tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58320040078348856332024-03-08T05:33:57.229-06:00Muffler Belts and Headlight FluidA little about this and that....Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-87871907539645604072023-12-01T11:29:00.004-06:002023-12-02T22:08:34.832-06:00Preface from "More Man Stuff: More Things a Young Man Needs to Know"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrARTie2p0S0qgqU2OCWEZ9OfxCjYc1S1XH-xbX2QDrLrepNj-E6j05Fbkssx-1K-Hs_PcjoDjsYXh5NfbF5M9_pqTtOUGt0MmzVVsnjFigV7O5oLnEmx3_T2fbZ8I_7ZRfHpDP-kyFJfbkevSTKk7UpCUOXucq67cDm7hZ_1Q578e2fR5E6QTWqhbmU/s889/1701193408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="706" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrARTie2p0S0qgqU2OCWEZ9OfxCjYc1S1XH-xbX2QDrLrepNj-E6j05Fbkssx-1K-Hs_PcjoDjsYXh5NfbF5M9_pqTtOUGt0MmzVVsnjFigV7O5oLnEmx3_T2fbZ8I_7ZRfHpDP-kyFJfbkevSTKk7UpCUOXucq67cDm7hZ_1Q578e2fR5E6QTWqhbmU/w318-h400/1701193408.jpg" width="318" /></a>In 2001, the Explorers Club was established—a service club tailored for boys in grades 6 to 8 from the Chamberlain (South Dakota) Public School and St. Joseph’s Indian School. A cornerstone of the weekly meetings is a segment I call “Man Stuff.” During these sessions, we engage in discussions focused on life lessons—topics selected for their relevance to the young men and their potential impact on their journey to maturity.</div></div><p></p><p class="indented">In June 2020, I published <em>Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know </em>which was a collection of some of these topics. My primary purpose in writing the book was to have something to present to the young men in 8th grade as they closed out their middle school years and moved on to high school. </p><p class="indented">I have been invited each year since organizing the Explorers Club to recognize them at their 8th grade Celebration and a book seemed like a good gift and reminder of the lessons we had discussed during their time in the club. I gave very little consideration for whether there would be a commercial market for such a book.</p><p class="indented">The response to “Man Stuff” has been profoundly humbling. From Explorers, parents, friends, and family, the outpouring of encouragement, appreciation, and book sales have been unexpectedly gratifying. The resonance extended far beyond expectations, with Amazon sales reflecting a continued demand.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="indented">Feedback from the first book has been heartening. Young men have found practical value, utilizing it as a resource in various situations. Parents have embraced it as a catalyst for meaningful conversations, while grandparents have appreciated it as a source of shared values. The enduring appeal of traditional ideas in a rapidly evolving world is reassuring.</p><p class="indented">One of the most frequent questions I’ve had is “why did you call it Man Stuff? All of the information is pertinent to young ladies as well.” I agree with that. Despite having two daughters, I feel confident in this presentation to young men. (But I still encourage you to buy a copy of the book for that 10-20 year old young lady you care about!)</p><p class="indented">In the preface of the inaugural volume, I hinted at the possibility of more to come. Well, here it is. I decided <em>More Man Stuff</em> was a better title than <em>Man Stuff 2.0</em>, otherwise, this book is the compilation that was foreshadowed!</p><p class="indented">So why another <em>Man Stuff</em> book? Quite simply, there are just additional topics left to cover. The topics in <em>More Man Stuff: More Things a Young Man Needs to Know</em> are no less or more important than those in the first book. The topics in the first book were easiest to write about and so they ended up in the first book. Some discussions in this volume are more intricate, leading to longer chapters, as complexity demands more detailed exploration.</p><p class="indented">Some of my critics have suggested that these topics are common sense. To them I respond “Yup, if you’re lucky.” Others suggest the book is too simple. It’s written for young men - emphasis on young. Perhaps those critics can use it as a conversation starter and fill in where the book comes up short.</p><p class="indented">If this book can help one young man navigate the rough seas of adolescence, it’s been worth the effort. </p><p class="ql-align-right">Doug <mark class="ql-spelling">Knust</mark></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-53749722818164140142023-09-17T10:40:00.000-05:002023-09-17T10:40:11.676-05:00Tools of the Trade<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Excerpted from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stuff-Things-Young-Needs/dp/B089TS13WT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ND1I0TRJ18BU&keywords=man+stuff+book&qid=1694962362&sprefix=man+stuff+book%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know</a> </i>by<b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/H.-Douglas-Knust/author/B089VVCXLN?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" target="_blank">H. Douglas Knust</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmp72HLx1UvRIEkxpCuqUeAKaZfH8um8ZS6T85SEkbj5fTlxBwRXtQQxrdACXYi42SwEeFDP-AZEOKBogS_KWF3PfchTt52hczkkdlVbZB3feL3nQfqnto7O3DpnIJIQ19WZtXzDdkvNFmf0-jQoGglfQWoIGwOgl-whVoWuqQIz7piyPz_xrslTxUWY/s700/tools.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmp72HLx1UvRIEkxpCuqUeAKaZfH8um8ZS6T85SEkbj5fTlxBwRXtQQxrdACXYi42SwEeFDP-AZEOKBogS_KWF3PfchTt52hczkkdlVbZB3feL3nQfqnto7O3DpnIJIQ19WZtXzDdkvNFmf0-jQoGglfQWoIGwOgl-whVoWuqQIz7piyPz_xrslTxUWY/s320/tools.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I never had decent tools until I was forty years old. I had a hand-me-down toolbox full of orphaned tools that I had accumulated over the years. Nothing matched. My 1/2” socket was from a different set than my 3/4” socket. My straight screwdriver was different than my Phillips screwdriver. Every job that required tools was frustrating because it seemed like I never had the right tool or because my tools were cheap, they’d break.</p><p>So, when I got a gift certificate for Lowe’s, I decided I was going to use it to finally upgrade my tools. I bought some high-quality tools. Since then, every home repair or handyman task is so much easier. I actually enjoy some of them!</p><p>Parents and grandparents always struggle to find a good gift for a young man. Young men aren’t very good at offering suggestions other than the latest video game or tech gadget, both of which are likely to be obsolete within a year.</p><p>Tools are a timeless gift or purchase that can be used again and again either to assist someone or to fix something for yourself. Maybe your love interest needs help assembling some furniture. What a great way to impress that important someone in your life - breaking out a set of quality tools to help her with the job!</p><p>Owning a well-equipped toolbox is something that many young men leave to their dads. Then when you have a project, you have to either borrow tools or enlist help. A man should be self-reliant. He should have the tools and know-how to tackle basic projects around the house.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><a href="https://www.napaonline.com/brand/carlyle-tools/" target="_blank">NAPA's Carlyle Tools</a> is their professional tool line. These tools are built with superior quality and are designed with input and feedback from tool industry technicians. They are affordable, high-performance tools that are dependable in the harshest work environments. Most importantly, the Carlyle line of tools carry a <a href="https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/764429pdf?$PDF$" target="_blank">lifetime warranty</a>. There are <a href="https://www.napaonline.com/en/store-locator" target="_blank">6,000 NAPA Auto Parts stores</a> across the country so there's sure to be one when you need it.</p><p>I have three NAPA Auto Parts Stores and I want to offer the Explorers a chance to obtain tools at the best price possible. I have put together a "starter set" of tools that I have discounted significantly (<10% over my cost). The list can be found <a href="https://1drv.ms/w/s!AsM56u3IY7-2gpgNHeyQlItrcWxWpw?e=C2ZuV9" target="_blank">here</a>. Please contact me with questions of if you'd like any of these tools.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tools make a great "lifetime" gift.</span></b></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-52032725171952438112021-02-05T09:55:00.005-06:002021-02-05T10:15:47.188-06:00Who? Me? A Wordsmith?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.discoveredwordsmiths.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DiscoveredWordsmithsLogo2-1.jpg?resize=580%2C580&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.discoveredwordsmiths.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DiscoveredWordsmithsLogo2-1.jpg?resize=580%2C580&ssl=1" width="320" /></a></div>I had the opportunity to discuss my book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stuff-Things-Young-Needs/dp/B089TS13WT/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=man+stuff+things+a+young+man+needs+to+know&qid=1612535835&sr=8-1">Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know</a></i> with podcaster Stephen Schneider on his podcast <i><a href="https://www.discoveredwordsmiths.com/" target="_blank">Discovered Wordsmiths</a></i>. We had a great visit about the book and how I came to write it in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw4wlgBhZsE">first segment</a>. We discussed the plight of young men and other topics in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBK35gp5-m4">second segment</a>. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.<p></p><p>Stephen does a great job and I encourage you to followed <i>Discovered Wordsmiths</i> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiscoveredWordsmiths">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/s.a.schneider/">Instagram</a> to find new authors and books.</p><p>Thanks Stephen!<br /></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-5681163592909902302021-01-14T13:02:00.003-06:002021-01-14T13:02:55.122-06:00Central Dakota Times Interview<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD3DeJcdEagYUkIPbTfduO0mnek5xsifBP5XQC3UZSKS0_2reqs8MH8tZLdRB-GoStd4rn4VoyIGwhq3CKmHlPSdPEHOeqD4Yu4x60cRfb4oeZWEfn8rcCU2s7yAPImaWOJiv1KK1IQE/s2048/20210106CDTArticle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1635" height="758" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD3DeJcdEagYUkIPbTfduO0mnek5xsifBP5XQC3UZSKS0_2reqs8MH8tZLdRB-GoStd4rn4VoyIGwhq3CKmHlPSdPEHOeqD4Yu4x60cRfb4oeZWEfn8rcCU2s7yAPImaWOJiv1KK1IQE/w604-h758/20210106CDTArticle.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-60416357790983307992021-01-06T17:39:00.001-06:002021-01-06T17:39:14.321-06:00An Editorial Review: Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know<p> <a href="https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/man-stuff-things-a-young-man-needs-to-know-doug-knust#review">Review by P Reefer</a>:</p><ul class="left-actions" data-v-66415732="" style="display: inline-flex; 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vertical-align: middle !important;">0</span></span></a></li></ul><ul class="right-actions" data-v-66415732="" style="display: inline-flex; flex: 0 1 auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li data-v-66415732="" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; display: inline-block; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 24px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="menu-entry" data-v-66415732="" href="https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/man-stuff-things-a-young-man-needs-to-know-doug-knust/user-reviews" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 4px solid transparent; color: #2a2a2a; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; line-height: 1; padding: 24px 0px 20px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease 0ms, border-bottom 0.15s ease 0ms;" title="Reader reviews"><span data-v-66415732="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 4px solid transparent; color: #2a2a2a; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; line-height: 1; padding: 24px 0px 20px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease 0ms, border-bottom 0.15s ease 0ms;">Reader reviews</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom: 4px solid transparent; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 24px; transition: background-color 0.15s ease 0ms, border-bottom 0.15s ease 0ms;"> </span></span><span class="d-book-user-reviews-count label label-sm label-round space-left-1em" data-v-66415732="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(247, 247, 247); border-bottom: 4px solid transparent; border-radius: 32px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2a2a; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: -10px 0px; padding: 8px 16px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: background-color 0.3s ease 0ms, border-color 0.3s ease 0ms, color 0.3s ease 0ms;">0</span></a></li><div><br /></div></ul><h2 class="h1 space-bottom-2em" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 1.222; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Loved it! 😍</h2><p class="font-alt large space-bottom-3em" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>A transformational book that outlines tangible, ordinary steps any young man can take to produce extraordinary outcomes.</i></p><div class="review-content font-size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 18px;"><p style="margin: 0px;">Knust uses an informal conversational style with clinical details aimed at producing young men of merit who can relate to other fellow human beings and ultimately become valuable members of their community. <em>In Man Stuff - Things a Young Man Needs to Know,</em> the author tackles topics like the art of conversation, shaking hands, demonstrating gratitude with a thank you note, the importance of punctuality to mention some of the issues discussed.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I wish I had read this book a bit earlier in my career as I would have learned that in spite of saying thank you after a valedictory function held in my honor, it would have been ideal to follow this with a thank you card. I cringed at the chapter on bathroom etiquette, but I am sure that many fathers will be satisfied by the practical and gentlemanly ethics shared in this chapter.</p><p class="ends-with-break" style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Knust brief reminders of the importance of exercising and sleeping are timely and relevant in the digital age amid Covid 19. I was a bit disappointed that these two crucial dimensions were not expounded upon even more.On the other hand, I was particularly impressed as an educator and a parent with the chapters on goal setting, gratitude, and leadership.</p><p class="ends-with-break" style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;">In my former place of employment, I was at an all-boys college with a library that needed several copies of a text like this one. The young male audience would be enriched intellectually and spiritually from encountering this text. As such, I would unreservedly recommend this text to young boys, young men, and parents concerned about grooming sons who would make them proud. Moreover, this text empowers single moms clueless about getting their little boys to develop into responsible and sensible men. <em>Man Stuff's </em>is a transformational book that outlines tangible, ordinary steps any young man can take to produce extraordinary outcomes.</p><p class="ends-with-break" style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"></p></div><h5 class="space-top-4em" style="background-color: white; color: #9b9b9b; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px !important; text-transform: uppercase;">REVIEWED BY</h5><div class="reviewer-info grid-flex grid-middle grid-no-response" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2a2a; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; justify-content: space-between; width: 624px;"><span class="d-user-link-popup grid-item-shrink" data-v-5aaaf073="" style="display: inline-flex; flex: 0 0 auto; min-width: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative;"><span class="content" data-v-5aaaf073=""><a data-v-5aaaf073="" href="https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/p-reefer" style="color: #d5ac00; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><img class="image-circle space-right-1em" data-v-5aaaf073="" src="https://images-cdn.reedsy.com/discovery/profile/149232/avatar/thumb_7968052cde45e1cd36edc618ecf7a67c47fff4ec.jpg" style="border-radius: 50%; margin-right: 8px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="40" /></a></span></span><span class="d-user-link-popup reviewer-name grid-item" data-v-5aaaf073="" style="display: inline-flex; flex: 0 1 auto; min-width: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative;"><span class="content" data-v-5aaaf073=""><span class="h3 space-right-1em" data-v-5aaaf073="" style="font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><a class="no-decoration" data-v-5aaaf073="" href="https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/p-reefer" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;">P Reefer</a></span></span></span><div class="follow-reviewer grid-item" style="flex: 1 1 0%; margin-left: 8px; min-width: 0px;"><br /></div></div><hr style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 2px;" /><p class="space-top-2em" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px !important;"><i></i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><i>I am a Global citizen residing in one of the Happiest Caribbean Countries: Trinidad and Tobago. I am a Teacher of English and Communication Studies. Reading and creating book reviews are my favourite pastimes. I wrote several reviews currently published on Amazon and Goodreads.</i></p><p class="font-alt large space-bottom-3em" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></i><span style="font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="book-footer panel panel-overflow overflow-visible background-grey space-top-4em space-bottom-2em" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px -32px; overflow: hidden; padding: 32px; position: relative;"><div class="book-footer-feature" style="display: grid; gap: 24px; grid-template-areas: "cover info"; grid-template-columns: 154px 1fr; position: relative;"><div class="cover" style="justify-self: center;"><span class="dui-book-cover" data-v-24709fbb="" style="background: url("https://assets-cdn.reedsy.com/discovery/packs/media/discovery-ui/assets/book-placeholder-e3fd0cf65189ff85790f47463e24181a.svg") 0% 0% / cover no-repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 8px 16px; box-sizing: border-box; content: " "; display: inline-block; height: 246px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 154px;"><span class="cover-image" data-v-24709fbb="" style="background-image: url("https://images-cdn.reedsy.com/discovery/book/2652/cover/medium_a2897662c929426ff4749c96e1d6926443782543.jpg"); background-position: 50% center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; content: " "; display: inline-block; height: 246px; width: 154px;"></span></span></div></div></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-84144964006079809122021-01-06T17:19:00.001-06:002021-01-06T17:40:44.719-06:00South Dakota Magazine Comments on "Man Stuff"<p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7t6avGC2j5CVOzLflNc3jU7CFpF2FybBLEbnC-RN42L6eZy6-0viBz7fyh6Kq80n2ErkXVj5kbcCglJKNCthpEeei4gD40O5ESbdU6IbQTok9ygdNehFX-yWzyJfxeos8XTcXJ6mpIw/s2048/20201019SDMagReview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7t6avGC2j5CVOzLflNc3jU7CFpF2FybBLEbnC-RN42L6eZy6-0viBz7fyh6Kq80n2ErkXVj5kbcCglJKNCthpEeei4gD40O5ESbdU6IbQTok9ygdNehFX-yWzyJfxeos8XTcXJ6mpIw/w495-h640/20201019SDMagReview.png" width="495" /></a></div><p></p>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-55781231626873009002020-06-17T08:00:00.006-05:002020-06-17T08:00:04.505-05:00Who Should Read "Man Stuff"?<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL2ursVVxVPj80Mv1MsNHWMP5VWacyCZoP72T0UQ4XUnv_DE8IVDO6S2MKWzHEdeDtiL0p9tANGuANr4XqNye0zHNGwkujX6K6et9qD8EWof51LcFuWCdK1KGYtx-LhOzg6hTY2i3PQ0/s800/person-reading-book-during-daytime.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL2ursVVxVPj80Mv1MsNHWMP5VWacyCZoP72T0UQ4XUnv_DE8IVDO6S2MKWzHEdeDtiL0p9tANGuANr4XqNye0zHNGwkujX6K6et9qD8EWof51LcFuWCdK1KGYtx-LhOzg6hTY2i3PQ0/s320/person-reading-book-during-daytime.