Chairman Of The Board

 

It has been a rough year for Disney.  A 44% drop in market value and criticism of its current path have left the leaders in disarray.  Visiting this past week, I noticed many signs of this perturbation.  Actual stalled projects and notices of others being axed entirely.  A few empty storefronts, and news of long term tenants announcing closure.

Stepping into this mix will be one of our own.  Mark Parker, ex-CEO of Nike Inc. will become the new Chairman of Disney's Board. Let's wish him well in finding a CEO who will guide Disney in a direction for stability and sustainability.  Goofy, Dopey, and the rest of the gang possibly in the mix for a new shoe contract?

An Olympian In Many Ways

In addition to making the Olympic 10,000M team in 1980, with all-time greats Craig Virgin and Alberto Salazar, Greg Fredericks has been an Olympian in many other ways.  Each day he helps out Coach Groves at his living facility and takes him for a walk.  And he also keeps me fully loaded with post ideas and content.  Combined with his eternally optimistic attitude and family values, I know I picked the best of idols in my early running career in 1975.  Hats off for Greg!

First up is a video of the Olympian Recognition at the recent PSU White-Out game.  Greg actually tips his hat to us in this one!



Next is an interview with "the Moses" of PSU Cross-Country, Curt Stone.  (He led us through the desert to the promised land of the NCAA Championship by recruiting and assembling a storied group, including all 3 Ashenfelter brothers.)  Horace told me that if it wasn't for Curt, none of this would have ever happened.

WNEP Interview with Curt Stone

Greg was also the first to alert me to the upcoming end to Mark Parker's tenure as CEO of Nike.

Mark Parker stepping down

1973 Cross Country Team, Things Were Heating Up In America

 Notable, at least by me:

• The disembodied heads of Captains, Bob Hillman and Charlie Maguire.  I think this was the only time this was done on any of the pics hung at Rec Hall for XC and Track.
• Friend and Podiatrist Jim Bray seemingly sitting on Coach Groves' lap.
• Future Podiatrist Walt Majak.
• Manager Mark Parker, future President of Nike, Inc.
• A very young looking George Malley.

1973 was a very busy time in America.  Hard to believe anyone had time to run!

1973 History Snapshot

• Politics: The Roe v. Wade US Supreme Court decision legalized abortion.
• The Top Song was Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack
• The Big Movies included The Exorcist, The Sting and American Graffiti
• On August 11, 1973, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NYC, Hip Hop was created by a guy named DJ Kool Herc.
• Price of Men's leather sandals in 1973: $2.81
  Watermelon: 9 cents/pound
• The World Population was ~ 3,859,000,000
• Federal Express (FedEx) began operating in in 1973.
• Richard Nixon gave his famous "I am Not a Crook" speech at the Contemporary Resort, in Disney World.
• And... Spiro T. Agnew resigned as US vice president and then, in federal court in Baltimore, pled no contest to income tax evasion. He was fined $10,000 and put on three years' probation.

My uncle worked the barn over at Belmont. I had the HONOR being 10 years old and meeting this amazing animal. He wasn't antsy in his stall at all. Every single horse I ever seen before a race was always antsy. He was calm, really calm. He loved attention. I will never ever forget this horse. HUGE compared to the rest of them. My pops told me that day that we were so lucky to be close to this beautiful amazing animal, he also told me to remember because I would never meet another horse like this one again in my life. He was right. I was on a stool just to reach his neck, he bent his head down for me to touch his head. I was in awe the entire time. I had no idea who he really was until I grew older. I am blessed and honored for that meeting.  -Anonymous.

David Vs Goliath: Porn, B-Ball, Nike, Extortion and Bank Fraud In The Age of Madness

Apparently, Nike has been cooperating with an NCAA investigation into illegal payments made to college basketball players.  Or, if you believe Stormy Daniel's ex-lawyer Michael Avenatti, they have not been cooperationg with the investigation.

The nicest thing about him is his suit.

Either way, now there are multiple indictments against Avenatti concerning extortion of the company to the tune of $25M, as caught on tape by the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner!  Avenatti also has separate indictments in CA for bank and wire fraud charges.  In a still separate case, he faces charges of domestic abuse.

