Columns http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1058&ft=1&f=1058 NPR columnists discuss news, politics, sports, and culture. Download podcasts and RSS feeds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 25 May 2013 05:55:36 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Columns http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1058&ft=1&f=1058 Words Of Wisdom For The Graduating Class Of Moore, Okla. High school seniors in Moore, Okla., will hold commencement ceremonies Saturday, despite the death and destruction wreaked by this week's tornado. Scott Simon asks two Oklahoma writers to offer advice to the graduating classes. Sat, 25 May 2013 05:55:36 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186451982/words-of-wisdom-for-the-graduating-class-of-moore-okla?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186451982/words-of-wisdom-for-the-graduating-class-of-moore-okla?ft=1&f=1058 High school seniors in Moore, Okla., will hold commencement ceremonies Saturday, despite the death and destruction wreaked by this week's tornado. Scott Simon asks two Oklahoma writers to offer advice to the graduating classes.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Most Excellent Adventure Hadfield just spent 146 days up at the International Space Station, during which time he performed rock concerts and shared his dazzling photographs with nearly a million Twitter followers. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184821421/astronaut-chris-hadfields-most-excellent-adventure?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184821421/astronaut-chris-hadfields-most-excellent-adventure?ft=1&f=1058 Hadfield just spent 146 days up at the International Space Station, during which time he performed rock concerts and shared his dazzling photographs with nearly a million Twitter followers.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> No. 1s: The Latest Greatest Of All Time The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting. Wed, 15 May 2013 03:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=1058 The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Mom's X-Ray Vision Also Sees The Best In Us Mothers know us better — sometimes better than we know ourselves. As any child will tell you, they really do have eyes in the back of their heads. When times are tough, they also have our back. Sat, 11 May 2013 08:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183097034/the-x-ray-vision-of-mothers?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183097034/the-x-ray-vision-of-mothers?ft=1&f=1058 Mothers know us better — sometimes better than we know ourselves. As any child will tell you, they really do have eyes in the back of their heads. When times are tough, they also have our back.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Ladies, Want Women's Sports To Get More Attention? Pony Up Some critics say that women's sports aren't treated the same as men's sports when it comes to coverage, marketing and advertising. Frank Deford has some thoughts about why that is, and how it can change. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/181926587/ladies-want-womens-sports-to-get-more-attention-pony-up?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/181926587/ladies-want-womens-sports-to-get-more-attention-pony-up?ft=1&f=1058 Some critics say that women's sports aren't treated the same as men's sports when it comes to coverage, marketing and advertising. Frank Deford has some thoughts about why that is, and how it can change.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> The Ever-Changing Pace Of Obsolescence This week, an Apple fan blog leaked word that the company will declare its first-generation iPhone "obsolete," just six years after it was introduced. Host Scott Simon contrasts that with the world's longest known ongoing experiment in a bell jar in an Australian lab. Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053771/the-ever-changing-pace-of-obsolescence?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053771/the-ever-changing-pace-of-obsolescence?ft=1&f=1058 This week, an Apple fan blog leaked word that the company will declare its first-generation iPhone "obsolete," just six years after it was introduced. Host Scott Simon contrasts that with the world's longest known ongoing experiment in a bell jar in an Australian lab.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Get Off My Lawn! And Other Grumblings About Sports Today Frank Deford's friend "the Sports Curmudgeon" reflects on some of the things that bother him about the sports world. Wed, 01 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180064496/get-off-my-lawn-and-other-grumblings-about-sports-today?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180064496/get-off-my-lawn-and-other-grumblings-about-sports-today?ft=1&f=1058 Frank Deford's friend "the Sports Curmudgeon" reflects on some of the things that bother him about the sports world.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> The Pitch For More No. 42s There's more buzz than usual this year around baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who made his major league debut on April 15, 1947. But commentator Frank Deford says there isn't enough buzz in college athletics to help shape the Robinsons of the future. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177470407/the-pitch-for-more-no-42s?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177470407/the-pitch-for-more-no-42s?ft=1&f=1058 There's more buzz than usual this year around baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who made his major league debut on April 15, 1947. But commentator Frank Deford says there isn't enough buzz in college athletics to help shape the Robinsons of the future.