To Fire or Not To Fire?

That is the question, isn't it? Or at least, that's the question that U-M Athletic Director David Brandon has to mull over in this next month or so. But each Michigan football fan has, in their own mind, made their own decision about head coach Rich Rodriguez. Most of the fans I know are ready to see him go, while a few are still hoping for "one more year" to prove himself.<br /><br />Me? I am on the fence. I know you hate to hear me say that, but I am. I can see valid reasons from both sides, and it makes my choice hard. Luckily, I am not the Athletic Director, so this really doesn't mean anything besides arguing with acquaintances every once in a while. But here are some of the pros and cons about the whole situation. See it from my view: whatever happens is good for the school and the program.<br /><br /><b>Situation #1: Give him one more year.</b><br />After two years of nothing after Ohio State, Rodriguez got Michigan to a 7-5 record and a spot in the Gator Bowl on January 1. If nothing, this is a major jump. Now January 1 bowls are not as prestigious as they used to be, but it still has some clout. You are guaranteed a major audience of males who have the day off and are committed to watching whatever football game flies across their flatscreens at a particular time of the day. On January 2 people will be talking about those bowls. And nothing beats the GIANT patch they get to put on their uniforms, right? (I mean, seriously! I could take four of those patches and have four placemats for my dining room table!)<br /><br />The Michigan team we saw had its weaknesses, sure, but those are defensive and special teams problems. The most logical solution would be to fire those coaches, Greg Robinson and Tony Gibson (who also doubles as the defensive backs coordinator - it's like two firings in one!) and bring in some incredibly talented defensive minds to take over.<br /><br />In this season, you could say that Michigan beat every team it was supposed to beat (UConn, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, etc.) and lost to teams that were better than them (OSU, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc.). The only game that does not fit into this mindset was the Penn State game, which was just plain horrible on every level. But that was really the only one.<br /><br />Our offense has a solid foundation. Give quarterback Denard Robinson some receivers that consistently catch the ball, as well as one (one!) main running back, and the offense can put up the points. The defense and special teams need major overhauls, but anything next year would be better than this year for both areas, right?<br /><br />The biggest problem for firing Rodriguez would be that the players are on his side. Like, majorly. If Brandon were to fire him and bring in a new coach with new ideas, and that trust between player and coach could disappear. Trust me, if these 18-23-year-old males are willing to hold hands and sway to "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban because their coach encouraged them to, these guys would do anything to keep him as the coach.<br /><br />I remember losing some core players from Lloyd Carr's tenure after Rodriguez came on as head coach and thinking, "Man, what if those guys had stayed?" But this was no longer the team that they had signed to play on. It wasn't Carr's system anymore; it was Rich Rod's. And because of that, they took their talents elsewhere. I can't imagine what may happen to some of our core players if a firing were to occur and someone they didn't like took his place.<br /><br />But still...<br /><br /><b>Situation #2: FIRE HIM NOW!</b><br />The old "traditions" held up in high esteem by the likes of Yost, Crisler, and Schembechler<b> </b>have all but disappeared. Rodriguez has insisted on starting new traditions which don't have the same Michigan luster. If a Michigan fan were to have gone into a coma in 2006 and then woken up before the Wisconsin game this season, he would barely recognize that football team on the field.<br /><br />I don't care that they're going to a bowl; I don't feel like any progress has been made. It just feels like they've plateaued. They aren't getting any worse (I mean, could that defense get any worse?), but there isn't that spark to be better, to get an upset win, to pummel the little guys instead of letting them hang around.<br /><br />We haven't beaten Ohio State in SEVEN YEARS. We need a coach that spends the entire season obsessing over that game! It almost seems like Rich Rod treats it like every other game. Newsflash, coach: IT'S NOT.<br /><br />Our little brother, Michigan State, has pounded us the past three years. It has been embarassing! They give us the standard Dantonio approach, and we still look like scared deer out on that field.<br /><br />I mentioned previously the lethargy that reigned at the end of last year. Well guess what? The lethargy returned during the Iowa game, and it never left. Do these players know the meaning of "getting psyched" for a game? Do the coaches instill any excitement on these players, or have they already given up before "The Victors" is even played?<br /><br />RichRod was quoted as saying, "<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em>What do you want</em>, me to go jump out there and <em>hold hands</em> with all the Buckeye fans and <em>sing</em> 'Kumbaya'?" And then he goes and holds hands and sways to "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. I wonder what the Michigan State band is going to play when we march out onto the Spartan Stadium grass next year...</span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><br /></span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Wake me up when he actually recruits a decent kicker.</span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><br /></span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><b>So What's an Athletic Director to do?</b></span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Does he use the Gator Bowl as the deciding factor? Or does he make the decision before that? Does he get down on his hands and knees and beg Jim Harbaugh to come back to his alma mater? Or does he just toss a coin? One thing is for sure:</span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><b> </b></span><br /><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Aren't you happy this isn't <i>your </i>decision?</span>

