University of Texas is to Texas, etc., etc.  It’s The State University of New Jersey.  And under Greg Schiano, a coach cut from the same cloth as Pat Hill, they’ve become a national power - something all of us NJ natives knew would happen once they started keeping the home-grown players from leaving the area - to Penn State, USC, Ohio State, and all the other well-known football powers.

The problem the Fresno States of the world (non-BCS schools) have is that they’re allowed no mulligans.  One loss and the dream has to be re-directed.  What these same teams have going for them is that three such institutions have made the trip to the mountain top (BYU, Boise and Hawaii), so impossible is no longer the operative word.

All that’s needed is perfection.  But, that’s not quite as dismal as John Wooden’s quote makes it out to be.  Note: his quote was not made regarding reaching a BCS Bowl Game, although it does put some perspective on it:

“Perfection is what you’re striving for, but perfection is an impossibility.  However, striving for perfection is not an impossibility.  Do the best you can under the circumstances that exist.  That is what counts.”

So, it’s really not as bad as it sounds.  They don’t need to play perfect games, just have a perfect record.  Go ‘Dogs!

 ¼/p>

One of my earliest blogs (7/6/07) was about the two gentlemen whom I considered the finest speakers of all-time.  As frightening as public speaking is to most people (it’s considered the number one fear in the country), there are many who not only succeed in it, but actually thrive on getting up in front of a crowd.  Although I’m far from being in the upper echelon of speakers, I feel very comfortable in front of a crowd and have often said that if I were to attend a speech, I’d much rather be the guy giving it than one of listeners.

However, I thoroughly enjoy a great speaker (whether hearing him or her in person, on television or radio, or recorded on a cassette or CD) and can truthfully say I’ve heard well over a thousand speeches (not all of which have been top notch).  There’s something about a great speaker (more than a great speech) that gets the juices flowing and moves people to action.  As posted in my 7/6/07 blog, my two favorites are Sir Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Barack Obama might soon change that number to three, as he is as inspiring a speaker as has come along in the recent years.  The acceptance speech he gave at the Democratic National Convention in Denver was not, in my mind, one of his best efforts.  I feel several of his other speeches have surpassed that effort, due in large part to the content, which contradicted the type of campaign he promised to run.  However, it was the occasion on which he was giving it as the reason it was such a historic moment (tonight’s speech was 45 years to the day of Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech) .

Recall the words of that unforgettable oratory and that alone shows how far our country has come.  There has, however, been enough dissecting of the speech and its significance by far brighter and more politically savvy minds than mine, so my contribution on this magnificent evening is to, once more, display the blog I posted on 1/21/08, entitled The Greatest Martin Luther King Jr. Story Ever.  Since I wrote this when my blog was still, more or less, in its infancy, it will be a new experience to many of you - and I guarantee, after you’ve read it, you’ll be in full agreement with its title.  On that remark, feel free to comment - either way.  Here is that blog in its entirety:

George Raveling’s name has appeared a great many times in these blogs.  In the 4/29/07, I mentioned he was one of the two greatest mentors in my life (John Savage being the other one).  The following story will shed light on this unique and extremely bright individual.

In his early twenties, George, a native of Washington, DC was with a few of his friends when they were approached by a man who told them that the Reverand Martin Luther King, Jr. was going to be speaking in the Nation’s Capitol in a few days.  Apparently, the size of the crowd was misjudged and there was a need for additional security.  Would they be interested?  George, who has always had the sense of understanding a great opportunity when one is presented, immediately assured the man he’d be available while his buddies made comments like, “I might have something going on,” “How long will it take?” and even, “Do we get paid?”

The day of the speech came and George didn’t just get there on time, he got there 45 minutes early.  The same man who had offered the gig the few days prior was impressed and mentioned to George, who at 6′5″, could make a pretty good security guard had he chosen that field, that he could serve as part of the group on stage with Dr. King.  George felt this had all the markings of quite an event.

