A Shooting Star

Back in May, Barb and I were excited to make the drive to the Kansas City area to pick up a new addition to our Chihuahua group. After the pandemic pause, and the fact that we didn't really have any dogs suitable for showing anymore, Barb had indicated to our breeder friend Kathy Hulstein, of Sioux Center, Iowa that we would be interested in one of a litter of puppies that she was expecting. 

Kathy has the resources to go beyond the normal selection process when it comes to breeding matches. So she had acquired some Chihuahua stock from a line in Russia that was beginning to produce for her. The Russian line tends to have a bit of a different look, and features a sturdiness to the body that we rarely see in the U.S. When Kathy's latest match produced puppies in March, she informed Barb that there was a female in the group that she was willing to send our way. When we saw the puppy photos, Kathy didn't have to do much sales work.

When we picked up this little girl, it was love at first sight. We kicked around a number of different names that we thought might work given her Russian background. We settled on Sacha....(Sah-shuh) Many people of eastern European heritage use Sacha, as a unisex nickname or given name. Often it is a nickname for Alexander, Alexandra, or Alexa. The AKC registration name for the tiny one would be Victory Sacha Joy at Wee Scotch. Victory-for Kathy's kennel designation...and Wee Scotch for our kennel. Sacha Joy...get it? 

This mostly black with white markings little one fit into our group at home right away, after a short "get acquainted and comfortable" period. We quickly realized that she was constucted a bit differently than our other Chi friends. She was also more quiet..and wouldn't bark at just anything like the others. She grew quickly to be the most sturdily-built Chihuahua that we had ever had in our group. Like most puppies, she was curious, adventurous, and anxious to explore and learn about the world she was in. 

Beginning in July, Barb started working with her as a show dog. She went to some training classes put on by the Jefferson County (MO) Kennel Club in Arnold. This was not her favorite activity. But, after a while, she grew less nervous, and started to come around to the behaviors important to performing well in the show ring. Barb did some patient work with her in our open driveway area at the house as well. 

Barb then entered Sacha in some late Summer/early Fall all-breed shows at the Purina Event Center in Gray Summit, MO. This happened as soon as she became eligible to show at 4-6 months old. The little one did OK...but not great. It seemed she also would have to fight the battle that dark-colored Chihuahuas face. Show judges seem to prefer light-colored Chis even though there is no standard in the breed that indicates they should. To us, it seems there's a prejudice there that the dark-colored animals have working against them. But, to us the show experience is almost more of a social event than something to get all competitive about anyway. 

The plan for Sacha was to have some fun showing her, hopefully develop her show ring skills to the point of acquiring her AKC championship, and then perhaps pair her up with a boyfriend to produce some puppies and a legacy for her, us, and Kathy's venture into Russian breeding.

All of that seemed in order until Thursday, Barb's birthday. 

Sacha had occasionally threw up at night. We didn't think that unusual as puppies tend to do that until their systems mature. But Thursday she began to throw up more frequently to the point of Barb scheduling a vet appointment for Friday morning. But Thursday night, as we were trying to sleep, the little girl started throwing up or retching every 10 or 15 minutes. Barb suggested we get up and take her to Veterinary Specialty Services, a 24/7 emergency clinic that we are lucky to have nearby in Manchester, MO. So at around 2am we packed up Sacha for the trip just to be sure nothing major was amiss. Little did we know it would be something very major.

Without going into all the details, the doctors determined that Sacha had developed a blood clot in her intestines that was creating a blockage. What caused the problem? The vets had no explanation except that it was probably some sort of unknown blood disorder. We were asked if we wanted to have surgery performed to take out the clot and that part of her intestine that was dying because of it. Of course, we did. The doctors kept us informed every step of the way as the surgery was being performed. And, at one point, it seemed like she would come through and be fine after a few days at the animal hospital. It would be a costly, and scary, time for a while. But we would get through it.   

But then came the awful news in another call that she had thrown a blood clot that went to her brain and stopped her breathing. As you might guess, we were devastated that our little star was not going to come home. The vets said they would keep her alive artificially until Barb and I could make the 45 minute drive to VSS to say our goodbyes. Sacha had come into our lives only a little over four months ago...taken hold of our hearts...and now was gone. It all seemed so unreal...and unfair.

Obviously, I can't write a happy ending to this story. I wish I could. This should not happen to precious little animals who are so loved and cherished. This should not happen to people like us who so fiercely love our little Chihuahua friends. But, as this episode in our lives makes so abundantly clear, there are no guarantees in life. And we must learn to treat each day with people and animals we love as a special blessing...and not take for granted that they will be with us the next day. 

Sacha's legacy is that for us...every day, every person, every special little friend will be loved each day to the max. She was Sacha joy! Our only consolation is that we did the best we could for this little star who shone very bright for us, but for a much too short time. Run and play in heaven little Sacha until we meet again. 

Bright Hockey Future

In recent days I have thought a lot about how far St. Louis has come with its hockey presence in the world since I became involved with the Blues. I started thinking about it while working the PA for the PWHPA (Profession Women's Hockey Players Association) Dream Gap Tour games that were played May 16 & 17 at Centene and Enterprise. 

Those rosters were dominated by women from the northern U.S., but Jincy Dunne, who played for Ohio State and the women's national team, represented O'Fallon, MO. And goaltender Alex Cavallini has relocated to St. Louis to work with her goaltending coach. Not all that long ago, women's hockey was barely a blip on the sports radar. Now, with good reason, it has advanced to the point of being thought of as a viable professional-level sports offering. And you can bet that St. Louis girls will become prominent as women in this sport before long. 

In taking a brief survey of the extended rosters of the 31 NHL teams, I found not only the obvious names connected to St. Louis but several I was not aware of who are under contract. I might have missed a few. For that I apologize in advance. But here are the players who have obvious connections to St. Louis and youth hockey in our region-- 

Columbus- Josh Dunne, Ryan MacInnis / Dallas- Ben Bishop / Detroit- Chase Bradley / Nashville- Luke Kunin / Tampa- Jack Finley, Pat Maroon, McKade Webster / Arizona- Clayton Keller / Minnesota- Dakota Mermis / Blues- Luke Opilka / Boston-Trent Frederic / Islanders- Scott Mayfield / Rangers- Austin Rueschhoff / Calgary- Matthew Tkachuk / Ottawa- Brady Tkachuk / Toronto- Joseph Woll / Winnipeg- Adam Lowry (born here-raised in Calgary), Paul Stastny 

When I started with the Blues in 1987 the NHL was totally dominated by Canadians. There were a few U.S.-born players around and a few Europeans. Having someone at the professional level from anywhere south of Chicago was extremely rare. Now we have high-level pros who call sunbelt cities their hometown including Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was born in California but grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona watching Coyotes games.  