To Fire or Not To Fire?

That is the question, isn't it? Or at least, that's the question that U-M Athletic Director David Brandon has to mull over in this next month or so. But each Michigan football fan has, in their own mind, made their own decision about head coach Rich …

Read more »

JOHN M. STAHL...a reappraisal and a reaffirmation

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U82ludouBXMb4xTJ8Se8r086J4KsWLeSstz0Qt8mF1_mmOTAERKbKY5HOTnpuTV5ZDX9JhxMx6R1uWq15yvC5NVZYlGhxfBIrUlRiGsi64sqcjcgEQ5SjNlQbDm-rjalxZd_DUdtRzqn/s1600/1+stahl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U82ludouBXMb4xTJ8Se8r086J4KsWLeSstz0Qt8mF1_mmOTAERKbKY5HOTnpuTV5ZDX9JhxMx6R1uWq15yvC5NVZYlGhxfBIrUlRiGsi64sqcjcgEQ5SjNlQbDm-rjalxZd_DUdtRzqn/s320/1+stahl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gene Tierney in <b>Leave Her to Heaven</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><i><b>by guest contributor doctor sabelotodo</b></i><br /><br /><b><u>Author's Disclaimer</u></b><br /><br />Not until I started researching and reading did I realize the extent of the tremendous amount of heresay, recyled disinformation and vague references that exists in the written media about director John M. Stahl - both online and in book form. I prefer to write (cryptically) off the top of my head but felt lacking in sufficient details concerning the film legacy of Mr. Stahl. I love film but dislike film criticism...trust me...you will not see <i>mise en scene </i>mentioned...<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoBy5-LF9ZZAfk1yxvwbn0S4uiNdF9iL6CfIph26aaAu3Q-JRD_emLwGTRoeDptoR1CpmLh3sNKGxHFlCWgyDk798mfWzsSVbyy4BXunwAsf4EMhPalxKxCHfaId780OPXDt9ThNwWXTP/s1600/4+stahl+stahl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoBy5-LF9ZZAfk1yxvwbn0S4uiNdF9iL6CfIph26aaAu3Q-JRD_emLwGTRoeDptoR1CpmLh3sNKGxHFlCWgyDk798mfWzsSVbyy4BXunwAsf4EMhPalxKxCHfaId780OPXDt9ThNwWXTP/s200/4+stahl+stahl.jpg" width="116" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b><u>A Brief Biography</u></b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>John Malcolm Stahl was born unceremoniuosly in New York City on January 21, 1886...attended public schools until 1901, when he left to become an actor...he worked in this vein on stage and film until joining Vitagraph Studios in 1914 and then the newly founded MGM/Meyer studios in 1917...throughout his tenure, he directed numerous films of little consequence (most have been lost or forgotten). He founded Tiffany-Stahl Pictures in 1927, but sold his interest in 1930. His "big break" came in 1930 when he joined Universal Studios and began making a number of successful and quality films.<br /><br />Stahl married Roxana Wray in 1930 (his wife until death)..then came the disaster of <b>Parnell</b> (1937), which ended his work with Universal. He he continued on working for Fox Studios and free-lancing, his sole success being <b>Leave Her to Heaven </b>along with some minor films...he retired in 1949 and died the following year. John Stahl was one of the founders of AMPAS (the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (for whatever that is worth)...<br /><br /><b><u>Introduction</u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TZ7_MkqPqcYz_1zI6AWOUT2l2VKCYBFUnbJMVCEMn40_NSMT9ZdG9hrnVA-8KxXIwlvRRva_VA61TxhCwJk-kp9niEnnVmgYrYotOl973W3flx9EP7-p2_zXghhWnzi_NF-0SwAFiYcj/s1600/2+stahl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TZ7_MkqPqcYz_1zI6AWOUT2l2VKCYBFUnbJMVCEMn40_NSMT9ZdG9hrnVA-8KxXIwlvRRva_VA61TxhCwJk-kp9niEnnVmgYrYotOl973W3flx9EP7-p2_zXghhWnzi_NF-0SwAFiYcj/s200/2+stahl.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>The first time that I heard a reference to John Stahl was in the 1970s. It was a direct quote claiming that "he had been out-Sirked by Douglas Sirk." I found this interesting (knowing the films of Douglas Sirk) but like most, I was not familiar with the name John Stahl, despite having seen his <b>Imitation of Life (</b>1934) and <b>Magnificent Obsession</b> (1935). I became aware of the full impact of this statement over the years, i.e., in remaking three of John Stahl's films as a tribute, Douglas Sirk had unwittingly buried the former in the tomb of obscurity.