If you're an Auburn fan, this has to be a nightmare--your team is having a dream season but now is awash in recruiting scandal talk swirling around Cam Newton. At what point does this all become a serious distraction, if it isn't already?
Here are our week eleven predictions:
Nebraska over Kansas. No surprise here--the Huskers have dominated this series, the longest-running consecutive series in college football which will end on Saturday. The big question is what we will see from Kansas--can they build on their record-breaking fourth quarter comeback performance of last weekend? Staying close with Nebraska until early in the second half could do wonders for this team's psyche heading into the final home game next week with Oklahoma State followed by the Border War clash with Missouri. Nebraska by 17.
Missouri over Kansas State. Mizzou returns home after an upset loss last week in Lubbock, TX where the storyline was Blaine Gabbert. Is Gabbert battling an undisclosed injury, just as Chase Daniel did in his senior season? Will the MU faithful stay confident in their first string QB or clamor early for James Franklin to be inserted, should Gabbert look shaky? I expect MU to win but this will be one of the more interesting games to follow this weekend.
Iowa State over Colorado. The Brian Cabral era starts at Colorado. Okay, I know, it's not an era, but Cabral will tend to the program until Mike Bohn can come to terms with Bill McCartney to return to the Folsom Field sideline. CU will continue its disastrous season by falling to ISU at home.
Oklahoma State over Texas. Yes, yes, yes--I learned my lesson. Don't pick the Longhorns to win, at all, this season. This is another home game and another home loss in this lost season for Texas.
Texas A&M over Baylor. The Bears return home after last week's humbling loss to Oklahoma State. And, in what may be the best game in the Big 12 this Saturday, the Bears will lose a close one to a surging Aggie squad.
Oklahoma over Texas Tech. A bunch of guys named "Freedom" beat Missouri last week in Lubbock. Oh, wait--those were special Red Raider uniforms and they were, shall we say, fashion-challenged. OU will cover the spread and win by 15.
Florida over South Carolina. The ol' ball coach returns to The Swamp in Gainesville, FL and leaves with his second straight loss.
Utah over Notre Dame. What's the cure for losing big to TCU last week? Why, beating Notre Dame on their home turf, of course. Utah by 12.
Ohio State over Penn State. These two traditional powers do battle in the Horseshoe. It won't be victory #401 for JoePa--look for Ohio State to win by two touchdowns.
Georgia over Auburn. Yep, my upset pick for the week. Newton-gate finally gets to the War Eagle Nation and they fall, on a late field goal, to Georgia.
Arizona over USC. Arizona hasn't won consecutive games in this series since 1999-2000. It'll happen ten years later as the Wildcats recover from last week's thrashing by Stanford.
Season predictions to date: 79-28
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What do you watch...and what does that tell us about you?
What you watch says a lot about you, according to new research from Mindset Media. The media company recently researched 25,000 television viewers across 70 different shows. And, what they found out were common personality traits for the viewers of each of the shows.
Let's take a look at the findings:
Mad Men - Creative people are more likely to tune into AMC's smash about the advertising business in the 1960's. And, Mad Men viewers tend to be more liberal.
Glee - "Gleeks" are very open and believe that intellectual and imagination pursuits lead to a good life. Followers of this show search for unique and varied experiences and are more in touch with their own feelings.
Real Housewives of Orange County - Researchers dubbed viewers of this show as "pugnacious." These people are unafraid to tell others what they think--they value honesty over keeping the peace.
The Office - Like the character of Michael on this show, viewers who regularly tune in think that they are superior to others. They also tend to happily brag about their accomplishments and prefer to be in charge.
Dancing With the Stars - Traditionalists are most likely to watch DWTS. These folks are the opposite of the experiential "Gleeks" and instead prefer stability and the tried-and-true. They respect authority and are firmly grounded.
The Biggest Loser - This show is for those who have personalities which fall low on the creativity scale. Viewers also tend to be realists--pragmatic people who live in the present and work with what they've been given.
Now, don't get upset if you're a left-brain engineer and you watch Mad Men. The study groups viewers based upon statistical tendencies, i.e., the increased likelihood that a group of people who watch a particular show will tend to have one or more similar personality traits.
Why is all of this important? Well, consider the ability of advertisers to better target programming based upon this insight into viewership. Mindset Media suggests that certain brands will better fit with the above shows based upon the findings. For example, brands like Apple, Audi, Blue Moon (beer) and American Express would fit best with Mad Men, according to Mindset Media. On Dancing With the Stars, brands like Kraft, Chrysler, Fiber One and Buick Regal would play best. As for Real Housewives, how about Botox? Yes, Mindset Media suggested that this product, along with brands like Nike and Crest Whitestrips, would resonate with the Housewives viewing audience.
Let's take a look at the findings:
Mad Men - Creative people are more likely to tune into AMC's smash about the advertising business in the 1960's. And, Mad Men viewers tend to be more liberal.