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> At The Spelling Bee, Spelling Is No Longer Enough Starting this year, competitors in the National Spelling Bee will not only have to know how to spell a word, but they'll also have to know what it means. Sat, 13 Apr 2013 05:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/13/177027388/at-the-spelling-bee-spelling-is-no-longer-enough?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/13/177027388/at-the-spelling-bee-spelling-is-no-longer-enough?ft=1&f=1058 Starting this year, competitors in the National Spelling Bee will not only have to know how to spell a word, but they'll also have to know what it means.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Tiger At The Masters: The Juncture Of Exhilaration And Peril When Tiger Woods tees off at Augusta National Golf Club this week, he will have overcome injuries and personal scandal. But commentator Frank Deford wonders whether a Masters win for Woods would be a comeback or his way of getting back at his detractors. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176670571/tiger-at-the-masters-the-juncture-of-exhilaration-and-peril?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176670571/tiger-at-the-masters-the-juncture-of-exhilaration-and-peril?ft=1&f=1058 When Tiger Woods tees off at Augusta National Golf Club this week, he will have overcome injuries and personal scandal. But commentator Frank Deford wonders whether a Masters win for Woods would be a comeback or his way of getting back at his detractors.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Roger Ebert: Elegance And Empathy Roger Ebert wrote simply, abundantly, gorgeously — and on deadline for 46 years at the <em>Chicago Sun-Times</em>. Over the years, his work reminded us that empathy is the grace note of a good life, not just great art. Sat, 06 Apr 2013 05:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/176387186/roger-ebert-elegance-and-empathy?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/176387186/roger-ebert-elegance-and-empathy?ft=1&f=1058 Roger Ebert wrote simply, abundantly, gorgeously — and on deadline for 46 years at the Chicago Sun-Times. Over the years, his work reminded us that empathy is the grace note of a good life, not just great art.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Baseball Isn't Dead; It Just Takes More Work To Appreciate For years, non-baseball experts have been ringing the death knell for this game. But sports commentator Frank Deford says popular team games are so deeply ingrained in our culture that they're here to stay. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176047802/baseball-isnt-dead-it-just-takes-more-work-to-appreciate?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176047802/baseball-isnt-dead-it-just-takes-more-work-to-appreciate?ft=1&f=1058 For years, non-baseball experts have been ringing the death knell for this game. But sports commentator Frank Deford says popular team games are so deeply ingrained in our culture that they're here to stay.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Humble Gestures Are New Pope's Symbol Of Service Pope Francis surprised many this week by washing the feet of young inmates in prison instead of priests in a grand basilica. The ceremony emulates the way Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples. On this Easter weekend, we consider the meaning behind Pope Francis' break with tradition. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:46:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175727723/humble-gestures-define-new-pope?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175727723/humble-gestures-define-new-pope?ft=1&f=1058 Pope Francis surprised many this week by washing the feet of young inmates in prison instead of priests in a grand basilica. The ceremony emulates the way Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples. On this Easter weekend, we consider the meaning behind Pope Francis' break with tradition.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> It's Been An Ugly Year For College Basketball Frank Deford isn't impressed with the style of play — or the style of uniforms — in this year's March Madness. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175363063/its-been-an-ugly-year-for-college-basketball?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175363063/its-been-an-ugly-year-for-college-basketball?ft=1&f=1058 Frank Deford isn't impressed with the style of play — or the style of uniforms — in this year's March Madness.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Resurrected Frog Gives Us Cause To Brood This week scientists announced they have reproduced the genome of an extinct amphibian, the gastric brooding frog. But animals are more than just their genomes, so NPR's Scott Simon wonders if it's necessary — or kind — to bring them back. Sat, 23 Mar 2013 07:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/23/175118960/back-from-extinction-brooding-frog-or-thank-you-note?ft=1&f=1058 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/23/175118960/back-from-extinction-brooding-frog-or-thank-you-note?ft=1&f=1058 This week scientists announced they have reproduced the genome of an extinct amphibian, the gastric brooding frog. But animals are more than just their genomes, so NPR's Scott Simon wonders if it's necessary — or kind — to bring them back.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>