Joy Turns to Sorrow

Twenty-four hours ago, I watched the end of the rally at Kansas City’s Union Station that celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs come-from-behind victory in the Super Bowl. In case you happen to be one of the handful who did not watch that game this past Sunday, the victory was the Chiefs’ second championship in as many years. And the Super Bowl telecast was the most watched television program ever in the U.S.—or, at least since the moon landing in 1969. 

Yesterday was a glorious, sun-splashed day in Kansas City—a day filled with joy and excitement and appreciation for what this NFL franchise has achieved.

In a matter of seconds, that joy turned into tragedy. Three men with firearms of various types opened fire near the Union Station parking garage in what has been called a “dispute” by the Kansas City, MO Police Department. That “dispute” has killed one and injured 22 more. (Of those 22 victims, at least half are under the age of 16.)

When I learned about this shooting, I immediately turned the TV back on and watched in horror at the aftermath. Fans running; children being comforted; police taking positions around the perimeter, including on the roof of the nearby Westin Crown Center Hotel; a local network affiliate mistakenly replaying the shooting video without acknowledging that this was taped content (and thus causing new panic); and on and on.

 

It's been 24 hours since and I still have difficulty in coalescing my thoughts and feelings into a cogent response to the question I’ve received from many--“how are you doing?” 

 

With that as caveat, here is how I think I’m doing in as organized a fashion as I can provide.

 

Children

 

My daughter, son-in-law, and two oldest grandchildren attended the Chiefs’ celebration parade yesterday. Thankfully, they chose to not attend the rally. Yet, they were within a mile of being in harm’s way, and the shock and impact of what they did experience, through proximity and its aftermath, are hard if not impossible to measure.

 

My granddaughter is now having dinner table conversation with her parents about guns and gun violence. My grandson is shocked that the event happened at his beloved Union Station—the place where he goes for Science City and Bricktionary (LEGO.)

 

How does one even begin to understand how best to talk to these children about this event? How do we talk to kids without instilling a fear so deep that they never want to leave their home? Keep in mind that our children and grandchildren participate in active shooter drills at their schools on a regular basis. They now have been impacted by an active shooter situation at one of their favorite destinations in our city--at an event meant to celebrate their favorite team and their heroes named Kelce and Mahomes and Pacheco and Jones.

Elected Officials

 

I am angry. And my anger is with elected officials and those in power who CAN do something about reducing gun violence in our country.

 

This is not going to turn into a screed about taking away guns. Rather, my ire is that we have people in positions of power who turn a blind eye to the violence and the reality that guns are the number one cause of child deaths in the U.S. Let me say that again—guns cause more deaths among children in our country than anything else. (Source: Forbes, October 2023)

 

That fact, alone, makes Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s actions reprehensible. Yes, there are many, many others who carry blame for the prevalence of guns in our society but let’s focus on Parson given his proximity to the Valentine’s Day tragedy at Union Station. 

 

Parson was in attendance at the rally, Parson spoke (and was booed) at the rally, and Parson ran when gunfire erupted at the rally. Yet, in his press briefing of today, the governor used words and phrases, which blamed “criminals and thugs.” He went on to say “…thugs out there, just killing people at an incident like that and attempting to kill all those people and created such chaos that people got hurt, being trampled. I hope that prosecutors and judges and everybody understands how serious this is.”

 

Not once did Parson use the word “gun;” not once did he acknowledge that there were three people in custody, all of whom had firearms. He did not acknowledge a rapid-fire weapon taken from one of the three in custody. And, for those keeping score at home, Parson’s state of Missouri ranks 38^th in terms of gun law strength due to the legislation he has championed. (Source: Everytown for Gun Safety)

 

Shame on you, Mike Parson—shame on you.

 

Kansas City…and violence

 

I am upset with myself because when mass shootings have happened elsewhere, I have defaulted to a belief that it’s unlikely to happen here—“here” being Kansas City. This city—so caring, so conscientious, so…nice. 

 

Yet, the signs have been there and I’ve turned my own blind eye to them. 

 

Kansas City, MO police data shows that there were 182 killings in 2023, 12 more than in 2022 and three more than the all-time high of 179 in 2020. Mayor Quinton Lucas posted last month on X, formerly known as Twitter, that some crime trends “have gone in the right direction, as nonfatal shootings are down this year compared to last, while others, like homicides, have reached new highs. We are working collaboratively to build a safer city in 2024.”

 

The well-known Country Club Plaza shopping district in Kansas City has struggled with youth violence in recent years. And, Kansas City’s Westport area – full of restaurant and night life options – has similarly had challenges related to late night incidents and how best to make the area safe and secure.

