August 12, 2024 • 36 mins
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!
THE BOYS OF RIVERSIDE: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory with author & correspondent for the New York Times Thomas Fuller.
World’s Best Bull Riders Return to Manchester, New Hampshire for Fifth Consecutive Season with PBR Unleash The Beast Event at SNHU Arena on Dec. 20-21, with Professional Bull Rider’s Senior Vice President, Robert Simpson.
Smokey Bear Turns 80! Wildfire Prevention Experts Celebrate Milestone and Continuing Impact for Longest-Running PSA Campaign in American History. Tracy Danicich VP/Group Campaign Director at the Ad Council checked in!
Treating anxiety in children who are stressed about going back to school with Dr. Vince Callahan - Mental Health Expert.
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
THE BOYS OF RIVERSIDE: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory with author & correspondent for the New York Times Thomas Fuller.
World’s Best Bull Riders Return to Manchester, New Hampshire for Fifth Consecutive Season with PBR Unleash The Beast Event at SNHU Arena on Dec. 20-21, with Professional Bull Rider’s Senior Vice President, Robert Simpson.
Smokey Bear Turns 80! Wildfire Prevention Experts Celebrate Milestone and Continuing Impact for Longest-Running PSA Campaign in American History. Tracy Danicich VP/Group Campaign Director at the Ad Council checked in!
Treating anxiety in children who are stressed about going back to school with Dr. Vince Callahan - Mental Health Expert.
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thanks to call a European Adventure. I quite think of
it as that it was a good time. We had
a lot of fun with a lot of nightside listeners
in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast, and I wish
you had been able to be there with us, Nicole.
It was we had a lot of fun, that's for sure.
My name is Dan Ray. But I am very happy
to be back in the big chair here on WBZ
(00:48):
from eight until midnight as the host of Nightside. Rob
Brooks is back in the control room with an assistant
and a young new technician whose first name is Dan.
We won't you know, we're not gonna give any a
lot of information, but when you're calling tonight, you're going
to be talking to Rob or to Dan, and I
will talk about our trip to Rome, but I think
(01:09):
i'll do that at beginning at nine o'clock because we
have four really interesting guests lined up for you tonight
during the eight o'clock hour. I must thank all the
folks who filled in for me last week. I know
that Mullgan White carried the ball most nights, but Ben
(01:30):
Parker was here one night, and Gary Tangway was here
one night. I was off a total of seven nights,
which is for me a really long time away from
the microphone. But we had a lot of fun, and
we'll talk about that. We saw so much in a
relatively brief period of time. I'll get to all of
that at nine o'clock. Many of my fellow travelers nightside
(01:51):
travelers who wanted to know when are we going to
talk about it? So we'll talk about it at nine o'clock.
But first we're going to talk about a deaf football
team and their quest for glory with an author correspondent
for The New York Times, Thomas Fuller. The name of
the book is The Boys of Riverside. I assume we're
talking about Riverside, California. Tom full how are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'm good, Dan. Yes, indeed, Riverside, California, just east of
Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I'm told, a pretty beautiful part of the world
outside of LA And so there was a school there
for students who was it they had no hearing or
they had limited.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, So there are two deaf schools in California, one
in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the other in Riverside,
which is you know, Riverside used to be just Orange
Groves and uh, you know, quite bucolic. Now it's like
Amazon warehouses and you know where everything that comes in
from China ends up in a warehouse. So it's a
(02:55):
it's not the not the most beautiful neighborhood. But in
the middle of it there's this great school, California School
for the Deaf for Riverside, and they got about one
hundred and fifty kids and they had a football program
that for well seven decades, uh, didn't go anywhere. They
never made it to the playoffs. And then a couple
(03:16):
of years ago something happened and they just started pummeling
their opponents and and that's that's where I went down.
I said, I got to write about this.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
By the way, there's a school in Washington, d C.
I think it's called Gardett, which is also a school
for deaf students.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
We have Perkins Galadet for the.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Blind here in Boston, so these schools do exist. Okay, Look,
football is a game which everybody has to move at
the same time. You can't be offside. You have to
for the most part be able to you're prompted by
the calls that the quarterback makes, not only in the huddle,
but up on the line of scrimmage. How does a
group of eleven football players, none of whom can hear,
(03:59):
How did they function well as a football team, as
these young men obviously did.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
You've got a lot of stuff there, and I liked
that you mentioned the huddle because there's a story about that.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
But let me.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Start with how they function really well. The players here,
with their eyes, they see the field much more comprehensibly.
Matter of fact, there's studies that if you're profoundly deaf
from birth, and this makes sense, that your site becomes
more acute. This team that I followed, the Cubs, they're
(04:33):
known as they never jumped off sides. I think I
saw it twice because they were so focused on the
ball and they had incredible peripheral vision. That study that
I referenced, there have been a few of them.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
You know, when you go to the.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
DMV and you know, look, they say, okay, let's test
your eyesight, and they have the flashing lights in there
and you're supposed to press the button when you see it.
Deaf people do better at those tests, and then you
know here makes.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
A lot of sense, makes a lot of sense. Obviously,
over time, the human body, the human condition, tries to
make up for areas where they may be in a vulnerability,
just the ability to survive. If you're you know, five
hundred years ago, we're right out in the wilderness and
you couldn't hear. You were probably a lot more observant.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
When you think about it, the brain changes. And so
I'll tell you the story about the huddle since you
mentioned it, So where to come from. It came from
Galadet that you mentioned. Two death teams were playing in
the eighteen nineties and they were you know, they're all deaths.
So they were signing to each other. Well, and so
(05:46):
the quarterback for Galadet said, we got to do something
about this. They're reading our plays here, gather together, back
to the defense and I'll give you the play that
was where the huddle was born. It did exists before
that happened. And so now Galadet, if you go watch
one of their games, you get some merch that says
(06:07):
home of the Huddles.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Wow, boy, that's fabulous. You know, it's interesting. There was
a guy who was who played Major League Baseball Curtis Pride,
who a few years ago pretty good player for the
Tigers amongst other teams, actually played for the Red Sox
for a little while. Young ballplayer who also was deaf
since birth. And yet that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Derek Coleman, who was the fullback on the Seahawks, also deaf.
So there had been deaf athletes. Benny Fuller, who was
a college basketball player. And it's tough if you're deaf
on a hearing team. That's what I saw with these kids.
They had played, they were great athletes, they had played
(06:49):
in Pop Warner leagues, but it was really tough communicating
with you all the hearing players. Sure, So then they
all got together, all the deaf players got together and
it was just glue. It was beautiful. It was a
brotherhood of all deaf people. And they used sign language.
They didn't have to. The coach didn't have to, you know,
the quarterback didn't have to run over the sidelines, get
(07:11):
to play from the coach, run back in. So it's
all sign language. They just looked over, they saw the
sign and they you know, and that was it. Off
to the next play, super fast, super efficient.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
So so this was the twenty twenty one season that
I think you chronicle.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, yeah, the twenty twenty one season was the first.
So I stayed with them for the entire twenty twenty
two season. Okay, but the twenty twenty one season was
where they started to turn on the jets, and I
actually wrote a story for the New York Times that
kind of that led to this book project, and so
then I spent the entire season with them. I had
(07:48):
deaf roommates, you know, stood on the sidelines, So the
whole season, went to all the games and just this
is great, just chronicled you know, this world that and
this amazing quest that they had, you know, for the
first time, well for the first time in California history.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Well we're not going to spoil the ending here, but
the name of the book is The Boys of Riverside,
a Deaf football team and a Quest for Glory by
Tom Fuller. Thomas Fuller, available obviously Amazon and all of that.
