George Steinbrenner- Priorities
Where does innovation live? Despicable Me
Sometimes humor can stealthily deliver a powerful message.
Take the new movie, Despicable Me, a new 3-D feature that debuted this weekend.
When GRE, the “despicable” protagonist, needs an innovation to get his evil mojo back where does he find it?
In the past he might have stolen it from the Army or maybe a hapless inventor working out of his garage.
In 2010, he goes to Asia and steals it.
The message is subtle but stinging. The United States which historically has been viewed as the technology leader of the word has slipped. GRE approaches the Evil Bank (humorously referred to as being formerly named Lehman Brothers) to fund his dastardly endeavors but for technology innovation he goes to the Far East.
I’ve been researching book on technology innovation so maybe I’m reading too much into it after all it’s just a movie.
But a generation of children are being exposed to the notion that cool technology doesn’t originate in the United States.
Hopefully someday we’ll look back at this film and laugh at the notion of cool new technology being the exclusive domain of the far east. Let’s hope so…
Brandon Inge is my Tiger
The Detroit Tigers are my favorite baseball team and to steal a line from their recent marketing promotion, Brandon Inge is my Tiger.
For seven years we had season tickets for the Tigers and for most of that time the team was pretty bad. When you attend a lot of games in you get a different perspective on players apart from their statistics.
Inge was one of the few players who gave his all no matter how poorly the team was playing. He played catcher for the Tigers (one of my favorite positions) but when the Tigers signed perennial all-star Pudge Rodriguez I wondered what would happen to him. Some in the media speculated that he would demand a trade; instead he he switched positions becoming a super-sub, able to play practically any position to help the team, eventually settling in at third base where regularly dazzles fans with his spectacular defense. While e’s not the greatest hitter, he battles every at bat and has knack for driving in runs to help the team.
So I like the way he plays the game but that’s not the only reason he’s my favorite Tiger.
Inge and his wife live in Dexter which is near where I live and they are very involved in supporting the Mott Children’s Hospital. Many players support charities by donating money, but the Inges also volunteer their time.
Brandon Inge recently volunteered his time to support the Bid for a Cure, which raises funds for cancer research, and he also a got other Tiger players to come out to Saline on one of their very rare off-days during the season.
When we got in line we were nicely told that Brandon and Austin Jackson would soon be finished signing autographs. We took a chance and waited and both players signed well after the official end of the line.
As we went through I was able to get a photo of Brandon with my youngest daughter and he thanked *us* for coming out to support the fundraiser.
No Brandon- THANK YOU!
Thanks for the playing the game the *right way* and volunteering your time to support such good causes in the community.
Your impact will be felt long after your playing days are over!