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I recently published my book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stuff-Things-Young-Needs/dp/B089TS13WT/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know</a></i>. I have often been asked who should read the book.<div><br /></div><div><i>Man Stuff</i> includes advice on interpersonal relationships, manners, body care, leaderships, digital etiquette, dressing for success and other critical skills that are essential for a young man.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have discussed all of these topics with sixth through eighth grade young men at <a href="http://harrykss.blogspot.com/2020/06/man-stuff.html" target="_blank">weekly meetings</a> of the <a href="http://harrykss.blogspot.com/search/label/Explorers" target="_blank">Explorers Club</a> during the Man Stuff segment of the meetings. It would not be an overstatement to say that they truly enjoy these segments.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do not believe, however, that the audience is limited to adolescent young men. Former Explorers club members have expressed an interest in these topics. That group includes high school age young men.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the book could be very helpful to single mothers during a time when their boys are developing into young men. Single moms have a huge job and this book can serve as a guide or a discussion starter for many life topics with their sons.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grandparents can use the book as a guide for reinforcement of topics their grandsons need to know. Often those "pearls" of wisdom from grandparents are more readily accepted than they are from parents at that critical age. It can be a great gift from grandparents to their grandson.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Man Stuff</i> would be a great gift for any young man age 10-18. The topics are traditional, timely and current. I plan to update as needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, the first two chapters in the book were going to be about the handshake and the bro-hug. I chose to move them because of the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19 virus.</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe there is a very really possibility that the handshake’s place in American culture may be changing. People will be much more sensitive to touching each other in a world of “social distancing” and it will be important to respect those sensitivities. The same applies to the “Bro Hug”.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve chosen to leave these chapters in the book, because, at the very least, it is important to understand the role of the handshake and “Bro Hug” in our recent culture. You need to understand some of the subtle things one could convey and learn by these interactions.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they go away, some type of formal greeting will replace them and you will want to understand how this changes the greeting and exchange. </div><div><br /></div><div>I encourage you to give <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stuff-Things-Young-Needs/dp/B089TS13WT/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #7d181e; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know</a> a read. I think you will find that there is something there for <b>almost</b> everyone!</div>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-42427655367524568452020-06-14T20:59:00.001-05:002020-06-14T21:00:06.660-05:00Man StuffI have written <a href="http://harrykss.blogspot.com/search?q=explorers" target="_blank">in this space about the Explorers</a> before. That organization is the inspiration for my new <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFIaCPwU_cadrMiBuhlmhctzfvQr-cBWHGHVib5aSgImuuQ7elxrwlmx3iI59unZEDQCAXM90loDsEl9B4RhZI4Furda_cDB8h3DbM_KxkftuDyCtX39JmHXedlaeidioHfftV6C5F_o/s1500/ManStuff3DBookJPG.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFIaCPwU_cadrMiBuhlmhctzfvQr-cBWHGHVib5aSgImuuQ7elxrwlmx3iI59unZEDQCAXM90loDsEl9B4RhZI4Furda_cDB8h3DbM_KxkftuDyCtX39JmHXedlaeidioHfftV6C5F_o/w400-h306/ManStuff3DBookJPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stuff-Things-Young-Needs/dp/B089TS13WT/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Man Stuff: Things a Young Man Needs to Know</a></i>.<div><br /></div><div>Here is the forward from my book:</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><i>When my son was in seventh grade, I saw a need for some kind of youth organization that ALL young men could belong to – even those who were not athletic. I started the Explorers Club, a boys service club for 6-8th grade Chamberlain Public School and St. Joseph’s Indian School students, in the fall of 2001. Since then, over 350 young men have worked to raise over $125,000 for their school and community which has help fund over $650,000 in projects for the area.</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>This money has helped construct a new baseball field (with scoreboard) and new soccer field; purchase new playground equipment at two parks, new slides and equipment for the municipal swimming pool and A/V equipment and an AED device for the school; construct a fishing pier in the municipal campground, a new picnic shelter, and a community Frisbee golf course; and purchase trees, 60 new flag poles for community flag park, and equipment at Veterans Park. They have given financial support to the local “Meals on Wheels” and “Relay for Life” programs in addition to many other things.</i></div></div><div><div><i>They volunteer for an impressive list of service projects including cleaning school grounds, assisting with Veterans Day programs, assisting with sports tournaments, serving meals at high school athletic banquet, hosting Halloween parties for mentally handicapped, and performing various chores for elderly community members. They raise money for numerous people fighting health issues. They truly are the “go-to” organization for service and help in the community.</i></div></div><div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>The group has won the South Dakota Middle Level Educators “Friend of Education” Award (2002); Chamberlain Public School District “Friend of Education” Award (2002); School Administrators of South Dakota “Helping Hands” Award (2002); Chamberlain-Oacoma Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award (2009 & 2016).</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>The Explorers (30-45 members each year) conduct their weekly meeting each Thursday morning at 7:30 AM. I prepare the agenda and the elected officers conduct their meeting. They plan their activities and report on recent events.</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>The Explorers go on two trips annually. They trek to Pierre (South Dakota’s capitol) to meet our governor and various constitutional officers. They are introduced to our legislature and tour various museums and agencies in Pierre. Then they cap each school year with a trip to Minneapolis, Kansas City or Denver to see a couple of MLB baseball games.</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>They host a middle school dance each year. As the DJ for that dance each year, I am reminded of the awkwardness of this age, especially when it comes to dances!</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>In 2014, I began a segment at each of their weekly meetings that I called “Man Stuff”. I took a life lessons topic that I thought would be interesting to the young men and something that might serve them well growing up. It soon proved to be the highlight of the meetings. The guys really enjoyed it.</i></div></div><div><div><i>The chapters of this book come from those “Man Stuff” lessons. The lessons range from life skills (how to tie a tie, how to shake hand, the importance of being on time, etc.) to good to know skills (how to jump start a car, men’s room etiquette, and how to wear cologne). This is not the entire list of Man Stuff topics. (Perhaps the others will come in Man Stuff 2.0!)</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>Of the awards I have been fortunate to receive during my adult life, none compares to the reward of working with the Explorers Club. For more than 19 years now, the organization has served our community and our school. While my name may be on them, the awards belong to the young men in the organization.</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>My reward is the relationships that I have forged working with these young men. Many are now married and have kids of their own. I am often sought out at community events of after church service by former Explorers who just want to say hi or reflect on their time in the club.</i></div></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><div><i>I look forward to these meetings each Thursday. It is my privilege to work with these young men and I am so proud of their work in the community.</i></div></div></blockquote>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-87875581640581509582020-03-28T08:15:00.002-05:002020-04-06T09:05:41.518-05:00March Sadness and The List<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K1FLgBG4qiV4Atd0iPlcXsy7tTSEExyPCITAFLeYySGTVJTJOSSXeDYLTsLK0oicE4RQQi1c_t-m1X1A9Nwx8Xn59XHzeEyPiZQamA5fTeJcetP3yv54u9lqfEKDOp_xnJXOJY0CiyE/s1600/2020FinalFourLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1569" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K1FLgBG4qiV4Atd0iPlcXsy7tTSEExyPCITAFLeYySGTVJTJOSSXeDYLTsLK0oicE4RQQi1c_t-m1X1A9Nwx8Xn59XHzeEyPiZQamA5fTeJcetP3yv54u9lqfEKDOp_xnJXOJY0CiyE/s320/2020FinalFourLogo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have documented in this space <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/search/label/Final%20Four">my love of college basketball and my annual trip to the Final Four</a> with a great group of friends. Over the past thirty-eight years, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been fortunate to attend 115 Final Four basketball games (semifinals and finals) since <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2015/02/picking-up-pieces-in-new-orleans.html">my first one in 1982</a>. Needless to say, some of those games have been blowouts, some have been very competitive and <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2016/04/reviewing-space-city-classic.html">some have been classics</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Since there aren't any games this year, a lot of lists are being created. Twitter is full of them. This is MY list. A list of the best games I've seen. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When I think about what makes a classic college basketball game, I think of story lines, buzzer beaters, stakes and upsets. The stakes for all of these games couldn't be higher. All of these games are for a berth in the National Championship game or for the title so that almost eliminates that factor. But I have broken these down into semifinal games and championship tilts. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">While there have been some great semifinal games, there is a special place for games played with a title on the line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A few years ago, I wrote a post about some of the </span><a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2016/04/reviewing-space-city-classic.html" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">great title games</a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> that we have been able to witness. That was an "off the top of my head" ranking and there have been a few great games since then. The list below includes a bit deeper look with the above considerations factored in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is the pool of games that I have witnessed and from which these lists are compiled. The games in red were one possession games. Click on year and date for full tournament bracket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1982">1982 New Orleans</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 68 Houston 63</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Georgetown 50 Louisville 46</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 63 Georgetown 62</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1983">1983 Albuquerque, NM</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Houston 94 Louisville 81</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina State 67 Georgia 60<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina State 54 Houston 52</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1984">1984 Seattle</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Georgetown 53 Kentucky 40</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Houston 49 Virginia 47 (OT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Georgetown 84 Houston 75</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1985"><b>1985 Lexington, KY</b></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Georgetown 77 St. John's 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 52 Memphis State 45<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 66 Georgetown 64</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1986">1986 Dallas</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Louisville 88 LSU77</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 71 Kansas 67</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Louisville 72 Duke 69</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1987">1987 New Orleans</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Indiana 97 UNLV 93</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Syracuse 77 Providence 63</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Indiana 74 Syracuse 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1988">1988 Kansas City</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 66 Duke 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Oklahoma 86 Arizona 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 83 Oklahoma 79</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1989">1989 Seattle</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 83 Illinois 81</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Seton Hall 95 Duke 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 80 Seton Hall 79 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1990">1990 Denver</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">UNLV 90 Georgia Tech 81</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 93 Arkansas 83</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">UNLV 103 Duke 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1991">1991 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 79 UNLV 77</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 79 North Carolina 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 72 Kansas 65</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1992">1992 Minneapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 76 Cincinnati 72</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="color: red;">Duke 81 Indiana 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 71 Michigan 51</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1993">1993 New Orleans</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 81 Kentucku 78 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 78 Kansas 68</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 77 Michigan 71</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1994">1994 Charlotte</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arkansas 91 Arizona 82</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 70 Florida 65</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arkansas 76 Duke 72</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1995">1995 Seattle</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arkansas 75 North Carolina 68</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">UCLA 74 Okalahoma State 61</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">UCLA 89 Arkansas 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1996">1996 East Rutherford, NJ</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Syracuse 77 Mississippi State 69</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 81 Massachusetts 74</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 76 Syracuse 67</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1997">1997 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 78 Minnesota 69</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arizona 66 North Carolina 58</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arizona 84 Kentucky 79 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1998"> </a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1998">1998 San Antonio</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Utah 65 North Carolina 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 86 Stanford 85 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 78 Utah 69</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=1999">1999 St. Petersburg</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 68 Michigan State 62</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 64 Ohio State 58</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 77 Duke 74</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2000">2000 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan State 53 Wisconsin 41</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Florida 71 North Carolina 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michgan State 89 Florida 76</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2001">2001 Minneapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Arizona 80 Michigan State 61</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 95 Maryland 84</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 82 Arizona 72</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2002">2002 Atlanta</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Indiana 73 Oklahoma 64</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Maryland 97 Kansas 88</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Maryland 64 Indiana 52</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2003">2003 New Orleans</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 94 Marquette 61</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Syracuse 95 Texas 84</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Syracuse 81 Kansas 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2004">2004 San Antonio</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Georgia Tech 67 Oklahoma State 65</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 79 Duke 78</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 82 Georgia 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2005">2005 St. Louis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Illinois 72 Louisville 57</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 87 Michigan State 71</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 75 Illinois 70</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2006">2006 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">UCLA 59 LSU 45</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Florida 73 George Mason 58</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Florida 73 UCLA 57</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2007">2007 Atlanta</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Florida 76 UCLA 66</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Ohio State 67 Georgetown 60</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Florida 84 Ohio State 75</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2008">2008 San Antonio</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 84 North Carolina 66</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Memphis 78 UCLA 63</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 75 Memphis 68 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2009">2009 Detroit</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan State 82 Connecticut 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 83 Villanova 69</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 89 Michigan State 72</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2010">2010 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Butler 52 Michigan State 50</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 78 West Virginia 57</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 61 Butler 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2011">2011 Houston</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 56 Kentucky 55</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Butler 70 VCU 62</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 53 Butler 41</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2012">2012 New Orleans</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 69 Louisville 61</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kansas 64 Ohio State 62</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 67 Kansas 59</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2013">2013 Atlanta</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Louisville 72 Wichita State 68</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 61 Syracuse 56</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Louisville 82 Michigan 76</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2014">2014 Arlington, TX</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 63 Florida 53</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kentucky 74 Wisconsin 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Connecticut 60 Kentucky 54</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2015">2015 Indianapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Wisconsin 71 Kentucky 64</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 81 Michigan State 61</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Duke 68 Wisconsin 63</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2016">2016 Houston</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 95 Oklahoma 51</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 83 Syracuse 66</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 77 North Carolina 74</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2017">2017 Phoenix</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Gonzaga 77 South Carolina 73</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 77 Oregon 76</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">North Carolina 71 Gonzaga 65</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2018">2018 San Antonio</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michigan 69 Loyola-Chicago 57</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 95 Kansas 79</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Villanova 79 Michigan 62</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><a href="https://www.allbrackets.com/bracket.php?year=2019">2019 Minneapolis</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Texas Tech 61 Michigan St. 51</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Virginia 63 Auburn 62</span></span></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span>