Glee - "Gleeks" are very open and believe that intellectual and imagination pursuits lead to a good life. Followers of this show search for unique and varied experiences and are more in touch with their own feelings.
Real Housewives of Orange County - Researchers dubbed viewers of this show as "pugnacious." These people are unafraid to tell others what they think--they value honesty over keeping the peace.
The Office - Like the character of Michael on this show, viewers who regularly tune in think that they are superior to others. They also tend to happily brag about their accomplishments and prefer to be in charge.
Dancing With the Stars - Traditionalists are most likely to watch DWTS. These folks are the opposite of the experiential "Gleeks" and instead prefer stability and the tried-and-true. They respect authority and are firmly grounded.
The Biggest Loser - This show is for those who have personalities which fall low on the creativity scale. Viewers also tend to be realists--pragmatic people who live in the present and work with what they've been given.
Now, don't get upset if you're a left-brain engineer and you watch Mad Men. The study groups viewers based upon statistical tendencies, i.e., the increased likelihood that a group of people who watch a particular show will tend to have one or more similar personality traits.
Why is all of this important? Well, consider the ability of advertisers to better target programming based upon this insight into viewership. Mindset Media suggests that certain brands will better fit with the above shows based upon the findings. For example, brands like Apple, Audi, Blue Moon (beer) and American Express would fit best with Mad Men, according to Mindset Media. On Dancing With the Stars, brands like Kraft, Chrysler, Fiber One and Buick Regal would play best. As for Real Housewives, how about Botox? Yes, Mindset Media suggested that this product, along with brands like Nike and Crest Whitestrips, would resonate with the Housewives viewing audience.
Leadership
I was honored and humbled to have received an invitation to speak last night at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS. The audience was a Masters in Marketing Communications class on "Leadership and Management." It was a thrill to speak to a group of ambitious, curious, energetic and really, really smart graduate students.
I used the opportunity to talk about my leadership journey and to provide ten tenets which make up the leadership philosophy I have formed as I've advanced in my professional career.
Here are some of the highlights from my discussion with this marketing communications class:
- Phil Johnson, a principal at PJA Advertising, wrote recently in Advertising Age, "Eventually, you learn about leadership as you thrash about in the reality of day-to-day life and encounter the unpredictable, the unexpected and the unpleasant. I've blundered with the best of them. I've stood on the sidelines with my hands in my pockets when I should have taken strong action. I've jumped into the fray when I should have stayed out. It takes experience and instinct to know what works." I couldn't agree more with Johnson's statement--as I read it last week for the first time I thought, "that's me!"
- Two of my favorite authors, or sources, on leadership are Colin Powell and John Wooden. Powell is Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as former Secretary of State under George W. Bush. The late Wooden was the legendary coach at UCLA, where he won 10 national basketball championships in 12 years. Both know or knew a thing or two about leadership.
- Powell once said, "Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible."
- Wooden, ever the common man in his approach, said, "A leader must make decisions. Making decisions is a tough job. Those under a leader can make suggestions. Making suggestions is an easy job. Everybody has a suggestion--not everybody has a decision. Perhaps that is why there are so few leaders--at least good leaders."
- My ten tenets of my personal leadership philosophy are:
1. Hire good people and get out of their way. That doesn't mean ignore them--it means give them the space and freedom to reach their potential.
2. Always be accessible. MBWA, i.e., "Manage by walking around."
3. Avoid being a "pleaser." Inevitably, as a leader you are going to make someone angry with a decision. A good leader is willing to make the tough decisions; trying to get everyone to like you will result in mediocrity.
4. Be comfortable with who you are. Leaders don't change who they are--they hone their skills.
5. "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit." (John Wooden)
6. It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Commit errors of commission versus errors of omission, or inactivity.
7. Set clear expectations. My two primary expectations of my team are (a) meet deadlines and (b) be on time. It's better to be on time and 80% complete than late and 100%. And, being late (to a meeting or appointment) means "my time is more valuable than yours." Get over it--it isn't.
8. Know the customer--and ensure that they are always the focus.
9. The situation dictates which approach is best. Don't be formulaic in your leadership.
10. Have fun...laugh, have work-life balance, let your team see your "human side." In an environment where 40-50% of one's waking hours are spent at work, it must be a place where team members are comfortable, inspired, and having fun.
- If you Google "leadership," you'll find over 145 million entries. On Amazon, there are over 64,000 books listed for the topic. One can read tons of material on leadership--the key is to ensure that you know what leadership approach suits you best and continue to hone those skills.
- Finally, as a leader, no matter what you say or do...you are always sending a message.
What was most encouraging about last night was the quality of questions asked by the students. This group was engaged and craving insight into leadership and management. They also are rightfully concerned about business right now--about dealing with a glutted personnel market, about how they advance, about how they manage their subordinates.
It was a fun evening which sent me away inspired--inspired to continue to improve as a leader and to help others as they move along their career and leadership path.