It was published, I guess by Penguin Random House, which
is a big publisher. Just a last question, since you
(08:29):
chronicled the end of the twenty twenty twenty twenty one
season and all of the twenty twenty two season. We
won't ask you how the story ends because we want
people to buy the book. But I'm just wondering, did
any of these players go on to college and end
up actually playing college football?
Speaker 5 (08:48):
But per chance or no, they did.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
They did the actually playing at Galadet Right now, the
quarterback who's won really the star of the team. He's
playing it alled debt uh, and so is his wide receivers.
So they did go on and and I think they're
doing pretty well there.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh that's great, that's that's a great story for people
to overcome these limitations that you know, people, all of
us are born with limitations. I know that most of
us have more limitations than than abilities. But for them
to turn a limitation into an ability, it has to
be a really inspiring story.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
And edge how long?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
How long has this coach been working there? I'm assuming
that this coach probably is a long time coach. I
have not read the book. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Has the coach been there a long time? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Well, the coach is you know, entirely deaf as well
all the entire coaching staff and all the players. And
the coach is a terrific athlete who grew up in Stockton, California,
and he had the same frustrations that the players had.
He was playing on hearing teams and the communication wasn't working.
(10:01):
So for him that two of his kids were on
the team, and for him this was just the fulfillment
of a lifetime that he could finally get, you know,
an all deaf team and they could show that deafness,
as you said, is actually an edge on the football field.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
So two of his sons also inherited the I guess
the gene that did didn't allow them to. I didn't
realize that that was a something that could be passed generationally.
I thought it was sort.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Of a yeah, kenby genetic absolutely well.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I never realized there was a genetic aspect. I just
thought that that was, you know, the so called luck
of the draw. Tom Fuller, I really enjoyed it. Keep
us posted and I'm looking forward to your next book.
What are you working on now?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Just back to the grind. You know, I cover wildfires
in California, I cover breaking news. I read about Gaza
once in a while, so it's you know, this was
a nice respite. This was great, you know, I never
I didn't talk about politics with anyone on the team.
I have no idea if the Democrats or Republicans. But
now I'm back to the real world.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
That's great. That that is absolutely great. Look, Tom Fuller,
I appreciated your time, and it sounds like a wonderful book,
and I hope that our listeners head to a bookstore
near there. I'll go to Amazon dot com, whatever is easier,
But it sounds like an inspirational book. Particularly if you
have a son or daughter in high school who's participating
(11:37):
in sports. This this might really explain to them that
the bad day on the gridiron, there's a lot of
a lot of obstacles that other people are able to overcome.
Thanks so much, Tom, Thank you, Dan, talk to you soon. Well,
we came back on and talk about the world's best
bull riders coming back to New Hampshire. No, I know
it's going to be a little while this December, but
(11:57):
we're going to talk with a professional bull ride to
Senior Vice President Robert Simpson, and you can maybe put
this on your calendar. Back on Nightside, my name's Dan Ray.
Back here after a week and a half away in Italy.
With's a really great group of Nightside listeners. I wish
all of you could could have been on the trip
with us. We really had a lot of fun and
(12:18):
we'll talk about that maybe right after the nine o'clock news,
but for now, we still have three more guests coming up,
starting off about talk about the world's best bull riders.
My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside and w BZ,
Boston's news radio station ten thirty and your am dial
coming back right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
There's a few things I've never done in my life. Actually,
there's many things I've never done in my life. One
of them is to ride a bull. However, the world's
Best bull Riders are coming back to Manchester, New Hampshire
for the fifth consecutive season with PBR Leash the Beast
at SNU Arena a few days before Christmas December twentieth
(13:07):
and twenty first, So we're still a few months away.
You got to go September, October, November into December, but
we have with us the Professional bull Riders Senior vice
president Robert Simpson. Rob I gotta ask you in order
to become the senior vice president of this fine organization.
Did you have to ride a bull?
Speaker 5 (13:24):
I did not good for you.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
But you know that's quite the little intro and we
could probably take care of that if he wanted to,
you know, come on, come on up to Manchester.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
No, no, no, no no. I very much appreciate that,
but I gotta tell you I do not want to
get in. I gotta tell you I watched bull riders.
It's the longest eight seconds in sports.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
From it, sure.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is give us a quick for those who are on.
Everybody knows bull riding. But if you stay on for
eight seconds, does it no matter what form you have
or is it just the duration of time?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Well, yeah, yeah, it matters what form you have. So
you know the eight seconds to your point is I mean,
it's it's forever on the back of the bull. And
so you know there's a you know, we have a
you know.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Everybody that rides the bull gets scored.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
So that's where the style points on how well you
control the bull, how hard the bull bucks, you know,
all of the factors that go in to the ride.
So from the moment the shoot opens to when the
eight second clock goes off, you know, during that duration
you know, we have four judges that are scoring the ride.
(14:40):
So they give half of the points to the bull
and half of the points.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
To the rider.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
And so if the bull is inferior, they're going to
score less. If the bull is just you know, a monster,
they're going to score more. And then if the rider
is kind of hanging off the side, then you know
what I'm saying, and not control.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
But but it makes that is where I would be
for like two seconds.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
He's not going to get any you know, many points either,
you know. So the riders got to show control of
the bull and then also the bulls got a buck hard,
you know, and so those two things coming together, that's
when good things happen, and guys, you know, they won't
have been What what.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Is the career expectancy of bull riders? You know, I
know that, you know, I think it's NFL players about
four and a half years. Major League Baseball players maybe
on an average a little bit more than that. But
there are some players in the major leagues who can
last twenty twenty one years. Nolan Ryan, Ran, Cal Ripken,
Roger Clemens. What is the average career link for a
(15:40):
professional bull rider?
Speaker 6 (15:43):
On an average, probably ten to twelve years.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Good.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Yeah, yeah, not bad. And and just like baseball, right,
we've had some some riders that you know, have ridden
bulls well past their forties, you know, competitively, you know,
and still in the hunt and and so forth. But
to your point, they're the exception to the rule. You know,
there's you know, by the time the bull rider kind
of enters, you know, say twenty twenty years old, you know,
(16:09):
then say, you know, once they hit thirty, you know,
they're probably on the backside of their career. And you know,
if it's a couple of years, if it's three or four,
so yeah, you know, on average, probably about twelve years.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Let's carry let's carry the sports metaphor hell a little bit,
because this is obviously a sport. When does your season start?
When does your season end?
Speaker 6 (16:30):
Season starts the first in November, and we kick off
in Tucson, Arizona, and then Manchester that we're talking about
is the fourth event of the new season. And so
by the time that December twenty and twenty first rolls
around in New Hampshire, it'll be event number four. And
then once the New year, roles were in Madison Square
(16:53):
Garden over the first weekend of January, so we go
all the way till May. And so in mid we
have the World Finals in Texas and that's season, so
pretty much November to May.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Well that that's a that's a full full season. And
your bull riders. How many bull riders do you? I mean,
is it is it the same group of men and
or women? I don't know whether we have the women
riders as well, or is it mixing match where some
people are on you.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
Yes, it's it's all male. And this is yeah, what
we're talking to the event that we're talking about coming
to Manchester is I mean, it's the best of the best.