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Virginia 85 Texas Tech 77 (OT)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Top Semifinal Games</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>Honorable Mention</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1993 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Michigan 81 Kentucky 78 (OT)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Michigan's Fab Five take out </span>Jamal Mashburn led Wildcats in overtime.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 3</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 3</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1984 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Houston 49 Virginia 47 (OT)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Phi Slamma Jamma Coogs outgrind one year post-Ralph Sampson Cavaliers in overtime.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 6</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 1</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1987 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Indiana 97 UNLV 93</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob Knight's Hoosiers led by Steve Alford's 33 points as they take out top ranked UNLV in contrast of styles.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 3</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>Top 5</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1983 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Houston 94 Louisville 81</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The game was billed as Phi Slamma Jamma vs. The Doctors of Dunk and was considered the de facto national championship at the time. Louisville had won the 1980 title and had gone to the 1982 Final Four. Denny Crum's Cardinals were very athletic. The Cards came into the game 31-3. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Guy Lewis' Cougars came in 30-2 and were one of the most athletic teams in college basketball history. They were led by Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Houston’s Phi Slamma Jamma dunked 11 times in the second half, as both teams played above the rim. Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon threw in 21 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead the top ranked Cougars into the championship game (and another college basketball classic - see below).</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 3</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 3</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2004 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Connecticut 79 Duke 78</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
The Connecticut Huskies were the best team in college basketball in 2004. UConn cruised to a 24-6 regular season record and steamrolled their first four NCAA Tournament opponents by an average of 17.5 points per game.<br />
<br />
Krzyzewski and Calhoun had squared off only three times before, but nearly every game was high stakes. Their first meeting, in the 1990 East Regional final, ended with Christian Laettner sinking a classic overtime buzzer-beater to win 79-78. The following year Laettner and the Blue Devils eliminated UConn again in the Sweet 16. Calhoun beat Duke in an unforgettable upset in the 1999 title game<br />
<br />
The Blue Devils, led by every college basketball fan's favorite player to hate, J.J. Redick, were up eight points with less than three minutes left when they went cold. Connecticut center Emeka Okafor, who had no points and one rebound in the first half, had 18 points and six boards in the second half to lead the Huskies to a 79-78 comeback win.<br />
<br />
Connecticut beat Georgia Tech 82-73 in the championship becoming the first school ever in Division I to win NCAA titles in men's and women's basketball in the same season.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 7</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 7</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2001 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Duke 95 Maryland 84</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Matching up for the fourth time in the 2001-02 season, Maryland and Duke clashed for a spot in the title game. Duke had won two of the early three games, one in overtime and the other by two points. Each involved a comeback from a double-digit deficit, but they were not anywhere near this one.<br />
<br />
Maryland, in its first ever Final Four appearance, ran out to a 39-17 lead with 6:57 to play in the first half led by Juan Dixon who scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half. Duke missed their first eight 3-point attempts. I remember sitting next to a Maryland student and his father and I thought they were going to have strokes they were so excited.<br />
<br />
Duke cut Maryland’s lead to 11 at the half and then blitzed the Terrapins 57-35 in the second half. The Blue Devils were led by Shane Battier's 25 points and eight rebounds. Duke advanced to the final where they were crushed 103-73 by UNLV.<br />
<br />
Duke’s 22-point comeback remains the biggest in Final Four history.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 6</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2015 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Wisconsin 71 Kentucky 64</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
John Calipari's Kentucky team came in 38-0 and just two victories away from becoming the first men's college basketball team to go undefeated in almost forty years. But Bo Ryan's tough, physical Badgers stood in the way and they were trying to avenge a bitter 74-73 loss to the Wildcats in the national semifinal a year earlier.<br />
<br />
The Badgers opened up an early nine-point lead and stayed ahead for most of the first half, but Kentucky pulled back to a reasonable deficit with a 6-2 run in the final two minutes. The game was tied at halftime at 36, and the Badgers had an eight-point second-half lead before the Wildcats rallied to go back in front. But the Badgers, led by national player of the year Frank Kaminsky's 20 points, made all the big shots down the stretch.<br />
<br />
Wisconsin went on to lose the title game to Duke 68-63 in Bo Ryan's final game at the helm of the Wisconsin Badgers.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Story line factor: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buzzer beater factor: 6</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>David vs. Goliath factor: 7</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1991 National Semifinal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Duke 79 UNLV 77</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to imagine that a Duke team with Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill was an underdog or in any way could invoke the "David" factor. They were making their their fourth consecutive Final Four trip and were the closest thing to a dynasty that college basketball had seen since the John Wooden coached UCLA teams twenty plus years earlier.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, coached by Jerry Tarkanian and led by future NBA first rounders Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthony finished off a perfect regular season. The Runnin’ Rebels had easily won the 1990 national championship and pasted Duke in the final 103-73 (largest margin of victory in championship game history). They looked even better in 1991.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">UNLV was 34-0 entering the matchup with Duke. Thirty-two of those wins were by double digits, so no one was even giving UNLV much of a challenge at that point. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">UNLV came in as 8-point favorites. They were the polar opposite of Duke. UNLV wore black hats and Duke wore white ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Duke controlled the pace, maintained their poise and discipline and secured a 79-77 upset win on their way to the first of Mike Krzyzewski’s five national championships.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 10</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 7</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 7</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>Top Championship Games</i></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>Honorable Mention</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1987 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Indiana 74 Syracuse 73</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Keith Smart's 16-foot base-line jumper swished with four seconds securing a 74-73 Hoosier victory over Syracuse and the national championship for Indiana at the Superdome.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 5</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 5</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1988 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Kansas 83 Oklahoma 79</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Danny and the Miracles take the crown. The first half, which ended 50-50, was the most furious offensive half of basketball I ever saw.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 8</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 6</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 8</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1999 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Connecticut 77 Duke 74</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Connecticut knocked off Duke 77-74, earning the school's first NCAA men's basketball title in a game starring the only teams to hold the country's top ranking that season.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 7</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 8</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 8</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2019 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Virginia 85 Texas Tech 77 (OT)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This one needs to cook just a bit longer before I can determine where it fits in this list. Virginia's loss as a top seed to #16 seed UMBC the year before started their run to this championship. They survived thrilling wins over Purdue in the regional final and Auburn in the national semifinal before this overtime win over Texas Tech.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 7</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 6</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1989 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Champions</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">hip</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Michigan 80 Seton Hall 79 (OT)</b></span></div>
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Rumeal Robinson makes a pair of free throws with three seconds left in overtime capping off coach Steve Fisher's 6-0 start to his college coaching career.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 9</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 4</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1997 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Arizona 84 Kentucky 79 (OT)</b></span></div>
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My Dad, who was wintering in Sun City, AZ, had made a flight reservation that forced him to leave this overtime thriller at the end of regulation! It was the first overtime championship game we saw.<br />
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Arizona to become the first team in NCAA history to beat three No. 1 seeds, including this title game victory over Kentucky, on its way to the championship.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 8</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Top 5</i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2008 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Kansas 75 Memphis 68 (OT)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Several of my Final Four buddies are from Kansas. Like all Kansans, they like to remind me that the game was invented there. That makes me relish every agonizing Jayhawk March Madness loss; and Kansas knows how to choke and drop the </span>heart-breakers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in March.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It looked like we were headed for another one in San Antonio in the 2008 title game. The Jayhawks were down nine to Memphis with just over two minutes left. Their crazy rally was capped by Mario </span>Chalmers launching a three-pointer with two seconds left. It swished, buying the Jayhawks five more minutes.<br />
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The overtime was a coronation for Kansas. Memphis' heart had been ripped from their collective chest on Chalmers' shot. Kansas won the for ever Final Four featuring all the top seeds.<br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Story line factor: 8</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">David vs. Goliath factor: 5</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2016 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Villanova 77 North Carolina 74</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Games are like a fine wine - they tend to get better with age. The memories and details soften so the mind can tell the story the like you wanted it to be more than it was. This one, however, was an INSTANT classic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of us owned Villanova in the March Madness auction and we stood to win a little over $5,000 if they won which helped raise the personal story line factor on this one.</span><br />
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North Carolina built a 39-34 halftime lead on the strength of a 12-5 run over the last four minutes. Villanova flipped the script in the second half after tying it 14 minutes left in the game, they built a five-point lead by the under-eight media timeout. It was six at the under four minute media break, and it looked like the Wildcats were in control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89CyhTBrnxFwV5wNODsWNFWQaETj8kX3qJ7eTT1CVCBAMLzeW-_zQM9FUQAuJsh1avwDOvxFLNyJIdegNiUPHJkrj5v2zCkko9KMp1-WPzC4uVIOhrp_ex4YDuu8UJD7-Be0HeAU-Tvk/s1600/2016FinalFour+%2528262%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="1024" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89CyhTBrnxFwV5wNODsWNFWQaETj8kX3qJ7eTT1CVCBAMLzeW-_zQM9FUQAuJsh1avwDOvxFLNyJIdegNiUPHJkrj5v2zCkko9KMp1-WPzC4uVIOhrp_ex4YDuu8UJD7-Be0HeAU-Tvk/s400/2016FinalFour+%2528262%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Tar Heels responded to cut the lead to 70-69 with exactly a minute on the clock. Marcus Paige hit a preposterous, off-balance three-pointer to tie the game with five seconds left. Paige's shot shot so unlikely that it would have made a great signature play for this game had the final 4.7 seconds not unfolded as they did.<br />
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Instead, it set up Kris Jenkins' game-winning response, giving Villanova the sort of win that true college basketball fans always hope for!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 8</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 7</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2010 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Duke 61 Butler 59</b></span></div>
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When Gordon Hayward launched his half-court shot as time expired, I swear that time stood still. Players began moving in slow motion and the 70,000 fans in Lucas Oil Stadium went silent. We were sitting at an angle that allowed us to see the shot was online as it arched toward the bucket. Everything returned to normal when the shot hit the backboard and rim and then bounded away.<br />
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I have said that I was a little concerned about what kind of mayhem would have ensued had that shot gone in. EVERY fan in the house not wearing a Duke shirt was cheering enthusiastically for Butler. But David's stone just missed its mark.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbWvcjRhTV0xh5frwvIayqm3OgkbbsuIKDq7MfamLGgwdKeQ8r3SrObC7ZY0Mh9rRoDowIaKRiiE25Cy7m3YPi-WrixhjQoJOfocaMKmqAbPAZv92VDLAwLXsIIRVSuDX1Sc3mYwB6i0/s1600/100_1512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbWvcjRhTV0xh5frwvIayqm3OgkbbsuIKDq7MfamLGgwdKeQ8r3SrObC7ZY0Mh9rRoDowIaKRiiE25Cy7m3YPi-WrixhjQoJOfocaMKmqAbPAZv92VDLAwLXsIIRVSuDX1Sc3mYwB6i0/s400/100_1512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Butler was the perfect David to Duke's Goliath. Butler's trip to that title game began a couple miles up the road at Hinkle Fieldhouse, which was full of Butler fans that April night watching Hayward's shot. The season would have made a perfect sequel to the movie "Hoosiers" had that shot found the bottom of the net.<br />
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Butler was coached by a homegrown Hoosier who had given up a job in the corporate world to come back to his true love - basketball- ten years earlier. He found himself matching wits with Mike Krzyzewski, perhaps the greatest college basketball coach of all time.<br />
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Had Hayward's shot gone in, this game would sit alone at the top of this list. As it is, It's still one of the best I've been fortunate enough to see.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 7</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 9</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1985 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Villanova 66 Georgetown 64</b></span></div>
