James Taylor is NOT Related to Taylor Swift, and Randy Travis is NOT Related to Travis Kelce - Oh, and We Love Tom Brady
When I was in elementary school, I remember how influential Michael Jackson was. Byron showed up to school wearing a red “Beat It” jacket. With its quintessential zippers and detachable sleeves, kids in our class flocked around him to get a closer look. Glitter gloves and glitter socks were everywhere. Then, when Michael found Brooke Shields hitched to his arm, things went crazy. Blue Lagoon meets the moonwalk. The cameras couldn’t get enough. It was a mania of sorts that Pepsi capitalized on, just like Nike went all on Tiger Woods shortly after his anointing.
Would You Wear This Today?
I think our parents were down with Michael Jackson Mania because they were all in on Beatlemania. And there have been plenty of manias over the years, not all connected to singers. The media – seemingly in control of these things- helped everyone know Harry Potter, Pokémon, and probably even the Cabbage Patch Kids. Bieber was a mini mania, along with Twilight, the Sopranos, and Game of Thrones. And Pac-Man. Jesus. It came out in 1980, and people are still trying to conquer it today. I remember kids standing in line to play it at Peg’s sub joint on Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls. Standing in line – a quarter in hand. One game per person, then they had to get back in line…if they had more quarters.
More manias…Brad and Angelina made sense to me – a great-looking couple. They were kind of a redo of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The actor meets the actress, gets the cover of People Magazine, and then we get to pregnancy pics in Vanity Fair. These things have a formula for them, no? Let us not forget Tiger and Elin, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian and Kanye, or one of the princes and Kate Middleton. Oh, and Tom and Giselle. I remain more interested in Tom and Giselle’s divorce than I actually am interested in my own. I mean, it’s fascinating. Supermodel and super athlete are splitting up because Tommy Terrific wants to play one more year. I didn’t buy it.
More Famous than John and Yoko for Sure
And all this brings me to the most intergalactic pair ever assembled. Tay-Tay and Travis. Up until this point, I wasn’t really a fan of either of them. I didn’t have anything against them either, but Travis, for starters, doesn’t play for the Buffalo Bills. And Tay-Tay, despite her staggering beauty and talent, isn’t necessarily of my era. She was born when I was in 10th grade. So, the only thing our generations have in common is that she was learning to walk while we were trying to moonwalk. She had her first bottles of milk when we had our first bottles of beer. Now, I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about them – but I really don’t understand why.
This Superbowl is likely to be the most watched ever. When Travis makes a catch, I can’t wait until they put the camera on Taylor. It was the same when Tom would get a touchdown, and Giselle would dance. It’s happy. They are happy. And when people see that stuff, they smile. Taylor on the field after the game – if they allow it, more people will tune in to the postgame than ever. If people still read the newspaper, Travis and Taylor will be on the front page above the fold in USA Today, on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and throw Rolling Stone in there, too.
Only Go to the Reception Gronk - Skip the Ceremony
Their marriage is going to be even better. It’ll be the Grammys meets the ESPYS. On the left side of the church, you have Tay’s peeps – we are checking out the outfits. And on the right side of the church, you have Travis’ peeps – and we will be looking to see who is smuggling in the beers (Gronk). Some of them will be wearing their Hall of Fame jackets, and the wedding will be broadcast by Bob Costas and Chris Berman. We aren’t talking about the church organ for music here either. I am thinking Ed Sheeran gets this gig.
After all of this Travis is done with football. Unlike Gronk, he does head to Hollywood. Even if he can’t act, they’ll figure it out. Kind of like they did for Arnold when he first started. It all worked out – well not for him and Maria. But it all worked out. Hopefully, Travis can keep it together. There have been too many falls from grace, and he’s one that I’d be worried about. I don’t think he’d go in the direction of Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson, Aaron Hernandez, Bill Cosby, Lance Armstrong, or Kevin Spacey. But there are others like Tiger, who he could learn from. And I hope he does – because these two are going to be entertaining – probably starting as soon as this NFL season ends.
Now, how on earth am I going to tie all of this to public education? I’ve been thinking about that all day. Bear with me. I will do my best…
Grammys Meets ESPYS - Only on Pay per View
The cultural manias we witness, from MJ to my new fascination with celebrity relationships and achievements, highlight a universal human interest in storytelling and role models. This interest, when channeled appropriately, can impact our schools, at least a little. For instance, integrating stories of perseverance, creativity, and critical thinking found within these manias into the curriculum can inspire students. Lessons can be crafted around the narratives of artists, athletes, and influencers to teach history, ethics, media literacy, and the arts. By doing so, we can connect with kids on a level that is both engaging and relatable, using familiar examples to illustrate broader themes and lessons.
Furthermore, the rise and fall of celebrities like Tiger or the success of figures like Beyoncé and Jay-Z offer valuable lessons on personal development, resilience, and the consequences of actions, both positive and negative. I still watch Tiger golf, by the way. High-quality public education systems can incorporate these stories into social studies, health, and even entrepreneurship classes to teach students about the complexities of fame, the importance of making informed decisions, and the impact of those decisions on one's career and personal life. Discussion around these topics can foster critical thinking, empathy, and a nuanced understanding of the world, preparing students for the realities beyond the classroom.
Seriously…the interest in celebrity culture and manias underscores the importance of digital literacy in our kids’ worlds today. Teaching students to navigate the vast amounts of information available online, discern credible sources, and engage critically with media allows them to understand better the world around them, including the phenomena of celebrity manias. High-quality public education that prioritizes digital life equips students with the skills needed for the 21st century and also teaches them to approach the culture of celebrities with a critical mind. Through this lens, Travis and Tay-Tay’s stories and others can transform mere entertainment into powerful educational tools that encourage inquiry, analysis, and reflection.
I really just wanted to write about Travis and Tay. The last part of this one was tough. And I hope I pulled it off.