Just some thoughts:                                            

"He now feels that the vast sums of money involved in NCAA basketball--TV money, sponsorship money, alumni money---have turned college basketball into a division of the NBA, rather than the beloved amateur sport it was in the past."

                                    The Last Amateurs--John Feinstein

That statement was written seventeen years ago by sports writer John Feinsten. Feinstein is one sports writer that I have journalism respect for having had personal contact with him over the years during my time at the USGA. Sadly cannot say that for all writers or media people. 
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A book dealing with college basketball that I would highly recommend for anyone who likes college basketball is the book  The Last Amateurs. In 2000 Feinsten went looking for a college basketball program that still honored the passion and the integrity of the game and found it in a place called the Patriot Leagues. It was and still is one of the smallest Division I conferences, schools that included Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Bucknell, Army and Navy. No blue chippers, no McDonald's All Americans, no Dickie Vitalie's Dapper Dandies in attendance at these school. No escort services will be provided such as we read at the home of the Louisville Cardinals last year. Or in more recent times money kick-back matters. But remember no one in authority, "I did not know nothing about this."

Seventeen years after the release of this book we can see only the further demise of the college game as to integrity. 

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October 28, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:
                                                  

                                                         Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
                                                                        Lourraine Hansberry
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October 6, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:                                            

     "The objective of my affection can change my                          complexion from white to rosy red."

Oh... a corny line from a one time popular song.

Well how about this line:

"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever is solid and durable happiness there is in our natural lives."

                       The Four Loves--C.S.Lewis
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November 22, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

                        "Among the worst things about growing old is the loss of those 
                       irreplaceable friends who added richness and depth to your life."
​                                                                       Pat Conroy

When those friends are gone something of a measureless value inside of one is gone. Gone forever.

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October 1, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:                                               

There is a story in the Bible, I know one of my friends often references Bible stories as fairy tales. Ok...But there was this story about three fellas that didn't have time on their hands to see about an urgent matter.

The Biblical story is often called the story of the Good Samaritan. This week I read a line that made me think about these three men. It appeared to me from the story these three fellas had other appointments that they felt would not allow them to address the matter at hand. 

                          "Urgent problems should never demand an appointment."

As I heard a man recently say when faced with observing misfortune on the part of another do three things: One--Look across the road   Two--Cross the road   Three--Then say "Tell me more."

Say by the way, fairy tales often have a lesson.

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November 15. 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:                                        

One might be careful how they "evaluate" another when leaving their town.

When he left his home town of Galena, Illinois in 1850 he was leaving as the tanner's son. He left carrying everything he owned in a carpetbag . The town folks well they "tittered" at his appearance.  That is they gave a short, half laugh, they giggled at this one as he left town.  Young Sam was going off to war. What good could he contribute. One local was to have said: "God help us."

Four years later that  same Sam would would return to his hometown honored by a great parade, speeches and a new $16,000 home presented to him. He would go on to become President of the United States. Now the locals would say of him: "He was the quintessential American story of success, a poor pioneer boy who led the nation and mastered the world. Abraham Lincoln said of him, "He fights."  Thus Ulysses S. Grant. 

One might be wise to think twice and maybe speak less when one leaves their presences. But folks have been making evaluations like that since the beginning of time. Once one asked:                                           
                                                       "Can any good come out of Nazareth?"

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November 4, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson