Get Up and Move!!!

I used to love to work out. Playing football from fourth grade through college, it kind of became a necessity. I was not particularly big or fast, so I had to out work my opponents.

As with most adults, though, life now has a tendency to get in the way. While I would LOVE to lift weights for 45 minutes and then go for a three-mile run or 10-mile bike ride, as the father of three, that just ain't happening! The thing I have to remind myself is, at 43 and about 20 pounds over my ideal weight, I just need to get up and move.  I need to do it for my health, but more importantly, I need to do exercise to be a good example for my children.

That point was driven home tonight as we plugged in Gaby's "Just Dance" for the Wii. Gotta admit, as Toby Keith sings, I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was. It did my heart good (literally AND figuratively) to absolutely SCHOOL my dance-queen daughter in "Proud Mary." Heidi and the boys got in on the act, too.  It HAS to be good for the heart to laugh as hard as we did. Above all, it was great family bonding, too.

So get up and move, people!! You don't have to pay a small fortune for fancy equipment or run an ultra marathon. Mow the yard. Do some push-ups and sit-ups.  March in place during the commercials. Or, do what I do. Turn on some tunes and shake what your momma gave ya!

Back in the Saddle. Now Give it the Spurs!!

Well, another year is upon us.  Another year of possibilities, young minds to help mold, and opportunities to grasp.  I love the start of each new semester, but especially the start of a new school year.

I have a poster just as students walk into my office that reads, "The expert in anything was once a beginner."  Neil Armstrong did not wake up one morning and walk on the moon.  Steve Jobs didn't create Apple Computer without first working through some cores.  Thomas Edison famously declared that he never failed in creating the light bulb; he succeeded in finding many, many ways NOT to create the light bulb.  I just met with my reporting class and told them I do not expect them to come out of my class as the greatest journalist the world has ever seen.  I don't expect them to be Diane Sawyer, Tom Brokaw or Al Michaels right out of the gate.  I DO expect them to put in the time necessary to perfect the craft of reporting.  I like to say I'll take effort over ability 24-7, 365.  I can teach them how to perform the art, so to speak, but I cannot make them pick up the brush.

So as we begin a new semester full of possibilities, dreams and challenges, I am excited to see which of my students step up to the challenge.  Which ones want to be great? Which are willing to go the extra mile to perfect their craft and make a difference in this world?

As I sign off, I leave you with a quote from a book of motivational sayings left to me by my father:

"Potential is one of life's greatest gifts -- don't waste it.

The Changing Face of Writing

Have I become one of those "old men" who is resistant to change? I love texting. I believe e-mail was a brilliant invention that allows us to instantly connect with others across the globe.  Unfortunately, I also believe they have robbed us of our ability to write.  Don't get me wrong, I can LOL at a great joke, and OMG I cannot believe it snowed on May 3.  And U R correct if you think I'm being picky.  But for  Hvn Sk (Heaven's sake; I just made it up :), as my college coach, Mike Foster, used to tell me, you play the way you practice.  If you don't spell correctly and use proper punctuation in an email or text, what makes you think you will be able to turn it on when it really matters?!?!?! I know, I'm on a soap box, but let's face it, U prolly stopped rding a long time ago. And BTW, it's my blog, so I get to share MY thouts. Want 2 share yours? Leave a comment or, better yet, start your own blog. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD AND HOLY, spell it write (I mean right :)

