Bill's Blog

Mark Twain once called golf, “a good walk spoiled.”  But were he around today and played a round at the new Overton Park 9, he might just change his mind. 

Three score and ten years ago today, I was born.  If you do the Lincoln math, you know that means that as of today, I am 70 years old.  Not 70 years young, 70 years old!  

When they start substituting the word “young” for “old” in birthday greetings, it means you are old. 

Nearly 50 years ago, in 1974, Richard Nixon was forced to resign as president because he had been caught on tape.

Ironically, it was a tape recording he had made himself when he, in effect, bugged his own office.  

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My wife and I are spending a few days this week in New York City to celebrate our 41st anniversary.  Last night, we returned to River City. 

We met over 50 years ago, and immediately got into an argument.  He was a member of the White Station High School Debate Team.  I was a member of the Frayser High School Debate Team.  We squared off against one another in a speech tournament at old Messick High School, vigorously arguing an issue of American foreign policy.

I can’t recall who won.  I am sure my friend thought he did.  I thought I clearly won.  We probably had an argument about that right after the debate. 

Students can only truly understand how exceptional our nation is if they are also taught about our "original sin" of slavery, the continuing sin of racism, and how we have sought and still strive to address it.

When I was in the fourth grade I had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Gillespie.  We did not change classes in the fourth grade at Frayser Elementary School, so Mrs. Gillespie was my only teacher that year.  With the exception of recess and lunchtime, I was at my desk in Mrs. Gillespie’s classroom from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every weekday.  

Mrs. Gillespie taught me math, English, science, arts and history.  

She also taught me something about the Russians. 

Increasingly, many of us are reticent to express our opinions as we fear discord, ostracism and even reprisals from co-workers, family and friends.

JUPITER, FL, MARCH 18:  Once again this year, I have flown south during the month of March and landed in Jupiter.  Not the fifth planet from the sun, but this beautiful town in south Florida.  I fly down here every winter, not as a snowbird, but as a Cardinal.  You see, Jupiter is the “winter home” of my beloved St. Louis Cardinals, and I join them here every March for spring training. 

The Cold War may be returning as Vladimir Putin has led a Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Will we be willing to make sacrifices for the cause of freedom like our parents and grandparents did?

He was a best-selling author, Civil War historian, philanthropist, visionary, preservationist, and engaging story-teller.  As a music publisher he worked closely with Dolly Parton, Amy Grant, and BB King who called him his “curator of vibe” for his blues clubs.  He was a public-spirited ubiquitous figure in Nashville and was named Music City’s Master of Ceremonies by Nashville Magazine.

To survive politically, Tennessee Democrats must find their own Lewis Donelson.  They must find "New Guard Democrats" across the state who will work to bring a two-party system back to the Volunteer State.

This Sunday evening, over 100 million Americans will be tuning in to watch the Cincinnati Bengals battle the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.  Since I did not take Latin Math in high school, I have no idea what number this Super Bowl is.  But I am so old I actually watched Super Bowl I even though it wasn’t even called the Super Bowl. 

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA – My wife and I have escaped the snow and ice of Tennessee by fleeing here to South Florida to enjoy a few winter weeks in the sun.  But there has been a cold snap this week in the sunshine state.  Last night we took a dip, not in the ocean, but in the temperature with a low of 42 degrees!  My wife says that the women of Palm Beach County complain about the cold snap, but they really like it.  It gives them a chance to trot out and wear their fur coats. 

When I was growing up watching TV in the 1950s and the 1960s, it was a golden era for TV dads.  All the heroes on TV at that time were either daddies or cowboys or both, like Ben Cartwright on “Bonanza,” the wonderful father of Adam, Hoss and Little Joe.