Any of you who've followed Michael Jordan and his career have labored under the belief that he was cut during his high school career. He then, of course, re-doubled his efforts and became the world's greatest basketball player.
Ooops. The truth is often less interesting than the legend, but if you read Thomas Lake's article about Clifton (Pop) Herring in the January 16, Sports Illustrated, I think you'll find that not to be true, at least in this case. Herring was Jordan's high school coach and, it turns out, mentor, friend and father figure. Plus, he never cut Michael Jordan, nor did anyone else.
Yet today Herring lives in a dilapidated house in North Carolina battling mental health. He has not heard from Jordan in more than a decade. When you read the article, you'll wonder why.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Happy New Year
Wow! I just noticed I hadn't posted a single thought since November, but at least Herman Cain is out of the picture. (See last post)
And apparently Jamie Dimon got the word. Bumpy has stopped receiving offers for Jamie's credit card.
However, over the holidays, I don't think I've ever seen as many catalogues in the mail. Our normal postman was absent for a week, and I just assumed he was having hernia surgery from lugging around the hundreds of thousands of catalogues that arrived throughout November and December.
Interestingly enough, if you paid attention, the Christmas catalogues almost all had the same Christmas decorations, the clothing catalogues mostly had the same clothing, the home decorating catalogues mostly had the same home decorations. I just assume there is some giant, massive, Raiders of the Lost Ark-like warehouse in which all of this stuff is stored to be shipped. I don't know who owns it, but in our overly suspicious, cynical with just a touch of feigned shock society, I'll bet it's
Halliburton.
Anyway, I've dedicated myself to internet ordering, and judging by the volume of the internet sales this Christmas, those catalogues did their job. In fact, during the past ten months which, coincidentally were the first ten months of my retirement, I found a variety of websites from which I could order a variety of paraphernalia including a treasure trove of World Series memorabilia that now sets on shelves in my office already choked with other memorabilia.
One thing I've discovered is that you can type gibberish into Google and someone has a website by that name. And there's usually a Store button somewhere on that site.
I promise to do more blogging, because I suspect that my 32 followers have mostly given up. Although I hope you're still out there Buddy!
Survive the snow!
And apparently Jamie Dimon got the word. Bumpy has stopped receiving offers for Jamie's credit card.
However, over the holidays, I don't think I've ever seen as many catalogues in the mail. Our normal postman was absent for a week, and I just assumed he was having hernia surgery from lugging around the hundreds of thousands of catalogues that arrived throughout November and December.
Interestingly enough, if you paid attention, the Christmas catalogues almost all had the same Christmas decorations, the clothing catalogues mostly had the same clothing, the home decorating catalogues mostly had the same home decorations. I just assume there is some giant, massive, Raiders of the Lost Ark-like warehouse in which all of this stuff is stored to be shipped. I don't know who owns it, but in our overly suspicious, cynical with just a touch of feigned shock society, I'll bet it's
Halliburton.
Anyway, I've dedicated myself to internet ordering, and judging by the volume of the internet sales this Christmas, those catalogues did their job. In fact, during the past ten months which, coincidentally were the first ten months of my retirement, I found a variety of websites from which I could order a variety of paraphernalia including a treasure trove of World Series memorabilia that now sets on shelves in my office already choked with other memorabilia.
One thing I've discovered is that you can type gibberish into Google and someone has a website by that name. And there's usually a Store button somewhere on that site.
I promise to do more blogging, because I suspect that my 32 followers have mostly given up. Although I hope you're still out there Buddy!
Survive the snow!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Jamie, you're not listening
Bumpy received another opportunity to be a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card holder, the card "that completes your lifelist."
Yesterday, I suggested to Mr. Dimon that he direct his credit card division to quit sending solicitations to my 89-year-old, living in a nursing home, father-in-law and instead send him a bottle of 18-year-old Scotch. Yet, in today's mail, another solicitation for the Sapphire card arrived.