My money is on Nike and President Mark Parker.

"Cuttin' A Mug" Reminds Me Of My First PSU Run

My first Term at PSU was arguably my best one.  At least for running.  (Academics was a different story!)  I was reminded of this because of a photo submission from Tim Backenstose by way of Campbell Lovett.  He titled the pic "Cuttin' a mug", a reference to Robert Snyder's unique ability to make a face everyone would remember forever.

Campbell kindly sent Tim this photo as a way of motivating him for further excellence in the coming years.  He probably had no idea it would motivate me as well.  Both Campbell and Tim were upper-classmen I both admired and marvelled at. (sic)  Maybe, I will some day expound on more of their exploits (like the "Mud Men") which made me both fear and delight in them. I will probably need their help in accurately conveying these stories.

But first, the pic...

Robert "Snid" Snyder taking first in the 800M on the State College Junior High track.

A hideously inferior version of this pic has been featured on this blog before.  This improved version allows the visualization of some additional features.

• Mike Wyatt in second place, wearing Nike spikes he later gave to me for my Junior and Senior seasons.
• Bill Sheskey taking 5th.
• Paul Stemmer lurking in bland grey sweats just off the left shoulder of Mike Wyatt.
• Possibly, Larry Mangan, who ran the pitless steeplechase earlier, cheering on the glory of the 1-2 finish in the actual scored dual meet.

With the mention of Tim and Campbell, my thoughts drifted to my first ever run at PSU.  I went to campus a day earlier than almost everyone else and drifted over to Rec Hall to see Coach Groves and make sure that I wasn't imagining that he had said I could join the team.

I was in the best shape of my life, following my June 1977 talk with Coach and his admonition that 80 miles/week just wasn't enough to cut it.  I ran nearly 100 miles a week leading up to matriculation and prayed for the ability to keep up with the team.

When I arrived at Rec Hall and met with Coach that day, I was dressed to run, just as I almost always was anyway.  It turned out that it wasn't a dream, as Coach welcomed me and told me to go take a run with "those guys".

Everyone who knows me, knows I am prone to some exaggeration or embellishment  (or even "misremembering" facts).  But this is exactly how I remmber that run.  I'm hoping Tim has at least a snippet of confirmation of this! 

"Those guys" happened to include three giants, or at least giants compared to the 5' 10" (now 5' 9") 117 pound (now not quite twice that number...) runner I was in those days.  Each of them were at least 6 inches taller than I, and at least 50 pounds heavier than I.  I remember them as Tim Backenstose, Campbell Lovett and Mark Parker, the current President of Nike, who had just graduated and was heading off to Exeter NH to work for the fledgling Nike brand.  The only one I am 100% sure about is Mark, as Coach addressed him to say that I was joining the group for a "10-Miler".  I never said a word to any of them, and they barely acknowledged me at all.  The only hazing I ever remember occuring as part of the team.

We took off for a run that eventually led to the Pine Barrens west of State College.  In those days, none of us had a running watch, let alone a GPS one.  But the run seemed to be getting longer and longer.  Although it was faster than my usual entirely solo runs, I was delighted to be running well with no difficulty at all keeping up with the "real" Penn State runners.  My fears of fitting in were relieved on that first run and I actually did go on to be our 7th man in three of the season's early XC races. Enough to even earn a letter!  (Robert Snyder was injured that first season until the very end, when I was no longer in the top 7.)

It turned out that the "10-Miler" I was on went nearly 2 hours at 6:00/mile pace.  A foreshadowing of the 18 mile "15-Mile" Mountain runs early in the season.  Forty-one years later, I swear I remmber that run like it was last week.

And if you want to "misremember" some past exploits like me, there is nowhere better than at our Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney on May 18/19th!

One Person options:

Entire Package $205.00 USD    Friday and Saturday $135.00 USD    Friday Reception $45.00 USD    Saturday Reception $105.00 USD    Golf and Saturday Reception Dinner $155.00 USD

For additional family members, add up permutations in post and use snail mail to:
 Harry Smith
            508 Washington Avenue
            Elyria, OH  44035

Look Who Runs The Company Trying To Run A Sub-2 Hour Marathon!

