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March 19, 2024

The question “What’s your favorite sports movies?” was raised this past weekend and here are my 25 favorite sports movies (alphabetical order):

Bad News Bears, Brian’s Song, Bull Durham, Caddy Shack, Chariots of Fire, Cinderella, Coach Carter, Facing the Giants, Field of Dreams, Friday Night Lights, Glory Road, Hoosier’s, Invincible, Million Dollar Baby, Miracle, Radio, Raging Bull, Remember the Titans, Rocky, Rudy, Something for Joey, 61, The Karate Kid, The Natural, and We Are Marshall.

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March 19, 2024

Bingo, which first debuted in 1930, continues to grow in popularity with people of all ages, and according to studies, one of the great benefits of bingo is it can sharpen your memory.

Some other interesting facts I learned is if you enjoy winning, bingo’s your game since 96 percent of all bingo players have won at some point during their playing days. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

I read today that October is “National Popcorn Popping Month.”
 

This is the first I’ve heard there’s a month recognized for popping popcorn. I also learned that Americans annually consume an amazing 54 quarts of popcorn per capita.
 

For more popcorn facts and some rather unique recipes, like edible popcorn party bowls (I’m not kidding) – you can follow this link to the official popcorn web site.
 
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Ron Goch,
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March 19, 2024

I’ve always been intrigued with inventions, and I learned the other day that someone is working on creating a motorcycle that can convert into a snowmobile.
 

I checked out the website, and although the machine wasn’t exactly how I pictured it might be, it’s a great concept and I’ll be interested to see if this invention actually makes it to the market.
 

You can check out the website here.
 
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Ron Goch,
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March 19, 2024

There are ample jobs available to youth looking for summer jobs, according to a story in The New York Times this past weekend, but not as many kids are looking to work at the state parks, summer camps or lifeguard at the lakes as they did years ago.
 
Instead, according to the article, students are seeking internships – paid and unpaid – that provide hands-on experience and assist in building their resume. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

Winona State, winners of an NCAA Division II men’s basketball record 56 consecutive games dating back to last season when they won the National Championship and my alma mater, won a hard-fought game in overtime last night over Central Missouri to advance to tomorrow’s NCAA Division II National Championship game against Barton (Wilson, NC) College. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

Winona State – the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, winners of a record 56 consecutive games, and my alma mater – advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four last night with its 64-51 win over previously unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Bentley (Mass.) in the NCAA Division II quarter-finals.

In the birthplace of basketball – Springfield, Mass. – the Warriors will put their 56-game winning streak on the line tonight against the Mules of Central Missouri, who are ranked No. 6 in the country and 31-3. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

While flying on a plane yesterday, I read about the new Airbus A380.  It’s a super-jumbo plane that has a wingspan of 261 feet – that’s nearly the length of a football field. It’s eight stories tall and weighs 12 million pounds.
 
Comparing the super-jumbo to Charles Lindbergh’s ground-breaking flight in 1927, the Spirit of St. Louis weighed a mere 5, 000 pounds. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

Kids Who Survived the 70s
For all of you who survived the years prior to the 70s, you may enjoy reading the following email I received this week.  Here it is:
 

To all the kids who survived the 1930’s 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s: (more…)

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March 19, 2024

I was one of the many sports fans who missed the NHL All-Star Game. Grant it, I’m not your typical rabid hockey fan, but apparently, that’s true of many sports fans around the country.

According to the USA Today, the all-stars only attracted 474, 000 households, down a whopping 76 percent from the last NHL All-Star Game played in 2004. (more…)

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March 19, 2024

As the Super Bowl, featuring Da Bears and Colts, nears, I’ve been receiving a handful of emails referencing the Da Bears and I’ll be sharing some of these emails with short stories in my blog posts from time-to-time.

Here’s one email I received titled a “True Bears Fan.”

A man had 50 yard line tickets for the Bear’s game. As he sits down a man comes down and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him. “No, ” he says, “the seat is empty.” (more…)

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March 19, 2024

As someone who was born in Chicago, grew up watching and cheering for the Chicago Bears, and an owner of a VHS copy of the Super Bowl Shuffle – the last time the city was in a frenzy when the Bears won the 1985 Super Bowl – it’s only fitting to share the Chicago Bears Fight Song in today’s post as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts in South Florida on Feb 4 in the 2007 Super Bowl! (more…)

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March 19, 2024

Ever since the first time I boarded a plane, I’ve been amazed by the fact a plane  that weighs so much and carries so many passengers can even get off the ground let alone fly so swiftly 30, 000 feet in the air.  It’s just amazing to me.
 
Whether I’m flying on a CRJ-700 – which can accommodate up to 70 passengers – or a 777-200 that can carry 268 passengers, I’m fascinated with each and every take-off.
 
