Not all of us have mothers worth celebrating, John. I try to find the “and,” to my brother’s statement that our mother was the most evil person he ever met. I can find an “and...” but I am still not certain she is worth celebrating. There is a balance on these holidays, isn’t there. I am so grateful when I witness good to great parenting. I go out of my way to thank parents who engage well with their children, and so I find it easier to celebrate your Mom with you than my Mom who sexually abused me, was narcissistic and destructive to her kids while the world considered her a saint. It is good to here others blessings, and be able to point to them with hope which we all need in spades now. So thanks again for doing what you are doing. I love seeing you free from constraint. Your humanity shows and it is glorious.
You think NIL is an issue? This transfer portal nightmare has to be stopped. If your head coach leaves, I’m all about you transferring, but this “I’m gonna take my ball and go home” attitude because you won’t start or become an All American at the institution YOU signed up to attend and play for is ridiculous. Love to see an article on this John. Stop the madness!
I’m loving your switch to Substack, hope it’s working out for you. You write so well, your style brings to mind Frank Deford. So enjoyable and insightful.
I am glad you are concerned about graduation rates; that has always been a concern of mine. The other figure I worry about is how many students enter the transfer portal and do not get another spot? The Duck women's basketball team has reported a lot of players transferring in, but not performing as advertised. In short, transferring does not seem to result in more playing time or performing better than when at their last team in many cases. Is this another case of missed expectations resulting in leaving and not getting another spot? Thanks.
Factual error on the Jeopardy article. Alex Trebek hosted 8,244 shows; before him Art Fleming hosted around 5,000. So right there, that's only about 62% of Jeopardy shows, not 97%...
That's a pretty interesting observation about Jeopardy. I know from Alex Trebek's biography that he was very involved in the categories and questions. Perhaps the new producers have too much say and the questions are more 'audience friendly'. (Alex actually was there for 3 of the top 5 money earners on the show or 60%) I'll take Jeopardy Trivia for $1,000 John.
On Phil, the gambling losses are staggering ($40 million over four years... not a single year). His 'live on the edge' personality plays out on the course as well. Can't wait to read the book. John, what's your POV on the criticism that some of the interviews Alan Shipnuck had with Phil were supposed to be off the record?
I would like to get your thoughts on the transfer portal that college athletes are using to go to one school to another, apparently without any loss of eligibility or playing time. It seems to me that all this does is to bolster the claim that today's college players are not really students; they are just paid performers being groomed for unrealistic, hoped-for professional careers.
1) We have a nation full of casualties of capitalism who live on the street, with no access to a bathroom, while others have excess. Who cleans all those bathrooms? 2) I suggest that people e-mail to their mothers The Beatles' 1967 Vimeo video, "Your Mother Should Know," which Paul McCartney wrote to promote intergenerational relations. His mother was a midwife, who died when he was fourteen.
NIL and the transfer portal make pay for play the law of the land. NCAA and the colleges have brought this to themselves. Is Lanning have a more appropriate place built for a multi millionaire that will have at least five bathrooms, one for each member of the family plus one for the visiting folks. Backlog of folks wanting upscale homes built.
Not all of us have mothers worth celebrating, John. I try to find the “and,” to my brother’s statement that our mother was the most evil person he ever met. I can find an “and...” but I am still not certain she is worth celebrating. There is a balance on these holidays, isn’t there. I am so grateful when I witness good to great parenting. I go out of my way to thank parents who engage well with their children, and so I find it easier to celebrate your Mom with you than my Mom who sexually abused me, was narcissistic and destructive to her kids while the world considered her a saint. It is good to here others blessings, and be able to point to them with hope which we all need in spades now. So thanks again for doing what you are doing. I love seeing you free from constraint. Your humanity shows and it is glorious.
You think NIL is an issue? This transfer portal nightmare has to be stopped. If your head coach leaves, I’m all about you transferring, but this “I’m gonna take my ball and go home” attitude because you won’t start or become an All American at the institution YOU signed up to attend and play for is ridiculous. Love to see an article on this John. Stop the madness!
I’m loving your switch to Substack, hope it’s working out for you. You write so well, your style brings to mind Frank Deford. So enjoyable and insightful.
I am glad you are concerned about graduation rates; that has always been a concern of mine. The other figure I worry about is how many students enter the transfer portal and do not get another spot? The Duck women's basketball team has reported a lot of players transferring in, but not performing as advertised. In short, transferring does not seem to result in more playing time or performing better than when at their last team in many cases. Is this another case of missed expectations resulting in leaving and not getting another spot? Thanks.
I appreciate that you write about more than just sports. But really John, Jeopardy conspiracy theories from your FRIEND :-)
Factual error on the Jeopardy article. Alex Trebek hosted 8,244 shows; before him Art Fleming hosted around 5,000. So right there, that's only about 62% of Jeopardy shows, not 97%...
That's a pretty interesting observation about Jeopardy. I know from Alex Trebek's biography that he was very involved in the categories and questions. Perhaps the new producers have too much say and the questions are more 'audience friendly'. (Alex actually was there for 3 of the top 5 money earners on the show or 60%) I'll take Jeopardy Trivia for $1,000 John.
I have 3 bathrooms...just sayin'.
On Phil, the gambling losses are staggering ($40 million over four years... not a single year). His 'live on the edge' personality plays out on the course as well. Can't wait to read the book. John, what's your POV on the criticism that some of the interviews Alan Shipnuck had with Phil were supposed to be off the record?
I would like to get your thoughts on the transfer portal that college athletes are using to go to one school to another, apparently without any loss of eligibility or playing time. It seems to me that all this does is to bolster the claim that today's college players are not really students; they are just paid performers being groomed for unrealistic, hoped-for professional careers.
1) We have a nation full of casualties of capitalism who live on the street, with no access to a bathroom, while others have excess. Who cleans all those bathrooms? 2) I suggest that people e-mail to their mothers The Beatles' 1967 Vimeo video, "Your Mother Should Know," which Paul McCartney wrote to promote intergenerational relations. His mother was a midwife, who died when he was fourteen.
NIL and the transfer portal make pay for play the law of the land. NCAA and the colleges have brought this to themselves. Is Lanning have a more appropriate place built for a multi millionaire that will have at least five bathrooms, one for each member of the family plus one for the visiting folks. Backlog of folks wanting upscale homes built.