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Several significant story lines here make this game special. There were three Big East (St. John's) teams at this Final Four. John Thompson's Georgetown, the Evil Empire of college basketball at that time, were working on their second consecutive national championship and a mini-dynasty. Georgetown’s image was summed up as “Hoya Paranoia”.<br />
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My wife, Judy, attended the Final Four with me that year. I remember that we sat by a Villanova student for that game and helped him hold up his home made Wildcat banner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bX5UY4A_qODW3j3_kysexiqQVS-ctHgHh8j_gk0mAotYA3JiRmGtehcb2NQVVCXWDi1dVfB_iFnuEW8nTntQ_dV3wgkw2SUww8eREOZgiwFm7Iti2iNm_lcgiCBgNp8VGf1rafp-KwU/s1600/1985FinalFour+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bX5UY4A_qODW3j3_kysexiqQVS-ctHgHh8j_gk0mAotYA3JiRmGtehcb2NQVVCXWDi1dVfB_iFnuEW8nTntQ_dV3wgkw2SUww8eREOZgiwFm7Iti2iNm_lcgiCBgNp8VGf1rafp-KwU/s400/1985FinalFour+%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Hoyas had beaten Villanova 52-50 in overtime Philly and 57-50 in Landover, MD. Both games had been typical mid-eighties Big East clashes - tense, grinding, physical battles. Georgetown was the better team.<br />
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We, like the vast majority of the 23,000 fans at Rupp Arena, were cheering for the underdog against "Hoya Paranoia". We watched as the "perfect game" played by Villanova unfolded before us. We expected that the Hoyas would make that run at any time.<br />
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Instead, Villanova made 22 of 29 field goal attempts, a mind-boggling 78.6%, including nine of 10 in the second half. It took all of that to beat Georgetown.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 8</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 8</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1983 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Championship</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>North Carolina State 54 Houston 52</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember when we got ticket for this Final Four in the NCAA lottery, we saw the "Row 7" and were ecstatic!. We were a bit disappointed when we got to </span>Albuquerque's "Pit" and realized that they number the rows from the top of the arena because street level is the top row. But even from the seventh row from the top, this was the most unbelievable college basketball game I have ever witnessed.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEm11IGDgOibVb8fTGECZFHYc9U9YO76cZ1bm8G-YBuLzG71r2j7z3Z0xaYSF9ZaFh9EgY5EKNo5sa-XhWnPhUwvhG6wlNF_vz6Q0s-k3-a0Kr37uDS_qNP9a6nuzkXOon0O1GDg-IRE/s1600/2014_07_07_18_55_57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEm11IGDgOibVb8fTGECZFHYc9U9YO76cZ1bm8G-YBuLzG71r2j7z3Z0xaYSF9ZaFh9EgY5EKNo5sa-XhWnPhUwvhG6wlNF_vz6Q0s-k3-a0Kr37uDS_qNP9a6nuzkXOon0O1GDg-IRE/s400/2014_07_07_18_55_57.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What it looked like from the seventh row (from the top!)</td></tr>
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North Carolina State's unlikely run to the title was punctuated by the thrilling title game victory over Houston's Phi Slamma Jama. It was a storyline you could not make up! They had survived a 69-67 double overtime win over Pepperdine in which they had rallied from six points back in the last 30 seconds of the first OT. Then they won 71-70 on a tip-in in the final seconds over UNLV when the Rebels blew a 12-point lead by missing several free throws. Then they won 63-62 in the Elite Eight over Ralph Sampson and Virginia. The Cavaliers out shot the Wolfpack 63.4-47.3 percent but suffered a crucial miss from the line.<br />
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Everyone has seen the video of "the tip" and then Coach Jim Valvano's mad scramble around the court looking for someone to hug. I distinctly remember how The Pit got silent for a split second when Lorenzo Charles took Dereck Whittenburg's 30 footer that was short and flushed it - as if to let it sink in!<br />
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It was my second Final Four and after that one, I vowed to never miss another!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Story line factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Buzzer beater factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>David vs. Goliath factor: 10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been very fortunate to see some classic college basketball games. I look forward to college basketball (and life) getting back to normal. And </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I look forward to updating this list!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>April 6, 2020 update:</i></b> On April 6, 2020, NBC Sports published their list of <a href="https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/best-national-title-games-college-basketball/">best national title games in college basketball history</a>. Sports Illustrated published their <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/04/04/best-final-four-games-march-madness-history">list of the the best Final Four games of all-time</a> on April 4. Both of these lists have the game above on their lists.</span></div>
Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-72788492836759147052019-09-29T21:20:00.000-05:002019-11-10T21:20:31.123-06:00“Can We Talk About Communication?”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dUbf0cu5abOgkeUwaUa-3R-39LDIGXarjWuUNxSDWcqKbP8D-U9yd6_Yy0SeN-tG7Pn-SDcd_LCFw3_iwoOt_yX-iVo60smprahOl9qMrmlQnX3eUvR5pY0euMD__rIUEKK5BgHLkCA/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dUbf0cu5abOgkeUwaUa-3R-39LDIGXarjWuUNxSDWcqKbP8D-U9yd6_Yy0SeN-tG7Pn-SDcd_LCFw3_iwoOt_yX-iVo60smprahOl9qMrmlQnX3eUvR5pY0euMD__rIUEKK5BgHLkCA/s1600/download.png" /></a></div>
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Welcome to the new SDADA Update!<br />
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Every trade association I know of struggles with communication. That means both sending information to and receiving information from their members.<br />
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Our SDADA Bulletin, in its current printed form, is not an efficient mode of communication with our dealer members. Certainly a quarterly publication no longer qualifies as “news”.<br />
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So we are taking a page from the playbook of many other associations, inside and outside the auto industry, and going to an electronic newsletter. We don’t want to jam up your email box up so we will start with a semi-monthly (1st & 15th of each month) publication and adjust from there.<br />
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<b>“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” </b> <i>-James Humes</i>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-19941352098432041122019-09-20T12:32:00.001-05:002019-09-22T21:45:50.763-05:00The SenTree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>sentry</b> noun sen·try | \ ˈsen-trē \plural sentries</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Definition of sentry: GUARD, WATCH </span><span style="font-size: large;">especially : a soldier standing guard at a point of passage (such as a gate)</span></div>
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A recent <i><a href="https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/">South Dakota Magazine</a></i> article about trees and the stories they hold reminded me of a tree that has overseen so many of my late fall sunrises. The tree doesn’t even sit on my property. It does, however, sit as the backdrop for virtually every deer that has been harvested on our property for the past 25 years.<br />
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I think the tree is some kind of elm but I don’t know for certain. I’ve never touched it. I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten within 20-25 yards of it. By the time it factors into our deer hunts, the leaves have long ago fallen and it would be difficult for me to even determine what kind of tree it actually is - not that it matters. When you look at the tree during the day, it is extremely unremarkable.<br />
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During deer season, however, the sun rises directly behind this tree when you sit in our deer stand. It transforms from “just another tree” to “the tree”.<br />
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First the dim blue light starts to appear on the horizon 60-75 minutes before sunrise and you can just start to see the silhouette of “the tree”. On a good morning with some light, wispy clouds, the deep oranges, pinks and reds will start to outline the clouds about 30 minutes before sunrise and “the tree" becomes a prominent landmark on the horizon.<br />
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Like a good sunset, the colors change quickly. As sunrise approaches, the colors become brighter and more vivid until the first dawn of the sun peeks above the horizon, right behind “the tree”.<br />
On many occasions, the glorious view of the sunrise behind the tree has distracted us from deer below. I’d be surprised if we hadn’t missed out on a nice deer because of the diversion of a spectacular sunrise.<br />
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As the full glowing ball rises above the horizon, the light becomes blinding. The bill of a hunting cap is a necessary tool if you are to have any chance of spotting a buck below. Even with the cap, the best view of the land beneath has passed until some 3-4 hours later when the glare of the sun is no longer a factor.<br />
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I have written about <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2015/01/south-dakota-great-faces-great-places.html">our remarkable sunsets</a> set on a stunning canvas with the Missouri River in the foreground. This locale, with “the tree” in the foreground and a new day dawning, is just as extraordinary (and was included <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2015/11/another-point-of-views.html">in this list</a> of my favorite South Dakota views).<br />
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Just as I have trouble restraining myself from taking a photo of each sunset from our backyard, that same temptation itches each morning that the sun makes its appearance behind the tree. The commotion caused by retrieving the camera from my pocket and taking a photo of the sunrise has frightened more than one deer from our midst.<br />
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Each sunrise, though, promises another day of hunting memories with "the tree" watching over us!<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-82559351733572356412019-06-20T22:25:00.001-05:002019-11-10T21:21:47.472-06:00Bird DroppingsIn November of 1978, I attended the Oregon State at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Bluejays_men%27s_basketball">Creighton</a> game as a Creighton student. It was much different than that game <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2019/04/bluejay-baptism.html">I watched from the upper reaches of Civic Auditorium six years earlier</a>. As a student, I felt much closer to the game.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Apke">Tom Apke</a>’s Bluejays opened the <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/creighton/1979-schedule.html">1978-79 season</a> with six straight victories, including a 78-61 drubbing of in-state rival Nebraska. Things changed when they went on the road and by the time <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Bird">Larry Bird</a>’s #5 Indiana State Sycamores came to town in late January of 1979, the Bluejays were stumbling along at 9-6.<br />
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The Sycamores were undefeated (15-0) and on cruise control <a href="https://www.theringer.com/march-madness/2019/4/8/18297315/40th-anniversary-magic-johnson-larry-bird-1979-ncaa-tournament-championship">headed toward their March championship game against “Magic” Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans</a>. The Bluejays and Omaha were nothing more than a bump in their road coming in. But the sellout crowd of just under 9,000 fans in the old <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Civic_Auditorium">Omaha Civic Arena</a> had different ideas.<br />
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The game was a Saturday afternoon matchup. In those days, the Creighton students sat courtside in chairs that were on risers. They were known to stand and "flap" the folding chairs when the Jays were on a roll. The student sections filled quickly that day in anticipation of seeing an upset of a top ten team and one of the best players in college basketball history.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_NBA_draft">Bird had been drafted by the Celtics</a> a year earlier but decided to return to Indiana State for his senior season. He came into the game leading the country in scoring with a 31.1 PPG average and ranked third nationally in rebounding.<br />
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Despite a strong defensive effort (holding Bird to nine points) in the first half, ISU took a 46-43 lead into the locker. The lead turned back and forth throughout the first half. Every Bluejay in the house thought that the Jays would be able to rise in the second half to topple the Sycamores. Creighton had beaten them three times the prior season.<br />
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But Bird had different ideas. He dropped his first nine shots (ISU's first 18 points) and scored 20 in the second half to lead the Sycamores to a 90-80 win. Creighton did take a 60-58 lead in the second half which gave us students an opportunity to "flap" the chairs.<br />
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Bird and the Sycamores coasted through the rest of the season including a 77-69 win over Creighton in Terre Haute a week later. They waltzed through the NCAA tournament, running up a 33-0 record, before finally meeting their first and only defeat of the year in Salt Lake City at the hands of Magic and his Michigan State teammates in the National Championship game.<br />
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That championship game forever changed college basketball and the NBA. The league finally relented and adopted the ABA's 3-point shot in 1979 for Johnson and Bird's rookie season. Bird and Johnson would continue their rivalry in classic Celtic-Laker matchups over the next decade taking the NBA to a new level of popularity.<br />
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<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/357745-was-larry-birds-college-career-overlooked">There are those who suggest</a> that Bird could have been the greatest scorer in college basketball history under different circumstances. He certainly was <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1155046-top-25-all-time-best-long-distance-shooters-in-college-basketball#slide24">one of the college game's greatest shooters</a>. Many of Bird's shot came from outside what would now be the three point arc. It would be interesting to know how many points he would have scored under today's college basketball rules.<br />
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I was fortunate to be able to see Larry Bird in person that year. It would be fair to say that experience stoked my love affair with college basketball. It was just three years later that I began my run of <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/search/label/Final%20Four">attending Final Fours</a>.<br />
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Of course, there were the comparisons of that Creighton guy to Larry Bird...<br />
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<br />Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-50492648082607815382019-04-01T19:47:00.001-05:002019-11-10T21:21:16.123-06:00Bluejay BaptismThe first “big-time” basketball game I ever remember seeing was a game between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_men%27s_basketball">Ohio State University</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Bluejays_men%27s_basketball">Creighton University</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Civic_Auditorium">Omaha Civic Auditorium</a> in Omaha on December 30, 1972. Our family was visiting my grandparents during the holiday season.<br />
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My Uncle Mel came over and said he had some tickets for the Creighton basketball game and asked who wanted to go. I was 12 years old and had never been to a college basketball game so I was in immediately!<br />
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Even though it was a mid-major Creighton team, the visiting Big 10 Ohio State raised the profile of the game considerably. Ohio State dominated the Big 10 in the 1960's. Under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Taylor_(basketball,_born_1924)">Fred Taylor</a>, they won three outright conference titles, shared three others, won the the 1960 National Championship, and finished national runner-up in 1961 and 1962.<br />
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Creighton was the first of four schools that legendary coach <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Sutton">Eddie Sutton</a> took to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. He went on to take Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State to the Big Dance later in his career and he reached the Final Four with Arkansas in 1978 and Oklahoma State in 1995 and 2004. Sutton was coaching Creighton than December afternoon.<br />
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Fred Taylor’s Ohio State team came in to Omaha Civic Auditorium with two superstars. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Hornyak">Allen Hornyak</a> was a senior who led the Buckeyes in scoring three straight years and earned All-Big Ten Conference honors each year and All-America recognition as a senior. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Witte">Luke Witte</a> was also a senior who had been a standout for OSU until his injuries in the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/hoops-brawl-made-for-one-nasty-night-in-u-s-sports-history/411419775/">infamous OSU-Minnesota brawl</a>, a year earlier, on January 25, 1972.<br />
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I remember being awed at Hornyak’s shooting skills. He was filling it up from everywhere. This was 20 years before players were awarded an extra point for their long distance prowness. Hornyak averaged 24.0 points that year.<br />
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The crowd, all 4,889 of them, were into the game from the opening tip. They carried Eddie Sutton’s Bluejays to a 79-71 upset of the visiting Buckeyes. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Harmon">Gene Harmon</a> led the Jays with 22 points.<br />
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I kept my program for that first college basketball game. I recently came across it while going through the "archives". It was fun to see the names and even the ads in that program.<br />
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You can see in the photo of the scorecard that I did my best to score the game. I'd be really surprised if the points on my scorecard matched the "official" stats.<br />
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I loved the atmosphere of my first college basketball game and immediately began looking forward to my next game. Unfortunately, it would be another six and a half years before I saw another game. More on that later.<br />
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<br />Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-44239530718932589362018-12-04T20:04:00.001-06:002020-03-24T12:07:03.099-05:00Beating Around the BushesThe recent passing of former President George H.W. Bush reminded me of my "experience" with him and his wife Barbara. While it was not a personal experience, I was close enough to them that it felt personal.<br />