 

In sum, guns and violence are not new to Kansas City. It’s not a problem being ignored by the mayor’s office or the Kansas City, MO Police Department. Yet, it’s not a problem that is getting better, based on the data.

 

Kansas City…and its reputation

 

Yesterday, Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, “This is an incredible moment for Kansas City. All over the world, they know about this amazing place. Never in our history have we had so many eyes on Kansas City, and so many people talking about this town.”

 

Those words, so true in the context in which they were delivered, were spoken literally minutes before gunfire erupted. The bullets and resulting carnage dramatically changed the meaning and context of Hunt’s remarks. 

 

I am proud of my city. This city, and this region, have been on a roll since we exited the worst of the pandemic—the announcement that we are a host city for World Cup 2026; that the Conference of Mayors will be here this year; that our brand spanking new airport is a hit; that our current street car is expanding south on Main; and that our World Champion Chiefs are now looking to be the first NFL team ever to three-peat as Super Bowl champions.

 

That momentum has been altered and I think I speak for other Kansas Citians in acknowledging the resulting frustration. The senseless acts of three have shifted the destiny of this city. Will that shift be permanent? Or will we pick ourselves up and carry on in order to get back on the path to greatness?

 

I believe that there is such a thing as “Kansas City Strong.” The heart with “KC” in the middle is the brand identity of our metropolitan area. We live in the heart of America; we are the heart of America. The heart is a fitting symbol for who we are.

 

Yet, it would be mistake and a disservice to those impacted yesterday to pick up and move on without the Union Station tragedy becoming the impetus for real change.

 

With that as challenge, I provide the following organizations to consider—for involvement, for donations, for support.

 

I also provide the following information for those who believe, like me, that it’s way past time to personally reach out to elected officials in order to say “Stop the Fucking Madness.” 

 

Yes, I used the “F” word because it is fucking madness. This. Has. Got. To. Stop. The lives of our children and grandchildren are at stake. Is there anything more important than that!?

 

Get involved. Do something. Please…

 

#KCStrong

 

 

Organizations:

 

https://www.bradyunited.org

 

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org

 

https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy

 

 

Elected officials (partial list):

 

Governor Mike Parson – Missouri

https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us

 

Governor Laura Kelly – Kansas

https://governor.kansas.gov/contact/

 

Senator Josh Hawley – Missouri

https://www.hawley.senate.gov/contact-senator-hawley

 

Senator Eric Schmitt – Missouri 

https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/contact/

 

Senator Roger Marshall – Kansas

https://www.marshall.senate.gov/contact/

 

Senator Jerry Moran – Kansas

https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-info

Bill, Nick and Pete

Bill, Nick and Pete.

Three solid names. Three names synonymous with football, as they belong to Bill Belichick, Nick Saban and Pete Carroll. Three leaders. Three winners. Three men gone from football - at least for now - in a 24-hour period earlier this week.

Most if not all of you now know the story--the resignation of Nick Saban at Alabama, he of seven college football national championships; Bill Belichick's "moving on" resignation, leaving New England after winning six Super Bowls for that franchise; and Pete Carroll, "evolved" from head coach to the front office at Seattle and the only coach to have won both a college football national championship (twice at USC) and an NFL Super Bowl (with the Seahawks.)

The symmetry here is eerie, not only given their success but because of the connections between the three. Saban and Belichick are very close friends (see The Art of Coaching documentary by HBO), Saban took over for Carroll as assistant coach at Ohio State (1980), Saban and Belichick coached together with the Cleveland Browns, Belichick became head coach at New England after that team had fired...(wait for it)...Pete Carroll. All three are descendants of Croatian immigrants. Saban and Carroll are 72 and Belichick is 71. 

Football, and thus coaching football, is a very black-and-white. You win, you lose. (Ties are rarely an option given overtime rules in both the NFL and the college game.) And these three men won a lot of titles and a lot of games. They won with different styles of leadership and coaching, and with different personalities. 

Three coaches intertwined throughout their careers but, most of all, through their on-field success.

Football, and sports, lost three men who made an indelible impact on their craft. And, while the timing is eerie, it seems very fitting that they all did it together.

"Are They Smart?"

 I had a work colleague years ago - lets all him "Bill" - who would always ask me "Is she (or he) smart?" when I talked about interviewing and potentially hiring a new member for our team. There was never any other question - only the query about the person's smarts. 

What I found irritating about this was the lack of definition as to what constituted "smart" in the mind of Bill. And why the infatuation with the candidate's IQ when there was so much more to consider related to their candidacy?