The oratory MLK delivered that day was entitled, “I Have A Dream.”  Yeah, that speech.  As anyone who’s ever seen the footage of the speech can attest, at its conclusion, the massive audience was at an emotional frenzy.  People were applauding, cheering, shouting, crying, and no one was more caught up in the moment than George himself.  As Dr. King began to leave the stage, George said to him (and as he’s told me on more than one occasion, “I have no idea why I did it”), “Dr. King, may I have a copy of that speech?”  At that time, Martin Luther King, Jr. reached into his jacket pocket and handed George the manuscript (hand written notes in the margins included) that he had just had in front of him.  George thanked him, went home and stuck it in one of the numerous books he had in his apartment (George has always been a voracious reader and any place he’s ever lived has stacks of books throughout it).

Subsequently, Dr. King was assassinated and stories of all the remarkable accomplishments he’d made to humanity flooded the airwaves and print media.  Naturally, the I Have A Dream speech was referred to time and again.  All of a sudden, it occurred George that he actually had the original notes from that famous speech, arguably the greatest speech ever given.  He went home, rummaged through his belongings and, sure enough, there they were, in the same book he had placed them.

George began thinking, “These notes are a part of history.  They really belong in the Martin Luther King Museum.”  He got the number in Atlanta, called, and explained the ordeal.  He said he wanted to donate this valuable document to the museum - with one caveat.  He didn’t want any money; he just wanted for the plaque to say, “Notes donated by George H. Raveling.”  As incredible as it sounds, the voice on the other end not only refused, but became somewhat indignant, lecturing George that he really didn’t have anything to do with the notes and turned down his request.  George is as reasonable as the next guy, as well as quite a bit brighter, so once again, he attempted to get the man to understand he didn’t want the plaque to say, “Written by George H. Raveling,” only that he had donated them.  The museum rep couldn’t be budged, even telling George the notes weren’t his, to which Rav replied, “Then how come I’m holding them in my hand?”  Shortly thereafter, the call was terminated and, to this day, the I Have A Dream notes are in a safety deposit box in the name of George H. Raveling.

By the way, I believe the latest offer George told me he’s received for the notes was three million dollars, but because he understands the significance of what they stand for, he refuses to sell.

There are lessons to be learned from all stories and this one has several.

     1) When presented with an opportunity, seize it.  Worry about what minor inconveniences it may cause at a later date.

     2) When you’re supposed to be somewhere, don’t just get there on time; get there early. 

     3) Lose your inhibitions.  If, at the conclusion of that speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. had said to the crowd, “Is there anyone out there who’d like my notes?” do you think George’s hand would have been the only one to go up?

     4) Don’t let pride get in the way of a good decision.  If that jackass who answered the phone had told his boss how he handled George’s request, he might have been on the receiving end of the following question, “How long have you worked here, not counting tomorrow?”

The employee in question is who Mark Twain was talking about when he said:

“Let us be thankful for fools.  Without them, the rest of us couldn’t succeed.”    �

Before I get any deeper in this blog, let me confess I am a Nike loyalist - even though during my 30-year intercollegiate coaching career, the teams I was associated with wore Nike basketball shoes in only three of those seasons (and this includes nine different universities).

Those numbers are a little deceptive because it wasn’t until the mid ’80s that Nike made one of the best business decisions of all-time when, instead of paying ten professional basketball players a half a million dollars each to wear Nike basketball shoes, they gave the entire $5 million dollar budget to Michael Jordan.

Up until that time, the Converse shoe company ruled the basketball sneaker industry.  When signing pros became the thing to do, Converse’s strategy was two-fold: 1) they signed the two “faces of the NBA” (Magic Johnson and Larry Bird) and 2) they felt college basketball teams (and the fans who followed those teams) would stick with “Cons” out of loyalty.  Incidentally, MJ’s team in college, the University of North Carolina, wore Converse when he played there.