I used the opportunity to talk about my leadership journey and to provide ten tenets which make up the leadership philosophy I have formed as I've advanced in my professional career.
Here are some of the highlights from my discussion with this marketing communications class:
- Phil Johnson, a principal at PJA Advertising, wrote recently in Advertising Age, "Eventually, you learn about leadership as you thrash about in the reality of day-to-day life and encounter the unpredictable, the unexpected and the unpleasant. I've blundered with the best of them. I've stood on the sidelines with my hands in my pockets when I should have taken strong action. I've jumped into the fray when I should have stayed out. It takes experience and instinct to know what works." I couldn't agree more with Johnson's statement--as I read it last week for the first time I thought, "that's me!"
- Two of my favorite authors, or sources, on leadership are Colin Powell and John Wooden. Powell is Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as former Secretary of State under George W. Bush. The late Wooden was the legendary coach at UCLA, where he won 10 national basketball championships in 12 years. Both know or knew a thing or two about leadership.
- Powell once said, "Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible."
- Wooden, ever the common man in his approach, said, "A leader must make decisions. Making decisions is a tough job. Those under a leader can make suggestions. Making suggestions is an easy job. Everybody has a suggestion--not everybody has a decision. Perhaps that is why there are so few leaders--at least good leaders."
- My ten tenets of my personal leadership philosophy are:
1. Hire good people and get out of their way. That doesn't mean ignore them--it means give them the space and freedom to reach their potential.
2. Always be accessible. MBWA, i.e., "Manage by walking around."
3. Avoid being a "pleaser." Inevitably, as a leader you are going to make someone angry with a decision. A good leader is willing to make the tough decisions; trying to get everyone to like you will result in mediocrity.
4. Be comfortable with who you are. Leaders don't change who they are--they hone their skills.
5. "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit." (John Wooden)
6. It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Commit errors of commission versus errors of omission, or inactivity.
7. Set clear expectations. My two primary expectations of my team are (a) meet deadlines and (b) be on time. It's better to be on time and 80% complete than late and 100%. And, being late (to a meeting or appointment) means "my time is more valuable than yours." Get over it--it isn't.
8. Know the customer--and ensure that they are always the focus.
9. The situation dictates which approach is best. Don't be formulaic in your leadership.
10. Have fun...laugh, have work-life balance, let your team see your "human side." In an environment where 40-50% of one's waking hours are spent at work, it must be a place where team members are comfortable, inspired, and having fun.
- If you Google "leadership," you'll find over 145 million entries. On Amazon, there are over 64,000 books listed for the topic. One can read tons of material on leadership--the key is to ensure that you know what leadership approach suits you best and continue to hone those skills.
- Finally, as a leader, no matter what you say or do...you are always sending a message.
What was most encouraging about last night was the quality of questions asked by the students. This group was engaged and craving insight into leadership and management. They also are rightfully concerned about business right now--about dealing with a glutted personnel market, about how they advance, about how they manage their subordinates.
It was a fun evening which sent me away inspired--inspired to continue to improve as a leader and to help others as they move along their career and leadership path.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday Morning Quarterbacking
It's the day after the Kansas City Chiefs' painful loss to their arch-rival Oakland Raiders, and I'm just sitting here wondering:
- How does a team--Kansas City--which has won consistently this season by NOT making mistakes lose by: having a punt return touchdown called back due to a penalty, taking three points off the board due to a penalty on a made field goal, and throwing an interception in the endzone when it was assured of getting at least a FG prior to halftime? And, that's on top of Oakland having 15 penalties, three turnovers and a missed FG!
- Does Colorado fire Dan Hawkins this week, or allow him to finish the season? Many in college athletics think that the "fire a coach in the season" action is a real no-no but CU has Iowa State and Kansas State coming to Boulder in the next two weeks. Both are winnable games--will the Buffs rally around Hawkins or would an interim coach be a better solution?
- Dead man walking - Wade Phillips. (By the way, Phillips has not been seen today at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys practice facility in Dallas.)
- "He can recruit but..." What in the Sam Hill is going on down in Austin? How does a coach take recruiting classes which have been ranked in the top 12 the past five years and coach them to ugly losses at home against UCLA, Iowa State and Baylor, and on the road Saturday in Manhattan? Mack Brown is, right now, the second least popular coach in the state after the aforementioned Phillips.
- Speaking of Texas, the best college football team in the state right now is TCU. And, Baylor and Texas A&M will play for second place this Saturday in Waco.
- By the way, Brown has the current top recruiting class for 2011 headed to Austin next season. If he has another sub-par year, look for the Longhorns to give Eric Taylor a look at head coach. Taylor is the coach of the fictional East Dillon, TX team on Friday Night Lights, which will cease to be on NBC after spring 2011.
- Free Josh Selby.
