An Author's Autobiography
Carrie Soto Is Back, Family Feasts, Spinners, Patrick Mahomes, Automotive Appendage
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue includes my professional heroes and key years from my autobiography, a fictional tennis star, lunch in Santa Monica and dinner in Glendale, a singing group from Motown, the Super Bowl MVP, and a rooftop car. I hope you like the picks and pics.
On Saturday, Barb and I returned to Los Angeles for the day. We met one of the five most loyal commenters on my picture puns, Jay Sloofman, for coffee in Santa Monica. Jay and I were in fifth grade together at Glenridge Elementary School in Clayton, Missouri. Barb and Jay were at Wydown Junior High School in Clayton for 7th and 8th grades. We enjoyed hearing Jay’s stories from when he was known as Harry Sloofman up to the present day, when he recently moved from New York to Santa Monica.
We then met our daughter Kathy for lunch and my brother David and his friend Claudia for a walk at Descanso Gardens and dinner. Details on lunch and dinner are featured in this week’s Recommended Restaurants below.
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Fave Five 72: An Author's Autobiography
Tennis Tome (Carrie Soto Is Back), Family Feasts (Santa Monica Seafood Café and La Cabañita), Ferndale Five (The Spinners), Multiple MVP (Patrick Mahomes), and an Automotive Appendage.
Fave Five Lists: Professional Heroes and Key Years
Last week I published the 100th article in my Profiles in Knowledge series. This one immodestly features me as the subject. It includes my important influences, my autobiography, and my curated collection of the writing and speaking I have done to date. Here are two lists taken from this profile.
5 Heroes Who Became Friends
5 Key Years
1972: I switched majors from journalism to computer science, I transferred from Northwestern University in Evanston to Washington University in St. Louis, and I took calculus and physics in the summer to catch up with engineering school requirements.
1973: I took a one-month class at the Biomedical Computer Lab (BCL), this led to a summer job, and I turned that into a part-time job for the rest of college.
1983: I applied for a position at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), I was offered the job, and I decided to leave academia for the corporate world.
2005: My proposal to speak at the APQC KM Conference in St. Louis was accepted, I hosted a birds-of-a-feather lunch session there, and this led me to create the SIKM Leaders Community.
2006: I submitted an article for publication to Line56, they asked me to write a weekly blog (which I did), and I was asked to write my first book for the ARK Group (which I finished in three months).
Book Best Bet
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I previously featured Daisy Jones & The Six by the same author. I liked this book as well, but not as much as Daisy Jones. I enjoyed trying to predict which tennis matches Carrie would win and lose and what would happen to her father and boyfriend. But a major criticism is the author’s extensive use of Spanish that is not translated. This review reveals it to be even worse that I thought:
First up is a major personal pet peeve and something that might not bother most: the use of Spanish in the text. I have a degree in Spanish Philology, and I have called Argentina my home for over a decade, so I was stoked when I discovered Carrie Soto has Argentinian blood and that the story was going to include Spanish. It usually only makes me love a story even more, but it backfired for me in Carrie Soto Is Back. The Spanish was BAD. And I’m not talking about simple spelling/grammar mistakes or using the wrong words, but also using expressions that an Argentinian would never use. It soon made me cringe every time I had to suffer through another incorrect use of Spanish, and if I have to see the ‘Bueno’ expression one more time (something that is NOT used in Argentina, by the way), I think I’m going to scream. Also, I have to note that the use of Spanish might backfire for non-Spanish speakers as well; there is often no translation offered and the use goes a lot further than a simple word/phrase every now and then.
Well, it bothered me (and other reviewers) quite a lot. The author’s explanation is poor:
It was important to me that if I’m going to write about a man from Argentina for whom Spanish is his first language that I not just filter him through a particularly American English as a first language gaze. Realistically, Javier is going to speak Spanish. Javier’s Spanish is also not necessarily going to be the easy Spanish that most non-Spanish speaking Americans would know. I specifically did not translate it in the book because I believe, using context clues, you know what it says. I don’t wanna erase the first language he spoke, so that was important to me.
The previous reviewer also said, “I have read four Taylor Jenkins Reid books before this one, and every single one blew me away.” So I will read her other books and expect that they will be better than this one.
From Amazon: Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.
Restaurant Recommendations
Family Feasts
Barb and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Kathy in Santa Monica and a delicious dinner with Kathy, David, and Claudia in Glendale.
Santa Monica Seafood Café 1000 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401\
Jay Sloofman recommended this place, and it was a winner. There were over 50 varieties of fresh fish listed on the big board, including whitefish from Lake Superior.