<br /><br />Prior to 1936, I think Stahl enjoyed a good reputation as a reliable, competent, focused studio director. <b>Parnell</b> was his undoing (as director and producer he was solely responsible), and the critics and wags began to pile up the negatives: "studio director,""unoriginal,""a woman's director," "a one medium director," director of "weepies," "tearjerkers" and "soapers." Negative criticism led to neglect which was in full force by the time he made <b>Leave Her to Heaven</b> (1945). To the above I say...<br /><br />1. William Wyler was criticized for being a "studio director" (I would like anyone try to do a better job on <b>Ben-Hur</b>).<br />2. George Cukoor was also called a "woman's director"...so what? He was a good director period...<br />3. John Ford directed mostly westerns.<br />4. Being "maverick" and "original" does not guarantee quality or success...<br /><br />I also think that part of the public and critical neglect of Stahl was due to his reputation - he was a real nice guy, not a womanizaer or a drunk...got along well with the studio brass...actors and actresses loved him (especially Greer Garson)...he was pleasant to work with...productive...responsible.<br /><br />Yes, he directed melodramas...yes, he addressed strong issues on the social and sexual mores of women...yes, he featured independent (sometimes driven) characters...but this hardly justifies criticism or neglect.<br /><br />The following is a quote from Hal Erickson at All-Movie Guide: "<i>it was during this time that Stahl developed his directorial "signature"; hot house melodramas and baroque romanticisims with emphasis on strong, self reliant female characters"..</i>this was the kind of blather that I waded through.<br /><br />1. <i>Hot house...</i>What does that mean? over-the-top...yes...sauna, no!<br />2. <i>Baroque...</i>I think that he is referring to Douglas Sirk!<br />3. <i>Self reliant females...</i>that smells of Ayn Rand...<br /><br /><b><u>Selected Films </u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTlxJL8P8SDWd6rNv0wnrsHLP3ND31uhO0AsUsCF6l-fZy1J9VJmTdCqXLiP5HBb3tQx0BtL4irYb4TKSD-KuAdl7DCt_MAllivCZcMNOn-NO9_-IKuoko2hf4q4TNjOHnAa7abh1oK5x/s1600/5+stahl+backstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTlxJL8P8SDWd6rNv0wnrsHLP3ND31uhO0AsUsCF6l-fZy1J9VJmTdCqXLiP5HBb3tQx0BtL4irYb4TKSD-KuAdl7DCt_MAllivCZcMNOn-NO9_-IKuoko2hf4q4TNjOHnAa7abh1oK5x/s200/5+stahl+backstreet.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>1. <b>Back Street</b> (1932)...from the Fannie Hurstbest seller. The story of unrequited/star-crossed/ill-fated love, as Rae (Irene Dunne) chooses to be the mistress of Walter (John Boles) for 30 years. Good performances in a rather convoluted story. With ZaSu Pitts, cinematography by Karl Freund...remade poorly in 1941 and 1961...<br /><br />2. <b>Only Yesterday</b> (1933)...again featuring John Boles and the screen debut of Margaret Sullavan. In 1929, a once wealthy businessman reflects on his past and an affair in 1917 that produced an illegimate child...he had ignored the woman who had his child and now feels remorse when he finds her dying. With a chilling montage of images of the Great Depression. As with <b>Back Street</b>, a definite pre-coder...featuring a strong supporting cast including Edna May Oliver and Billie Burke.