- How does a team--Kansas City--which has won consistently this season by NOT making mistakes lose by: having a punt return touchdown called back due to a penalty, taking three points off the board due to a penalty on a made field goal, and throwing an interception in the endzone when it was assured of getting at least a FG prior to halftime? And, that's on top of Oakland having 15 penalties, three turnovers and a missed FG!
- Does Colorado fire Dan Hawkins this week, or allow him to finish the season? Many in college athletics think that the "fire a coach in the season" action is a real no-no but CU has Iowa State and Kansas State coming to Boulder in the next two weeks. Both are winnable games--will the Buffs rally around Hawkins or would an interim coach be a better solution?
- Dead man walking - Wade Phillips. (By the way, Phillips has not been seen today at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys practice facility in Dallas.)
- "He can recruit but..." What in the Sam Hill is going on down in Austin? How does a coach take recruiting classes which have been ranked in the top 12 the past five years and coach them to ugly losses at home against UCLA, Iowa State and Baylor, and on the road Saturday in Manhattan? Mack Brown is, right now, the second least popular coach in the state after the aforementioned Phillips.
- Speaking of Texas, the best college football team in the state right now is TCU. And, Baylor and Texas A&M will play for second place this Saturday in Waco.
- By the way, Brown has the current top recruiting class for 2011 headed to Austin next season. If he has another sub-par year, look for the Longhorns to give Eric Taylor a look at head coach. Taylor is the coach of the fictional East Dillon, TX team on Friday Night Lights, which will cease to be on NBC after spring 2011.
- Free Josh Selby.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Lazy Sunday afternoon
- Can we just stick with one "time?" As much as I like the "fall back" idea, I'm still not convinced that we need to move to Daylight Savings Time in the spring, much less move away from it in the fall.
- How did Kansas make its amazing comeback yesterday against Colorado? It did it by scoring 35 points in the fourth quarter. Therein lies the beauty of college sports--it's amazing what confidence can do to a teams' performance.
- More on KU-Colorado yesterday...this loss, and how it happened, put the final nail in the Dan Hawkins coffin. The former Boise State coach will surely not make the trip with Colorado to the Pacific 12 conference next season.
- A 15-month old baby in Paris fell from a seventh story window, and survived, by bouncing off of a cafe awning and into the arms of a passerby.
- As alluring as the thought was of an immense talent like Randy Moss in a Chiefs uniform, I'm glad that General Manager Scott Pioli did not pursue the troubled superstar. The Chiefs organization has done a terrific job of blending team chemistry--the addition of Moss would have been the ultimate test of that approach. Why take the risk, given the success of the team thus far this season?
- I'm not a fan of the special uniform designs which are becoming more prevalent in college football. Texas Tech's pinkish camo look last night was, shall we say, interesting? Throwbacks are cool--over-designed unis are not.
- Show of hands--who remembers the school bus ride with the prankster on board who would make various bodily sounds intended to "entertain" his captive audience? Apparently, that sort of behavior is frowned upon in Ohio where a sixth grader was placed in detention for farting on the school bus. The 11-year old insisted that the flatulence was involuntary. The bus driver, however, contradicted the story saying that the offender would "laugh while the others screamed."
- It wasn't a good day for the Pac-12's new entrants yesterday. Not only did Colorado surrender a 28 point lead in Lawrence, but Utah was routed by TCU thus ending any national title hopes for the Utes.
- That "pfft" sound you hear from Waco, TX is the Baylor balloon being burst by Oklahoma State. The Bears still have a chance to go to a good bowl with home games remaining against Texas A&M and Oklahoma, but will not win the Big 12 South. A&M now owns a three-game winning streak and beat #8 OU yesterday at Kyle Field in College Station. The Aggies have remaining games against Nebraska and Texas, in addition to Baylor. OU still has Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, plus Baylor, on their schedule.
- How did Kansas make its amazing comeback yesterday against Colorado? It did it by scoring 35 points in the fourth quarter. Therein lies the beauty of college sports--it's amazing what confidence can do to a teams' performance.
- More on KU-Colorado yesterday...this loss, and how it happened, put the final nail in the Dan Hawkins coffin. The former Boise State coach will surely not make the trip with Colorado to the Pacific 12 conference next season.
- A 15-month old baby in Paris fell from a seventh story window, and survived, by bouncing off of a cafe awning and into the arms of a passerby.
- As alluring as the thought was of an immense talent like Randy Moss in a Chiefs uniform, I'm glad that General Manager Scott Pioli did not pursue the troubled superstar. The Chiefs organization has done a terrific job of blending team chemistry--the addition of Moss would have been the ultimate test of that approach. Why take the risk, given the success of the team thus far this season?
- I'm not a fan of the special uniform designs which are becoming more prevalent in college football. Texas Tech's pinkish camo look last night was, shall we say, interesting? Throwbacks are cool--over-designed unis are not.