Jamie, let me assure you, Bumpy's lifelist is dominated by two things, seeing his family as often as possible and a peaceful death. I've searched the vast amount of paperwork in the Sapphire envelope and could find nothing about either of those lifelist items; even in the small print. In fact, the average age of the people in your promotion appeared to be about 31. I'm betting a good number of them are sitting in tents right outside your office.
About the only thing I could find that might entice Bumpy is that the points never expire. We'd all be happy if you could make that same never expire offer to Bumpy.
Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, let me be more precise; Macallan Single Malt, 18 years in the barrel. That's what Bumpy wants along with his two sons sitting beside him each with a glass in their hand.
That's on Bumpy's lifelist.
Yesterday, I suggested to Mr. Dimon that he direct his credit card division to quit sending solicitations to my 89-year-old, living in a nursing home, father-in-law and instead send him a bottle of 18-year-old Scotch. Yet, in today's mail, another solicitation for the Sapphire card arrived.
Jamie, let me assure you, Bumpy's lifelist is dominated by two things, seeing his family as often as possible and a peaceful death. I've searched the vast amount of paperwork in the Sapphire envelope and could find nothing about either of those lifelist items; even in the small print. In fact, the average age of the people in your promotion appeared to be about 31. I'm betting a good number of them are sitting in tents right outside your office.
About the only thing I could find that might entice Bumpy is that the points never expire. We'd all be happy if you could make that same never expire offer to Bumpy.
Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, let me be more precise; Macallan Single Malt, 18 years in the barrel. That's what Bumpy wants along with his two sons sitting beside him each with a glass in their hand.
That's on Bumpy's lifelist.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
What's in Bumpy's Mail
My father-in-law moved to a nursing home over a year ago. Shortly after discovering ridiculously high late charges on his Discover card invoice because he forgot to pay the bill on time, my wife took over his finances, and she changed his mailing address to ours so she could handle his affairs in a timely manner.
Bumpy as we call him was and is one of the most kind and generous people you would ever meet. We knew that because he was a wonderful father and father-in-law. We also knew it from the volume of organizations to which he donated small sums every month. No issue with that. What was most striking was the amount of credit card solicitations he receives each month. (My late mother-in-law still receives offers for new cards as well.)
Anyone who thought the credit card industry had cleaned itself up should think again. I started to keep track of all the cards then quickly realized that all the credit card issuing companies were sending offers. Most of them claim to be pre-approved with a simple phone call to insure activation. Bumpy could run up quite a bill right from his wheelchair. All he'd need is a computer next to his bed and creative license.
Jamie Dimon doesn't follow this blog, but if he did, I'd tell him to quit wasting wood pulp on soliciting Bumpy for a credit card. If he want's to send something to Bumpy, send him a nice bottle of 18-year-old Scotch and someone to drink it with.
Bumpy as we call him was and is one of the most kind and generous people you would ever meet. We knew that because he was a wonderful father and father-in-law. We also knew it from the volume of organizations to which he donated small sums every month. No issue with that. What was most striking was the amount of credit card solicitations he receives each month. (My late mother-in-law still receives offers for new cards as well.)
Anyone who thought the credit card industry had cleaned itself up should think again. I started to keep track of all the cards then quickly realized that all the credit card issuing companies were sending offers. Most of them claim to be pre-approved with a simple phone call to insure activation. Bumpy could run up quite a bill right from his wheelchair. All he'd need is a computer next to his bed and creative license.
Jamie Dimon doesn't follow this blog, but if he did, I'd tell him to quit wasting wood pulp on soliciting Bumpy for a credit card. If he want's to send something to Bumpy, send him a nice bottle of 18-year-old Scotch and someone to drink it with.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Shame of College Sports
I was sent a copy of this article from The Atlantic. My recommendation? Read it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/the-shame-of-college-sports/8643/
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/the-shame-of-college-sports/8643/
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