Knight is Talking, Again

Bobby Knight is coming ever so slowly out his shell and back to the State of Indiana. He was in town this week for an ESPN broadcast of a Butler game (the current favorite team in Indiana-uh, sorry Purdue). While here, he accepted an opportunity to speak at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, not to be confused with the IU Hall of Fame that he recently snubbed after being inducted. Get over it Bobby. Myles unfortunately, prematurely passed to the hereafter and everyone else who tried to modify your behavior is vamanos! As he was speaking, Bobby was the charming, somewhat foul-mouthed, PG-13, rule one violator (takes oneself to seriously) that he typically portrays.

However, one sound bite by Bobby broadcasted by the local media was dead on true. The NCAA rule book has grown so verbose yet vague that compliance has become an issue of begging forgiveness rather than asking for permission. If one wanders "outside the lines", it merely takes a phone call to your attorney to negotiate your severance and next (bigger & better) contract.

Bobby took a direct swipe at John Calipari, the current Kentucky mentor, who has left his last two (three if you count the NJ Nets) in ashes. I witnessed Calipari's current stable of thoroughbreds last week against IU. It was boys playing men. Matter of fact, if I was Larry Bird, I would have traded the UK team straight up for the Pacers. Calipari can coach, but he has taken a team from missing the NIT to an NCAA contender in 10 games! I think Calipari has taken some shortcuts.

Regardless of whether you love Bobby or hate him. He is right-again.

What I Want for Christmas

For starters. let me tell you what I do have. I have a beautiful wife and a wonderful family. I live in a comfortable home regardless of the weather, have charming neighbors & great friends, and my dog loves me. I have savings, health insurance, more clothes than I need, enough electronic devices to start a pawn shop, and can travel anywhere on the three B's (bike, bus, and beemer).

What do I need? Not much, actually. I was thinking of chucking my mobile, but the little lady wants to be able to track me via GPS should I hike the Appalachian Trail or have a sudden onset of Alzheimer's. I could use new exercise clothes. I have some now, but one of my charming neighbors thought my black baggy outfit made me look like M.C. Hammer. I could use a backpack to carry "whatever" while I tool around downtown on my bike. I guess I could use a plastic bag, but that carries an entirely different identity downtown. However, if I get none of these, it's no big deal.

So, what do I want for Christmas? I want my soon-to-born grandson to be healthy. I want the wars wherever they are to end. I want everyone who wants a job to have one that fits their skills. And, most of all I want to stop wanting. I will need to learn to accept what I have is enough and trust the the Good Lord will give me what I need.

That being said, here's hoping you get what you want or better-what you need this Christmas.

Happy Holidays from Downtown Indy

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Dickens must have been thinking of us.

We started off the year with Julie being diagnosed with breast cancer. Whoa! Wait a minute. That's the worst of times? It sure felt like it at first for me and the kids, but we cannot begin to tell you the love and support we received from so many friends and family. Every time we had a need, someone was there. Julie experienced all of the ups and downs...surgery, chemo, radiation, and the associated fatigue one would expect. However, she also felt blessed to have found "it" early, had great doctors (including Jo, Joel's fiance', and Brian), great caregivers at IU, and hundreds of prayers on her behalf. She is still a quart low in the energy department, but still does more than two people drinking Red Bulls. She is continuing to become more deeply involved at the IU School of Nursing. Somehow, I knew that was going to happen. But, she is in the right place at the right time for the two of us. IU and the health care world are fortunate to have her passion and expertise.

Myself? I retired on Sept 30th (thank you my love). After 37 years in the graphic arts biz, I was "well" done. I am just getting into my new life, so allow me some time to decide what I plan to do. Right now, I rant on my blog, AskIndyTed, and do whatever Julie thinks I am qualified to do. So far, cooking is not one of them. I still fantasize about walking the Appalachian Trial. We'll see.

Kyle is still loving and living in NYC. He moved to Brooklyn last year and is exploring the possibility of owning rather than renting. If anyone has info on Kyle, please let us know. He likes to keep us all guessing. All we know is he's single, handsome, talented, charming, and a wonderful son. Look for his newest production on CBS College Sports (Dish Channel 152) on December 18th. The show is about Billy Cannon who won the Heisman in 1959 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. By the way, Kyle is a great storyteller.

If you didn't notice in paragraph two, Joel is engaged to a wonderful woman named Jo Chien! She is a breast oncologist at UCSF Medical Center. Google her and be amazed. Speaking of Google, Joel continues to play an important operations management role for Google Apps. This letter is a Doc which is one of the Apps. Confused? Google it. You'll find the information. Moving on, they are getting "hitched" (Do they say that in CA?) on May 1st in the Santa Cruz Mountains. If you didn't have the opportunity to meet Jo's family at our home over Thanksgiving, they are a delight! Don't Google them. There is way too much info on their accomplishments. It will crash the servers.

Brian, Brooke, Parker, and Finley are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Harrison sometime around New Year's Day. The stork will have his work cut out. Harrison is huge! As for the rest of the family, all you need to do is read Brooke's blog, www.thethreeolives.com. It tells it all. Let me just say that B & B are doing a great job. Brian continues his anesthesia residency with the possibility of focusing on pain management. Meanwhile, Brooke continues to be a great Mom and more. I haven't seen the likes of her since my own Julie. Hang in there Brooke-only 2 1/2 more years of residency.

All in all, we are truly blessed. We hit a few chuckholes along the way in 2009, but we have each other. What else could you need? So, when your times are a little rough, may you and yours be reminded to hug and appreciate each other in celebration of the birth of Christ as the true joy and meaning of this Christmas season!