Cowboys Stadium Has A Name

After four seasons, Cowboys Stadium is no more. Team owner Jerry Jones last week announced that the naming rights have been acquired by AT&T.

The jokes have already started.

You know how the communications giant brags about having fewer dropped calls than any other carrier? (Well, unless you live in Hickman County, Tennessee or Bacon County, Georgia – two places I am very familiar with.) Not too long after the announcement, someone posted on Facebook “Will there be fewer dropped balls in the house that Jerry built?”

I know that person. It was me.

OK, before my fellow Cowboys fans – like Rosie Bradford – disown me – let me say this: You have to possess a sense of humor to be a Dallas supporter. At least since 1996 - the last year the ‘Boys won a title. Since then, we have witnessed the following: Michael Irvin laying motionless at the Vet while the classless Eagles fans cheered his career-ending injury, Dave Campo. Quincy Carter. “Bobble-gate” at Seattle. The 2007 13-3 season that ended, thanks to the “New York Football Giants.” (The only time I will reference them that way.), and that doesn’t include the heartbreaking losses of the past five seasons. Typically, Dallas does not play bad much of the time. They are just uneven. Tony Romo can go 27 for 38 for 376 and 4 scores for five weeks straight. Then, with 2:13 on the clock – and from the five-yard line, his pass to take the lead against the Redskins / Giants / Eagles is in the end zone---and it is INTERCEPTED!

But, this is not an attack on Romo. We have a running back named DeMarco Murray, who has a clause in his contract that he can only play six games per season because he likes being on the injury report. Then, there’s the defen....Oops...Well, last season was better from a cornerback point of view. In 2011, I could have scored on the secondary. They have gotten better, but even in my post-surgery state this summer, I think I could put up a 100 yard game against the front – take away the play of DeMarcus Ware – arguably the best lineman in the league. We do have Jason Witten, and for all of his early struggles, I’ve got to say Dez Bryant had a great season in 2012, and hope that he can continue.

But, Tony Romo, it’s time. Did Troy Aikman deserve credit for every win he tallied as the Cowboys’ signal caller? Well, he did have that back named Smith whose 32-yard run to midfield with 4:32 left in the fourth seemed always to seal the deal if it wasn’t already. And, when the other team had the ball, they had to deal with names like Charles Haley, Darren Woodson, and a cornerback named Deion. However, when he had to deliver....he did.....By his fourth season, Aikman had his team in the Super Bowl. And, if he or another team member made a mistake, you didn’t see him sitting on the bench with a half-smile and a cap turned around backwards.

But, that was yesterday. The Cowboys open up their pre-season on Sunday night against Miami at Canton. Football time in America. Yipee!

But, let a couple of heartbreaking losses pile up, and I guarantee you that I won’t be the only one comparing the Cowboys to their stadium namesake’s slogan. AT&T Stadium – Where you have more dropped balls than any other NFL Stadium. Ha Ha Ha. (Hey, I’ve got to laugh. It’s how we cope!)

A Place (and an Album) Called Bakersfield

It’s a “place called....Bakersfield.

Today, MCA Nashville rolls out what could very well be the most important album release of 2013 with the new effort from Vince Gill and Paul Franklin called Bakersfield.

OK, Einstein, you might be asking? Why is this album so important? Well, let me tell you. The music from Nashville is very good these days – maybe as diverse as ever. I’m not one who considers myself a doom and gloomer that ‘Country Ain’t Country’ anymore. (Honestly, I could do a blog about how Country Music has never been “Country Music,” but I digress!)

But, there is still something magical about the history of the business for which I work in. And, to me, nothing stands apart more than the era of Country Music so richly defined by acts like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. It was Country Music...in technicolor. The guitars were a little twangier, and so were the vocals. The harmony was so richly (a play on words as a tribute to Don Rich!) defined on those great Capitol Records that featured the name of Owens. And, let’s face it, Merle Haggard was....and is the best singer-songwriter that has ever come down the pike. Just like with a Don Rich telecaster riff, when you heard the Strangers kick off a Haggard record – you knew. Whether it was crusiing down the four lane, or Saturday night in a club, the Bakersfield sound just made you feel good.

That’s why this album is so important from a musical and historical level. What we are doing now is great, This and deserves to be celebrated. But, there’s an old saying that says ‘To know where you’re going,you’ve gotta know where you’ve been.’ Preach it, brothers! This music deserves to be heard by the masses, and kudos to the artists and the label for releasing it. It would have been just as easy for Vince Gill to have released a contemporary album in hopes of getting airplay – which would likely sound amazing as it would have been for MCA to turn this project away at the door. But, label head Mike Dungan and staff didn’t do that.

Instead, fans can head to the store – or click online today, and be taken back in time. And, that’s a good thing, because people need to know this music – and the artists who made it breathe. Bakersfield. Vince Gill & Paul Franklin. Add it to your collection today! I plan on buying a copy – even though I have one. It’s THAT important.

So, why are you still reading this? Seriously, it’s that good!

Just Around The Corner....

A change is in the air.

