This week, I want to introduce you to an amazing friend and a wonderful book.  This column is read each week by countless people through hundreds of newspapers, magazines and on-line publications around the world.  I have been writing this column for more than a decade and in the over 500 previous columns, I’ve only recommended a handful of books.

This past week, Coach John Wooden celebrated his 99th birthday by releasing his latest book entitled A Game Plan for Life:  The Power of Mentoring.  Coach Wooden will always be best known for his 10 NCAA Championships as head coach of the UCLA Bruins.  He retired from coaching over three decades ago, but he never retired from life.

Since leaving basketball, Coach Wooden has simply expanded his classroom beyond the basketball court, and he has extended it to the whole world.  It is amazing that A Game Plan for Life represents the sixth book Coach Wooden has written in his nineties. 

I met Coach Wooden through his reading my book, The Ultimate Gift, and then he was gracious enough to review and endorse the sequel book, The Ultimate Life.  He was instrumental in helping me compile research for my business book, Ultimate Productivity.  So, when Coach Wooden’s publisher asked me to read an advance copy of his new book and write a review, I gratefully and enthusiastically agreed.

A Game Plan for Life:  The Power of Mentoring is practical, poignant, and profound, much like its author.  The first half of the book describes seven mentors that have had an impact on Coach John Wooden’s life.   He begins by describing the impactful mentorship of Joshua Wooden, his father.  Coach Wooden and I have exchanged stories about how each of our fathers mentored us.  So it seems natural that Coach Wooden would begin his book with his father.

He goes on to describe mentoring relationships with coaches, his beloved wife, Nellie and two people he never met, Abraham Lincoln and Mother Teresa, who nevertheless mentored him.  This first half of the book will remind you that all of us are a product of the special people who have mentored us through every day of our lives.

In the second half of A Game Plan for Life, Coach Wooden describes his relationship with seven individuals that he has mentored.  These individuals range from world-renowned to obscure.   Chapters are dedicated to superstars such as Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.   It is significant that both Walton and Jabbar had lengthy careers in professional basketball, but they both credit their success to the time spent with Coach Wooden through their formative years and to this very day.   Remaining chapters describe John Wooden’s mentoring relationships with famous college coaches and a special ed teacher, as well as Coach Wooden’s great-granddaughter.

A Game Plan for Life teaches us that each of us can receive wisdom from others, and we all have wisdom and experience that should be shared and passed on.  As Coach John Wooden begins his hundredth year, he seems to have found a new sense of urgency to pass along his life lessons that we all need so much.  A Game Plan for Life is a must read for you and anyone who needs to have or be a mentor.

As you go through your day today, commit to be like Coach John Wooden as you both give and receive the important success lessons of life.

Today’s the day!

About the author: Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift.  He is also a columnist and motivational speaker.  He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK  74145-9082, or by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com.

“The Republican Party, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln, has done NOT ONE good thing for America in its entire existence.”

I heard that statement, made by a history professor at the University of Central Oklahoma back in 1982, when I was 18 years old. It has stuck with me all these years.

On the surface, it seemed like typical academia liberal rhetoric. But like a good wine, it has gained a subtle complexity as I have aged with it. The day that professor uttered his words, he was looking for a fight.

He had cast out an absolute statement easily refuted and notably inaccurate. But on that day, our class did nothing but sit there in silence, trying to soak up knowledge like a sponge. The professor had just engaged us … we were supposed to be interactive; we were supposed to at least ask the question. Why do you say that? Or why should we believe you?

The room was eerily silent for what seemed like an eternity. Nobody spoke up to contradict or fight back. I wanted to … but I was a liberal. Okay, at 18 I didn’t know that fully yet, but granddad was a retired economics professor. Growing up around his political views and hearing his old lecture notes a million times, I was bound to become a liberal.

It wasn’t me the professor was calling out to spar with him in the battle of political intellectualism. This was Edmond, Oklahoma circa 1982; it’s a good bet that 75-80% of the classroom was Republican and Reagan fans. THEY were being called out.

