Favorite Folksongs
Authentic Leadership, MILA Delicatessen, Doobie Brothers, Bobby Cox, Free Flowerpot
Welcome to my 190th weekly newsletter. This issue includes my ten favorite folksongs, a book on leading authentically, a new local deli featuring Balkan items, a band that encouraged us to listen to the music, an oft-ejected skipper, and a bottomless pot. I hope you like the picks and pics.
We saw Howley at The Ark in Ann Arbor on May 9, 2026. This new band includes one of the two sets of brothers from We Banjo 3.
Here are all three songs they have released so far:
Last week I appeared on Not Another KM Podcast, Episode 10: KM and Everything Else We Overcomplicate.
I was sad to learn that my friend, John Landau, passed away after a long battle with cancer. John befriended me in fifth grade in Clayton, Missouri, after I moved there from Omaha. I moved again after that year, and when I returned before senior year of high school, John was one of the few classmates who remembered me from elementary school. On the first day of high school, he introduced me to Arnold Kling, which led to my working on the newspaper (Clamo). He also told me to meet Tim Poor, which led to me working on the radio station (KHRU).
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Fave Five 190: Favorite Folksongs
Managing Medtronic (Authentic Leadership), Balkan Bureks (MILA Delicatessen), Band of Brothers—Not (Doobie Brothers), Ejection Expert (Bobby Cox), and a Free Flowerpot.
Fave Five List: Favorite Folksongs
Spotify recently sent me a playlist of my 120 all-time top songs. This gave me the idea to create a playlist of my 100 favorite folk, bluegrass, Celtic, and country songs, limiting the entries to one per artist. Here are my top ten:
City of New Orleans - Steve Goodman
A Fond Farewell - Ari Hest
Pilgrim Highway - Mark Erelli
This Love Will Carry - Dougie MacLean
Useless Desires - Patty Griffin
Once In A Very Blue Moon - Nanci Griffith
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right - Bob Dylan
Black Hearted Bride - Chris Trapper
Stealing - Leo Kottke
Round Of Blues - Shawn Colvin
Book Best Bet
Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value by Bill George
I read this book and True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership (by the same author) in 2008 while preparing to present at Michigan State University on How to Be An Authentic Leader. I believe in the principles presented in the book, and would love to see more leaders practice them.
From Amazon: In the wake of continuing corporate scandals there have been few, if any, CEOs that have stepped forward as models of “doing things right”―except the former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, Bill George. George has become the unofficial spokesperson for responsible leadership―in business, the media, and academia.
There can be no doubt about the credentials of Bill George, who has been named one of Business Week's "Top 25 Managers". In Authentic Leadership, he lays out his plan for improving corporate America's flaws through responsible leadership. George makes the case that we do need new leaders, not just new laws, to bring us out of the current corporate crisis. He persuasively demonstrates that authentic leaders of mission-driven companies will create far greater shareholder value than financially oriented companies. During George’s twelve-year leadership at Medtronic, the company’s market capitalization soared from $1.1 billion to $460 billion, averaging 35% per year.
George candidly recounts many of the toughest challenges he encountered -- from ethical dilemmas and battles with the FDA to his own development as a leader. He shows how to develop the five essential dimensions of authentic leaders―purpose, values, heart, relationships, and self-discipline. Authentic Leadership offers inspiring lessons to all who want to lead with heart and with compassion for those they serve.
Bill George helps readers answer vital questions such as: What should I do when my personal values conflict with company business values? How do I make trade-offs between the needs of my customers, my employees, and my company’s shareholders? Do I really want to devote my talents to business? Authentic Leadership provides a tested guide for character-based leaders and all those who have a stake in the integrity and success of our corporations.
Restaurant Recommendation
MILA Delicatessen 49046 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, MI 48393
My friend Mark Mitra is half Croatian, so when I told him about this new deli, he suggested trying it. We had lunch there today, and our review is mixed. Both bureks were very tasty, The ćevapi did not come on the traditional lepinja (Balkan flatbread) and the sausages were deemed average by Mark.
Burek: a flaky, golden pastry made from thin layers of hand-stretched dough, rolled and coiled with a savory filling of seasoned meat or spinach & cheese—a beloved staple across the Balkans. (We tried one of each.)
The Balkan Reserve: Seven hand-rolled ćevapi, (tender seasoned Balkan beef & pork sausages), served with crispy fries cooked in beef tallow, diced raw onion, and kajmak, a rich creamy cheese spread with a tangy buttery finish. Crushed red pepper salt.
