Larry Grams

Reflections from the back nine

Larry Adamson

Archives for January 2018

“THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT”

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Just some thoughts:

“After the convention, Bobby showed no gratitude for the favor I had done. I once mentioned this to the old man, and I’ll never forget what he said: “Tip, let me tell you something. Never expect any appreciation from my boys. These kids have had so much done for them by other people that they just assume it’s coming to them.”

Man of the House–The Life and Political Memoirs of Speaker Tip O’Neill-William Novak

The failure of two small words: Thank You. The father, that was Joseph Kennedy. He was speaking of his two sons, Jack and Bobby.

Sadly a practice far too often today.

November 14, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

FOUR FAVORITE WORDS

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Just some thoughts:
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Our three kids were very activity in high school while we lived in New Jersey. Ball games,  plays, music performances and cheer leading. Oh yes cheer leading. Both of our girls multiple times were high school cheer leaders.

Oh those hot gyms, and cold out door football bleachers. Sometimes it took “flesh and blood” to be among those in attendance. Also, how about those Saturday cheer leading competitions. If you think the NCAA’s March Madness is competitive you should get with about fifty cheer leading groups and a wealth of mothers in a gym and see competitive. I know such cause I experienced it first hand many Saturday mornings.

Often we would get up on a Saturday morning after a Friday night competition of some sorts and find girlfriend cheer leaders of our daughters sleeping on the floor, couches, etc at our house. Which was fine.

Often I said my kids, especially our two girls, their four favorite words were: “My Dad will drive.” Often now  when sitting at one of many high school games I attend I will watch the cheerleaders.

As I watch them doing their thing I think back to those days.  You know what? Today  I wouldn’t mind at all once again hearing those four words: “My Dad will drive.”

And I gladly would.

November 15, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

A POINT GUARD

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Just some thoughts:

I saw a basketball game this past week (actually I saw six games this week)  in which I bet very few watching would realize how important, valuable one of the players was to his team.

He scored six points, took only three shots from the field all the game, hitting two of them. He played the position they call a point guard. A point guard in this day and age in basketball is I think a very under rated position. Always has been.Today far too many folks evaluate the value to a team by how many points a player scores. A point guards responsibilities are many. Think how much time the ball is in the possession of the point guard. First of all he  generally is the one responsible for getting the ball up the court and into the offense.

Often that comes with some pressure from the defense. Once up the court it is his job to try and get the  floor balanced and his team into its offensive pattern. Get the offense started and get the ball to the “big dogs.” The ones with the fire power. This young man did all this and did it without any fanfare. His coach I think knew his value to the team as seldom was anyone substituted for him. He had good timing in delivering the ball to his teammates those with the offensive power. When his team rebounded the ball on the defensive end of the court his teammates knew where to look for him and wanted to get the ball into his hands quickly. He was a treat to watch and the value to his team would not be fully recognize in the box score.

A point guard must be unselfish. Often he will have to give up what might be his own offensive abilities for the good of others, the team. And folks…today that is pretty rare. “Nobody wants to play rhythm guitar behind the lead singer in the band.” Too often in our world today…folks want to be front and center, they want to be the lead singer in the band otherwise they  won’t go on stage.

” I discovered that no one forgets a star player, but it is very difficult to remember a role player or a set-up man or a sixth man off the bench”

Pat Conroy–My Losing Season​

November 22, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

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Just some thoughts:

If your a guy and say sixty-five-seventy plus years old you probably need no further information regarding that quote and who you are referencing.

In 1976 I was sitting in the dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry of the legendary country performer Roy Acuff. The real estate lady whom we had purchased our home from her father was an old country music performer who appeared often on the Opry. His eye site and driving ability had faded and often she would ask if I would drive him and kinda be responsible for him on the nights he was appeared on the Opry. Would I? That’s like asking Cleghorn Leghorn if he would like to torment Barnyard Dog or put an egg under Miss Prissy. Yes.

One evening I was sitting in Mr.Acuff’s dressing room which by the way was such a treat. You never knew who was going to walk in. His personal dressing room was always filled with folks. Mr.Acuff often sat in a chair as his health and eye site both were failing and he would greet everyone sitting. On this evening I turned to see who had walked in because I heard Mr.Acuff’s react like seldom he did when someone came in. Also i noticed he was out of his chair walking across the floor to meet the one who was coming in. Big white hat, out sticks his hand and the two of them slap one another on the shoulders and kinda semi-embrace. “Well, my, my lookie whose here,” Mr.Acuff’s words. And look who was here, on my, oh my immediately I recognized the visitor. I thought “this can’t be, me sitting here and here he is.” The visitor was none other than a childhood hero of thousands young boys. It was yes it was, Gene Autry.

Since then I have read a number of books on the life of Mr.Autry. Some great lines of his that I remember:

He once said of his father:

“He was uneducated and a casual provider.”

“Some days he would bring home five hundred dollars. Other days he would bring home only the lint in his pockets.”

In the life of most of us we probably also have known too many “casual providers.”

“In Tigoa, Texas the three most popular spots when I was growing up was the barbershop, the country store and the church.”

“The barbershop was as close to a public library as we had.”

His mother once said about opportunity: “You go, there might not be a next time.”

“I didn’t know enough to be discouraged.”

“I traveled more back roads that a bootlegger.”

“Songs are forever.”

“Success is meant to be enjoyed.”