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As I have <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2011/03/thirty-years-of-madness-for-this-final.html">documented</a>, I am a <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2015/10/basking-in-sun.html">college basketball fan</a> and I annually attend the game's <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2012/04/shining-moments.html">season finale</a>. Houston hosted the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournament">2011 Final Four</a>. <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=310922086">Butler beat VCU</a> and <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=310920041">Connecticut beat Kentucky</a> on Saturday's semifinal games setting up a "canine" championship match up between the Butler Bulldogs and the UConn Huskies.<br />
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Despite the seventh row listed on the tickets, we were pleasantly surprised to see our seats had no seats in front of us when we got to them about a half hour before the tip off.<br />
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After we got settled, an extended golf cart pulled up just in front of us. Sitting on the back seat of the cart were former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush">President George H.W. Bush</a> and his wife <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush">Barbara</a>.<br />
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Houston was their adopted hometown and they were not going to miss one of the city's biggest sporting events. They were helped to their seats a couple rows in front of us and right in our line to the court.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRghyBRGNFML-J8dR0SXSpGweTFP4MxO3HdNCwiFvd9MmePy4_bI2dkL3Q4et2ucIe3MlAyw5kfaFG2v9pfEqrYksfEvuVh0VCIvD8js-_VSvCmSkRaR_og87kxD7VlF_H_Y8XC4fxNE/s1600/2011+Final+Four++%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRghyBRGNFML-J8dR0SXSpGweTFP4MxO3HdNCwiFvd9MmePy4_bI2dkL3Q4et2ucIe3MlAyw5kfaFG2v9pfEqrYksfEvuVh0VCIvD8js-_VSvCmSkRaR_og87kxD7VlF_H_Y8XC4fxNE/s400/2011+Final+Four++%252814%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cart rolls up and unloads President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara</td></tr>
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It was interesting to watch the entourage. The former president needed a bit of help and Barbara waited as they made their way to the stools that had been placed there. Soon two of their teenage grandsons joined them court-side. Each had what looked like a five gallon bucket of popcorn.<br />
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We were on the same side of the court as the Butler band and cheerleaders. Sometime after the Bush family had settled into their seats, a couple members of the Butler band came over and asked if they could have a photo with the former first couple. George and Barbara graciously agreed and were all smiles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George and Barbara sat just in front of us</td></tr>
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Soon, more members of the band came over in groups of three or four. They came with their instruments and offered them to George and Barbara as props for the photos. The Bushes seemed to be enjoying the the photo session. They were hugging band members and joking with them in addition to the photos.<br />
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Then came the Butler cheerleaders for their photos. They got the same warm welcomes and big smiles from the Bushes.<br />
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Next was <a href="https://www.butler.edu/ButlerBlue">Butler Blue</a>, the Butler live bulldog mascot. He sat on George's lap and after Barbara posed for a couple photos with Blue, she climbed off her stool and got her camera out. She took a photo of the former president and Blue. I had to wonder with all the photos they must have with dignitaries, exactly where will the photo with the bulldog go?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butler Blue after his photo with the former president</td></tr>
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The students were very polite and respectful. As the time before the tip wound down, so did the photo requests from Butler students.<br />
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There were military personnel near the court. They were going to hold the court sized flag for the national anthem. One young military man came over to George to introduce himself and he offered a salute to the former commander-in-chief. President Bush offered a half-hearted salute before grabbing the young man in a bear hug. It was very emotional to watch the respect on both sides. Several other young soldiers came over as well.<br />
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Our pregame show alone made the seats worth the money. Butler out-uglied UConn in the first half and retired to the locker with a 22-19 lead.<br />
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Each year the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announces its inductees for that year at halftime of the championship game. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Rodman">Dennis Rodman</a> headlined 2011 class announced during that evening's halftime festivities. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Mullin_(basketball)">Chris Mullin</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_VanDerveer">Tara VanDerveer</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Winter">Tex Winter</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Magee">Herb Magee</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artis_Gilmore">Artis Gilmore</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Edwards">Teresa Edwards</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_Tatum">Reece "Goose" Tatum</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satch_Sanders">Tom "Satch" Sanders</a> were also inducted.<br />
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They all made their way out to center court to be introduced to the crowd and receive their just applause. They were led off the court and to George and Barbara's seats to introduce themselves and receive congratulations from the former first couple.Each processed through the line with a handshake and a few short words from Barbara and then George. The line move rather quickly. That is until Dennis Rodman got close to Barbara.<br />
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If you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yovPAcNjPeE">don't know anything about Dennis Rodman</a>, he was famous for <a href="https://www.elitedaily.com/sports/15-outrageous-moments-dennis-rodman-history">being rather colorful</a>. I have said that he had more jewelry in his face that night (to go with his sunglasses) than my wife has in her jewelry cabinet. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and five-time NBA champion once donned a wedding dress to marry himself. Another time he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-NDZGtU7So">kicked a photographer</a> in the groin<br />
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What could he and Barbara have in common? Under what circumstances would they have ever met?<br />
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I don't know the answer to either question but when Rodman got within ear shot of Barbara, she reached out and gave him a huge embrace. She pinched his cheek while he was smiling ear to ear. It was plainly obvious that there was friendly chemistry there.<br />
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As the rest of the inductees made it through the line and went to their seats, Rodman and Barabara and George carried on an animated conversation, waving their hands and yucking it up. Rodman left as the time wound down - showing respect for the Bushes and their grandsons. It was so interesting to watch the encounter.<br />
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As I crafted the blog post, I had to review who played Butler that night. I remembered that Butler played because of Blue's photo with George. I had forgotten that <a href="http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=310940041">UConn won the National Championship that night in a rather ugly game</a>.<br />
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But I will always remember how George and Barbara Bush treated everyone with whom they came in contact that night. While George is being remembered for his service to our country, the kindness, friendliness and respect they showed to everyone (including Blue!) may be their greatest legacy.<br />
<br />Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-84840163868063635242018-06-10T17:52:00.000-05:002018-06-18T15:29:37.019-05:00Opening Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLYnlicRcnWHnW3ohXvGb1Wfk8EI5AILB-pgimFBbN1bWxyJVJSbehif1aL9ZCfPeXK1wDBnjVw4QrqiuoLb8dHhdeGHH5TbUvNXwTBESwYFg5t49k5s76E0NKXBhkLhEeQcOiwSDljc/s1600/20151017OpeningDay+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1273" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLYnlicRcnWHnW3ohXvGb1Wfk8EI5AILB-pgimFBbN1bWxyJVJSbehif1aL9ZCfPeXK1wDBnjVw4QrqiuoLb8dHhdeGHH5TbUvNXwTBESwYFg5t49k5s76E0NKXBhkLhEeQcOiwSDljc/s400/20151017OpeningDay+%252810%2529.JPG" width="315" /></a><i>I have lifelong friend who is a talented writer. He wrote this essay and shared it with me. He has permitted me to post it here. I've added a few photos. </i><br />
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<i>He's capture the spirit of this annual event perfectly. I am fortunate to have a friend with whom I've been able to share it. Enjoy "Opening Day" by Craig Kirsch.</i><br />
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<b>Opening Day</b></div>
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In this small central South Dakota town, it’s the biggest day of the year. Bigger than the high school’s homecoming, bigger than the Fourth of July, and even eclipsing Christmas in terms of visitors and traffic. It’s the opening day of pheasant season, in the heart of the best county of what is regarded as the number one state for ringneck hunting. The city of Winner, located in Tripp County, a normally quiet community of 3000 residents, can boast of a proud tradition of excellence on the high school football field, as well as being the childhood home of Notre Dame legend Frank Leahy, but it's the area’s consistent abundance of the colorful game birds that it is most famous for.<br />
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The second or third Saturday of each October will find the small burg transformed into a thriving metropolis for hunters. The normally tranquil town thoroughfare is packed bumper to bumper with four-wheel-drive pickups toting dog kennels, and drivers and passengers clad in blaze orange caps and vests. Every motel room in town is occupied, and seats in restaurants are tough to find for that morning’s breakfast. Come noon, however, the streets are silent and eateries unoccupied, for everyone is in the field awaiting the noon whistle, signaling the start of the hunting season.<br />
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I’ve spent opening day in Winner each October for the past twenty years. The first dozen or so were due to the hospitality of Doug Knust, a high school friend whose family owned a couple of quarters of ground east of town. A few years back, Doug and I fulfilled a lifelong dream and purchased that land from his family, and our opening day tradition has been further cemented since then.<br />
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We meet on our ground around eleven in the morning, parking next a cattail-choked creek that winds it’s way across one of the quarters. Doug and I live three hours apart, with Winner being somewhat in between our homes, and we look forward to our reunions in that field. The attendance varies from year to year, but usually includes four or five additional relatives and friends. Quite a few brothers, daughters, cousins, in-laws, and nephews have joined us over the years. Both of our fathers were regulars on the roster before we lost them. A small memorial on the southeast corner of the field pays tribute to Doug’s parents and the generosity they extended to us over the years by allowing us access to the spot.<br />
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The pre-hunt banter typically covers topics such as a recently-acquired pickup, or maybe the new shotgun one of us is breaking in. The never-ending debate as to the superiority of the Notre Dame football team over the Cornhuskers is also briefly but enthusiastically touched upon. The accuracy of preseason bird counts is discussed, and it seems that one of us is usually optimistic about a new pup’s potential, or sentimental about what may be an older dog’s final season. Hunting vests are put on, guns are eased from their cases, and the dogs, whining to be freed from their kennels and released to hunt, are watered and collared up. A quick evaluation of wind direction dictates the strategy for our safari, guns are loaded, and with a “Hunt’em up!” command issued to the dogs, we’re off.<br />
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The majority of our hunting is done on the three-quarters of a mile of creek that traverses our property. It’s consistent running water, thick cover of cattails, and proximity to the adjacent bean and sorghum fields combine for fantastic pheasant habitat. The creek bed varies in width from twenty yards in several spots to two hundred yards in others. The creek’s depth, which runs from a few inches to several feet, is nearly impossible to gauge due to it's running through thick cattails. This almost always makes for some interesting attempts at crossing, usually provided by someone making their first hunt with us. During the typically warm weather of mid-October, the consequence of inaccurate depth assessment is limited to waterlogged boots or pants saturated to the belt. In our hunts later in the season, the spring-fed creek’s water temperature makes for “rotten” ice rarely capable of supporting an adult’s body weight, and the resulting breakthroughs typically mark the end of that individual’s hunt, as they’re forced to trudge back to the warmth of their truck, where they wait in misery for the rest of us to finish. All of us have fallen victim to that unreliable ice a time or two at some point in the past.<br />
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Dogs are invaluable in that cover. Doug and I are both fond of canines, and have a pickup boxfull of memories of the hunts we’ve enjoyed behind our dogs there. His springers, Dakota, Repo, and Snickers have rooted hundreds of birds out of those cattails over the years, while my pointers have provided us with a similar number of statuesque points. My now-gone partners Axel, Dep, Jack, and Ice all hunted that creek over the years, as my current dogs, Pete and Dodge do now. The opportunity to watch bird dogs do what they’ve been bred to do is always enjoyable, but in the case of our creek, it’s also a necessity as roosters dropped in the waterlogged cattails are all but impossible to find and very difficult to retrieve without the help of a good dog. We’ve also hosted a number of our guests’ dogs over the years. One of the most memorable dog performances I can recall is actually that of a dog owned by my brother. Gus was an undersized black and white springer who compensated for his small stature with a keen nose and impressive work ethic. During a hunt in the creek years ago, a downed bird was not located, in spite of our allowing the dogs to work the area over for an extended period of time. An hour or so later, as our group was enjoying a lunch break around a quarter mile away, Karl asked if any of us had seen Gus. None of us had noticed him slipping off, but as we watched, the diminuitive dog climbed out of the creek bed carrying our lost bird, proudly strutting across the field to deliver the prize to his boss.<br />
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During good years, we nearly always limit out along the creek. In slower years, we’ll also hunt the two milo strips that our tenant farmer leaves for us, which usually produces some additional opportunities for us. The relatively small amount of ground we have to hunt dictates that we’re finished within a couple of hours, after which we return to the trucks. Once there, we pause for a group photo with our harvest, and then set up some folding chairs and enjoy an hour or so of tailgate time. This often includes a sandwich, candy bar, honeycrisp apple, some of Doug’s deer, antelope, or goose jerky, and a cold beer. Our post hunt conversation is as predictable as our pre-hunt ritual. One of us will brag about his marksmanship, or comment on another’s lack thereof. Someone will lament the waterlogged boots that resulted from that damn creek once again being deeper than it initially appeared. We’ll water and feed our dogs, and evaluate their performances as we scratch their ears and let them know how proud we are of them. Politics will inevitably surface, but given that we’re all pretty much on the same page in that regard, it’s a friendly conversation. We’ll catch up on each others’ families as well as the college football scores posted that day, and reminisce about hunts from years gone by. When the food is gone, we’ll load the dogs and pack the trucks, and while reminding each other of our good fortune in having good ground to hunt, the health to do so, and family and friends to share it with, we shake hands and drive off in opposite directions wearing satisfied smiles, closing the books on another opening day.<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-18572544617299105912018-04-05T20:24:00.000-05:002020-03-24T12:07:58.733-05:00Shot at the AlamoI've <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/search/label/Final%20Four">written about</a> my Final Four adventures before. This year brought another <a href="https://youtu.be/kLzdbxPQYV0">interview</a>. This time by <a href="https://twitter.com/BlairKerkhoff?lang=en">Blair Kerkoff</a>, long time <a href="http://www.seniorclassaward.com/columns/bio/11/">Kansas City Star sportswriter</a>, <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/sports/article50968190.html">U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Famer</a> and <a href="https://www.biblio.com/blair-kerkhoff/author/1044132">author of several books</a>.<br />
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He and Kansas City Star photojournalist, <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/latest-news/article164198132.html">Allison Long</a>, came to our hotel, <a href="https://www.crocketthotel.com/">The Crockett Hotel</a>,, which is across the street from the <a href="http://www.thealamo.org/">Alamo</a>, to interview our group on the Saturday of Final Four weekend.<br />
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Despite the rather awkward setting, sitting on the beds in our hotel room, we had a lot of laughs as well recalled some of our memories from the last four decades. The six of us had over 160 Final Fours attended all together.<br />
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I was reminded how lucky I am to have a wife and family that are tolerant and understanding of my love for college basketball, to have employees and businesses that allow me to be away each year. and health, <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2015/08/broken-hearted.html">despite a scare</a>, that has allowed me to attend.<br />
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I am also lucky to have some great friends, who are as fortunate as I am, to be able to share this weekend with each year.<br />
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So here is this year's version of the gang that keeps showing up:<br />
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<a href="http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/ncaa/article207572624.html">Thirty-seven consecutive Final Fours and counting, hoops are this group's bond</a></h4>
Christopher Korth of Kansas City and Doug Knust of Chamberlain, S.D., are attending their 37th consecutive Final Four. They and friends who have been going to the NCAA Tournament semifinals and finals for 15-30 years plan their trips long in advance.</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="UTF-8" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js"></script>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-40574341591360265112018-03-12T18:22:00.000-05:002018-03-12T18:26:36.147-05:00March 2018 SDADA Column<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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South Dakota Automobile Dealers:<br />