From the restaurant: Mila Delicatessen is rooted in tradition, family, and a lifelong love of food. Our story begins in the 1950s, when our family brought the flavors and hospitality of the Balkans to Michigan, beginning a journey in the American restaurant industry that spans generations.
Inspired by our Balkan heritage and built on decades of experience, Mila is a modern delicatessen serving thoughtfully crafted sandwiches, rich espresso drinks, and baked goods. Every item on our menu reflects the same values that have guided our family for over seventy years—quality ingredients, honest preparation, and food made with care.
Marvelous Musicians
I loved “Listen to the Music” (number 11 in 1972) and became a fan. When “What a Fool Believes” later became a hit, featuring Michael McDonald, I liked them even more. Here are my favorite Doobie Brothers songs, in order of their release as singles:
“Listen to the Music”
“Jesus Is Just Alright”
“Long Train Runnin’”
“China Grove”
“Black Water”
“Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)”
“Takin’ It to the Streets”
“It Keeps You Runnin’”
“What a Fool Believes”
“Minute by Minute”
“Dependin’ on You”
“Real Love”
“One Step Closer”
“Here to Love You”
“You Belong to Me”
From Wikipedia: The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band from San Jose, California. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, the group’s current lineup consists of founding members Tom Johnston (guitars, vocals) and Patrick Simmons (guitars, vocals), veteran member Michael McDonald (keyboards, vocals), longtime member John McFee (guitars, pedal steel, violin, backing vocals), and touring musicians including John Cowan (bass, vocals), Bill Payne (keyboards), Marc Russo (saxophones), Ed Toth (drums), and Marc Quiñones (percussion).
The band’s history can be roughly divided into three eras. From 1970 to 1975 it featured lead vocalist Johnston and a mainstream rock and roll sound with elements of folk, country and R&B. Johnston left the group in 1977 due to health reasons, and was replaced by Michael McDonald, whose interest in soul music changed the band’s sound until it broke up in 1982 with Simmons being the only constant member having appeared on all of their albums. In 1987, the Doobie Brothers reformed with Johnston back in the fold; McDonald, who had previously made several guest appearances since their reformation, returned to the band full-time in 2019 for their upcoming 50th anniversary tour. Every incarnation of the group has emphasized vocal harmonies. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 7, 2020. The group has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Founding members John Hartman and Dave Shogren, Tiran Porter, Michael Hossack, Keith Knudsen and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter are former members of the band.
Listen To The Music
Long Train Runnin'
China Grove
Black Water
What A Fool Believes
Minute by Minute
My Playlist
Sports Star
Bobby Cox
Bobby died on May 9, 2026. I remember him playing for the New York Yankees in 1968 and 1969, and then as the long-time manager of the Atlanta Braves. He holds the record for the most times being ejected from games.
Bobby Cox, One of Baseball’s Top Managers, Dies at 84
He led the Atlanta Braves to victory in the 1990s and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his leadership.
Cox was a major league player whose career consisted of two seasons, mostly at third base, with the Yankees in 1968 and 1969. He batted .225 overall in 220 games and was hampered by knee problems.
He found his niche as a manager, mostly for the Braves in two stints surrounding a stretch with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 as “one of the most successful managers in history” for steering the Braves to dominance in the 1990s.
Cox’s 2,504 victories in 29 seasons have been exceeded only by three others: Connie Mack, with 3,731, managing the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years, followed by John McGraw with 2,763 and Tony La Russa with 2,728. Cox was voted manager of the year four times by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Cox’s Braves boasted strong pitching, most notably from the Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. His Atlanta teams won division championships 14 consecutive times, from 1991 to 2005, a players’ strike having curtailed the 1994 season.
From Wikipedia: Robert Joe Cox (born May 21, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; died May 9, 2026 in Marietta, Georgia) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and managed for the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He recorded a 100-win season six times, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.
Cox first managed the Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He rejoined the Braves in 1986 as a general manager. He moved back to the manager’s role during the 1990 season and stayed there until his retirement following the 2010 season. Cox led the Atlanta Braves to 14 conseutive division championships from 1991 to 2005, (interrupted in 1994 when the Montreal Expos were leading the division by 6 games when a strike ended the season), which included a World Series title in 1995. The Braves retired No. 6 in his honor.
Cox holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB with 162, a record previously held by John McGraw. He also is the all-time leader among MLB managers in playoff seasons with 16, and he was the first manager since Casey Stengel to have qualified for the postseason 10 times (four managers have since followed him).
Picture Pun
Hard to believe that a free bottomless flowerpot has not yet been taken.