You can feel it in the Mid-South this morning. I, for one, welcome that change. If you haven’t noticed, the temperatures around here have been very pleasant over the past couple of days. It almost reminds you of....Fall.

I say that very well knowing that it’s going to be a permanent thing – at least for the moment. There’s no need to break out the turtlenecks or the sweaters just yet.

But, it is around the corner.

In the south, (and it is likely true of other places, but I have never lived there!) there is a beautiful energy about the time of year that takes place from September on. Football is back in full swing, the weekends typically see many on the road to enjoy the cooling of the temperatures and the changing of the colors. There’s such things as hayrides and chili suppers, and if your nose doesn’t pick up the scent of apple in some form or fashion – your sense of smell is likely impaired somewhat. In addition, slowly but surely you see the infiltration of Christmas colors in stores everywhere. I think what always attracted me to the fall in the past was that in my former line of full-time work, the world slowed considerably in the summer. That has not been the case this summer. It has flown by. Work-wise, the past couple of months have been the best – and busiest of my life.

Lord willing, adding my newspaper work that picks up in the fall, I will stay as busy this fall. I am definitely looking forward to it.

But, alas, it is July 29. This weather, as glorious as it may be, will not last. Highs are forecast for the 90s by the end of the week. But, one can look forward to what is just around the corner, can’t they?

THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT DELETE!

Sunday was an interesting day. I heard a saying once that everybody has a story. That kind of goes without saying, as we all have experiences that make us who we are. But, there’s a thin line that sometimes separates us from being in a different place. I’m not a preacher. I don’t have that gift, I say things I sometimes shouldn’t, and if the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were to walk into wherever I was at, my mind would wander. But, in a sense, this is my witness. It may be the strongest example in my life of God’s power to change you – and to take you to a different place than where you’ve been. I never thought it was worth sharing until yesterday when I had lunch with a friend of mine who told me that somewhere out there someone might appreciate this. At the very least, I do consider it one of the greatest examples of God being there in my life – when I didn’t think he was. And, it shows just how what we think of as a simple choice can affect our whole life.

It was the summer of 2011. For close to a year, I had been living in Georgia. To say that I had great memories of the town where I lived would be a lie. Life hadn’t been the best for a couple of years, and moving to Georgia really seemed to knock the wheels off of the car. By August of 2011, things had reached a point where it wasn’t going to get better. I had no idea what was going to happen in my life, but it was apparent that more change was on the way. While I had gotten back involved in Church that summer, my faith was still very shaky, and I had no idea where I was going to be or wind up next.

While my living situation wasn’t great, I do have to stop the story for just a second. I did have a job with THE NEWS COURIER, a newspaper in Alma, GA. My experience in Alma was the best part about living in the land of the Bulldogs. I made some real good friends, and wrote about everything – music and sports, but also politics, and also some human interest stories – which really helped me to grow as a writer. I had also reconnected with Church, attending at the Alma Church of Christ, and had made some good friends there.

So, I was at work this day, trying to keep my mind focused on work. I checked my email, and there was a message saying “Special Opportunity” from Billboard Magazine. As a member of the CMA, I was used to receiving such emails from the magazine’s marketing department trying to sell subscriptions to members at a discounted rate. Nine times out of ten, I would have just deleted it and gone on about my business.

You know how I mentioned earlier about that “Thin Line” between your actions that can have so much influence on your life? Well, this was one of those. It just so happened that it was lunch time, and I didn’t waste any time taking my break. So, I didn’t delete it. I went to eat, came back, and finished the day. That night, I was covering a high school football game in a town I could probably never find again. At halftime, I decided I would check my email.

That email that I was so sure was simply marketing was something vastly different. It was from one of the editors of the magazine asking about my interest in a position with them. I wish someone had a film of that moment. I’m sure I was as bewildered as I had ever been in my life. Billboard Magazine? Someone was playing a joke on me was my first thought. This was the magazine I had bought at B. Dalton Booksellers at Hickory Hollow Mall as a kid, after all. To be honest, I had never dreamed about writing for Billboard because I didn’t think I was of that caliber. (Sometimes, I still don’t, but I am trying to earn the honor.) So, it wasn’t even anything I thought about.

To make a long story short, the editor and I talked the next day, exchanged emails over the weekend, and on Monday – I was the newest writer for.....Billboard Magazine, and in less than two weeks was back in Nashville. Since then, I have been blessed with so many incredible career experiences in my life.

I said this was my witness. So, let me explain. I had went through some experiences that really shook me to the core. There was a part of me that really believed that things were never going to work out – career wise or other. And, with more changes forthcoming, what was going to happen? How close was I to deleting the email without opening it? I wonder about that. Thankfully, I don’t know the answer. Some of you might just say it was fate. I disagree. Something besides my stomach stopped me from deleting it. God knew. I can debate for at least two minutes what I want on a Subway sandwich, so you can imagine me with a major decision. This was one of those jobs that I couldn’t say no to, and I’m glad I didn’t. Since then, there have been a few times where I wondered how I was going to make it. But, at each interval, something would come up. Charity from friends? An extra freelance job? Sure, that’s what it was, but I also view it as God’s handiwork.

