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Brady gets it Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - Somewhere along the line, John Brady must have read the original self-help book, Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." The publication came to mind while the hosts of a Little Rock-based radio show were gushing about an appearance by Brady. Penciled in for 30 minutes, the new basketball coach at Arkansas State University stayed more than two hours, participated eagerly in on-air games, and impressed with his rapid identification of the sounds of Grand Funk Railroad, the Guess Who and other rockers from the '70s. That in-studio time flipped host Tommy Smith, who had dreaded the time with Brady, his perception shaped partly by the oft-present scowl when Brady's LSU Tigers played Arkansas. Brady applied the coup de grace with a handwritten letter. "I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed being with you guys on the show," he wrote. "How you both do that everyday is beyond me. You are very creative and entertaining!" In the note, he mentioned a Razorback pennant in the studio. "I thought maybe an Arkansas State flag may work!" he wrote. "Also, a few T-shirts to promote the cause are also enclosed." The ASU pennant is on the wall, over Smith's right shoulder, along with Elvis, a flag from the 2008 Masters, a couple of UA pennants, and a shot of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra sharing a moment. Carnegie's book included a section about 12 ways "To Win People to Your Way of Thinking," with the advice: "Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never tell someone they are wrong." Brady's six years at Samford in Alabama help him understand ASU's position in a state that is Hog-wild. "I'm not here in this state to replace the Hogs," he said over the phone. Arkansas is trying to win the Southeastern Conference; ASU is trying to win the Sun Belt Conference, he said. If he desired, Brady could wrap himself in the aura that goes with coaching in the Final Four only a couple of years ago. Instead, he is extremely approachable - apt to drop into a Jonesboro coffee shop to sip and hob-knob with the locals any morning - and even share his cell phone number on request. He has signed autographs at the local Wal-Mart, plans a similar outing at a popular mall, and has accepted virtually every invitation to speak. At the recent Sun Belt meetings in New Orleans, more than one athletic director mentioned to ASU's Dean Lee that Brady was decked out in ASU gear and that he genuinely appeared happy to be on board. Lee probably smiled. It was Brady who suggested that he could glad-hand at a home football game or two and maybe a basketball goal could be set up nearby for kids. Working off a list of previous season ticket holders who have fallen away, Brady has written them, called them, and lunched with them. "At times, I have to pinch myself," Lee said. One person has ordered 50 season tickets; another has ordered 20. One man called and ordered four for himself, four for each of his two sons and four for one of their buddies. Other than a Brady billboard about a mile from campus with "ELEVATE YOUR GAME" in huge red letters, ASU hasn't begun seriously marketing basketball. Still, season ticket sales are already about 40 percent of what they were last year. Those who see ASU as a brief stopover for the 53-year-old Brady on his way back to the big time should know about his attempt to reinforce his commitment. Negotiated in his contract was a redo of the basketball offices and the tab was $35,000-$40,000. Brady wrote a significant check to cover the revamp of his office. ------- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