Not only do these planes carry 70 to 268 passengers, but they have cruising (ground) speeds of 544 to 550 mph. That’s Incredible.
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

It’s Friday the 13th and there are some people who think this is a day of bad luck.
 

What do you think?
 

I’ve been involved in sports an awful long time, and have witnessed many superstitious rituals during that time by coaches and players.
 

But, just as I didn’t take much stock in superstitious rituals when it comes to sports, I don’t take much stock in Friday the 13th being a day of bad luck.
 

In fact, I’m feeling pretty lucky! How about you? Are you feeling a bit superstitious or lucky?
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

Do you make a fashion statement with your jeans?  My favorite pair of jeans is my wife’s least favorite jeans.  They have too many holes to count, but no worries, each are patched so the way I see it, there are no holes.
 

They’re the most comfortable pair of jeans I own, and I’ve owned them – along with the rest of my limited number of jeans – for many years.
 

According to James Sullivan, author of “Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon, ” Jeans need celebrities and celebrities need jeans.
 

I can relate to needing a comfortable pair of jeans.  My wife has tried unsuccessfully to toss my jeans versus patching them one more time, and I just can’t part with them.  Why should I buy a brand new pair of jeans I need to “break-in” when I can simply patch my “premium” pair?
 

Oops, I’m getting ahead of myself here.  See, James’ book examines the relationship between celebs and “premium” jeans.
 

I’m not sure my faded and well-patched Old Navy jeans would be considered “premium” to others – definitely not to my wife – but trust me, they’re “premium” jeans when it comes to comfort.
 

So the next time you think about tossing those old jeans of yours because they have a hole in them, consider adding a patch or two and you’ll be well on your way to owning a pair of “premium” jeans.
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

If you were asked to rank where the United States ranks in terms of business competitiveness, where do you think the U.S. stacks up?
 

According to a World Economics Forum, Switzerland is No. 1 in the world, while the USA slipped to sixth!  That’s embarrassing.
 

Rounding out the rest of the top five are Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Singapore, and seven through 10 are Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain.
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

I read an article this weekend about a dream some folks have in Kent, Washington to raise money to build a non-profit Hispanic community center.

It sounds like a great idea and I know first-hand the center would benefit many people.

While growing up in Illinois, I had the pleasure of volunteering at our local community center as a youth and enjoyed everything the center offered. Not only did I learn the benefits of volunteering in the community and working with people, but I stayed out of trouble and contributed to the community in a positive way.

With record growth of the Hispanic community throughout the United States, the idea and dream of some day building a community center in Kent that will provide all Hispanics with a wide range of services is an excellent idea, and one that will likely be a reality in the very near future.

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

How’s Your Stick-to-itiveness?

Are You Limited By Others?

Are you limited by others expectations of you?

Do you feel like others place limitations on you?

Have you ever considered how you could overcome those limitations and exceed other people’s expectations versus believing and reinforcing those beliefs others have of you?

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

Did you know July is National Hot Dog Month?

I know this may sound un-American to some of you, but I don’t eat hot dogs. I likely have been called a “hot dog, ” and I like Dotson dogs, which look like a hot dog waddling down the street, but I’m not one of the people who consumed over 150 million hot dogs over the Fourth of July.

Here’s another fact I didn’t know, but thanks to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, I now know that mustard – not ketchup – is the most popular condiment.

If you’re interested to brush up on more hot dog trivia, you can visit hot-dog.org.

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

Another great message in the movie “Five People You Will Meet in Heaven” is “Our eyes aren’t the same.”

I take this to mean that what two people see may be very different. It’s sometimes amazing how that happens. Two people in the same place and in the same situation, yet they each see two very different things. How does this happen? Easily and often!

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

Have you ever thought to yourself what people will say at your funeral? I had not thought about this question until recently when I overheard someone ask this question.

I reflected on the question and thought I’d share this intriguing question along with many other questions for you to consider.

Who do you think will attend your funeral? Who will give your eulogy?

What are you hopeful your family, friends, co-workers, church friends, neighbors and colleagues memories of you will be?

Have you given this much thought?

As an exercise, have you ever been asked to write your own obituary?

Will the stories people tell be humorous, sad, or appreciative? Will the stories reflect a life of balance, purpose, and meaning?

Have you made deposits in each of the areas of your life?

Will the honest and unguarded comments about you and the life you lived be positive and inspiring?

Have you expressed appreciation to everyone in your life?

How will you be remembered as a friend, as a husband/wife…as a son/daughter…as a neighbor…as a colleague?

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

Congratulations to the Ole Miss Rebels – one of The Telios Group’s partners and an athletics program we’ve had the pleasure of working with the last two years – on winning the 2006 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament Championship.  You can read about the Rebels earning the ’06 SEC Championship here.
 

Ole Miss has also been awarded one of baseball’s NCAA Regional sites this weekend, and will play host to two of The Telios Group’s other partners, Tulane and South Alabama in Oxford.
 