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This is my final column as the South Dakota NADA Director so I want to start off by thanking you, my fellow dealers, for the opportunity to serve in that capacity for the past nearly 11 years. I appreciate the input, feedback and support you have given me as we worked together on the challenges facing the automotive industry both nationally and in our state.<br />
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I reflected upon the (over one hundred!) columns I have written during my tenure. What a long, strange trip it's been!<br />
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Among the challenges we faced together were: The Great Recession of 2008, CAFE Standards, Red Flags Rule, bridge loans for automakers, automaker bankruptcies, "Cash for Clunkers", facilities image programs, the Dodd-Frank bill and creation of the CFPB (and our exclusion from their oversight), navigating the barrage of Obama Administration regulations (Risk Based pricing, Privacy notices, etc.), the threat to repeal LIFO, stair step programs, electric cars, autonomous vehicles, disparate impact allegations, recalls and, most recently, tax reform.<br />
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While on the board, I had the opportunity to serve on every NADA standing committee. I was fortunate to chair the IT Committee for two years and, most recently, have had the great challenge of chairing the Legislative Affairs Committee the past two years - which many of you know is my passion. I ran for, was elected to and served a term on the Finance Committee, and was also elected to NADART board and served on the Executive Committee.<br />
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While I was on the NADA board, we made some major strategic decisions for our association. We sold the NADA Used Car Guide to J.D. Power in 2015. We established an affinity relationship for our retirement program, NADART, with Empower Retirement. We made the decision to and are currently planning a transition from the Frank E. McCarthy building to a newer facility.<br />
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As a member of the SDADA executive board during this same time, I've worked with many of you on numerous threats and attempts to undermine our state franchise laws, we fought off many factory challenges to our businesses, we looked at forming a SDADA Finance Company, and we repealed South Dakota's Damage Disclosure law among other things.<br />
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Judy and I have taken pride in representing South Dakota and its dealers as well as small dealers throughout our association. We are grateful for the friendships we've forged with dealer families across our state and across our country. We take many fond memories with us as we leave the board.<br />
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Representing my fellow dealers has been the most noteworthy privilege of my automotive career. I look forward to working with each of you in that capacity going forward.<br />
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With sincerity and gratitude,<br />
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Doug Knust<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-68442141533302363242018-02-20T22:41:00.000-06:002018-02-21T07:56:15.628-06:00No Worries<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDs1FYQqL1BO10ujuhh7Hiftx7TLdsI1VzojkIqWOV3fFpAcXHlPaP125zF4M1laaBC0n5mUq2vPd7bP8gmXrb0m8J7yV30oYddpJCwflGDkjI19uvGZgfi0_WDjQ3Ax5VQajuJWrWD0/s1600/19940120RachelAlexGoofy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDs1FYQqL1BO10ujuhh7Hiftx7TLdsI1VzojkIqWOV3fFpAcXHlPaP125zF4M1laaBC0n5mUq2vPd7bP8gmXrb0m8J7yV30oYddpJCwflGDkjI19uvGZgfi0_WDjQ3Ax5VQajuJWrWD0/s320/19940120RachelAlexGoofy.JPG" width="230" /></a>In 1994, we won a Chevrolet sales contest that rewarded us with a trip to Disney World in Orlando. The trip was in January 1995. Judy and I planned to take our two kids, Rachel (8) and Alex (5), on the trip which Chevrolet promoted as a family trip. This was all B.S. (before Sarah, our youngest child, who hadn't been born yet).<br />
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Chevrolet hosted us at <a href="https://www.swandolphin.com/">Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort</a> which is located in the heart of the Disney resort. It is located in between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios<br />
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It was a journey to drive two hours to the airport in Sioux Falls, catch an hour long flight from Sioux Falls to MSP, then fly 3-4 hours to Orlando. We then retrieved luggage, found ground transportation and made our way to the resort. We were all tired by the time we arrived but there was a party taking place when we got there and the kids were excited to explore things.<br />
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Chevrolet's "Welcome Party" took place on the beach near the causeway between the Swan and the Dolphin. There were many food stands with different types of cuisines. There were games and activities for all ages on the beach. We were all walking through the party wide-eyed, taking it all in.<br />
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Suddenly, we realized that Alex was not with us. As we looked around, we didn't see him anywhere. Had it been a regular Disney crowd, we would have really been concerned. Since it was a private party, I wasn't quite as worried. As it was, we quickly started backtracking to try to find him.<br />
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After a few minutes of frantic searching, we found him. He was on a stage singing "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuna_matata">Hakuna Matata</a>" - a song from the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King">Lion King</a>", which was Disney's most recent movie and one of Alex's favorite's. We got there just in time to see him sing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex on stage singing "Hakuna Matata"</td></tr>
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It was a karaoke stage. The lady running the stage told us that Alex had come up to the stage and asked to sing "Hakuna Matata". She told him that they didn't have that song on the karaoke machine (go figure!). He said that was okay because he knew the words. So he got on the stage and sang <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Acapella">a cappella</a>. Of course we knew he knew the words because he sang it all the time at home.<br />
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The irony of us finding him after looking frenetically for him as he was singing a song that means "no worries" was pretty delicious. I know that Judy could not fully appreciate his performance because she had been sick with worry for about five minutes.<br />
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Alex got a rousing applause when he finished. He handed the microphone to the lady in charge and came over to us like nothing had happened. Rachel slapped him a "high five". Both Judy and I wanted to kick his ass for not staying with us but he was so pleased with himself, neither of us could bring our self to pop his bubble.<br />
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For the rest of the evening, kids would walk up to Alex and give him "high five". Each time, he would look at us with a grin on his face. We all enjoyed the party but Alex had an especially good time!<br />
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Of course after everything turned out fine, we all had a good laugh at the way it played out. It is still one of my favorite stories about Alex as a kid!<br />
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<br />Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-6510506484824928992018-02-06T21:05:00.000-06:002018-02-06T21:05:41.348-06:00Boss on the Rocks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmPzhJjhy_8nQiObR8FZcupjoBVEibY2zf8G1D0F-fD8ZcYx2Zil2yFoBGSeifMeSJSwQ9XLogHcymq2XQWiUhIfCtBi9zm2xfXDggULNqfqQ3ExQlSmJTgJdJlQ_0ATiqmbbKNKnh9E/s1600/81ChBQil4zL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmPzhJjhy_8nQiObR8FZcupjoBVEibY2zf8G1D0F-fD8ZcYx2Zil2yFoBGSeifMeSJSwQ9XLogHcymq2XQWiUhIfCtBi9zm2xfXDggULNqfqQ3ExQlSmJTgJdJlQ_0ATiqmbbKNKnh9E/s320/81ChBQil4zL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I became a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen">Bruce Springsteen</a> fan in the summer of 1978 which was the summer after I graduated from high school. It was the summer that Springsteen released “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkness_on_the_Edge_of_Town">Darkness on the Edge of Town</a>”.<br />
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Growing up in rural South Dakota, I did not hear anything but a little pop and a lotta country music on the radio. I relied on <i><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/">Rolling Stone</a></i> magazine to help me shape my music tastes. <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-19780727">Dave Marsh’s review</a> of "Darkness" in July 1978 was so glowing that I felt I’d be missing out if I didn’t own the album.<br />
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It was my first Springsteen album. “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Run">Born to Run</a>” followed shortly thereafter (“Darkness” and “Born to Run” made my <a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2014/03/favorite-albums.html">favorites list</a>) and I owned “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greetings_from_Asbury_Park,_N.J.">Greetings from Asbury Park</a>” and “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild,_the_Innocent_%26_the_E_Street_Shuffle">The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle</a>” by the time I packed my vinyl collection for college that fall.<br />
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By the time I arrived at <a href="https://www.creighton.edu/">Creighton University</a> in the fall of 1978, I was a full fledged “Boss” fan. When I joined a fraternity second semester, it just so happened a couple of my new "brothers" were from Jersey and were Bruce disciples. They inspired me to go on a two week tour following Springsteen and the Creighton Bluejays a year later. I'll save that for another post!<br />
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Friday afternoons in the dorm consisted of backgammon or Spades games with the <i>E Street Band</i> as the soundtrack. I played the grooves thin on those first four Springsteen album.<br />
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When the double record "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_River_(Bruce_Springsteen_album)">The River</a>" came out in the fall of 1980 shortly after I returned for my junior year at Creighton, it increased the Springsteen published catalog by 50%. We embraced Bruce's latest effort immediately and it became a staple on the turntable.<br />
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We took a road trip to Denver to see Springsteen's <a href="https://brucebase.wikispaces.com/1980-10-20+-+McNICHOLS+SPORTS+ARENA%2C+DENVER%2C+CO">10th gig of the River tour</a> at McNicols Arena on October 20, 1980. It was my first of many Boss concerts and it was spectacular. I danced for four hours - with 15,000 others!<br />
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I was in Omaha taking classes and working in the summer of '81. A friend told me he could get tickets to see Springsteen at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rocks_Amphitheatre">Red Rocks</a> near Denver. I told him that I'd drive the "<a href="https://harrykss.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-first-cars.html">Thunderchicken</a>" if he snagged the tickets. And so it was.<br />
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Five of us packed in the car and left on a Saturday afternoon from Omaha with the plan to stop at <a href="https://www.olesbiggame.com/">Ole's Big Game Bar & Grill</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paxton,_Nebraska">Paxton, NE</a> on the way out. I'd been to Ole's before and it was a legendary place. It was about four hours down Interstate 80 from Omaha.<br />
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We arrived early Saturday evening at Ole's - just in time for a beer, a hot dog (from Ole's famous grill) and some stories (from Ole). It was Saturday night in Paxton and the place was just coming alive as we arrived.<br />
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We had too many beers, ate too many hot dogs and heard too many stories (probably told a few too many as well) that night and we spend the night in the car in Ole's parking lot.<br />
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We awoke with the sunrise and headed on our way back on I-80 to Denver. It was a little over three hours to Red Rocks which was just past Denver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NoKg2GvQ4J0PXzjYVEP3aPObs46TAQJHR3r7Mc_CSLKktPyrfQJNVfugAaOYWdpShkGomGw1J73sQXpQ7Is539BdDdsgqb-fE8c-MngRGGD-aaHV2UAIwPq3NFhxsMk1TMUzGDVAs0/s1600/13432_RedRocksAmphitheatre_t580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NoKg2GvQ4J0PXzjYVEP3aPObs46TAQJHR3r7Mc_CSLKktPyrfQJNVfugAaOYWdpShkGomGw1J73sQXpQ7Is539BdDdsgqb-fE8c-MngRGGD-aaHV2UAIwPq3NFhxsMk1TMUzGDVAs0/s1600/13432_RedRocksAmphitheatre_t580.jpg" /></a></div>
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Red Rocks is an natural outdoor amphitheater 10 miles west of Denver overlooking the city. If you've never seen a concert there, you should put it on your "bucket list". Not only is it a magnificent location, the acoustics are perfect. Here is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhB11e5OMa0">video tour</a>.<br />
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We arrived at Red Rocks around 11:00 am. When we pulled up to the venue, the parking lot was full. We were trying to figure out why the lot would be full a full nine hours prior to the concert. We soon found out that the doors were open and people were inside. When we went inside, the entire front two-thirds of the amphitheater was full.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Os3jbo__1aFcaK1UCoY3I8mCXCmEbvZO-7hVEICCDuOskFpXAif8is3BuoEWZ_c6TM-vzijXMX-j45ejOC3HVkvRkaDPgFrvQo6CvCkGg14NGpONgxVMMj-irYvAMN1VIWspDg8Z96I/s1600/boss_tix_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="580" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Os3jbo__1aFcaK1UCoY3I8mCXCmEbvZO-7hVEICCDuOskFpXAif8is3BuoEWZ_c6TM-vzijXMX-j45ejOC3HVkvRkaDPgFrvQo6CvCkGg14NGpONgxVMMj-irYvAMN1VIWspDg8Z96I/s400/boss_tix_580.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We made our way down to the front of the place and started talking to some gals who were "saving spots" for friends. As we visited, we found some seats to squat in and soon we had third row seats for Bruce Springsteen at Red Rocks!<br />
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Since it was still several hours before show time, we laid down to take a nap - on the rocks. We were all so exhausted from our big night at Ole's, we could have slept anywhere.<br />
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At some point, I woke up to a large black man standing on the stage towering over me. It didn't take long to realize that it was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Clemons">Clarence Clemons</a>, sax player for the E Street Band. The band was preparing to play a sound check and the crowd was just starting to realize it!<br />
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They started "Prove it All Night" but ended that very abruptly telling us that we would get the rest (of that song) later. With Bruce telling us "here’s one you’re gonna get early," they pivoted into Elvis Presley's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FeWJHUB8aU">Good Rockin' Tonight</a>", appropriately, since it was the anniversary of Elvis' death. As quickly as it began, it ended with the crowd screaming for more.<br />
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Shortly after the sound check, the clouds started building in the west. What had been a perfect afternoon, now looked like it was going to be a wet evening. There was no cover for fans at Red Rocks.<br />
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It started to rain...then it started to pour...and pour some more. I remember at one time that my feet were completely submerged - water over the top over my sneakers. The third row seat didn't seem quite as coveted now! Water was gushing down the stairs and it couldn't drain out of the storm drains as fast as it came.<br />
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Fortunately, the stage was covered. Though the rain continued, Bruce and the boys took the stage at (or near) the appointed time and began the show with, appropriately, "Who'll Stop The Rain". As it turned out, the answer to that question was a resounding "NO ONE"!<br />
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As he played "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_in_the_Street">Out in the Street</a>", he came out onto the apron of the stage which was not covered and was soaking wet. He ran from one side of the stage to the other then slid on his knees the final third leaving a rooster tail a water skier would be proud of!<br />
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At one point, Springsteen tried to talk the crowd out of continuing the show. He proposed playing in Denver at McNichols Arena the next night. There were no takers. The crowd was, by now, in a frenzy and wanted nothing to do with postponement. The show, and the rain(!), went on!<br />
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It was if Springsteen tried to overcome the rain storm with his own energy. I had seen him several times before by now, but I had never seen this much energy and showmanship from him.<br />
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The set list included the first performance, tour premiere and one of just three times he played of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMelZDKYN28&amp=&feature=youtu.be">Sea Cruise</a>". It was complete with the saxophone fog horn leading off!<br />
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We were also treated to Bruce's tribute to Elvis, "Johnny Bye Bye", on the anniversary of his death and one of folk's most famous tunes, Woodie Guthrie's "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Land_Is_Your_Land">This Land Is Your Land</a>".<br />
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Bruce introduced "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growin%27_Up">Growin' Up</a>" with this crazy spaceman story. Here it is from the website <a href="https://brucebase.wikispaces.com/1981-08-16+-+RED+ROCKS+AMPHITHEATRE%2C+MORRISON%2C+CO">Brucebase</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Alright…this is a song for any of you folks that were here the last time we were here (crowd cheers) when it didn’t rain (chuckles) this is the time that it rained but last time it didn’t rain (chuckles) this is for all you veterans out there…</i> <i>(…) There we were...it was a night…just like tonight (crowd cheers) the wind was blowing...it was raining (crowd cheers) and it wouldn’t stop (crowd cheers) and me and Clarence and Steve were coming home from a show...riding on this dark back road out in New Jersey (crowd cheers) it was dark out there...and sure enough we get a flat tire...Lord…and we ain’t got no spare...now...we were trying to decide which one of us is gonna get out of the car and hitchhike to the gas-station...but it’s so dark out there...we’re in the middle of the woods and I know...I heard some wolves crying out there (crowd howls) and then we heard something that sounded kind of like Frankenstein (crowd roars) and then we heard something that kind of sounded like a Maytag Washer (crowd cheers) so you know we was scared...I wasn’t as scared as the other guys...because I knew one thing...I wasn’t gonna go to the gas-station because...I’m the Boss, baby! (crowd cheers) you guys gotta go, not me...and then, and we also knew that Clarence, he didn’t have to go, did he, Steve?...he didn’t have to go either...so just as we were pushing Miami Steve through the little vent window...up above us, just like in that movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” we saw a blinding light (crowd cheers) and there it was, painted all candy-apple red, Hooker headers, whitewall tires...a space machine that said on the side: “Little Melvin and the Invaders, we play weddings, parties and bar mitzvahs” (crowd cheers) the guy sticks his head out...and he says “Which one of you guys knows the way to the New Jersey Turnpike?” (crowd cheers) we just don’t tell anybody how to get to New Jersey Turnpike...we had to make a deal!...we said “Listen...you gotta give us all one wish, then we’ll tell you how to get to the Turnpike”...that’s pretty slick...so we thought real hard...and just after I give the guy the directions, he goes spinning off into outer space...we didn’t get no wish, didn’t even get no sweet goodbye (emphatic moans from the crowd) we were standing there in the road, disillusioned, to say the least...we had met the first spaceman who probably ever came down to earth and the cat went off without even saying goodbye...I can’t go on with the show, I’m too broken hearted (emphatic moans from the crowd) now, just as he sped off into space, we saw something sparkle down through the sky and land about a hundred yards down the road…and there in the middle of the highway...sitting there in the middle of the night...we found the stuff that we was all thinking about...(crowd cheers) and it was at that moment, we decided to continue our careers in show business (crowd cheers)...”</i></blockquote>