I lost touch with Bill but his question has stuck with me these many years. Every time I think about it, I feel the same feelings of irritation and impatience. 

What are the key things that you want to know when considering candidates for an open position? For me, the biggest driver is the fit with the team. Does their prowess fill a gap on the team and/or provide a complement to another team member's talents?

I also look for a sustained record of results that meet and, hopefully, exceed prior work expectations. Is the candidate proven in their ability to succeed? Have they succeeded in a variety of work environments? Do they have proven success in other endeavors in their life?

Finally - and this is very much an intangible - are they someone that you want to work with? Do they challenge convention? Do they make the team better? Are they fun to be around? Do they motivate me and other team members through the way they think and act and achieve?

Yes, "are they smart?" is an important question. It just isn't the question. 

How the Best Sport Ever Translates to Business

March.

The name of the month alone immediately sparks the associated word of "Madness" for millions of fans and non-fans alike in the U.S.

Every March during the Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, rabid fans become even more anxious, casual fans become involved ones, and those who profess to know little about the sport begin studying the vagaries of a tournament five seed matchup with a 12 seed. Each year, over 70 million people fill out a March Madness bracket, attempting to correctly pick winners-and-losers in the 68-team field.

The game that engenders this behavior is college basketball. And while it's not the most popular sport in the U.S. - in viewership or participation - it is the game that holds our rapt attention over three weeks in mid-March through early April.

For me, it's three weeks that run the emotional gamut of joy to nervousness to exultation to crushing disappointment. My team is the Kansas Jayhawks and my month of March revolves around when they play in the tournament, who they play against and the outcome of this win-or-go-home tournament format.

The allure of this month runs much deeper than erratic fan behavior--it also showcases the game that I believe is the best in all of sports. Five teammates on the floor at one time, all with roles to play but all with the skill to dribble, cut, pass, block, rebound and, of course, shoot. There are also the hustle plays--helping on defense, diving for a loose ball, screening a defender so that a teammate can score. Then there are the bench players--those who may play only a couple of minutes in a game but whose contributions, during those few minutes, can swing a close contest one way or the other. These bench players are also the ones who practice every day, cheer on their teammates who are on the floor during a game and whose support and buy-in are crucial to a culture of winning.

Basketball is the ultimate team sport. Everyone has a role yet everyone must display the requisite skills mentioned in the prior paragraph. It's a game where everyone is expected to defend and move and assist. While some do these things better than others, everyone is expected to contribute across all facets of the game.

If this description sounds familiar, it's because basketball is - I believe - a metaphor for how we conduct business. We are part of a team and while each member of the team has a specific role and/or task, there typically is an expectation of one's ability to do more and/or to be supportive of others on the team so that the team may "score the ball" (to borrow a well-used broadcast announcing term.)

Just like moving without the ball is an important part of basketball, so too is the ability to observe and anticipate issues in the workplace.

It's no coincidence that some of the best basketball coaches ever in the collegiate game have had their coaching philosophies adopted by businesses and organizations.

John Wooden, who won 10 national championships at UCLA, had a Pyramid of Success for his team that's been featured on Showtime's Billions. His coaching sayings (e.g., "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit") have found their way into the workplace. Mike Krzyzewski, the soon-to-retire coach at Duke and lauded as the greatest ever, has written four books on leadership and has the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics at Duke.

Basketball - a game invented by a Canadian doctor on an American college campus - has evolved. Players are faster, stronger and more athletic; coaches use data and analytics to prepare a game plan and assess their own team. 

This evolution of the game has not changed that, at its core, basketball is still a game played by a team, all of whom must have skill across a variety of disciplines, who must practice, and who must buy in to what can be achieved together versus as individuals. Ultimately, it's a game where supporting teammates and staff creates success, which leads to the pursuit of the ultimate prize--a national championship.

Enjoy these final two weeks of March Madness. When watching the games, consider how much this team sport mirrors what each of us does with our teams in the workplace.

Taking the Ball Out of Mahomes' Hands

 I find it interesting how many Kansas City Chiefs fans and others are griping about "taking the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands" at the end of the Chiefs' loss last night. Let's not let the facts and game situation get in the way of this argument, shall we?

3:14 to play, ball at KC 25: Mahomes passes to Byron Pringle for 23 yards. The ball is at the Baltimore 48. In one pass, the Chiefs have already moved the ball to midfield with more than two minutes left to play. And, keep in mind that the Chiefs' defense had not truly stopped the Ravens all night--that the Ravens stopped themselves with their two turnovers earlier in the game.

