Welcome to Doug's Place

When Larry Eustachy came to Hattiesburg, he was in search of a comeback.

We all know he was fraternizing with students and drinking in what proved to be his last days at Iowa State. Less said the better.

He later defeated alcoholism and went on to lead our Southern Miss men’s basketball team for the next eight seasons. The last of which was a memorable one.

Twenty-five wins, a big win against Memphis at home among them and a berth in the NCAA’s big dance. As a native of Wichita, I promise I renounced any vestige of Kansas citizenship prior to the game against Kansas State.

Today, official word came our loss in Larry Eustachy will be Colorado State’s gain. All of us at Doug’s Place wish Coach Eustachy good luck in the next chapter of his career.

Well – that is until the Golden Eagles play against the Rams on the hard court.

I’m quickly becoming a fan of the Robin Craig show on RobinCraigDirect.com. Her husband passed away the same year Cindy and I tied the knot (2005). Recall Cindy passed away unexpectedly just days into 2007.

Robin’s show focuses on issues for those who are in the club no one wants to join (widowhood, in layman’s terms; it’s mainly geared for the ladies — but the men can learn just as much). It’s streamed live from her home in Houston, Texas, every Tuesday night. And the next Tuesday (tomorrow) just happens to be Valentine’s Day.

She blogged the following: “Let me encourage EVERYONE to please remember the widowed and grieving on Valentine’s Day. A simple card, email, phone call or gift will mean so much! You don’t have to spend a lot of money…it truly is the thought that counts. We all need to feel special and loved!”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Covering rock ‘n’ roll news on Rock 104’s RockTrax provided some great moments. For example, Meat Loaf’s run on Celebrity Apprentice, where he earned more than $204,000 for his favorite charity before getting the boot. Along the way, there were some unfortunate stories – including the passing of Warrant’s Jani Lane.

It was difficult to narrow everything down to a top five list of stories that define the year we’re about to wrap up. So here goes.
Continue reading “Top Five RockTrax NewsNotes of 2011”

From the “Gee, That Didn’t Take Long” department, word came today CBS News is revamping The Early Show yet again. The announced plans come not quite one full year since the most recent revamp, which came not long after we rang in 2011.

The proposed plans include a change in title of the program as well as the addition of anchors Charlie Rose and Gayle King. One you probably know from a long running PBS program; the other you probably know as Oprah’s best friend.

To borrow a line from the game show host character in the video arcade game Smash TV, “Good luck. You’ll need it.”

Now’s a good time to revisit the take of a TV critic in Florida. Tom Jicha opined CBS had much better luck with Captain Kangaroo in the morning.

The captain’s track record of success lasted more than a quarter of a century – until the news division meddled with his time slot. Later, the kiddie show was relegated to weekends only.

Ever since CBS News took over for the captain, there have been numerous changes in anchors, styles in presentation and titles of the program.

I stand behind my previous take. A network that has a reimagined Hawaii Five-0 and a revived Let’s Make A Deal on its air schedule should give up the ghost on morning news and replaced it with a revived/reimagined Captain Kangaroo.

When I came back from a vacation, getting the following news felt like a kick to the stomach.

Pat Summitt has disclosed a diagnosis of early onset dementia.

Doug’s Place Flashback: As noted earlier, my father taught Air Force ROTC at the University of Tennessee. His office was at the Stokely Athletic Center — one floor above the basketball court and the offices of the coaches. (Read: This was well before the days of Thompson–Boling Arena.)

Thanks in part to that relatively close proximity from office to office, the Morris family got to know a then very young Pat Head. How young, you ask? In her first few seasons, the age difference between the head coach (unintended pun, I promise) and any of her players was minimal at best.

Her turnaround from humble beginnings to legendary status is truly a remarkable story. The record from there speaks for itself: More than 1000 victories at UT, eight NCAA titles, an Olympic Gold medal in 1984 as coach and Silver in 1976 as a player (yes, while still Lady Vols coach).

All the while, none of us had any reason to bet against Coach Summitt. Even with this stunning news, we’re not betting against her now.

Coach, keep the faith. We’re thinking of and praying for you.

Today was a day I knew was coming. Today was a day I’ve dreaded for sometime. All the while, with this particular omega, it’s leading to a new alpha.

I’m speaking of Mitchell Williams – who is leaving my TV family at WDAM to become area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

If you know Mitch or have watched him these many years, you knew all along he’s a Christian. He’s spoken to many a Christian group throughout his time at WDAM (full disclosure: I was in the audience of one of those groups before becoming a colleague).

When this door with the FCA opened, it was certainly a logical step for him to take. While we’re losing one of the longest serving employees of WDAM, we know we still have a friend in Mitch.

Thankfully, he’s staying in our neighborhoods. Whenever he’s putting together a major FCA event, he knows who to call when it comes time to seek publicity.

