Money, MLK, Dolly breaking up with Dixie
Here we are. In a place where the newest rich person is a 20-year-old guy in Florida and Nick Saban is underpaid coaching a college football team at more than $11 million last year.
Let that sink in.
Of course, we all know Alabama just won the national championship in college football, and that win moved Saban into a tie with Bear Bryant (who also coached at Alabama) for the most national championships as a head coach.
And if you are thinking, “Pssst, that Greeson dude has lost his last marbles. How can anyone coaching a football team be underpaid if he is making $11 million?” Well, that’s a fair question.
And here is the answer: If any NFL team — or Fortune 500 company or the rest of the SEC collectively bidding for Saban to just retire — offered Nick Saban $15 million to leave Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama would pony up $16 million.
And here’s betting that there is no number short of $30 million per year that Alabama would even pause about matching. (And to be honest, here’s betting Alabama would match $30 million.)
As for the 20-year-old Floridian who may be the only person around who had a better week than Saban, meet Shane Missler.
Misser spent 10 bucks on some MegaMillions quick picks and his lump sum payout after winning the $451 million jackpot was $281,874,999.
That is a good day.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Elvis Presley would have turned 83 earlier this week. His birthday was Monday.
Elvis has to be on the short list of most recognizable one-named musicians ever, right? There with Prince and Madonna and Cher and a few others.
Also on that list is Dolly Parton. Yes, Dolly is on that list as much for the unusualness of her name as the magnitude of her career.
Still, was anyone else somewhat disappointed that she took the word “Dixie” out of her “Stampede” theater name?
Dolly is a brilliant businesswoman and has nurtured her career and passion into a nine-figure fortune. Kudos.
And we know Dolly and Co. are looking to expand the activity formerly known as Dixie Stampede shows beyond Pigeon Forge and Branson, Mo., but man, the pre-emptive “This could hurt someone’s feelings somewhere sometime in the future” knee-jerk reactions that people are being shamed into are eye-popping.
So it goes, I guess.
SATURDAY’S STARS
To everyone who shows up Monday at the Chamberlain Pavilion on the campus of UTC to help on a day of community service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Great cause and great idea. That said, here’s hoping community service and volunteering can become the norm rather than a once-ayear celebration.
Until next time.