- Show of hands--who remembers the school bus ride with the prankster on board who would make various bodily sounds intended to "entertain" his captive audience? Apparently, that sort of behavior is frowned upon in Ohio where a sixth grader was placed in detention for farting on the school bus. The 11-year old insisted that the flatulence was involuntary. The bus driver, however, contradicted the story saying that the offender would "laugh while the others screamed."
- It wasn't a good day for the Pac-12's new entrants yesterday. Not only did Colorado surrender a 28 point lead in Lawrence, but Utah was routed by TCU thus ending any national title hopes for the Utes.
- That "pfft" sound you hear from Waco, TX is the Baylor balloon being burst by Oklahoma State. The Bears still have a chance to go to a good bowl with home games remaining against Texas A&M and Oklahoma, but will not win the Big 12 South. A&M now owns a three-game winning streak and beat #8 OU yesterday at Kyle Field in College Station. The Aggies have remaining games against Nebraska and Texas, in addition to Baylor. OU still has Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, plus Baylor, on their schedule.
Friday, November 5, 2010
College football predictions - week ten
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton's recruitment is being scrutinized. Helmet-to-helmet hits are being debated--what's a penalty and what's not? And, margin of victory apparently now is not considered when factoring in the dominance of programs like TCU, Utah and Boise State. Yes, it's the wonderfully wacky world of college football--week ten.
After going 9-2 last weekend, let's see what your fearless prognosticator has to say about this Saturday's action.
Kansas over Colorado. You heard it here--Kansas will get its first Big 12 win of the season and its first since last year's close win over Iowa State. Last year, KU lost to Colorado late, the "Mangino Meltdown" went down after the game, and the Jayhawks have been spiraling ever since. Their season gets righted a bit tomorrow in a close win over the Buffaloes and lame duck coach Dan Hawkins.
Oklahoma State over Baylor. It's the battle of coach-of-the-year candidates--Mike Gundy at OSU versus Art Briles at Baylor. It'll be another typical high-scoring Big 12 South shootout with the Cowboys winning by a touchdown.
Missouri over Texas Tech. This road game could be a pesky one for Missouri but, after a slow start, they'll roll to a 13 point win and continue motoring on to a one-loss regular season.
Texas over Kansas State. It's the trendy pick to predict a Kansas State victory. And, yes, I keep picking Texas to play like, well, Texas. I think the Longhorns simply have too much talent and that KSU's defense will be the perfect antidote for Gale Gilbert's recent struggles.
Oklahoma over Texas A&M. A&M is finding its mojo after inserting Ryan Tannehill in at quarterback. And, Kyle Field is not an easy place to play. I'm still picking the Sooners.
Nebraska over Iowa State. Will Taylor Martinez play? Can ISU construct another upset this season? This too is a trendy upset pick but I believe NU will continue the momentum coming out of last week's win over Missouri.
Alabama over LSU. Alabama must win if it wants any shot at moving past Boise State or TCU in the BCS standings. LSU must win to prove that it's truly a legitimate one-loss team. Alabama by 3.
TCU over Utah. You all know the story line on this, the most anticipated game of the day. The Mountain West conference takes center stage, at least for this Saturday. TCU's last regular season loss was in 2008 against...Utah. It won't happen tomorrow.
South Carolina over Arkansas. The Gamecocks take care of business at home.
Air Force over Army. Air Force doesn't have an "air game" on the field but should win by a touchdown over Army.
Clemson over North Carolina State. State has one loss in the conference but the Tigers are hard to beat at home.
Michigan over Illinois. This game is in Ann Arbor and features two 5-3 teams. The Illini, however, still have an outside shot at a league title with their 3-2 conference record. That record will be 3-3 after they lose to Denard Robinson and company.
Season predictions to date: 71-24 (74.7%)
After going 9-2 last weekend, let's see what your fearless prognosticator has to say about this Saturday's action.
Kansas over Colorado. You heard it here--Kansas will get its first Big 12 win of the season and its first since last year's close win over Iowa State. Last year, KU lost to Colorado late, the "Mangino Meltdown" went down after the game, and the Jayhawks have been spiraling ever since. Their season gets righted a bit tomorrow in a close win over the Buffaloes and lame duck coach Dan Hawkins.
Oklahoma State over Baylor. It's the battle of coach-of-the-year candidates--Mike Gundy at OSU versus Art Briles at Baylor. It'll be another typical high-scoring Big 12 South shootout with the Cowboys winning by a touchdown.
Missouri over Texas Tech. This road game could be a pesky one for Missouri but, after a slow start, they'll roll to a 13 point win and continue motoring on to a one-loss regular season.
Texas over Kansas State. It's the trendy pick to predict a Kansas State victory. And, yes, I keep picking Texas to play like, well, Texas. I think the Longhorns simply have too much talent and that KSU's defense will be the perfect antidote for Gale Gilbert's recent struggles.
Oklahoma over Texas A&M. A&M is finding its mojo after inserting Ryan Tannehill in at quarterback. And, Kyle Field is not an easy place to play. I'm still picking the Sooners.