What ensued was Michael transcended everything - basketball, race, gender.  (Note: If Jordan Brand basketball shoes - a subdivision of Nike - were a stand-alone company, it would be the second largest basketball shoe selling company - to Nike basketball shoes - in the world).  Nike basketball shoes steamrolled the competition.  Nike basketball decided to go after college basketball coaches (a group that was making decent money, but nowhere near the exorbitant - obscene - salaries they’re raking in now) by offering not only free gear and Nike basketball shoes, but paying the coaches “stipends” as well.  A wonderful strategy, since college athletics departments were feeling the budget crunch as they finally came to realize that the 1972 Title IX law was really supposed to be adhered to.  Even still, the product had to be a great one or all the money in the world wouldn’t have worked.  Inferior merchandise just doesn’t hold up in a competitive marketplace. 

Obviously, Nike basketball shoes were not only good, but exceptional.  One indication: eleven of the twelve members of the Olympic team are contracted with Nike basketball (Dwight Howard being the lone exception).  This group of players won the Gold, played as a true team on and off the floor and conducted themselves impeccably.

The swoosh was everywhere and what Nike received in positive publicity, as well as the TV ads that seemed to run on every network and cable channel, has assured them of remaining atop the athletic footwear and apparel business for as long as anyone can see.

People have referred to the Nike basketball shoe strategy as popular wisdom, but as speaker and business magnate extraordinaire Harvey MacKay once said,

“Popular wisdom is a contradiction in terms.  If it’s popular, it’s popular, but it isn’t wisdom.  Wisdom involves seeing what is beyond popular.”

 �

I fully realize that yesterday’s blog was about listening to other people and trying to understand them; yet here I am, 24 hours later, about to blow out the hottest craze going in this country (and probably about to expand globally - if it hasn’t already). 

The hard core fantasy sports player has some serious issues.  Having fun with a hobby is a good thing, but this lunacy has zoomed waaaaay off the charts.  Although I’ve felt this way from the outset of the “fantasy”obsession, what got me to come out in blogosphere was watching and listening to (the 8/25/08) Jude LaCava rumor mill at www.myfoxphoenix.com (click on “Sports” and the “rumor mill”).  Jude, in addition to being a long-time friend and former colleague (we did a radio show together in Toledo in the late ’80s), is a brilliant sports mind.  He’s been the top TV sports anchor in the Phoenix area for a decade or so and, believe me, with a mug like his, you’d better have talent.

As far as getting the Phoenix job, he knew nobody - had absolutely no people to call in favors for him - and yet landed the gig after toiling in Toledo so well for so many years.  Toledo to Phoenix?  It didn’t take him too long to accept that job when it was offered.  His knowledge of sports (all of them), people skills and incredibly quick wit make him a guy you want to tune into each night, then wish you could go down to the local watering hole for a cold one to ask him whatever’s on your mind in the world of sports.  He is the absolute definition of “A Regular Guy” and that’s meant as the highest of compliments.

Back to the fantasy story.  Jude compared being in a fantasy league to a time from our era, when little kids would play “Army” - with their little toy soldiers, actually thinking they were leading a troop into battle (this was long before video games, where you can really blow up people) and defeating the Germans or Russians (depending how old you were).  He continued his rant regarding fantasy-ers, saying, “It’s a league based on stats and you’re led to believe you’re actually running a team, when you’re not!” By the way, he also made mention of fantasy players slacking off at their real jobs (a much greater concern).

I’ve heard conversations between fantasy “owners” who make statements that, if you didn’t know these people were, in reality, pretty bright and capable at what they get paid to do, would truly make you wonder if they were either on something or simply just delusional.  Stereotyping is a bad habit so I’ll qualify my statement that not all fantasy players are wannabes, but the club has more than its share of “woulda, coulda, shoulda, if only’s.” 

What people from my generation lament is fans can no longer root “for the uniform,” i.e. with free agency, it truly is impossible to tell the players without a scorecard.  Fantasy sports goes one step further.  Fans now root for individuals in a team sport.  An “owner” might be watching a game, cheering for the quarterback and a certain receiver from one team, while rooting for the opponent’s running back and … pick another player (or two, depending on how the “draft” went).

