Deviate

“When you are more focused with how other people are practicing their faith than how you are practicing it yourself, you have gone down the wrong path.” – Rany Jazayerli Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) is a Chicago-area dermatologist, sportswriter, and co-founder of the Baseball Prospectus website. In 1998 he developed the statistical concept of Pitcher Abuse Points (PAP), which evaluates the impact of high pitch-counts in baseball. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf talks to Rany about growing up the son of Syrian immigrant parents in Wichita (3:40); Rany’s move to Saudi Arabia at a young age, and his relationship with Islam, Syria, and America (14:30); the renowned 19th century Arab religious and military leader Abd el-Kader (19:00); perceptions and realities surrounding the Islamic faith and its place in American society (27:00); and Rany’s predictions for the upcoming baseball season (47:30). For more recent articles from Rany, check out his Ringer article archive. Notable Links A plea for tolerance, by Rany Jazayerli (ESPN article) Does This Suit Make Me Look Terrorist To You? (This American Life segment) Rany on the Royals (baseball blog) K.C. Masterpiece, by Rany Jazayerli (Grantland article) The Sweet Superstition of Rooting for the Royals, by Rolf Potts (Atlantic essay) Kansas City Star oral history of the 2014 AL Wild Card game David Schoenfield (ESPN editor) Obama’s Biggest Mistake, by Rany Jazayerli (Ringer article) Abd el-Kader and the Massacre of Damascus, by Rany Jazayerli (essay) Commander of the Faithful, by John W. Kiser (book) Emir Abd el-Kader (religious and military leader) Elkader, Iowa (town named for Abd el-Kader) Al-Assad regime (Syrian ruling family) Sunni Islam (denomination of Islam) Wahhabism (Islamic doctrine and religious movement) Nation of Islam (African-American religious movement) Dave Chappelle (American Muslim comedian) Lupe Fiasco (American Muslim rapper) Anti-Catholicism in the United States Islamophobia in the United States Mao II, by Don Delillo (novel) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“You have to understand your own particular journey — and what you need as a writer, and who you are, and what you want out of the publishing process — because that’s what is going to help you make decisions.” – Sophfronia Scott In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Sophfronia Scott about her working-class Ohio upbringing, and the background behind her name (2:40); her beginnings at TIME Magazine and her groundbreaking article on Generation X (13:00); her mid-life career change and commitment to a career as an author (30:00); her spiritual journey (40:00); and dealing with her son’s experience as a student at Sandy Hook Elementary (49:00). Sophfronia Scott (@Sophfronia) is a writer and author who has debuted three books in the past year, including Unforgivable Love, which retells the tale of Dangerous Liasons in 1940s Harlem; This Child of Faith, a spiritual memoir that touches on the school shooting at Sandy Hook; and Love’s Long Line, a collection of essays. For more information on Sophfronia, including a full list of her publications, check out https://sophfronia.com/ Notable Links Proceeding with Caution by Sophfronia Scott and David M. Gross (TIME article) Stephen Koepp, TIME editor Generation X Reconsidered (TIME, 1997) Great Migration (African-American demographic shift) Lorain, Ohio (Sophfronia’s hometown) Thirtysomething (television series) Girls (television series) Annie Dillard (author) Toni Morrison (novelist) Robert Vivian (writer) VeggieTales (children’s TV show) Top Ten Reasons to be Episcopalian, by Robin Williams Frederick Buechner (writer and theologian) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (theologian) Peter J. Gomes (preacher and theologian) Rob Bell (author and pastor) Thomas Merton (writer and theologian) Confessions of a Guilty Bystander, by Thomas Merton (book) The Journals of Thomas Merton (book series) The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton (book) Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright (book) Rumi (poet) Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting How Faith Helped My Son After He Survived Sandy Hook, by Sophfronia Scott The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“The magic of history is that the simple, received wisdom we have turns out to be just one part of the story, and we discover a lot about ourselves when we go deeper into it.” – Mark Clague In this episode of Deviate, Rolf deep-dives into the Star Spangled Banner, covering topics including the origins and historical backdrop