Nebraska over Iowa State. Will Taylor Martinez play? Can ISU construct another upset this season? This too is a trendy upset pick but I believe NU will continue the momentum coming out of last week's win over Missouri.
Alabama over LSU. Alabama must win if it wants any shot at moving past Boise State or TCU in the BCS standings. LSU must win to prove that it's truly a legitimate one-loss team. Alabama by 3.
TCU over Utah. You all know the story line on this, the most anticipated game of the day. The Mountain West conference takes center stage, at least for this Saturday. TCU's last regular season loss was in 2008 against...Utah. It won't happen tomorrow.
South Carolina over Arkansas. The Gamecocks take care of business at home.
Air Force over Army. Air Force doesn't have an "air game" on the field but should win by a touchdown over Army.
Clemson over North Carolina State. State has one loss in the conference but the Tigers are hard to beat at home.
Michigan over Illinois. This game is in Ann Arbor and features two 5-3 teams. The Illini, however, still have an outside shot at a league title with their 3-2 conference record. That record will be 3-3 after they lose to Denard Robinson and company.
Season predictions to date: 71-24 (74.7%)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Random musings
- If you want to see U2 this summer, the closest stops to Kansas City will be Chicago (July 5 at Soldier Field), St. Louis (July 17 at Busch Stadium) and Minneapolis (July 23 at TCF Bank Stadium.)
- If, on the other hand, you want to see Kenny Chesney, the country star will play Arrowhead Stadium here in our cowtown on July 30. The Zac Brown Band will open for Chesney, who will headline the first concert in Arrowhead in 10 years.
- It's "they're," "their," and "there." Each is its own word with its own definition.
- When's the last time you can remember the Kansas City Chiefs-Oakland Raiders game meaning something in the NFL's AFC West?
- Was advertising copy testing used on current campaigns for brands like Old Spice ("Old Spice Man"), Dos Equis ("World's Most Interesting Man"), Charles Schwab (the paint-by-numbers illustrated people in the "Ask Chuck" work) or Dominos Pizza? I don't know...but I doubt it. Breakthrough advertising is rarely validated by pre-campaign consumer research.
- Speaking of advertising, how cool is it to have all political advertising now off the air? If only the candidates' yard signs could come down as quickly.
- Charlie Sheen is getting divorced, you say? Boy, I couldn't have called that one.
- Free Josh Selby...and Enes Kanter, while you're at it.
- Is there a show on television with a less likable cast of characters than Grey's Anatomy?
- Losing three games at home during the 2009-2010 college hoops season does not give a team license to crow about its homecourt advantage, much less nickname the building.
- The Real Housewives spoof which opened The Women of SNL special on NBC this past Monday night was hysterical.
- If, on the other hand, you want to see Kenny Chesney, the country star will play Arrowhead Stadium here in our cowtown on July 30. The Zac Brown Band will open for Chesney, who will headline the first concert in Arrowhead in 10 years.
- It's "they're," "their," and "there." Each is its own word with its own definition.
- When's the last time you can remember the Kansas City Chiefs-Oakland Raiders game meaning something in the NFL's AFC West?
- Was advertising copy testing used on current campaigns for brands like Old Spice ("Old Spice Man"), Dos Equis ("World's Most Interesting Man"), Charles Schwab (the paint-by-numbers illustrated people in the "Ask Chuck" work) or Dominos Pizza? I don't know...but I doubt it. Breakthrough advertising is rarely validated by pre-campaign consumer research.
- Speaking of advertising, how cool is it to have all political advertising now off the air? If only the candidates' yard signs could come down as quickly.
- Charlie Sheen is getting divorced, you say? Boy, I couldn't have called that one.
- Free Josh Selby...and Enes Kanter, while you're at it.
- Is there a show on television with a less likable cast of characters than Grey's Anatomy?
- Losing three games at home during the 2009-2010 college hoops season does not give a team license to crow about its homecourt advantage, much less nickname the building.
- The Real Housewives spoof which opened The Women of SNL special on NBC this past Monday night was hysterical.
Top 10 Reasons to Live in Kansas City
The Kansas City Area Development Council publishes a magazine called Options, which is used as a tool to retain businesses, and employees, in the Kansas City region as well as a sales piece for those who may be considering K.C. as their business' next home.
The new edition of the publication has an article titled "Top 10 Reasons to Live in K.C."
In descending order:
10. "With three major and two minor league sports teams, roller derby and allegiances to at least three Big 12 universities, our tailgate parties are always winners--even when our teams aren't."
9. "Kansas City has spawned contestants on Survivor, Design Star, Project Runway, Top Chef Masters, Cupcake Wars, Iron Chef and Work of Art--not to mention an American Idol winner. You might be next!"
8. "Beer from Boulevard Brewing Company, coffee from The Roasterie, milk from Shatto Milk Co., artisanal sodas from SodaVie: We can 'drink local' at every event."