“I not only liked music. I liked the people who made music.”

“It occurs to me that music, with the possible exception of riding a bull, is the most uncertain way to make a living.” ​​

Gene Autry ( September 29, 1907–October 2, 1998) today just a name from the past. Once a hero.

April 11, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

NO DIFFERENCE

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Just some thoughts:

“Yet what difference does it make whether the women rule or the rulers are ruled by women? The result is the same.”
Aristotle​

I believe ole Arie was on to something.

Country music Hall of Fame member,Tom T. Hall once said pretty much the same thing only in a little different style. His line : “Mighty is the power of the skirt.”

December 8, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

HOT ROD HUNDLEY

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Picture

Just some thoughts:

Ok…folks first all I can not explain this…why Hot Rod Hundley came to my mind about four A.M. this morning…but he did.

​Some where in my junior or senior year in high school the Minneapolis Lakers came to Terre Haute, Indiana to play an exhibition game at the old Indiana State gymnasium. Yes, they later became the Los Angles Lakers. It was a big deal for a lot of reasons. One was two of the “local boys who made good” would be playing. Local boys from Terre Haute, Clyde Lovellette, Garfield High School and Bobby Leonard, Gerstmeyer High School. Indiana fame. Yes I was there. But  for me one of the guys I wanted most to see was this guy I had heard and read about in all my basketball magazines who was from West Virginia fame, Rod Hundley.

We had read where in the West Virginia- Kentucky high school all stars game he had scored 45 points. In his early college career he had scored more than 40 points in six games in the same season, once scoring 54 points in a game. (Keep on mind no three point baskets back then)

But we also had heard about his reputation for various floor antics he might do. Hook shots and the all “don’t you dare do it” behind the back passes he would often throw. He once had the opportunity to set a scoring record with two free throws in the final seconds of a game and what does he do? He shoots one of the free throws with a  hook shot and the other a behind-the-back shot. Both missed. Maybe that’s where Ron Felling got his idea. Only local knowledge will understand that line.

I still remember where I sat that night and my search for Hundley. I don’t remember a lot about the game but I do remember one thing. He pleased the crowd when leading a fast break….yes…you got it…he did a behind the back pass to Leonard for the lay-up. Atta boy…Hot Rod ole number 33.

The next night in my high school basketball practice in doing the old three man weave–every coach and kid who has played has done that drill—-just for a moment in leading the weave I had the thought “how about the old behind the back pass right here and now?” Knowing my coach…quickly….. I thought better.

Now Hundley was no clown. He was the real deal. He was the fourth in NCAA history to score more than 2,000 points and he did it in three years as freshman were not eligible for varsity play. Too bad present day Kentucky. Hundley went on to play in the NBA for six years. After his retirement Hundley became a broadcaster working a lot of games with Dick Enberg. He left the public eye due to Alzheimer’s and died at the age of 80, March 27, 2015.

Again…I have no idea why Rod Hundley showed up in my early morning…hum…wonder who will show up in my thoughts tomorrow morning…hope it is a bit later…or earlier.

January 5, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

THAT’S THE WAY IT GOES

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Just some thoughts:

“There’s no such thing as a normal life, Wyatt, There’s just life. Now get on with it.”

Doc Holiday to Wyatt Earp, Tombstone

Yes there are and will be days when sometimes that is about all one can say to another….

“No such thing as normal life…..now let’s get on with it.”

November 14, 2016
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

EFFORT

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Just some thoughts:

One short line but I want you to think about it for just a moment.

Life is a united effort of many.

I cannot remember where I heard that. In fact I found it this week written on the back of a golf scorecard in one of my drawers. Evidently I had written it down after a round I had played.

But I think far too often we think of our “success” or “what we have done” and fail to think or realize the input that came from the lives of others. Often I have coffee with my Indiana friend Rod Freeman. Almost every time somewhere in the course of the conversation we both reference something from our growing up days in Indiana and most times someone was involved in aiding in our growing up process.

What’s the old line: Next time you see a turtle sitting on a fence post… stop and think how he got there.

September 15, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

TOO STIFF OF COMPETITION

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Just some thoughts:

Have you ever found yourself in competition too far over your head? The opponent was much better than you. No chance.

Casey Stengel was a legendary baseball figure. He is in the Baseball Hall of Fame for his manger skills. Legendary manager with the New York Yankees and The New York Mets.

Stengel was once a player of some skill. But one time he found himself in over his head.
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He was playing a exhibition game in Coffeyville, Kansas. On this day he was facing Walter “Big Train” Johnson who at the time was considered the best pitcher in the big leagues and later would be voted into the Hall of Fame. Legendary baseball player Ty Cobb said of Johnson, “He was the most feared pitcher in baseball.”

Stengel comes to the plate. Johnson first two pitches had such smoke on them Stengel swings and misses by a mile on both. Not even close. With two strikes on Casey with only two pitches thrown, story has it he turns to the umpire and says, “The big guy has made me look so bad on those two pitches I think I’ll just go on back to the dugout now.” With that he walks from the plate and back into the dugout with only two strikes on him. Sometimes one can find themselves in over their heads in a competition. Sometimes we don’t even need to stay at the plate and take that third strike.

“When you are younger you get blamed for crimes you never committed, and when you’re older you begin to get credit for virtues you never possessed.” -Casey Stengel

August 11, 2017
Keep on,
​Larry Adamson