2:35 to play, ball at KC 48: Mahomes passes to Travis Kelce for 13 yards. At Baltimore 39 at the two-minute warning. So, the Chiefs are in long field goal range already at the 2:00 mark, meaning that they are in serious danger of scoring too quickly and thus giving the ball back to Baltimore, who has one timeout left.

2:00 to play, ball at Baltimore 39: Mahomes hits Kelce for seven yard gain, putting the ball at the Baltimore 32 yard line. Now the Chiefs are in range for Harrison Butker and a winning field goal.

1:25 to play, ball at Baltimore 32: Mahomes hands off to Clyde Edwards-Helaire who fumbles. Baltimore recovers. The replay shows that Edwards-Helaire never did get the ball tucked away. However, is that "taking the ball out of Mahomes' hands" or is it the prudent play call, given the desire to position for a winning FG while keeping the ball away from Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense?

In sum, the call was the right one--the handoff between quarterback and running back wasn't executed properly and, once again, we see the tight margin between winning, and losing, in the National Football League.

Where Were You?

 The headline on my digital news feed this morning read, "Where were you on that fateful day?" I immediately thought of Alan Jackson's song, written days after 9/11/01, with the lyrics "Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?"

Who among us doesn't remember where we were at on the morning of September 11, 2001, when the twin towers in New York went down and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. was in flames? As Jackson's lyrics say, "Were you in the yard with your wife and children or on some stage in L.A.? Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke risin' against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor? Or did you just sit down and cry?"

The memories of that day for me - and I'm sure for most - are still as vivid as they were a short time after the tragedy of 9/11.

I was working at Sprint on that Tuesday and, like most mornings, was in the office early attending to what I needed to accomplish before the meetings and various demands of that day began. A colleague on my team - another consistent early-to-work person - came in and said "Turn on your TV--I heard that a plane flew into a building in New York." I immediately thought that a small plane must have somehow veered off course and crashed.

I turned on my TV and she and I looked on at a scene of smoke billowing out of the north tower of the World Trade Center. I remember that my immediate reaction was "What the...!?" It was hard to determine what had happened and the news commentary we listened to was equally unsure. 

We stood in my office, watching, and soon others joined as word spread that something was amiss in New York. My office was filled with co-workers--all eyes focused on that TV and the story that was unfolding. All eyes watched as a second plane flew into the south tower and the commentary, both on TV and in my office, shifted to one of shock and terror.

The world forever changed on that day. Now, 20 years later, we once again reflect on that fateful day--of lives lost, of stories of courage, of the forever impact on all of us.

Much has and will be written, said and reported on today, tomorrow and this weekend as the reliving of 9/11 is played out across all media. My suggestion to you is that this be a time to sit, reflect and never forget the lives lost and the forever impact of that act of terrorism. 

"The World's Greatest Metronome"

 The death on Tuesday of Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, has made me reflect on his life and the steady leadership that he provided to the "world's greatest rock-and-roll band." 

Watts joined the Stones in 1963 and never missed a concert during that timespan of numerous tours, albums and appearances. News of his death caused a variety of tributes from fellow entertainers. The Who's lead singer, Roger Daltrey, said Watts was the "perfect gentleman, as sharp in his manner of dress as he was on the drums." And Joan Baez commented that he was "a prince among thieves" and " a gentleman through and through."

It was Questlove's (The Roots) tribute, though, that I found most interesting. 

"He's always been a solid foundational drummer. He was the anti-drummer. He wasn't performative to let you know how hard he was f----ing working. He gave you the basic foundation." 

Quest continued, "Watts became a legend not because of who he was associated with but because he's providing the foundation. Only real drummers know the value of Charlie Watts and the fact that he was the world's greatest metronome. Trust me, his 'less is more' technique is probably some of the most genius playing that you'll ever hear."

There is certainly a lesson in leadership in the way that Watts provided the foundation for a band that has been together for 58 years and which includes two enormous personalities (onstage and off) in Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. One can easily make the case that the Stones would not have been "the Stones" without the talent - and quiet leadership - of Charlie Watts. Watts' place in The Rolling Stones is a lesson for all of us in how we perform, team...and lead.

Road Closed to Thru Traffic

 A week ago, a digital road sign appeared in my neighborhood saying “Street closed, August 12.” 

The notice caused a momentary, mental "hmmm" as I carried on with my mission of wherever I was going in my car. I gave the sign nary a thought after that one flicker of acknowledgment.