I am writing this because I know we all have our struggles. We all have our moments where you wonder if God is listening to your cries while in what you percieve to be as the wilderness. I know I did, but I can tell you he’s there. I know this first-hand. Since I made a decision to turn back to him that summer, he has had his hand on me in a way I couldn’t begin to describe. I still wonder about the non-career stuff. I grapple with that each day. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.....but I have also learned that it has to come on his time and not mine. God is there. He hears you, and he won’t let you down. I may not be able to quote you as much scripture about it as I should be able to, but I know it’s true. He has been there for me – but, he was all along. Sometimes – to look out over the mountains, you have to have spent some time in the valley, I guess to fully appreciate the view. It’s true in career, and I hope it will be true personally, as well.

So, the moral of this story is to believe....in God, life, but also in yourself. I have said before that there are better writers than I.....Nashville is full of them. There are better radio people than I....all over the country, but nobody loves what they do ANY MORE than I. I didn’t say ‘as much,’ because this business is full of people with passion from some of the most talented people you would ever meet. But, trust me, I know I am blessed! So, don’t ever lose faith. It will happen. Just believe.

A Beacon Whose Light Brightly Shines

Back in the 1970s, Donna Fargo enjoyed a huge hit with a song called “You Can’t Be A Beacon (If Your Light Don’t Shine).” The lyrics of the song talk about the example that one sets in their lifetime. This morning at Church, I thought about those words as the preacher – in his weekly pew notes – talked about things that as Christians, we don’t want to be. So, I started thinking about the right example that we need to sit, and there are several that have done so for me....but I wanted to shine the spotlight on someone this week that deserves to be there. Her name is Dean Gray.

I couldn’t tell you how long I’ve known her. I guess, since I started going to Church in 1982, it would be sometime around then, but more importantly, I can’t think of a time that I didn’t know her. She and her husband Ben had gone to Church at Burns for years even then, and three decades later – though she has been sick as of late – she can still usually be seen in one of the pews there.

One way you could describe her is a “brass tack.” She will tell you what she thinks in a New York minute. More often than not, you’d do well to listen to her words. She’s lived a lot of life in her years. From raising children to watching her husband get sick and sicker over the years, and she’s had her own health issues as well. But, in all my years of knowing this wonderful lady – I have never heard her once complain about anything she has gone or is going through.

On one of my recent conversations with her, we were discussing a situation that both of us have encountered in our personal lives that was very similar. I – the novice in life – was having a lot more of a problem with my reaction to it than she. She looked at me and said ‘Chuck, sometimes you’ve just got to let it go. People make their choices. You can either let it get to you or move on to another place.’ Looking back, I see she was right. I’m still trying, but further along that road than I used to be.

While there may be times where she gets down – whether from missing Ben or this family member or friend – she’s one of the most determined people I know. You might keep her down for a day or so – but she is going to get around it – and she does. I asked her one day about that fire, and she told me if she didn’t try to keep on keepin’ on, life would pretty much come to an end. And, just last week, I was reminded about how strong that spirit is. She had been in the hospital for a few days, and due to my own recent sickness – I hadn’t been by. I called her on my way to work last week, and once again, I was trying to call to cheer her up – and like always, I got the better of the call. ‘Chuck, you made my day. I love you,’ she said. I was not too happy with how the latest battle with my blood sugar was going, and in those moments, I forgot it all.

You can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine. Those lyrics have never been more true in describing Dean Gray. I know of few who shine any brighter. I love you bunches. Get well. The back pew doesn't look the same without you!

A Second Chance

Two Days.

The mind can be a very dangerous or lethal thing. I found this out first hand, and it scared me to death – sort of.

As you know, I recently spent a week in the hospital – largely due to my mismanagement of diabetes – which I have been battling since 2005. There have been times since then that I have done ok with it....and times that I haven’t. The latter times have been partly due to insurance – or the lack thereof. I am not justifying anything other than to say that if you don’t have insurance, it’s easy to say ‘Screw it.’ Doctors – and nurses – work hard for their education, and deserve to be rewarded what they do. But, the health care system is flawed. When you are scared to go to the doctor for financial issues, there’s a problem – whether that’s me or anyone else.

But, as I was being admitted to the hospital for an infection in my toe, the doctor in the ER said ‘If you would have waited a couple more days, you wouldn’t be here.” I was also severely dehydrated the last couple of days before I went in. The words resonated in my head a little, but (since this is an honest blog, I am going to ‘Keep it real.’) My first thought was “Really?”