During the encores, Bruce suggested that they might move the next night's show indoors, but the crowd voted to keep it outdoors.<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
August 16, 1981</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The River Tour</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Set List</div>
<ul>
<li>Who'll Stop the Rain?</li>
<li>Prove It All Night</li>
<li>Out in the Street</li>
<li>Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out</li>
<li>Darkness on the Edge of Town</li>
<li>Johnny Bye Bye</li>
<li>Independence Day</li>
<li>Trapped</li>
<li>Two Hearts</li>
<li>The Promised Land</li>
<li>The River</li>
<li>This Land Is Your Land</li>
<li>Badlands</li>
<li>Thunder Road</li>
<li>Sea Cruise</li>
<li>Hungry Heart</li>
<li>You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)</li>
<li>Cadillac Ranch</li>
<li>Sherry Darling</li>
<li>Growin' Up</li>
<li>Point Blank</li>
<li>Candy's Room</li>
<li>Ramrod</li>
<li>Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Encore</i></div>
<ul>
<li>Jungleland</li>
<li>Born to Run</li>
<li>Detroit Medley</li>
<li>Twist and Shout</li>
</ul>
<div>
The concert lasted more than four hours. We were soaked to the bone but could not have enjoyed it any more if we tried. We slogged our way up the steps, out of the amphitheater and into the parking lot. </div>
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As I looked up into a now star filled sky, I couldn't help but think we were blessed with the rainy weather to make our story just that much more compelling when we told it almost forty years later!!!</div>
Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-84147544588564236532018-01-16T21:08:00.001-06:002018-02-06T16:56:57.658-06:00Finding a Friend in Dakota<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner (comedian)</i><br />
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I lived in the dorms my first three years as a student at <a href="https://www.creighton.edu/">Creighton University</a>. During my junior year, five of my fraternity brothers and I decided we would move off campus to a large house on Cuming Street about eight blocks from campus.<br />
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This decision allowed me to buy the dog I always wanted. I pulled the trigger a bit earlier than I was supposed as I bought the dog while I was living in the Palms (now <a href="https://www.creighton.edu/studentlife/living/residencehallsandapartments/kenefick360/">Kenefick Hall</a>). Dakota, my six week-old <a href="http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/english-springer-spaniel#/slide/1">English Springer Spaniel</a> lived in the dorm with me for about two weeks before the spring semester ended.<br />
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That presented a few special challenges and a few messes on the floor. But with the help and understanding of my two roommates, we made it to the end of the semester.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHkDSe9Ggi5bDIiV4XogGNkuopfjnBbwo_BwzdkNKnDBkt9sAlJ5HReoXQ-8CgGsh0flIbLQFxheboKToi3R6SqOrtyt-r_DHXzFOp6KA3GwBZiqOiSsHuJtQRkbTbBfeWe42cEF_SBI/s1600/19810615Dakota+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHkDSe9Ggi5bDIiV4XogGNkuopfjnBbwo_BwzdkNKnDBkt9sAlJ5HReoXQ-8CgGsh0flIbLQFxheboKToi3R6SqOrtyt-r_DHXzFOp6KA3GwBZiqOiSsHuJtQRkbTbBfeWe42cEF_SBI/s320/19810615Dakota+%252811%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dakota laying on my waterbed in our "corner room".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We moved into the house, a three-story, six-bedroom palace, in late May. I claimed the corner bedroom on the second floor that looked out over the roof of the over the back third of the house. I had seven windows that opened up to this roof. The roof was just below the bottom of the windows.<br />
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Dakota could jump out the window onto the roof and relieve herself and then come back into my room. That particular skill became a priority as soon as we moved in.<br />
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After a few successful ventures onto the roof and some heaping praise, Dakota figured it out. Needless to say, taking a leak worked fine - no residual. The other trips, did present a bit more of an issue.<br />
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Not even Omaha's spring rain deluges were enough to wash away the "doggy-do". I thought I could ignore it until the heat and Omaha's summer moved in. Of course, the prevailing summer southeast wind was just the wrong direction.<br />
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After about two months, I finally made my way out onto the roof to remove the "residue". It wasn't a pleasant job but it had to be done.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmg8cC38Lf0GDDKaGSqOoAjhGOamCyy-VBTlYMzmU8MF3Roer_W5WnPIkgroiKvfG9NUnd5zmBz-LtUpzo5UQtZin9EPjmfirTBnXlZ-L4Iqq6JuMI1-Ro35RSNsf_cTvakKrNH-Aaqs/s1600/19830915Dakota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmg8cC38Lf0GDDKaGSqOoAjhGOamCyy-VBTlYMzmU8MF3Roer_W5WnPIkgroiKvfG9NUnd5zmBz-LtUpzo5UQtZin9EPjmfirTBnXlZ-L4Iqq6JuMI1-Ro35RSNsf_cTvakKrNH-Aaqs/s320/19830915Dakota.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dakota in the backyard of our home in Omaha.</td></tr>
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The arrangement worked out well for the duration of our stay in that house. I left the same window open for Dakota each morning when I left the house and she was able to do "her thing" when needed.<br />
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My room got a bit chilly during the day on some of those winter mornings in January and February but we managed!<br />
<br />
Dakota was a loyal companion during that final year at Creighton, as I entered the working world, when I got married, as we moved back to Des Moines then to (South) Dakota, when we moved into a new home and as welcomed our two oldest kids into the world. She died in 1995 at the age of 14.<br />
<br />
Dakota spent her first year in this world living with six fraternity boys. I think she knew everything would be easier after that!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6HeGVDhzUpgc8gnTN1mldaEicM2OugPu2OesQU0mWZPWktpmGq8QmIwHZseLAjMHua1m5lNImEUqZHJ4JEgOOQkQQ8p9awbZJLq9ojUltKY3ejV-6EpIe0VYZDGef3flSZL4E5szJD0/s1600/19860704RachelBaby15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6HeGVDhzUpgc8gnTN1mldaEicM2OugPu2OesQU0mWZPWktpmGq8QmIwHZseLAjMHua1m5lNImEUqZHJ4JEgOOQkQQ8p9awbZJLq9ojUltKY3ejV-6EpIe0VYZDGef3flSZL4E5szJD0/s400/19860704RachelBaby15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dakota meets our new baby Rachel</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGe7rnKzEje-ILpymk6nIIfD7oC080pWG4iSRLbd2-B-ydmhgf8ZMbC3t3XmTucq1_Tg82Xz3xXAieWrnLwOgq7rH5oSwong7ILD5XGCER0uQmNISdCzvOFASH8_iaHZasN2xgw-m9c4/s400/19891210AlexDakotaJudy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex and Dakota became great buddies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9yxZdR_Ag8Am-dC2kWKNRi6ws8RhB-e0yyT2CA14sf61B-vCqaEAwo9IwuZc67SEk6Zr2UPiN8wBuxx3IKBQpqI5p4hvJEzVvQk7etGcY5v3sfrdUud-HnPyzUBBd9YriQ9iAkPpyak/s1600/1994KnustChristmasCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="790" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9yxZdR_Ag8Am-dC2kWKNRi6ws8RhB-e0yyT2CA14sf61B-vCqaEAwo9IwuZc67SEk6Zr2UPiN8wBuxx3IKBQpqI5p4hvJEzVvQk7etGcY5v3sfrdUud-HnPyzUBBd9YriQ9iAkPpyak/s640/1994KnustChristmasCard.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last photo with Dakota - Christmas 1994</td></tr>
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<br /><div>
Updated February 6, 2018:<div>
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I was reminded of Dakota's best trick. When we lived in Des Moines, if I would leave my slipper in the right place, she would retrieve them for me on command. It would take two trips but she was like clockwork. Man's best friend!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGe7rnKzEje-ILpymk6nIIfD7oC080pWG4iSRLbd2-B-ydmhgf8ZMbC3t3XmTucq1_Tg82Xz3xXAieWrnLwOgq7rH5oSwong7ILD5XGCER0uQmNISdCzvOFASH8_iaHZasN2xgw-m9c4/s1600/19891210AlexDakotaJudy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-41480789880575276982018-01-10T15:09:00.000-06:002018-02-26T16:31:55.482-06:00January 2018 SDADA Column<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrE05XfmJuWj4FEN_9ijge6Tc5gW-h8o2mkpjeDaDjzflPUQIjQjjtZfUf9Rbs09J5O4RZ2CraSRPc_fWpSrKtgsumJQgKv7zOo5pOGxvjRmEJpSCLwdawKN4Tn6opoSsQrC5O3BQZk/s1600/SDADALogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="375" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrE05XfmJuWj4FEN_9ijge6Tc5gW-h8o2mkpjeDaDjzflPUQIjQjjtZfUf9Rbs09J5O4RZ2CraSRPc_fWpSrKtgsumJQgKv7zOo5pOGxvjRmEJpSCLwdawKN4Tn6opoSsQrC5O3BQZk/s320/SDADALogo.png" width="320" /></a>Last year I watched (and helped a little) as NADA planned <b><a href="https://www.nada.org/nada100/">NADA100</a></b>, a celebration of 100 years of service to dealers. The celebration in New Orleans was spectacular and everyone I talked to who attended had a great time. It was a gala worthy of the occasion.<br />
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It was great to walk down memory lane and recap the rich history of both our trade association and our industry while also celebrating its future. The automobile industry has been an integral part of our nation's history.<br />
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Perhaps even more remarkable is that the <a href="http://www.sdautodealer.com/">South Dakota Automobile Dealers Association</a> is celebrating 100 years of service to South Dakota dealers this year. Committees and staff are planning a celebration of this milestone to be held in <a href="https://www.reservationcounter.com/hotels/show/143002/sheraton-sioux-falls-convention-center-sioux-falls-south-dakota/?mm_campaign=61e23501c3a7666376c173fa44c75e69&TID=s6T2FXmSu_dc%257cpcrid%257c91232367491&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=sioux%252">Sioux Falls</a>, June 13-15.<br />
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Details of this grand event will be coming soon but I urge you to mark those dates on your calendar. This will be a celebration of the history of the automobile industry in our state and if you are reading this, you are an important part of that history.<br />
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Encourage other dealers, current and past, to join us for this great celebration of the automobile industry in our state. I know one thing about car dealers, we DO know how to celebrate.<br />
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<b>Military Lending Act</b><br />
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On December 14, 2017, the Department of Defense issued an interpretation of the Military Lending Act regulation that requires immediate attention. The DoD's interpretation states that vehicle financing with active duty military personnel and their dependents that includes GAP protection and/or credit insurance requires compliance with the MLA.<br />
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If you sell vehicles to active duty military personnel and their dependents, you need to consider your store's policies about future sales of GAP protection and credit insurance.<br />
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NADA has obtained permission to distribute an article by leading dealer attorney Mike Charapp to further assist dealers in understanding and addressing issues raised by the interpretation. Mr. Charapp identifies potential compliance measures a dealer may wish to consider adopting after consulting with its legal counsel. You will find that article elsewhere in this publication. I urge you to carefully read and consider its implication for your dealership.<br />
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<b>Football Fan? You Need to Come to NADA Show</b><br />
<br />
Nick Saban, the head football coach at 2017 National Champion University of Alabama, is one of five keynote speakers. He is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time with six national championship wins and many other accolades. Saban is scheduled to speak at the general session on Friday, March 23.<br />
<br />
Joe Theismann, a NFL champion quarterback, broadcaster and entrepreneur, is one of four speakers slated for the new Distinguished Speaker Series. His session, “Game Plan for Success,” which draws parallels between winning in football and business, will be held on Saturday, March 24.<br />
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Keynote speakers for the NADA Show are Mark Scarpelli, 2017 NADA chairman, and Saban (Friday’s general session); Wes Lutz, 2018 NADA chairman-elect, and John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo LLC (Saturday’s general session); and Robert O’Neill, team leader at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Sunday’s inspirational session).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://show.nada.org/">The NADA Show</a> runs from Thursday, March 22, to Sunday, March 25. Click <a href="https://registration.experientevent.com/showNAD181/Flow/ATTENDEE/?memberNumber=00115054#/registrant//CustomLogin/">here</a> to register.<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-35973583135134683232017-12-21T14:49:00.000-06:002019-03-26T22:29:49.062-05:00Bishops, Cardinals and Trick PlaysI started working with kids in the summer of 1976 when I was the Assistant Summer Rec Director for the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjqi-aj-JvYAhWKxVQKHZADALkQFggsMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chamberlainsd.com%2Fcommunity%2Fcity-of-chamberlain%2F&usg=AOvVaw1CIrvlJTQ8wHFIqq5hKLsH">City of Chamberlain</a>. Eventually I was the director and went on to coach baseball, basketball and football. I have worked with kids in some way ever since - some forty plus years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPdTAoE6O070E0f4_etkFzxf-eeZvuQ5GSF65ZvQC9TQ8jaMo4baq4GuyhCJQktnMhDdAkXDHzv6xU3RWhemMU94tptrNS19FxuzrYhbVaqz_Nvz3wJFQ1W2UIzTdriPqsgBtKLNBiXE/s1600/coach-2-281x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="281" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPdTAoE6O070E0f4_etkFzxf-eeZvuQ5GSF65ZvQC9TQ8jaMo4baq4GuyhCJQktnMhDdAkXDHzv6xU3RWhemMU94tptrNS19FxuzrYhbVaqz_Nvz3wJFQ1W2UIzTdriPqsgBtKLNBiXE/s320/coach-2-281x300.png" width="299" /></a>When my wife and I moved from Omaha to Des Moines in 1984, I volunteered to coach a baseball team. The boys were 12-14 years old and we had a good summer. I enjoyed working with them and I believe the boys had fun. We were respectable - I think we were about .500.<br />
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Toward the end of the season, one of the fathers asked me if I'd be interested in coaching the St. Theresa's Cardinals. We belonged to <a href="http://sainttheresaiowa.org/">St. Theresa's Parish</a> and several of the boys on the baseball team would be on the football team so I agreed to coach them.<br />
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So later that summer, I went to an organizational meeting at one of the other Catholic churches in Des Moines. I could tell from the minute I entered the room that this was not going to be like my baseball experience earlier that summer. The room smelled like testosterone and I think I saw guys keep getting up and peeing in the corner!! This room was full of guys determined to relive their football glory days!<br />
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To listen to these coaches at the "coaches meeting", one would have thought that it was press day at the Big 10 and the doors to the room would soon open and the media would flock in. This was JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL!!! It made me think of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V0TYIO6yv4">this</a>!<br />
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There were eight teams in the <a href="http://www.dmcatholicfootball.com/">Des Moines Catholic Football League</a>. Most represented one parish but a couple were combination parish teams. These teams all funneled players into the local Catholic school powerhouse - Des Moines Dowling.<br />
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I got a pretty good idea of what I was in for that day. The rest unfolded the first day of practice. We had some bodies that could be molded into linemen but the arms and legs were those of linemen as well! We did have good kids with good attitudes.<br />
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As the season unfolded, it became obvious the the Cardinals did not have the talent to match up with the other teams. They fought valiantly each week but came up short - a lot short. Like in we did not score any points the first four weeks of the season.<br />
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I didn't know it then, but came to learn that St. Theresa's was a long standing cellar dweller in the league. Apparently if you wanted to be a standout at <a href="https://www.dowlingcatholic.org/">Dowling High School</a>, the path through St. Theresa's grade school wasn't the route!<br />
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Once the pads were checked out and the Cardinals took to the practice field, I could understand why. The kids had not been taught any fundamental football skills. Things as simple as a three point stance, blocking and tackling were foreign concepts to most of them.<br />
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The kids worked hard and we did what we could to install an offense but the games came too early for any kind of success to follow immediately. We lost our first several games - by big scores. We didn't score.<br />
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<span class="fullpost"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcww9-QE71U1acjCyURazhxKzNqg0Rjy6hZXLy1zHA2HEnsxE29kB9nw-9gQsIxBGHoaExF8fYGcyV_EsTtzfIVA52CXCuzQD9cdU-V8A4EAMZAAQeH024SsUzuysnHzGRRx7DOOJB1k/s1600/plays510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="510" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcww9-QE71U1acjCyURazhxKzNqg0Rjy6hZXLy1zHA2HEnsxE29kB9nw-9gQsIxBGHoaExF8fYGcyV_EsTtzfIVA52CXCuzQD9cdU-V8A4EAMZAAQeH024SsUzuysnHzGRRx7DOOJB1k/s320/plays510.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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One would think that a Catholic football league would have some kind of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercy_rule">mercy rule</a>" other than mothers doing laps around the rosary in the stands. The other coaches did not find beating the Cardinals to be satisfactory, they needed to pound them into submission. It seemed like an opportunity for some of the younger players to play when the Cardinals took the field against them, but they did not want to be the team that allowed the Cardinals to score.<br />
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The St. Theresa's Cardinals made the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad_News_Bears">Bad News Bears</a> look like a powerhouse!<br />
