Working on the Cancer Problem

Several months ago, I attended the funeral of a long-time friend of mine who had succumbed to the devastating horrors of breast cancer. It was sad to see such a friendly and optimistic person lose the battle against cancer after successfully beating it back on multiple occasions.

Then, just a few weeks ago, I learned that one of my longest-standing clients and good friends had been diagnosed with stage four cancer and began chemotherapy earlier this month. It was yet another moment in time when cancer was rearing its ugly head and attacking a good person.

One of the things I have learned as I have observed these two friends deal with cancer is that it is something that tends to affect everyone and that it typically brings people together. Chances are most people we know has been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly. Not only is it a dangerous and deadly disease, it is so common that almost every family gets hit by it sooner or later.

 

While it is a negative that so many lives are affected by cancer, it does open the door for great opportunities for those of us who feel compelled to be a part of the effort to fight it. As many of you may know, I have been working hard to grow my own business, Jupiter Promotions, and I have been fortunate enough recently to have added a couple of clients who put fighting cancer at the forefront of their efforts.

In helping work on the media relations for the Oklahoma City Auto Show, I was fortunate enough to get to publicize the efforts of the Metropolitan Auto Dealers Association in raising money for kids affected by cancer through 10 Strong. This local charity, which gives time and resources to helping raise the spirits of kids and families temporarily residing on the 10^th floor (the children’s cancer ward) of OU Children’s Hospital, was chosen as the recipient for money raised during the auto show Gala as well as from the popular Mini-Golf course.

Then, last week I was brought on board to share media relations efforts with Skyline Media while also taking on the role of social media coordinator for the St. Baldrick’s event taking place this Sunday. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised money to fund childhood cancer research since 1999, and the Oklahoma City chapter is now celebrating its 15^th year.

 

In the short time I have been working with this group, I have noticed a high level of enthusiasm and have felt welcome from the first moment I was asked to be a part of this amazing organization. It has been an exciting project to work on and the feedback I have received has been so supportive.

The people affected by cancer never deserve it and it is a painful and routinely lethal disease that doesn’t discriminate who it attacks. But I have learned that survivors and their families and friends only have one perspective when it comes to fighting cancer – they are optimistic and ready to fight. And I am so glad I have had the opportunity to be even just a small part of any effort to potentially eliminate cancer and its effects.

For many of us, we may be fortunate enough to never personally be affected by cancer. For those who have, however, they have my utmost respect and admiration, and I look forward to the day when cancer is a disease of the past and not a concern for the present and future. Everyone deserves that.

The Manbun needs to be Gone Gone

The other night I was watching a baseball game on ESPN while attempting to enjoy the start of the regular season when I saw something that caused me to turn off the game. It was Dallas Braden.

For those of you who don’t know him, I can understand. He was a little-known professional pitcher who occasionally was asked to make guest appearances on ESPN. I never thought much of him one way or another until after he retired. He was brought on board with ESPN full-time and it stood out to me that he had an arrogant way of delivering his message. He seemed like that cocky guy who had no reason to have even the lowest level of arrogance.

Maybe it was his curly hair fading off his significant male pattern baldness or possibly it was the finely groomed beard that just didn’t seem to look right. Well, he took his look in a completely different direction and proved to me that he could look worse. Much worse.

Now he has a beard that an Amish man might be proud of and he is wearing that same curly hair in a man bun, which is by far the worst thing anyone has ever done to hair in the history of life. The truth is my problem isn’t really with Dallas Braden as much as it is the man bun and other appearance destroyers that people seem to embrace.

The man bun is disgusting on so many levels that I don’t even know where to start. At some point, somebody looked at another man with a man bun and decided that might be a good appearance for themselves. It’s not. Attractive men who wear man buns decrease their level of attractiveness. Less than attractive men who wear man buns (which is most men who wear man buns) look like they haven’t showered in months and that they are begging to be exiled from society.

Women who spend time with men who wear man buns aren’t helping. I can only assume it has something to do with self-esteem issues or maybe something to do with having a crush on women who look like men or vice versa. Either way, it’s just bad. If you could berate them daily, then maybe they will go back to a normal look.

There are other things that people do to alter their appearance in a negative way – fashion statements, excess makeup, plastic surgery – but it seems as if hair changes are the ones that stand out the most. Whether it is a man perm or a mohawk or mullet or today’s man bun, they are just bad ideas that shouldn’t see the light of day. I mean, if the Thunder’s Kyle Singler wasn’t so bad of a player, what would we be saying about him? You guessed it – his awful hairstyle.

Dallas Braden is being shamed publicly for his bad choices (as is Kyle Singler) but many of you seem to be getting away with a really bad decision. If you don’t know better, then please get some people around you who have some taste and listen to them. Now.

A Basketball Season For The Ages

Before the NBA season started, there had been talk about the possibility of Russell Westbrook having an opportunity to have an MVP type of season. Kevin Durant had quit on the team and gone to Golden State, and Westbrook was left behind to lead a team that was filled with a bunch of role players.

Now, as the regular season is coming to a close, Westbrook is having one of the all-time greatest seasons in the history of the NBA. He is averaging a triple-double (double digits in points, rebounds and assists) and seems likely to continue that through the rest of the season. There is equally as likely a chance that he will break Oscar Robertson’s record for triple-doubles in a season that was set in 1962.

The numbers by Westbrook should be enough for him to be the MVP. He is clearly playing at a higher and more consistent level than anyone else in the NBA, including former Thunder draft pick James Harden. While Westbrook and Harden are first and second in points per game, Westbrook averages 2.7 more than “The Beard.” Harden is first in assists, averaging less than an assist a game more than Westbrook. Amazingly enough, Westbrook ranks 10^th in rebounds, averaging 2.5 more rebounds than the next closest guard.

The cases that have been made at various times this season for guys like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, KD, and Isaiah Thomas have mostly gone away at this point. Leonard is the best defensive player in the group but he lacks the flash overall and he has the best coach. James is probably the best player, but this hasn’t felt like a very good year for him and especially his Cavs. KD has missed too much time (sound familiar, Thunder fans?) and Thomas just never seemed to have much backing for what has been a great season from a vastly undersized player. Plus, he has a reputation for being a defensive liability.

So, really, the only competition at this point is between Westbrook and Harden. So, let’s compare. Westbrook was a conference defensive player of the year in college. Harden has videos all over the place showing him giving no effort defensively. Westbrook has missed no games this season and the team wins at a much better percentage when he has a triple double. Harden has missed one game and the Rockets won on the road in that game.

This latter point brings us to a major area of contention that seems clear to me. Houston has better players around Harden. Eric Gordon won the three-point shooting contest this year. Lou Williams was leading the Lakers in scoring before being traded to the Rockets. Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley, Ryan Anderson and Nene Hilario are all guys who have been considered better than their Thunder counterparts during their careers.

Throw in that Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni has a reputation for building stats and is probably going to be the coach of the year, and it seems obvious that Westbrook is outplaying Harden this season. Plus, when everyone thinks back on this season, they aren’t going to remember why Harden won. Russ is the choice. He is the only choice.