[Redrum]

...something comes along that isn\'t just crap.    The Cardboard gathering was one of those,  but it was the usual guerrilla op and the Cardboard has never, ever served up crap.

But for "official" Orange Bowl type functions,  the last event of the afternoon and night,  Stanford fans lucky enough to go to the West Coast get together at the Eden Roc got the good stuff.*  Instead of a ginned-up generic event like the pep rally on the beach and the hip-hop deafness screening at the Clevelander,  the Stanford Alumni Association  got their turn.   Put on a really interesting event.

Bob Bowlsby was the key speaker...and NO.   He did not mention the present Harbaugh situation.   His introductory speaker talked about his time on the AD search committee and how Bowlsby sent the other AD candidates packing.   And how Bowlsby\'s contribution went far beyond the Harbaugh hiring to rewiring how Stanford athletics was run and how it related to the university.  Making those fundamental changes were the lasting contribution.   Got a standing ovation for Bowlsby when he walked to the front of the room.

He, in turn,  talked about those fundamental changes, about how the hiring of Harbaugh was more than just a football decision, but that Harbaugh was the kind of guy who knew what it took to be successful and was willing to methodically work and change whatever needed to be changed.  More a process focused guy rather than a results focused guy.   Guess some could quibble with that last characterization.

Bowlsby said just before getting on the plane to Miami,  he spoke with Tara VanDerveer who had a serious case of "Coaches\' Throat".  Busby didn\'t reveal much about the actual conversation but mentioned that Tara had some choice words about Geno Auriemma,  who "is  not
Tara\'s favorite person".  He referred to her putting a stop to ESPN\'s reflexive UConn-felating (my term, not his.) when she reminded them that it was "about Stanford."    Drew brobdingnagian applause, laughs and cheers from a crowded ball room.

He worked the room,  referring to Stanford\'s tradition of excellence.  "Our athletic Hall of Fame has nothing but championship trophies in it.  We use runner-uphe trophies for doorstops at Stanford."   Drew a big reaction from the crowd.  Personally,  I appreciated the intent of the rhetoric,  but wondered how that made people feel, people who had competed in many sports only to come up short.  

In turn, he introduced Alex Fletcher,  who made his athletic career the teachable moment about sports and Stanford.  Bowlsby commented that Fletcher\'s leadership and learning during crappy years allowed him to be the leader Harbaugh needed to knit the team that defeated USC in 2007.

Alex is doing fine in investment banking with Merril Lynch and Bank of America.  But he told an excruciating story of how the NFL had evaluated him at the draft combines, MRId him from head to toe,  but then passed on him through all seven rounds of the draft.  Devastating, he said.  Then he got a free agent deal with New Orleans and was actually starting center when a MRI on a back injury revealed he only had one kidney.
Congenital.   When he told his Saints coach,  the coach said,  "We know.  Why do you think you signed you as free agent?"   The NFL doctors knew, but never let Fletch know.  

It was part of a larger framework  for his comments,  about how athletics was different at Stanford and the players/staff took care of one another.   He noted that he NEVER met people of the quality of Stanford players in the NFL.   They were "me" focused, out for themselves.  At Stanford,  even the bad teams learned to put teammates first.   He also noted how the Stanford network worked for him.  He left the Saints training camp the Saturday of July 4th weekend,  phoning every possible contact he\'d made through Stanford to ask for a job.   He drove straight through to his parents home in NY,  and had a job by Wednesday.

He introduced teammates  Pat Maynor and Anthony Kimble,  plus the mothers of former Stanford players Jason Evans and (forgot name) Harrison,  who played 4 years as a pro.  They had no team connection to Stanford,  yet what the school had done for their sons had bonded them for life.

Lots of feel-good moments.  Corny and self-congratulatory and simply wonderful to hear.   Talked with Pat Maynor.  Now doing an MBA at Georgia biz school.

*  I didn\'t make it to the Stanford-organized pep rally down on the Art Deco strip fronting the beach in South Beach.   I hear it was just as high quality and inspiring, as all genuine Stanford events are.  Band having fun and making an impression wherever they go.

Just a report for those who couldn\'t make the trip.  Everyone having great fun.

[Redrum]

...something comes along that isn\'t just crap.    The Cardboard gathering was one of those,  but it was the usual guerrilla op and the Cardboard has never, ever served up crap.