My take: It's all about the game

I read a great article this morning in ESPN The Magazine about Dylan Moses, the 15-year-old Louisiana football phenom who had already received scholarship offers from five major schools, including LSU and Alabama.  In fact, the whole issue is about youth sports and the parents who encourage/coach/push their kids. I 'm eager to read the rest of the magazine. This is a HUGE topic to me, one my wife and I wrestle with constantly. How much is too much? Too much practice, too much travel, too much pressure, too much exposure. On the flip side, are we doing enough to give our kids a chance to compete?
We have three children, a 12-year-old daughter and sons, ages 9 and 7. Our daughter is in competitive dance (yes, it IS a sport), our 9-year-old swam until last year and has caught the dance bug, and our 7-year-old is into soccer and baseball.  We have friends who have dance kids who do up to 10 events in competitions, including solos, duets, trips, and group dances. We have other friends whose sons and daughters are on traveling ball clubs that play up to 60-80 games in a summer or compete every weekend in three-day soccer tournaments in the fall. This works for them, and I am in awe of how they manage it.
We take a different approach. Our daughter does two dances in each competition. Our son will eventually do the same (we may let them go to three, including the company line). Our youngest plays parks and rec soccer and baseball, with less than 20 games, all played in the area. When he reaches middle school, I'll let him go to a couple college-sponsored camps.
Which approach is better? You got me! I didn't get a handbook when I became a father. There is research to support starting kids in competitive leagues and having them focus on one or two sports while in elementary school. There is other research that stresses the need to let kids experiment and not to play too much, lest they burn out or get injured from overuse. I imagine I'll just continue to read, watch, and study the words of experts on the issue.
One thing I will NOT waffle on, though, is the fact that they are kids playing a game. And in the immortal words of Jack Elliott, Tom Selleck's character in 1992's "Mr. Baseball", "games are supposed to be fun." When and if the fun ends, it'll be time to try something else!

Sports: The Great "Bringer-Together"

Why do I love sports? Yes, they are fun.  Yes, they lead us to reach beyond our limits.  And yes, they teach us teamwork, determination, and camaraderie.

But all you have to do is watch how Major League Baseball has rallied around the city of Boston to see that sports brings us together.  It reminds us that, whether we are Royals fans or Cardinals fans, whether we wear the Cardinal and Black or the Kelly Green and White, whether we cheer for the Red Sox or the Yankees, we are Americans and we stick together.

To me sports is Jack Buck saying "Yes" we should play ball after 9-11. It is Neil Diamond flying all the way from California to sing "Sweet Caroline", Boston's trademark song, as the Royals and Red Sox squared off Saturday afternoon.  It is exhausted marathoners rushing to the aid of spectators as they lay stunned and bleeding after a senseless act of violence at the classic race.

We often are slaves to our traditions, but I believe one of the smartest moves MLB made was when they ditched the classic "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch and replacing it with "God Bless America."  We have a lot of problems in this world, and sports has its share of issues.  But at its core, it is a father and sun playing catch, a mother teaching her daughter to swim, and grandfather telling his heirs stories of Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson.

So play on, America, play on! It's who we are and it's what keeps us going strong!

GET SOME EXPERIENCE!!!!

Wow, it's been a crazy three weeks since spring break.  Interviewing candidates, enrolling students, working on final projects with my classes, attending a conference in Las Vegas (no, I did NOT lose my shirt), shuffling game broadcast schedules because of the weather ...

Now I'm back.  And I have three words for all you students:  GET SOME EXPERIENCE!!! Yes, I know you have heard this soap box before.  But every pro I heard from or talked to at the Broadcast Educators Association conference in LV said the same thing:  I don't want a student who did great in the classroom but didn't do anything outside of class.  I want students who have gotten their hands on the equipment and practiced.  We had a highly energetic (albeit, um, colorful speaking, shall we say) alum visit my sports broadcasting class yesterday and he advised students to get as much practice as they can because they aren't competing against their classmates; they are competing against students at OTHER universities who are doing the same things.

Two former students who took sports broadcasting are now employed, one with the Missouri Mavericks (she started as an intern and now it looks like she might get a full-time job), the other with KOMU-TV in Columbia (he also worked with KMOS on campus).  Three of our students landed internships with the Springfield Cardinals this summer, another got an internship with Fox4 in Kansas City (another student who has worked with KMOS also landed one of these internships.  A fifth is doing a postgraduate internship with the Sedalia Democrat; he also is sports editor of the school paper and has provided ready analysis for local high school sporting events.  He is a truly converged journalist.

Why did they land these primo opportunities? Because they didn't settle for going to class, writing papers and taking tests.  They took advantage of the opportunities afforded them while on campus.  They honed their sklls, they put what they learned in the classroom into practice in the field.

It's like I always say, if you don't have time to get experience right now, wait until you graduate:  You'll have all kinds of time because you won't have a job!

