One down...

On Wednesday, I'll finish my first "year" of graduate school. Meaning I've completed fall, spring and summer semesters. I'll have knocked out 12 of the 36 hours required for a marketing communications degree from KU.

I distinctly recall telling myself several times during my last semester as an undergrad, way back in 1996, that I would never, ever go back to school. Seventeen years of school was enough. Or so I thought. Imagine how surprised I was a few years back when I found myself looking forward to cracking open the books again. I think, as we get older, we all have a greater appreciation for learning. Maybe it doesn't manifest itself in a return to school. But don't you find yourself more interested in things as years pass? Maybe you linger a bit longer in museums you raced through as a kid. Or perhaps the evening news ceases to be background noise and instead is something to focus on.

Anyway, I find myself far more focused on school now than I was in high school and college. It helps that most assignments and projects are related to my company or companies I'm interested in. For example, Crown Center was the subject of most of last semester's Marketing Research assignments. This semester, in Writing for Marketing Communications, I've used Crown Center and Brooks (the running shoe company) as project topics. (I won't say anything about the fall semester's dog food project, other than grrrrr.)

Unfortunately, I only get a three week break before the fall semester revs up. But I'm looking forward to the class—Financial Fundamentals for Communicators. Prime example of how I've changed since my undergrad days. Back then, I'd have run at the first sign of a financial class. Now, I know it's something that will help me do my job better. And I'm just more interested in investor relations, budgets and financial markets than I was as a 20-year-old.

One year down, two to go.

Turning back the clock

It’s Saturday night and 59-year-old Tom Watson is (I hope) enjoying sweet dreams in Turnberry, Scotland. Tomorrow, he’ll try to become the oldest person to win a major golf championship.

I’d be taken with this story regardless of where I lived. But it’s especially compelling to me as someone who shares Watson’s hometown. I’ve followed his career since I was old enough to read a sports page. My dad’s roofing company even worked on Watson’s house. He’s beloved here for his fabulous career, his longtime support of Children’s Mercy Hospital and his reputation as a decent guy.

Not far from Scotland, another amazing sports story unfolds. Lance Armstrong is in the hunt for an eighth Tour de France victory. It wasn’t enough that he win the Tour after beating cancer. It wasn’t enough to win it seven straight times. Now, he’s trying to win it at 37 years old.

As I get older, I’m ever more amazed by the power of athletics to uplift the spirit. Who can say how many people around the world are inspired tonight by Tom Watson? And how about Armstrong, whose image has helped raised millions of dollars for cancer research. Think about that. A man who rides a bike faster than most is able to stimulate such an outpouring.

I shake my head when I hear of local television news stations cutting newscast time allotted to sports, or cutting the sports department entirely. Because stories like Watson’s and Armstrong’s happen in towns all over the country. I know it because I once seeked those stories out as a local sportscaster. I hate knowing they may not be reported, that they might not have the chance to inspire.

Tomorrow, I’m going to get up at the crack of dawn and bike a bit. (Frankly, I’m not sure I ever would’ve started biking if it weren’t for Lance Armstrong.) Then, I’m going to plop down on the couch and watch Armstrong ride from Pontarlier to Verbier. And I’ll stay on that couch to see if Watson can win his most improbable major yet.

I don’t know if either man will be able to will their aging bodies to victory. But I do know I’ll be inspired as I watch them try.

Sweating it out

Thoughts while longing for a return to the Rockies…

• Great trip to Colorado for the Independence Day weekend. After spending a few days with Candice, Roland and the girls, we returned to Lenexa via a southern route that took us through Dodge City and Hutchinson. It took a bit longer, but we got to see parts of Kansas I think every Kansan ought to see at some point. Highlights: the Kansas Cosmosphere, Braum’s (as always, great food with crappy service) and E Street Radio on Sirius.

• The warm, humid weather has really knocked me on my butt this week. As I’ve sweat my way through bike riding the past few days, it’s occurred to me that I never once had to squeeze sweat from my helmet while riding in Colorado. The weather there was just perfect. One can see why so many Coloradoans are out running, biking or just enjoying the outdoors. Humidity seems to take a greater toll on me each year. It’s like kryptonite to my running. And it wreaks almost as much havoc on me while biking.

• I’ve spent far too much time zoning out on Tour de France coverage. It makes no sense. I do envy the people lining the course, though. To be lounging in the Pyrenees, waiting for the peleton to fly past…