The latest in the stadium soap opera is funding. What was thought to be a slam dunk, electronic pull-tabs… not so fast. Kevin also jumps into the latest news for the new St. Paul Saints ballpark in the Lowertown section of St. Paul.

photo credit: twincities.com

Parents understand the cost as something approaching a downpayment for a new car… per gift.

But this list was different. Cadence had a list with one birthday wish on it: She wanted to be a guest on my radio talk show. When I asked her what she wanted to talk about, she said “Cheese……. a lot. Definitely Swiss.”

And so after working with her people to schedule a date - her management team explained she had a very busy schedule and only had specific windows of availability – she came in studio for a chat.

Here is that chat…

Rosenblum: Classically trained actor steps into new role: Radio host

His extensive body of work is as impressive as any scientist in the world which has led to numerous appearances on television programs including ABC’s This Week, Nightline, The News Hour, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Charlie Rose, The Colbert Report.

I invited Dr. Oppenheimer on the program because he’s always been a measured voice of reason when climate change is on the table. He has a way of breaking things down in a way people who aren’t elite science minds can understand.

photo credit: Princeton University

His enormous body of work includes a 20-year relationship with HBO, producing 12 films for their America Undercover series that garnered him Emmy and CableACE awards.

For Showtime, he executive produced the verite-styled television series Street Time, directing 10 episodes.

His Twilight Los Angeles was an adaptation of Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman show as he fused a Broadway play with a documentary look at the L.A. riots. It became the opening film of the International Human Rights Film Festival at Lincoln Festival.

Marc’s Hard Times: Lost on Long Island is a powerful, searing look at white-collar professionals struggling with unemployment, notions of suicide and trying to survive the great recession of our time.

photo credit: Blowback Productions

Every now and then, an athlete comes along

While attending Fargo South High School (North Dakota), she dominated her sport so thoroughly, it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if rival high schools threw a going away party for her as she left for her freshman year in Eugene. Since her arrival there, she’s continued to succeed with Pac-12 and NCAA Championships as well as All-American honors added to her resume.

As she approaches her junior year with the Ducks, the expectations for Ms. Roesler will continue to grow. But for this talented, classy young lady, it’s only too clear the best is still ahead of her.

photo credits: University of Oregon, goducks.com

And then, there are those moments when they don’t necessarily intend to become a part of the program. An email will arrive that screams “READ ME!” It’s an email that centers on a topic, a guest, or… me. And it will arrive after the program.

More often than not, it’s an email we call Radio Gold. Here is one such email.

On Friday, June 1st, I did my radio program from Scheels. To understand Scheels, imagine a sporting goods store, a high-tech video arcade, a clothing store, a deli, a sorbet / gelato / ice cream shop, a homemade fudge shop and a children’s play area all coming together. Did I mention the four-story Ferris Wheel….. inside the store?

Nearing the end of hour 1 on the program, I noticed some young girls taking a peek at what we were doing. Then more showed up. And eventually a whole bunch arrived. I came to find out they were the Bishop Ryan High School softball team. They arrived in Fargo for the state tournament semifinals, scheduled to play Fargo North High School that evening.

When I found out they were from Minot (ND), I asked a WDAY colleague  to bring over one girl in particular. Anika Rovig. She was the first one I saw so that was the easiest, and fairest, way to pick one of the players to join me. Anika brought her teammate Sydney Marmon over to join in the chat.

My goal was to find out about their team and the state tournament. But I also wanted to get an update on how all of them and the city of Minot were doing as they recovered from last summer’s terrible flooding. Flooding that happened one year ago this month.

What transpired during the course of the interview was really quite remarkable.

We often think we have a handle on things we hear about in the news. A hurricane, a tornado, events that transpire in the Middle East… we’re really quite sure of it, actually. In truth, however, unless we’ve experienced something tragic or life-changing firsthand, we really know little to nothing more than the news report allows us to grasp. Put another way, we get the menu but we don’t get the meal.

I only spent several moments with Anika and Sydney. But in those moments, I came to a far better understanding and appreciation of what our friends in Minot dealt with last summer, and continue to fight through today.

The Lions defeated Fargo North 8-0 in the semifinals, throwing a no-hitter at them. But in the championship game, they played perennial powerhouse West Fargo and lost 1-0 in extra innings.

As I told one of the players’ parents, losing a state championship game isn’t easy. Falling 1-0 in extra innings makes it even more difficult. But if anyone understands perspective and adversity, it’s the young ladies on the Bishop Ryan softball team.

It was only too clear that Anika, Sydney and all of their teammates could teach the rest of us a few things about keeping life’s greatest joys and profound sadness in perspective.

• 
  My chat with Anika and Sydney, Friday, June 1
• 
  Follow-up commentary, Monday, June 4 (with Bishop Ryan softball head coach Fred Mueller calling in)

logo illustration credit: Bishop Ryan High School
photo credit: Joshua Rohrer, WDAY

The person I’m speaking about is the one whose story – the things they’ve faced, dealt with and ultimately conquered – becomes a teachable moment in strength, courage, character and remembering that life needs to be lived.

That person is Samantha Meyer.

photo credit: Samantha Meyer Photography