The date of August 12 came and I was once again in my car traveling the usual route when I came across a larger, more permanent sign in the road that said "ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC." My muscle memory told me to carry on because this is my normal route, right? I quickly came across another sign, across the entire road, that emphasized "ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC."

I grudgingly turned the car around and found an alternate route to my destination. While longer and less direct, I still arrived at where I needed to go.

Isn't this a metaphor for life these days? Isn't this a metaphor for what businesses and brands and organizations are dealing with as the pandemic hit, seemingly waned, and now is back in its continued disruption of our usual, chosen paths? How many saw an initial sign but carried on believing the challenge to be short-lived? Or, perhaps not believing that it was a challenge at all?

The longer, altered route may be less satisfying during the journey but the end result is often more rewarding given the challenge that's been overcome. While the longer way may not synch up with our desire for instant gratification or our muscle memory, it does satisfy the need to problem solve and to achieve the desired result.

Don't let the longer way get in your way.

It's Election Night

If 2020 couldn't get any more surreal, consider this:

- Today is Election Day and by all reports, the turnout of in-person voting coupled with mail-in, early voting and absentee voting will set a modern-day record. All in an environment where we're COVID-19 restricted and coping with social distancing, staying at home and quarantining.

- The presidential candidates are an incumbent that has called into question any ballots not counted today and a former Vice President whose home state is considered the key to this race.

- State races in places like Montana and Kansas are commanding national attention.

- Texas might actually flip into blue state territory.

- Retail establishments and businesses are proactively boarding up windows in major cities in preparation for the possibility of civil unrest.

- And, media outlets of all types are acknowledging their planned caution in prematurely calling state-by-state winners in the presidential race. 

I've heard more than one colleague today say "this is my Super Bowl." While I understand the sentiment, this actually feels more like the Super Bowl and the former military draft lottery day all rolled into one. This Election Day has the visibility and interest of the Super Bowl with the anxiety created by whether your number would be called for military duty...and a four-year commitment. (Yeah, I know--one has to be of my vintage to remember draft lottery days. But, hopefully, you get the idea.)

What are your plans for the evening? I'm on cocktail number one and a fat Cohiba cigar in anticipation for a very long night and morning of channel surfing with my primary outlet being CBS. 

If tuning in isn't in your plans, may I suggest curling up with a good political book of campaigns past or perhaps a movie about our democratic process?

- The Making of the President 1968, Theodore White

- The Boys on the Bus, Timothy Crouse (1972 campaign)

- Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972 (Hunter Thompson)

- The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

- The Best Man (Henry Fonda; screenplay by Gore Vidal)

- The Candidate (Robert Redford)

- Shampoo (a cop-out given that the movie is set on the day of the '68 election; stars Warren Beatty)

- All the President's Men (Redford, Dustin Hoffman and the late, great Jason Robards)

- The American President (Michael Douglas)

- Primary Colors (John Travolta)

- The Campaign (Will Ferrell)

However this election ends, my hope is that we applaud the democratic process and use this as a turning point toward a more united democracy. 

Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers. The Kansas Comet. Gallopin' Gale. Magic (as his late teammate, Brian Piccolo, described him.) I Am Third. Brian's Song.

Given Sayers' death today, the tributes are justifiably rolling in via news coverage and social media posts. It's been a bit hard to process because, yet again, one of my heroes has past.

Sayers was the most exciting running back that I've ever seen play. I was a kid who attended Kansas games with my parents and watched 48 leave tacklers in his wake given his fluid and elusive running style. It was amazing that a guy wearing high top leather football cleats could be that slippery.

He then went to the Chicago Bears where I remember watching the six touchdown game against San Francisco. And, I remember my heartbreak at his knee injuries, which cut his career short way too early.

I Am Third, Sayers' book, was the first book that I remember reading by a black author. The book was about being third behind God and family. I still have it in my library.

And, Brian's Song. I'm sure I cried at some movie growing up but this movie was the one that caused grown men everywhere to do it. The story, of Sayers' friendship with Piccolo, who is dying of cancer, is as meaningful today as it was in 1971.

I had the good fortune of meeting Sayers at a University of Kansas event many years ago. It was very brief but I remember the grace and elegance of the man. As I look back at the YouTube clips of him at Kansas and Chicago, that grace and elegance is displayed on the field as well.

2020 has claimed another victim. RIP Gale Sayers.

10 Albums: Kind of Blue

The final installment in my "10 Albums" is Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. It is, without question, the greatest jazz album of all time and one of the greatest albums, of any kind, ever.

