Class Notes

By Lake The Posts on June 3, 2011

I’m not sure if you’re disappointed on Fridays when there is no Purple Mafia Profile. I know I am. It is one of my favorite semi-regular features as we get to better know someone that most of us know by name and are connected to by one thing – Northwestern Athletics.  It requires time, planning and coordination to line up the PMPs and I don’t know about you, but the days seem to fly by.  I realized I was going to have a no-go on this week’s PMP sometime Wednesday night as I scrolled through the Northwestern alumni magazine.  It’s universally known the first thing we as alumni do when we get the quarterly hard copy magazine is flip straight to the back.  The section “Class Notes” is about habitual, casual reading to see who else among your peer group is grabbing headlines, making a difference, or in the “you’ll never admit it, but you know it to be sometimes true” category, take small dose of pride that you feel like you’re doing better than some of the Joneses. 

I used to be much more insecure about the whole thing as those that came after me seemed to be ascending the profesional prestige ladder at a much quicker pace.  I would rationalize that it was OK because in many instances the wording of the bio/accomplishment was exhibit “A” of “look at me” embellishment as you just knew it was a firsthand account of “look how good I’m doing”.  Somewhere along the way I matured to look at this section in a more positive light. Hmmm, so-and-so would be good to connect with for work. Or, more recently, that person would be fascinating to talk to for a PMP. Or even, man – I’m so impressed by that person following their true passion or “wow” now THAT person is truly making a difference in the world.  Regardless, I’m astounded at how page after page there are just stories upon stories of fascinating people doing fascinating things.  If a 17-year-old was capable of digesting this element, I’d use it as a recruiting tool.  Here’s a cross-section of what alums that are 30 are doing. Now check out the 40-year-old set. However, when freshman year of college seems distant it is hard to make it stick. 

I thought it might be fun to play the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game and see how quickly we could connect with some of these people. Considering there are several thousand of you reading this daily it should be better coined the 1-degree of LTP readers.  I really should take someone super famous and then connect the dots through our NU connections. However, in the spirit of the class notes, let’s give it a try. My personal favorite class note was Dennis Daugaard (L78) “of Garretson, SD was sworn in as South Dakota’s 32nd governor Jan. 8. His top priorities for South Dakota are to create jobs and balance the state budget”.  Dennis is having a rough day as South Dakota copes with devastating flooding, which is no laughing matter, however the subject matter and style of writing, so consistent with class notes-isms made me chuckle as it was nearly indistinguishable between the guy who got  a promotion in marketing at a book publisher or the woman who was made partner at a law firm.  On the very same page was David Plaut (C 75) of Moores “of Moorestown, NJ (who) co-wrote The Games That Changed The Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays (ESPN/Ballatine Books, 2010) with ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Ron Jaworski.  The book was No. 1 on Amazon.com in football books and No. 1 in the all sports category as well.”  OK, this is a no-brainer LTP connection. David, let’s talk about a)how we can do the same book for Saturdays and why NU vs Michigan in 2000 should be on of the seven. Also, let’s also talk about further Northwestern-izing the MNF telecast!

I couldn’t stop. There was David Zucker (C 86), the president of Scott Free Productions and executive producer of The Good Wife and his Golden Globe nomination – a no brainer for some purple mafia influence. Oh, wait, there’s my former down-the-hall friend Michelle Kosinski (J 95) who is living in London and was named a foreign correspondent for NBC. Oh look, the producer of the Curious George movies – Jon Shapiro (C 87) and the PBS series which won an Emmy and oh yeah, he started his own 3D technology company 3ality Digital. Perhaps, LTP content in 3D? NU Bears highlights in 3D? Curious George in a Fitz jersey? Oh, there’s a youngin’ Steve Weissman (J o1) who is now a sports anchor for ESPN News. Oh, the possibilities are endless.

Then, after I look away from the glare of the purple media mafia, and I glaze over the countless law firm partners (sorry guys and gals), and hone in on the make a difference set.  There’s Richard Cohen (GMcC 93) whose frim Distant Village won the Corporate Social Responility company of the year award in the Phillipines for their work in creating sustainable products. Thomas Heymann (C80) became president of Sepsis Alliance for the national health care charity that is dedicated to increasing awareness of sepsis and reducing mortality and disability. Michele Mathews Leber (WCAS 60) earned the national Winn Newman Award for doing the most to promote pay equity in America.  You get the gist.

As I mentioned the other day, the imprint of our superfan president Morty Schapiro is prominent in the representation of athletics in the magazine.  In addition to the obvious back, full-cover promotion of Northwestern football tickets, there is another full page ad promoting “Coming to a Stadium Near You” alumni tailgates which is promoting each road game.  Plus, the student profiles of various students has both athletes and fans of NU sports well represented. 

One of the thing most NU fans are proud of are the accomplishments of our colleagues and I think this pride extends to the non-NU grad fans which are so near and dear to our hearts and the growth of our program.  So, let’s continue to celebrate the movers and shakers as well as the average Joe’s who are tied by this crazy passion for our sports teams.  While you’re at it, special bonus points to anyone who can connect me to Matt Saracen, aka Zach Gilford, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg or ESPN’s Michael Wilbon.  Those three have been in the “must get” purple mafia target for several years now.

Shannon Smith Wins Lacrosse “Heisman”, Teewaraton Award!

Shannon Smith’s future class notes will be watched closely. Congratulations to the Northwestern lacrosse star for being named the winner of the 2011 Teewaraton Award given annually to the women’s lacrosse national player of the year.  As Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune writes here, Smith is the third NU player to win the award in the past six seasons, but two of those fellow Wildcats Kristen Kjellman (2006-07) and Hannah Nielsen (2008-09) won the award twice each, giving NU five of the past six winners! Shannon also was with her teammates two nights ago throwing out the first pitch (with her lacrosse stick doing the throwing) at Wrigley Field

NU Hoops Doing The Charleston

As Teddy Greenstein reported several weeks ago, Northwestern is in the Charleston Classic basketball tourney this November which features VCU, LSU, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Seton Hall among others in a “sounds good” but RPI killer tournament.  Fellow NU blogger Sippin’ on Purple does a great job laying out the potential opponents and just how bad it could be for us here.

Non-AQ Week Is Coming!

Next week is our second 2011 opponent themed week (BC is complete) and we’re dubbing it Non-AQ (automatic qualifiers) week and will kick things off with ESPN.com Non-AQ  (and now Big East) beat reporter, Andrea Adelson.  Plus, there are several more posts to come today and tomorrow as we’ve got a ton of news and notes to address ranging from recruiting to the LTP mailbag and further Tressel-gate impact for Northwestern. 

LTP Purple Pledge- Ring The Bell

FINALLY, we’ve rung the bell for our latest season tickets.  Somil has picked up his first ever pair of season tickets and was motivated in part by being a regular LTP reader.  As I mentioned, news coming soon on prizing for the person who moves the most tickets on this blog.

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