7. "Recently installed ramp meters control interstate congestion, so you'll be covered during that one time a month you actually run into a traffic jam."
6. "It may be 458 miles from Barney Allis Plaza to Graceland, but that hasn't stopped this downtown gathering place from hosting the 'world's largest Elvis parade' every year."
5. "We're home to both Browne's Irish Market, the oldest, family-owned Irish business in North America, and the Irish population to support it!"
4. "It took an act of Congress to designate the National World War I Museum as the United States' official commemorator of the 'Great War,' but it only takes $12 ($6 if you are a kid) to see its one-of-a-kind collection."
3. "KC was dubbed the 'Paris of the Plains' in the Jazz Age; Paris was nicknamed 'City of Light' in the Gilded Age. But with more than 80 miles of multicolored bulbs illuminating the Country Club Plaza during the holidays, we may just usurp that latter identity, as well."
2. "Foodies love us: In 2010, KC restaurants were featured on Travel Channel's Food Wars and Man versus Food, and on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Hungry yet?"
1. "As if the state-of-the-art acoustics in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts aren't enough, the building's dramatic silhouette is giving Kansas City's landlocked skyline its very own seashell."
This is a good list, but I think the editors of Options left out some important items:
- The Sprint Center, ranked the second best arena nationally by Pollstar magazine.
- Barbecue...and more barbecue. From where? Take your pick--Oklahoma Joe's, Gates, Arthur Bryant's, LC's, Jack's Stack, Danny Edward's, and on, and on, and on.
- The "new" Arrowhead and the recently renovated Kauffman Stadium--the best stadium complex in the United States.
- First Fridays in the Crossroads District.
- The BLT's at The Peanut.
- The American Royal...and its barbecue contest.
- Ward Parkway.
- This city's legendary pro athlete, Tom Watson, and our ascending star, Dexter McCluster.
- And...you're only 40 minutes from Lawrence.
The new edition of the publication has an article titled "Top 10 Reasons to Live in K.C."
In descending order:
10. "With three major and two minor league sports teams, roller derby and allegiances to at least three Big 12 universities, our tailgate parties are always winners--even when our teams aren't."
9. "Kansas City has spawned contestants on Survivor, Design Star, Project Runway, Top Chef Masters, Cupcake Wars, Iron Chef and Work of Art--not to mention an American Idol winner. You might be next!"
8. "Beer from Boulevard Brewing Company, coffee from The Roasterie, milk from Shatto Milk Co., artisanal sodas from SodaVie: We can 'drink local' at every event."
7. "Recently installed ramp meters control interstate congestion, so you'll be covered during that one time a month you actually run into a traffic jam."
6. "It may be 458 miles from Barney Allis Plaza to Graceland, but that hasn't stopped this downtown gathering place from hosting the 'world's largest Elvis parade' every year."
5. "We're home to both Browne's Irish Market, the oldest, family-owned Irish business in North America, and the Irish population to support it!"
4. "It took an act of Congress to designate the National World War I Museum as the United States' official commemorator of the 'Great War,' but it only takes $12 ($6 if you are a kid) to see its one-of-a-kind collection."
3. "KC was dubbed the 'Paris of the Plains' in the Jazz Age; Paris was nicknamed 'City of Light' in the Gilded Age. But with more than 80 miles of multicolored bulbs illuminating the Country Club Plaza during the holidays, we may just usurp that latter identity, as well."
2. "Foodies love us: In 2010, KC restaurants were featured on Travel Channel's Food Wars and Man versus Food, and on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Hungry yet?"
1. "As if the state-of-the-art acoustics in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts aren't enough, the building's dramatic silhouette is giving Kansas City's landlocked skyline its very own seashell."
This is a good list, but I think the editors of Options left out some important items:
- The Sprint Center, ranked the second best arena nationally by Pollstar magazine.
- Barbecue...and more barbecue. From where? Take your pick--Oklahoma Joe's, Gates, Arthur Bryant's, LC's, Jack's Stack, Danny Edward's, and on, and on, and on.
- The "new" Arrowhead and the recently renovated Kauffman Stadium--the best stadium complex in the United States.
- First Fridays in the Crossroads District.
- The BLT's at The Peanut.
- The American Royal...and its barbecue contest.
- Ward Parkway.
- This city's legendary pro athlete, Tom Watson, and our ascending star, Dexter McCluster.
- And...you're only 40 minutes from Lawrence.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Flirting
This is, I hope, a blog post which is more appropriate for our single readers. I pass it along because researchers at my alma mater, the University of Kansas in Lawrence, found that there are various styles of flirting. And, I share it with you so that our married readers can--ahem--determine what kind of flirters they were, and those who are single can figure what kind of flirter they are.
The KU researchers determined that there are five types of flirting behaviors and that understanding how you communicate romantic interest may help you improve your chances in love. (No, this is not the makings for a new television reality show...)
