Bear ... Ranger Bear

Cue the Rocky music...

...da-DAA-dadada-dada-DAA-dadada ...

OK, who hasn't heard the music from the original Rocky as he amazingly transforms himself from an out-of-shape muscle man for loan sharks to a contender for the greatest title in sport? I have that music ("Gonna Fly Now" written by Bill Conti and later covered by Maynard Ferguson -- I love screamin' trumpets) on my shuffle.

Why do I have that music on my shuffle? Because I, Ranger D. Bear, am in training. What kind of training? Arrrrrrmy training, sir! (What movie is that from?) Why am I in training? Because on June  21, I'm going head to head (and we're talkin' big mascot heads) against the Apollo Creed of the UW System mascots in the Mascot Race of the 2008 Racine Lighthouse Run.

That's right, boys and girls, Saturday, June 21, the Master of Madison Mayhem -- Bucky Badger -- will be in town (at least he's supposed to show!!??) for the Lighthouse Run Mascot Race. Ol' BB may think he's got this one in the bag -- well, I say, let's lace up the big floppy running shoes and see what's what at the finish line.

Besides being trained by Mick (staying with the Rocky theme, here) DeWitt on our world renown Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course (makes Baskem Hill look like a speed bump), Ralph Tenuta is allowing me to punch 20 lb. blocks of Locatelli Pecorino romano cheese (imported from Italy, the motherland of Rocky Balboa) in one of the large walk-in coolers at Tenuta's Deli (just in case there's any drama between me and BB after the race).

Yo, Bucky! Bring it on.

RDB

My new boss is comin' to town!

Had to turn down a bunch of cool invites for next week because my new boss is going to be on campus. Actually all four of the folks who want to be my new boss (aka the next UW-P chancellor) will be here.

I gotta meet each one -- maybe do lunch. I think you should do the same -- well lunch might get crowded if everybody showed up. But there are open meetings for students, faculty, staff and the community. Check out the schedule on the UW-P website.

When you think about it, this is serious business. You don't just turn over the keys to the jet to anybody -- you want a person with real experience at running the show.

Maybe you're thinking, "So I meet these people, nobody cares what I think." Au contraire mon frere. They do care. There will be evaluation sheets at each meeting and an online public comment form on the UW-P website.

My good friend Mike Falbo is the man in Madison heading up the special Board of Regents committee. That committee will make the final call and they will be listening to what UW-P and the community that is southeastern Wisconsin has to say.