But for "official" Orange Bowl type functions,  the last event of the afternoon and night,  Stanford fans lucky enough to go to the West Coast get together at the Eden Roc got the good stuff.*  Instead of a ginned-up generic event like the pep rally on the beach and the hip-hop deafness screening at the Clevelander,  the Stanford Alumni Association  got their turn.   Put on a really interesting event.

Bob Bowlsby was the key speaker...and NO.   He did not mention the present Harbaugh situation.   His introductory speaker talked about his time on the AD search committee and how Bowlsby sent the other AD candidates packing.   And how Bowlsby\'s contribution went far beyond the Harbaugh hiring to rewiring how Stanford athletics was run and how it related to the university.  Making those fundamental changes were the lasting contribution.   Got a standing ovation for Bowlsby when he walked to the front of the room.

He, in turn,  talked about those fundamental changes, about how the hiring of Harbaugh was more than just a football decision, but that Harbaugh was the kind of guy who knew what it took to be successful and was willing to methodically work and change whatever needed to be changed.  More a process focused guy rather than a results focused guy.   Guess some could quibble with that last characterization.

Bowlsby said just before getting on the plane to Miami,  he spoke with Tara VanDerveer who had a serious case of "Coaches\' Throat".  Busby didn\'t reveal much about the actual conversation but mentioned that Tara had some choice words about Geno Auriemma,  who "is  not
Tara\'s favorite person".  He referred to her putting a stop to ESPN\'s reflexive UConn-felating (my term, not his.) when she reminded them that it was "about Stanford."    Drew brobdingnagian applause, laughs and cheers from a crowded ball room.

He worked the room,  referring to Stanford\'s tradition of excellence.  "Our athletic Hall of Fame has nothing but championship trophies in it.  We use runner-uphe trophies for doorstops at Stanford."   Drew a big reaction from the crowd.  Personally,  I appreciated the intent of the rhetoric,  but wondered how that made people feel, people who had competed in many sports only to come up short.  

In turn, he introduced Alex Fletcher,  who made his athletic career the teachable moment about sports and Stanford.  Bowlsby commented that Fletcher\'s leadership and learning during crappy years allowed him to be the leader Harbaugh needed to knit the team that defeated USC in 2007.

Alex is doing fine in investment banking with Merril Lynch and Bank of America.  But he told an excruciating story of how the NFL had evaluated him at the draft combines, MRId him from head to toe,  but then passed on him through all seven rounds of the draft.  Devastating, he said.  Then he got a free agent deal with New Orleans and was actually starting center when a MRI on a back injury revealed he only had one kidney.
Congenital.   When he told his Saints coach,  the coach said,  "We know.  Why do you think you signed you as free agent?"   The NFL doctors knew, but never let Fletch know.  

It was part of a larger framework  for his comments,  about how athletics was different at Stanford and the players/staff took care of one another.   He noted that he NEVER met people of the quality of Stanford players in the NFL.   They were "me" focused, out for themselves.  At Stanford,  even the bad teams learned to put teammates first.   He also noted how the Stanford network worked for him.  He left the Saints training camp the Saturday of July 4th weekend,  phoning every possible contact he\'d made through Stanford to ask for a job.   He drove straight through to his parents home in NY,  and had a job by Wednesday.

He introduced teammates  Pat Maynor and Anthony Kimble,  plus the mothers of former Stanford players Jason Evans and (forgot name) Harrison,  who played 4 years as a pro.  They had no team connection to Stanford,  yet what the school had done for their sons had bonded them for life.

Lots of feel-good moments.  Corny and self-congratulatory and simply wonderful to hear.   Talked with Pat Maynor.  Now doing an MBA at Georgia biz school.

*  I didn\'t make it to the Stanford-organized pep rally down on the Art Deco strip fronting the beach in South Beach.   I hear it was just as high quality and inspiring, as all genuine Stanford events are.  Band having fun and making an impression wherever they go.

Just a report for those who couldn\'t make the trip.  Everyone having great fun.

[needle]

Thanks for the write up, Redrum. I think I speak for everyone not in Florida when I say I wish I could have attended.

[needle]

Thanks for the write up, Redrum. I think I speak for everyone not in Florida when I say I wish I could have attended.

[Pastor]

Thanks for taking us along RR.  It was like being there.

[Pastor]

Thanks for taking us along RR.  It was like being there.