Mark Parker

Predictions anyone?  Addendum:  So Close!

Second Semi-Final Of The Performance Of The Year 2016!

Be sure to go to the full web site, http://psutafalumnigolf.blogspot.com and vote in the second round of the Performance of the Year on the left sidebar.  Vote for your top 3, as 3 will make it into the Final Round.

1.  Tessa Barrett wins the Regional NCAA XC Meet.
2.  Isaiah Harris wins the 800M at the NACAC Meet.
3.  Joe Kovacs and Darrell Hill both make the Olympic team.
4.  Brannon Kidder's 9th Big Ten Title (1500M)
5.  Mark Parker joins the Disney Board of Directors.
6.  Rob and Phoebe Whiteside thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.
7.  Cas Loxsom and Isaiah Harris both in the Finals of the Olympic Trials 800M. 
8.  Isaiah Harris wearing our Group Wrist Band and finishing 6th at Olympic Trial 800M. 
9.  Brannon Kidder 4th in the NCAA 1500M.

Mark Parker Finally Makes Marty McFly Real

Some of our younger members don't know Mark Parker's beginnings on PSU's team and then Nike's design lab in New York.  With his recent ascendancy to CEO, Mark and the rest of his team have finally brought us the self-lacing sneakers Marty McFly wore in Back to the Future II.

I Actually Never Met Eugene

I depend on others for a lot of my "reportage".  And when big things are occurring for PSU Track and Field waaaay over in Oregon, I need help to bring you pictures and news.

So it is with great delight that I present our newest Roaming Corespondent, Patty Murnane Nosack!  She happens to live very near Hayward Field, home of all track and field for the next millennium or so.  (Remember, our original Roaming Corespondent is on the Appalachian Trail somewhere in the Green Mountains!)

Patty had the wonderful chance to take her daughter to Eugene yesterday and hang out in the Nike section of Hayward Field with other Nittany Lions.  She generously sent me some exclusive pics for all of us to enjoy.  Thanks Patty!

Grace, Patty Murnane Nosack, Tina Leatherman Jones and Kathy Mills Parker.

Patty met Coach Gondak by chance when she was heading home!

"We must be in the front row!"

Mark Parker gives Grace advice on shoe design!

Tessa Barrett before the 5000M. (Heal up quickly!)

The whole gang.

If I had the chance to visit Eugene, I would briefly visit Hayward Field, but I would really want to make it to the Dexter Lake Club.  Here is Otis Day, still singing the Lake Club's favorite song in 2012!  He had to learn to sing after the movie.  He lip-synced the original!

Disney Gains A Nittany Lion

Having just returned from "Trapped Like A Rat 2016" at Disney's premier facility Disney World, this news comes as a pleasant surprise.

Mark Parker Joins The Disney Board of Directors

What possible changes can we expect from his influence?

The Very Top

Thanks to Bob Radzwich and our very own Golden Putter Attendant for alerting me to another high honor to one of our own.

I've told the story before about how my very first run after matriculating at Penn State was with Mark Parker (I'm certain), Tim Backenstose (I think) and Campbell Lovett (I'm pretty sure).  Each of these guys were 6' 4" at least and every one of them were at least 60 pounds heavier than I was.  I was scared to death and didn't utter a peep as they took me on a 10 mile tour of the pine barrens that lasted for 2 hours at 6:00/mile pace.  Even my lowly math skills alerted to me that I might have bitten off more than I could chew!  None of them would remember me at all, but they left an indelible mark on this Freshman.

Mark Parker was just named Fortune Magazine's Business-Person of the Year.  Congrats Mark.  But can you golf?  (Hint: You're a better golfer than I .) Hope to see you one day at the Coach Groves Golf Tourney and Reunion!

Will A Member Of Our Group And Holder Of An Alumni Singlet Become The Grand Poobah Of Nike?

We previously chipped in and bought Alumni Singlets for Mark Parker '77 and his wife Kathy (Mills) Parker '78.  These were delivered to them by Olympian Bridget Franek.