I rekindled my love affair with vinyl records about four years ago and it was in that shift that I realized I'd never truly investigated jazz. I was in a record store, collecting my first few vinyls, and happened to be in an outlet that has a huge jazz section. I knew Davis, of course, and had heard about Kind of Blue. It was there, I bought it, and the rest is why this album is the last record in my list of 10 albums.

Kind of Blue is, truly, a religious experience. There is a haunting element to the sounds that come from the  sextet of Davis, the amazing John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. (This assemblage of talent is akin to some weird, time-altered combination of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.)

From the opening bass line of "So What," the album pulls you in and takes you to a place of rapt attention. This isn't an album that I listen to as background--it absorbs you and commands you to listen. And, every time I listen, I feel something new.

Kind of Blue is Davis' greatest work and his most acclaimed achievement. It is a must have on anyone's "10 Albums." 

Thanks for indulging me on this journey with my "10 Albums." Kind of Blue--one of the best albums, ever, in any genre.

"We've lost the traditions"

 I settled in yesterday to watch a very different College Game Day on ESPN given the all-too-known issues that you're aware of as relates to live sports, social distancing, on-air personalities and the constantly altered landscape of sports programming.

The Game Day crew cut away during the program to Chapel Hill, NC and interviewed Mack Brown, head football coach of the North Carolina Tarheels, before his squad took the field to play Syracuse. Brown talked of the challenge of leading and coaching his team in these odd times and made the prescient comment, "we've lost the traditions" associated with college football.  

Brown's comment was spot on. In 2012-13, I was part of a team that helped launch the College Football Playoff. This cross-functional group (Premier Sports Management, marketing representatives from various college conferences, and ESPN) was tasked with naming, positioning, branding and launching the playoff, which had been announced in April 2012 and was set to begin in 2014.

I led the effort to implement focus group research to interview college football fans (avid and moderate) to ensure that we had directional insights from that important audience. I attended the research in Kansas City, Dallas and Atlanta and watched groups of 10-12 people arrive adorned in their team's colors and all-too-ready to talk football and why they loved the game. In the Dallas session, a middle-age man wearing an Oklahoma sweatshirt sat next to a female recent Texas graduate who was wearing the burnt orange of the Longhorns. What enmity they shared as rivals was overshadowed by the passion they felt for college football.

To a person, each fan talked of the importance of the traditions of the sport--the cheerleaders, mascots, marching bands, tailgating, campus environments and other school-specific rituals, whether touching Howard's Rock at Clemson or planting the spear at Doak Walker Stadium at Florida State.

Football is back. But, let's be real--college football as a game is back. College football as a sport, pastime and passion point for thousands across the U.S. is not. Our traditions--the things that make us love college football--are, at least for this year, lost as we deal with the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Traditions are why I love college sports. And, the loss of those traditions is just one more reminder that life is very, very sad right now. 

I miss the sport of college football. 

10 Albums: The Joshua Tree

 I have a confession to make--it took me too long to discover (yes, I said "discover") U2 and, specifically, this album. 

The Joshua Tree (released March 1987) was the album that moved U2 from being a band to being rock superstars. The album was critically acclaimed and became the fastest-selling album in British history. Three singles were released from the album; "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" became the group's only number one singles in the U.S.

I was lucky to see the band perform the album, in its entirety, on their Joshua Tree tour of 2017 in Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO. While the sound was muddy that evening, the craftsmanship of this iconic album was on full display. 

The Joshua Tree. The best album by the best band of the past 35 years.

10 Albums: Rumors

In February 1977, Fleetwood Mac released Rumours--arguably the best album ever to deal with love, loss, strife and relationships gone awry. The album would go on to reach #1 on both the U.S. and U.K. album charts and win a Grammy for Album of the Year. It remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Mac's lineup for Rumours was Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Four cuts from the album were released as singles and all made their way into the top 10 of the song charts.

The album followed Fleetwood Mac, released in 1975, with "Rhiannon" providing the band with major radio exposure in the mid-70's. Between the release of Fleetwood Mac and Rumours, the band endured:

- The divorce of the McVies.

- The on again/off again relationship of Buckingham and Nicks

- Fleetwood's discovery that his wife, Jenny, had an affair with his best friend

In all cases, the five only seemed able to co-exist when writing, producing and performing music together.

The songs "Dreams," "Don't Stop," "You Make Loving Fun" and "Go Your Own Way" were the singles but the best song appeared on the 2004 re-release of Rumours, that being "Silver Springs." ("Springs" was not part of the original release given tension in the band, which is understandable if you watch Nicks sing this song on the band's video concert release, The Dance. It's an amazing performance of an amazing song.)