Mitch, thanks for everything. Sports Journal will not be the same without you. Thanks for giving us the chance to smile at least once during the news.

Our top story tonight: Osama Bin Laden is *still* dead.

But seriously, while we have every reason to celebrate, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing our national anthem and other patriotic songs, may we be reminded the mission is far from over. The war against terror is still going on. As a friend on Facebook posted, “(Bin Laden) may now be dead. But all I will say is brace yourself.”

So, just how do we brace ourselves? For some answers, let’s turn the clock back to 2001 — when it all began.

Days after 9/11/01, Charles Jaco posted a commentary on his website — nearly all of which can apply to the present day. If his name rings a bell, you’ll recall he was a correspondent with CNN. (In case the name doesn’t ring a bell, his last name is pronounced as if you were saying the letter “J” and syllable “co” with a hard “C”.)

Perhaps his most notable assignment for the network came during the 1991 Gulf War. A few years after the war, Jaco left CNN and returned to his native Missouri. He has since worked in local radio and TV in St. Louis — and his reporting can currently be seen on KTVI television.

But back to Jaco’s commentary. It began with an obituary to “the old America” — and how a new one began less than a minute later. It continues with a few helpful tips worth revisiting.

Jaco opined a nationwide “neighborhood watch” began on 9/11/01. He also recommended we should “stop being afraid”, to “get over” ourselves and “know the enemy”.

The link to that commentary is here — and is worth the look. May God continue to bless America, land that we love, and keep it safe from harm. Along the way, may we do our part to keep this great land of ours free of terror.

OK, football fans, you’re tired about hearing of the NFL lockout. So, you’re searching for something good. No, maybe something great. Enter -– probably the only reason I’m still rooting for the hapless Cincinnati Bengals -– Ben-Gal cheerleader Laura Vikmanis.

Don’t know the name? Google her name, skim over images –- and then come back to this.

OK, let’s get the obvious out of the way. At 42, she’s the oldest cheerleader on the squad, the oldest cheerleader in the league and the cougar in a sea of kittens.

Legend has it her husband left her for a younger woman -– leaving Laura to reinvent herself. She tried out for the Ben-Gals when she turned 39, was rejected, tried again and made the cut.

Now, reportedly, motherhood and other matters took a toll on her weight during her marriage. Still, that’s not an excuse for the now ex-husband to just leave spousal responsibility behind.

On the one hand, I love her comeback story -– and plans call for that story to be made into a movie. On the other hand, it just makes me ask –- what part of “in sickness and in health” did this dingbat not understand?

The 15th anniversary of RockTrax on Rock 104 is next month. In the last few weeks and months, I’ve been recalling the moments leading up to my departure from SL-100 and the crossing of the street to Rock 104 that followed.

For example, *the* moment in mid-March of 1996 — when Larry Blakeney called and asked, “Ready to work for us?” He offered a chance for me to sleep on it — but I didn’t hesitate in saying “Yes.” A call to Stephen St. James during his shift was in order soon thereafter. He got the news he and I would be professionally reunited. Much of the first week of April of ’96 was spent crafting RockTrax, taking care of paperwork, etc. Oh, and catching up with Stephen. As noted earlier, Stephen’s no longer with us. But, I know he’d want to remember happier moments.

Prior to my hiring at Rock 104, one of those moments happened, as I recall, in mid-February of 1996. I was still on “the old show” at SL and a lady named Deborah Hamlin called. The following conversation didn’t end up on air -– but I remembered she called to tell me she enjoyed my program. Deborah added “the old show” was really one of few reasons she tuned in to SL. (Knowing how You-Know-Who’s morning show was going nowhere fast after his suspension, who was I to argue with a new found fan?)

Deborah would call back in the weeks that followed to requests songs. In mid-March of ’96, I privately told her I was resigning from SL –- to front a similar show on Rock 104. She was thrilled for me and wished me lots of luck.

I lost touch with Deborah about a year or so into RockTrax. She and her then-husband welcomed three kids into their marriage. In reconnecting with Deborah recently, I’ve learned she is since divorced; she and the kids have relocated to Kansas. I’m pleased to tell you she found love again since the relocation.

I’m further pleased to tell you Deborah has become an author. Her latest book — My Optimism is Killing Me! — is now available at your nearest bookstore and the usual online outlets. The excerpts at www.deborah-hamlin.com as well as her columns on www.moonbaby.biz had me, as the cool kids say, ROTFLMAO.

Deborah’s coming back to these neighborhoods for book signings on March 12 at Say It With Flowers in Columbia and March 15 at Main Street Books in Hattiesburg. Her personal appearances will then take her to New Orleans on St. Patrick’s Day at Maple Street Book Shop.

If you’re in need of a laugh, take a look at Deborah’s work. You’ll be glad you did.