Tiger and Stuff

Don Grose
" Sometimes he wonders - where his wandering will lead
Sometimes he ponders - just how much of what he wants he needs"

Moments of clarity so frequently follow - doubt, concern despair.

His eyes are fixed on where the skyline meets the ocean
drawn to where the ripples rub the pebbled shore
Everything so ordered, rhythmic, timed , predicted -
Expecting to decipher what it is that lies in store.

Looking for direction, questions deep within his soul
He's got it all, or so it seems to those who know him,
But there's so much he can't know..

Moments of clarity so frequently follow - doubt concern despair.

Fields of grasses, bending uniform in breezes...
rich in green and warm, soothing in their endless flow.
darting finches, taking perch on weathered fenceposts,
singing songs that only feathered finches crow.

Sometimes he wonders.."

There's a really nice little guitar lick that ends that song - and
hopefully someday you'll trip upon a copy of the CD, "Just Another Diet That
Didn't Work Very Well" ( or whatever I called it ) and you'll enjoy it.
But enough.

I really, truly, admire people who create...people who have that wonderful ability to
take an idea, a concept, inspiration, and turn it into something uniquely theirs that
others can enjoy.
We had friends over a couple of weeks ago and Sandy had mentioned a calendar that
Charlene had hanging in the kitchen. She mentioned that the pictures were pretty enough
to be framed by themselves...funny thing...I'd always liked the calendar, I'd often
looked over from the dining table and just looked at the picture no concern whatsoever
for the date - and just looked. The picture that's there right now is of a vase, containing
a single large flower, on a table, with a picture on the wall behind. The colors are warm,
there's a lot of openness to the picture, it's very uncomplicated. I'd never given it a lot
of thought but I'm attracted, I think, by it's simplicity , it's lack of pretense and it's
warmth.
The Super Bowl is about to start...Everyone seems to be picking the Steelers - they are solid..
frankly, I don't think you can be disappointed with either winner. Both teams have paid their
dues to get there...Both teams coaches are admirable people, both starting quarterbacks
appear team leaders that can be respected, and both teams appear to understand the "team
concept." Go Steelers - or Seahawks - should be a good game and I won't be at all surprised
if Seattle has one more win in them.
Now to golf...did you see the end of the Dubai Desert Golf Classic ? Tiger's second consecutive
tournament win...in two starts this season. Do I detect a new look of confidence ? Do I detect
a look that says, " I will not be denied." I have a feeling that the golf fraternity is in for
a PGA Tour season unlike any that has gone before. It's no great secret that Tiger has been
once again re-working his swing. While many questioned him, Tiger has taken his record tracking
technique, driver through putter, and put it to the anvil. Last year he seemed to be coming around - but he had yet to achieve what he was seeking - and that in my mind is perfection.
He'll never find pefection - but that will keep him looking - and in the meantime I think what
we can expect to see is Tiger's Career Accomplishment Chart somewhat like a roller coaster.
He'll absolutely dominate for a season or two - and then he'll go back to the drawing board -
to iron out wrinkles that others haven't even yet found. He'll seek answers to questions that
no one else has ever thought of much less asked. In the meantime, I think Tiger may establish
a high water mark for success in a PGA Tour Season unequalled even by the likes of Jack
Nicklaus. I just have a feeling.
It's kind of like the Steve Nash TV Promo where the NBA's reigning MVP says something to the
effect that excellence is the result of knowing the importance of relishing your victories and
superior performances - and then going out to practise.
The Super Bowl has started. I don't think I'll watch it..but I will listen to it. TV's a great
sports medium, but the players all became way too ordinary when they moved from Radio to TV.
A good play by play man and a transister radio, car radio, or set of headphones is far
more intoxicating way to savor sports...check that...curling and golf are a challenge on
radio...but football, baseball, basketball and hockey...radio..that's where they belong.

Advertising Tip for a Monday ( on a Sunday )

This actually happened very recently - again..and anyone in advertising upon reading this will
say..yep..happens all the time....and the sad part of it is...most advertising people will
feel pressure to surrender to the old " the customer is always right" and let the customer have
his way...and no one wins...the salesman gets the sale, the client gets the satisfaction of
having pushed someone around and " shown him a thing or two" and his ad campaign runs -
and is ineffective.
Obviously in radio - the sound of the commercial is important. The sound of the commercial
has to be consistent with the message. If the commercial is warning the consumer that
something undesirable is about to happen unless they take the steps you are recommending -
then the commercial should not sound like a day at the carnival with sunshine and cotton candy
and little girls with pigtails and all kinds of laughter.
What I'm talking about is very closely connected to the last Advertising Tip I included.
With few exceptions, business managers and owners should not be permitted to drive their own
advertising buses. The smart ones, pay people, or find people they trust sufficiently, and
let them look after it..make them accountable, mind you, agree on what's expected, and then
let the people who understand advertising, provide you with the return on investment.
Business owners and managers are too easily tricked into thinking that what they like is what's
best for them .They don't understand that often they may not like the most appropriate way to communicate the most appropriate message(s) to the most appropriate potential customer, with the most effective vehicles.
The Tip--DO NOT CONFUSE WHAT YOU LIKE (or what you want ) with the best way to get the job done. Please.

"Sex and golf are the only two things you need not be good at to enjoy..."
Jimmy Demaret

Happy Trials...