We shared a wonderful appetizer of Wild Mexican White Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail: dill, fleur de sel, SMS cocktail sauce, and lemon.
I had Wild Fish Tacos with French Fries:
Baja Style Line-Caught Wild Alaskan Cod: beer-battered cod, cabbage, pico de gallo, and chipotle aioli.
Cajun-Style Grilled Wild Mahi-Mahi: cabbage, mango salsa, and chipotle aioli.
Sauteed Grilled Wild Argentine Red Shrimp: cabbage, pico de gallo, and jalapeno-cilantro aioli.
Barb had Wild Yellowfin Tuna Poke Bowl: Hawaiian dressing, sushi rice, avocado, sesame seed, and tobiko caviar.
We shared a bowl of Savory Fish Chowder: finfish, potatoes, corn, and onions, in aromatic tomato broth. This is my one-third portion:
Kathy had Wild Pacific Northwest Sand Dabs: Panko crusted and served over mashed potatoes, roasted broccolini, and drizzled with a shallot, herb, and garlic sauce.
Barb and I shared a piece of carrot cake for dessert.
La Cabañita 3445 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale, CA 91208
David was enthusiastic about eating here after we visited nearby Descanso Gardens. It was a favorite of his great friend, the late Carlos Vega, and dining here brings back fond memories for him. The food was authentic, the service was warm, and we had a great dinner here. Coincidentally (not ironically), our waiter’s name was Javier, the same as Carrie Soto’s father in this week’s Book Best Bet.
David recommended the chicken soup, so I chose that as the side for my dinner.
Caldo De Pollo: Chicken broth with vegetables, rice and shredded chicken breast
Combo 4 served with rice and black beans garnished with Mexican cheese:
Enchilada de Mole: Corn tortilla filled with chicken breast and cheese, topped with special mole sauce, onions, and cheese.
Chile Relleno: Poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, baked in an egg batter, and covered with spicy tomatillo sauce.
Marvelous Musicians
Henry Fambrough, the last surviving member of the Spinners' founding lineup, died one week ago today at the age of 85. The group was formed in Ferndale, Michigan 70 years ago. I loved their 1972 hits “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I'm Falling In Love.” I also liked their collaboration with Dionne Warwick in 1974 on “Then Came You.”
From Wikipedia: The Spinners are an American rhythm and blues vocal group that formed in Ferndale, Michigan in 1954. The group is also listed as the Detroit Spinners and the Motown Spinners, due to their 1960s recordings with the Motown label. These other names were used in the UK to avoid confusion with a British folk group also called The Spinners.
In 1954, Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, C. P. Spencer, and James Edwards formed The Domingoes in Ferndale, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. The friends resided in Detroit's Herman Gardens public housing project and came together to make music. James Edwards remained with the group for a few weeks and was replaced by Bobby Smith, who sang lead on most of the Spinners' early records and their biggest Atlantic Records hits. Spencer left the group shortly after Edwards, George Dixon replaced Spencer, and the group renamed themselves the Spinners in 1961. James Edwards' brother, Edgar "Chico" Edwards, replaced Dixon in the group in 1963, at which time Tri-Phi and its entire artist roster was bought out by Fuqua's brother-in-law, Berry Gordy of Motown Records. With limited commercial success, Motown assigned the Spinners as road managers, chaperones, and chauffeurs for other groups, and even as shipping clerks. G. C. Cameron replaced Edgar "Chico" Edwards in 1967, and in 1969, the group switched to the Motown-owned V.I.P. imprint.
Atlantic Records recording artist Aretha Franklin suggested the group finish their Motown contract and sign with Atlantic Records. While recording an album that Stevie Wonder was producing for them, their Motown contract expired, leaving the LP unfinished. The group then made the switch, but contractual obligations prevented Cameron from leaving Motown, so he stayed on there as a solo artist and urged his cousin, singer Philippé Wynne, to join the Spinners in his place as one of the group's three lead singers, with Henry Fambrough, and Bobby Smith. When the Spinners signed to Atlantic in 1972, they were a respected but commercially unremarkable singing group who had never had a Top Ten pop hit — despite having been a recording act for over a decade. However, with songwriter Thom Bell at the helm, the Spinners charted five Top 100 singles (and two Top 10s) from their first post-Motown album, Spinners (1973), and went on to become one of the biggest soul groups of the 1970s.
In early 2023, Fambrough retired from the group, after almost 70 years as a member.