Rumours--the album that produced songs saturating AM-FM radio in competition with The Eagles' Hotel California in the mid-to-late 70's.

10 Albums: Hotel California

"You can check out any time you like. But you can never leave."

So goes the lyrics to the title tune of Hotel California the lead in to perhaps the best dueling guitar back-and-forth of any rock song ever, featuring Don Felder and Joe Walsh of The Eagles. Hotel California is the band's magnum opus.

Hotel California was released in December 1976, just months before Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Cuts from those two albums would saturate the AM-FM radio airwaves for 1977 and beyond, setting the stage for the back-and-forth commercial competition in the late '70s between these two groups.

I saw The Eagles at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO in November 1976 when they were touring to promote the upcoming release of the album. I then saw them in summer of 1978--the tour where they played stadiums and headlined a show with Dan Fogelberg and Linda Ronstadt. That shift in concert venue and size indicated the impact of the album on the band's success.

Hotel California is, undoubtedly, The Eagles' best work. It was the first album to feature Walsh and soared to number on on the Billboard album charts. It lost the Grammy for Best Album to Rumours but won for Best Record with "New Kid In Town." Two other singles from the album, "Life In the Fast Lane" and "Hotel California," made the Billboard top 100.

The album is associated with southern California but Don Henley stated, in an interview about Hotel California, that the LP is a "concept album...but it's not set in the old West. It's more urban this time..." and used California as the the microcosm for the United States, opining in the lyrics about themes of innocence, the perils of fame, of excess, idealism and the American Dream.

Randy Meisner, bassist, left the group during the making of Hotel California and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit. This iteration of the group--Henley, Glenn Frey, Walsh, Felder and Schmit--would be the band's most successful fivesome and would release The Long Run in 1979. In 1980, the group disbanded before reuniting for Hell Freezes Over - the album and tour - in 1994.

Hotel California--truly an amazing piece of musical work.

Albums that didn't make the cut

Hey, readers, we're six albums in on my 10 most influential albums. Let's take a look at the ones who came close but didn't make the cut into the top 10.

Crosby Stills & Nash: One of the first supergroups, CSN included former members of The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a tremendous opening track.

Led Zeppelin IV: IV may be a better album, front-to-back, then Led Zeppelin II but II was the album that helped form my taste in rock music. "When the Levee Breaks" is the underrated song on this LP.

White Album: The Beatles ninth studio album is sadly remembered for "Helter Skelter," the song that cult leader Charles Manson used as a message predicting interracial war in the U.S.

Tommy: The Who's rock opera. And, one of the great movie scenes ever is when William (in Almost Famous) looks under his bed and finds albums left for him by his sister, Anita. He opens Tommy and sees a note, which reads "Listen to 'Tommy' with a candle burning and you'll see your entire future." He puts it on the turntable and "Sparks" comes to life. A great moment...

Let It Bleed: Second best Stones' album ever. Underrated cut: "Monkey Man."

Desperado: This is the one that'll be a head scratcher for many. But, I love this Eagles album, which features the title cut plus "Tequila Sunrise." Henry Diltz's album photography is great too.

Born To Run: Springsteen didn't crack the top 10 but this album came close. "Thunder Road," "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," "Jungleland" and the title cut. Man...great music from The Boss.

Damn the Torpedoes: RIP Tom Petty. His and the Heartbreakers' masterpiece.

Sports: The best in '80s pop has to be this classic from Huey Lewis & the News. Listening to this album just makes me smile.

10 Albums: Sticky Fingers

Sticky Fingers. The name alone conjures up sexual overtones and then - the cover. Andy Warhol's cover photo/art shows tightly clad jeans with an obvious male bulge. The original album cover featured working zipper and underwear but that design was later scrapped given retailer warnings about damage to the vinyl record.

The model used for the cover photograph was never identified. While many assumed that the photo was of Mick Jagger, he was not photographed by Warhol for the album.

Cover photo intrigue aside, I think that Sticky Fingers is the best rock album of all time. Not only is this the best Rolling Stones album of their four album quartet of Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street (name another band with four albums back-to-back of that caliber) but it shines as the best album by "the greatest rock-and-roll band in the world" (opening to Get Your Ya Yas Out), thus cementing status as best rock LP ever.

The album starts with "Brown Sugar," the Stones' best single ever, and then moves right into "Sway," "Wild Horses," and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Side two features "Bitch," "Sister Morphine," and the underrated "Moonlight Mile."

Sticky Fingers is the Stones' at their raunchy best. Released in 1971, the album preceded a U.S. tour in 1972 that validated the band's status as the greatest live rock act, at the time, in the world.

