Michael Kasdan previews what promises to be a stellar weekend of NFL football and offers his Super Bowl predictions.
Axe’s Super Bowl Ad: A Poignant Smell-Good Tale of “Make Love Not War”
Axe’s Super Bowl ad for its Peace body spray surprises and transcends. In so doing, writes Michael Kasdan, it makes the leap from ad to art.
I Won’t Grow Up. Oh Wait, I Will. But Can’t I Still Watch The Bills Lose?
Growing up is going to happen, and when it does we need to learn to re-balance what’s truly important. But we also must remember sports binds us together; it runs through us and connects us. That goofy camaraderie of sports keeps that little kid inside us going.
Off The Couch and Onto The Field: The Regular Guy to The Pros Stories That Inspire the Everyman
Nothing quite captures the imagination and the connects the fans to sport, like that rare story of a comeback attempt or the even rarer tale of a regular guy unexpectedly coming from nowhere, from the realm of mere mortals – those who watch the game – to the playing field at the highest level.
10 Leadership Lessons from Super Heroes (And Super Villains)
Michael Kasdan believes that good leadership is a super power. And so he looks to his mentors—the super heroes—for advice.
The Redemption That Wasn’t: Riley Cooper Is No Role Model of Mine
[B]eing a man, being a good man, a man worthy of praise, a man worthy of admiration, a man worthy of second chances, of redemption even, that takes a whole lot more than catching touchdown passes.
Pickup Basketball: One Man’s Look Inside the Game
We play for the camaraderie. We play for the competition. We play to feel good. We play to feel ourselves.
The Dog Days of Little League
Michael Kasdan wonders if we are molding our boys into well-rounded strong men—-or pushing them too hard, too fast, too young, into a win-at-all costs Hunger Games arena.
My Manly Horoscope: Outrageous, Inscrutable, Irrepressible Joy, With Just a Dash of Meekness
As Rob Brezsny notes, the typical “male” qualities of ferocity and courage are not among the four qualities of the warrior. Nor is brashness, overbearing strength, or the alpha cockiness that sometimes substitutes for leadership.
Masculinity Haiku: Opening Right Up
Michael Kasdan’s haiku captures the strength of tenderness.