Teaching Backpack Journalism

We are currently in the interview process as we search for three new faculty members.  One area where we have recognized a need is in multimedia and new media studies.  We have professors who are skilled in writing, photojournalism, video and production and editing.  We have faculty who write scripts and edit films and those who are talented in podcasting.

Courtesy of Google Images

Of course, all our faculty are aware of web development and the use of social media, even if we aren't proficient in all the tools.  But we DO recognize that the world of journalism has changed.  When I was a sports writer, I took a pen and a notepad on assignment.  Occasionally I'd bring along a tape recorder and maybe my camera (if I had time to develop the film before deadline, that is).  

This, however, is the age of backpack journalism.  Where I could write a story and perhaps publish a picture 20-25 years ago, today I could Tweet about my interview with links to a podcast taken off my digital recorder, write the story for the next day's publication, develop a photo slide show, and use my iPad to record a standup with the coach for the advance story on our webpage.  I could even get some b-roll of the game or practice and then edit it into a short-form video using iMovie, again, right off my iPad.  And thanks to Wifi, I could do all this from my corner cafe while sipping a cup of coffee.  Talk about an exciting time to be a journalist! 

Check out this link at wikipedia.  It's a really interesting read!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpack_journalism 

Is Football King, Or Has The Media Made It So?

Let me begin by saying I love football.  It is the greatest sport under the heavens, the ultimate team sport combining brute strength and intelligence in a battle of wills among combatants.  I began playing in fourth grade at the YMCA in North Little Rock, Ark. and didn’t stop until I graduated from Central Missouri State University.  I love broadcasting games, love writing about the sport, love teaching my sons about the game.  I wish the Arena Football League were on television more so I could watch in the spring.  But even I think ESPN and Sports Illustrated might be going a bit overboard in their coverage. 

It seems every time I turn on ESPN I’m getting reports about the Combine, which free agent is going where, whose coach has just signed an extension.  Yes, that is all newsworthy, but college basketball is heating up as we ready for March Madness! Baseball spring training has begun! Hockey is finally back on ice! The off-season football seems to be getting as much coverage as the IN-season football! 

Sports Illustrated is just as football crazy.  In the March 4 issue, of the 51 pages dedicated to content (meaning those without ads), 21 were dedicated to football.  That’s 41 percent of the magazine!  Baseball got less than half that much coverage in SI’s so called “Spring Training ‘13” issue!  The cover of the March 4 magazine shows South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney busting through a montage of basketball players and the header reads “Spring Football ’13 (Sorry, hoops, two more weeks to wait).

True, in America, football is king.  Of Forbes 50 Most Valuable Sports Franchises, 31 are professional football teams.  Acording to http://mostpopularsports.net/in-america, football in America is No. 1, followed by baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer.  The Richest, a website dedicated to pop culture and finance, had the same findings.  So did the online resource page “Buzzle”.  And wikianswers.com noted that, while NASCAR actually has the highest national ratings, football is king among team sports.

This, then, begs the question:  Do media outlets such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated bring us football because it is our favorite sport, or is football our favorite sport because that is what are presented with most often? As a professor of journalism, I am compelled to ask the question.  It’s the classic chicken or the egg argument, but with a pigskin.

In 1972, journalism professors Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw proposed Agenda-Setting Theory.  Their hypothesis, according to “A First Look at Communication Theory”:  The mass media have the ability to transfer the salience of issues on their news agenda to the public agenda.  In other words, to quote University of Wisconsin political scientist Bernard Cohen, “The press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about.”

It would seem, at least when it comes to football, McCombs and Shaw may be right!

According to Olympic.org, the official website of the Olympic movement, the ancient Olympics began in 684 B.C.  Included in these games were running events, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration (a combination of wrestling and boxing) and equestrian events.

Twenty-four years later, in 708 B.C., wrestling and pentathlon were added to the games. According to Ron Dicker, a freelance writer who covered sports for the New York Times from 1996 to 2005, Plato was a brawny wrestler. Homer may have been the world's first sportswriters, covering some epic wrestling matches.  In short, from its beginning, wrestling has been a big deal in the Olympics.