It's the NFL. It's Major League Baseball for bull riding.
You know, we have different levels, Dan, you know what
I'm saying. So this is this is the major leagues
right here. And so what we do is we have
about thirty five forty guys that we kind of you know,
(17:42):
take to these events and so we you know, much
like golf, there's a standings and so they're all competing
as individuals and.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
So if they ride, they get paid.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
If they don't, they don't, you know, much like golf.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
And you know, so you don't make the cut in golf,
you go home on Friday after.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
All that money to travel and yeah, all that good stuff.
So but yeah, so it's it's all male. Now there
are female leagues of course, but we don't we don't
deal with that. But yeah, this is the so.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
So this is this is up in Manchester. Everybody knows
where the s N s n h U arena is
tickets available? How do they? How do they get tickets?
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (18:26):
It is ways just PBR dot com, you know, it's
uh got, yeah, we got. We've got a link there
that will direct them. Or they can go to the
venue website, you know for a n q U and
then you know, always get them, you know, on the ticket.
I'm not sure what the ticket platform there is at
that at that venue.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Well that's so they if they go to the PBR
dot com, which I assume is professional bull Riding Professionals.
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Not not the beer, not the beer.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
B b R dot com and hey little early Christmas
pres you never know, it sounds like a great family event.
Something a little bit different here in England. We don't
have a lot of bull riding in New England. But hey,
it's available on December twentieth and twenty. First, I don't
have that calendar in front of me. I'm assuming that's
a Friday and Saturday, or am I wrong?
Speaker 4 (19:17):
That is?
Speaker 6 (19:17):
That is it's a Friday Saturday right before Christmas to
your point, and yeah, it's a great family show. Yeah
it's if it is. You know, if you've never been Dan,
you know what I'm saying with your listeners, man, I mean,
once you go, you're hooked. I mean so that we've
that's why we're back, you know for the fifth year
in New Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I mean, people, you just had a good turnout the
last four years, and you know we'll have you back
a little closer to the date, maybe sometime in November
just in case people let it slide off that calendar.
But people want to get good takes great December twenty twenty. First, Robert,
I enjoyed the conversation. I learned a lot about a
sport that I frankly don't know a whole heck of
a lot about. But I certainly do admire the people
(19:58):
who participate in and get up on that bowl, that's
for sure. Again. Robert Simpson, the PBR Professional bull Riders
PBR dot com we get back. We're going to celebrate
a birthday. Smoky the Bear turns eighty and I found
out there actually was an actual Smoky the Bear. We
(20:18):
will get to all of that right after the news
break here at the bottom of the.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Hour Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Well, I don't know who the most famous person in
the world is. Maybe it's the President of the United States,
maybe it's the Pope. I don't know. Maybe it's who
who I dare say, Vladimir Putin. But just in terms
of fame, I don't think there's anybody that I know
of who has not heard of Smoking the Bear. And
(20:50):
Smoky turns eighty years of age. Is it tomorrow that
we reached this milestone with me? As straight you see Denisitch.
She's the vice president Group campaign director at the AD Council.
Tracy tell us, what is it tomorrow? The day of
Smokey's birthday.
Speaker 7 (21:10):
Smokey's eightieth birthday was Friday, August night, but we're celebrating
all year. He's turned eighty, but he'll be eighty for
the whole year.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Obviously, we think Smokey the bear and only
you can Prevent forest Fires, one of the most successful
ad campaigns in the history of the world. But I
was interested to find out that there really was a
Smoky the bear, a little bear cub.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Yeah, that's right. So Smokey has become really, in so
many ways, such an impactful you know, really had such
an impact on the environmental protection in our country. And
he's also really become a part of culture. And I
think the living symbol of Smokey is a great example
of that and one that we all really love. The
(22:01):
ad campaign started in the forties. Smokey Bear was first
featured on a poster with his now iconic tagline on
that you can prevent forest fires, asking Americans to take
care and recognize their personal responsibility in preventing wildfires. And
then following that in the fifties, firefighters fighting a fire
(22:22):
in New Mexico found a little baby bear injured by
the fire, and they saved him. They named him Smokey.
They nursed him back to health, and upon his recovery
he spent He was flown to the zoo, the National
Zoo in Washington, d C. Where he lived for the
rest of his life and when he moved there. He
became so popular so quickly that fans were writing him
(22:45):
so much fan mail that he actually had to get
his own zip code. So papropos to your introduction, Smokey
Bear and the presidents are the only Americans who have
their own zip code. And you can still write to
Smokey at Kyoto is his zip code. And but of
course we also now connect with his fans and his
(23:07):
you know friends on social media accounts, and we really
have wonderful ways of connecting with Americans and you know,
ensuring that they have his message and his tips to
help prevent wildfire.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Now, this is a is a time of year when,
particularly in the West, we see a lot of forest fires.
There's that big fire in California, which, as I understand
that actually was started by some guy who lit hit
a car on fire. I think it was his mother's
car and he rolled it into the woods. And the
(23:41):
amount of damage that is done by these fires, obviously
you know that was intentionally set. But on an average year,
how much acreage do we lose in this country to
forest fires? It has to be a huge number.
Speaker 7 (23:59):
Yeah, there's some of us do exist. I don't have
I don't know the exact number, but I can say
that nine and ten wildfires are started by humans, many
of them accidental. And I think, you know, of course,
our hearts go out to the to the communities that
are impacted by these fires, and to the you know,
appreciation to the men and women who are fighting those fires.
And I think what's so empowering and special about Smoky's
(24:22):
message is that he really gives us all everyone across
the country something that we can do, a part that
we can play in preventing those fires from happening.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Yeah, I mean the messages that have come out. Obviously,
you don't throw a lit cigarette into the woods, you
don't leave a campfire without really dousing that campfire. Obviously,
all of those things are just so important. How was
Smoky the beer to this day still on the air, meaning,
(24:53):
in other words, does the AD Council is this literally
a PSA or they w in which people can support
this advertising. I'm confused by that. I looked for an
answer and I couldn't find it.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Well, yes, since nineteen forty four we've had our partnership
with the It's between the AD Council of the National
Association of State foresters in the United States Forest Service
as well as our ad agency partner FCB, have been
developing PSAs. So for eighty years now, we've been bringing
PSA messaging to Americans across the country through whatever the
(25:31):
most relevant and you know, prevalent advertising space is at
any time, working with industry partners to get that into
people's homes and across the country. But Smokey has also
really become a cultural icon, right. He's been featured on
postage stamps, people into outer space, You've let presidents, he
makes appearances at baseball games and forests and parks across
(25:53):
the country, and he has social media accounts. And I
think we really, you know, are always looking for ways
to ensure that Americans recognize that Smokey's message is still
the same and it is important now more than ever.
This isn't a message just for the fifties, just for
you know, nineteen forty four when we first put this
out there, but this is you know, really relevant and
(26:14):
important now more than ever.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Well, it's great, it's a great It's been a great
ad campaign for eighty years, the longest running you know
public I guess i'll call it a cubic Service Campaign.