for the writing of Star Spangled Banner (9:20); the irony of using a British melody for the United States national anthem, and the “lost stanzas” of the original poem (23:12); the song’s complicated history, including specific criticisms (35:00); and the evolution of the song in tandem with our national identity (44:00). This week’s expert, Mark Clague (@usmusicscholar), is a musicology professor at the University of Michigan. He has researched all forms of music in the United States; his recent projects focus on the United States national anthem. For more information on Mark, please check out his Star Spangled Music website, his Star Spangled Songbook, his Poets & Patriots music compilation, and his podcast. Notable Links Francis Scott Key (lawyer and poet) War of 1812 Fort McHenry Woodstock (festival) To Anacreon in Heaven (song) Broadside ballad (music type) Gentlemen’s Club (traditional British social club) Anacreontic Society (music-themed gentlemen’s club) Jimi Hendrix (musician) Alexander Hamilton (Founding Father) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Joseph Haydn (composer) When the Warrior Returns by Francis Scott Key (poem) Oh Say, Do You Hear (“Abolitionist Star Spangled Banner”) Corps of Colonial Marines America (Neil Diamond song) God Bless the USA (Lee Greenwood song) Performances and adaptations of The Star-Spangled Banner Mentioned renditions of the Star Spangled Banner Marvin Gaye rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game) “The All-Star Anthem,” from Grantland Jimi Hendrix rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at the Woodstock Festival) “When Jimi Hendrix Protested the National Anthem on a National Stage,” From SPIN José Feliciano rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at 1968 MLB World Series) “A Polarizing Performance by Jose Feliciano in 1968,” from the New York Times Whitney Houston rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at 1991 Super Bowl) “When Whitney Hit the High Note,” from ESPN The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“I want to be as clear as I can be on this. Mental health is one of the largest problems we have in society today.” – James Espinoza Lt. James Espinoza is a 25-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department. His father, John Espinoza, who came from a large Mexican-American family in Hutchinson, Kansas, was also a career police officer. James and Rolf attended Wichita North High School together in the 1980s. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with James about his decision to become a police officer (2:30); community policing (11:05); being a rookie on the police force (18:15); dangers involved with the job (25:30) bad police officers versus bad administrative policies (30:00); changes in policing and technology (34:40); mental health (39:15); and what is misunderstood and underappreciated about police officers (43:15). Notable Links Broken windows theory Rodney King Community policing PR24 nightstick Police body cameras Fleeing felon rule Police crisis intervention team (CIT) Wichita Massacre (the Carr Brothers) BTK Strangler (serial killer) USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal Stephen Schneider case COPS (TV show) The Wire (TV show) Baltimore Rising (HBO documentary) “Smoke & Ride” by Cadence, featuring Ace Trill & Twansac The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“We have a lot of conflict in this world because we’re too busy putting ourselves into groups.” – Bear Manuel Jerry “Bear” Manuel is a detective assigned to the gang unit in the Wichita Police Department. Prior to his work as a police officer, Bear was a teacher at Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood education services to low-income children. He attended junior high and high school with Rolf in the 1980s, and they competed together on the track team. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Bear about growing up poor in Wichita (5:10); his decision to become a police officer (10:20); the day-to-day of being a detective and the importance of community policing (14:30); the importance of having a police department that reflects the community you serve (19:30); and the use of deadly force (25:00). Notable Links Head Start (Federal early-childhood education program) Wichita Child Development Center (hospital day care program) Rainbows United (community resource center for special-needs children) “Police officers’ lives are at risk because of a false media narrative,” by Kevin Lawrence, Dallas Morning News The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“I think in every era of music you can find