Archives for November 2017

Just some thoughts:

“He now feels that the vast sums of money involved in NCAA basketball–TV money, sponsorship money, alumni money—have turned college basketball into a division of the NBA, rather than the beloved amateur sport it was in the past.”

The Last Amateurs–John Feinstein

That statement was written seventeen years ago by sports writer John Feinsten. Feinstein is one sports writer that I have journalism respect for having had personal contact with him over the years during my time at the USGA. Sadly cannot say that for all writers or media people.
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A book dealing with college basketball that I would highly recommend for anyone who likes college basketball is the book  The Last Amateurs. In 2000 Feinsten went looking for a college basketball program that still honored the passion and the integrity of the game and found it in a place called the Patriot Leagues. It was and still is one of the smallest Division I conferences, schools that included Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Bucknell, Army and Navy. No blue chippers, no McDonald’s All Americans, no Dickie Vitalie’s Dapper Dandies in attendance at these school. No escort services will be provided such as we read at the home of the Louisville Cardinals last year. Or in more recent times money kick-back matters. But remember no one in authority, “I did not know nothing about this.”

Seventeen years after the release of this book we can see only the further demise of the college game as to integrity.

October 28, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
Lourraine Hansberry

October 6, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

“The objective of my affection can change my complexion from white to rosy red.”

Oh… a corny line from a one time popular song.

Well how about this line:

“Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever is solid and durable happiness there is in our natural lives.”
The Four Loves–C.S.Lewis

November 22, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

“Among the worst things about growing old is the loss of those irreplaceable friends who added richness and depth to your life.”
Pat Conroy

When those friends are gone something of a measureless value inside of one is gone. Gone forever.

October 1, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

There is a story in the Bible, I know one of my friends often references Bible stories as fairy tales. Ok…But there was this story about three fellas that didn’t have time on their hands to see about an urgent matter.

The Biblical story is often called the story of the Good Samaritan. This week I read a line that made me think about these three men. It appeared to me from the story these three fellas had other appointments that they felt would not allow them to address the matter at hand.

“Urgent problems should never demand an appointment.”

As I heard a man recently say when faced with observing misfortune on the part of another do three things: One–Look across the road   Two–Cross the road   Three–Then say “Tell me more.”

Say by the way, fairy tales often have a lesson.

November 15. 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

One might be careful how they “evaluate” another when leaving their town.

When he left his home town of Galena, Illinois in 1850 he was leaving as the tanner’s son. He left carrying everything he owned in a carpetbag . The town folks well they “tittered” at his appearance.  That is they gave a short, half laugh, they giggled at this one as he left town.  Young Sam was going off to war. What good could he contribute. One local was to have said: “God help us.”

Four years later that  same Sam would would return to his hometown honored by a great parade, speeches and a new $16,000 home presented to him. He would go on to become President of the United States. Now the locals would say of him: “He was the quintessential American story of success, a poor pioneer boy who led the nation and mastered the world. Abraham Lincoln said of him, “He fights.”  Thus Ulysses S. Grant.

One might be wise to think twice and maybe speak less when one leaves their presences. But folks have been making evaluations like that since the beginning of time. Once one asked:

“Can any good come out of Nazareth?”

November 4, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

As I age I find myself watching and am  more aware of small children, especially babies that come into my presences.

Often when I do I am reminded of something I heard said many years ago, even before I became a parent. “You don’t realize how much six pounds six ounces is going to change your life.”

This morning as I said at my coffee place nursing my coffee a young mother walked in with a baby she was carrying on her hip. The child, a little blond haired boy was still dressed in his pj’s, his hair in forty different directions and with one sock on, one sock off.

As the mother stood in line waiting to place her order the little guy looked over her shoulder at me. I could not help but smile. As quickly as I did he dropped his face to her shoulder. But almost immediately his little head popped up and he again looked at me. I gave him a tiny wave. Again head bounces to mom’s shoulder and again bounces back up. I again give him a wave and this time he smiles big and he points at me. I mean big. With that his mother turns to see what is happening. I then ask, “How old is he?” “He’s seven months and this morning he’s a hand full.”  About that time her order came. She needed a bunch of hands to help with the drinks and order. I got up and carried her order to a table which they then sat and “enjoyed” their breakfast.