Here’s a scenario that, if it were to take place, wouldn’t shock me.  As the game’s final whistle blows, there’s a knock on the door and none other than Peyton Manning is standing there (the Colts had a bye week).  Mr. Fantasy’s jaw drops as he sees, in the flesh, one of the game’s (real and fantasy) players.  He’s in complete awe - he’s actually had Peyton on a previous year’s fantasy team (the one when he “won it all” and was the toast of the fantasy world). Peyton says, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Anything, Mr. Manning?” melts the “owner.”

“Who just won the game?”

And the fantasy guy doesn’t know (because that’s of no importance to him).

Norman Vincent Peale made a statement regarding how a person should approach his or her job.  I think it’s perfect to wrap up this blog:

“Think enthusiastically about everything; but especially about your job.  If you do, you’ll put a touch of glory in your life.  If you love your job with enthusiasm, you’ll shake it to pieces.  You’ll love it to greatness.” 

He was talking about was a person’s job, not their hobby.

   ¼/p>

Since school just started and it’s late, forgive me for reaching into the archives and breaking out an early blog, but one whose message will never grow old.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m an avid reader. One of the authors I truly admire is Stephen Covey.  I’ve also alluded to the fact I am a past member of the National Speakers Association. While I think the content of Covey’s books are “pure gold,” I’m not as keen on him as a speaker. 

As many books of his as I’ve read (and that number is in double figures), I have nearly as many of his books on tape (mostly recordings of speeches he’s given). His humor is evident (although he uses it sparingly) but I find his voice to be somewhat of a monotone.

However, this criticism is akin to finding fault with a light because it shines too brightly, especially when you take into account the content of his books and speeches. I believe I saw where his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People set some kind of record for number of weeks at number one on the New York Times best seller list or number of weeks on the list or both.  I do know it’s one of the top three books I’ve ever read in terms of having a lasting impact in my life.

It’s impossible, not mention foolish, to quarrel with any one of his Seven Habits. In particular, two of them that have affected my life in an extremely powerful manner - numbers four (Think Win-Win) and five (Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood). Living by these two alone has made life so much easier, more rewarding and alleviates even the most unsettling disagreements.

The conflict the first of these two habits presents is the fact that in America we are brought up in a win-lose culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in athletics - especially team sports, where it’s mandatory there must be a winner and a loser. I’m old enough to remember “ties” but I’m also old enough to remember the saying, “A tie is like kissing your sister.” Yet, if in one-on-one encounters with other people, you keep in mind they want to “win” as much as you do (if not more), approaching the problem from that vantage point gives you an ability to understand their next point well before they make it, thus allowing you time to defuse it. In addition, it shows you have concern for their point of view and you’re not simply looking to “put one over” on them - which, even if you do, chances are you’ve shut the door on ever doing business with them again - and more importantly, you’ve lost the trust of a potential client, customer, or worse, a friend.

This works hand-in-hand with Habit #5. If people would follow Covey’s suggestion that, prior to responding to someone, they need to repeat what that person just said, to their satisfaction, countless hours of misunderstandings would be avoided, thus cementing relationships as opposed to destroying them. Having a conversation with some people is like playing double-dutch, where the person entering the game is swaying back and forth with the jump ropes, just waiting to jump in. As you’re making your statement, you can visualize the person rocking as you speak, just waiting until the time you allow them (maybe as you take a breath), to jump in and pounce on whatever it you is said (or what their version is of what you said, often, not one in the same).

I do not know who Mary Field Belenky is, but her quote sums up this blog perfectly:

“Really listening and suspending one’s own judgment is necessary in order to understand other people on their own terms … this is a process that requires trust and builds trust.”

The three main reasons are: Michael Jordan’s 45, Larry Bird’s back is shot (even worse than it was in 1992) and Charles Barkley can barely beat Dick Bavetta in a race. 

Congrats to our guys for reclaiming the Gold - and doing it in a classy manner, i.e. through teamwork and relinquishing their individual egos for the good of the squad), but if you thought for a millisecond this blog was about to make the claim some of the hip-hoppers are considering, e.g. that this collection of NBA players is better than the original Dream Teamers, you’d better hope fans aren’t subjected to drug testing.