When Phil Knight steps down from the company soon, he relates he wants Mark Parker to succeed him.  HERE may be why.  With all the different titles held by all the upper echelon of people of Nike, I suggest that they just utilize the moniker Grand Poobah, from the leader of the Loyal Order of Buffaloes Lodge of Bedrock and Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado.

It's all hats nowadays.

"Knight said he wants Nike president and CEO Mark Parker, who has held those positions since 2006, to succeed him. No specific date was set for Knight's departure, though he said he plans to stay involved in the business. Nike Inc. said it expects to name a new chairman in 2016."   -ESPN

I'm Back! But Kinda Sad I Might Not Have Been Missed

That was the longest blog hiatus since it was started in 2008.  Sorry about that.  Work items and a family medical emergency conspired against me even as items began to build up which are important and of interest.  I hope I can catch up sometime soon.  But I hope I was missed by at least a few of you?

Item 1:  The Mid-Atlantic NCAA Championships are this weekend AT PSU!  I can't make it, but I am looking for roaming corespondents to report on things like our Chief Laundry Officer did in this great post for the High School Championships.  Maybe Mark Haywood can give us some gibberish, grainy cell phone pics and anecdotes from the event?  Hint, hint.  Etc. Etc. Etc. Everyone is invited.

Item 2:  The Parkers attended an event at the All Sports Museum last weekend to celebrate the 50 years of Women's Sports at PSU.

I have told the story before of my very first run at PSU as I showed up for my Freshman Orientation week.  I checked in with Coach Groves right away, unlike Greg Fredericks, and he immediately told me to take a run with "these guys".  Luckily I was dressed for a run and just jumped in.  Believe it or not. I was by far the littlest and skinniest person there.  I was intimidated by the size of everyone there.  I think Campbell Lovett and Tim Backenstose were there, as well as Mark Parker.  None of these people would ever remember this, as I was so scared I never talked to anyone, and they didn't talk back.  We went for a "10-miler" to the Pine Barrens that took 1 1/2 hours at 6-minute pace.  This was merely an introduction to the PSU mileage measurement system I would come to know all so well.  But it was also my introduction to running "in the woods" which is one of my greatest memories of all my PSU years.  I would recommend running at PSU for anyone just because of the mountains and scenery of these routes.

But before Mark Parker became a running mate on my very first PSU run, I must say I saw his future wife even before that.  Early in the AM dark, I saw her streak across the road in front of us at the park across from Easterly Parkway on my way to the dorm with all my belongings in the Ford station wagon.  She was running very fast, but what was weird was the cast on her left foot she was running with.  Kathy Mills had just had surgery but didn't seem to miss a beat.  I have no idea how she did that, and would never recommend that to any of my patients.  As Coach Groves has said, "She is the toughest runner I ever saw."

Kathy (Mills) Parker with the Women's Team.

PSU Record Holders Kathy (MIlls) Parker (5000M) and Kara Foster (10000M).

The Women's Team meets Nike President Mark Parker and Kathy (Mills) Parker.

Two American Record holders, Kathy (Mills) Parker (5000M and WR!) and Greg Fredericks (10000M).

Challenge Accepted

I'm sure you are all aware of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that is sweeping the nation thanks to social media.If you are living under rock the following videos will bring you up to speed as Coach Gondak accepts the challenge from co-blogger Nick Scarpello. More to come if the folks Gondak has called out accept the challenge.

On an unrelated topic, Shana Cox has helped The United Kingdom follow up their bronze medal 4x400 at the Commonwealth Games with another bronze at the European Championships. Results here

Post by Nick Scarpello.

Post by Penn State Cross Country and Track and Field.

Update: Mark Parker was challenged by Kobe Bryant and accepted as well.

Nike President & CEO Mark Parker accepts @KobeBryant's #ALSIceBucketChallenge http://t.co/5gTI8fcM2Q pic.twitter.com/IvIfPMBYdD
— Heidi Burgett (@heidiburgett) August 18, 2014

More Old-Timey Goodness From All Over

We've had an influx of new members to our group, and some increased activities from "old" members too.  We've also had some nice notes of encouragement from other Alumni Groups wondering just what the heck are we up to.

