Reunions

One of the benefits of retirement is the flexibility it affords. And one benefit of that flexibility is that you have time to do some things you might not have been able to do previously.

Like reunions.

I told you previously about re-connecting with members of my high school graduating class. I've attended two of its quarterly get-togethers and plan to do the upcoming one next month.

I was also invited to join a group of former Children's Hospital employees. The group gets together for regular lunch gatherings. I was happy to receive the invitation but, honestly, when I went to the luncheon last Friday, I wasn't sure many people would remember me. 

What's the current phrase? "It's been a minute." Indeed, it has been a little while since I was hired for my first PR job, managing internal publications, for ETCH (recently re-branded as Dolly Parton Children's Hospital). I worked there for three years until I went back to grad school.

So, even though it was a glorious ride, it was a relatively short one.

I wasn't sure my former co-workers would remember this young fella (especially without his early 90s era button suspenders).

I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a group of more than 20 Children's alumni at the meet-up. Upon my arrival, I was the recipient of many hugs and handshakes. And rather than folks not remembering me, some were afraid I wouldn't remember them. 

I did.

In fact, one of the "other duties as assigned" for a P.R. practitioner is to build relationships; to create a professional network. It is important to do so within the external community but you also do it within the structure of your organization.

So, I remembered many of the doctors, nurses and administrators who were enjoying lunch together as many were a part of that vital network. In an instant, a flood of memories of those former co-workers came rolling back. I recalled patient stories I wrote and interviews with staff that made those possible. I remembered hospital special events for which I provided support and the teamwork and camaraderie we shared.

And indeed, there was a lot of shared camaraderie around the table on Friday.

It was a special organization to serve.  I experienced a great deal of genuine warmth and found it was a great place to begin my public relations career. I feel honored to have had that opportunity. 

And I was so glad the group reached out to include me in this get-together.  You can count on me heading back for the next one.

JG

Supply Change

In the days when the term "supply chain" was in its infancy, I worked in an organization that bought "a lot of stuff."

The group controlling inventory adopted the term as its departmental name. The only problem was, the area technical clerk didn't get the memo about the official name. She referred to the department as "Supply ChaNGE" and would answer the telephone accordingly.

She put a very sweet southern whang on the end of the phrase and it really sounded like "supply chayunge..."

I always thought her rationale, though inaccurate, was fairly logical. If you have 50 cases of copy paper on the shelves and someone comes and takes away two of them, you are down to 48 cases. And, at that point, you did, indeed, experience: Supply. Change. 

The supermarket where we often shop is going through its own version of supply change at the moment. In fact, I'd call it a major renovation.

In fact, many customers would call it a major disruption. 

Out front, there are large metal storage pods. Who knows what is inside. Maybe part of the supply yet to change? The familiar layout of the store has changed to a great degree as has the parking lot.

The other day, as I was checking out, I heard the customer in front of me grumbling about the disruption. The checker confessed to her that, at last count, the store had received more than 10,000 complaints.

Count me as one of them. When I had a chance to complete a customer survey recently, I expressed my dismay.

Very few people like change. Many of us will deal with it. But it is a bitter pill to swallow when you feel, in your heart, the change will likely stick it to you in the end.

Just recently, we clicked a button on the store chain app that caused our fuel discount points to evaporate like gas vapers in a mid-July breeze. I asked about the disappearance and the young cashier grabbed a flier and said, "Well, yes, we're doing some things differently. This should explain it." Basically it is an either/or scenario. Either = more money for the consumer. Or = fine print that sounds beneficial but really isn't.

Rolls eyes. "The Man" strikes again!. We'll make sure to un-click the app button.

Meanwhile, the fear is, at the very least, all of these changes are designed by some super duper marketer type who pitched the re-design as a way to, inadvertently, cause customer confusion adding up to more profits. After all, if you can keep the customer in the store an average of 12.5 additional seconds during each visit it translates into increased purchases of $2.94. Multiply that by the 10,000 complainers and...

Well, you get the picture.

An even more draconian view is that the supermarket is going to take away some of your favorite items or preferred brands. Or, like the bean counter's rationale, take away the discounted brands and force the consumer into making a more premium purchase. That will add another 40 cents to the average increase.

I think, maybe, that's why our fuel points went "pffft."

Anyway, at the end of the day, we're just grumbling because we're confused.  And we'd be a little less concerned if the same chain hadn't done previous comprehensive renovations. All with similar outcomes to what we fear.

Earlier this week, I went to purchase heavy duty lawn bags. I meandered down the rows where the same item used to be housed. I came away empty-handed. Eventually, I found myself near the aisle with the make-up and hair dye and, voila, off to the side were the trash bags.