I have found that many folks who profess to have Republican leanings and political savvy are silent, unless of course they are busy calling liberals “socialists” or whatever name-du-jour is promoted at Fox News.
Growing up with an academian as a mentor taught me that political extremism is dangerous. America – at its best – is the compromise between liberal and conservative ideas. Most people are liberal on some issues and conservative on others. Moderation was the sign of a thinking man, who didn’t just buy the party line hook, line and sinker.
I’m afraid for my generation in the growing absence of moderates, especially on the right.

The demagogues at Fox News are no better at dispensing accurate political “news” than their liberally-biased mainstream media counterparts of the 60’s and 70’s. In the aftermath of the destruction of the Fairness Doctrine, all we have now is “news personality” and “opinion,” to which each side has their favorite icons.

We are being led by whatever voice agrees with our own views. Yet those voices are becoming more and more intolerant of other viewpoints. We are losing the critical thinking skills needed to ask the right questions. And we rely on those same “news personalities” to ask the questions for us and worse, format our thinking for us.

Too often I see Republicans refusing to learn to be problem solvers. Instead I see fearful and ignorant malcontents wreaking more havoc. They wave their signs, yet can’t even spell. How do you debate these people? I can’t. They don’t have the rudimentary education they need to understand the debate enough to add something of value.

We have always had a dual-reality in America based on whether you saw the world through a liberal perspective or a conservative one, and at times these two sides have been known to hurl some mud at each other.  

But the recent dialogue is at fever pitch, with traitorous vitriol that is nowhere near the level needed for a healthy debate.  The debate needs to focus on issues. That means we need to eliminate all the racist idiot rhetoric and fear mongering. We need to step back and let conservative “think-tank” folks with ideas – and not rhetoric – face-off on the issues, like the Obama healthcare plan.

Where are those voices?

I’ve heard some of these conservative think-tankers on NPR, so I know they exist. Unfortunately, Fox News caters to a different level of Republicanism.  And more and more that’s the only kind of Republicans I see.

I’m beginning to think maybe my professor was right after all, when it comes to a healthy debate of ideas Republicans are no-shows. What have they done, that is good for my country lately? Absolutely nothing!

About the author: Archer is a Tulsa Blue-Neck with a day job in the healthcare industry, doesn’t need help tying his shoes or own a copy of Karl Marx’s Manifesto.  He likes to eat real food, drink adult beverages and argue with real people, and at the end of the day enjoy his part of being in a happy, healthy and diverse community.  Full belly laughs on demand.

Call me un-American, call me a wimp, I don’t care. I don’t give a hoot about sports in general, and I’m not even sure why people watch football of all things.

To me it’s about as pointless and as big a waste of time as watching soap operas. It might even be bad for you.

Is the attraction some kind of tribal thing, some need to belong to something outside yourself?

Television is a guilty pleasure itself. If I’m going to sit and do nothing and watch it, I prefer to learn something in the process. I favor documentary and news, which is indeed stranger than fiction. Rather than watch some mindless sit-com, I’d rather be practicing on the piano.

Maybe that’s part of my disconnect; many musicians and artistic types in general don’t relate to sports. Music in particular is not competitive; it’s more co-operative. We don’t know who the Aztec champs were, but we do know about their art.

It could be also that my coordination is more in my fingers than in my body. I was a pudgy, clumsy kid and the last to be chosen. I could run, I could bat OK, but I never could throw a ball very far at all. Even now, I can’t throw anything across my yard with any accuracy. It wasn’t until I was almost thirty that I discovered why. I had a spinal injury between my shoulders at age ten or so that impinges the nerves to my arm. When I throw a ball, it often causes immediate pain.

I also saw a guy die on the field at a football game when my sister was in high school. He had a ruptured spleen. That didn’t seem fun at all; dying to get a ball across a line.

And look at old athletes; washed up at thirty, even if they did turn pro, and too ignorant to do anything else because they were passed through school just so they could be on the team. One kid in a million ends up playing for money, yet so many dream of it. The odds are worse than in music.

I can still go out at night and play piano and make some extra bucks. I don’t see any jocks my age doing that.

Old friends accept the fact that I am Ye Compleat Sports Ignoramus. I’m more careful with new acquaintances. If someone asks which nose tackle got the most touchbacks I have the urge to say “I don’t even know how football is played – let alone why.” They might then look at me suspiciously as if perhaps I’m wearing a teddy under my clothes.

