Open Letter to Randy

Randy -




Most of us realize that when you posted video of the SNC reunion concert ten years ago you were making it easy for SNC friends and family, who couldn't attend, see the show.  It has been acknowledged that at the time you and the rest of SNC had no idea where this would lead.




When one of you talk briefly about the history of SNC during your shows, it's mentioned how posting the video changed the lives of SNC members when the president of Atlantic Records called New Year's Day with a three record deal.  There are comments about how the original members were summoned from across the country from various jobs in finance, law and entertainment to pursue this dream.  All of that is relatively obvious as to the changes in store for the guys.




Little did you know at the time you clicked "upload" that you would receive the record deal.  Or that SNC would be on the leading edge of what now is an all-too-common Viral World with over 18 million views.




Little did you  know that in short order SNC would tour the U.S.  You would tour Canada, eh?  You would tour Europe multiple times (currently you're in Paris wowing the French and celebrating Seggie's newest annual notch on his totem pole).




Little did you know you would collaborate on albums with Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Cee Lo Green, just to name a few.




Little did you know you would appear on stage with Barry Manilow.  That SNC would be featured in at least two PBS specials.




Little did you know that the three record deal would actually lead to eight albums.


And that's all amazing and wonderful.  Numerous ripples in the SNC pond when you tossed the stone in ten years ago.




But that's not the half of it.  You changed the lives of ten guys (actually fifteen as members have left and joined the group since signing with Atlantic.  That's obvious - and it doesn't count the members of your team that are more behind the scenes like Richard Korby, the Roll Tide Brothers and many others I'm not aware of.




You know the extent the impact you've had on the public since SNC is consistently playing to sold out venues with attendance ranging from 3000-5000 captivated audience members.  So that's obvious as well.  Night after night of standing ovations and long autograph lines means the public adores you.  And that's all wonderful.




But little did you know that when you clicked "upload" you essentially laid the groundwork to establish a new community.  Your fans have not only connected with you, but they have connected with each other.  Chaser Nation (let's just trademark that puppy right now with all profits and proceeds making a beeline for my pocket) not only worships SNC but also has created a culture unto itself.




Little did you know that you would be facilitating a world where people from across the country, NAY!  I say the globe! have reached out to each other.  Sure we talk about SNC stuff and arrange to meet for dinner before your concerts.  But you've created a family.




Because of you and your upload abilities we have been able to support each other through deaths, divorces, job loss.  We've been able to help celebrate births, marriages, graduations.


We have watched each others children grow up and welcomed grandchildren into the world.




We've learned that there is a place in the U.S. named Roanoke (who knew?) and apparently it gets A LOT of snow in February from time to time.




We have learned the passion of Philadelphia Flyer fans.  That it's possible to find small objects across the country using GPS.  That people can feel really special receiving a video wishing them a Happy Birthday.




We have learned the power of your videos getting us through dark times in our lives.  We have been able to lean on each other and offer support to each other when life throws us a tidal wave.


Little did you know all that when you clicked "upload".




Obviously people have become exposed to a cappella when otherwise they may not have.  But some have been exposed to other types of music because of the wide range of music SNC covers.  Personally I don't know that I would have knowingly or willingly heard the music of Cold Play or Lady Gaga (or Justin Bieber for that matter) had it not been for SNC.




I haven't heard of a Chaser meeting a Chaser and creating a new Chaser Family, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened or isn't inevitable.


If your "upload" moment was made into a movie (and what's up with that?  Chaser Nation is waiting for SNC to hit the big screen) a la Capra-esque "It's a Wonderful Life", it wouldn't be a movie so much as a mini-series.  Clarence only had to unwind George Bailey's impact in Bedford Falls.  Your "Clarence" would have to undo the intricate web you've woven across the globe.  This could be perfect for Ken Burns to produce something more involved than his Civil War series.


So in short (yes, I'm playing it fast and loose with the concept of short), thank you for clicking "upload".  You have impacted and changed the lives of countless people in ways you can't even imagine.

Baseball, Politics and Big John

Pitchers and catchers reported for duty yesterday (finally!) and uncharacteristically the temps were mild and the sun was shining in Chicago so my eight year old, Cooper, and I broke out the gloves and ball for our own spring training.

As a preface to make the rest of this recount understandable, Cooper and his classmates are in the middle of doing biographies of famous Americans of their choice.

So while we were lobbing the ball back and forth we led off with a little Abraham Lincoln knowledge since that's Cooper's subject.  He explained how Lincoln ended slavery, he was shot and some other tidbits.  I asked him if he knew the name of Lincoln's wife (he did). Then I off-handedly said her full name "Mary Todd Lincoln" which brought the discussion around to how women's last names change when they get married and whether their middle names change (essentially their maiden names becoming their middle names).  And then a great question - "When a woman gets unmarried do they have their old name back?"  I love that question on so many levels.  I love the wording.  I love the thought process.

We moved on to other biography subjects, namely George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Bush.  So we got hooked on some Presidents.  Two interesting observations from my horsehide slinging dude.  "Is Barack Obama really the first black President?"  Apparently Cooper thinks America should be a little further down the progressive thought process.  Then we talked about all the living former Presidents and their Vice-Presidents.  We identified the former Presidents still among us and Cooper wanted to know if they all died would their Vice-Presidents become President?  "And what if the President and Vice-President died?"  Ok, quick introduction to the Speaker of the House.  Fortunately he didn't question things further lest I be required to explain the Secretary of Agriculture.

We moved away from the class biographies and turned to topics he's learned recently so I was able to hear the details of Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hicock and Buffalo Bill Cody.  In amazing detail.

We finished our ball tossing conversation with impressive and long (I mean loooong - I think a couple of snails crossed the driveway) insight of "Big John" and how he stood up for the little guy and that he outworked a machine trying to destroy a rock that was in the way of building a railroad track.

Somehow I think Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant are having completely different conversations as they loosen up for the 2016 campaign.  But I guarantee they are not having a better conversation.