Combine the existence of more ice sheets that have previously not existed and the early efforts of Blues alumni and other dedicated mentors who have worked to grow the sport in recent decades, and you have the answer to the question..."why have so many St. Louis kids hit the professional level in the last several years?" By adding Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights and Maryville Hockey Center in Chesterfield to the mix in recent years the growth among our area youth will likely explode to even greater heights.

We also have several area colleges and universities dressing high-level teams in the sport giving local players the opportunity to grow with the sport as they continue their education. This also exposes the sport to many people through their connections to these schools.  

A few years ago the Blues began calling our region The Heartland of Hockey. It's obvious that this is becoming more true with every passing day. As I head into the latter years of my life, I surely don't have to worry about the growth of the sport of ice hockey in the St. Louis region in what's left of the 21st century.  

Pujols Return Not in the Cards

So it appears the 10-year deal that Albert signed with the Angels wasn't all that heavenly for them as it draws to a close. We kinda thought they might regret it at the time. Albert Pujols, who provided so many wonderful and amazing thrills for Cardinals fans in his earlier days, is to be out on the open market. That is, unless he somehow is claimed off waivers. 

Many fans of the Redbirds will be clamoring for the team to sign Albert back to finish out his career in St. Louis. While that sounds like a fine idea on the surface for sentimental reasons, I think some other, more business-related factors, will get in the way. And that's probably a good thing for the Cardinals team make-up. 

I can't imagine any National League team being all that interested. Albert hasn't been hitting like the Albert of old...or even close...and having him take up a spot on a Cardinals roster without the designated hitter in place just doesn't seem practical. Where would he play? The Cardinals have highly-paid stars at the two positions that seem to make any sense...third and first base. Albert as a once-in-a-while pinch hitter? Doesn't seem like the way he would want to go out. And he has said he wants regular playing time. One of the reasons the Angels cut him loose was because he wasn't being used enough to satisfy his urge to play. Some AL team might like to take a chance and see if he has anything left in the tank as a DH. But he may not want that either. He might hang up the spikes. 

Albert had a great return to Busch Stadium in June of 2019, just after the Blues had won the Stanley Cup. It was great!!! An emotional night with hugs all around and huge ovations for Albert when he came to the plate. Most everyone thought that this would be his St. Louis swan song. Let it be that. He will be welcomed back in St. Louis to get his red jacket some day. Sounds like now that day is much closer than it was yesterday. 

#1 in Our Hearts

 After learning of the passing of Bobby Plager, I thought sitting down and writing a tribute would make me feel better. I hope by the end of this I do. Because hearing of his passing in an automobile accident was like taking a Plager-brothers punch to the diaphragm. You don't get over that very quickly.  

Let me be clear, as much time as I have spent at Blues hockey games since the late 80's, I didn't encounter Bobby nearly as much as I would have liked. But when I did, it was always "smile time". He either had a joke to tell or a story that would light up your day. Getting to see him enjoy the Stanley Cup parade and celebration, and all that went with it, in 2019 will be how I choose to remember him. So, with that in mind, let me tell you a story that I think he would approve. 

Robert Bryant Plager was a very good hockey player for 14 years in the NHL. But it's my belief that his influence and impact on the sport, particularly in St. Louis, is not fully understood. I believe this because of an experience I had in 2008 north of the border. 

In January of 2007 the Blues management surprised me with an on-ice ceremony prior to a Detroit Red Wings game to recognize my 20-year anniversary as the team PA announcer. My wife Barb was invited onto the ice as John Davidson (then President) and Dallas Drake (then Captain) presented me with a few gifts to commemorate the occasion. One of the gifts was a chance to fly on the team charter to anywhere the team would play in the next season. Barb was invited to come along. 

We decided that a trip to Toronto and the chance to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame would be a great idea. It also happened to coincide with our 30th wedding anniversary in January of 2008. So off to Toronto it would be. But let's get back to Bobby. 

The day before the game we were already in Toronto and had a chance to look around the city. Bernie Federko, already a HOFer, was kind enough to get us passes to the Hall of Fame...which is awesome by the way. Kelly Chase recommended a great steak house not far from the team hotel. It wasn't cheap...but it was worth every penny. As we approached the hotel on our walk back from dinner I said to Barb..."I wonder what's going on at the hotel?" "Why?"...she said. "Because there's a big crowd creating a commotion in the lobby for some reason." 

It turned out the reason was Mr. Bobby Plager. 

Bobby had taken some time to travel back to his home area knowing that the Blues would be in town. Bobby's home town is Kirkland Lake, Ontario in the northeastern part of the province. It's not really that close to Toronto, but believe me, the folks from around Toronto know him very well. There must have been a hundred or so people crowded around him in that hotel lobby as he held court. He told stories...most of them family-friendly it seemed...signed autographs, and generally made the crowd happy. I'm sure some were there to catch a glimpse of some of the Blues players. But Bobby was a rock star to that group on that night. You know Bobby...he was just happy to be around hockey people and talk up the Blues. You might have confused him for Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky based on the excited behavior of that crowd. I was amazed, and saw our Mr. Plager in a whole new light. 

So to those who think that Bobby was just a St. Louis phenomenon...think again. Hockey fans in Toronto on that night were as thrilled to be around him as we always have been in St. Louis. The Blues organization definitely did the right thing in retiring his number and raising his jersey to the rafters at Enterprise Center...as if there should be any doubt. The hockey world knew all about Bobby Plager. I would hope there's a place in that Toronto Hall for him some day.  

So...that's my Bobby Plager story. Oh there are others, but this one I thought might give him the hockey-world respect he so rightfully deserves. 