In 2002, though, the International Olympic Committee determined wrestling lacked "global popularity" and suffered from low media coverage. As a result, last week they determined both free style and Greco-Roman wrestling will be eliminated from the Olympics, beginning in 2020.  

In announcing their decision, the IOC said it wants to remain "relevant to sports fans of all generations."  Mark Adams, spokesman for the IOC noted the decision was not because something is wrong with wrestling, but because of what is right with the 25 core sports.  The IOC also pointed to a lack star power.

In my mind, this leaves some serious holes. Citing several sources,  Cole Scott, bronze medalist at the London games, reported that nearly every wrestling session was sold out. He also pointed out that millions of boys and girls, men and women in more than 200 countries compete. Sounds like an awful lot of global popularity to me.

And star power? Name one competitor in badminton, handball, sailing, trampoline, mountain biking or BMX, all of which will be in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Look, I admit I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the Olympics. I long for the amateur days; I am not at all a fan of the basketball Dream Teams or NHL superstars playing in the winter games. But I can understand the decision to let highly paid professionals compete much more easily than I can comprehend the elimination of one of the earliest, most sacred sports in the games.

Fortunately, wrestling is not going quietly. Several petitions and protests have taken place and are being planned, including a "lie in" at this week's Wrestling World Cup in Tehran, Iran, where wrestling is king. 

Sorry, IOC, but it seems to me you got this one wrong.

Had to share this; a student and friend of my, Vestal Church, put this together for me.  He is a talented cartoonist, and I just wanted to share! Great job, Vestal!

Inspirational story of brother triathletes

Speaking of inspirational, try to watch THIS without tearing up!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=535846619773001

I'm right there with LeBron.  As the father of sons 8 and 6 years old, this really strikes home.  And, as one who has competed in a couple triathlons, I can attest to how physically difficult this must have been for Conner. But, seeing the love Conner has for his little brother, I'm going to guess that the physical toll mattered little.
Congratulations, Conner and Cayden! You epitomize all that is good about sport!

"Here Comes the Boom" and the power of film

Friday night by sons spent the night with a friend, so it was just my wife, my daughter and me.  Given my daughter is in junior high, we can now watch movies together that DON'T include princesses or talking fish or cars. So we settled in to watch a movie I have been wanting to see since I first saw it advertised, "Here Comes the Boom" starring Kevin James, Selma Hayak and Henry Winkler.  If you haven't seen it or don't know anything about the movie, view the trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4L6ruTF5qE

First, it must be said I am a big Kevin James fan.  I love a good comedy, but these days it is really hard to find one that is not rank and rife with sexual content, nudity and swearing that would embarrass a drunken sailor.  And of course, what man from my generation doesn't love the Fonz (or Selma, for that matter)? It was incredibly entertaining.  A science teacher from a troubled high school learns that his school is in financial duress and is facing cuts and the elimination of all extracurricular activities, including the music program (Winkler's program).  James says they can raise the money and takes it upon himself to begin ultimate fighting. He takes a beating (still making money from each loss), but keeps coming back for more.  If you need a pick-me-up, check it out.

More importantly, it motivates me to take on a study of sports films I have been considering for some time.  I want to examine the impact of such films on the psyche of college students.  I'm going to actually conduct a full-on experiment with a control group and all the fixins!

And in the process, I get to watch some of my favorite movies :)

Great time to be a journalist

I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon.
Tom Stoppard

I just saw this quote.  LOVE IT!!!  Fits right with what I teach about the business.  I begin every semester by telling my news students how valuable the are in our democracy and what an awesome responsibility they have.  THEY are the individuals who are to inform and educate the masses. THEY are the individuals who are responsible for sharing heartwarming and inspiring human interest stories. THEY are the individuals given the task of providing the details about upcoming election issues and candidates, scientific breakthroughs, and developments in health and fitness.  And, unfortunately, THEY are the individuals who are expected to uncover corruption and serve as the watchdogs of society.
When I ask my students how many branches of government there are, they always say, "Three:  legislative, judicial and executive" (see, your tax dollars are paying off).  I always answer, "Nope, there are four: legislative, judicial, executive and the media."  Because, while the generally recognized three serve as checks and balances for one another, the media serves as a check and balance for all.
So, while you may poo-poo the job and complain about the "liberal" media, think about where the U.S. would be without it!