It should be a terrific regional and we wish all the teams the very best!
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

Did you hear about the latest millionaire coach?  I know, it seems like every day there’s a new millionaire coach, but this one is very special.
 

Her name is Pat Summitt and she’s the first female women’s basketball coach to be rewarded with a million dollar per year contract.
 

You can read about it here at espn.com.
 

I first came to know Pat when we worked together at Tennessee.  Many know Pat around the country as the all-time wins leader among basketball coaches, men or women, but there are many who don’t know about her countless efforts off the court.
 

Pat routinely gives back to the community – both the basketball community as well as the Knoxville community – and she’s always been supportive of all that’s required of her time off the court to grow the Tennessee women’s basketball program as well as women’s basketball in general.
 

It was certainly my pleasure to work with Pat and I’m happy for her and her family (R.B. and Tyler) that she has been rewarded with a new six-year contract that makes Pat the first women’s basketball coach to earn one million dollars per year.  She’s well worth every penny.
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

I received the following short story from a friend and felt motivated to share it with you today.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and pass it on.
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I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries I wasn’t hungry. The pain of losing my husband of seven years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
 

He often came with me and almost every time he’d pretend to go off and look
for something special. I knew what he was up to. I’d always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.
 

He knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.
 

Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two. Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered
how he had loved his steak.
 

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft
green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped
them in her basket.. Hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.
 

She saw me watching her and she smiled. “My husband loves T-bones, but
honestly, at these prices, I don’t know.”
 

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. “My husband passed away eight days ago, ” I told her. Glancing at the package
in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. “Buy him the
steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.”
 

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.
 

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.
 

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.
 

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. “These are for you, ” she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. “When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for.” She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again.I wanted to tell her what she’d done, what the roses meant, but still unable
to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision. I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear.
 

I wasn’t alone.
 

Oh, you haven’t forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.
 

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

Last Monday I wrote about how I enjoyed an isle seat. Well, ironically, I was flying to Los Angeles on business last week and there were no isle seats to and from Los Angeles, and luckily I had my second choice available, window seats.

I took full advantage of the spectacular Utah mountain views – which I could see more often if I sat near the window whenever I depart on a plane – but I really enjoy the isle seat, the leg room and freedom to come and go from an isle seat without inconveniencing those sitting next to me.

I enjoyed the window seat because of the views, but glad it was a short flight, and would enjoy sitting on the isle the next time I fly.

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group 

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March 19, 2024

Whether I’m on a plane (as I was this morning), or at church (as I was yesterday), or at a sporting event (as I am frequently) – I prefer an isle seat.
 

How about you? Do you like the isle seat, window seat or does it matter?
 

What does that say about me and others who prefer an isle seat wherever we go? Does it mean we like our leg space? I do. Does it mean we like access to the isle without jumping over someone on a plane, at church or at a sporting event? I know I prefer the freedom versus jumping over someone to exit a row.
 

I’m not sure if it means anything at all. I just found it ironic yesterday, as I drifted off in thought, that I enjoy an isle seat wherever I go. I only thought of this when it came to flying, but now that I’ve thought about where I sit at most events, it’s on the isle whenever it’s available.
 

How about you?  Do you prefer an isle seat, or do you like the window seat when you fly?  How about when you attend events, does it matter whether you’re on the isle or in the middle of the seats?
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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March 19, 2024

I don’t know about you, but from time-to-time, I find myself working in my sleep.
 

It’s amazing to me when I plan my day’s tasks the evening before, how I can sleep, dream and work my way through some of the tasks on the list.  It’s kind of fun actually.
 

Have you ever experienced this?  It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?
 

But every now and then, there’s something that keeps me awake and I can’t capture that sound sleep I was hopeful to enjoy when my head hit the pillow.
 

It might be that one thing I know I should have done but failed to finish the day before, or something I haven’t found an answer to, or the next great idea that has my mind awake, moving in a million directions and there’s no way I’m going to get back to sleep.
 

Well, it happened to me last night.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t a “great idea” that suddenly had me rolling out of bed at 3:06 am.  Just one of those nights when a million thoughts trampled through my brain and I started feeling guilty that I’m sleeping when there are so many other “productive” things I could be doing.
 

Ever feel that way?  I know, too many times!
 

So here I am writing the first post to The Telios Group’s blog, “What Kept Me Awake Last Night.”  How appropriate, but I must admit, it wasn’t planned.
 

In the days, weeks, and months ahead, I’ll share some of the things that keep me wake at night.  Hopefully I’ll have a thought or two that will be informative, or will make you think, react, respond, or look at something in a different way.
 

Maybe by consistently blogging I won’t have so much to say during the day.  Myy wife and kids can only hope.
 

Any way, thanks for checking in and checking out The Telios Group blog.  Until tomorrow, I hope you have an awesome day!
 

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Ron Goch, The Telios Group

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