I don't feel any better about losing our good friend after writing this. I guess I knew I wouldn't. We all loved him so much....because he always loved us first. Rest In Peace Bob. And we know you'll enjoy those crowds around you in hockey heaven. 

The Passing of a Radio Superstar

-My thoughts upon hearing of the passing of Rush Limbaugh immediately went to a day in the mid-90s. I was working at Belleville station WIBV in the days before Tim Dorsey brought all of the KMOX folks aboard. I was working mornings and also serving as Program Director. The station had become a "minor player with some oomph" in the market with a talk format mostly geared to the Metro-East because of the station's funky AM night-time signal.

In a meeting with our GM at the time, Bill Kniesly, we discussed that the Rush Limbaugh show was available to St. Louis market stations. We agreed to give it a listen to see if we thought it would fly in this market. Rush already had a reputation for being somewhat outlandish and we weren't sure if our listeners could handle him.

I got the satellite coordinates and dialed up his show for an audition. I had not ever heard Rush before. After listening to the first hour of his show that day, I went in to get Bill. I told him..."You have to hear this. And we have to carry this show." I had no interest in, and really didn't care about, the political position presented at that time. I just told him that it was the most well-produced and entertaining radio talk show I had ever heard. There was a laugh every few minutes...some politically-based...some not. It was a talk show that sounded a lot like an old DJ-based show because of the production values. He had a music bed for all of his regular features...Clarence "Frogman" Henry and "Ain't Got No Home" for the Homeless Update comes to mind.

We signed a contract and carried it for several years until the call came one day that Rush, and his EIB network, had made a deal with KMOX. That was astonishing to us as KMOX had promoted itself in the years before as having all "locally-produced" programming in a shot at syndicated shows. Rush broke that ice.

Rush, having grown up in Cape Girardeau, knew very well how KMOX was the "big dog" in the St. Louis market. It was about this time (in my humble opinion) that Rush's show changed from a fun 3-hours to one of mostly politics spiced up with his catch-phrases and political rants.

One thing is for certain Rush, and a few others, have dominated network radio and have kept AM radio on the map for the early part of the 21st century. Who fills that void? It will be interesting to see if anyone can. RIP to Rush Limbaugh - a radio legend.

The Media Conundrum

Let's see if I have this right. 

When someone (let's call him John) posts an outrageous, hurtful, obviously crazy, tastelessly vulgar, or over-the-top political statement on social media, often John will be unfollowed or unfriended by the person receiving it. That is unless the person receiving it has a really good reason for remaining friends with John. (Business connection/family/neighbor etc.) Am I on track so far? 

If that's true, John will, over time, lose many of the friends/followers who aren't interested in John's ideas, political position, or poor attempts at humor. So, in effect, John eventually is reduced to trying to be funny for, or influence the thinking of, all of the people who are of the same set of beliefs as his. Preaching to the choir etc. So, then John would be posting for his own gratification and a relatively small number of others who "like" his posts. Or, at least, smaller than John thinks or would like.   

But, if John has enough friends/followers who buy what he is selling on social, then there's value in being an "influencer" of those people, however many there may be. What, then, becomes the value of a John post? Not much to John...but to some other entity that wants to appeal to John's group. 

John has acquired the ability to channel a smallish group of people to another website/platform etc. that is interested in promoting something. That could be a product or service...but often it's beliefs. People of the same set of beliefs, likes and dislikes, tend to be "funneled" to platforms that solidify their own ideas or wants and would like to inspire them to act in some way. Sometimes that can be good when someone is looking to purchase a particular product...or connect with a group of old friends. But it also is used for the promotion of sinister ideas and activities. And there is very little regulation of this mechanism.  

This phenomenon begins to mirror what is going on with today's mass media. People watch the news channel or network that reflects their own beliefs about right and wrong, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, radical or moderate and so on. The channel or network has ratings and surveys that tell them who is watching and why. They feed their beast by presenting news and commentary slanted toward their viewer base. The viewer base grows or declines depending on how well their particular animal is fed. 

So...the social media funnel works to separate us all into groups of like-minded people. While the networks and cable/satellite channels are in the business of the same and taking advantage of those different groups. 

Is it any wonder that our country is so horribly divided on so many things these days? All of the devices in our hands, on our desks, and in our living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms are in the business of promoting ideas that cause us to dislike one another, and be segregated, for any number of reasons....unless you religiously watch the Hallmark channel and ignore your smartphone. 

Somehow we must understand that we are being channeled into groups of people that are unlike one another on purpose. It's a natural effect of the way social media and mass media are currently making money. And they won't change unless they no longer make money at it. 

We must fight the urge to be manipulated and influenced in this way! Believe what you want...but also have kindness and compassion for fellow humans...no matter how they look, how they act, where they live, or what they believe. Not part-time...but always.  

My thoughts here won't influence many. But if enough of us choose love over hate, common decency over radical ideas, acts of kindness over acts of destruction, and refuse to be manipulated by mass or social media, we will come out of the current dark tunnel of hateful pressure into a new light on the other side. I believe our future as a country seen as the world's beacon of democracy depends on it. 

Thanks for reading.

The Man

 -On the occasion of his 100th birthday, I thought it appropriate to remind as many people as possible what kind of person "The Man", Stanley Frank Musial, was. Especially in the often bitter and rancorous climate of today's world, he can provide a model of how one should approach life among others. 

He was dubbed "The Perfect Knight" upon his retirement in 1963. Why? Let's examine the ways that he endeared himself to the world.  

• Beside being one of the greatest players to ever walk onto a baseball diamond, he met everyone with a smile and treated them with respect. 
• His graceful movements on the playing field were only exceeded by his innate grace off of it. 
• The accounts of his welcoming efforts to players of color, at a time when it took great courage to do so, are well-documented. 
• He was a devoted family man who was married to wife Lil for over 70 years. 
• A shrewd businessman, he was Cardinals GM for a time and famously operated Musial and Biggies restaurant where it was cool "to be seen". 
• He rose from humble beginnings (working summer jobs during the off-season early in his career) to great fame and some fortune...but always remained humble and approachable.
• Former teammates, stadium-workers, family, friends and acquaintances gush about Stan and how he loved life every day. They say he never turned down an autograph-seeker or someone who wanted a photo with him. And he always had his harmonica ready to favor a crowd with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".  