We know that there are forest fires where we have
no idea how many forest fires or fires in wooded
areas have been prevented because someone in the back of
their head remembered the AD and the phrase only you
(26:40):
can prevent forest fires. And maybe they did extinguish a
campsite effectively. Maybe they chose not to flip that cigarette
into the into the woods. So I appreciate you joining
us today and give us a little bit of a
history about Smokey the Bear. Tracy Sandwich, a Vice president
Group Campaign director of the AD Council, Thanks so much
(27:00):
joining us.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
Thanks for having me. Happy birthday, Smoky.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Okay, happy birthday, Smoky the Bear. All right, when we
get back, we're going to talk about a very serious
subject that rears its ugly head, if you will, at
this time of year. Uh, and that is anxiety for
some kids as they go back to school. We'll be
talking with a mental health expert, doctor Vince Callahan, right
(27:26):
after this quick break here on a Monday night edition.
First night back in a while. It's nice to be here.
I missed all of you. Loved Italy, loved Rome, loved
the Mouthy Coast. But there's no place like home. We'll
be back right after this quick break.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World,
Nice Night Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, school is actually believe or not resumed in
some places around the country already, which I think is crazy. However,
here in New England, kids to get back to school
sometime after a labor Day. And I remember as a
kid long time ago, back in the last century, leaving
summer and seeing Labor Day in the rearview mirror. It
(28:11):
didn't cause anxiety, but I hated to see summer end.
And we're going to talk about kids who have not
only probably enjoy the freedom of summer, but a little
bit anxious about getting back to school. Little butterflies, jitters,
whatever you want to call it, call it with us.
As doctor Vince Callahan, mental health expert, Doctor Callahan, Welcome
(28:32):
to Nightside, Nightside. What percentage of kids in America deal
with some form of stress or anxiety when those school
bells ring.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
The research that I've done the last fourteen years shows
me about seventy five percent of kids in a classroom
deal with some form of stress. So at the very
least you're looking at twenty five to thirty percent are
going to deal with anxiety.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Wow, so one out of four your students deal with anxiety?
Is that a No, You've done this for a while.
But are there any studies going back to the time
of the fifties and sixties when some of us were
in school, in elementary and grammar schools.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
I'm sure there are.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I haven't I haven't found them, but I'm sure they're
out there. Yeah, when we were kids. Because I'm sixty two,
so it sounds like we're almost you know, I got
a few years.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
On you, But go ahead, I'm on the wrong side
of fifty. I'll just give it you that.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Okay, Well, we hated to see summer end, but we
were excited about school. Now kids are worried about do
I have the right shoes, do I have the right outshit?
Do I have the coolest backpack? I don't measure up
to other people, And there's such pressure on these kids
to perform early that their whole self esteem is in
(29:51):
the toilet.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Now Why why is there pressure on kids in terms
of outfits and stuff like that. I mean, I would
think that the concern would be is who's my new teacher?
Who are my classmates. I would assume that would be
what most kids would be thinking about, not whether or not,
you know, they were properly attired. Are we school?
Speaker 4 (30:15):
It depends on the age group when you get when
you're looking at elementary school kids, you're exactly right, they
are who's my teacher going to be? Who are my friends?
Will they like me? Will they accept me? When you
get in middle school kids, you're looking at will I
fit in? Do I have the right stuff? Do I
have the latest and coolest stuff? You know, is my hair? Okay?
And then high school it's like, how can I get
(30:36):
out of your kind of thing? But yeah, it just
depends on the age group. But yeah, kids go through
this where their biggest thing they're feeling is is kind
of out of controlla a little bit. I mean, the
two greatest needs any child has the safety and security?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And what about if I make what about if I
make the argument to you doctor that it's absolutely normal
to have some anxiety. It's absolutely normal to be a
little apprehensive. Look if you and I started a new
job tomorrow, even though it is a job that we
might have done for twenty or twenty five years, you
(31:13):
get a little bit of the butterflies. Any athlete will
tell you I get butterflies before every show? Am I prep? Right? Is?
Have I left anything to chance? Isn't this part of
just preparing to function in the real world? This is
just normal? Or no.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
Yeah, I'm gonna agree with you one hundred percent that
anything new for a moment, you're gonna have anxiety. But
there's really two kinds of this anxiety that we're looking
at with kids. One is the normal situational I'm going
into a new situation. How will I do and how
will I cope? And that should course correct within about
(31:50):
thirty days or less. But then you get the anxiety
that's fear based. That is this whole what if there's
intrusive thoughts I don't measure up, I can't do it,
and it doesn't ever course correct. And now you're getting
into generalized anxiety disorder even in little kids. And so
I'm still going to hold my twenty five percent number
(32:12):
or in that second category, which is unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Okay, So what can what can parents do if they
think their son or daughter at whatever age you know,
going into kid in kindergarten, elementary, whatever, what can they
do to help the child get through. This.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
First thing is routine, and like you were talking about
up north, you guys have a little bit more time.
So the greatest thing parents can do prior to starting
school is to go in and get the house routines
in order, bedtime at a certain time, waking up at
a certain time even though school hasn't started yet, getting
them familiar with their teachers and what they're going to
(32:51):
be doing. Kind of let mom and dad go on
the web and look for what what you know, first
grader go through to study wise and school wise. Because
of the things that kids get apprehensive about is will
I be able to learn? And what is it that
I'm going to learn? So the biggest thing is routine
and get a schedule going. Second thing is attachment or
talk to the kids. I like to teach my parents
(33:13):
I work with, don't ask leading questions. To go in
and start with a leading statement, which is, you know,
I know that you might be feeling apprehensive or a
little bit anxious about going to school when I felt
that way too, But and then you let them start
talking to you and do leading statements instead of leading questions,
because we know that when you ask the kid a question.
(33:34):
He shutdown, says, no, it's fine, nothing nothing.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
You know what, what I found was helpful. And I
don't know if I took both of my children a
little at that time, little boy and little girl, when
they were entering kindergarten. I took them to the school. Yeah,
week or so ahead of time, when the teachers were
prepping the school and all of that, and walked in
and introduced them, figured out who the teacher was. So
(34:00):
did this to take the edge off good idea, A
bad idea?
Speaker 4 (34:03):
You a great idea, You're a great dad. That was
the perfect thing to do, because that that settles that.
Remember my opening statement, kids need safety and security. So
if I take if I as a parent, take away
the what if I've created safety and security?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Yeah, I like I like to tell this story. I've
told it before. I remember my son was older and
when he actually had to get on the school bus
to to to go to kindergarten, as he you know,
struggled to get up the first couple of steps of
those school buses, which seemed to me kind of ridiculous
they are so high for little kids. I sort of
gave him a little bit of a boost and I said, uh, subconsciously,
(34:43):
so he probably didn't hear it, but hopefully maybe I said,
welcome to the treadmill of life.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
There you go, there you go, and then you go home,
and then as a parent, you go home and you
choose red or white. I did w I'm sorry, Oh
you mean, yeah, choose red or white.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
You've made it to the summer, so take your favorite
red or white and sit down to put your feet
up and got through the summer.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Well, it's a little early in the morning, you know,
even though it's somewhere, it's after five. I did you
go there? How could folks get in touch with the
Dtor Vince Callahan if a, are you available to chatter
or to us?
Speaker 4 (35:21):
The actually my website is doctor Vincecallahan dot com. And
this is the reason that I actually just finished a
digital book called The Family Handbook. It's a free download.
They can get that. It's one hundred and one basic
discussion questions and things and topics about the family. But
they can reach me at doctor Vincecallahan dot com. There's
(35:43):
a contact me little thing to spill out and give
me your name and phone number and that kind of stuff.
And I'm definitely love to talk to people.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
So it's all one more. Dr Vince v I NCEE
C A L l A h A N traditional spelling
off Callahan dot com. Yep, yep, thank you, joy this
very much. We'll have you back. Thank you. If you'd
love to come back. You're good guest.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
Thank you very much. I'd love to thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You're very welcome, Doctor Vince Callahan. Okay, and we come back.