Check your facts, Ray

I have never been a Ray Lewis "fan." Really, I've always been indifferent. I love the passion with which he played the game (I say "played" because I am assuming he is going to stick with retirement). I've never been really thrilled with his antics, though; I prefer great players let their play do the talking and show some restraint. But as the playoffs came around, I couldn't help cheering for him. He IS one of the all-time greats, and it is always nice to see them go out on top.


It was with great interest, then, that I read the following article in which Lewis claimed God doesn't use people who do bad things.    

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/03/ray-lewis-cbs-pregame-super-bowl-xlvii-baltimore-ravens/1888367/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsmain2+(News+-+Flipboard)

In the article, Lewis said it was clear he was innocent of the murder he was charged with 13 years ago. He said it is clear he was not guilty because God had allowed him to succeed.  Now, I'm not saying Lewis IS guilty; I have no idea about the facts of the case.  BUT, there is a severe error in his logic.  Repeatedly in the Bible God used people who had done bad things and they found success, the most obvious example being King David.  David had Uriah moved to the front lines where he would almost certainly be killed, thus leaving Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, available for David.  When David's sin was pointed out to him and he overcame his lustful desires, he repented, God forgave him, and a great nation was formed.  
Similarly, Saul openly persecuted followers of Jesus, often standing in judgment and holding the cloaks of those assigned to stone or crucify Christians.  Yet God spoke to him in a vision, Saul (later to be renamed Paul) repented and became one of the chief leaders of the early church.  Throughout history, He has used murderers, adulterers, prostitutes, thieves and cheats for His glory.  They first repented, paid for their sins and acknowledged His majesty, but He used them nonetheless.
I openly profess my faith in Jesus Christ.  I believe in a loving, forgiving God who is slow to anger and slow to judge, but whose judgment is firm and often harsh when repentance is not present.  So it disturbs me when someone with a bully platform like Ray Lewis stands up and tries to use his God as evidence of his innocence in a heinous crime.  As I said, I don't know if Lewis was guilty or not; I want to believe he is innocent.  But, Ray, please to twist the nature of God and provide false teachings for your own benefit; He will NOT be mocked!

Foiled by my 6-year-old

My 6-year-old son, Grant, beat me at checkers tonight.  Did I say beat? I mean he PUMMELED me! How bad was it? The game was over and I still had five pieces on the board.  I thought I was being cunning, but he had me pinned to the point where I could not even make a MOVE with my remaining pieces! It was a bittersweet moment.  Oh, who am I kidding; it was HUMILIATING!!! He's 6 and I have a Ph-freaking-D!!!

Okay, so I was a little proud.  He is such a competitive little stink.  I'm really having to teach him to be a good winner AND a gracious loser.  But he just lights up when he is playing, whether it is basketball at Parks and Rec, soccer in the backyard or checkers with his old man.  It is that love of competition I pray he carries with him the rest of his life.

Now, excuse me while I Google "checkers strategies" ...

Teaching Bloggers to Blog

New experience today:  I taught my writing across the media students the value of blogging and how to establish their own blogs.  We'll be following each other throughout the semester, posting our thoughts and comments, reviewing other literature and/or movies, talking sports--really whatever they are interested in.  I'm eager to see them practice the writing skills we are discussing in class and to see how their minds work.

My number one word of advice to them all:  HAVE FUN!!! Hope they enjoy the ride!

Never Stop Learning!!

The thing I love about teaching is the exact thing I love about sports: it's unpredictable.  Just as you never know when a no-hitter is coming or when a three-point binge is going to take place, neither do you know when you are going to be asked to "reinvent" yourself and learn a new skill set. That's one of the great things about higher education; we teach AND experience life-long learning!

When I was hired to teach journalism, I was coming in primarily from the "other side." The vast majority of my experience had been in public relations. Sure, I had spent four years in college as a freelance sports writer and yes, my graduate assistantship was as a business manager for the campus newspaper.  But I spent 15 years in sports information. So, when I was hired, I refocused my point of view and began to teach students to report and write in an unbiased fashion.

