Top-5 Mac Musings – September 3, 2025

CHECKING IN IS A GOOD THING
I had no idea what I was going to write about today and then I made a phone call in an attempt to procrastinate and now I have something to share.

Today I checked in on one of my former bosses, Oliver Pierce, the former Sports Information Director at Gonzaga University. I worked for him as a grad assistant while I was working on my Master’s Degree and he later helped me get my first “real job” at the University of San Diego. One of the real joys of my career in college athletics was spending 20-plus years working in the same conference working with friends and colleagues developed over the seasons and years.

Since many have since moved on to other careers and places it can be a struggle to keep up with them all, especially in the media overloaded world we live in now. As old school as it sounds, checking in on old friends and co-workers can be so rewarding and can really help reestablish relationships that have hibernated. 

On today’s call with Oliver we discussed sports, politics, job market conditions, Dodgers vs. Tigers, Packers vs. Lions and the sorry state of the Black Hawks and Red Wings. Just a delightful conversation and a good reminder that sometimes picking up the phone and randomly reaching out can really brighten your day and the person you dialed.

Make someone’s day. Call, don’t text. 

PASSAGES
September opened with the passing of two remarkable voices for justice. Longtime basketball coach and civil rights pioneer George Raveling and decorated actor Graham Greene passed away a day apart. 

George Raveling was working as security for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the Washington Mall. Remarkably the longtime coach ended up with the original final copy of the speech when Dr. King handed it to him. Raveling was a pioneer among Division I basketball coaches with stints at Washington State, Iowa and USC. He served as an assistant coach on Team USA at the 1984 Olympics, headlined by Michael Jordan. While at USC he was named National Coach of the Year by all major publications in 1992. After leaving the Trojans he worked as the Director of International Basketball for Nike. He was 88.

I had no personal connection with Coach Raveling, but my old boss Oliver was his Sports Information Director during his time at Washington State. He shared many stories of Coach’s greatness and kindness over the years and had nothing but good things to say about him on his passing.

My first recollection of Graham Greene was when I saw him in Kevin Costner’s epic “Dance With Wolves” where the Canadian First Nations member burst on the scene in a memorable role as Kicking Bird which earned him an Oscar nomination. The Grammy-winner appeared in dozens of other projects where he added humor, gravitas and stoic dignity. Last night I watched him in the Jeremy Renner vehicle Wind River and he stole every scene he was in as a Tribal police chief. He was 73.

My Top-5 Favorite Graham Greene Roles

1. Kicking Bird – Dances With Wolves
2. Malachi Strand – Longmire
3. Judge Dustin Foxman – Molly’s Game
4. Peter Yellowbear – Snow Dogs
5. Joseph – Maverick

Mac Musings for Wednesday, September 3.

1. How do I know that Dear Leader’s name is all over the Epstein Files – and not in a remotely good way? If it wasn’t he would have released them in imitation leather bound books to charge his cult $200 plus shipping and handling. He’d be selling them out of the Oval Office and out of the trunk of the Beast.
2. Release the files. Unredacted. All of them.
3. Indict everyone who did harm. Everyone.
4. So… that alleged speedboat that we sunk via preemptive drone strike. Have we released the names of all the bad guys on board yet? Have we confirmed they were bad guys? Have we mentioned how we were able to just shoot first and ask no questions? Or was this purely done on “vibes”. Seems like something Biden would have caught unending blowback from?
5. As a reminder: Saddaam Hussein got a trial. Pablo Escobar got a trial. That is all. 

Now Watching: Miami Vice – Jamie Foxx & Colin Ferrel

Now Reading: The Cellist – Daniel Silva

NO CONTEXT GIF

QUOTABLE

“Our self-talk is far more important than our conversations with those around us. The best part about the conversation with yourself is you’re in total control of that narrative.”

 – George Raveling, Coaching Pioneer