Update 11-21-06

Hi,

Yep, slightly late today.  But it is Thanksgiving week, and I did have to pick up a turkey.

    First, more good news about Andy Dolich, from an article on the University of Oregon's business wire, Wednesday, November 15, 2006:
   
    NBA's Andy Dolich Joins Warsaw Sports Marketing Center as Executive Fellow
   
        Andy Dolich, president of business operations for the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzlies, has been named a 2006-2007 Woodard Family Foundation Executive Fellow at the James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business.  Considered one of the top executives in professional sports, Dolich will tap more than 35 years of industry experience to conduct public lectures and student workshops as well as advise faculty on research and education programs at the internationally-recognized Warsaw Center.
        "Andy Dolich is a perfect fit for the Woodard Executive Fellowship," said Paul Swangard, Warsaw Center managing director. "His passion, integrity and leadership in the industry match the core values of our program. Our students, faculty and stakeholders will all benefit from his presence here."
        Dolich will give the keynote address at the Warsaw Center's annual Sports Executive Luncheon at the Harvard Club in New York City on January 10th and will travel to Eugene later in the year to teach an intensive workshop for both undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, Dolich will serve as a resource to faculty to make sure the center's current curriculum and research agenda is meeting the needs of a constantly evolving sports industry.
        "The Warsaw Center is a market leader," noted Dolich, a graduate of Ohio University's Sports Management Program. "I'm honored to be providing a strong industry perspective to further elevate the Center's research and education mission." There are hundreds of sports business programs, yet only a select few are truly providing the training that the growing sports industry requires. The Warsaw Center delivers graduates who can make an immediate impact in the world of sports."
        Dolich has been responsible for the business and marketing of the Grizzlies since being appointed as president of business operations in May 2000 by team owner Michael Heisley. In June 2001, the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis. Dolich led a management team that completed the Herculean task of establishing roots in their new home in less than 120 days. Dolich also heads the operation of FedExForum, the team's new downtown arena, which is viewed as one of the finest sports and entertainment venues in the country. He has held a variety of executive positions within professional sports including the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, pro soccer and lacrosse. He is credited with having been the driving force behind the marketing resurgence of the Oakland A's with whom he worked from 1980 to 1994. Dolich helped change the face of sports team advertising through the award winning "Billyball" campaign. Dolich was formerly president and chief operations officer of the Golden State Warriors and began his career with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1971.
        The fellowship program is funded by an endowment from the Woodard Family Foundation. Past recipients include Rich Luker, ESPN-Chilton Sports Poll founder and Steve Miller, Devine Sports chief executive officer.  Further information about the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center:  Founded in 1993, the James H. Warsaw Sports Marketing Center was the first program of its kind housed within a U.S. college of business. Uniting faculty members across multiple disciplines, the Warsaw Center provides a platform for both research and education focusing on the $500 billion dollar sports industry.  As a faculty and staff, the Warsaw Center has emerged as a leading industry research center and think-tank for sports business issues. Faculty members have published research on topics ranging from stadium finance to consumer behavior and sponsorship. As a respected and growing research center, the Warsaw Center is now frequently tapped by leading media organizations to offer perspective and insight on the industry's top stories. Faculty and staff have been featured on ABC's "Nightline," ESPN's "Outside the Lines," CNBC's "Money Talk," Forbes, Business Week, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today. Sports Illustrated ranked the Warsaw Center the nation's top program in October of 2002 and The Wall Street Journal grouped the center in the top five programs in 2006.  In addition to the academic programs, the center also actively pursues and engages in industry research and consulting. For more information about the Warsaw Center, visit http://www.warsawcenter.com/
   
    Next, several quick notes:
   
    From Peggy Cooper Schwartz:  I was so moved by Karin Sofarelli's letter.  I just went on Amazon and ordered my copy of Letters On The Wall by Karin's son, Michael.  What a wonderful tribute the book is, not only to Michael's father, but to all the Vietnam Vets.  I have visited The Wall many times, with my husband and children, and it is always a heart-rending experience.
   
    From Booker Gibson:  I have to correct something from the class of '66 reunion notes.  Fridays and Saturdays, I play piano at a local restaurant, so I couldn't go to the '66 reunion.  Unfortunately, I just missed an opportunity to hear Bob Brenner's piano work!
   
    From Paul Zegler:  Doing my rehab three times a week and starting to work on my new one-man show.  Best to everyone.
   
    Finally, it's been just over three years since Vince Tampio's death, and I've been meaning to write something about that for most of this month.  When Amy Lieberman, Paul Zegler, and I had lunch at the end of the summer, they couldn't believe it had really been three years since Vince died.  Also, instead of thinking it had been less time, they thought it was more, especially since it seemed we'd given out the scholarship in his name so many times.  But we started the scholarship almost immediately after he died, and it really has only been three years.
        The other thing that Amy, Paul, and I talked about was going to Vince's grave, to pay our respects.  Then we realized that we didn't know where he was buried, or if he had a grave, or if he'd been cremated.  And if he had been cremated, had the ashes have been put in a grave?  It took me a while to chase down the phone number I had for his childhood friends from Ohio, the ones who'd taken care of his funeral and were executors of his estate.  They've lived in California for a long time now, but when I finally did find the phone number and called, they happened to be in Ohio.  Still, one pleasure of cell phones is getting through to people even when they're not where you think they are.  In any case, I asked if they'd moved back to Cleveland, but Marian Manuele said, "No, we're just visiting some even older friends."  When I asked if Vince had been buried, and if so where, she sort of laughed a little.  "No," she said, "he's actually in our family room, on the mantle."  I also asked if Vince's mother had been buried, because she'd died only about a short time before Vince.  Marian Manuele said, "No, Ida's on the other end of the mantle in our family room."  So it looks like Vince is being well taken cared of, and if he eventually does get buried, it may be with Bob and Marian Manuele.  But they're still healthy and only in their mid-70s, so they'll probably be around for a while.  There's also a chance that they'll end up on the mantle in their son's family room.  And since their son is also Vince's godson, if you want to visit Vince, his mother, and his childhood friends in another fifteen years, you may have to go to a family room in Corona.
   
    Happy Thanksgiving, of course.