Necessity being the mother of invention, I quickly learned about broadcasting (I always thought hey got to play with the cool toys anyway). My broadcast experience consisted of working WITH broadcasters and serving as a color commentator. But I knew if we were going to begin web casting sporting events and if I wanted to fully serve our journalism students in the converged media world, my comfort zone was going to have to expand. 

 

Well, because our students have done such a great job in a short period of time,  our dean and chair have charged me with finding a grant or donor(s) to help us run fiber and install an upgraded server in our studio. I've also been given the task of working with our local cable provider to re-establish our dormant public access educational channel. Guess now I get to learn about television programming.  Thank goodness I work with some supportive and highly skilled individuals who can help guide me on my way.

 

Now, anybody have about 30 grand they'd like to contribute to the cause?

A Tribute to My Dad

Yesterday, January 24, 2013, would have been my dad's 67th birthday. It was difficult to celebrate because Dad died last summer after suffering a pair of massive strokes.  He was my hero, my mentor, my best friend and I miss him like crazy.  But difficult though it was, I chose yesterday to celebrate my father's life and what he meant to and continues to mean to me.

Like many young men, my love of sport came from my father.  Dad was a great athlete.  He never made the tour, but he was a fiercely competitive golfer.  He was a football official well into his 40s until a shoulder injury from playing church softball put him on the sidelines.  He was strong as a bull; even as I hit adolescence and began lifting weights I could not touch him arm wrestling or playing mercy.

Thanks to his inspiration and guidance, I was able to play football in college, ultimately earning a partial scholarship that helped offset the cost of my education.  He had a way of inspiring me no coach ever figured out.  I remember one time when I was really getting frustrated by a lack of playing time (I was a tireless worker, but was never the athlete Dad was), I got down and continually made the same mistake, biting on play action and giving up the long pass.  I whined to Dad and his words have stuck with me to this day:  "Stop being a (expletive)." Very poignant.  Now, I don't encourage fathers (or mothers) to speak to their children like this, but then again, Dad never had.  He'd always tried to encourage me and use positive reinforcement.  But this time he knew I needed a kick in the butt.  I didn't get much more playing time after that, but I DID have a better experience after his little attitude adjustment.  Dad always knew just what to say and when to say it.

I will miss Dad's call this year as the Super Bowl rolls around.  He always wanted to know who I was cheering for, and nine times out of 10 he took the other team so we could bet. A quarter was the standard; I think I still owe him abot $20!

My youngest son has taken a love of sports just like his dad and my father before me.  When I see him dribbling a soccer ball or swining a bat, I think I feel the same pride my dad felt when I ran onto the gridiron.  My oldest son isn't a huge sports fan, and that's okay.  I'm able to enjoy his zest for life and his creativity and artistic skills, again with the pride my dad showed in me.

I guess that is why I am such a sports fan and why I get so fired up at games.  It was a way for Dad and me to connect, to have fun together and to compete.  That may be what I miss the most.

America: Land of Second Chances

Today I read a great article in the USA Today about forgiveness.  Rick Hampson penned the article, headlined "Can You Forgive?" with a drophead of "America's about second chances. Will Lance get his?" It was, of course, dealing with Lance Armstrong and his admission to using blood doping and performance enhancing drugs during his unprecedented run to seven Tour de France victories.

Hampson contends that, while we Americans are willing to turn the other cheek (see Bill Clinton, Martha Stewart, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Vick, seemingly every baseball player to his a steroid-powered home run a country mile), Armstrong "tests even Americans' capacity for forgiveness."  

Is it because he denied it for so long? Is it because we wanted to badly to believe that a once cancer-riddled body could ride so hard for so long? Is it because his crimes went beyond simply doping, but extended to bullying other riders and suing anyone who dared to question him? Hard to say, but I'm going to have to agree with Hampson's assessment.