We're going to talk about tonight about really three things.
The Stewart health crisis that's a huge story. We haven't
really touched that yet. An article in the Boston Globe
by Brian McGrory about the bike lane on Boylston Street,
and also talking about can you steal someone else's idea
(36:30):
as a presidential candidate. And we'll also talk about the
trip to Italy to Roam and the Mouthfee Coast that
I took the last nine days, ten days along with
a bunch of night side listeners, and we'll talk about
it coming back right after the nine o'clock news here
on a Monday night. It's August the twelfth,
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thanks to call a European Adventure. I quite think of
it as that it was a good time. We had
a lot of fun with a lot of nightside listeners
in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast, and I wish
you had been able to be there with us, Nicole.
It was we had a lot of fun, that's for sure.
My name is Dan Ray. But I am very happy
to be back in the big chair here on WBZ
(00:48):
from eight until midnight as the host of Nightside. Rob
Brooks is back in the control room with an assistant
and a young new technician whose first name is Dan.
We won't you know, we're not gonna give any a
lot of information, but when you're calling tonight, you're going
to be talking to Rob or to Dan, and I
will talk about our trip to Rome, but I think
(01:09):
i'll do that at beginning at nine o'clock because we
have four really interesting guests lined up for you tonight
during the eight o'clock hour. I must thank all the
folks who filled in for me last week. I know
that Mullgan White carried the ball most nights, but Ben
(01:30):
Parker was here one night, and Gary Tangway was here
one night. I was off a total of seven nights,
which is for me a really long time away from
the microphone. But we had a lot of fun, and
we'll talk about that. We saw so much in a
relatively brief period of time. I'll get to all of
that at nine o'clock. Many of my fellow travelers nightside
(01:51):
travelers who wanted to know when are we going to
talk about it? So we'll talk about it at nine o'clock.
But first we're going to talk about a deaf football
team and their quest for glory with an author correspondent
for The New York Times, Thomas Fuller. The name of
the book is The Boys of Riverside. I assume we're
talking about Riverside, California. Tom full how are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'm good, Dan. Yes, indeed, Riverside, California, just east of
Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I'm told, a pretty beautiful part of the world
outside of LA And so there was a school there
for students who was it they had no hearing or
they had limited.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, So there are two deaf schools in California, one
in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the other in Riverside,
which is you know, Riverside used to be just Orange
Groves and uh, you know, quite bucolic. Now it's like
Amazon warehouses and you know where everything that comes in
from China ends up in a warehouse. So it's a
(02:55):
it's not the not the most beautiful neighborhood. But in
the middle of it there's this great school, California School
for the Deaf for Riverside, and they got about one
hundred and fifty kids and they had a football program
that for well seven decades, uh, didn't go anywhere. They
never made it to the playoffs. And then a couple
(03:16):
of years ago something happened and they just started pummeling
their opponents and and that's that's where I went down.
I said, I got to write about this.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
By the way, there's a school in Washington, d C.
I think it's called Gardett, which is also a school
for deaf students.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
We have Perkins Galadet for the.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Blind here in Boston, so these schools do exist. Okay, Look,
football is a game which everybody has to move at
the same time. You can't be offside. You have to
for the most part be able to you're prompted by
the calls that the quarterback makes, not only in the huddle,
but up on the line of scrimmage. How does a
group of eleven football players, none of whom can hear,
(03:59):
How did they function well as a football team, as
these young men obviously did.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
You've got a lot of stuff there, and I liked
that you mentioned the huddle because there's a story about that.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
But let me.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Start with how they function really well. The players here,
with their eyes, they see the field much more comprehensibly.
Matter of fact, there's studies that if you're profoundly deaf
from birth, and this makes sense, that your site becomes
more acute. This team that I followed, the Cubs, they're
(04:33):
known as they never jumped off sides. I think I
saw it twice because they were so focused on the
ball and they had incredible peripheral vision. That study that
I referenced, there have been a few of them.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
You know, when you go to the.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
DMV and you know, look, they say, okay, let's test
your eyesight, and they have the flashing lights in there
and you're supposed to press the button when you see it.
Deaf people do better at those tests, and then you
know here makes.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
A lot of sense, makes a lot of sense. Obviously,
over time, the human body, the human condition, tries to
make up for areas where they may be in a vulnerability,
just the ability to survive. If you're you know, five
hundred years ago, we're right out in the wilderness and
you couldn't hear. You were probably a lot more observant.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
When you think about it, the brain changes. And so
I'll tell you the story about the huddle since you
mentioned it, So where to come from. It came from
Galadet that you mentioned. Two death teams were playing in
the eighteen nineties and they were you know, they're all deaths.
So they were signing to each other. Well, and so
(05:46):
the quarterback for Galadet said, we got to do something
about this. They're reading our plays here, gather together, back
to the defense and I'll give you the play that
was where the huddle was born. It did exists before
that happened. And so now Galadet, if you go watch
one of their games, you get some merch that says
(06:07):
home of the Huddles.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Wow, boy, that's fabulous. You know, it's interesting. There was
a guy who was who played Major League Baseball Curtis Pride,
who a few years ago pretty good player for the
Tigers amongst other teams, actually played for the Red Sox
for a little while. Young ballplayer who also was deaf
since birth. And yet that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Derek Coleman, who was the fullback on the Seahawks, also deaf.
So there had been deaf athletes. Benny Fuller, who was
a college basketball player. And it's tough if you're deaf
on a hearing team. That's what I saw with these kids.
They had played, they were great athletes, they had played
(06:49):
in Pop Warner leagues, but it was really tough communicating
with you all the hearing players. Sure, So then they
all got together, all the deaf players got together and
it was just glue. It was beautiful. It was a
brotherhood of all deaf people. And they used sign language.
They didn't have to. The coach didn't have to, you know,
the quarterback didn't have to run over the sidelines, get
(07:11):
to play from the coach, run back in. So it's
all sign language. They just looked over, they saw the
sign and they you know, and that was it. Off
to the next play, super fast, super efficient.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
So so this was the twenty twenty one season that
I think you chronicle.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, yeah, the twenty twenty one season was the first.
So I stayed with them for the entire twenty twenty
two season. Okay, but the twenty twenty one season was
where they started to turn on the jets, and I
actually wrote a story for the New York Times that
kind of that led to this book project, and so
then I spent the entire season with them. I had
(07:48):
deaf roommates, you know, stood on the sidelines, So the
whole season, went to all the games and just this
is great, just chronicled you know, this world that and
this amazing quest that they had, you know, for the
first time, well for the first time in California history.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Well we're not going to spoil the ending here, but
the name of the book is The Boys of Riverside,
a Deaf football team and a Quest for Glory by
Tom Fuller. Thomas Fuller, available obviously Amazon and all of that.
It was published, I guess by Penguin Random House, which
is a big publisher. Just a last question, since you
(08:29):
chronicled the end of the twenty twenty twenty twenty one
season and all of the twenty twenty two season. We
won't ask you how the story ends because we want
people to buy the book. But I'm just wondering, did
any of these players go on to college and end
up actually playing college football?
Speaker 5 (08:48):
But per chance or no, they did.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
They did the actually playing at Galadet Right now, the
quarterback who's won really the star of the team. He's
playing it alled debt uh, and so is his wide receivers.