Understand that I was not trying to push the fast forward button into eternity. I wasn’t. But, there is a subconscious side to each of us – whether we want to admit it or not, and mine caught up with me. As I have written over the past couple of years, there have been several mistakes I have made. And, nobody kicks themselves any harder over them than I do. I wish that I just could look at a situation, cuss at it, and walk away....but I don’t. I hold it in. We all make financial mistakes, and I’m probably not done with that any time soon. I am not the first person to ever be divorced. It feels like it sometimes, but I’m not bad because of it. But, all the years of depression over it just kept me going further and further down a road that I didn’t know I was going down. The idea of walking away from such a rubble was a lot more tempting than I ever thought – I guess.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to have to learn some new things. Balancing insulin and diet – and not getting madder than a hornet if the numbers don’t reflect what I have honestly tried to do. If you are a diabetic, you know what I mean. You eat something low in carbs, you walk a mile, and you check your sugar – thinking ‘This is going to be great....’ and the numbers don’t make sense, and I would go off and stew about it. That has happened to me quite a bit over the years, but I’ve got to handle that better.

Walking – even though, everything should return to normal within time - There’s a toe that will not be there – but I am dang lucky that’s it. It could have been – and should have been much worse.

But, the biggest reprogramming for myself has to be....me. Letting the past go, and admitting where you were wrong...and when you might have been a victim of circumstances. That – more than adjusting to a carb count, leaving the Chinese buffet alone (except occasionally), and taking “care” of myself is going to be the big thing.

But, it’s not optional. I’ve got to do it. I have been blown away by the amount of cards, calls, emails, FB Messages, and tokens of generosity. My family and friends have made it clear that they want me around. So, I can’t walk away from that. More importantly, I don’t want to. So, it’s up to me. That’s a big statement, isn’t it? But, it’s the truth – and it’ time for me to work at it. It’s not going to be easy – and advice – if you have it – is welcomed – but it’s time for a “New” Chuck Dauphin. I guess, technically, past due......

WHAT A WEEK!

This week...was a week. And, the strange thing is I can’t talk about it. But, there were a few different things that happened over the past few days that have kind of shocked me. Since I was nine or ten, I have always had kind of an idea about what I wanted to do when I grew up – after one gets past wanting to be President! That’s all I studied about when I was a teenager – music. I bought every book, cassette, magazine I could. I even got in trouble when I was in eighth grade for reading a certain magazine when I was in English class. The magazine? Billboard.

It’s because of things like that, and shadowing Hairl Hensley at WSM for my ninth-grade General Business class that I consider myself very blessed to do what I do. I am not the best radio person in the world. My voice never reached that magic “low” that a lot of the top on-air voices have. I am not the best writer. At media events, I see writers who are smarter and a lot more brilliant than I could ever hope to be. That all being said, the one thing that I will say that I have is that nobody – past or present – takes what they do as seriously or with as much passion as I do. I want my readers / listeners to know about...the new Dailey & Vincent, Lady Antebellum, or Darius Rucker disc. I want them to know that it’s a travesty (IMHO) that Buddy Killen isn’t in the Country Music Hall of Fame or that Larry Gatlin isn’t in the NSAI Hall of Fame, or that Don Rich might have been the best guitarist to ever pick up a silver Fender Telecaster. I love what I do...and getting to tell you about it.

At the same time, a lot of the career highs in my life have come when things were going off the track in other areas. My career, some of the opportunities it has given me, and getting back involved in Church has at least given me some hope that life gets better. And, it has. But, there are times you wonder....if maybe if you’d taken a right here, or a left there, where you would be. Then one night this past winter, as I was on the bed writing in front of the small heater in the room, that yes, things could be different. But, I was doing the one thing in the world that I knew I was good at...and also the one thing that made the nights a little more fuller....and happier. So, since then, I have tried to trust a little more...

Then, a week like this one happens. A couple of opportunities came my way today that shocked, humbled, and honored me. It was one of those days that made me realize that I am where I am supposed to be. I just had to share my emotions with you...though I can’t share the info just yet...but I will. I guess we all need those days where we need to know we’re on the right track. Not planning to move to Martha’s Vineyard or anything like that, and to be honest, these opportunities aren’t exactly money-related per se, but I am excited about the future. Just have to keep working at it. I’ve even been able to deal with the term “single” again. God will take care of that too. Faith – it’s a novel concept – and one I’m still trying to grasp!

Farewell, Mr. Jones!

Over the past few days, there have been countless mentions and memories mentioned concerning the passing of George Glenn Jones. Of course, my job required that I write what has amounted to several stories so far on the legacy of the artist known as “The Possum.” I can only hope and pray that I have done him justice.

But, long before I was writing or on-air for a living, I was a George Jones fan. As I have written before, I was a strange kid. I was listening to Country Music exclusively until I was fourteen, and one of those artists was George Jones. Now, I am not going to say that I was a major fan from the first listen. But, when I was about eleven years old, he released a song called “The One I Loved Back Then.” That hooked me, and as I got older, I began to research more and more of his music. By the time I was fifteen, I had many of the classics he had recorded some thirty years before in my collection.

As a teenager in the age of Jackson (Michael or Janet) and Guns ‘N’ Roses, what was it about his music that appealed to me so? In his songs, Jones sounded like the ultimate underdog. He wailed like he was down to his last dime – or almost his last breath. He sang about pain and heartbreak like nobody else. People talk about Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard being (quote) “bad ass,” well, maybe. But, did either one of them take a Tennessee State Trooper – and WSMV Channel 4 – down Interstate 65 in the middle of the Six O’Clock news? Not saying it was a moment he was proud of twenty years later, but it also proved that if he was going to go down, he was doing it in Rock & Roll style!