That's what makes the situation Manti Te'o so difficult. Was he duped in an elaborate hoax in which he thought the girl with whom he had a long-time online relationship had died on the same day as his grandmother, or was he PART of the hoax in an effort to gain the sympathy vote for the Heisman Trophy? Because so many have lied only to be found out and humiliated later, we have a tendency to doubt.  But, we also come back and forgive.  

As journalists, we are trained to be skeptical and to question everything.  It is difficult to turn that off, but maybe that's why I wasn't a great journalist.  I am the eternal optimist.  I WANT to believe Te'o.  Hey, I've had several friends who started relationships online and ultimately ended up married.  If you never meet the person face-to-face, how do you know? But then, I wanted to believe that Mark Maguire wasn't using steroids, I wanted to believe Lance Armstrong was clean (I fell hook, line and sinker for his, "What am I on? I'm on the bike!" line). I wanted to believe Pete Rose.  

It will be interesting to see what happens here.  Will Armstrong ever be forgiven? What is the truth in Te'o's case? My guess is Armstrong will find redemption at some point and, if he was part of the hoax, Te'o will too.  

I just wish our celebrities would quit putting us in these situations!

Experiential Learning

When I was a lad, I was a HUGE fan of the Indiana Jones movies.  Oh, who am I kidding? I'm  STILL a big fan.  I loved how he was a faculty member at a major university yet still was able to ply his trade.  How cool would that be? By day, a mild-mannered archeology professor, sharing his wisdom with the young and young at heart who would one day unravel the mysteries of our world.  By night, a swash-buckling digger, cracking a whip or firing his six-shooter to ward off evil in search of truth.  That sounds like an exciting world if you ask me.

When I became a professor seven years ago, I tried to think how I could "practice what I teach."  I was a journalism professor.  I wasn't going to work for the local newspaper or a KC television station.  Sure, I could provide color commentary for UCM football and co-host a sports talk show on the local radio station.  But beyond that ...

That's why I am so excited to be part of the UCM Media Network.  I stress to my students the value of being involved -- writing for the Muleskinner or digitalBURG, working with KMOS or The Bridge, serving in the athletic media relations or university relations offices.  Applying the lessons taught in the classroom--called experiential learning--is CRITICAL to student learning. And now, thanks to the UCM Media Network and our live webcasts of sporting events and our recorded webcasts of debates, commencements, newscasts, school board meetings and other events, I along with my students am able to ply the trade.  I, too, am able to "experience" experiential learning. 

Through this blog I also hope to practice my skills as a journalist.  I'll be weighing in on issues in sports, whether they be hirings, firings, rules changes, admissions (see Lance Armstrong), etc.  I will be writing features on individuals who are training in sports communication.  I'll be sharing my experiences as a professor of communication, and I'll be sharing things I've learned through research.

I won't be cracking a whip or (sorry NRA) packing heat in the classroom, but it suits me just fine!

My son, Grant, enjoys spending time with dear old dad at a UCM basketball game.  Grant manned the "take" button while I directed the game. Just another thing I love about working in sports--if you are creative and make it a priority, it can really be a family affair!

Don't Blame the Media!!!

When I was a college football player, our sports information director, Bill Turnage opened every season by telling us "Never again will you be 'Joe Moore'. You will now be known as 'Mules football player Joe Moore'." So when I see stories in the USA Today about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and his offseason arrest for disorderly conduct and presenting false identification, I can't help but think "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?!" (If you haven't read the article, you can find it at:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2012/11/27/johnny-manziel-texas-am-heisman-trophy/1729957/
Now, to be fair, I don't know all the details of Manziel's arrest.  According to George Schroeder's article in USA Today, Manziel (then 19) was at an off-campus nightspot when one of his companions called a a 47-year-old man a racist slur.  Manziel stepped between the men and that's when the fight started.  He then presented a phony driver's license to the police, who also found another fake ID in his wallet.
The story also reports that Manziel's mother was surprised at how quickly the news spread, stating "(Johnny) thought nobody would know about it."  As any good mother would, Momma Manziel pointed out to her son that he, as a college football player, is different.
If only he had listened to my good friend, Bill Turnage!  Now, to his credit, Manziel has not blamed the media in breaking the news.  Perhaps that's because he has become only the fifth person in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a single season.