Tom Dowd...Tar Heel of the Year
Hello all. Here is a letter I wrote to the News and Obeserver, Raleigh's local paper.They announce a Tar Heel of the Year every year. I decided that this year it will be me. Enjoy!
A Letter to the News and Obeserver
To Whom it May concern,
Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tom Dowd, former New Yorker, Manager of a store,
loyal friend, joy spreader, proud fish tank owner, and your next Tar Heel Of the Year...that's right, Tar Heel of
the Year.
I was reading your paper a few weeks ago, which is something I rarely do, not because I have found anything
disagreeable about your fine tabloid, but more because I don't have time to read the newspaper, except on
Sundays once in a while when I go to brunch with my friends at Humble Pie. If you have not been to Humble Pie,
I do recommend a visit (this can certainly happen before the presentation of my Tar Heel of the Year award)
they have a wonderful brunch. I highly endorse the Shrimp and Grits. They refer to it on the menu as
"The Broth of the Gods", which to me says "Gotta eat this". Good stuff! Back in NYC I was able to read the
paper on the way to work on the cattle car (affectionately known as the NYC subway
system). Having become the responsible Tar Heel I have, I no longer read the paper on the way to work. After
one close call during my first week here, I decided that I should watch the road each and every time I get behind
the wheel of a car. As much as I love reading the morning news (yours, if I am not violating the laws of proper
decorom in saying so, being one of the finest excercises in print journalism in this great country of ours), I believe you would agree with me when I say
that one should not read the paper while driving. I care for the safety of all Tar Heels! Go Pack! Let's not forget
and UNC, and Duke. We Tar Heels of the Year shouldn't show favoritism. It's Just that my friend Doug
will be upset when he reads this letter in the paper if I had written "Go UNC!" first. He is a big fan of the Pack.
In fact,he was very upset with me a few weeks ago when I showed I was impressed with some of Alabama's play during a
game.I want you to know ahead of time that I would like to see all North Carolina schools excel. To "represent" as it were,
as spoken in the language of the people.I have even sat next to Herb Sendick on a flight to Philadelphia. (I was
going to a friends wedding. Don't worry though.I am
sure that Herb was going on a recruiting trip, not interveiwing for the Temple job. Though I couldn't blame
Temple for interviewing such a fine example of pasty-pale coaching accumen. Have you seen some of the stuff
in the papers that their coach has done?!? (Only joking! Of course you have! YOU ARE the paper!(wink-wink)
I digress however. I find that I do enjoy reading your paper whenever I have the chance. I grew up in NYC
where we had the NY Post. You want to talk about crap! That was a ridiculous paper. Rich Cimini's column
about the NY Jets was okay though. I am sure that if you needed a new sports writer that Mr. Cimini would
consider a change right now. Can you imagine how unbearable that poor guy's year was? Ugh! Possibly once
I am Tar Heel of the Year, we can work together to save some of the Jets beat writers. Of course, in my time
has Tar Heel of the Year, I would certainly be willing to broaden my world view. There are plenty of terrible NFL
teams out there who have beat writer's who I am sure are that much better than Mr. Cimini.
I apologize for being all over the place here. As you can see, I am very enthusiatic about being T.H.O.T.Y.
(in fact, I might be willing to change my name from Tom, to Thoty, when I am awarded this prestigious title.
I think that would certainly illustrate my dedication and inspire others to action! Hopefully, they would not be
inspired to change their names to Thoty, as that would defeat the purpose. Were this the case, I would be apt
to change my name back to Tom, or if you think it's a good idea, I could then change it to No-thoty (Get it?!?
N(ews &)O(bserver)thoty! I'm not sold on that one. For some reason No-thoty, sounds a little too "street" for
me. What do you think?)This is well down the road I am sure. I wouldn't expect anyone to be compelled
to change their name to Thoty until after we make the announcement about my reign.
I was very impressed with the story on Martin Eakes. He seems a fine gentleman and will, no doubt,
be a fine former T.H.O.T.Y. I look forward to working with him in harmony. To your knowledge, do the
former Tar Heel of The Year's work together on projects? Much the way that the former living presidents
sometimes do? We can certainly plan for some "presidential" like photo ops. You know which ones I mean when you
would see Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Ford all together smiling. I always felt it a shame that Reagan could never
partake in these pictures. At first I thought it was because the former Presidents were mostly Democrats, or
that it was because Reagan tried to have Ketchup declared a vegetable for school lunches. Turns out , that was
not the case (the partisanship or the veggie faux-pas) .
In conclusion, I look foward to working with yourself and your crack reporting staff as T.H.O.T.Y. 2006.
Like Ebony and Ivory, I am sure we will work together in perfect harmony. (I do not play the piano. I have a
freind that attended the Peabody institute in MD. though.)I'm sure this endevour will be a rewarding one for both
of us.
Please let me know when and where I should come pick up my award. I will Yahoo me
up some directions to get there. It would also be helpful if we could schedule the pick up for a Sunday or a
Monday. These are the days that will be easiest for me. Or course I can shift my shcedule as needed. We
"Heels" need to work together!
Sincerely,
Your Next Tar Heel of the YEar,
XOXO (hugs and kisses, in a respectful, platonic, freindly manner)
Tom
P.S. Please do not print my full name and email address in the paper in your excitement of finding
your next T.H.O.T.Y. I would prefer to stay a bit anonymous until we hold our press conference.