How many people have lived a long life after which not a single person can come up with something bad to say about them? This is true with Musial. No tell-all books here. Also notice that his baseball accomplishments, which are truly some of the greatest of all-time, are not the focus here.  

Sadly, it seems being a "good guy" has gone out of favor in 2020. If only those in powerful positions in America could be wise enough to understand the kind of person people love to follow. If only our young people, who find it easy to be critical of others in our social media-driven climate, would study a person of such dignity. I believe Musial 101 should be a core-curriculum course at all colleges and universities. And, that is no joke. 

I truly believe that this man of baseball, who was my hero as a boy and example as a man, could show us all the way to live an honorable life, even though he's gone. The Musial statue outside Busch Stadium could not possibly be made large enough. 

Post-Election Thoughts

 As of today, there will apparently be a new administration occupying the White House for the next four years. This post is not to celebrate, or denigrate, what the nation's voters have decided. If you are hoping for someone to validate your political position, this is not the place. 

For the entirety of my adult life I have chosen to be as ambiguous as possible regarding political leanings. For someone who studied journalism, and decided early in life to make broadcasting a career, I felt it served no purpose to advertise political preferences. Obviously, some in the broadcasting business, over the last number of years, have made a lot of money doing just that. Perhaps my choice was a bad one. But I have always felt that any broadcaster worth their salt should do his or her level best to respect all of the audience by presenting both sides of any issue. That is the ground I chose to stand on. And it has served me well. 

I am not a young man anymore. I have seen politics take on many different colors going back to my earliest exposure to it in the 1960 presidential race between Kennedy and Nixon. Through the tumultuous 60's, and on to today I have experienced many elections and gone back and forth from party to party for most of them. You might say that makes me wishy-washy, or milquetoast. Perhaps that's true. I choose to think of it as being able to make the right decision at the right time...unclouded by ideology or political positioning handed to me by my parents...my friends...or anyone else. 

With this election effectively in the rear-view mirror, I have seen many of my friends on social media...because that is the town hall of today...espouse many crazy notions in an effort to prove their thinking is correct, and their candidate the chosen one. I have been amused by most of it...and also disgusted at the length to which some will go to make a point. Anyone who thinks they might fit into the latter category, please give special attention to the next paragraph. 

If you have viewed this election through blue or red-colored glasses and not given any regard to someone who may be on the other side of the fence, I urge you to come back to the middle of the playing field. I am not sure who first put out this thought...but it's one of my favorites. The most intelligent among us possess the urge to challenge what they know to be true. 

With that thought in mind, I would urge everyone to give more than an ounce of thought to adding other colors to the way you view the world. Our nation is made up of many different ethnicities, lifestyles, income levels, needs, wants, and situations. Living in the United States...and just being called a U.S. citizen...is a wonderful gift to any human. Any one of us could have been born into poverty, unhealthy surroundings, political or social oppression, in another less-free country. We are all fortunate to be able to espouse our political thoughts, and support them vigorously, without being put in jail or executed as might be the case in another country.

My sincere hope is that we all will be able to come together to beat the virus, return to our previous lives, enjoy the company of our friends and family up close, and be a nation less-divided in the coming months and years. I want that for my family of today and years to come. But that will require all of us to challenge, however small the effort, what we know to be true. 
  

Another 2020 Gut Punch

 As I mentioned in a Facebook post, when you have a dog, or in our case dogs, you have to realize that you will experience great joy with their presence, but also awful heartache when they come to the end of their days. Barb and I have now experienced the latter twice in this horrible year. 

As most close to us know, we began the hobby of raising and showing Chihuahuas at AKC regional dog shows a little over 10 years ago. Our first show-quality dog, Woody, came down with a fatal case of stomach cancer in March and we had to relieve him of his agony.

Yesterday (10/28/20) started like any other day for us with our oldest female Blanca helping to wake us up. Since Woody left us, Blanca was our only dog to sleep in our bed. When we began stirring in the morning she would come nudge us and lick our faces to get us moving. After that, the morning routine included her barking and snarling at our four other dogs who sleep in kennels in our bedroom. She would fiercely protect her territory. Then off to potty time outside and doggy breakfast. Another day, same routine. But it would all drastically change without any warning. 

A little background -- We relied on the expertise and breeding skills of Gayle Essex in our early days of acquiring dogs for show. Gayle is a well-known and respected breeder who lived in Iowa a few hours north of Kansas City. Woody was a product of her kennel. So, when we realized it was time to acquire a female for starting our own breeding line, we called again on Gayle. She had several potential females for us to consider back in 2010 so we arranged a meeting along I-29 north of St. Joseph in northwest Missouri to look over the dogs she was making available. 

When we began working with Woody at the Belle-City Kennel Club in Belleville to show him the ropes of the dog show routine, he wasn't that interested. He was timid and didn't really enjoy the whole experience. Some dogs seem to like it. Others not so much. Barb and I thought that our guy was just not feisty enough, or confident enough, to take charge in the ring. So we were looking for a female with more self-assured qualities. 

When we met Gayle she brought out several female puppies who all looked great. But there was one in the group who seemed to have a "take charge" attitude. She didn't want the others to mess with her and she let them know it. I called Barb aside to discuss the situation and suggested that this was the dog that we wanted because of her coloring...but more so because of her attitude. We brought Woody along to meet his potential new friend, but he wasn't picky. We thought that spunk was the ticket if she was going to be bred with our boy back at home. So we decided on "little miss attitude". We decided to name her Blanca because of her mostly white coat.  

Rather than drive home after our meeting, we decided to stay the night in a hotel along the interstate. Memory doesn't serve on which hotel it was. But we couldn't determine if it was pet friendly before booking our room. So we did our best to not advertise that we had two little dogs in our room with us that night. Unfortunately, the attitude was on display fairly regularly during the evening and overnight. Blanca would occasionally bark at noises, and at Woody. But we made it through the night without being asked to leave by management. 