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After a month of this, I had enough. We needed some kind of success to build on and I thought a simple touchdown would make the practices a bit more tolerable for the kids. So I decided that we may lose in week 5, but we were going to light the scoreboard for the first time. We installed a gadget play (some might call it a trick play - but be careful of that!) so that we might score.<br />
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Of course, we would have to execute the trick play in order to score so it was certainly no given that we would put points on the board. But we had to do something.<br />
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I introduced "The Play" in practice that week with much fanfare - asking them if they were finally ready to score a touchdown. After a positive response, I assured them that if they would execute this play correctly, there was no doubt in my mind that we would score. That drew a few smiles and fist pumps from the 0-5 Cardinals.<br />
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So we explained how we would pull this play off. At the proper time, while our team was in their huddle, the sideline would scream for one of our receivers to get off the field, leading our opponents to believe we had too many players on the field. As the receiver ran toward the sideline, we would break the huddle and come to the line of scrimmage.<br />
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The sideline would continue to scream at the receiver as he hustled toward the sideline. But just before he got off the field, he would stop at the line of scrimmage and come set. The quarterback would take the snap, throw the ball to the receiver near the sideline and he would run for his life! - and the end zone! Hopefully the opposing defenders had given up on him thinking he was trying to get off the field before the snap.<br />
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So we spent the better part of an entire practice that week working on "The Play". We taught them what and when to yell at the receiver. We felt confident that we could pull this off because it required no blocking, which we weren't good at anyway!</span><br />
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Game day! We knew that we could only make it work if we used it at the right time. We had to have the ball near mid-field to be able to pull it off and we had spent entire games mired deep in our own territory.<br />
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But we got lucky. We were to receive the opening kickoff and the opposing kicker kicked the ball out of bounds. We got the ball near the 40-yard line. I wasn't going to take any chances of not being able to use our secret weapon. We would run it on the second play - providing we didn't turn the ball over on the first play. We didn't.<br />
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The Cardinals executed the play perfectly. The quarterback threw a spiral to the receiver and he sprints 60+ yards to pay dirt! Not only did the Cardinals finally score, but they took a 6-0 lead!<br />
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Every Cardinal, including the ones on the bench, sprinted for the end zone to participate in the celebration. One kid even threw his helmet into the air on the sideline. The helmet nearly came down on my head! That would have been perfect. Cardinals finally scored while their coach enters the concussion protocol!!!<br />
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As the Cardinals were celebrating, I noticed the officials were huddling. Then a flag was thrown into the air. What could we have done wrong? We had worked on coming set before the snap. We made sure they knew who could and couldn't be on the line of scrimmage. It certainly looked like everyone had done their job correctly.<br />
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<span class="fullpost"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcEjSCAmxVUtSWanVAPT9xDQpVIe96mrKYzc90-C-IWW_4Qj-8GxZIBwU06KjAjhPamyiqz_h7nGOyRennBrDdfkifivhSkEm6MiO1b3-IXVrf4exGFlGl59_31BbJInklcycibvM1IQ/s1600/referee-cartoon_FBCL01392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcEjSCAmxVUtSWanVAPT9xDQpVIe96mrKYzc90-C-IWW_4Qj-8GxZIBwU06KjAjhPamyiqz_h7nGOyRennBrDdfkifivhSkEm6MiO1b3-IXVrf4exGFlGl59_31BbJInklcycibvM1IQ/s200/referee-cartoon_FBCL01392.jpg" width="187" /></a></span></div>
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The referee came over to me and told me that they had thrown a flag for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct". Just as I was getting ready to apologize for the kids behavior and tell him that they got a little too excited because it was the first time they had scored all season long, he said they were waiving off the touchdown.<br />
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When I asked him why, he told me that "trick plays weren't allowed in the Des Moines Catholic Football League". I asked him to define a "trick play". He ignored me and started to walk off the penalty from the original line of scrimmage.<br />
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Now let me suggest that the game of football is full of diversions, fakes and tricks. What we call a "play action pass" is nothing more than a fake hand off to the running back before throwing the football. Offenses have players moving in a myriad of different directions to confuse defenses.<br />
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I was furious! I walked out onto the field and asked if a fake hand off was a trick play. One of the officials told me that it was not. I asked what the difference between what we had just pulled off and the defense was and he told me that a fake hand off was a conventional football play!<br />
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What! What in the hell are you talking about!<br />
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Everyone in the stands that day knew that the Cardinals had about as much of a chance of winning the game that afternoon as they did of playing in the Super Bowl later that season. Those six points were likely to be the highlight of the season. This was about the ego of the other coaches.<br />
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So I gathered the Cardinals around me. I was crushed to see the looks on their faces as I told them what the officials had called. It was unbelievable to me that we had grown men who would steal this tiny bit of success from these kids.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGeiJQRpKACwntQjgsCUjcSOFci_IFyq2ikzV3KZ_x89ZheyW-84_Sh1B63LbMRFpCPXZ2bKj-zAkRk0xjF6F7qv8g97DcwmEy2fnrftslZfRlzWLKZ2mmnON9WQxefKmy5OfEYdNGRw/s1600/19850915StTheresaCardinals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1541" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGeiJQRpKACwntQjgsCUjcSOFci_IFyq2ikzV3KZ_x89ZheyW-84_Sh1B63LbMRFpCPXZ2bKj-zAkRk0xjF6F7qv8g97DcwmEy2fnrftslZfRlzWLKZ2mmnON9WQxefKmy5OfEYdNGRw/s400/19850915StTheresaCardinals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Theresa's Cardinals enjoying a post-game treat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="fullpost"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf9mDUG-xOOmALSCl8E2uakCuXOqwuNNgtj7bLFt9EOdhlAc4Fvv56qHcp_9sp7htSngs5ZMXVYbn9zglOZe3HvuGnQnU-LT8o-un0EeOXTXoN7-yJ51uSAVdd6bcBCh6WrVR1vxhePI/s1600/pizza-clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1200" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf9mDUG-xOOmALSCl8E2uakCuXOqwuNNgtj7bLFt9EOdhlAc4Fvv56qHcp_9sp7htSngs5ZMXVYbn9zglOZe3HvuGnQnU-LT8o-un0EeOXTXoN7-yJ51uSAVdd6bcBCh6WrVR1vxhePI/s320/pizza-clipart.jpg" width="320" /></a>I gave them permission to walk off the field that day. I'm not proud of that but I had seen disgraceful behavior by adult men and I was tired of it. The Cardinals left the field.<br />
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They returned the next two weeks to be pounded into submission for the seventh and eighth times that season. They didn't win a game that year. They didn't score a point that year. That "trick play" was as close as they got.<br />
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But they did have a helluva pizza party at the end of the year at <a href="http://scornos.com/">Scornovacca's Pizza</a> on the coach. They ate a lot of pizza. They laughed a lot. They had fun. Kinda what junior high football should be about. Unless you let adults interfere.<br />
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That was enough for me. I never coached football again.</span><br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-13603082547668471032017-11-16T15:50:00.000-06:002018-01-10T15:50:52.289-06:00November 2017 SDADA Column<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!</i><br />
<i>Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.</i><br />
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<i> -Wizard of Oz</i></div>
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Yes the "witch" is dead. Consumer Finance Protect Bureau Director Richard Cordray announced his resignation from the post by the end of November. It seems like my entire term as your NADA Director has been dotted with conflicts with Cordray and his overreaching agency.<br />
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Cordray has been on a crusade to eliminate our ability to discount interest rates for our customers ever since he took command of the most unaccountable agency in Washington. His legacy at the CFPB will be that of ruling by extortion and coercion.<br />
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I sat in a meeting in June of 2016 where he arrogantly told dealers and auto lenders that he was going to reduce our "dealer markup" (finance reserve) to a flat fee. He had no fear of retribution from anyone because he was accountable to no one!<br />
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Because of a specific exclusion for regulation of automobile dealers in the Dodd-Frank law that created the CFPB, Cordray has sought to get at dealers by overstepping its authority on regulating auto lenders since day one.<br />
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If you can't tell, I am rejoicing in this news and wishing the entire agency could die a quick death. Short of that, the best thing that can happen is for President Trump and Congress to take this opportunity to overhaul the CFPB and create some accountability.<br />
<br />I'm am now considering how to celebrate the demise of the "wicked witch". Perhaps some (amber) spirits would be in order!</span><br />
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<b>Membership has Advantages</b><br />
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Each NADA and ATD member dealership now has access to complimentary online education and training. NADA University Online is the perfect tool for:<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New-hire Training: Helps new hires learn the business and develop core skills to succeed in the retail automotive industry.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cross-training: Develops employees’ skills and explores how their roles support the dealership’s overall operation.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Career Advancement: Builds your staff from within through successful advancement opportunities and leadership training.<br />
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<i>The NADA University Online Advantage</i><br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Comprehensive Curriculum: A variety of course offerings that cover nearly all aspects of the dealership.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ultimate Convenience: Access content 24/7 from any device with high-speed internet.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Practical Knowledge: Real-world, interactive exercises to develop skills that apply to daily operations.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reinforced Learning: Interactive learning activities such as knowledge checks, simulations and assessments.<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Promotes Accountability: Testing and reporting that allows employees and managers to track training progress.<br />
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<b>Expo at NADA Show 2018 in Las Vegas is Sold Out</b><br />
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More than 500 companies occupying 700,000-plus square feet in two halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center will be exhibiting at NADA Show 2018. The show runs from Thursday, March 22, to Sunday, March 25.<br />
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In addition, the sold out Expo includes the NADA Pavilion – showcasing all of NADA’s key member services; NADA 2018 Live Stage – broadcasting real time interviews and programs; NADA Social Connection Zone – offering daily mini sessions on the best digital tools and practices; Expo Theater – featuring live Las Vegas style entertainment; and NADA’s Lifestyle Program – featuring three pavilions: Relax, Explore and Excite.<br />
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Keynote speakers are Mark Scarpelli, 2017 NADA chairman, and Nick Saban, head coach at The University of Alabama (Friday’s general session); Wes Lutz, 2018 NADA chairman-elect, and John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo LLC (Saturday’s general session); and Robert O’Neill, team leader at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Sunday’s inspirational session).<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-2805053526278136862017-09-28T11:14:00.001-05:002018-01-10T15:51:06.944-06:00September 2017 SDADA Column<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzyqXifOWcZ7OoT8BRzowJ5xROLiA4DgF35INCvkIVYpZ3T7f8DAxkDzboNLlBbVBJZtUM0Jkyp8CAoqxDu4camAEJk05iUjFmuXSLU7FC_I63Gj7dpnhaxNRyFd6JtJPAQBOwO8DebA/s1600/SDADALogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="375" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzyqXifOWcZ7OoT8BRzowJ5xROLiA4DgF35INCvkIVYpZ3T7f8DAxkDzboNLlBbVBJZtUM0Jkyp8CAoqxDu4camAEJk05iUjFmuXSLU7FC_I63Gj7dpnhaxNRyFd6JtJPAQBOwO8DebA/s320/SDADALogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
As I write this, Senator Thune and the Senate Commerce Committee are preparing legislation to advance self-driving vehicles or Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs). As dealers, our concern is that this legislation could preempt certain state laws including our South Dakota franchise law.<br />
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While Congress seeks uniform regulation of self-driving vehicles to avoid a state patchwork that would hamper deployment of these vehicles, Congress must also ensure that the states’ traditional role to regulate motor vehicle commerce within its borders is preserved as applied to self-driving vehicles.<br />
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On Sept. 6, the House approved H.R. 3388, the “SELF DRIVE Act” by voice vote. Bipartisan language to clarify that Congress does not intend to preempt state vehicle licensing/franchise laws as applied to self-driving vehicles was included in the bill.<br />
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The Senate Commerce Committee must ensure that their legislation explicitly preserves state vehicle licensing and franchise laws as well. Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will have crossed this threshold without incident.<br />
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NADA will be watching to ensure state laws are protected!<br />
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<b>Washington Conference</b><br />
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In September, I was once again part of the South Dakota delegation (with Jim Burgess, Dutch Van Santen, Myron Rau, and NextGen delegate Karris McKie-Kaiser) to the NADA Washington Conference. Thanks to each of them for taking time to go to DC to represent South Dakota's dealers. I'm always proud to be part of this delegation.<br />
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We are very fortunate to have two Senators (Thune and Rounds) and a Congresswoman (Noem) who understand and support small business issues. I can assure you that this is not universal. As I visit with directors from others states, they are increasingly frustrated with their representation and how Washington works (or doesn't work!).<br />
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I have enjoyed my two years as NADA Legislative Affairs Chairman. The Washington Conference is the pinnacle of that committee's work. When we have 200+ dealers take to the Hill to make 350+ visits, it definitely moves the needle for the nation's dealers.<br />
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NADA has the best legislative team of ANY trade organization in Washington. It has been a true pleasure to serve with and learn from them the past two years. I can assure all South Dakota dealers that our interests are well represented by these professionals.<br />
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<b>Keynote Speakers Announced for NADA Show 2018 in Las Vegas</b><br />
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NADA Show 2018 returns to Las Vegas for four days running from Thursday, March 22, to Sunday, March 25.<br />
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Keynote speakers are Mark Scarpelli, 2017 NADA chairman, and Nick Saban, head coach at The University of Alabama (Friday’s general session); Wes Lutz, 2017 NADA vice chairman, and John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo LLC (Saturday’s general session); and Robert O’Neill, team leader at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Sunday’s inspirational session).<br />
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Online registration for dealers and their managers, which includes an early-bird discount and hotel selection, opens Oct. 2, 2017. The early-bird registration discount ends Nov. 17, 2017. I encourage you to make plans now! Learn more at <a href="http://www.nadashow.org/">www.nadashow.org</a>.</span>Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832004007834885633.post-78453751031767579392017-09-01T11:42:00.000-05:002018-01-10T15:51:28.026-06:00You Scratch my BackOur last family pet, Repo, an English Springer Spaniel, had this annoying habit of picking up the gray landscape rocks around our house and carrying them out into the middle of the yard and dropping them. Of course, this made mowing the yard hazardous because those rocks became missiles when the mower ran over one of them.<br />
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We had rocks go through two different windows and the homeowners insurance carrier even threatened to drop us because of that (don't even get me started on that!).<br />
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I had never really watched Repo long enough to understand why he would do such a stupid thing. I attributed it to his constant need for something in his mouth.<br />
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One day, after returning from a productive day afield, we were cleaning pheasants out in the yard and one of my fellow hunters was watching Repo take a rock from near the house out to the middle of the yard. He asked me about that habit and I dropped a few choice words indicating my disapproval of the habit and went back to the ringneck at hand.<br />
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Shortly thereafter, he was marveling at what a smart dog Repo was. I suggested that he might have gotten into the barley pop a bit early. He pointed out that Repo was rolling on the rock he had deposited in the yard, scratching his back blissfully.<br />
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As I watched, it was true. I walked over, grabbed the rock and deposited it next to the house in its intended spot.<br />
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A few minutes later, Repo had snatched another rock and was laying on his back, squirming away, driving the rock between the shoulders blades, where apparently, the itch was just too much to handle.<br />
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Learning the reason behind the annoying habit didn't make me like it any better - but at least I understood!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">"This one should REALLY do the trick!"<br />
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Doug Knusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298363208828442928noreply@blogger.com1