A Letter to the News and Obeserver
To Whom it May concern,
Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tom Dowd, former New Yorker, Manager of a store,
loyal friend, joy spreader, proud fish tank owner, and your next Tar Heel Of the Year...that's right, Tar Heel of
the Year.
I was reading your paper a few weeks ago, which is something I rarely do, not because I have found anything
disagreeable about your fine tabloid, but more because I don't have time to read the newspaper, except on
Sundays once in a while when I go to brunch with my friends at Humble Pie. If you have not been to Humble Pie,
I do recommend a visit (this can certainly happen before the presentation of my Tar Heel of the Year award)
they have a wonderful brunch. I highly endorse the Shrimp and Grits. They refer to it on the menu as
"The Broth of the Gods", which to me says "Gotta eat this". Good stuff! Back in NYC I was able to read the
paper on the way to work on the cattle car (affectionately known as the NYC subway
system). Having become the responsible Tar Heel I have, I no longer read the paper on the way to work. After
one close call during my first week here, I decided that I should watch the road each and every time I get behind
the wheel of a car. As much as I love reading the morning news (yours, if I am not violating the laws of proper
decorom in saying so, being one of the finest excercises in print journalism in this great country of ours), I believe you would agree with me when I say
that one should not read the paper while driving. I care for the safety of all Tar Heels! Go Pack! Let's not forget
and UNC, and Duke. We Tar Heels of the Year shouldn't show favoritism. It's Just that my friend Doug
will be upset when he reads this letter in the paper if I had written "Go UNC!" first. He is a big fan of the Pack.
In fact,he was very upset with me a few weeks ago when I showed I was impressed with some of Alabama's play during a
game.I want you to know ahead of time that I would like to see all North Carolina schools excel. To "represent" as it were,
as spoken in the language of the people.I have even sat next to Herb Sendick on a flight to Philadelphia. (I was
going to a friends wedding. Don't worry though.I am
sure that Herb was going on a recruiting trip, not interveiwing for the Temple job. Though I couldn't blame
Temple for interviewing such a fine example of pasty-pale coaching accumen. Have you seen some of the stuff
in the papers that their coach has done?!? (Only joking! Of course you have! YOU ARE the paper!(wink-wink)
I digress however. I find that I do enjoy reading your paper whenever I have the chance. I grew up in NYC
where we had the NY Post. You want to talk about crap! That was a ridiculous paper. Rich Cimini's column
about the NY Jets was okay though. I am sure that if you needed a new sports writer that Mr. Cimini would
consider a change right now. Can you imagine how unbearable that poor guy's year was? Ugh! Possibly once
I am Tar Heel of the Year, we can work together to save some of the Jets beat writers. Of course, in my time
has Tar Heel of the Year, I would certainly be willing to broaden my world view. There are plenty of terrible NFL
teams out there who have beat writer's who I am sure are that much better than Mr. Cimini.
I apologize for being all over the place here. As you can see, I am very enthusiatic about being T.H.O.T.Y.
(in fact, I might be willing to change my name from Tom, to Thoty, when I am awarded this prestigious title.
I think that would certainly illustrate my dedication and inspire others to action! Hopefully, they would not be
inspired to change their names to Thoty, as that would defeat the purpose. Were this the case, I would be apt
to change my name back to Tom, or if you think it's a good idea, I could then change it to No-thoty (Get it?!?
N(ews &)O(bserver)thoty! I'm not sold on that one. For some reason No-thoty, sounds a little too "street" for
me. What do you think?)This is well down the road I am sure. I wouldn't expect anyone to be compelled
to change their name to Thoty until after we make the announcement about my reign.
I was very impressed with the story on Martin Eakes. He seems a fine gentleman and will, no doubt,
be a fine former T.H.O.T.Y. I look forward to working with him in harmony. To your knowledge, do the
former Tar Heel of The Year's work together on projects? Much the way that the former living presidents
sometimes do? We can certainly plan for some "presidential" like photo ops. You know which ones I mean when you
would see Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Ford all together smiling. I always felt it a shame that Reagan could never
partake in these pictures. At first I thought it was because the former Presidents were mostly Democrats, or
that it was because Reagan tried to have Ketchup declared a vegetable for school lunches. Turns out , that was
not the case (the partisanship or the veggie faux-pas) .
In conclusion, I look foward to working with yourself and your crack reporting staff as T.H.O.T.Y. 2006.
Like Ebony and Ivory, I am sure we will work together in perfect harmony. (I do not play the piano. I have a
freind that attended the Peabody institute in MD. though.)I'm sure this endevour will be a rewarding one for both
of us.
Please let me know when and where I should come pick up my award. I will Yahoo me
up some directions to get there. It would also be helpful if we could schedule the pick up for a Sunday or a
Monday. These are the days that will be easiest for me. Or course I can shift my shcedule as needed. We
"Heels" need to work together!
Sincerely,
Your Next Tar Heel of the YEar,
XOXO (hugs and kisses, in a respectful, platonic, freindly manner)
Tom
P.S. Please do not print my full name and email address in the paper in your excitement of finding
your next T.H.O.T.Y. I would prefer to stay a bit anonymous until we hold our press conference.
posted by TD at 9:17 AM
1 Comments:
Haha! YES! Go, Tom! Should we email, write, call with votes and cheers for "Tom, Tar Heel of the Year!" And then do I get a free shirt or a hat? I like their colors and the foot.
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