After some training and a few shows it became fairly obvious that Blanca wasn't going to be the show-dog star that we hoped for. She also had a few issues that judges weren't that happy about. For one, she had what is known in the show-dog world as a "snow nose". The coloring of most dogs does not extend into the black of their nose. Blanca's did. And so her nose was not as black as it is supposed to be. She also had confidence issues in the ring that would cause her to have her tail down and seem uninterested in being there. Not good for winning a judge's favor. 

So after a while, Barb and I decided to give her a break from showing. When she came into season, we would let Blanca and Woody make some puppies. That went well when it came to getting her pregnant. But when it came time to whelp, the difficulties of bringing small dogs into the world became all too clear for Blanca, and for us. 

Barb and I set up a special whelping pen in our spare bedroom when Blanca was close to delivering. We followed all the instructions that Barb could find on-line, in books, and from our friends in the Chihuahua show world. Blanca was huge. And when we had x-rays taken prior to the big day we were told to expect at least four, maybe five, puppies in this litter. 

When the big day arrived and Blanca went into labor, Barb was with her the whole time. We had our vet on stand-by if needed. Blanca started pushing out puppies and by the time the whole thing was over almost a day later, five puppies were born but only three survived. One of the three turned out to have a heart defect and only lived several weeks. Not unusual for a multiple birth in small dogs. Barb actually had to pull one of the still-born puppies from the birth canal. One of the little ones, Belle we called her, turned out to have some not-so-great traits for a show dog. So we found her a pet home. That's always a difficult decision, but we make sure the fit is right.   

The last puppy to be born was brought into the world with some medical intervention provided by our veterinarian at that time, Dr. Jeff Clinebell. The last one out of the chute was a little tri-colored boy we decided to keep. We named him Stanley. Blanca's birthing torture was finally over after about a full day of labor. Stan also turned out to not quite be star-quality for showing...but he has endeared himself to us. We had him neutered, and we still have him in our group at home. 

Stanley is now the last living example of our decision to pair Woody and Blanca for breeding.

Back to the present. -- Blanca began exhibiting a strange behavior around mid-day Wednesday (10/28). She seemed fine until then...but we could tell she was uncomfortable, unsteady, and just "not right". She didn't seem interested in her mid-day meal (not like her) and so we tried to make her comfortable by separating her from the other dogs and giving her as much comfort (padded bed and blanket) as possible. In early afternoon, things got rapidly worse. As Barb was doing some work nearby, she noticed Blanca gasping for breath. A few moments later, after a very frightened Barb picked her up to comfort her, our little girl stopped breathing altogether. Her life had ended in Barb's arms. 

We don't know exactly what took her. But the best guess is that she had a massive stroke and her brain shut everything down. She would have turned eleven years old on November second. 

These things are never easy. And we aren't taking it well. But we are sure that she had as good a life as any Chihuahua could expect. Plenty of love. Plenty of food, and other creature comforts. Hopefully, Blanca and Woody have become re-acquainted and are running and playing together in the place where all good dogs go. We can only hope. She was a great part of the last 10-plus years of our lives. 

2020 can't be over soon enough.

Do You Not See it?

Here we are in 2020. Pandemic. Presidential politics. Many other top-of-mind issues on which one can take sides. And almost everyone does. Many moderately-opinionated individuals, on social media, and elsewhere, are calling for civility and kindness to re-emerge from the ashes of hatred and "my-way-or- the-highway" belief systems. 

How have we come to this point where nobody is allowed to believe what they want without being told to shut up and change their mind? As someone who has lived almost seven decades, and who has worked in the communication business all of my adult life. It's clear to me where the acrimony originates. 

It's our wonderful, new, universal and portable friend--social media. 

Until the advent of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all the other self-expression vehicles, many voices and expressions of position, no matter how valuable or unworthy, were not heard for lack of a platform. Additionally, the tools of the new reality in mass-communication provide the opportunity to put out anything, no matter how outrageous, without fear of physical confrontation or contradiction. 

At a public or private gathering, large or small, in the days before social "meania", one had to be prepared to back up an opinion with facts, or fists. But more often, decent people would listen to the opinions of other decent people and the two sides would agree to exist on some formulated middle ground. They might agree to disagree. They might say..."Oh, I never thought of that." Or, "I see what you mean". Can you imagine that in the current climate of "my opinion is gospel" on Twitter? 

Almost everyone who knows how to work a cellphone shares thoughts instantaneously, whether well-thought-out or not, for world-wide consumption...they hope. Sometimes, if the thought is outrageous or edgy enough, the thing will go viral. Isn't that the goal of most tweets? If that happens, the world tends to get a little dumber as the population consumes the statement as if it were fact...when it's really just click-bait or wildly-cogitated manure. Those who agree, nod in agreement. Those who disagree, start fuming and retaliate...usually with something even more worthless. 

Our only hope in all of this mess is that the populace becomes wise to what's happening. People of all races, political beliefs, religions, and social strata must raise their level of media literacy. In teaching Intro to Mass Comm at Southwestern Illinois College, a large part of our course is intended to help students understand how to evaluate all media as to their origins, intentions and veracity. In other words...Who is speaking?, How?, Why?, And is what they are saying truthful and valuable? Plus, What is the financial motivation for the message? Always follow the money!  

Hopefully, students come out of the course with a much higher understanding of media messages...i.e. a greater level of media literacy. This, hopefully, is how most everyone will someday come to a sensible view of incoming messages with which they are being bombarded. It's the only way to separate the diamonds from the coal...the champagne from the grape juice.  

Make no mistake, social media is the game-changer that we are all being forced to evaluate in 2020. When political candidates at the highest level find more value in communicating through social media and bypassing the gatekeepers in the traditional media, well, Houston, we have a problem. To be fair, traditional journalism has its problems too. But who, when they have an instrument of message mass-distribution in their hand, wants to deal with that filter? Right? 

I'm hopeful that more serious scrutiny of all messages, incoming and outgoing, will become the norm for us all to come to a more acceptable level of civility in the public discourse. 

Like it or not, our interaction, with social media leading the way, now includes everyone as a mass-communicator. We need to remember that not everyone is a competent and worthy influencer of opinion. But everyone is entitled to express one.   

It's a different world. It's our job now to learn to live in it.

