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Toward the End: Readings, Writings, Football
When Words May Not Make the Man
When John Feinstein, author, sports columnist and commentator, died last week (March 13, 2025) at the age of 69, it brought me up just short of a string of profanities. Not because we spent our careers in two of the same rackets—I never had a television gig—but...
Arthur Krummel will rock on forever in our hearts
Charlene Nevada Krummel and Arthur Krummel NOTE: On June 8, 2024, I delivered this hybrid eulogy/commentary more fit for roast than Arthur Krummel's memorial service. Arthur would have wanted to hear the sound of laughter as he was remembered. ...
Ed Meyer: Consummate Colleague, Best of Friends
Ed Meyer (Photo from Facebook screen shot) For months that turned into years, when Ed Meyer's name popped up during endless conversations with Don Plusquellic for a book I wrote about the former Akron mayor—The Indomitable Don Plusquellic—the result never varied....
Gaylon White’s writing does right by Louisiana coaching legend Louie Cook
Photo Courtesy of Gaylon H. White Crowley, Louisiana Notre Dame High School players, coaches, and fans celebrate Coach Louie Cook's 400th career victory. Notre Dame defeated Green Oaks of Shreveport, 49-14, in the Louisiana State Playoffs first round. When...
Perfect Literary Pathologist Resurrects John Brown
For literally years (2007-2016), Joyce Dyer burrowed into John Brown’s mind and physically retraced the righteous but bloody trail he had left across troubled America. She went at the heart of John Brown, the causeof this abolitionist who spent much of his life in...
Football Integrity? ‘Our Boys’ Has It in Spades
Even as others heap praise on this football season because of two closely contested College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals that, for a second remarkable year, included a team not among the usual suspects, I avert my eyes and hold my nose. From my wizened...
The Perfect Deshaun Watson Suspension Gift
According to advertising email, this "Full Body Massage Chair" is for sale at a most appropriately named big-box store. Browns fans might want one for their unavailable quarterback as he sits out 11 games, as mandated by the NFL. Good women who provide legitimate...
Watson Mixed Messages can’t Massage This
With the finality of Deshaun Watson’s heightened punishment for violating his massage therapist victims and the National Football League’s personal conduct policy, it comes clear that the most difficult days ahead will be those of his counselor—or counselors. This job...
WriterL the Book Continues the Writing Journey
Largely and rightly, Stuart Warner’s new book, A Place Called WriterL: Where the Conversation Was Always About Literary Journalism, celebrates teaching and learning that has elevated narrative nonfiction in the hierarchy of writing. It also reeks of loss. It could...
Mayfield Memorandum 33: Browns QB Victim
When Baker Mayfield found himself trying to win the hearts and minds of the Cleveland Browns who owned the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield went for the bomb. He took a verbal risk to sell himself to the Browns. He speculated and overpromised. “I think if...