So they did go on and and I think they're
doing pretty well there.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh that's great, that's that's a great story for people
to overcome these limitations that you know, people, all of
us are born with limitations. I know that most of
us have more limitations than than abilities. But for them
to turn a limitation into an ability, it has to
be a really inspiring story.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
And edge how long?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
How long has this coach been working there? I'm assuming
that this coach probably is a long time coach. I
have not read the book. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Has the coach been there a long time? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Well, the coach is you know, entirely deaf as well
all the entire coaching staff and all the players. And
the coach is a terrific athlete who grew up in Stockton, California,
and he had the same frustrations that the players had.
He was playing on hearing teams and the communication wasn't working.
(10:01):
So for him that two of his kids were on
the team, and for him this was just the fulfillment
of a lifetime that he could finally get, you know,
an all deaf team and they could show that deafness,
as you said, is actually an edge on the football field.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
So two of his sons also inherited the I guess
the gene that did didn't allow them to. I didn't
realize that that was a something that could be passed generationally.
I thought it was sort.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Of a yeah, kenby genetic absolutely well.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I never realized there was a genetic aspect. I just
thought that that was, you know, the so called luck
of the draw. Tom Fuller, I really enjoyed it. Keep
us posted and I'm looking forward to your next book.
What are you working on now?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Just back to the grind. You know, I cover wildfires
in California, I cover breaking news. I read about Gaza
once in a while, so it's you know, this was
a nice respite. This was great, you know, I never
I didn't talk about politics with anyone on the team.
I have no idea if the Democrats or Republicans. But
now I'm back to the real world.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
That's great. That that is absolutely great. Look, Tom Fuller,
I appreciated your time, and it sounds like a wonderful book,
and I hope that our listeners head to a bookstore
near there. I'll go to Amazon dot com, whatever is easier,
But it sounds like an inspirational book. Particularly if you
have a son or daughter in high school who's participating
(11:37):
in sports. This this might really explain to them that
the bad day on the gridiron, there's a lot of
a lot of obstacles that other people are able to overcome.
Thanks so much, Tom, Thank you, Dan, talk to you soon. Well,
we came back on and talk about the world's best
bull riders coming back to New Hampshire. No, I know
it's going to be a little while this December, but
(11:57):
we're going to talk with a professional bull ride to
Senior Vice President Robert Simpson, and you can maybe put
this on your calendar. Back on Nightside, my name's Dan Ray.
Back here after a week and a half away in Italy.
With's a really great group of Nightside listeners. I wish
all of you could could have been on the trip
with us. We really had a lot of fun and
(12:18):
we'll talk about that maybe right after the nine o'clock news,
but for now, we still have three more guests coming up,
starting off about talk about the world's best bull riders.
My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside and w BZ,
Boston's news radio station ten thirty and your am dial
coming back right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
There's a few things I've never done in my life. Actually,
there's many things I've never done in my life. One
of them is to ride a bull. However, the world's
Best bull Riders are coming back to Manchester, New Hampshire
for the fifth consecutive season with PBR Leash the Beast
at SNU Arena a few days before Christmas December twentieth
(13:07):
and twenty first, So we're still a few months away.
You got to go September, October, November into December, but
we have with us the Professional bull Riders Senior vice
president Robert Simpson. Rob I gotta ask you in order
to become the senior vice president of this fine organization.
Did you have to ride a bull?
Speaker 5 (13:24):
I did not good for you.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
But you know that's quite the little intro and we
could probably take care of that if he wanted to,
you know, come on, come on up to Manchester.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
No, no, no, no no. I very much appreciate that,
but I gotta tell you I do not want to
get in. I gotta tell you I watched bull riders.
It's the longest eight seconds in sports.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
From it, sure.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is give us a quick for those who are on.
Everybody knows bull riding. But if you stay on for
eight seconds, does it no matter what form you have
or is it just the duration of time?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Well, yeah, yeah, it matters what form you have. So
you know the eight seconds to your point is I mean,
it's it's forever on the back of the bull. And
so you know there's a you know, we have a
you know.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Everybody that rides the bull gets scored.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
So that's where the style points on how well you
control the bull, how hard the bull bucks, you know,
all of the factors that go in to the ride.
So from the moment the shoot opens to when the
eight second clock goes off, you know, during that duration
you know, we have four judges that are scoring the ride.
(14:40):
So they give half of the points to the bull
and half of the points.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
To the rider.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
And so if the bull is inferior, they're going to
score less. If the bull is just you know, a monster,
they're going to score more. And then if the rider
is kind of hanging off the side, then you know
what I'm saying, and not control.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
But but it makes that is where I would be
for like two seconds.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
He's not going to get any you know, many points either,
you know. So the riders got to show control of
the bull and then also the bulls got a buck hard,
you know, and so those two things coming together, that's
when good things happen, and guys, you know, they won't
have been What what.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Is the career expectancy of bull riders? You know, I
know that, you know, I think it's NFL players about
four and a half years. Major League Baseball players maybe
on an average a little bit more than that. But
there are some players in the major leagues who can
last twenty twenty one years. Nolan Ryan, Ran, Cal Ripken,
Roger Clemens. What is the average career link for a
(15:40):
professional bull rider?
Speaker 6 (15:43):
On an average, probably ten to twelve years.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Good.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Yeah, yeah, not bad. And and just like baseball, right,
we've had some some riders that you know, have ridden
bulls well past their forties, you know, competitively, you know,
and still in the hunt and and so forth. But
to your point, they're the exception to the rule. You know,
there's you know, by the time the bull rider kind
of enters, you know, say twenty twenty years old, you know,
(16:09):
then say, you know, once they hit thirty, you know,
they're probably on the backside of their career. And you know,
if it's a couple of years, if it's three or four,
so yeah, you know, on average, probably about twelve years.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Let's carry let's carry the sports metaphor hell a little bit,
because this is obviously a sport. When does your season start?
When does your season end?
Speaker 6 (16:30):
Season starts the first in November, and we kick off
in Tucson, Arizona, and then Manchester that we're talking about
is the fourth event of the new season. And so
by the time that December twenty and twenty first rolls
around in New Hampshire, it'll be event number four. And
then once the New year, roles were in Madison Square
(16:53):
Garden over the first weekend of January, so we go
all the way till May. And so in mid we
have the World Finals in Texas and that's season, so
pretty much November to May.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Well that that's a that's a full full season. And
your bull riders. How many bull riders do you? I mean,
is it is it the same group of men and
or women? I don't know whether we have the women
riders as well, or is it mixing match where some
people are on you.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
Yes, it's it's all male. And this is yeah, what
we're talking to the event that we're talking about coming
to Manchester is I mean, it's the best of the best.
It's the NFL. It's Major League Baseball for bull riding.
You know, we have different levels, Dan, you know what
I'm saying. So this is this is the major leagues
right here. And so what we do is we have
about thirty five forty guys that we kind of you know,
(17:42):
take to these events and so we you know, much
like golf, there's a standings and so they're all competing
as individuals and.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
So if they ride, they get paid.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
If they don't, they don't, you know, much like golf.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
And you know, so you don't make the cut in golf,
you go home on Friday after.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
All that money to travel and yeah, all that good stuff.
So but yeah, so it's it's all male. Now there
are female leagues of course, but we don't we don't
deal with that. But yeah, this is the so.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
So this is this is up in Manchester. Everybody knows
where the s N s n h U arena is
tickets available? How do they? How do they get tickets?