But, thankfully, he didn’t. Due to the love of a woman named Nancy, he rebounded strongly, and though there were still some struggles, the George Jones of 1995 was better than 1985, and his 1999 SUV crash seemed to end his long struggle with his demons. Over the past couple of days, it has been mentioned how sad it is that George Jones – the greatest living Country singer – had passed away. And, I’m not disagreeing. But, the true sadness is that Nancy Jones lost her husband. Georgette – and his other children lost their father, and others lost their grandfather, brother, or friend. But, at 81, more than any artist the term “cat with nine lives” fittingly described Jones to a tee. In those eight plus decades, Jones lived a life that few of us will ever come close to approaching. How many times do you think the Tennessean or the Nashville Banner had the Jones obituary written and waiting from 1978 or so on? In 1994, maybe, when Jones had heart surgery that turned out to be very serious? And, the 1999 crash – though he did bounce back quickly, was a lot more serious than most knew. The fact that Nancy had stood by her man and helped him to quieten his inner demons made the announcement of his passing Friday morning.....surprising. He had toned down his act so well that we thought he would live forever.

As a fan, he touched my life many times over. Whether it was professing his undying love in “When The Grass Grows Over Me,” hoping for another chance at love in “Someday My Day Will Come,” or singing about the wrong turns in life that one takes in Billy Yates’ masterfully written “Choices,” he gave us so many classic recordings that will live forever. My favorite? That’s almost impossible to say, but one that would have to place high upon my list would be “Where Does A Little Tear Come From,” a # 10 hit from 1964. Brilliant yet simple. Seek it out. The only thing is, that search might take you to “I’ll Follow You Up To Our Cloud,” “These Days I Barely Get By” or “Wine Colored Roses,” and then, there are the album cuts......Don’t get me strarted!

So, tonight as I sip my Pepsi Max (a “bad ass” I am not), and listen to his recordings while I write this.....I think about the lyrics of one of my favorite cuts – a song he recorded with the Sweethearts Of The Rodeo back in 1991....

How Many Times Have I Stumbled Or Lost My Way Again

Bitter Tears Have I Cried Even Knowing Deep Inside

How Much Sweeter The Journey’s End....

Let Me Face The Road I Must Travel

Let Me Feel The Cold And Heat

Let Me Walk In The Sun Till My Journey Is Done

Let Me Taste The Bitter With The Sweet.

You want poetry? It doesn’t get any better. Rest in peace, Possum! Your music will live on!

A Cliffhanger of a Monday!

Escapism is a great thing. It’s always good to be able to forget your troubles for a few minutes. For me, I am happy that my escapism also means work. If I don’t feel well, or something is bothering me – it’s not usually on my mind while on air, doing an interview, or covering a ball game.

Aside from work, television is probably my greatest “out.” If I need to recharge my batteries, I can usually do so by taking a trip to rural Waltons Mountain, Virginia for a jaunt back in time to CBS Thursday nights circa 1977. I think I have seen every episode of the “Waltons” at least once, and (un-macho moment) have cried through many of them a few times – particularly “The Achievement,” an episode from 1977 where John Boy leaves the mountain to follow his dream as a writer in New York City.

But, as much as I love that show, I have to admit that nothing engrosses me or captivates my attention as a viewer as that big white ranch outside of Plano, Texas. The series “Dallas” - both in CBS original and TNT reboot form – is my form of Novocaine. I don’t think during that hour. For some reason, the show has always captivated me like no other.

Of course, the series revolves around the oil tycoon family known as the Ewings. At the helm of the family was Larry Hagman as the conniving yet lovable John Ross Ewing, Jr, aka “JR.” He pretty much swindled everyone he met, but did so with a smile. In fact, he wasn’t really a nice person at all. But, Hagman played the role like a child at play – and for fourteen seasons, that role became one that I almost thought human throughout my school years. Along with a family named Duke from Georgia, it made Friday nights all the more worth looking forward to!

Flash forward to 2012. TNT announced plans to bring the show back. It premiered in June of last year, and I was somewhat skeptical. And, to be honest, the first season was uneven, ending with a season finale that just kind of laid there. But, it was ‘Dallas’ after all, so I would be there in season two.

Of course, before the second (or sixteenth, as I like to call it) season began in January, tragedy struck with the passing of Larry Hagman. Many of the viewers wondered how the show would fare without him. The tribute episode to him, which aired last month, was absolutely brilliant. And, as crazy as it is to believe, the show has stepped it up a notch since then.

