If I could put together a soundtrack for this post it would start with the song I am listening to now. Edge of a Dream by Joe Cocker is playing. Yes, the same one I wrote about recently when I spoke of the movie TEACHERS.
Maybe I would play the TRAIN songs This Ain’t Goodbye or The Finish Line. I was playing those two incessantly ten years ago when I knew I was leaving Medora Schools for North Harrison. This is the first time I have mentioned that. But, as was the custom in mornings before school, I walked laps around the basketball court at Medora. Those two TRAIN songs I played over and over again as I walked and readied myself to say goodbye to a place that had been very kind to me. I am glad to say North and I are on great footing these days also.

I just put on Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut. The one that was the last one with Roger Waters. It was time for him to go. I loved the David Gilmour led reclamation in 1987 that was their next album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. One could argue it was the best comeback after a band’s lead singer and songwriter left them high and dry.
There is a theme building here.

This was the first picture I posted on speaktherights.com in July of 2014. On that post I explained the origin of the name speaktherights.com:
Speak the rights really took on a life of its own when I was broadcasting high school football games. My buddy Gus Stephenson and I had a grand time for a while relaying the plaudits of the athletic endeavors of teenage heroes on the gridiron. We enjoyed doing so for a number of years until it was time to move on. When I would agree with Gus at times, I would steal a line from a Shakespearean play where the character says to another: “Thou speak’st aright”. “YOU SPEAK THE RIGHTS, GUS!”
That is where it all started.
This is where it ends.
speaktherights.com took off nicely. I thank those of you who have read consistently. I know I have certainly had fun with it. We have shared stories about family, music, football, school endeavors, travel, golf, politics, and life in general. I have enjoyed it all. I never sat down to write without wanting to do so. This is post number 794 of speaktherights.com. That is a greats deal of writing. I know there are over a million words here.
Let me take one more time to thank Dr. Millard Dunn and Dr. Bill Sweigart for helping me understand that my words do matter and that I do happen to know how to craft them without sounding like a complete dunderhead. Teachers matter. Without the two aforementioned gentleman, I have no idea what I would be doing today. They gave me permission to use my voice the way I need to. I have written about them here.

I wrote about Dr. Millard Dunn at length ten years ago. He told me he thought it was a little scary that I knew him so well. I paraphrase there. I only know him because he opened the door for me.
I had no idea that the year I would begin writing the spaektherights.com that my Granny, Floreta Johnson, would fall ill that autumn. I used these pages as a cathartic release.



I wrote more about The Moody Blues than anyone ever wanted to read about. I make no apologies. It was worth it. Their music has had a positive impact on my life. I wish more had listened too.

I have spent more time than a little bit writing about the Indiana Hoosiers Football Team. My disdain for Coach Kevin Wilson. My true affection for Coach Tom Allen. My skepticism turned belief in Coach Curt Cignetti. I have had a nice look at IU Football from the stands, press box and the field.

This photo with my friends Adam Disque, Andrew Evertts, and Russell Harrell is indicative of the IU season last year. This was a special time with these guys.
Family time is special time.

I said I would not use this photo again. WRONG. Thank you, Aunt Barbara. My Ole Miss Football watching buddy has been gone more than a year now. College Football has not been the same. I miss you so much. We covered so much ground the last few years of her life. I am honored and thankful.

I was glad to see Charlie Brown and my Dad hanging out in an old Braves jersey.

Speaking of my Dad, I would not trade this photo for anything. I’ll say it. These were his favorite players at each of his head coaching stops. Barry Hall from Brownstown Central and Kevin Samons from North Harrison. Don’t let him tell you otherwise.

What was better than me and granddaughter Penny watching IU beat Purdue on the laptop this past November in Florida? Nothing. Look at our intensity! This while IU was leading by more than 50.
I can’t do it. There is not enough room.
There is not enough time or room to talk about all the football games, all the travel, all the walks around Walden Pond, all the fun in the classrooms, all the good times.
I will leave you with a few scenes from a great night at The Rose Bowl in 2016.


My Dad turned around as he walked in the tunnel that led us to The Rose Bowl Stadium. It was a dream come true. I always wanted to take my Dad to the home of our January 1st heroes. The UCLA-USC game was the next best thing.

I hope no one ever wonders why I have a soft spot for UCLA and The Rose Bowl.

After all, I was 2 for 2 there (The Rose Bowl).
I know I have left out more folks and loved ones that I can comprehend right now. My speaktherights.com page has more than 3100 pictures in it.
I have been asked which speaktherights.com post is my favorite. That is easy. The post I wrote about my friends in the BROWN family was my favorite. I was there. And I love these guys.
Footballs are BROWN – speaktherights.com
I am moving on to new platform that will be made known. This is last time I will speaktherights.
Know that I have enjoyed it all and I thank you for reading. I am not going away. Keep watching!