Covering the news never gets old, and it never gets easier.  Journalists have feelings and emotions too.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to choke back tears when reporting a story.  I’m a father, husband, friend, and I hurt too.

But, this week has been “off the charts.”

Dick Clark was my hero.  He is the reason I wanted to be a broadcaster.  I marveled at how he handled the microphone.  How smooth he was in front of the camera.  You should hear some of his old radio air checks.  He was the one guy you knew would never die.

I lived for American Bandstand.

When I was stationed overseas in the sixties, we got American television about two weeks behind everybody else.  We had Armed Forces Radio, but American television shows is what we lived for.  American Bandstand was one we made sure we cooked dinner and the whole family sat and watched.

Levon Helm of the Band died this week, and while his music will live on forever, I was always amazed at how this guy would just keep putting out great songs, with great lyrics.  “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Weight” remain classics forever.

But you know what I remember Levon Helm for the most?  The movie, The Right Stuff.  Remember?  He played Sam Sheppards little right hand man.  “Got a stick of Beamens?”

The news I dreaded the most though was Pat Summit.  I’ve known for a couple of weeks that this would be her last year as coach of the UT Lady Vols.  I’ve known that family my whole life.  I hurt real bad for what “Sis” is going through.  It reminds me that I’m also getting older, and I don’t know what challenges I will face before I die.

We’re selfish when it comes to our heros.  We dread the bad news, the inevitable, the end.

I’m still trying to figure out what that all says about me

Oh well.

I’ve often wondered what our infatuation with sports stars is all about.  There was non-stop coverage of Peyton’s every move during the “Manning Tour” of teams.  We followed his car down the interstate.  We had aerial coverage of him walking in and out of his house.  Getting out of his car.  I mean, really?  What’s it like to live in that world?

Peyton Manning is one of the best.  He was raised right.  Came from a great family.  Lived in the shadow of “Archie.”  He could be mayor of Knoxville Tennessee right now.  He could be governor of the state, no question.

It’s no surprise he chose the Denver Broncos to finish his career.  Who wouldn’t want to be around John Elway?  I don’t doubt that there were many a night where the Manning clan gathered around the TV to watch the amazing Elway, while Archie Manning “dissected” and explained his every move to his boys Eli and Peyton.  Now, you get to work with one of your boyhood heroes?

No brainer.

We can learn a lot from watching Peyton Manning continue to grow and mature.  We see a lot of the values and convictions we wish we had, and hoped we passed along to our children.  I’ll pull for him every time he takes the field, except against the Titans.

Peyton Manning.  Class act.

I’ve made some progress, but apparently, I need to “buckle” down.

Thanks chief!

Things I will do in 2012

Posted: December 26, 2011 |

As I enjoy the holidays, I’m reminded that’s there’s much to do in 2012.  Here goes.

I pledge to be more organized, and not constantly be “chasing my tail.”

I pledge to be a nicer, more patient person.  My personality needs a little work. (at least I own up to it)

I pledge to keep my emotions in check.  I tend to get a “little” excited, and over the top.

I pledge to lose more weight.  I lost over 40 pounds this year, and it wasn’t enough.  Not getting any younger.

I pledge to work harder than I ever have.

I pledge to inspire my employees to be better than they’ve ever been.  I won’t tolerate “short cuts”

I pledge to “mend” the relationships I’ve damaged this year.

I will “listen” more, and try to “talk” less.

I will not be defeated.

I pledge to leave it all on the field of play.  What good is it to play, if  you’re not going to give it everything you’ve got?

These are just a few things I’ve got to work on.   I’m sure I’ll be reminded of more.

Thank you for your support.

If you know me, then you know that I pull no punches.  Sometimes it gets me in trouble.  No, it ALWAYS gets me in trouble.  But when it comes to reporting the news, then, that’s the only way to do it.

TELL IT LIKE IS IS!

The public wants the facts.  Good and bad.  They want accurate and credible reporting, so that they can form an opinion, or just be informed.  The national news media has become too biased, and that worries me.  It used to be, you could read the paper, or watch the evening news, and get the information you wanted.  I don’t remember Walter Chronkite, or David Brinkley EVER taking time during their newscast to tell us what they think.  To give us THEIR opinion.