Zoinks! 

When I overheard the conversation mentioned earlier, the checker told the customer ahead of me, this "redesign" is expected to continue for months - even though there are signs all over the place saying the big whatever is "coming soon."

So, here's my question: will the back to school items be housed in the mustard and mayo row? Will I find the Halloween candy in the bread aisle? 

Please, a return to normalcy. At least in time for the holidays.

JG

ASG 2026

Last night, the American League shut out the National League 4-0 in the 2026 All Star Game, the 96th in history. In fact, the NL only managed 3 hits while striking out a whopping 15 times.

There wasn't a lot of memorable action in the game. Really, the ceremonies (pre-game and in-game) were the things I'll take away from this edition.

If we somehow forgot the game was being played in Philly, FOX surely kept reminding us. Yeah, yeah, we get it.

Now in the books, last night's game fits into the on-going tapestry. Ninety-six squares and counting. Heroes and highlights. Magic moments. 

I remember many of the most vivid ones. Some might say that means #CoachJeff is getting older. OK, I'll accept that. But it sure has been fun to watch them along the way. Family tradition.

As I set my own personal calendar, the Midsummer Classic really does feel like the mid-point. This was really true during my school-age years. It was often one of the biggest highlights of summer when life was lived at a slower pace.  

As a tyke, I remember watching the 1970 All Star Game. So, I guess that was my first. 

Through the years, here are some I remember:

1970 - Pete Rose barreled into catcher, Ray Fosse, at home plate to score a walk-off win for the N.L.

1971 - Reggie Jackson hit a towering home run onto the roof of old Tiger Stadium in Detroit. 

1979 - Dave Parker threw a rope to home plate to nail Brian Downing at home plate at the Kingdome in Seattle.

1993 - John Kruk's shaky at bat vs. Randy Johnson.

1999 - Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams was greeted on the field at Fenway Park by the '99 All Stars.

2000 - Hometown star, Chipper Jones, tied the game with a home run in Atlanta at Turner Field.

2002 - The 2002 Midsummer Classic ended in a tie when both teams, famously, ran out of pitchers. 

2025 - The National League won the 2025 All Star Game on a "swing off" after the American League rallied from a 6-0 deficit. 

What moments will we all remember from the 2026 game? Fifteen Ks? One hit batsman (and a lot of fingers crossed that he wasn't hurt). Lots of pageantry surrounding America250. 

And how will the 2026 ASG fit into the 96 year fabric of the game?

What were your favorite moments (past and present)? Drop us a line and let #CoachJeff know your highlights from last night and yesteryear.

JG

Eyeball QSO

In the amateur radio world, there are a number of "Q signals." QSO, for instance, means an on-air contact. 

An "Eyeball QSO," then,is when you meet a fellow amateur radio operator in person. So, you see each other eyeball to eyeball.

I had the opportunity for just such of a meet-up last Saturday. Lisa and I drove to Middle Tennessee and I had lunch with a number of members of the Tennessee Contest Group (TCG). I had previously completed QSOs with some of the operators. And for others, it was the first time to meet them.

Either way, it was great fun. We all talked shop. Exchanged stories. Made future plans. And had some good food and fellowship in the process.

An added bonus: Lisa and I discovered there is a Tim Horton's in Lebanon, TN (just down the road from where the lunch bunch gathered).

As for the meet-up, the more I go into this ham radio re-boot of mine—now nearly five years—I am finding this aspect of the hobby is one of my favorites. It's one thing to exchange dits and dahs over the airwaves.

That's really cool.

But then to meet the person from the other end of the QSO in person. That's really special.

For some hams, it's not important. For me, it is becoming one of the most important factors. To meet the person behind the signal. To learn a little about them. To see them in person.

I did it when I met my friend, Tim, in Seattle two years ago. I did it again last summer at Hamvention when I spent time with so many. And now, a meet up with TCG colleagues.

Moving forward, I have a table full of new contacts I've met in person. And I will hope to build on those connections moving forward and do other similar get-togethers as time and opportunity allows.

JG

Maps, Logistics & Baseball: A CoachJeff Trifecta

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know there are certain topics that seem to come up again and again.

Baseball, of course. But also maps, travel, geography, lists, and transportation also make the Top 10 list. If #CoachJeff had not pursued a college major in communications, I could easily have seen myself doing well in logistics. 

Anyway, all that to say, when I re-discovered the baseball fandom maps I mentioned last week, I knew I was in trouble. It's easy for me to lose myself for hours on a website like that.