It’s still the JR character that drives the shows, as the centerpiece of the series is a plan called “JR’s Masterpiece.” Devised to defeat a pair of the biggest enemies of the Ewing clan, the plot has included more twists than a country road, with pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Only Bobby, his good-guy brother, played superbly by Patrick Duffy in this plotline, knows how it all fits – via a letter written by JR before his mysterious death. Somehow, this plot ties into the disappearance of Bobby’s first wife, Pamela, in 1987, and also into some business sub-plots that have since happened – making you wonder how much JR had actually planned. You have to leave reality at the door, but it’s truly engrossing stuff. Duffy is showing a little bit of a dark side, and Josh Henderson and Julie Gonzalo – as John Ross Ewing, III and his new bride, Pamela Barnes Ewing (Yes, that name has been used before!) are the stars of this new “Dallas.” Henderson studied Hagman’s mannerisims, but yet adds his own style to the youngest John Ross – while Gonzalo – after a whiny first season, has stepped up her game as well. Starting off the season as a evil villianess, she has developed a little more of a softer side as the season goes on – especially after losing her twins she was pregnant with in an accident planned by her own father – Cliff Barnes – to nail the Ewings to the wall.

Well, tonight is season finale night. In a two-hour episode, we find out “who killed JR,” “Where is Pam,” and just how the ‘masterpiece’ plays out. I have tried to figure out where this is going, even visiting the excellent Dallas fan board, www.OilBaronsClub.com, from time to time, but I guess I am going to be guessing until the very end. I hope it results in a Ewing victory. It’s been too long. Either way, I’ll be there tonight just like it’s 1986 all over again!

From A Grateful Man In Vegas.....

Pardon me on this blog if I sound like a small-town country boy who doesn’t get out of the woods that much. There’s a reason for that. I really don’t get out a lot. Much of the past five days for me has been spent in Las Vegas, Nevada – the city that never sleeps. I think that description defines it pretty well.

Whatever your vice in life, food, gambling, drink, or the opposite gender, you can find it here. It’s almost like a 24-hour carnival of everything. There are certain aspects of the city that have made me miss Centerville just a little bit. The pace is so hectic...maybe even more so than the Big Apple. That’s not a bad thing....or a good thing....just a reflection. The waitresses at the casinos sure dress different than Papa Kayjoe’s or Breece’s (As that wise old philosopher known as Gump once said - ‘That’s all I have to say about that!).

Oh, yeah, the reason I have been here. I am out covering the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. I have to tell you that the past few days have been some of the most fun of my career. It makes me very grateful for the opportunities I have been blessed with. I say ‘blessed,’ because while I feel I do have the talent to do what I do, the opportunity doesn’t come from me. There was a day about two years ago where I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. And, to some degrees I still don’t. But, I have a deeper faith than ever before that I am going to get to where I am meant to be – if that makes any sense. It does to me, that’s all I know.

Probably the highlight of the weekend was Sunday. Covering the Red Carpet for Billboard was the biggest thing I have ever got to do in my career. The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, San Francisco QB Colin Kapernick, and Kacey Musgraves all came through the line. Ashley Monroe thanked me for writing of the articles I have done on her lately – thanked me? That was cool. I guess the biggest thrill for me was interviewing Craig Morgan. Back in the day, Craig used to bring his guitar by the studios of WDKN and play live on my morning show there. Now, he’s a star....and again, I’m just thankful to be there, as Minnie Pearl would say. Then, John Fogerty? Seriously? Of CCR? That was cool. To say I was in awe was an understatment.

That might surprise some of my friends inside the industry. But, while I do try to consider myself a professional, I am in the business because there was a six year old kid who took a Kenny Rogers album to school for “Show and Tell” in second grade. He also gave several long-winded speeches as a sophomore in Randy Sullivan’s speech class at DCHS about the history of Country Music. Yes, I was different at the time! Then, later that year, I started a radio career that I still tinker around with some today. Pretty much every decision in my life – good or bad – stems from the fact that I love doing what I do. It’s cost me at times, but the payback has been far greater. I just hope it continues.

Some of those decisions have not served me well. And, while I am not going to dwell on that, other than to say I wish I had a couple back, I feel like if I can just stay focused...it’s all going to work out. I hope that I can make some better personal and financial decisions than I have made, though some I had to for survival. But, that is the future.....I just didn’t want these couple of hours at a crowded airport to go by without me saying how much I love what I get to do. And, to those who have had any part in it – from my father all the way to people who have extended the olive branch to me that I didn’t even know, let me say thank you. I hope I haven’t or don’t let you down!

By the way, did I mention I got to interview John Fogerty?

MUSINGS FROM AN APRIL FOOL....

Hope everyone had a great Easter! It was a slow weekend – the way it should be sometimes. A lot to talk about, so I’ll break it down....

VEGAS

In just a few days, I will be taking my first trip to Las Vegas, NV to cover the Academy of Country Music Awards for Billboard. I am very excited about this, as it will be my first trip to Vegas. It’s going to be a working trip, but hope to see some of the town while I am there. Should be a fun time! I have been exceedingly blessed over the past couple of years in my career. I don’t take any of it lightly.