I tell everyone who asks that question the same thing.  Without any hesitation or hint of doubt, I tell them we are working to become the largest and most active Track and Field Alumni Group in the whole world.  And I have no doubt.  We all belong to the largest College Alumni Group* in the world already, so its only a matter of time.

New member Steve Bratt brings us this great photo of the 1975 Cross country team:

Some great things I see on there are:

1. John Zeigler's glasses!
2. Mark Parker's glasses! (what's up with that!)
3. Bill Sheskey's hair!
4. Tim Backenstose's hair! (and he's as skinny as Ziggy!)
5. That's Steve Bratt next to Bill Sheskey with the same smile as Coach Groves!

Steve also submitted a results page for the 1978 Nittany Valley Marathon, which backs up my previous story of helping three of our better milers to their first run over 15 miles in their lives (actually 17 in the PSU tradition!).  I "taught" Larry Mangan, Mike Wyatt and Tom Rapp to hold back at the start of the race and only increase pace every five miles.  We made it all the way to third place at 20 miles before I faded. (In my defense I had pneumonia only 3 weeks earlier!)  All 3 went on to beat me in quite remarkable times considering the cold and snow-covered roads and the fact that they never ran more than "15" before.  Also note how I had to scramble to beat Liz Berry and Coach Groves! It also may be the only time I ever beat Gary Black! Also note the 53 year-old Hersh Leibowitz running a 3:25 marathon!  He gets more amazing to me every year looking back at things. (RIP Hersch).

 

Here's a pic dedicated Golfer  Bill Malchano dug out of his "Way Back" drawer, showing that like Paul Souza, he once had hair! (Hey Bill, I remembered the "A" this time!)

Bill Malchano in the Ice Palace!

*Ah, heck, maybe Michigan or Ohio State has a larger group.  I'm not even going to look it up. I feel like John Belushi asking "Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor...?" (RIP Harold Ramis)

It Isn't Too Early to Prepare For Golf!

Dave Matson demonstrates skills valuable for the Coach Groves Golf Tourney.

The Universe of PSU Track and Field Alumni never ceases to amaze me.  As I've taken the job of herding cats to come to the Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney every year, I have been constantly amazed at the variety of talents we possess as a group.

Art is something I know almost nothing about.  Despite appearances, I do know a lot about many, many things.  Trivia and general knowledge are among my interests.  But Art is not among those things.

Former Lion and current President of Nike Inc. Mark Parker is an avid collector.  Some of his collection adorn his office in Beaverton.  Here's an article featuring a day in his life in the Wall Street Journal. But my ignorance of Art makes me unable to discern the differences between his collection and those of Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum on Route 30 between Gettysburg and Chambersburg.

Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum.

Mark Parker in his office.

I have attempted to herd Mark and Kathy to our event many times.  I can certainly understand their inability to attend.  I have even promised to be possibly the only person on Earth to not ask them for money when I see them.  Everyone who has attended one of our events knows that everyone is an equal in our group.  I promise to treat each and every person just as shabbily as the next person!*

*I actually make that promise often.  People are treated quite well, however.  Only 2 people have told me they didn't enjoy themselves, and one of those returned again anyway.

Love Them/Hate Them But Don't Doubt Their Influence

Nike has made an impact on our sport like no other single company.  I personally have run more than 99% of my miles in Nikes and prefer them far beyond any other shoes I have dabbled with.  And PSU has had a big influence on Nike, from its current leadership (Mark Parker) to JoePa's influence on Phil Knight.  There are plenty of detractors too, which is their right.

The AlSal I ran "with" in 1975.

But one thing I did not know, was that at the beginning of Alberto Salazar's Nike Project, a lunch with Tom Clarke PhD (PSU Biomechanics) and some scribbled notes on a napkin led to AlSal's Coaching tenure.

I always thank Tom for being one of two people who realized I had run my best time at PSU in the 10K despite being lapped by Greg Fredericks twice.  The other was Don Ziter.  Thanks again to both of you!