John Hook
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‘The Most Fun Wrestling Event in the World,’ Is Also the Best Championship Experience in College Sports
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Last Thursday was a distinctive day here in Happy Valley. According to my handy weather forecasting app, sunrise happened at 7:20 a.m. and sunset occurred at 7:20 p.m., giving us exactly 12 hours each of “day” and “night.” It was also St. Patrick’s Day, so those of us with some Irish heritage in our family…
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Remembering Penn State Springs of Yore
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If you are reading this in Happy Valley, you know we’ve arrived at spring break. There are suddenly about 45,000 fewer humans around. In New York City, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh that wouldn’t be noticed, but around here that’s close to half the population. It’s as if the Marvel Avengers came to life and Thanos snapped…
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Student-Athletes Face Inequitable Barriers in Pursuing Their Dreams
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Last week on this website my friend Joe Battista wrote a column describing a recent opportunity he had to speak with some young folks about what they wanted to be when they grew up, and he suggested in his column that skilled trades are a very viable career choice. Of course, he admits he’s a…
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Latitudes, Soda Contracts and How to Win a College Football Championship
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Most every self-help and how-to-get-ahead book in existence includes an admonition to set goals. Motivational speakers, business leaders, sports coaches, psychologists and many others tout the benefits of setting goals. They will tell you that goals are the first step in creating the future you want, and setting them is a fundamental skill needed to…
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Happy Valley’s Wave of Women Leaders a Promising Change
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We Americans are a sports-dominated culture. Last year, 95 of the 100 most-watched television broadcasts were sporting events. And of those 95 events, football is far-and-away the leader of our sport-watching days. Seventy-five of the most watched broadcasts were NFL games — including 28 of the top 30 most-watched events of the year — and…
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On Pay Gaps and Egalitarianism
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Egalitarianism. As we come out of the holiday season — a season of giving, glad tidings, and perhaps even holiday bonuses — I find myself thinking about egalitarianism as we embark on the new year. A new year that provides, as new years often do, the sense that opportunity is in the air. As Calvin…
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‘Tis the Season of Giving — and There Are Plenty of Local Organizations That Can Use Your Support
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As someone who has worked in the nonprofit industry for a few decades, the end-of-the-year holiday season is often a time for one final push for donations. Donations are the lifeblood of charitable organizations and our generosity is what allows many nonprofits to do their good work and fulfill their mission. And if you are…
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A Holiday Wish for the Future of State High Athletics
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I arrived in Happy Valley as a Penn State freshman in the fall of 1977. Similar to today, about 11,000 students lived on campus, and the rest lived in apartments and houses spread around town. The farthest reaches of the off-campus students were Laurel Glen apartments on Vairo Boulevard to the northwest of campus (which…
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A Turkey Trot and a Trip Back in Time
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The Thanksgiving break is over and everyone is back in State College. Our family was one of those who stayed around and celebrated the holiday here in Happy Valley. And if you did too, and were out Thanksgiving morning in a last-minute search for some forgotten ingredient for your meal, you may have noticed a…
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Let’s Get Specific
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A few weeks ago my wife and I paid a visit to Jody Whipple, a local registered dietitian/nutritionist and the co-owner of Strategic Orthopaedics. Our visit was prompted by my recent heart issue; our desire to get a handle on the what, why and how of my lifestyle; and to explore if there were changes…