I wanted to say to this lady, “I bet you didn’t have any idea how much six pounds six ounces was going to change your life did you?” But I didn’t. I just thought it.

As I went and sat back down at my chair I thought of our oldest grandchild, Seth and his wife. They are expecting their first child (a boy)  and our first great grandchild, in March of this coming year. Bet they have no idea how much “Six pounces, six ounces is going to change their lives.”

But here’s a clue… none of us did.

November 23, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

Sometimes in life what one might consider an inconvenience… can be a blessing.

If you are a road musician, which most musicians sometime in their lifetime have been, one of the worst things that can happen is to run afoul of the weather. It is not unusual for musicians to  play a show then pack up and drive hundreds of miles to play a show date the following day or night. But bad weather can really hamper that effort or in some cases with the worst happening, the date being canceled because of bad weather.

Sometime ago I sat in the audience at the Bluebird, a legendary songwriter’s venue here in Nashville, and heard one musician tell of one such bad road adventure. He said they had played a show in Tulsa, OK but got socked in there because of such terrible weather. Missing dates can also cause missing income. Often if “no show” in turn “no pay.”  Not being able to travel can also create issues for musicians. Time on their hands often is not something some manage well. Sitting around in hotel or motel rooms is as the line from the old Statler Brothers song says,

“Counting flowers on the wall.”

Well in this case this musician did make good use of his time. Danny Flowers who over the years has played in numerous bands for the likes of Vince Gill, Marshall Chapman, George Hamilton IV and the country gentle giant Don Williams made good use of his time holed up in a motel room in Tulsa, OK. He wrote the country hit “Tulsa Time.” While the opening line to the song may say, “I left Oklahoma travelin’ in a Pontiac,” he had to wait a bit for the weather to clear.The song went to number one for Williams and even rock star Eric Clapton had a huge hit with the song.

So while sometimes what might be considered an inconvenience…can end up as a blessing.

October 26, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

In 1950 when I was eight years old my grandfather McCammon died. Shortly thereafter my grandmother came to live with us. My mother being the only daughter from a family of boys it then seemed like a natural move. She lived with us for the next ten years. In fact she died in May of 1960 on the night of my high school graduation.

Grandma McCammon was from the old school in many ways. She had some great one liners she would say to me. Often when I was leaving the house she would turn and say, “You be as good as I think you are.” That line has forever stayed with me over these many years.,

Grandma being a farm person all her life was a great cook. A great baker of pies, cobblers and cakes. When she came to live with us there was only the three of us, dad, mom and myself. Yet she cooked and especially baked like she did back in the days of the farm and her cooking for a family and field hands. It was common of her to bake five or six deserts at a time. Pies and cobblers especially. Peach and blackberry cobbler in which one might be dared to do terrible things to get to eat. I had buddies that loved to come to our house for meals as they knew about the deserts.

Often when we would be eating long before we would be finished she would say to those sitting at the table, “Now you be sure and leave room for desert.” Those words, “Be sure to leave room”” they also have stayed with me. Most all of us have at times issues with being right and wrong. There are certain times and certain people in which we just never, never want to be wrong or admit to.

When it comes to the matter of being wrong or right I’m reminded of one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons.  Snoopy is sitting at his typewriter on top of his doghouse. He’s writing a book. A book on theology. Charlie Brown walks up to Snoopy and says: “I hope you have a good title to this book of yours.” Snoopy smiles, as only Snoopy can, as the thought bubble claims he has the perfect title for his book. The title, “Has It Ever Occurred  to You That You Might Be Wrong.”

While my grandmother would often remind us to “Leave room for pie,” it might be best for each of us at times to remember,  “To leave a little room for wrong.” Always leave a little bit of room to “admit wrong.” Also, add to that, “Leave a little room for forgiveness.” Can we cut someone else a bit of “slack” when we know that their intentions were not evil or bad?

July 28, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson