Random thoughts for a sunny Monday morning in good ol' K.C.:
- If given a mulligan, would Texas stick with Shaka Smart or want Rick Barnes back? All Barnes has done at Tennessee is develop a program into a true national title contender.
- Name any other QB in history that you've seen throw a no-look pass like Patrick Mahomes did to Demarcus Robinson yesterday. Yep...there isn't one. Mahomes wrapped up the MVP trophy with his performance yesterday.
- "What's wrong with Kansas?" Folks, it's December and that question gets asked, at least once, at this time every year. It's called Bill Self messing with his chess pieces and using his own brand of motivation to get his team to play hard, to get the right guys to step up, and to prepare the way for yet another Big 12 title.
- Army-Navy football is one of the best sports events of the year. There were hits made in that game on Saturday that would make an NFL linebacker squeamish.
- Prayers to Alex Smith.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Power in the hands of the donor
No less than six "please fund my (fill in the blank)" populated my Facebook feed this morning on this Giving Tuesday 2018.
The power of philanthropy has definitely shifted to the donor - the individual who can now not only easily give to whatever cause they wish but also develop their own cause for a crowdfunded effort.
It's a new age of philanthropy.
How will those of us in the established world of philanthropy keep up? Understanding donors and why they give, or don't, is now paramount. To not understand donor behavior is to be replaced by some other cause, be it an established charity that has shifted with the times or a donor-generated outlet for giving.
The power of giving is truly now in the hands of the donor.
#GivingTuesday
The power of philanthropy has definitely shifted to the donor - the individual who can now not only easily give to whatever cause they wish but also develop their own cause for a crowdfunded effort.
It's a new age of philanthropy.
How will those of us in the established world of philanthropy keep up? Understanding donors and why they give, or don't, is now paramount. To not understand donor behavior is to be replaced by some other cause, be it an established charity that has shifted with the times or a donor-generated outlet for giving.
The power of giving is truly now in the hands of the donor.
#GivingTuesday
Saturday, November 24, 2018
"Greatest rivalry in sports"
"It's the greatest rivalry in sports."
So said the promotional voice-over leading into the Michigan at Ohio State football contest today in Columbus, Ohio. And, of course, the Wolverines-Buckeyes rivalry is, indeed, special. The Big House. The Horseshoe. Hail to the Victors. Dotting the "i." Great uniforms, nationwide fan bases, iconic stadiums - this one has it all.
But, the "greatest?" Let's take a look at some facts to consider.
First, let's set the parameters for how we consider this and other great rivalries. We'll keep this focused on team sports in the U.S., and will only consider those rivalries that span at least 50 years of existence. And, finally, let's be parochial and only consider the major U.S. sports of football, baseball and basketball.
Here we go.
Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Iconic teams and broad fan bases symbolize this rivalry. These teams have met 2,257 times in their 100 year plus competition. The Yankees lead the regular season history, 1,202 to 1,018; they also lead the postseason meetings, 12-11. The fan bases, shall we say, don't like each other very much.
Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. These two have 22 NFL championships and five Super Bowl trophies combined. The teams have met 197 times with Green Bay holding a slight advantage, 97-94-6. Again, iconic venues, traditional uniforms, Lombardi, Halas - it's the NFL's oldest and best rivalry.
North Carolina and Duke in college basketball. If there is a rivalry that I think matches or exceeds Ohio State and Michigan, it's this one. Simply consider the numbers: one of every four national championships over the past 36 years has been won by one of these schools. One school is private, the other is public. The campuses are 10 miles apart. The overall record leans to UNC, 137-111.
Will Blythe, a North Carolina graduate who went on to be editor of Esquire, famously wrote this: "To legions of otherwise reasonable adults, it is a conflict that surpasses sports; it is locals against outsiders, elitists against populists, even good against evil. The rivalry may be a way of aligning oneself with larger philosophical ideals - of choosing teams in life, a tradition of partisanship that reveals the pleasures and even the necessity of hatred."
Auburn and Alabama in college football. The Iron Bowl. These two in-state rivals have met for 71 straight years since 1948. Alabama leads the series, 45-36-1.
Are there others? Of course - here are a few that are bitter rivalries but did not make the above short list because of overall current relevance and impact, or the fact that the rivalry is no longer in place. (The overall record is in parentheses for each rivalry.)
Oklahoma and Texas in college football. (Texas leads 62-46-5.)
Oklahoma and Nebraska in college football. (Oklahoma leads 45-38-3.)
Kentucky and Louisville in college basketball. (Kentucky leads 34-16.)
USC and Notre Dame in college football. (Notre Dame leads 47-37-5.)
Texas and Texas A&M in college football. (Texas leads 76-37-5.)
Penn State and Pittsburgh in college football. (Penn State leads 52-43-4.)
Kansas and Missouri in college football. (Missouri leads 57-54-9.)
Honorable mention:
USC and UCLA in college football.
Georgetown and Syracuse in college basketball.
Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders.
Harvard and Yale in college football.
Florida and Florida State in college football.
BYU and Utah in college football.
Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.
Indiana and Kentucky in college basketball.
Xavier and Cincinnati in college basketball.
St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.
Stanford and California in college football.
So said the promotional voice-over leading into the Michigan at Ohio State football contest today in Columbus, Ohio. And, of course, the Wolverines-Buckeyes rivalry is, indeed, special. The Big House. The Horseshoe. Hail to the Victors. Dotting the "i." Great uniforms, nationwide fan bases, iconic stadiums - this one has it all.
But, the "greatest?" Let's take a look at some facts to consider.
First, let's set the parameters for how we consider this and other great rivalries. We'll keep this focused on team sports in the U.S., and will only consider those rivalries that span at least 50 years of existence. And, finally, let's be parochial and only consider the major U.S. sports of football, baseball and basketball.
Here we go.
Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Iconic teams and broad fan bases symbolize this rivalry. These teams have met 2,257 times in their 100 year plus competition. The Yankees lead the regular season history, 1,202 to 1,018; they also lead the postseason meetings, 12-11. The fan bases, shall we say, don't like each other very much.
Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. These two have 22 NFL championships and five Super Bowl trophies combined. The teams have met 197 times with Green Bay holding a slight advantage, 97-94-6. Again, iconic venues, traditional uniforms, Lombardi, Halas - it's the NFL's oldest and best rivalry.
North Carolina and Duke in college basketball. If there is a rivalry that I think matches or exceeds Ohio State and Michigan, it's this one. Simply consider the numbers: one of every four national championships over the past 36 years has been won by one of these schools. One school is private, the other is public. The campuses are 10 miles apart. The overall record leans to UNC, 137-111.
Will Blythe, a North Carolina graduate who went on to be editor of Esquire, famously wrote this: "To legions of otherwise reasonable adults, it is a conflict that surpasses sports; it is locals against outsiders, elitists against populists, even good against evil. The rivalry may be a way of aligning oneself with larger philosophical ideals - of choosing teams in life, a tradition of partisanship that reveals the pleasures and even the necessity of hatred."
Auburn and Alabama in college football. The Iron Bowl. These two in-state rivals have met for 71 straight years since 1948. Alabama leads the series, 45-36-1.
Are there others? Of course - here are a few that are bitter rivalries but did not make the above short list because of overall current relevance and impact, or the fact that the rivalry is no longer in place. (The overall record is in parentheses for each rivalry.)
Oklahoma and Texas in college football. (Texas leads 62-46-5.)
Oklahoma and Nebraska in college football. (Oklahoma leads 45-38-3.)
Kentucky and Louisville in college basketball. (Kentucky leads 34-16.)
USC and Notre Dame in college football. (Notre Dame leads 47-37-5.)
Texas and Texas A&M in college football. (Texas leads 76-37-5.)
Penn State and Pittsburgh in college football. (Penn State leads 52-43-4.)
Kansas and Missouri in college football. (Missouri leads 57-54-9.)