2019-20 Blues Postscript

Because I work as a contractor for the Blues as the PA guy, and am around the team frequently, many people ask my opinions on the Blues team...players and operations etc. Before I begin the rest of this blog post, let me remind you that I don't speak for the hockey operations people, or the team in general, in any official way. I am, for the most part, a fan just like everyone else. But I do have some thoughts. So here goes.

The Elephant in the room-- The Alex Pietrangelo situation
As expensive as it may be, I tend to think that Doug Armstrong, with the approval of ownership, will somehow get Petro re-signed. It will require some serious juggling to the roster because of the salary cap. But it's hard to imagine the guy who was first to hoist the Stanley Cup in a Blues sweater being allowed to walk without a fight. The damage to the psyche of the fan base would be enormous. The damage to the overall talent of the team would be as well. I'll be shocked if he walks. (There was a time not that long ago when fans were hoping he would be traded. That time is well in the rear view mirror now.)

If Petro Stays, Who goes? 
There aren't many comfortable answers to that question because it would mean someone who has a fairly sizable contract. The Blues like some of the prospects they have; particularly on left defense where Niko Mikkola  and college hockey's Hobey Baker Award winner Scott Perunovich are expected to be NHL ready. Mikkola already has acquitted himself well in fill-in duty. So does that make someone like Vince Dunn expendable? He's a restricted free agent. Carl Gunnarsson might also be tradeable. One year left on his deal with a $1.75M cap hit. Some other youngsters (Kyrou/Kostin etc.) might be ready to replace others in the forward lineup. But keeping Petro will take some serious imagination and a gambler mentality on the part of the GM. But Army probably already has a game plan in the works.

Number 91
Vladimir Tarasenko has 3 more full seasons on his contract with an annual cap hit of $7.5M. After being sent home from the bubble in Edmonton with more shoulder issues...to the same shoulder he has had surgery on...one has to wonder what his future holds. When shoulders...as any baseball pitcher will tell you...go bad, it's a tough fix. I don't remember many hockey players who have lost their careers because of shoulder problems. Dan Blackburn, a goalie with the New York Rangers in the early part of the century, is one. But Tarasenko's shoulder is a real issue for the Blues. If he is able to play at the level of expectation...and with any confidence...is going to be a huge question whenever next season starts.

Who's #1?
Some people are asking if Jordan Binnington's Superman run in the 2019 playoffs was just a fluke? Should they keep Jake Allen around for insurance? It's a good question. There have been a number of goalie stories where a guy is unbeatable early in his career, then flames out. Is it the league finally figuring out the guy's weaknesses? Is it just the way confidence ebbs and flows in an athlete? Whatever it was in Edmonton for Binnington, fans are wondering if they have the savior that he seemed to be. Allen, meanwhile, is an expensive guy to have for insurance. $4.35M cap hit for one more season under contract. If he can be traded to free up cap space, now would be the time. Whatever Army decides, it's going to be interesting to see how Binner comes back from a poor bubble tournament.

The Edmonton No-show
I believe there's nothing more to the poor showing in Edmonton than lack of motivation. That's not to say that Chief didn't try to motivate the team...he did. But all the coaxing in the world couldn't change the fact that the boys had won their Cup and didn't really get up for defending it in a weird, concocted for television, and less-than-valid Stanley Cup playoff arrangement. Living in the bubble, away from loved ones, and for potentially two full months, was not of interest to some of the guys. Feel free to pick the guys you think weren't totally invested, and you'd probably be right.

When will regular business return?
Games at Enterprise Center with full attendance and no restrictions won't happen until there's a vaccine that works and is readily available to everyone. That seems pretty obvious. The '20-'21 season is tentatively set to start in December. If that happens with no restrictions I'll be amazed and thrilled. One or more people will be in line for the most noteworthy Nobel Prize in history if that turns out to be the case. Let's keep saying our prayers that some scientist somewhere has this figured out.

Like I said at the top, I am in no way speaking/writing for the Blues management here. Just trying to have some fun and answer some of the questions that keep popping up in conversation.

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21st Century Journalism

Full Disclosure- The opinions herein are those of me...and you have no obligation to agree.
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-Don't Buy It- Having studied "old school" journalism in college, I get frustrated every time I see/hear a reporter on television...or radio for that matter...say "We attempted to contact so-and-so but we haven't heard back from them." Any journalist worth his or her salt (or paycheck)...at least in the days prior to instant gratification mass-communication...would say this is a HUGE cop out. It is incumbent on the journalist to get both sides of any story to do a complete and fair representation of that subject matter. Putting the onus on someone connected to the story to return a phone call or text in order to complete a story is NOT doing justice to the story, or presenting it in a way that is satisfactory and encompassing to the audience. Next time you hear a reporter use the "haven't heard back" line...call BS on it and remember who the reporter is who slighted you in their presentation.

There was a time when using that phrase in the presentation of a political or controversial subject would put a broadcast station in jeopardy of incurring a fine from the FCC...or worse, lose it's license to operate. The Fairness Doctrine (Google it) went away in 1987 for all intents and purposes, and until then instructed broadcasters to present stories of interest to their communities/markets and do them in a way that presented both sides of the issue in full. The abolition of this FCC policy on constitutional premises is credited with the explosion of advocacy journalism and political agenda presentations in both radio and TV. 

In my book...and I'm sure most journalism students of some age...the use of "we attempted" is tantamount to the reporter telling the audience that we couldn't present the story in it's entirety and the rest is up to you (the consumer). 
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-Trustworthiness- In today's mass-communication environment, especially considering the multitudes of zealot-inspired internet garbage available, one has to constantly be wary of the information presented. How many newscasts, documentaries, or presentations purporting to be factual, are really trustworthy? There isn't even a good answer for that anymore. So many of the products we see and hear are funded by people who want your life to mirror theirs..or their Utopian vision...that one can't trust anything to be factual.

Unfortunately, we are now in a country and world where facts are based almost entirely on what one chooses to believe. And much, if not all, of the media is in the business of influencing that. The days of watching Walter Cronkite, or Huntley-Brinkley and expecting a fair presentation of a story by people who believed that was their job are apparently ancient history.

We would do well to enter into this presidential election season with that in mind.

