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HOMETOWN WRITERS MISS THE BOAT?

Hometown writers miss the boat when they think everything’s been said about where they grew up. Then, to save their careers the turn their focus to their hometown. More like they use a sense of home to lure readers in. Like Thomas Wolfe.

SPORTS BOOK REVIEW: GRACIE GOES GOLFING

This sports book review comes via an author’s reading at Annie Bloom’s Books. Last night author Arran Gimba packed the house. From his daughters and their friends, along with their parents, they were a dream audience. What is it about an author reading that gets people out of the house? Let’s start with the joy […]

SPORTS FAN KIDS TO SPORTS FAN ADULTS

My sports fan days started early with this picture. It’s a shot of Dave Wilcox who went from Oregon to the NFL. Sports fans love pictures of their heroes. I can’t remember how I got it, but it’s been with me for decades. There’s only one problem:

UNDERSTANDING SPORTS FOR THE NON-SPORTY

For starters, understanding sports, if you don’t already, and you’re past fifty years old, where have you been? But it does happen. One sign is when you hear, “Why aren’t there more touchdowns in baseball?” Or, “Do you shoot a field goal, or kick a field goal?” “Yes,” is the right answer, but first:

PLAYOFF MODE LIFESTYLE? MANAGE YOUR LOAD

What is playoff mode and why haven’t I heard it before this year’s NBA Playoffs? Is it a mindset, a reminder for professional athletes to make a better effort? Or, is it a marketing scheme by the league and networks to bring back viewers disappointed with ‘load management’ during the regular season? The real question […]

GOLD WATCH OR GOLD MEDAL

This gold watch was once the most desired piece of jewelry on any wrist. If you didn’t wear a Seiko watch, who were you? This one came from San Antonio, Texas after the owner whipped the strongest man he’d ever met in arm wrestling. After that it was a gold medal.

CHOOSING SIDES: IT’S MORE THAN SHIRTS vs SKINS?

The secret to choosing sides? Sometimes you don’t choose, you get chosen, picked. Then you find yourself standing on one side of a line. How do you make sure it’s the best side for you when you know the other will eventually look better?

TIME OUT FOR YOU, YOU, AND YOU

The first ‘time out’ I ever heard came during a grade school basketball game. Coach: Do you know who you’re supposed to be guarding? Me: No. Coach: Guard the other team, not ours. Me: Oh. Okay.

ONE SAD SUPER BOWL LATER, 2023

Me: It’s looking like a sad Super Bowl this year. Wife: That sounds so lonely. Just you and me and millions of fans. Me: That’s the plan. Wife: I miss the party. I’d even cook. Me: You sound sad.

SILENT WORK TAKES ON A LOUD LIFE OF ITS OWN

The latest Joe on the NFL’s biggest stage, Joe Burrow, says do the silent work and keep it to yourself. Has Joe done his work in silence? He can give advice on the the work since what he’s done has paid off. After all he’s a starting quarterback in this season’s Super Bowl. So how […]