stuff like this — and sometimes you’ll find that it’s superior to the music that really was making it big commercially.” –Michael Carmody In this episode of Deviate Rolf delves into a musical mystery — tracing the fate of ten rock and pop albums (found in a thrift store record bin) that evoke the quintessential look and sound of 1980s music, even though — for whatever reason — they never made it big back in the day. Joining Rolf in this musical investigation is Jedd Beaudoin (@JeddBeaudoin), who hosts the syndicated music show “Strange Currency,” and Michael Carmody (@Carmody68), a musician, record collector, and donut shop entrepreneur. Album art and show notes for each 1980s mystery album are listed below, in chronological order, by time-code. Sue Saad and the Next (Planet/Elektra), 1980 [4:05 – 10:56] Featured song: “I I, Me Me” Links: 1980 Grammy Awards winners 1980 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Sue Saad on The Hustle with Jon Lamoreaux Joan Jett (musician) John Cougar (musician) Sue Saad and the Next, “Young Girl“ Sue Saad and the Next, “Gimme Love Gimme Pain“ Rush, “Spirit of the Radio“ Led Zeppelin, “D’Yer Maker“ S·P·Y·S (EMI America), 1982 [10:56 – 20:25] Featured song: “She Can’t Wait” Links: 1982 Grammy Awards winners 1982 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Al Greenwood (Foreigner and S·P·Y·S keyboardist) Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist) Spooky Tooth (band) SAGA, “On the Loose“ Rainbow (band) The Clocks, “Nobody’s Fool“ The Human League (synth-pop band) Warren Cuccurullo (Missing Persons guitarist) Cinemax (pay-cable TV network) The Breaks (RCA), 1983 [20:25 – 27:55] Featured song: “She Wants You” Links: 1983 Grammy Awards winners 1983 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Vini Poncia (record producer) Scandal (band) Patty Smyth (singer-songwriter) Harry Nilsson (singer-songwriter) Stevie Nicks (singer-songwriter) The Pretenders (band) Blue Angel (band) Village Sound, “Hey Jack (Don’t Hijack My Plane)“ Fury (New York Music Company), 1985 [27:55 – 34:15] Featured song: “In Her Arms” Links: 1985 Grammy Awards winners 1985 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Felix Cavaliere (producer) Young Rascals (band) Kenny Loggins (singer-songwriter) Yamaha DX7 (synthesizer) Former Fury fan club, current location on West 57th Street La Blanc Brothers (post-Fury wedding band) Surgin’, “When Midnight Comes” (EMI), 1985 [34:15 – 46:00] Featured song: “Shot Through the Heart” Links: Jack Ponti (musician) Jon Bon Jovi (singer-songwriter) Bon Jovi, “Runaway“ Kevin DuBrow (heavy metal singer) Blizzard of Ozz (Ozzy Osbourne album) Master of Puppets (Metallica album) Reign in Blood (Slayer album) Cinderella (glam metal band) Stryper (Christian metal band) Judas Priest (metal band) Iron Maiden (metal band) Rough Cutt (Warner), 1985 [46:00 – 55:25] Featured song: “Piece of My Heart” Links: Mickey Ratt (rock band) Chris Hager (guitarist) Jake E. Lee (guitarist) Ronnie James Dio (musician) Ted Templeman (Van Halen producer) Paul Shortino (musician) Shortino as Duke Fame, in This is Spinal Tap MetalShop (radio show) Rough Cutt, “Never Gonna Die“ The Choirboys (band) Y&T (band) Rough Cutt (current band website) Stone Fury, “Let Them Talk” (MCA), 1986 [55:25 – 1:06:00] Featured song: “Too Late” Links: 1986 Grammy Awards winners 1986 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Rutger Hauer (Dutch actor) Limhal (singer for Kajagoogoo) Lenny Wolf (vocalist) Kingdom Come (band) Bruce Gowdy (guitarist) World Trade (prog rock band) Elf (band) Stone Fury, “Stay“ Glass Tiger (band) Le Mans (Columbia), 1986 [1:06:00 – 1:14:10] Featured song: “Chain Around Your Heart” Links: Derek Frigo (guitarist) Peter Marrino (singer) Mike Varney (founder of Shrapnel Records) Yngwie Malmsteen (guitarist) Guitar Player (magazine) Paul Gilbert (guitarist) Charles Bradley (singer) Journey (band) Arnel Pineda (singer) Steve Perry (singer) Envy, “Ain’t It a Sin” (ATCO/Atlantic), 1987 [1:14:10 – 1:25:36] Featured song: “Ain’t It a Sin” Links: 1987 Grammy Awards winners 1987 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Dee Snyder (singer-songwriter) Gina Stile (musician) Vixen (band) Heart (band) Lita Ford (guitarist) Fiona (singer) When in Rome, “The Promise“ Headbangers Ball (MTV program) Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit“ Hüsker Dü (band) Leatherwolf, “Street Ready” (Island), 1989 [1:25:36 – 1:30:45] Featured song: “Street Ready” Links: 1989 Grammy Awards winners 1989 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Leatherwolf (current band website) Armored Saint (band) Final comments [1:30:45 – 1:45:20] Links: Sammy Hagar (musician) Matthew Wilder, “Break My Stride“ Soundscan (sales tracking system) Captain Beyond (album) Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, by Bob Mehr Lester Bangs (rock critic) Rodney Bingenheimer (radio personality) John Peel (radio presenter) Circus (rock magazine) Hit Parader (rock magazine) Creem (rock magazine) The Archies, “Sugar Sugar“ Sammy Johns, “Chevy Van“ Computer World (Kraftwerk album) Nothing’s Shocking (Jane’s Addiction album) The Joshua Tree (U2 album) Anton Corbijn (photographer) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“To be creative, you have to live. You have to exist on this planet for a little bit” – Tod Goldberg Tod Goldberg (@todgoldberg) is an American author and essayist, best known for his novels Gangsterland and Gangster Nation, and the tie-in novels to the television show Burn Notice. He directs the UCR Palm Desert Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Tod about studying true crime and how to get away with murder (2:50); our relationship with athletes and sports (23:30); the Olympics and the Cold War (45:00); and the psychology of fandom and meeting your sports heroes (54:00). For more information Tod Goldberg, you can visit his website, www.todgoldberg.com. Notable books, essays, poems, and podcast episodes “When They Let Them Bleed,” by Tod Goldberg Horny? Las Vegas: A Sexy, Steamy, Downright Sleazy Guide to the City, by Tod Goldberg “Las Vegas was built by gangsters, and we celebrated those stories,” by Tod Goldberg The Pistol Poets by Victor Gischler (novel) “Notes On the Narrative Conundrum of Baseball Fandom,” by Rolf Potts “Literature of Desire: The 1976 Sears Christmas Wish Book,” by Rolf Potts Deviate podcast interview with Tom Bissell Deviate podcast interview with Jessa Crispin “Lines on seeing a Lock of Milton’s Hair,” by John Keats Notable athletes and sporting events mentioned Kim Duk-koo (boxer) Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (boxer) Mark McGwire (baseball player) Rickey Henderson (baseball player) 1980 Olympic hockey “Miracle on Ice“ Jim Craig (hockey goalkeeper) Mike Eruzione (hockey player) 2017 World Series 2017 NBA Finals Alex Johnson (1970 AL batting champion) Billy Martin (baseball manager) Billy Beane (baseball executive) Ryan Braun (baseball player) Steve Garvey (baseball player) Bill Buckner (baseball player) Mark Breland (boxer) Sugar Ray Leonard (boxer) Tim Bradley (boxer Bill Ring (NFL running back) Mike Mercer (NFL kicker) Tony Dorsett (NFL running back) Lyle Alzado (NFL defensive end) Charlie Batch (NFL quarterback) Earl Thomas III (NFL defensive back) Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (2016 Olympic gold medalist, 1500m) Renaldo Nehemiah (Olympic 100m hurdler) Edwin Moses (Olympic 400m hurdler) LeBron James (basketball player) Steve Zungul (MISL striker) Slobo Ilijevski (MISL goalkeeper) Wichita Wings (MISL franchise) Notable films, TV shows, and videos mentioned: Peaky Blinders (television show) Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino film) John Wick (Keanu Reeves film) Battle of the Network Stars (television show) Superstars (television show) Wide World of Sports (TV show) 30 for 30 (ESPN documentary series) Romper Room (children’s TV show) “Stop,” by Jane’s Addiction (music video) Other notable people and events mentioned Scott Baio (actor) Keanu Reeves (actor) George R.R. Martin (author) Robert Conrad (actor) Mark Harmon (actor and former UCLA quarterback) Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction singer) Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction guitarist) Iran Hostage Crisis This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“Go forward, have strength in your own convictions, enjoy what you’re doing, and you’ll be fine.” – David Latt David Latt (@DavidMLatt) is the co-founder of The Asylum, which is the most prolific independent film studio in Hollywood. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with David about his path into B-Movies and the beginnings of The Asylum (8:30); independent filmmaking and “mockbusters” (28:00); the Sharknado franchise (43:15); the future of entertainment (1:02:00); and lessons learned throughout his career (1:07:00). For more information on The Asylum, you can visit their website, www.theasylum.cc Notable films and TV shows mentioned: Sorority House Party (Rock and Roll Fantasy) (film) Sharknado (film) Killers (film) Jane White Is Sick & Twisted (film) Transmorphers (film) Giant Shark Versus Mega Octopus (film) Z Nation (film) The Walking Dead (television show) Leprechaun 4 (film) Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (movie) Pulp