A Great Gift

On this Easter Sunday 2020, it seems appropriate to consider what a great gift we have been given. In particular the young people of our world have received a message, and Easter present, from God that should be cherished, seriously contemplated, and deeply appreciated.

The angel Clarence, in his dialogue with George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, said..."You've been given a great gift George, the chance to see what the world would be like without you." In that vein, our young people have been given the chance to see what planet Earth was like without them...and many other of the essentials of the modern world we all now consider indispensable.. and take for granted.

The world is on pause and many have paid a brutal price for this gift of which I write. But, in many ways, if we choose to look at COVID-19 in a positive light, we can see that there is life, and a very good one, without the usual clutter, confusion and sensory overload of the twenty-first century.

When one is forced to be at home for long stretches of time, can we find joy in simple interaction with our family? Could it be that our family members are people to enjoy being around...and not ignore in favor of someone on social media? Could a simple puzzle, card or board game, provide endless hours of enjoyment because of the stories told and family memories shared over them? Could an old movie, or TV show, without benefit of tons of computer-generated images, actually tell a timeless and meaningful story? Amazingly, it seems so.

Could a favorite song on the radio take you back to a certain time and place spent with someone very dear and bring you to tears? Certainly not. But, in fact, it seems to happen...and more often when one has time away from everyday matters to fully appreciate that song. That moment in time...and experiences shared...aren't they more important now? And so it seemed when many of us were young. We didn't know how lucky we were. Perhaps now we do.

Could medical professionals, first-responders, grocery store workers, truck drivers, food-service personnel and other every-day professionals actually be our heroes instead of athletes, movie stars and other celebrities of fleeting significance? Of course they always have been, but it took this stoppage of the world to bring it to light.

Isn't it possible that many who have never thought about giving of themselves to others are now doing so and understanding how important it is...and they are...to this world? It couldn't be more true now... "you don't know what you have, until it's gone". But now we realize what we had, and will someday have again, with a simple handshake, hug, or a kiss on the cheek from someone outside our immediate family.

Also gone are the crowd experiences of sports, concerts, plays and large gatherings of all kinds. Oh, the joy they bring. Oh, the amazing experience they will be when they return again. This time without them will certainly provide new appreciation for their impact on how we live.

When we see the death toll of this pandemic, I will grant that it is difficult for some to see it as a gift from God. But for those of us who remain...and particularly the young people who will lead the world deep into the current century...the experience will hopefully be viewed as a giant re-set button...a time to consider what is really important...and what is not.

We've been given a wonderful gift. Now the trick will be to live our lives like a re-born George Bailey.

Just a Dog

When a pet dog dies, and people such as me are heartbroken, I've heard it said..."What's the big deal? It's just a dog." I'll get back to that thought later. But this post is going to be a tribute to our big, little man. A Chihuahua named Woody who became very sick, very quickly recently, and had to be relieved of his suffering. Thank God we could actually do that for him. So if you are not a dog person, or not particularly ready to read my cathartic remembrances of a dog you likely didn't know, you may be excused to do other things. 

First, some background. In late 2008, wife Barb and I decided that we would try raising and showing chihuahuas as our new, later-in-life hobby. I had a chihuahua as a kid. And Barb fell in love with the breed when we rescued a former puppy-mill chihuahua, Maya, a few years earlier. In order to get started, we needed to acquire an AKC-registered puppy to train, and eventually put in the show ring. Barb would be the trainer/handler. I would provide support.  

As we started looking for a chihuahua breeder, we were initially interested in a female puppy. We found that acquiring one wasn't as easy as we thought. Show-quality females are not only more expensive, but for many reasons, including they can produce litters of other potential champions, breeders are reluctant to let them go. Barb finally identified a breeder in western Iowa who had a few smooth-coat puppies remaining from a litter that she was willing to sell...both males. We decided to make a road trip. 

Gayle Essex had priced the dogs she was willing to let go in a range that was more comfortable for us....and she had sent us some photos. When we arrived at Gayle's house for the "test-drive" visit, we still weren't sure if we were interested in a male puppy. Barb had never had a male dog for a pet in her life, and during our marriage none of our other pets were males. As you likely know, males can provide a "cleanliness-challenge" when living in the house...which our dogs always do.  ‘

During our "get acquainted" look-see, Gayle let us view the dogs she had as we sat in her kitchen. The little guys in question were playing in the next room. The puppy she called Nicolay was brought into the kitchen. Barb was mostly convinced that Nicolay was going to come home with us. As I remember, I needed a little more convincing. Gayle placed the tiny guy on my lap and somehow he immediately stretched out to lick my face as if to say, "You are my human mister, and I want to go home with you." Well, that did it. At that moment Barb and I looked at each other and knew Nicolay was going to be our first show dog. We had both quickly gotten over the female-only desire. We weren't big fans of the name, but we would figure out a new one because he was already very special in just a few minutes of visiting.

One of the things I seem to be somewhat good at is naming things...connecting context to a name. We knew that part of Nicolay's AKC formal name had to be Lamar's...the name of Gayle's kennel. After that, we could come up with the rest of it. We agreed that our goal for this dog was that he become a top show dog, and hopefully famous in that way. Probably more than a little ambitious on our part since we were beginners...but why shoot low? So we decided on Lamar's Journey to Fame. We also have a son, Stewart, in the acting business. Any journey to fame in that profession usually winds up in Hollywood. So our new puppy’s every-day name would be a form of Hollywood...and so he became Woody. We took a long road to get there, but it seemed to fit. 

At first, Woody the puppy was not interested in the training he received when Barb and I took him to the regular conformation, show-dog classes at Belle-City Kennel Club . He didn’t like being in the ring with the bigger dogs who trained at the same time. And he sure didn’t like the people who trained the dogs, and acted as show judges, in the classes. It was a definite struggle. He had his own idea of what he wanted to do, and that wasn’t it. Eventually, he settled down and became more willing to cooperate and Barb did pretty well with him at a number of shows. He started building points toward his AKC championship. He got close, but couldn’t seem to get the major wins needed from well-populated shows to nail it down.

