In one of my previous jobs, I worked alongside a guy named Al. A hopeless know-it-all, he tended to opine in an ex cathedra manner; his was to speak, and yours was to listen. He brooked no disagreement on any subject. As a result, we tangled a...
I used to get an annual checkup from Dr. Michael Williams at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. After scanning the various diplomas and certificates on his wall, I realized that he was a graduate of Baylor University. That was enough to spark a...
Nowadays, most jocks and ex-jocks give only the blandest of quotes, knowing that if they reveal their honest thoughts then problems will ensue. Thus, I and undoubtedly many others were intrigued to read what Reggie Jackson told a Sports...
As the title indicates, I spent nine days traveling to, visiting and returning from the country of my birth. I thought it might be of some value—if not comic relief—to compose a summary, and now I will proceed to do just that...
In early 2009, when I moved into my apartment in Seoul’s Gangnam District, I had a bit of self-directed advice: “Don’t let this drive you crazy.” The environment is quite different from that where I had lived (in two...
I remember Jerry Sandusky when he was famous for coaching football. There seemed to be a consensus that Penn State’s defensive coordinator was a fine coach. Surely it was just a matter of time before he took over for Joe Paterno or got a...
Reading, in my opinion, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Because I am almost insatiably curious, I read a lot, whether it is text on a computer screen, newspapers, magazines or books. This does not mean, however, that everything I...
More than two decades ago, I worked as a proofreader/editor at G&S Typesetters, a company involved in the publication of scholarly books. One of my colleagues was a short and stout female by the name of Adrienne. I was reminded of her by...
My maternal grandfather, William Adair Cox (“Grandpop”), used to take me and my brothers to various events in and around downtown Dallas. One of them was the running of the Soap Box Derby. For those unfamiliar with the Derby, I...
I came across a lot of interesting stories during the research and writing of my 1998 book Longhorn Hoops / The History of Texas Basketball. Some were curious, some were amusing, and some begged for more attention. In the latter category I...
Long ago, even back when I was in high school, I had no qualms about corresponding with other writers. It began with letters to the editor, a section of the newspaper at which veteran journalists scoffed. Maybe they did not care what the...
I recently finished a 392-page biography of Leroy “Satchel” Paige, a man whose professional pitching career started in 1926 (during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge) and ended 40 years later (Lyndon B. Johnson). First, about...
AncoraThemes © 2025. All Rights Reserved