But I do have a head for trivia. I forget what day the trashmen come but I can tell you The Beach Boys’ publisher. I might do well with stats – if I was interested. I was about to win against a table of bright Trivial Pursuit players. When you get your last wedge, your opponents get to pick the subject of the final question.

My friend Dan announced “I know his Achille’s Heel – sports. Aha! What is Kareem Abdul Jabars’s given name?”

“I hate to tell you this, but it’s Lou Alcindor.” I smirked. You never know when some useless fact night come in handy.

About the author: Jim Downing is a lifelong musician and music historian. He has written and been published in countless publications over the past 30 years. His father was a columnist for the old Tulsa Tribune who wrote Downing’s Street

Navigating life’s transitions is something everyone will experience as we journey from one stage to another.  These transitions range from chronic illness, unexpected health concerns to the normal processes of aging.  

Often times the need for care occurs without any warning, as when a stroke or another medical condition suddenly happens to you or a family member. Most people who confront this situation do so for the first time.  Even when the transition is a slowly evolving process, many families struggle with how to best provide and care for their relative.

 Every situation is unique, the challenges new. The solutions found to deal with the care needs vary, based on family abilities and resources – both emotional and financial.  The emotional toll in caring for a loved one is often compounded by the lack of information and the overload of many confusing options that need to be considered.

 According to a recent United Nations study, the older population is growing at a faster rate than the world’s total population.  The fast-growing “senior” generation is beginning to put a great deal of stress on family members who are attempting to provide the care required by their mother or father.  Not only do the seniors need help; their families need help and support too.

  Many times the family caregivers simply don’t know where to turn for help and advice.  Large geographical distances can add a unique and complicated challenge to what is already an often stressful job of caring for a family member whose health is deteriorating.  

What type of help is “out there” for the daughters and sons (sometimes called the sandwich generation)?  According to a recent study by the AARP, 1 in 4 women are managing the healthcare of an older parent or relative. Navigating through the health care system is often frustrating and can take away valuable time that you want to spend with your loved one.  

Determining the availability of services is complicated because the delivery system is fragmented, which makes it very difficult and frustrating for the do-it-yourself process. A senior, or their family member, must navigate through numerous agencies and referral sources to find housing, medical care, financial planning, supplies etc. Having a selection of choices is wonderful, but the number of choices may become overwhelming.  Using care professionals can be a very cost effective and efficient way to provide help for a loved one.  

“Hiring professional advisors or providers to help with long term care is no different than using professionals to help with other complex issues such as car repairs, dealing with taxes, dealing with legal problems, or needing trained employees to help run a business.  With their education and training, long term care professionals also bring experience that only comes from dealing with countless hands-on care giving challenges”.  National Care Planning Council

It is important to find a professional who knows what questions to ask to assist in the creation and implementation of a plan that meets the desires and fulfills the needs of the individual.  

Kathy Noojin, LMSW, Care Navigator at Long Term Care Authority (www.ltca.org) in Tulsa, OK, emphasizes the overall importance of finding the right professional for assistance:  “Choosing someone who is competent to guide your loved one through the incredibly complex array of long term care services is the single most important decision you will make.  With skilled professional services you will avoid a lot of headaches and heartaches in deciding which options make the most sense for your situation”.

The professional you hire can go by many names: Care Navigator, Geriatric Care Manager, Elder Care Manager, Elder Care Referral Service, Senior Care Advisor.  The list of names is almost endless.   
As with other professionals, be sure to get references and investigate qualifications and background.  Trying to make the best decisions about care giving can be difficult for you and your aging loved one.  Asking for help is a big step.  There are many organizations and professionals that can help you.  Reduce your stress and make that call!

About the author: Patty Casey is a Registered Nurse currently with the Long Term Care Authority of Tulsa where she is Manager of Contract Administration and Clinical Compliance.  Patty earned her B.S. in Business Management and completed her Master of Arts degree with business concentration.  Patty also has experience with the long term care systems in Texas and Oregon and has served as a long term care consultant.

Tuesday’s municipal primary election in Tulsa may have significantly changed how groups of people relate to each other.  Specifically, the Firefighters Local 176 “identified their members as city employees while campaigning for specific candidates in direct violation of the Tulsa City Charter and the Federal Hatch Act” according to City Councilor John Eagleton, who did not face an opponent in the race.

