8 Ball Corner Pocket. Episode 3

Friends,

The celebration of our independence has me feeling nostalgic and patriotic. I am proud to say God bless America, and all those who have served and protected her, our rights and many freedoms. Today I hoist my glass and toast you all. I dearly love this land, “Where we dream as big as we want to…”

“Only in America!”

Finely-Tuned Bullshit Detector

My stepdad, the man who raised me, was a true patriot. He was a veteran who did not trust lawyers or politicians, and hated the Beatles.  He also believed you never asked anyone how much money they had or how they voted. While I did not share his dislike of the Beatles, I adopted some of his philosophy in my approach to teaching… Namely, give it to people straight. Present the facts, let the best ideas bubble up to the surface, and give everyone a chance to make informed decisions. This should not be a radical idea – but a few things sure have Dr. Rodeo’s bullshit detector sounding loudly. 

DEI (How both major parties and the media coverage got it wrong)- As an educator of over 25 years, one of the hot button issues that has surprised and annoyed me as much as any, is all the fuss (and royal mess) both sides have made over DEI. The funny thing about it is, I have found that most people, regardless of political affiliation or background, would generally support the original mission and spirit of DEI.  Afterall, it was intended to favor the underdog and do what Superman did - stand up for the weak and defenseless. To a point, it was also about calling out bullshit. More specifically, without getting too-far out into the weeds, it was intended to help ensure that all American citizens were being granted equal access to legal rights and privileges outlined in the Constitution, calling it out when they were not... educating and adjusting accordingly. On the surface, a reasonable mission. A lot of folks would likely also be in support of what DEI wasn't. It was never intended to mean "everyone gets a damn trophy." Equal access did NOT mean equal results, outcomes or successes. Everyone gets the right to compete. Well guess what? That also means everyone has an equal opportunity to come out a loser in the grand competition of life. What it was also never intended to do was to replace one dominant group in control with a previous minority group... or to try and force anyone to celebrate things they do not agree with. I mean, after all, this is America Jack. Tolerance is one thing. Rubbing someone's face in it is another.

Cancel Culture – This is another one that kills me. I have never really understood fearing knowledge. We don't always like the ugly truth that we find, but blind ignorance seems to be far-more destructive than enlightenment and education. Ignorance limits our potential. The way I see it, any effort to cover up or rewrite a nation's history is no different than any other lie. Replacing one group's agenda with another really just puts us all back at square one. We are better served by knowing the truth, for better or worse, living it down, learning from it, and moving on. Otherwise, we are almost certain to repeat even the most damaging mistakes, sins and errors of the past. For anyone who ever read Orwell's "1984," you can easily see what any reasonably-intelligent sixth grader was able to figure out without a whole lot of deep thought. Any governing body that revises and rewrites history is a threat to anyone and anything other than its own agenda. Next.

Just a little something from your favorite educated redneck.

Wet boy/spies like us?

Now I will jump off my educator’s soapbox. It is time for another little true tale from out there along the Gonzo road. 

One of my favorite conversations I ever had with Ronnie Dunn took a bizarre twist. He asked me a question I have never been asked in my life. It is a question that reveals both his high intelligence and sense of humor. I don’t even remember what I asked him at the time, but his response was “how do I know you are not a spy?” Seeing that email from him in my inbox really got my head spinning.  How would you convince someone you are not a spy? I mean. If you really were, you would say you are not. But how would you prove it? 

While you are thinking about that one, it instantly got me thinking about something else. It might seem ridiculous at first, but please just hear me out. I think Ronnie Dunn would make the perfect hitman for the CIA. Think about it. You have a reason to travel all over the world. There is tons of backstage access, doors and channels automatically open for visiting with people in all sorts of seats of power, etc. People the world over are blinded by fame. Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Bobby Bones, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Lainey Wilson and Nicole Kidman could be the lethal force that took our enemies out one by one – just like Chuck Norris would do. 

It would go down something like this: “Hey y’all. I’m Ronnie Dun with radio personality Bobby Bones…” meanwhile, all hell breaks loose while Reese and Nicole open a can of whoop-ass. Misdirection at its finest. 

The cover is ideal, but just look at the supporting facts:

Well connected (check)

Reasons to travel (check)

Welcome all over the world (check)

Patriot (check)

Anti-fascist (check)

Familiar/trained in firearms and explosives (check)

No one would see coming (check)

Speaks seven languages ?

Can dance any step in a tux?

Been to Cuba (check)

USO tours could be an absolute game changer. 

Bob Hope and Playboy bunny assassins. Way better than gameshow hosts. 

Reba might be even better. 

Singer/Actress/Former Colonel Sanders/Master of disguise (check) 

Just a little something different from Dr. Rodeo’s Frankenstein lab…

Did I just derail the train?

Career Songs – Last week RD and I had an interesting conversation about artists and “career songs.” We defined this as songs that transcend the artists and the moment…taking on a life of their own and outlive artists and careers. Simply put, these are something more than “hit songs.” In Ronnie’s own words, “No matter how pretty, handsome, smart or dynamic an artist is…THE ALMIGHTY RIGHT OF PASSAGE IS THAT CAREER SONG!! Some artists may have one, others may be lucky enough to have several…others never really do. The music machine can prop you up with hype and initial exposure, but no artist can sustain without a career song – not to be confused with a “hit” song.” He then challenged me to name the “career songs” of five artists old or new. This is a challenge for all of us. I was glad to play along, and I hope you are, as well. Here were a few that instantly popped out:

1) George Jones – “He Stopped Loving Her Today”/”Bartender’s Blues”

2) Dolly – “I Will Always Love You”/”Jolene”/”Coat of Many Colors”

3) Reba – “Fancy”/”Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia”

4) Garth – “Friends in Low Places”/”The Dance”/”Unanswered Prayers”/”Much Too-Young To Feel This Damn Old”

5) Jimmy Buffet – “Margaritaville”/”Come Monday”

6) Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”

7) Miranda Lambert – “House That Built Me”

8) Loretta Lynn – “Coal Miner’s Daughter”

9) Jamey Johnson – “In Color”

10) Tanya Tucker – “Delta Dawn”

11) B&D – “Neon Moon”/”Red Dirt Road”/”I Believe”/”Only In America”/”Boot Scoot Boogie”/”Brand New Man”/”Hillbilly Deluxe…” Others? 

Agree or disagree? What’s on your list of artists that have achieved career songs? 

Ronnie and I also both agreed that when it comes to the talent and the blistering hot career success that Lainey Wilson is enjoying, we can’t wait to hear that infamous, undeniable career song waiting for her out there on this rocket ride. 

Hot Tip - I am not saying this is exactly the way it happened. But it is exactly the way I remember it. Some of the names and places have been changed to protect the guilty as hell. One of my uncles was telling his daughter how to straighten up her twenty-something son, who had never been on a date. Please keep in mind, your old Gonzo friend Dr. Rodeo is thrice married, therefore, does not give relationship advice. However, I am not opposed to sharing an observation or two. This is pretty close to word-for-word, what I heard my elderly uncle tell his daughter about her son’s love life:

“That boy won’t ever be happy until he finds a woman to make him miserable.”

So there you have it, folks. 

8 Ball Corner Pocket!

Please join us next time for more…

     8 Ball Corner Pocket!

              With Dr. Rodeo

I promise you’ll get your money’s worth