Honorable mention:
USC and UCLA in college football.
Georgetown and Syracuse in college basketball.
Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders.
Harvard and Yale in college football.
Florida and Florida State in college football.
BYU and Utah in college football.
Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.
Indiana and Kentucky in college basketball.
Xavier and Cincinnati in college basketball.
St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.
Stanford and California in college football.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
55 Years Ago
November 22, 1963. The day the country changed for good. The day that innocence was lost.
The date, of course, is the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald as the presidential limousine cruised through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.
I was in grade school and will never forget the ashen look on the face of my teacher as she entered our classroom after having been summoned to the principal's office. As she spoke, the tears began to flow and only as an adult do I understand the enormity of her responsibility in telling her second grade class that "a terrible thing has happened in our country."
That tragedy was broadcast into our living room and homes across the country. We all sat rapt as we watched Air Force One arrive in Washington, D.C. with Jackie Kennedy and our new president, Lyndon Johnson. We watched the replay of Jack Ruby gunning down Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters. We watched the funeral procession and the cortege. We watched our country's version of the royal family grieve in public.
I take a moment on this date every year and think back to that time and how a generation was changed, forever. It was the first time in my young life that I realized that there was bad in the world.
The date, of course, is the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald as the presidential limousine cruised through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.
I was in grade school and will never forget the ashen look on the face of my teacher as she entered our classroom after having been summoned to the principal's office. As she spoke, the tears began to flow and only as an adult do I understand the enormity of her responsibility in telling her second grade class that "a terrible thing has happened in our country."
That tragedy was broadcast into our living room and homes across the country. We all sat rapt as we watched Air Force One arrive in Washington, D.C. with Jackie Kennedy and our new president, Lyndon Johnson. We watched the replay of Jack Ruby gunning down Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters. We watched the funeral procession and the cortege. We watched our country's version of the royal family grieve in public.
I take a moment on this date every year and think back to that time and how a generation was changed, forever. It was the first time in my young life that I realized that there was bad in the world.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
"Epic collapse"...not!
The words "epic collapse!" flashed across my Facebook feed late last night as I surfed through social media in the wake of an overtime College Football National Championship victory for Alabama - the school's fifth national championship in nine years. The post referenced Georgia's 13-0 halftime lead and the fact that the Bulldogs couldn't hold on against their SEC counterparts.
The words "collapse" and "choke" are thrown around in such cavalier fashion whenever a sports team fails to protect a seemingly large lead. And, those words last night were incredibly unfair - the Georgia loss was anything but an "epic collapse."
The Dawgs didn't wilt once Alabama started its comeback, scoring a touchdown after Alabama had trimmed UGa's lead to 13-7. And, don't forget that Georgia was previously victimized by a questionable offsides call when they blocked an Alabama punt early in the second half.
No, last night was about a great coach - Nick Saban - making an adjustment and bringing in a true freshman QB to spell Jalen Hurts, knowing that Alabama had to throw the ball in order to come back. The words "collapse" and "choke" do a disservice to what Bama did to win the game and what Georgia did to try and hang on.
Great coach, great coaching staff, great players, making plays - that's what last night was all about.
The words "collapse" and "choke" are thrown around in such cavalier fashion whenever a sports team fails to protect a seemingly large lead. And, those words last night were incredibly unfair - the Georgia loss was anything but an "epic collapse."
The Dawgs didn't wilt once Alabama started its comeback, scoring a touchdown after Alabama had trimmed UGa's lead to 13-7. And, don't forget that Georgia was previously victimized by a questionable offsides call when they blocked an Alabama punt early in the second half.
No, last night was about a great coach - Nick Saban - making an adjustment and bringing in a true freshman QB to spell Jalen Hurts, knowing that Alabama had to throw the ball in order to come back. The words "collapse" and "choke" do a disservice to what Bama did to win the game and what Georgia did to try and hang on.
Great coach, great coaching staff, great players, making plays - that's what last night was all about.
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