On May 3, 2023, after three previous nominations, the Spinners—with its classic 1970s lineup of Fambrough, Smith, Jackson, Henderson, Edwards and Wynne—were picked as inductees for the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nearly 70 years after the group had first formed. In May 2023, the group donated hundreds of items for their performing and recording history to Motown Museum in Detroit.
On February 7, 2024, Henry Fambrough (the last original member) died of natural causes at the age of 85. The Spinners officially have no surviving original members of the group.
The Spinners' Henry Fambrough, who helped take Detroit group to musical heights, dies at 85 by Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press
The Spinners' Henry Fambrough, whose rich baritone and charismatic stage presence helped lead the Detroit group to musical heights, last Wednesday of natural causes. He was 85.
Fambrough was the last surviving member of the Spinners' founding lineup, and he was on hand in November for the group's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in New York. Fambrough and the group were also honored in a series of hometown events last May in Detroit, including a celebratory weekend at the Motown Museum.
While he was typically a part of the Spinners' tapestry of harmonies, Fambrough had his moments in the lead spotlight, including 1973's "Ghetto Child," a Top Five R&B hit.
The Spinners' music in the '70s was affiliated with the reigning Philly R&B sound of the time, in particular producer Thom Bell, who oversaw most of the group's big hits. But Fambrough and his group mates remained based in Detroit, building a local music legacy on par with many of the city's biggest acts.
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
I'll Be Around
Then Came You
It's a Shame
Ghetto Child
My Playlist
Sports Star
On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to a Super Bowl win over San Francisco, 25-22 in overtime, and was named the Super Bowl MVP for the third time. The Chiefs had lost their season opener at home to the Detroit Lions, but had the Lions managed to reach the Super Bowl, I doubt they would have beaten KC again.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, Kansas City obtained the 10th pick in a trade with Buffalo and used it to take Mahomes. Chicago traded multiple picks to move up one spot to number 2 and selected Mitchell Trubisky. The former trade proved much more successful than the latter.
Side note: In that same draft, the Lions used pick number 21 to take linebacker Jarrad Davis. They passed up T.J. Watt, taken number 30 by Pittsburgh. A typical Detroit miss in previous regimes.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes named Super Bowl LVIII MVP by Eric Edholm, NFL.com
He had only 9 passing yards after the first quarter but finished with 333 for the game, completing 34 of 46 passes with two touchdowns and one interception. As a fitting way to cap his season, Mahomes also led the Chiefs in rushing with 66 yards on nine runs, including three massive conversions with his legs in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime. All told, Mahomes accounted for 399 of the Chiefs' 455 yards in the Super Bowl. That's the definition of dragging your team over the finish line.
From Wikipedia: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995 in Tyler, Texas) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Since becoming the Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2018, Mahomes has led the team to four Super Bowl appearances and is one of five quarterbacks to win three or more Super Bowls. Mahomes's career accolades through seven seasons in the NFL have earned him widespread praise from sports journalists, and he is considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Mahomes played college football and baseball at Texas Tech University. Following his sophomore year, he quit baseball to focus solely on football. In his junior year, he led all NCAA Division I FBS players in multiple categories including passing yards (5,052) and total touchdowns (53). He was selected 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL draft. Mahomes spent his rookie season as the backup to Alex Smith. He was named the starter in 2018 after the Chiefs traded Smith to the Washington Redskins. That season, Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He became the only quarterback in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season in both college and in the NFL. He joined Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 passing touchdowns in the same season. For his performance in his first season as starter, he was named to the Pro Bowl, named first-team All-Pro, and won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player awards. Mahomes is one of four black quarterbacks to win the AP MVP award.
In the 2019 season, Mahomes led the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV, their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years, where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers. Mahomes was awarded the Super Bowl MVP for his performance, the second black quarterback and youngest overall to do so. He is also the third African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl. In 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year contract extension worth $477 million with another $26 million in potential bonuses, for a total of $503 million, making it the fourth-largest known contract in sporting history. The year after signing his contract, he led the Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, but they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. In the 2022 season, Mahomes won his second career NFL MVP and his second Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl LVII over the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming the first player to win NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same year since Kurt Warner in 1999, and joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to win multiple regular season and Super Bowl MVPs. In the 2023 season, he advanced to Super Bowl LVIII, his fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, where he defeated the 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. With three Super Bowl wins in five seasons, many consider this as a dynasty.
Watch all of Patrick Mahomes's best plays from his 399-yard game against the San Francisco 49ers
Picture Pun
The cost of a new Porsche has gone through the roof.