A reminder: In last Thursday's edition–Dodger Blue–I wondered aloud about Dodger fans in East Tennessee. That thought prompted a search of my internet bookmarks until I found the NY Times map of MLB Fandom.

On this map, you can drill down to the very zip code. And the map lists the Top Three MLB teams in the area. The Times calls it "A Map of Baseball Nation."

The maps were created using estimates of team support based on how many Facebook users “liked” each team in a ZIP code. The Times curated the data to create the finished product.

When I took my deeper dive that I promised last week, I spent time looking at some interesting factors. 

For instance, there are vast swaths (think midwest and west) in which one team dominates. The Minnesota Twins, the Seattle Mariners, the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks all have huge geographic fanbases that stretch across numerous large states. 

I was also fascinated to see how large the fanbase is/was for the San Francisco Giants. Not only do the Giants dominate the Bay Area and Northern California in general, the geographic presence extends into middle California and into areas of Nevada, too. And Hawaii is also Giants territory.

Or was. That is when I found the fine print. The map was generated in 2014 - the heyday of Giant domination. The Giants won the World Series, you might recall, in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

But before I felt comfortable writing today's piece, I had to go see if there was a more recent map and, indeed, there is. It is generated by VividSeats.com and, as the name suggests, is based on MLB ticket sales. The map was created last year.

And, now, in the era of Dodger domination, LA is the team of choice in Hawaii.  Don't worry if you are a Giants fan, your geographic area is still huge as you can see.

For those of us in Braves Country, the map also confirmed what I hoped was true. The Braves own the region. Check out all that night midnight blue in the Southeast.

                          (Southeast section from VividSeats map)

And, as we'd expect, there is a Braves-Cardinals fandom line in TN (timely, considering they faced off last weekend). It exists just west of Nashville. There is a similar Reds-Cardinals line to the north in Kentucky. 

Another thought that came to mind...what of the two team cities?

As you might suspect, the Yankees dominate their market. They only cede Long Island counties to the Mets.

In a like manner, the Angels are only most popular in Orange County, CA. The surrounding area, like the cap in my story, is Dodger Blue. And in Chicagoland, there are only three counties that belong to the White Sox. As you'd imagine, they are the ones that touch the South Side. All others in the area are Cubs Country.

One last thought before I turn you loose to explore the maps for yourselves...I wonder what drives some of the random fan affiliation? Maybe some of you know the answers. If you're so inclined, check out the maps for yourself.

Meanwhile, I wonder, why:

Davis County, IA -- surrounded by Cubs, Royals and Cardinals fandom -- goes for the Colorado Rockies

Graham County, KS -- is Miami Marlins turf

Greene County, NC -- is San Diego Padres country

There are many more similar anomalies. Check them out.

You will note that, beyond the Southeast, there are patches of Braves Country scattered throughout our nation. And in fact, I've met many people from around the U.S. who are Braves fans. Much of it dates to the days when their games were broadcast on Superstation TBS during the vast expansion of cable television. 

So, from Wright County, MO to Prince George County, VA to Antelope County, NE you can find Braves fans. When we were at Fenway Park in May, there were numerous Braves fans in attendance as you can see behind the visitors' dugout. 

When you think of the coverage of the Superstation back in those days, its no wonder.

According to VividSeats, the Atlanta Braves are the MLB team favored in the highest number of counties across the nation. Clearly, the Superstation effect is real.

I'm acquainted with a devoted Braves fan in Muscogee County, GA and friends with one in Orange County, NC.  I know a Braves fan who hails from Sioux County, IA and another who lives in Suffolk, VA.

And of course, there are plenty right here in East TN.

JG

Dodger Blue

Yesterday, when I took my daily walk at a near-by park, I found a Los Angeles Dodgers ballcap on one of the park benches.

As I circled the track, my mind investigated a number of scenarios for how it might've been left at the park.

But before I get there, a confession. I'm not a big fan of the big-spender Los Angeles Dodgers.  In fact, I tend to root against these mega teams that have endless supplies of cash–and the Dodgers have taken that to new levels in recent years–and also receive endless fawning coverage from the elite national media. 

I think these big pocket books and prominent coverage tend to capture the casual fan.

Some years ago, for instance, a young man was listing his favorite sports teams to me. "New York Yankees. Duke Blue Devils college basketball, New England Patriots (during the Tom Brady years)..." I sneered, somewhat, and asked "Why don't you add the Los Angeles Lakers so you can have a complete set?"

He chuckled, and shook his head, somewhat sheepishly, as if to say "Yes, I know...frontrunner..."

Some years ago, I saw on one of those fan coverage maps that the New York Yankees were the third most popular team in Memphis, my old neck of the woods, behind the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Two out of three, I get. But why else in the Deep South would fans flock to a ball club so closely aligned with the big cities of the northeast?