No one, including parents, wives, children or even a player’s posse (well, maybe the posse because their “livelihood” is dependent on those they cling to and deify) can say with a straight face that the current Olympic men’s basketball team would beat the original group who represented us in Barcelona.  Breaking down the rosters illustrates the superiority of the Dream Team beyond a shadow of a doubt.  This year’s squad has the better twelfth man, since there was a mandatory spot for a college player in ‘92 and Christian Laettner occupied it - a good player, but one whose career pales in comparison to each of the Redeem Teamers.

In no way am I implying that every one of the original Dream Team is a better player than any one of this year’s group.  Kobe Bryant, in my mind (and in the minds of many others) is the best player in the game today.  Not only can he score in a multitude of ways (like any way he wants), but he’s the ultimate lockdown defender who takes pride in his skill on that end of the floor and requests (demands) to guard the other team’s best perimeter offensive player (as he did with Mike Krzyzewski prior to Olympic tryouts).  I still feel, though, that Michael Jordan gets my vote as the best who ever played the game.

LeBron James’ skill set is beyond belief, especially when his age is taken into account (his chronological age, not how old he looks).  His defense could improve as could the range on his jump shot and his shot selection.  Still, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to put up their salary in a one-on-one contest against him. I’ll hold off the comparison to him and, instead, mention each player on each team, which I believe will prove my case (and not because “the dude’s fakin’ “).

I got to see Jason Kidd up close when I was coaching at USC and he was playing at Cal.  A friend of mine, who was an NBA head coach at the time, asked me to assess the players in the Pac-10 for the upcoming draft.  When Kidd’s name came up, my evaluation was, “He plays the game like coaches would play, if they had the skill.”  While he’s getting on in years, Chris Paul and Deron Williams aren’t too far behind and may surpass his accomplishments before their careers end.  Still, Magic Johnson reinvented the point guard position and probably would be selected first at that spot if someone were starting a team.  If not, John Stockton, the all-time assist leader (by an incredible margin), might be picked if a traditional point were chosen (especially if the person choosing wanted to run the pick and roll and also needed someone who could shoot). 

Certainly, Dwight Howard’s a man-child, but where he is currently in his career would have to take a back seat to either the Patrick Ewing or David Robinson of 1992.

The role of “designated shooter” was given to Michael Redd this year and Chris Mullin in ‘92.  Any debate here?

Chris Bosh was an absolute shining star in the Olympics (what a relief it must have been getting away from - and what a downer it must be, thinking about going back to - Toronto).  Still and all, at the power forward position, many consider Karl Malone to be the best ever.

Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer and Tayshaun Prince are great ones with Wade looking like he’s returning to his championship form.  Prince seems to be the anti-Melo, a guy who will always be on a winning team, yet not receive the glory the other guys do, while Anthony will lead his team in scoring and get the accolades, but comes up short in the win column (at least, on the professional level).  Boozer is a steady contributer, who annually puts up All-Star stats.

Charles Barkley was a type of player who comes along very seldom.  I was coaching at Tennessee when he was at Auburn and you’d swear he had helium inside of him when you’d see that body get that high up off the floor.  His body, mind and game all improved significantly when he got into the League.  Scottie Pippen was considered by many the second best player in the NBA (as long as he played with MJ - and in Barcelona, they were together).  Larry Bird wasn’t Larry Legend when the ‘92 Olympics were held, but nobody would ever be foolish enough to challenge him to a shooting contest.

The one factor that must be taken into consideration that this edition had to do that the ‘92 team didn’t was play against far better competition.  I remember Dream Team Head Coach Chuck Daly admitting, after it was all over, he told his staff his goal was not to ever call a time out.  Talk about grasping: the ultimate pessimist realizing the hand he was dealt, seeing the others in the game and feeling that confident - and for good reason.  By the way, he achieved his goal.

Each team won the Gold and did it with class (Barkley’s errant elbow aside).  Who better to quote, when discussing Olympic success, than Peter Ueberroth, who said prior to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (and after which he received Time’s Man of the Year award):

“We can accomplish anything in this world, solve any problem, if enough people care.”

How Larry King does what he does, at his age, is remarkable.  Although my admiration extends to several other feats in life he performs, in this case, I’m referring to his interview show, Larry King Live.