Now, you can’t get away from it.

I’ve been living and working in Clarksville all my life.   I’ve been in the media nearly 40 years.  I walk a “fine line” in this town between friends, sponsors, and newsmakers.  I know more about some people than I could ever report.  It’s good that I do.

But when it comes to getting it right, you expect me to do that.  You expect me to ask the questions that you only imagine you could ask.  I’m not afraid of any public figure.  I’m not afraid to ask anybody, anything.   The public has a right to know.

So, the next time you accuse me of being “this” or “that,” remember, I’m the guy who knows.  I’m the guy you can depend on to find the answers to the questions you want answered.  I’m the guy who understands you don’t care what I think, you care about the facts.

And I tell it like it is.

We constantly complain about the content, we’re never happy with it, and we always, ALWAYS, talk about what’s NOT in the paper.  It’s a catch 22 for those who work in that industry.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t

Recently, Gannett, (the parent company of the Leaf-Chronicle) announced they were moving to a “pay model” for their online web content.  Some people think this will be the end of the newspaper business.

Not so.

The fact of the matter, is that the DELIVERY of the news has changed.

It’s always been a ludicrous assumption to think that newspapers could continue to exist by printing a paper, and throwing it in your yard.  Everything is immediate.  The internet has made it possible.

I think what we’re most disappointed about is that times have changed.  The generation that “grew up” reading newspapers has moved on.  The next generation is online.  We didn’t teach them the importance of reading the paper, and now it’s going away.

The Leaf-Chronicle is going to be ok.  Their challenge is coming to grips with the fact that they’re not the only game in town anymore.

The internet made THAT possible.

I’m a happy man.

The older I get, the more my bones ache in cold weather.  I live for the first day of March.  It’s a psychological thang!  I know that the good weather is just around the corner.  (after all the spring rains of course).

The main reason I don’t miss a bad winter is that it just makes everybody more grumpy.  Clarksville drivers are some of the worst in the world as it is, now add a couple inches of snow and ice, and it spells disaster.

Remember last year? In one day we had the most wrecks called in to 911 in recent history.  A gazillion I think.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older that I feel this way, but this world is really in a sad place right now.  We’re anxious about money, jobs, retirement, social security, health care. We’re confused about race, religion, marriage.  Everything has to be “politically correct.”  I can’t recall having so many issues hanging over our heads, and it’s making us all feel bad.

We just feel bad.

The news is just non-stop.  Too much of it. Too much information. None of it good.

Of course, it’s George Bush’s fault.  Ha!

Ever notice how refreshing it is to meet someone who has a smile on their face?  Has a happy disposition?  You come away wondering, “why is he so happy?”

We should all try to find a happy  place.  God want’s us to be a peace.  God has a purpose for our life.  It doesn’t matter what life throws at you.  You only go around once.  It goes quick.  Better enjoy it.  That’s what I’m trying to do.

Now, bring on the good weather.  My old bones need a break.

“But I don’t own a boat.”

Good for you.  Go have a cup of coffee and complain about something else.

The news surrounding the marina development has been littered with controversy.  From the “git-go” people have whined and complained about it.   Just like they did over annexing St. Bethlehem, and renaming Guthrie Highway after the great Wilma Rudolph.

What else is new.

How’d that work out for ya?

News: Recently I reported that a bankruptcy court handed down a judgement of 4.8 million dollars against the contractor the city hired to build the marina, for “wrongful termination” of a sub-contractor.  TMS Contracting and it’s insurance company have appealed.

This could take a while.

“But I don’t own a boat.”

Whatever!

News:  A local architectural firm has sued the project consultant.

News:  The first marina operator “bailed” on the contract after not getting his financing.  The new marina operator walked into a sweet deal, and a local group of businessmen who wanted to operate the marina are keeping a close eye on the arrangement they get.

Fact:  There are going to be lawsuits over this thing for a long time.  There is going to be some finger pointing and accusations like you’ve never heard.

“But I don’t own a boat.”

Bite me!

Welcome to Clarksville.  Now, how about a convention center?

Is it the Moose Club? Kiwanis Club? Country Club card room?  Please, explain.