<br /><br />3. <b>Imitation of Life</b> (1933)... from Fannie Hurst once again...perfect cast with Claudette Colbert as Bea Pullman, Louise Beavers as Delilah Johnson, Warren William as Stephen Archer, and Rochelle Hudson and Fredi Washington as the daughters. Storyline...widow hires maid whose recipe becomes "Aunt Delilah" pancake formula = $$$ and disappointment. This film tackled real issues of segregation, the position of women, class structure, passing for white and the destructive power of wealth. Often described as dated, this version of <b>Imitation of Life</b> is superior to the flamboyant/unbelievable/vapid 1959 remake with Lana Turner...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUyaaZysYKUDTDu8RWYJHilWXH3Hf828bh1ukTLAjQKN2Qlfz1QOb7y2fBXb1Ef0ouuepWu81aBlXgNwMG7jKlUBN1DtaErCcRQ7QbkPF7NLkwltF8_6SLgtN1qRKfiQVrotUh_pu91er/s1600/3+stahl+mag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUyaaZysYKUDTDu8RWYJHilWXH3Hf828bh1ukTLAjQKN2Qlfz1QOb7y2fBXb1Ef0ouuepWu81aBlXgNwMG7jKlUBN1DtaErCcRQ7QbkPF7NLkwltF8_6SLgtN1qRKfiQVrotUh_pu91er/s1600/3+stahl+mag.jpg" /></a></div>4. <b>Magnificent Obsession</b> (1935)...Yes, I know...from the over-the-top novel of Lloyd C. Douglas...rich/drunk playboy Bobby Merrick (Robert Taylor) causes death of the doctor husband of Helen Hudson (Irene Dunne). He feels bad, tries to apologize and as she leaves, she is struck by a car and is blinded. Merrick now feels <i>really</i> bad...tries to reform his ways...visits her...when she discovers his identity, she rebukes him once again...he mans up...becomes a physician and a renowned eye specialist and blah...blah...blah...I know it is hokey...Taylor is "stiff" as usual, but this film is so much better than the remake with Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman.<br /><br />5.<b> Parnell </b>(1937)...the story of "the uncrowned king of Ireland"...a good pedigree...Myrna Loy and Clark Gable...cinematography by Karl Freund...screenplay by John Van Druten. Unfortunately, it was a giant flop with the public and critics...beautifully filmed but <i>schizophrenic</i>. Is it a bio-pic, a star vehicle or a costume drama? As producer/director, Stahl was completely responsible for this mess that led to his dismissal from MGM...please...do NOT see this film!<br /><br />6. <b>When Tomorrow Comes</b> (1939)...a minor comeback for Stahl, as Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne renew their screen chemistry from <b>Love Affair </b>(1939)...from a story by James M. Cain, of all people...good film...improbable plot...remade by Douglas Sirk as <b>Interlude</b> (1957).<br /><br />7. <b>The Keys of the Kingdom</b> (1945)...from the A. J. Cronin novel...screenplay by Nunnally Johnson...music by Alfred Newman..and a great cast headed by Gregory Peck in his first starring role..we really see the screen presence of Peck in this film...from his visage...mannerisms...and speech...this was 18 years before <b>To Kill a Mockingbird</b>.<br /><br />8. <b>Leave Her to Heaven</b> (1945)...flamboyant and morbid, to say the least...Gene Tierney is both stunning and creepy as Ellen Berent..Cornel Wilde is adequate as her hubby Richard Harland...with good support from Jeanne Crain and Vincent Price...how this movie got by the censors is beyond me: featuring a wrongful death (<span style="color: #fff2cc;">click below to view</span>)...a deliberate fall to cause a miscarriage and suicide to implicate a rival in homicide is enough plot for three movies...this is one unique movie and represents the mastery of Stahl...famous quote: "there's nothing wrong with Ellen, it's just that she loves too much..." <br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tXHJqXyvJc0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tXHJqXyvJc0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><b><u>Summary</u></b><br /><br />Well, that is the best I can do...I have been a champion of John M. Stahl for 30 years...his fall from grace was multifactorial...the disaster of <b>Parnell</b>, benign neglect by critics...the ascendency of Douglas Sirk..and the unjust labelling as a studio director...I hope you will visit his films!