Unlike other shows of its kind where the guests exchange opinions, Larry King stays in control, e.g. he doesn’t allow the participants to scream over each other, making it a contest of whoever’s loudest is declared the winner (at least by his or her constituents).  Maybe somebody knew something when it was decided to change his last name to “King.”

His latest entry into the world of talk television was a show with two pro-Obama people and two McCain supporters.  One of the earliest blogs I did (see post on 4/22/07) was on the subject of Democratic and Republican strategists.  I understand the concept and, certainly, the political necessity for that particular job, but still, I couldn’t possibly feel more strongly that the better the “strategists” are at their jobs, the less we are the United States of America.

The reason for my disappointment lies in the most basic fundamental tenet of a successful company, organization, team, group or country and that is: “What’s right is more important than who’s right.”  (By the way, that’s about the fifth time I’ve used that line in these blogs - where I try not to repeat any of them, but that one is so powerful and so prophetic that, if you’ll stay loyal to this blog, you’re bound to see it again, probably many times).  Watching Larry King’s show at my home turned into somewhat of a comedy as I would answer the questions he asked the panelists before they did … and my replies, while not verbatim, contained the identical message each of these individuals gave.  Example: 

“Was Biden the right choice?”  

“Obama hit a home run.  He’s the perfect complement.” Guess which side said that?

“Biden made so many inflammatory remarks against Obama in the primaries and there’s so much footage of it (which we’re already working on running over and over).”  Need a hint for which two members were of that opinion?

The good news for the Democrats … and the bad news for the Republicans is that the sides get to switch tactics as soon as McCain announces his running mate.  When it comes down to running a political campaign, it’s just as much about (if not more) making the opponent look foolish (make one slip of the tongue and hear it repeated thousands of times), discrediting any of the good they’ve accomplished (even if their legislation/ideas are something that has or will improve life for Americans), taking credit for anything that people find popular (whether your side proposed it or the other one did) and, basically, lie, cheat and steal.  In other words, the emphasis is infinitely more on the negatives of your opponent (since they’re easier to find - or fabricate) than on the positives of your candidate (which may or may not be true, and, if made up - or simply embellished - can be too easily exposed).

Each side is preparing for battle, baring its teeth and sharpening its claws so their party can win.  It’s too bad there have to be two losers - the party that doesn’t get elected and the majority of the citizens of this country.  I’d bet many of those involved heavily in the campaigns have removed or covered up the mirrors in their homes.  Or if they haven’t, maybe they ought to consider it.

One of the most down-to-earth, perceptive, street smart people anyone would ever meet was the late Al McGuire.  He also happened to be one of the winningest intercollegiate basketball coaches of all-time, including the 1977 National Championship in his final year as coach of the Marquette Warriors.  Al was someone to whom confrontation was a way of life when he was growing up in the streets of New York City.  His practices were legendary for their disagreements (loud ones, some that escalted to fighting - with him involved).  Al, however, is also famous for telling his teams the following line:

“There is an enemy, but it’s not in this locker room.” (or in this country)�

It’s nearly impossible to watch television or pick up a magazine without seeing Duke Head Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski.  He also happens to be the current coach of the USA Redeem Team (I agree with Kobe who, when asked about the monicker, said, “It’s a little cheesy, … but it works”).  All those advertisements Mike’s doing are no more his work than are the monster dunks the US is banging on Olympic basketball opponents - but they all have his approval.

It’s just guys doing their jobs - his agent, the players, and him, as the leader of the group.  People (the media and fans alike) seem to cling to Mike’s every word and, believe me when I tell you, there could be worse things to fully focus on.  Example: When asked if he was trying to pick the best team for the Olympics during the “tryouts,” Mike prophetically (and politically) stated, “You don’t pick a team; you pick a group of individuals and hope they become a team.”

His knowledge, leadership and commitment to our country (this is a man who’s not in the best of health and could certainly use the time off to rest and recuperate from the many surgeries he’s had and the pain he regularly endures so as to be ready to lead Duke into another challenging ACC season and NCAA run - could it be that’s what he was taught at West Point)?  It’s also peak recruiting time, but with all the tube time he’s getting, the respect the program already has and the fact he has highly capable assistants, somehow the Blue Devils will make it through in fine fashion.