Eagleton, an attorney, said in an exclusive interview that he would not file a complaint because, if litigated, it could cost the city millions in lost grants, possible fines, plus the cost of the litigation itself.  “I’ve made my concerns known,” Eagleton added.

This blatant partisan campaigning by the Firefighters unions occurred because a handful of councilors urged the council to carefully review their budget.  The union went to war in a door-to-door campaign that some report included threatening reduced public services if the budget curious councilors were re-elected.  We should not be so easily scared.  Many were angered.  Of course union members can participate in elections as private individuals, but when they represent themselves as “public employee” affecting a public vote is stepping over the line. 

Consider if the Tulsa Fire Department should duplicate Emergency Medical Services.  Do we need two emergency responses to every call?  Yes the union says, they have plenty of time and money – our taxpayer money.  Sure the Tulsa Police Department needs an armored personal carrier (may look like a tank to you as it comes down the street).  The unions are acting like a spouse hiding the checkbook – keep it up and divorce from public credibility is sure to follow.

The City Council races continue to the general election, but several were settled in the primary.

District 1

Jack Henderson – Democrat is back as an unopposed incumbent.  Oh well, so much for civilized public discussion on the Council.

District 2

Rick Westcott – Republican re-elected incumbent – one of the best councilors in Tulsa history and one of those who recently called for an external audit of the Fire Department, thus provoking the Firefighter wrath. With no Democrat opposition, Westcott will continue his service on the council. 

District 3

David Patrick – Incumbent – Democrat

Karl William Hulcher – Republican – retired racecar driver – web site asks on the home page, “Are you tired of the David and Rosco show?”  However, every other page says, “check back” and provides at this writing no detail on any page.  Maybe he will add something now that the Democrats are finished fighting through the primary.

District 4

EricGomez – Incumbent – Republican – real estate and construction consultant – a strong advocate for his district also targeted by the Firefighters union.  He has been the strongest advocate for District 4 ever elected. 

Maria Barnes – Democrat – former councilor –civic volunteer best know as accomplishing nothing during her last term in office and her strong support of Tulsa as a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants.

District 5

Bill Martinson – ousted incumbent – Republican –chief executive officer of Sintered Parts. Martinson was the best “numbers guy” ever to serve on the Council.  He found the figures local special interests tried to hide and was dedicated to “sound fiscal” policies in city government.  He found that over the last ten years, the police and fire budgets significantly outstripped inflation and consumed 74 percent of the growth in the City of Tulsa General Fund and all the city sales tax revenue.  Strong stands on difficult issues have earned him respect of the citizens, but opposition from public union bosses.  He did not offer an election web site, but referred people to his council page online.

Chris Trail –Republican (in name at least) is a restaurant operator well funded by local public unions and Democrats following Mayor Kathy Taylor.  Will he recluse himself from any vote on the Firefighters contract?  Can you guess his votes in advance?

District 6

DennisTroyer –Democrat Incumbent – retired from American Airlines.

James S.Mautino – Republican – former councilor returning to battle.

District 7

John Eagleton – Republican – an attorney, the incumbent did not draw an opponent in the race.

District 8

Bill Christianson – Republican – an incumbent frequently found on both sides of issues will return to the council after receiving the strong support of the Firefighters.

Phil Lakin – Republican – showed more promise in his first race for public office than any other newcomer to local politics in twenty years.  Many hope he will run again, but against the Firefighters (ever heard of any union supporting Republicans as they did Lakin’s opponent?) he faced an almost impossible challenge and came within 222 votes of winning.

District 9

G.T. Bynum – Republican – incumbent will seek his second term on the council and was unopposed in this primarily Republican district.

Roger D. Lowry – Democrat will run again as he has run many times before with little funding and limited numbers of volunteers in the general election.  Firefighters are expected to help him.

Mayor

The most exciting general election races will be for mayor and city auditor.  Republican Dewey Bartlett, Jr  faces Democrat Tom Adelson with several unknown independents in the race.

City Auditor

A credible challenge is brewing from Republican Preston Doerflinger of Democrat Phil Woods‘ long occupation in office.

In the mayor, city auditor and remaining council contests, Tulsa Today news reporters will be interviewing candidates in the coming weeks.  As the resident op-ed writer, I will be considering their respective positions in future analysis.