The Brief on Brief Research

We’ve all been there–typically at about 2 or 3 in the morning before a big paper is due–and it’s never been a whole lot of fun. It’s the final polishing step in putting your thesis, term paper, position paper, whatever: citing the references and citing them correcting. At one time, it was done, rather tediously …

Anchors Away

Do we really need news anchors anymore?  Is it a position that is no longer required, given the multiplicity of news sources and the sheer velocity of information that is readily available? New York Magazine  thinks the position needs re-thinking. Many media critics would take the position that today’s anchorman is more news reader than news reporter (perhaps …

One Last Class Act

This past weekend, the final gesture in the amazing life of University of North Carolina basketball Coach Dean Smith was revealed. Smith–who always thought first about others–gave one last gift to the on-court family he had nurtured, coached, pushed, developed, and lead to two National Championships at UNC. The executors of his estate sent to each …

A Little Birdie Told Me

Paying Attention: Today it starts: the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Arguably the biggest collegiate sports event of the year. The top 64 teams in the country (as picked by a selection committee and performance in conference championships) will take the floor to begin the dance that is the NCAA Championship. Just getting into one of …

What Is a Coach?

Sports Illustrated’s cover shot of Coach Dean Smith, when he was named Sportsman of the Year. (C) Time Inc/Sports Illustrated. A terrific shot and an equally terrific article. Please read the cover story article which is linked here and listed in the ClickPak .   Paying Attention: Coach Dean Edward Smith died on February 7th, …

The Second Annual Winter Film Festival: The Secret Turn of Ted Ligety

Ted Ligety is a specialist: he is, arguably, the greatest giant slalom racer of our time.   The Giant Slalom (“GS”) is a unique skiing event, combining the ability carry speed like a downhiller and run gates like a slalom racer, but at much higher speeds. When properly executed, as on the World Cup tour, the …

The Second Annual Winter Film Festival: Bode Miller Profile

Bode Miller crashed out of the World Championships at Vail/Beaver Creek but his career could be over after a horrendous crash in the Super G that severed his hamstring tendon. Mille had the surgery to repair the injury in Vail at     He is the winningest skier in U.S. History with six Olympic Medals …

The Second Annual Winter Film F estival: Herman Maier Runs the Downhill

Herman Maier is one of history’s great ski competitors. He has won 4 overall World Cup titles, a pair of Olympic Gold Medals (in 1998), 54 World Cup Races and three World Championships. Known as “The Herminator”(one of the all-time great sports nicknames and obviously derived from fellow Austrian  Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character “The Terminator”), Maier is a …

The Second Annual Winter Film Festival: Tempting Fear

Tempting Fear is a piece of dangerous art. The film, sponsored by Salomon (almost everyone who skis has skied on Salomon gear), follows extreme skier Andreas Fransson. Extreme skiing is dangerous. Backcountry skiing is dangerous. Skiing off-piste is dangerous. Skiing the trees is dangerous. Skiing is a dangerous sport (all the more reason to be …