Back Street doctor sabelotodo (author) Douglas Sirk Imitation of Life John M. Stahl Keys to the Kingdom Leave Her to Heaven Magnificent Obsession melodrama Only Yesterday When Tomorrow Comes JOHN M. STAHL...a reappraisal and a reaffirmation

Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heavenby guest contributor doctor sabelotodoAuthor's DisclaimerNot until I started researching and reading did I realize the extent of the tremendous amount of heresay, recyled disinformation and vague references that exi…

Read more »

The Asian Journals Of Bishop Dan: Part 8

My last day in Santiago was dominated by the retreat I facilitated for the clergy and the diocesan staff. My self-review is that parts of it went quite well. The preface on post-colonial theology generated good discussion and report back in the plenary session.<br /><br />I then did the theoretical presentation for my exercises on psycho-synthesis and bio-spiritual focusing. The response was mixed. Some folks were nodding and definitely engaged if not downright intrigued. Others were bored. The first exercise went ok, but just ok. The second went better and they had great one on one dialogues afterward. By the time we got to the transpersonal self guided meditation, almost everyone seemed deeply engaged. It felt profound. Then the free association of God’s children meditation went quite well and the loving kindness mediation seems worked exceptionally. It was moving when they meditated on the blessing, “May all persons in the Dioceses of Santiago and Nevada be filled with loving kindness. May they be well. May they be peaceful and at ease. May they be happy.” So once we got past the theory, which some liked even that, it went well.<br /><br />The deans met with me over lunch again and we continued to plan how to build a network between our dioceses. They told me more about how the deaneries work in the Philippines. The deanery is a key unit of church life here and the deans have a substantial role – more so than in Atlanta or Nevada. They really make things happen, like youth ministry. The ECW meets for the deanery and at convention. ECW lives beyond the parish boundaries here more than in Nevada. I learned much and was prodded to do more with what I already know.<br /><br />There was a wonderful farewell. The clericus gave me a large woven cloth. They also gave me the banner welcoming me to the diocese in Ilocano. There were many mutual expressions of appreciation for each other. I kept promising to return until I realized how much like Douglass MacArthur I sounded. After the retreat, two young adults, Andy Burns (a YASC engineer) and Jocelyn Ittiw (an agricultural engineer doing community development work) interviewed me. Good questions. I over answered them because I enjoyed the young people so much. I want to be them when I am reincarnated.<br /><br />This has been a fantastic visit. I feel changed by it in ways I cannot describe. I regret having to leave tomorrow though I do enjoy Manila as well and look forward to meeting the Prime Bishop. I am also just exhuasted.<br /><br />But I fly away laden with loving gifts -- a Philippine vest, wood carvings from Ifugao, a framed ceretificate from the dedication of St. Joseph the Worker, as well as the woven cloth and the banner they gave me today. The generosity of these good people exceeds even thier reputation.

The Asian Journals Of Bishop Dan: Part 8

My last day in Santiago was dominated by the retreat I facilitated for the clergy and the diocesan staff. My self-review is that parts of it went quite well. The preface on post-colonial theology generated good discussion and report back in the plena…

Read more »