The USA Women’s 4×400 meter relay team is one of the most dominant teams in sports history. They hold the world record in the event and have won seven of the last eight World Championships and the last seven Olympic gold medals. The stage was set for another dominating victory at the World Athletics Championships […]
Outside the Walls: Family Ties
I’ll never forget Thanksgiving 2021. My mom’s house was full of chaos. My dad was the father of five sons, so family gatherings are pretty loud and full of testosterone. My son’s crazy uncles were embellishing stories I would have to correct later. Grandkids were out of control, loud laughter from my uncles could be […]
Outside the Walls: The Star of the Show
I had a lead role in the movie “Radio.” I don’t like to brag about it much, but it was kind of a big deal. The movie was a true story about a high school coach who befriended a man with special needs who helped the team for decades. I had the important part of […]
Outside the Walls: Listen to Your Mom
Nancy was told that her son, Tom, wouldn’t make it in school. They called him addled or mentally ill. One day Tom overheard the teacher talking about his deficiencies to another teacher and relayed the information to his mother with a broken spirit. She fiercely defended him and went to the school to be his […]
Outside the Walls: The Energy of Innovation
“We are having a baby!” As a young husband, I remember where I was when we found out that something new was about to happen to multiply our family and embark on an adventure. Nothing brings more energy and excitement than the birthing of a new baby. The day finally arrived for our first son, […]
Outside the Walls: ‘Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes!’
Al Michaels fought back tears to get these words out as the 1980 United States Olympics hockey team mounted an unbelievable comeback in the final period of play to defeat a powerful Soviet Union team 4-3. The U.S. went on to secure the gold, but it was much more than a hockey game. For decades, […]
Outside the Walls: Be Resolved
Let’s face it: You’re not going to accomplish your New Year’s resolutions. Don’t you feel better now? According to inc.com, 91 percent of Americans will not achieve their New Year’s resolutions. I know what you are thinking: “So, you are saying there is a chance?” I appreciate your optimism. The top three New Year’s resolutions […]
Outside the Walls: The Climb
“Who wants to climb Table Rock?” asked my 60-year-old grandfather while on a family camping trip. To a 10-year-old kid, climbing a mountain sounded like a good idea. I asked how long the hike would take. “It shouldn’t take more than an hour,” he said. That was about all the preparation we had before my […]
Outside the Walls: Moment, Map, Mountain
I remember the moment when my wife said yes. I surprised her at her dorm to go on a picnic. We headed up to Whitewater Falls and hiked around to the top of the falls and climbed down a small embankment. I spread out the blanket on top of the rock and pulled out the […]
Outside the Walls: Unwanted Lives
Shelley was an unwanted child. Ruth had longed for a child of her own and adopted Shelley at birth and loved her. Ruth never hid from Shelley that she was adopted. It was important to her that Shelley know that she had been “chosen.” Shelley would wonder at times who her birth mother was. The […]