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (18:26):
It is ways just PBR dot com, you know, it's
uh got, yeah, we got. We've got a link there
that will direct them. Or they can go to the
venue website, you know for a n q U and
then you know, always get them, you know, on the ticket.
I'm not sure what the ticket platform there is at
that at that venue.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Well that's so they if they go to the PBR
dot com, which I assume is professional bull Riding Professionals.
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Not not the beer, not the beer.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
B b R dot com and hey little early Christmas
pres you never know, it sounds like a great family event.
Something a little bit different here in England. We don't
have a lot of bull riding in New England. But hey,
it's available on December twentieth and twenty. First, I don't
have that calendar in front of me. I'm assuming that's
a Friday and Saturday, or am I wrong?
Speaker 4 (19:17):
That is?
Speaker 6 (19:17):
That is it's a Friday Saturday right before Christmas to
your point, and yeah, it's a great family show. Yeah
it's if it is. You know, if you've never been Dan,
you know what I'm saying with your listeners, man, I mean,
once you go, you're hooked. I mean so that we've
that's why we're back, you know for the fifth year
in New Hampshire.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I mean, people, you just had a good turnout the
last four years, and you know we'll have you back
a little closer to the date, maybe sometime in November
just in case people let it slide off that calendar.
But people want to get good takes great December twenty twenty. First, Robert,
I enjoyed the conversation. I learned a lot about a
sport that I frankly don't know a whole heck of
a lot about. But I certainly do admire the people
(19:58):
who participate in and get up on that bowl, that's
for sure. Again. Robert Simpson, the PBR Professional bull Riders
PBR dot com we get back. We're going to celebrate
a birthday. Smoky the Bear turns eighty and I found
out there actually was an actual Smoky the Bear. We
(20:18):
will get to all of that right after the news
break here at the bottom of the.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Hour Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Well, I don't know who the most famous person in
the world is. Maybe it's the President of the United States,
maybe it's the Pope. I don't know. Maybe it's who
who I dare say, Vladimir Putin. But just in terms
of fame, I don't think there's anybody that I know
of who has not heard of Smoking the Bear. And
(20:50):
Smoky turns eighty years of age. Is it tomorrow that
we reached this milestone with me? As straight you see Denisitch.
She's the vice president Group campaign director at the AD Council.
Tracy tell us, what is it tomorrow? The day of
Smokey's birthday.
Speaker 7 (21:10):
Smokey's eightieth birthday was Friday, August night, but we're celebrating
all year. He's turned eighty, but he'll be eighty for
the whole year.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Obviously, we think Smokey the bear and only
you can Prevent forest Fires, one of the most successful
ad campaigns in the history of the world. But I
was interested to find out that there really was a
Smoky the bear, a little bear cub.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Yeah, that's right. So Smokey has become really, in so
many ways, such an impactful you know, really had such
an impact on the environmental protection in our country. And
he's also really become a part of culture. And I
think the living symbol of Smokey is a great example
of that and one that we all really love. The
(22:01):
ad campaign started in the forties. Smokey Bear was first
featured on a poster with his now iconic tagline on
that you can prevent forest fires, asking Americans to take
care and recognize their personal responsibility in preventing wildfires. And
then following that in the fifties, firefighters fighting a fire
(22:22):
in New Mexico found a little baby bear injured by
the fire, and they saved him. They named him Smokey.
They nursed him back to health, and upon his recovery
he spent He was flown to the zoo, the National
Zoo in Washington, d C. Where he lived for the
rest of his life and when he moved there. He
became so popular so quickly that fans were writing him
(22:45):
so much fan mail that he actually had to get
his own zip code. So papropos to your introduction, Smokey
Bear and the presidents are the only Americans who have
their own zip code. And you can still write to
Smokey at Kyoto is his zip code. And but of
course we also now connect with his fans and his
(23:07):
you know friends on social media accounts, and we really
have wonderful ways of connecting with Americans and you know,
ensuring that they have his message and his tips to
help prevent wildfire.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Now, this is a is a time of year when,
particularly in the West, we see a lot of forest fires.
There's that big fire in California, which, as I understand
that actually was started by some guy who lit hit
a car on fire. I think it was his mother's
car and he rolled it into the woods. And the
(23:41):
amount of damage that is done by these fires, obviously
you know that was intentionally set. But on an average year,
how much acreage do we lose in this country to
forest fires? It has to be a huge number.
Speaker 7 (23:59):
Yeah, there's some of us do exist. I don't have
I don't know the exact number, but I can say
that nine and ten wildfires are started by humans, many
of them accidental. And I think, you know, of course,
our hearts go out to the to the communities that
are impacted by these fires, and to the you know,
appreciation to the men and women who are fighting those fires.
And I think what's so empowering and special about Smoky's
(24:22):
message is that he really gives us all everyone across
the country something that we can do, a part that
we can play in preventing those fires from happening.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Yeah, I mean the messages that have come out. Obviously,
you don't throw a lit cigarette into the woods, you
don't leave a campfire without really dousing that campfire. Obviously,
all of those things are just so important. How was
Smoky the beer to this day still on the air, meaning,
(24:53):
in other words, does the AD Council is this literally
a PSA or they w in which people can support
this advertising. I'm confused by that. I looked for an
answer and I couldn't find it.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Well, yes, since nineteen forty four we've had our partnership
with the It's between the AD Council of the National
Association of State foresters in the United States Forest Service
as well as our ad agency partner FCB, have been
developing PSAs. So for eighty years now, we've been bringing
PSA messaging to Americans across the country through whatever the
(25:31):
most relevant and you know, prevalent advertising space is at
any time, working with industry partners to get that into
people's homes and across the country. But Smokey has also
really become a cultural icon, right. He's been featured on
postage stamps, people into outer space, You've let presidents, he
makes appearances at baseball games and forests and parks across
(25:53):
the country, and he has social media accounts. And I
think we really, you know, are always looking for ways
to ensure that Americans recognize that Smokey's message is still
the same and it is important now more than ever.
This isn't a message just for the fifties, just for
you know, nineteen forty four when we first put this
out there, but this is you know, really relevant and
(26:14):
important now more than ever.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Well, it's great, it's a great It's been a great
ad campaign for eighty years, the longest running you know
public I guess i'll call it a cubic Service Campaign.
We know that there are forest fires where we have
no idea how many forest fires or fires in wooded
areas have been prevented because someone in the back of
their head remembered the AD and the phrase only you
(26:40):
can prevent forest fires. And maybe they did extinguish a
campsite effectively. Maybe they chose not to flip that cigarette
into the into the woods. So I appreciate you joining
us today and give us a little bit of a
history about Smokey the Bear. Tracy Sandwich, a Vice president
Group Campaign director of the AD Council, Thanks so much
(27:00):
joining us.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
Thanks for having me. Happy birthday, Smoky.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Okay, happy birthday, Smoky the Bear. All right, when we
get back, we're going to talk about a very serious
subject that rears its ugly head, if you will, at
this time of year. Uh, and that is anxiety for
some kids as they go back to school. We'll be
talking with a mental health expert, doctor Vince Callahan, right
(27:26):
after this quick break here on a Monday night edition.
First night back in a while. It's nice to be here.