Fiction (movie) Notable people mentioned: Larry Cohen (B-movie director) Henry Hathaway (B-movie director) Roger Corman (B-movie director) Jeff Kanew (Revenge of the Nerds director) Mia Farrow (actress) Patton Oswalt (comedian) Anthony Ferrante (film director) Craig Engler (Z Nation writer) Other links: Mockbuster (movie genre) Rolf Potts, “Humor Doesn’t Translate Internationally,” from The Believer Tom Shone, “The Glorious Bullshit of “Reservoir Dogs,” from The New Yorker Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes, by John Pierson C5LA (charity) Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mean Tweets – President Obama Edition SyFy (TV network) Sharknado: The Musical This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“I thought that if things were hard it somehow meant that you shouldn’t be doing them. I think that was a youthful notion.” –Cynthia Sweeney Cynthia Sweeney (@CynthiaDSweeney) is an American author, whose debut novel, The Nest, was a New York Times bestseller. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Cynthia about therapy and hugging (2:00); career changes, writing her first novel, and the benefits of obtaining an MFA (6:30); writing tactics (21:15); starting a career in writing later in life (27:00); signing a seven-figure advance for her debut novel, and navigating the resulting expectations (34:00); writing in different genres, and the process of adapting a novel into a screenplay (46:40); the idea of talent, and its relationship to hard work within the creative process (57:00). For more information on Cynthia Sweeney, you can visit her website, https://www.cynthia-sweeney.com/. Topics discussed: Esther Perel podcast UCLA Extension (writing program) MFA in Writing at Bennington (graduate program) Scriptnotes podcast advice for MFA degrees Poets & Writers (magazine) UCB Theater (improv program) John Irving’s The World According to Garp (novel) Six by Sondheim (documentary) Memento Mori (theory of mortality) “Tell me why I shouldn’t hate you” interview with Cynthia People mentioned: Bret Antony Johnston (author) Peter Ames Carlin (author) Amy Poehler (actress and comedian) Conan O’Brien (TV host and comedian) Jill Soloway (writer/director) Henry Dunow (book agent) George R.R. Martin (author) Dennis Lehane (author) Stephen Sondheim (Broadway composer) Gillian Flynn (author who adapted her own novel for the screen) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“It’s helpful to have a thing that only exists in your imagination, as long as you are aware that that’s what it is. It’s only when you try to drag it into reality that it goes to a weird place.” –Jessa Crispin Jessa Crispin (@thebookslut) is an author, book critic, former editor-in-chief of the pioneering literary blog Bookslut, and current host of the podcast Public Intellectual. Her books include The Dead Ladies Project: Exiles, Expats, and Ex-Countries and The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Jessa on all things Keanu Reeves. Through this lens, they explore high school, and how ones world is forever contextualized by that experience (16:30); hooking up with celebrities in the social media age (29:40); adolescent crushes and idealized love (34:30); and personal obsessions (43:10). For more information on Jessa Crispin, visit her website, www.jessacrispin.com. Links of note: Jessa Crispin’s favorite YouTube video of Keanu Reeves clips Jessa Crispin and Jen May’s tarot deck Lisa Frank stickers Tiger Beat (teen magazine) Guiding Light and As the World Turns (soap operas) Burning Man (gathering/event) Jessa’s podcast interview with Neal Pollack Joe Rogan’s podcast interview with Henry Rollins “Julian Edelman learns falling asleep with strangers is a bad idea,” from the Washington Post Evan Wright’s “Scenes From My Life in Porn,” from the LA Weekly Rolf’s Kansas City Royals Twitter list The Goddess Kali Notable People Mentioned: Cosima Wagner (wife of Richard Wagner) William James (philosopher) David Fincher (director) Paul Verhoeven (director) David Wojnarowicz (queer painter and writer) Paul Monette (queer author and poet) Cary Grant (actor) Tori Amos (singer-songwriter) Nina Hoss (German actress) Notable Films Mentioned: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Keanu Reeves film) The Matrix (Keanu Reeves film) John Wick (Keanu Reeves film) American Beauty (Sam Mendes film) Susan Orlean (journalist) in Adaptation (Charlie Kaufman film) Zodiac (David Fincher film) Philadelphia Story (George Cukor film) The Achievers, a documentary about fans of The Big Lebowski (film) Keanu (Peter Atencio film) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.