Sticky Fingers--my favorite rock album ever and my pick for greatest rock album of all time.

10 Albums: Abbey Road

"Paul is dead."

One can't talk about The Beatles 11th studio album without acknowledging the furor surrounding the release given rumors of Paul McCartney's death. One of the reasons for the fan hubbub about McCartney was the album's cover photo, which is perhaps the most famous album cover shot in history. In the photo, McCartney is barefoot and out of step with the others.

The rumors about McCartney begin in 1967 but hit their peak in 1969, when Abbey Road was released. The oddities of the album's cover photo were a primary cause for the ongoing debate about McCartney, who many believe had been replaced by a double.

Abbey Road is, I believe, The Beatles best album. And, while the White Album was on heavy rotation on my turntable, it was Abbey Road that I played over-and-over, especially side two, which is one long piece made up of several song fragments.

The album also contains the two best songs written by George Harrison--"Something" and "Here Comes the Sun." Those two songs rank among the band's best and deserve their place among the classics penned by McCartney and John Lennon.

Abbey Road was released in September 1969 and achieved immediate commercial success. Critical success was harder to come by as many critics cited the album's artificial sound. It wasn't until years later that Abbey Road achieved its place, critically, as the best album released by a band that is still the standard for pop music success.

Abbey Road--the best album from the most successful band in music history.

10 Albums: Poco

Say the words, "country rock," and most immediately think of The Eagles. (And, there will be an Eagles entry in this blog soon.) Yet, the group who first fused country and rock sounds with upbeat harmonies was Poco, a group closely linked with The Eagles given band members who started with the former and ended with the latter.

I played the heck out of the band's second album, Poco. It was so unique and, in some ways, polarizing (among my contemporaries), when it was released in May 1970. It was too country for rock fans; it was too rock for country fans.

Richie Furay, guitarist and vocalist, founded Poco along with Jim Messina, who would late go on to team with Kenny Loggins in Loggins & Messina. Furay previously helped form Buffalo Springfield, the group which birthed Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

Unlike Springfield and CSNY, Poco's notoriety and commercial success was uneven, at best. "You Better Think Twice" was the most successful cut off of Poco. And, while a bit harsh, noted music reviewer Robert Christgau (The Village Voice) perhaps said it best about Poco in explaining why they did not achieve the heights of bands they birthed or influenced. "The most overrated underrated group in America. All of CSNY's preciosity with none of the inspiration; all of bluegrass's ramifications with none of its roots. In short, the perfect commentary on the vacuity of competence," wrote Christgau.

I loved this album because it was so different for its time. And, it moved me as a listener away from rock, at least temporarily, to a fusion of country, rock and sweet harmonies. (A side note--those harmonies on Poco featured Timothy B. Schmit--the group's bassist who took over for Randy Meisner. Meisner quit Poco shortly after their first album was released in order to join The Eagles. Schmit would replace Meisner in The Eagles lineup in 1977, joining them for their Hotel California tour.)

Poco--the album that broadened my music consumption and tastes.

10 Albums: Chicago Transit Authority

My first concert was seeing Chicago play Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS. The band, previously known as Chicago Transit Authority (only to have the real Chicago Transit Authority threaten legal action if the name wasn't changed), by that point had released three double albums and a multi-disc live album from their multi-night appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

This first album stands out as Chicago's best. The original lineup of Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Danny Seraphine, Walt Parazaider, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow brought a sound to rock-and-roll that was similar to Blood, Sweat & Tears, but with more rock influence given Kath's guitar playing prowess. (Jimi Hendrix once famously told band members that "he (Kath) is better than me!" Kath died in 1978 of an accidental gunshot wound to the head.)

This debut album was yet another great record from 1969. It was unique in that it was a double album--unheard of at the time for debut albums. The album netted a Grammy nomination for the band and stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 171 weeks, beating the previous record of 155 weeks for a rock album's longevity.

Initial sales of Chicago Transit Authority were slow but FM radio helped push out songs that would be later released as singles--"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," "Beginnings," and "Questions 67 and 68." All made it to the Billboard 100, eventually, with "Time" and "Beginnings" both reaching number 7 on the chart.

I loved this band's early work given the blend of horns, guitar, keyboard and drums. Their initial focus on politically-focused lyrics evolved into a softer, ballad-heavy sound that helped the band sell over 40 million units--one of the most successful U.S. rock bands ever. It's the early stuff, though, that is still listenable today for me.

Chicago Transit Authority--another album from my formative music-listening years.