THE SHOW THIS WEEK

If you get a chance, tune into Kix 96 for the weekly installment of “Crazy Chucky’s Classic Country Corner” this Wednesday. My guest will be one of the greatest singers to have ever graced a microphone, BJ Thomas. We talk about his new album, The Living Room Sessions, which includes duets with some of music’s top stars. One song that has a particular impact on me is “Rock & Roll Lullaby.” This is one of those songs that - to quote Ms. Charlene Darling, “always makes me cry.” I have written before about taking many a Saturday morning trip to 100 Oaks Mall with my mother as a child. On the way there, I remember so many hits of the day on the radio – some Country, but also several pop hits from acts like Dionne Warwick, Debby Boone, Neil Diamond, and yes, BJ Thomas. Some of those songs do take me back a few years, and the older I get---the more they are like lullabies!

TONY ROMO

This week, it was announced that Tony Romo received a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys that – if played out – will earn him more than Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Really? Take the Super Bowl win away from Flacco, and I would still shake my head in astonishment. Have you seen Flacco’s playoff record? Have you seen Romo’s? Better yet, have you seen Romo’s record in games that would get the Dallas Cowboys into the playoffs? (Uttered in my best Jim Mora impersonation) I am a Cowboys fan, and the struggles the past few years have not all been Romo’s fault, but Jerry Jones, I need a car. That almost would have been money better spent!

NO HOME COOKIN’ LIKE DAD’S

Somewhere over the years, my father perfected the art of making what is called a “Low Country Boil.” It consists of crab meat, sausage, potatoes, shrimp, corn on the cob, and a few other things I am leaving out. When I say “perfected,” think a 1982 episode of “Dallas,” Marilyn Monroe in a white dress, or 72 and sunny on the beach. A few weeks ago, he and Marcia made one for my birthday. Then, while I was in Nashville a few days later, I stopped at a restaurant chain that advertised one on their menu. Not even close. Won’t name names, but suffice to say, there was no comparison...

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!

The past couple of weeks have seen some interesting things happen in my life. (You’re thinking---another rant about being single, right?...Come on, admit it!) None of them bad, but each has given me pause to think and reflect. Some really cool things and people have come into my life as of late. As time goes on, you meet people who impact your life for a reason. It’s neat how God can take on the figure of many people, or at least that’s how I look at it. Whether it be one of the biggest-hearted people in Madison County, who last year urged me to leave it in the Hatchie (she knows who I’m talking about, and I’m still trying), or a couple of people I met last week who reminded me about how God introduces like-minded people together – sometimes in eerie fashion, I think it’s safe to surmise that these things don’t just happen. I used to shy away from thinking that shows like “Touched By An Angel” or songs like “The Christmas Guest” are real....but why not? More often than not, that explanation makes a lot more sense than saying “That’s just fate.” And, to think, we sometimes feel he doesn’t answer us.....See, I didn’t mention anything about my being single....Oops....Well, those are my thoughts for April Fools’ Day......Going to get ready for ‘Dallas’ tonight...two more weeks after today! More on that later.....

Those Cars Fly Fast!

The other night, I had tickets to see Randy Travis at the Schermerhorn Center. I arrived downtown a little early, so I had time to eat a bite. With that said, I got to indulge myself in one of my favorite restaurants – the Old Spaghetti Factory. There is nothing better than the browned spaghetti (either there or at Demos’), and it was a great meal. After that, it was time to make the walk to the Schemerhorn.

As I was walking through downtown, I saw a dog running around on Broadway. Obviously, the dog had gotten lost as it seemed to be wandering around aimlessly through the Nashville streets during rish hour. Fortunately, the dog made it through Broadway, and proceeded up one of the streets. Hopefully, it knew where it was going.

On the way home, the image of that dog stayed with me. Broadway at 5:30pm in Nashville is a scary enough proposition for humans – I can only imagine what an animal thinks when trying to navigate through it. But, something occurred to me – yes, Dauphin is doing his best Jack Handey right now with a “Deep Thought.” At times, we are nothing more than one of those animals. The busy street that we are trying to get through is life itself.

How do we, as humans, find our way across that proverbial highway? There are a lot of ways, but I am going to tell you what has worked for me. First and foremost, I realize I have not been by myself in that walk. God has been there since February 17,1974. Now, it has only been the past few years, sadly, that I realize how close he has been by my side. It’s taken a few professional and personal knocks along the way that have made me aware of this. My life is a lot different now than it was five years ago – and I’ve got to say that I am grateful for that. I didn’t design some of the things that have happened to me. I didn’t plan on being single again as I approach 40. I have written about that struggle before, but I do believe that someday that void will be taken care of, and I will be able to look back and say ‘I understand why this had to happen for this to happen.’

I also didn’t plan on some of the career steps that I have been blessed to take the past few years. And, I am trying to take full advantage of each and every one of them. I look back on some times in my life where things weren’t moving as fast as I would have liked, and I definitely can say that ‘I understand why this had to happen.’ I try to remind myself of that when the speed of life is 123mph, as it sometimes gets!