I missed all of you. Loved Italy, loved Rome, loved
the Mouthy Coast. But there's no place like home. We'll
be back right after this quick break.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World,
Nice Night Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, school is actually believe or not resumed in
some places around the country already, which I think is crazy. However,
here in New England, kids to get back to school
sometime after a labor Day. And I remember as a
kid long time ago, back in the last century, leaving
summer and seeing Labor Day in the rearview mirror. It
(28:11):
didn't cause anxiety, but I hated to see summer end.
And we're going to talk about kids who have not
only probably enjoy the freedom of summer, but a little
bit anxious about getting back to school. Little butterflies, jitters,
whatever you want to call it, call it with us.
As doctor Vince Callahan, mental health expert, Doctor Callahan, Welcome
(28:32):
to Nightside, Nightside. What percentage of kids in America deal
with some form of stress or anxiety when those school
bells ring.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
The research that I've done the last fourteen years shows
me about seventy five percent of kids in a classroom
deal with some form of stress. So at the very
least you're looking at twenty five to thirty percent are
going to deal with anxiety.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Wow, so one out of four your students deal with anxiety?
Is that a No, You've done this for a while.
But are there any studies going back to the time
of the fifties and sixties when some of us were
in school, in elementary and grammar schools.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
I'm sure there are.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I haven't I haven't found them, but I'm sure they're
out there. Yeah, when we were kids. Because I'm sixty two,
so it sounds like we're almost you know, I got
a few years.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
On you, But go ahead, I'm on the wrong side
of fifty. I'll just give it you that.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Okay, Well, we hated to see summer end, but we
were excited about school. Now kids are worried about do
I have the right shoes, do I have the right outshit?
Do I have the coolest backpack? I don't measure up
to other people, And there's such pressure on these kids
to perform early that their whole self esteem is in
(29:51):
the toilet.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Now Why why is there pressure on kids in terms
of outfits and stuff like that. I mean, I would
think that the concern would be is who's my new teacher?
Who are my classmates. I would assume that would be
what most kids would be thinking about, not whether or not,
you know, they were properly attired. Are we school?
Speaker 4 (30:15):
It depends on the age group when you get when
you're looking at elementary school kids, you're exactly right, they
are who's my teacher going to be? Who are my friends?
Will they like me? Will they accept me? When you
get in middle school kids, you're looking at will I
fit in? Do I have the right stuff? Do I
have the latest and coolest stuff? You know, is my hair? Okay?
And then high school it's like, how can I get
(30:36):
out of your kind of thing? But yeah, it just
depends on the age group. But yeah, kids go through
this where their biggest thing they're feeling is is kind
of out of controlla a little bit. I mean, the
two greatest needs any child has the safety and security?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And what about if I make what about if I
make the argument to you doctor that it's absolutely normal
to have some anxiety. It's absolutely normal to be a
little apprehensive. Look if you and I started a new
job tomorrow, even though it is a job that we
might have done for twenty or twenty five years, you
(31:13):
get a little bit of the butterflies. Any athlete will
tell you I get butterflies before every show? Am I prep? Right? Is?
Have I left anything to chance? Isn't this part of
just preparing to function in the real world? This is
just normal? Or no.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
Yeah, I'm gonna agree with you one hundred percent that
anything new for a moment, you're gonna have anxiety. But
there's really two kinds of this anxiety that we're looking
at with kids. One is the normal situational I'm going
into a new situation. How will I do and how
will I cope? And that should course correct within about
(31:50):
thirty days or less. But then you get the anxiety
that's fear based. That is this whole what if there's
intrusive thoughts I don't measure up, I can't do it,
and it doesn't ever course correct. And now you're getting
into generalized anxiety disorder even in little kids. And so
I'm still going to hold my twenty five percent number
(32:12):
or in that second category, which is unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Okay, So what can what can parents do if they
think their son or daughter at whatever age you know,
going into kid in kindergarten, elementary, whatever, what can they
do to help the child get through. This.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
First thing is routine, and like you were talking about
up north, you guys have a little bit more time.
So the greatest thing parents can do prior to starting
school is to go in and get the house routines
in order, bedtime at a certain time, waking up at
a certain time even though school hasn't started yet, getting
them familiar with their teachers and what they're going to
(32:51):
be doing. Kind of let mom and dad go on
the web and look for what what you know, first
grader go through to study wise and school wise. Because
of the things that kids get apprehensive about is will
I be able to learn? And what is it that
I'm going to learn? So the biggest thing is routine
and get a schedule going. Second thing is attachment or
talk to the kids. I like to teach my parents
(33:13):
I work with, don't ask leading questions. To go in
and start with a leading statement, which is, you know,
I know that you might be feeling apprehensive or a
little bit anxious about going to school when I felt
that way too, But and then you let them start
talking to you and do leading statements instead of leading questions,
because we know that when you ask the kid a question.
(33:34):
He shutdown, says, no, it's fine, nothing nothing.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
You know what, what I found was helpful. And I
don't know if I took both of my children a
little at that time, little boy and little girl, when
they were entering kindergarten. I took them to the school. Yeah,
week or so ahead of time, when the teachers were
prepping the school and all of that, and walked in
and introduced them, figured out who the teacher was. So
(34:00):
did this to take the edge off good idea, A
bad idea?
Speaker 4 (34:03):
You a great idea, You're a great dad. That was
the perfect thing to do, because that that settles that.
Remember my opening statement, kids need safety and security. So
if I take if I as a parent, take away
the what if I've created safety and security?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Yeah, I like I like to tell this story. I've
told it before. I remember my son was older and
when he actually had to get on the school bus
to to to go to kindergarten, as he you know,
struggled to get up the first couple of steps of
those school buses, which seemed to me kind of ridiculous
they are so high for little kids. I sort of
gave him a little bit of a boost and I said, uh, subconsciously,
(34:43):
so he probably didn't hear it, but hopefully maybe I said,
welcome to the treadmill of life.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
There you go, there you go, and then you go home,
and then as a parent, you go home and you
choose red or white. I did w I'm sorry, Oh
you mean, yeah, choose red or white.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
You've made it to the summer, so take your favorite
red or white and sit down to put your feet
up and got through the summer.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Well, it's a little early in the morning, you know,
even though it's somewhere, it's after five. I did you
go there? How could folks get in touch with the
Dtor Vince Callahan if a, are you available to chatter
or to us?
Speaker 4 (35:21):
The actually my website is doctor Vincecallahan dot com. And
this is the reason that I actually just finished a
digital book called The Family Handbook. It's a free download.
They can get that. It's one hundred and one basic
discussion questions and things and topics about the family. But
they can reach me at doctor Vincecallahan dot com. There's
(35:43):
a contact me little thing to spill out and give
me your name and phone number and that kind of stuff.
And I'm definitely love to talk to people.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
So it's all one more. Dr Vince v I NCEE
C A L l A h A N traditional spelling
off Callahan dot com. Yep, yep, thank you, joy this
very much. We'll have you back. Thank you. If you'd
love to come back. You're good guest.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
Thank you very much. I'd love to thank you.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You're very welcome, Doctor Vince Callahan. Okay, and we come back.
We're going to talk about tonight about really three things.
The Stewart health crisis that's a huge story. We haven't
really touched that yet. An article in the Boston Globe
by Brian McGrory about the bike lane on Boylston Street,
and also talking about can you steal someone else's idea
(36:30):
as a presidential candidate. And we'll also talk about the
trip to Italy to Roam and the Mouthfee Coast that
I took the last nine days, ten days along with
a bunch of night side listeners, and we'll talk about
it coming back right after the nine o'clock news here
on a Monday night. It's August the twelfth,
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