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PEP TALK? MY BEST MEMORY BEFORE A BIG WRESTLING MATCH

When does a pep talk make all the difference? You’re warmed up, ready to go, just as the coach gives last instructions. As a high school wrestler in my second year, I needed all the pep I could get. Ordinarily you wouldn’t put a second year guy out against a well known mauler, but . […]

RULE BOOK FOR EARLY 70’S DATING: DID YOU FOLLOW IT?

The rule book for dating in the early 1970’s came from rock lyrics. But not just any rock lyrics. This isn’t about the free love sixties, even if it had a nice ring to it. It’s about getting on down the road.

SPORTS DADS SAY, “PLAY MY KID IF YOU’RE SMART”

Sports dads come in every flavor between sweet and sour. They come with vast experience, and none. What they know for sure is their kid is better than your kid and should play more than he does. With that attitude, what can go wrong?

MORE FOOD? IT’S NOT A QUESTION

There’s more food on the table. Have another plate. If it’s Super Bowl Sunday you’ll ruin your team’s chances if you don’t gorge yourself. The barbecued little sausages won’t eat themselves. Grab a toothpick. Homemade Buffalo wings? Right there.

POWER COUPLE OF THE LAST NFL GAME OF THE YEAR

Power Couple? You and who you’re with. But there are others of note, especially today. What day? Super Bowl Day, or the last time my wife says, “Is there a game on, a big game, a REALLY BIG GAME,” dripping with fake enthusiasm. My answer (with authentic hype-man energy): “They’re all big, honey. It’s the […]

STORY MEDICINE AND THE CURE

Story medicine is what you see and hear. Think of it like going out for music: Is it, “Let’s get tickets and go see Taylor Swift?” Or, “Let’s get tickets to hear Taylor Swift?” It’s both. Around here we call that, “The Deuce.”

INSIGHTFUL AGING TAKES PRACTICE

Insightful aging? Oh yeah, I’ve got insight. It’s not such a reach when you see people leaving the party way too soon. Once you’re done, you’re done, then the question is how will you be remembered? So how will you be remembered? How do you want to be remembered?

ANXIETY TODAY: WHAT IF . . . ?

Anxiety today is nothing new, but plenty of new people experience it. First it’s one thing, then another, until it’s everything all the time. And it never slows down, never stops. Then what?

SELF-TALK SECRET? YOU’RE NOT THAT BAD

Self-talk proves one thing: You’re an easy sell if you talk yourself into trouble. Then what? Talk yourself out of trouble. What did you think? And that’s where opinions differ.

OREGON SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVERS AND MORE

Oregon sports didn’t begin with Steve Prefontaine, but he was the first Oregonian on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At least that’s what the smart-guy talent online say. Sports Illustrated and I were born the same year. With the end of the magazine this week everyone is sad. I’m sad even though my subscription lapsed […]