I just re-visited the map and found that in the zip code where my grandfather's farm was located–and where my dad grew up and I once lived–the Yankees have leapfrogged the Cardinals. The Braves aren't even listed. The Red Sox–another elite, northeastern team–is now listed as the third most popular team.

By the way, if you are a map geek like me and want to burn a few hours of quality time, click here for the map. It's a fascinating look state by state, county by county and, yes, down to the zip code.

My theory, and this comes back to the conversation with the young man mentioned previously, is if you don't have a distinct rooting interest (like my friend, Tim, a reader of the blog, a midwesterner and devout Chicago Cubs fan), the casual fan will jump on the frontrunner train. It's true in western Tennessee, western Nebraska and even Key West, Florida. I'm sure there are exceptions, of course.

Programming note: I am going to peruse this updated map in more detail over the weekend. Look for a #CoachJeff post on the MLB Fandom Map next week.

I'll never forget my experience last summer with Holly and Paul when fans of the Bronx Bombers invaded Truist Park. The youthful fan sitting right next to me, with a syrypy sweet tea Southern accent, rooted for the Yankees with all his heart...just before he and the Mrs. drove back to Alpharetta (not Alphaville).

Front runners - most of 'em!

Which brings me back to the cap I found at the park yesterday and the questions that came to mind as I circled the track:

1. Why would someone leave such a nice, albeit slightly worn, cap there?
2. What would bring someone wearing Dodger Blue to my park in Farragut, Tennessee.

The Dodgers have surely become the beast of the league, with an unlimited payroll and the ability, it seems, to defer contracts out until the tricentennial. Maybe this fan is swooped up in Shoheimania. Or perhaps a Freddie Freeman fan who switched allegiances when the Dodgers plucked our former captain from the Braves roster four years ago?

Maybe she/he is a displaced Brooklynite or a SoCal expat. I doubt I will ever know the answer. 

In the meantime, if the person left the cap as a shrine to the Bums–Dodger greats of the past, it is a lovely tribute.

But, if the person just misplaced their lid, it's on the park bench near the water's edge.

JG

Analytics

It has been several years since I coached my last game for the Concord Choppers. And in the years since the final out was recorded. I've often thought about changes in the game over the last two decades.

In the age of analytics, I wonder how I might have fared. 

Some of my pre-game and post-game speeches to the ball club might seem woefully outdated by modern standards.

The teachings of me and my fellow coaches focused on simple principles:

For Pitchers:

• Spot your fastball and work off it
• Stay simple and consistent with your mechanics
• Trust your catcher

For Fielders:

• Keep your mind focused 
• Anticipate what you might do if the ball is hit to you before the pitch
• Trust the fundamentals and keep yourself in good fielding position

For Hitters:

• Don't try to do too much
• Take what the pitcher is giving you
• Chop the ball

In some ways, the "chopping" act played a part in the naming of the team. That and, well, everyone loves some good alliteration!

But that chopping point is, really, the focus of my thinking today. Recently, I've been thinking about how much coaching the game has changed in 20 years.

Our hitting philosophy worked on basic physics. By chopping down on the ball when you struck it, you'd create backspin which would, in turn, create loft. And truly, the Choppers hit many home runs and extra base hits during their run of success.

But now, in the age of the three true outcomes (home run, strike out, walk). I'm afraid our teaching wouldn't (ahem) fly. We taught our guys NOT to swing upward. Now, that approach is in vogue.

FIP. BABIP. WAR. Bleh.

I'm not making light of the terms, as they are key elements of the modern game which I love so much. But in our coaching era, they would have been nothing more than alphabet soup. Truly, the evolution was probably already underway behind the scenes while we were coaching as the "Moneyball" era took hold but hadn't trickled down to our level.

But by the mid 20-teens, long after the Choppers left the dugout, baseball analytics became the rage everywhere. And indeed, you can't watch a broadcast today without such elements as launch angle, exit velocity and expected outcome. 

"Max effort" was something we taught our pitchers NOT to do. Now, it is the only way to consistently hit 100 MPH on the radar gun. And maybe it is why there are so many arm injuries for young hurlers. 

I suppose all sports have evolved. The hurry-up offense, in football, used to be a late game tactic when time was running out. Now, it can be featured the entire game (and often is). Basketball used to exist without the three point line. These days, the game is built around it.

So, it isn't shocking that our grand game would also modernize.

Still, I'd like to think that some of the basics we used to teach still resonate. Be on time. Hustle. Respect the game.

Those are winning principles in any era in my book.

JG