The five styles of flirting are:
- Physical
- Traditional
- Polite
- Sincere
- Playful
If you're wondering if these different styles correlate to gender, it's a good question. Women scored higher on all styles except for, interestingly, playful.
Physical, sincere and playful were all styles associated with greater dating success. The physical and sincere styles were more likely to lead to deeper relationships with a stronger emotional connection and physical chemistry.
Researchers surveyed over 5,100 men and women about their flirting techniques. From their findings, the research team grouped the styles into the five categories:
Physical - This style communicates sexual interest to a potential partner. This form of flirting usually led to relationships which developed more quickly.
Traditional - In this style, men were most often the one to take the lead with women playing a more passive role. People who flirted in this way were physically more introverted, and men who used this style typically knew their potential partner for some time.
Polite - Proper manners are used in this style with a more cautious approach to expressing interest.
Sincere - As expected, this style involved communicating sincere interest and a desire to establish a strong emotional connection. Both men and women scored high for this style.
Playful - This style is the one least likely to result in meaningful relationships. And, people who engaged in this style often did it to boost their own self-esteem.
The lead researcher at KU said, "Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life. Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtsthip."
Okay, single folks--consider this your "self help" blog post for the day. Now, go have fun out there!
The KU researchers determined that there are five types of flirting behaviors and that understanding how you communicate romantic interest may help you improve your chances in love. (No, this is not the makings for a new television reality show...)
The five styles of flirting are:
- Physical
- Traditional
- Polite
- Sincere
- Playful
If you're wondering if these different styles correlate to gender, it's a good question. Women scored higher on all styles except for, interestingly, playful.
Physical, sincere and playful were all styles associated with greater dating success. The physical and sincere styles were more likely to lead to deeper relationships with a stronger emotional connection and physical chemistry.
Researchers surveyed over 5,100 men and women about their flirting techniques. From their findings, the research team grouped the styles into the five categories:
Physical - This style communicates sexual interest to a potential partner. This form of flirting usually led to relationships which developed more quickly.
Traditional - In this style, men were most often the one to take the lead with women playing a more passive role. People who flirted in this way were physically more introverted, and men who used this style typically knew their potential partner for some time.
Polite - Proper manners are used in this style with a more cautious approach to expressing interest.
Sincere - As expected, this style involved communicating sincere interest and a desire to establish a strong emotional connection. Both men and women scored high for this style.
Playful - This style is the one least likely to result in meaningful relationships. And, people who engaged in this style often did it to boost their own self-esteem.
The lead researcher at KU said, "Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life. Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtsthip."
Okay, single folks--consider this your "self help" blog post for the day. Now, go have fun out there!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Pontiac
A part of my youth just passed away. The Pontiac brand of General Motors will officially go to the graveyard of dead cars on Sunday.
Pontiac lived for 84 years and produced the Bonneville, one of my parents' past family cars; the GTO, Firebird and other well-known vehicle names. The cars were known for being sportier than Chevrolets and not as upscale as Buicks and Oldsmobiles.
The Pontiac GTO, with its 389 cubic inch engine, became the poster child for the term "muscle car" during its heyday from 1964 to 1974. It was the speedy getaway vehicle which allowed Burt Reynold's character to elude the sheriff in Smokey and the Bandit, and was designed by John DeLorean, who later created the DeLorean stainless steel sports car.
In the '60s, Pontiac was third to Chevy and Ford in car sales but its share declined over time to where, by early 2009, the car brand was 12th in the U.S. market.
My father was a loyal Chevy buyer and I remember the excitement in our household when he decided to buy the larger, more elegant Pontiac Bonneville. The "Bonnie" was the first car I learned to drive, complete with automatic transmission and, at the time, revolutionary power steering and power brakes. I shudder to think now about the size of that boat on wheels, driving it in traffic, and trying to parallel park.
R.I.P. Pontiac
Pontiac lived for 84 years and produced the Bonneville, one of my parents' past family cars; the GTO, Firebird and other well-known vehicle names. The cars were known for being sportier than Chevrolets and not as upscale as Buicks and Oldsmobiles.
The Pontiac GTO, with its 389 cubic inch engine, became the poster child for the term "muscle car" during its heyday from 1964 to 1974. It was the speedy getaway vehicle which allowed Burt Reynold's character to elude the sheriff in Smokey and the Bandit, and was designed by John DeLorean, who later created the DeLorean stainless steel sports car.
In the '60s, Pontiac was third to Chevy and Ford in car sales but its share declined over time to where, by early 2009, the car brand was 12th in the U.S. market.
My father was a loyal Chevy buyer and I remember the excitement in our household when he decided to buy the larger, more elegant Pontiac Bonneville. The "Bonnie" was the first car I learned to drive, complete with automatic transmission and, at the time, revolutionary power steering and power brakes. I shudder to think now about the size of that boat on wheels, driving it in traffic, and trying to parallel park.
R.I.P. Pontiac
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