Author: John U. Bacon

Though its intentions might have been noble, writes columnist John U. Bacon, “Friendship Day” at Burns Park Elementary was wrong-headed. It eschewed competition, but at the loss of everything that competition teaches: respect, fair play and good sportsmanship. “We are raising a generation of domesticated kittens,” he writes. [Full Story]

Reflecting on his own experiences with overprotective parents of kids he coached, columnist John U. Bacon gives advice based on the wisdom of his parents, and their strategy of letting him learn life lessons on his own. [Full Story]

On the 40th anniversary of Title IX, columnist John U. Bacon takes a look at the early days of that transformative legislation, and how the issue of gender equity was highlighted by an unlikely “Battle of the Sexes” between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King. [Full Story]

Following a recent trip to South Africa, columnist John U. Bacon reflects on the Makana Football Association and how prisoners of the country’s Apartheid regime learned political skills that would serve them well in post-Apartheid governance. When the Apartheid government finally fell and the people elected Nelson Mandela the new president, he filled many of the top posts in his government with leaders from the Makana Football Association [Full Story]

Columnist John U. Bacon recalls his weight room training under the eye of Michigan’s former strength coach Mike Barwis, while researching his book “Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football.” It turns out that puking in a trash can was a rite of passage. [Full Story]

Legendary journalist Mike Wallace was instrumental in shaping the lives of many people, including columnist John U. Bacon. Through the Knight-Wallace Fellowship at the University of Michigan, Wallace – who died earlier this month – left an invaluable legacy, Bacon writes. [Full Story]

Columnist John U. Bacon shares his memories of the Parthenon Restaurant, which closed in March after almost 40 years in downtown Ann Arbor. As a comfortable gathering place for his friends, it will be hard to replace, Bacon writes. Where else will they find a place that plays lyre music and ignites dairy products? [Full Story]

Walk-on Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick wasn’t expected to do great things – but he did, writes columnist John U. Bacon. The unlikely MVP ended his college career this month with class, and is looking ahead to a possible future with the NHL. [Full Story]

Following up on a previous column about Willis Ward, sports columnist John U. Bacon writes about the legacy of Fielding Yost, and how Yost’s negative attributes – including his attitudes about race – were offset by equally strong virtues. [Full Story]

Experts didn’t predict how this year’s Big Ten basketball season would play out, writes columnist John U. Bacon. Despite the odds, the Michigan Wolverines are now sharing the Big Ten title with Ohio State and Michigan State – much to the chagrin of the Sparties. The rivalry will only get more heated as March Madness begins. [Full Story]