He delegates well (and why not with the experience and wisdom of the coaches he’s surrrounded by) and makes every attempt at legitimately answering questions (without the use of “coachspeak” and independent of how asinine the query might be), yet deflecting credit from himself (an admirable quality, but not necessarily a completely factual one).

Mike and I are nearly the exact same age and, back when I started out in coaching - with the rules the way they were - there’d be times I’d be at the same events as Mike.  He was always friendly (especially to an assistant) when others in his shoes were more aware of where someone was on the “food chain” before they decided how they’d act toward them.  Mike always knew a coach’s life was a precarious one.  It’s been well-documented how much pressure was on him after he left the head coaching post at West Point to go to Duke.

I was a member of the Tennessee staff when we trounced his first Duke team in the championship game of the 1980 Sugar Bowl basketball tournament in New Orleans.  After his third squad posted a second straight losing record, Athletics Director Tom Butters did what very few AD’s would have done.  He proclaimed his belief in Mike being the right guy and took a strong stand in the face of a great deal of criticism, sticking by his coach, placing Butters in an elite group of bosses who refuse to yield to “know-it-all, yet-in-reality know-nothing” knee-jerk (or is it just “jerk?”) boosters and fans.

A personal story: One night when I was an assistant coach at Tennessee, I traveled to Raleigh, to scout North Carolina State’s opponent whom we were to play in our Volunteer Classic in a week or so.  After the game, I was in Jim Valvano’s office (never would anyone decline an invitation to be in V’s company - especially after a win) when the Wolfpack’s Sports Information Director walked in and gave him a list of the other ACC scores from that night.  V looked over the scores and said, “Great, Mike beat (I think it was) Illinois.  That may just have saved his job.”  That is how close Coach K was to being a guy with a long, difficult name no one outside of his immediate family could pronounce, as opposed to the coaching icon he’s deservedly become.

Mike persevered, Duke prospered and his current team is on the cusp of returning Olympic Gold (and domination) to the United States, a prospect which looked pretty bleak not too long ago. 

It could have been Mike whom John Quincy Adams was describing when he said:

 “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”

 �

I pride myself on continual learning, whether it be through reading, listening to audio books or, maybe even attending a seminar.  So when I realized I was watching television and I was switching back and forth between America’s Best Dance Crew and the Olympics 4 x 100 relays for the men and women (having already been told by my friend in the Midwest that the Americans had dropped the baton in each race), I knew it was time for my re-entry into the world of academia.

I fully understand that the question “Who’s the better dance crew - SoReal Cru or Super Cr3w? (actual spellings) - will be debated well into the wee hours of the morning -assuming any of these dancers/judges/fans are in their right minds at that time (giving them the benefit of the doubt that they’re actually in their right minds during the show.  One of the misspelled groups (it’s shocking I’m unsure of which group it was) was being interviewed and not one of the members had a hat straight on his or her head.  Arguably (but not by much), the greatest sportswriter of all-time, Jim Murray, once wrote, “Every time I see somebody with his hat on backward I think his brain must be the same way.”  If Jim were alive today, he might have softened his stance somewhat, although in this particular case, there’d be no need.  I’d give rather large odds his evaluation was “spot on.”

Actually, I wasn’t watching the Olympics to see the runners drop the baton (I have too much feeling for people who work so hard for four years and lose their dreams in an instant).  It was just what was on.  (I’m certain if I’d surfed further, I’d have found reruns of Family Guy or Southpark, two shows separating our youth from that of other countries - countries whose goal it is to pride themselves on what their next generation accomplishes). 

School starts on Monday and not a moment too soon.  I’m worried my son is going to start wearing his hat backward.  It’s bad enough his pants sag below “the equator.”

Each school year, as we start classes, I’ll tell the students the same line which, by now, is probably referred to as my mantra:

“The difference between humans and all other forms of living things is the ability to think.” �