So, we made the decision, difficult as it was, to send him out on the road with the wonderful dog trainer/handler Joyce Standish of Nebraska. She was, and still is, a well-respected and highly-successful show-dog handler who we came to know at our early-on shows. Not only that, but she was one of the more approachable and outgoing people in that profession. We needed her friendship, guidance and expertise at that time…and so did Woody. We knew our little guy, who had already become a wonderful companion and pet dog for us, would have to be turned over to Joyce for at least several weeks, and perhaps months, for him to gain his championship. But we knew he had it in him. Handing him off to go away like that was akin to seeing your first-born go off to college. Tears flowed.

Life without him being around then was pretty tough. But Joyce kept us updated on his travels and the shows in which he competed. Some went well...others, not so much. But Joyce definitely had the right touch for Woody…showing him who was boss and at the same time plenty of love. He responded for her. And after two months on the road we received a thrilling call. Joyce was in Pueblo, Colorado. She told us Woody had been judged Best of Winners in his chihuahua class at the Colorado Springs Kennel Club show on November 10^th 2013. A major win! And the second in two days. Our boy had earned his championship at age 5. Joyce had done it. Woody had done it. We all had gotten him the AKC champion designation he had always deserved.

Next up was bringing Hollywood back home. Barb and I couldn’t wait. But we were also a little worried about the way he would react to us after two months on the road. Joyce had become his new “master” and would have him at a show in Omaha where she was going to be handling other dogs. We decided to drive up to retrieve our new champion. It was a long weekend trip…getting there on a Saturday…staying the night…and then going to the show Sunday to pick up Woody. How would he be? Did he forget us? Would he be the same boy we had sent out with Joyce two months before?

When we arrived at the Omaha convention center, Joyce was busy elsewhere. But we found the area where she was set up and found the kennel in which our boy was staying. When Joyce came over to get him out so we could greet him, our worst fears were realized. For an agonizing length of time, he didn’t know us…apparently didn’t remember his former parents. Actually, it was only agonizing for Barb and me because it was only 15 or 20 seconds before his eyes lit up and he started jumping and squealing with excitement at seeing us. We both had moist eyes as we couldn’t wait to get our new champion back home. We will be forever grateful to Joyce for taking such great care of Woody…and, of course, making him a champion.

Prior to gaining his championship, Woody had performed one of the tasks we had intended for him when we began our new hobby…siring a litter of puppies. Shortly after acquiring Woody, we again connected with Gayle Essex to bring a female smooth-coat puppy onto our little team. Blanca got her name because she was mostly white with a few tan spots. Woody and Blanca produced our first litter in late 2012. The birthing process was a stressful time, especially for Barb, but Blanca was strong throughout  and produced five puppies. Unfortunately, as happens in this part of nature, only two survived long-term, and only one, Stanley (named after my boyhood hero Stan Musial) is still with us. Stan is a good boy, and carries Woody’s genetics, but is not top show quality and will not be a father. So, unfortunately, Woody’s breeding line in the chihuahua world will not survive.

After gaining his championship, we decided that pursuing further recognition for Woody in the show-dog world would not be in the cards. He, instead, would be the cover boy for our business cards, website, and other marketing of our show-dog hobby. He also became a fierce protector of the house and its occupants; barking at all potential intruders, mostly squirrels, that might be in his line of sight from the patio doors in our kitchen. Of course he also led the charge when it came to warning anyone who rang the doorbell. He was definitely “the leader of the pack”. Our pack has alternated between 6 and 8 chihuahuas through the years since we began our hobby. They live, breathe, eat and sleep with us in our Millstadt home. Crazy? Maybe, but we love it.

Most chihuahuas, and other smaller dogs, can live to be upwards of 20 years old. Unfortunately for him, and most definitely for us, Woody would not be with us more than 10-plus years. In late 2019, he began regurgitating for some unknown reason, mostly at night, or in the early morning. Trips to our terrific veterinarian Dr. Mike Harres did not reveal any specific cause other than possibly a case of mild gastritis. We tried some medications for his stomach that seemed to work at times, but the problem persisted. Other than the occasional bellyache for him, and clean-up job for us, Woody seemed to be happy and enjoying normal life. 

On the night of Tuesday, March 17^th (St. Patrick’s Day) 2020, Woody refused to engage in his usual round of licking my face before bedtime. I thought it was strange, but just chalked it up to him being extra tired. The next morning he wouldn’t, or couldn’t, eat his breakfast meal. That's when we knew this was a much bigger problem. He also became lethargic and refused the second meal of the day. We called Dr. Harres. The vet told us to keep an eye on him and bring him back in if it continued. It did. On Thursday of that week Woody received a shot of steroids, painkillers, fluids, and more, from the Doc in hopes of getting him back on track. Dr. Harres also gave us his prognosis. After x-rays, he suspected Woody had an incurable case of stomach cancer. Frustrating, because Barb is so conscientious about what our dogs are fed and giving them the best products available. Unfortunately, the "hopeful" shot didn’t help and we could tell by Friday morning that he was in such discomfort, and declining fast, that we had to make the call to the vet that no dog-lover ever wants to make. Woody was put out of his pain and misery at 3pm on March 20, 2020. If you have had to do this, you know the kind of emotional distress Barb and I were in at that time. As I write this, three days after, it all comes flooding back…and the tears flow again.

I believe that the lives of our domesticated animals are a gift from God that provide milestones in one's own life. They provide context to remind you of the good and difficult times in which they participated. They also provide examples of how to treat others, and how others should be treated. They brighten your life at the exact times when you most need comfort. The ten-and-a-half years that Woody was with us were great ones for Barb and I; and he was a major player in that belief. 

So, as to the earlier statement…”It’s just a dog”, I ask you..What sort of creature will:

-Greet you with wild excitement whenever you come home after being away?

-Fiercely protect you against all potential threats, no matter the size?

-Know exactly what time to wake you in the morning…every day without fail?

-Excitedly grab a toy and romp with it every time you say it’s time to go outside?  

-Proudly compete against others of its kind on your behalf?

-Take walks by your side with tail wagging uncontrollably?

-Sense when you’re unhappy and cuddle next to you to make it better?

-Be willing to obey your every command just because it’s you who’s commanding?

-Give you that special smile and bright face just to be near you at all times?

-And gently lick your face before bedtime every night?

Well…It’s just a dog…and, for us, his name was Woody.

Enjoy the treats in heaven until we see you again little man!