Since the beginning of time, there’s been a “good old boy” network.  It’s how things get done, like it or not.   And make no mistake, there’s “good old girls” clubs too,  just ask James Chavez.

Now, Mayor Kim McMillan has appointed a new Charter Revision Commission.  Let’s review the participants and connect the dots:

Former mayor Ted Crozier

Ted Crozier Jr, son of former mayor, appointed Clerk and Master by Judge Larry McMillan, husband to Kim

Wendell Gilbert (brigadier general retired) father-in-law to Ted Crozier Jr

Mark Rassas (attorney) brother-in-law to Ted Crozier Jr

Tim Hall (apsu president) hired Kim McMillan after leaving state government

Jeannie Beauchamp (dentist) best friend of Kim McMillan

Bill Powers (businessman) neighbors to Kim and Larry McMillan, travel together on vacations, good friends.

These are just a few of the people who have volunteered to help revise our city charter, and I hold them ALL in very high regard.

I don’t have a problem with our leaders choosing people they know and trust to help them do a very difficult job.  Who else can you turn to when you need someone the most.

Your friends.

Every single mayor since I can remember has turned to the people he knows to do the right thing for their community.  Oh I know, there’s been some “bad apples” along the way, but for the most part, this city has done quite well.

There’s nothing wrong with asking your friends to help you out.

I think this is an amazing group of people who have proven their love for our community.   I wouldn’t ask a stranger to help me grow my business, or make vital decisions related to my future.  I go to the people I know and trust.

Don’t worry.  The city council will make sure there’s no “shenanigans.”  Lol.

Apparently none of you did either.

From all the griping and moaning about the NFL lockout that preceded this season, you sure couldn’t tell it at the Super Bowl.  Once again, the big game was viewed by more people than can be counted.  The game itself was a dandy, with the Giants winning late in the fourth quarter, the commercials were cool, especially Clint Eastwood, and of course there was a half-time show “malfunction”.

The game is over hyped as it is, but that’s ok, because I’m a football fan.  I want every possible angle I can get on the game.  Besides, how can all those so called “experts” justify their existence? (note to Aaron Rodgers, don’t quit your day job)

You had a lot of story lines working here:

Eli/Payton.  Who’s better?

Tom Brady/Bill Belichick, can they produce the magic again?

Will Madonna lip synch?

Is Tim Tebow in the house?

I missed the now famous “nip slip” of Janet Jackson, so what were the odds that something would happen at this years game?

Well, it did.

Now, I don’t even know who M.I.A is , but apparently she should have been. (get it? missing in…oh whatever)

What the hell is wrong with these people?  Where along the way did we decide this was ok?  This behavior?  Is it cute? Trendy? Cool? Part of the choreography? “We’re number one?  What?

I’m disappointed that this young lady doesn’t have the common courtesy, or class, to realize what a joke she is.  I hate it that she not only has NO  respect for herself, but no respect for every single young person watching that performance, who went right out the next day and did an imitation of her performance at school.

Touch of class M.I.A.  Hope you sell a bunch of CD”s.  I won’t buy one

Oh, and Eli/Payton?

Eli, by a finger.

By going public, I don’t mean they’ve changed their security settings, I mean, they’re selling stock in the company.  You could own you a piece of the action, then you would be entitled to “bitch” about all the changes they make, while you aren’t looking.

I’m always curious why a company goes public.  Most of the time it’s to raise capital, and most of the time, the company was doing really good before, then after the stock sale, the company starts to struggle.  I’m not sure if this is the case here, but just how much money does Mark Zuckerberg need?  How much money does Facebook need?

Estimates are in the billions, but make no mistake, what happens next is bothersome.

Now the company will be “accountable” to it’s shareholders.  They will have to maintain a certain level of profitability to keep the stock moving forward.  This could mean a lot of things.  This could definitely mean we will have to pay for Facebook, but the “perks” could be too good to turn down, so don’t decide against that just yet.

If it’s one thing we know, capitalism is GOOD.  This is a country built on it.  But, if history bears out, NO GOOD will come from that much money.  It will cause problems.  Look around.

I’m growing weary of Facebook anyway.