So, what is the point of these ramblings? I guess what I am trying to say is how thankful I am for everything that has happened in my life. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The past five years have been crazy, but they have shaped me. Some things that I thought were so important aren’t, and some that I lost sight of are even more so. I’m blessed with family, friends, a Church family that cares about me, and a job...well, jobs....that I love. “Juliet?” Well, she’s not there right now, but hopefully. Am I advertising? LOL...I’ve thought of it, but maybe tomorrow. (I do have Alan Jackson tickets on the 20^th...) To quote Kershaw or McGraw, ‘I ain’t as good as I’m gonna get, but I’m better than I used to be.’ And, hopefully, I just might do things better!

But, don’t take that sentence as me bragging. There were many days of tears, doubt, and sadness that led me to this point. I guess what the morale of all this is – at times, we’re all just looking to find our way across the street. The cars, and trucks move fast – a lot faster than I moved ten years ago, let alone now. But, there was someone leading me across that street. And, even though I still get caught up with “me” at times, and my eye tends to wander more than most, I know who has led this dog thus far....and I just want to say thank you!

Valentine's Day - It's All About The Love!

Today is that day that any self-respecting single person wishes would go by very quickly – Valentine’s Day. I was venting this afternoon when one of by best friends, Sheila Vest, said something that got me to thinking. On a day where we celebrate love and beauty, there’s a lot of other things that aren’t exactly male-female related. I came up with ten. Maybe these will put a smile on your face and a beat in your heart – even if the romance level in your life on this February 14 might be low. LOL...You’re not alone...

• A Grandparent’s Love – Over the past few months, I have noticed this first hand with a lot of grandparents. But, I have to say that there’s one in particular that always makes me smile just a bit. I’m not going to name names, as I don’t know him that well. But, there’s a gentleman who goes to Church where I do, and on those occasions where he has his grandson with him, it’s pretty heartwarming to see this man become a kid all over again himself. It’s a sight to see, especially when the grandson tries to move his hands like the songleader. Grandpa’s smile says it all.
• Friends – I mentioned that it was a friends’ comment today that led to this post. Though I currently don’t have a Juliet, I am exceedingly blessed to have many friends in my life who would do anything for me – and have great faith in me. Love doesn’t always have to be a romantic thing, and I am grateful for that
• Music – With me, it’s not just something that I do for a living. I don’t know if I could exist without the thrill of hearing an artist or a CD for the first time, or getting to play a song that someone hasn’t heard in years. It’s something that is as much a part of me as oxygen, and that’s no cliché. I know that I couldn’t have made it through the past few years without it.
• Sunshine – This is simple. Think of how good it feels to be out in the sun after a few days of coldness and cloud cover. Your excitement level is so much higher. Light is a good thing.
• A Small Town On A Friday Night – Since 1995, one of the most enjoyable parts of what I do is getting to cover High School football. There is something special about pulling into a town about six o’clock on a Friday afternoon. 95% of the time you don’t even have to ask directions to the stadium if you don’t know where it is. And, when they turn the lights on, it’s an excitement level that you can’t deny. Play ball!
• Animals – Since I was three years old, and my Uncle gave me my first dog – a collie named Lassie, animals have been very close to my heart. There’s a joke that people say sometimes about loving their animals more than some humans. I can’t say that’s not true sometimes. An animal loves you regardless of what you have done or haven’t done – and it can’t be bought. There was a book called Last Bus To Albuquerque by one of my favorite authors, Lewis Grizzard, after his death in 1994. On the back of the sleeve, it had an illustration of him walking up to the pearly gates, and all of his pets coming to greet him. I don’t know what Heaven is or isn’t going to be, but that sounds very nice.
• The Land / Whether it be rural areas in Tennessee or Kentucky, the urban areas of places like New York, or mountainous areas in Virginia, or driving down the Pacific Coast Highway – this Land, which coincidentally, is your land....is a very beautiful place to be!
• Children – Kids are very different creatures. They can do things that adults just can’t get away with. Tonight, at Church, we had a dinner before. One of the kids came up to their parents wanting dessert. His father told him ‘You just ate Macaroni. You gotta eat something more.’ The child didn’t get his dessert, but he held true to his convictions – he didn’t eat anything else either. Children are something special, and what comes out of their mouths and hearts is priceless – and it causes us as parents to conjure up the sayings of one Bill Cosby – though we are not as funny.
• Teachers – Typically, we only have a teacher for just a few months of our lives. That doesn’t mean they don’t stop caring about us. Over the holidays, I found this to be true as I received a card from one of my favorite teachers wondering how I had been doing over the past year. That meant a lot. And, so many of my teachers that I have had over the years – I still learn from to this day.
• God’s Love – I am not going to get preachy here, but also I did want to let this be known. Do you know of anyone who is going to love and care about you regardless of what you do or say? That’s God for you. I can say that in the past four years, there have been some ups and some downs. I know that I wouldn’t have made it this far without him. I also know that I can’t make it to where I am headed...without him, either.

So...Happy Valentines’ Day to all who are in love this year, and for those who aren’t, hey, it happens when you least expect it, right? So, I am not going to expect it tomorrow...is that cheating?