Journal Article #2

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From the Spring 1999 issue of Live Music "Renaissance Man" by Doug Dooher.

This article interested me for two reasons: 1. it was about music 2. it was about Robert Smith of the Minnesota Vikings

For those unfamiliar with Robert Smith he is a running back for the Vikings and is one of the best rushers currently playing in the NFL. He is also a lifelong scholar who "always had a love of learning and a need to know why things are the way they are." He expects to graduate as a history major this spring from Ohio State. After his football career he plans to go to medical school and become a research scientist.

It was this thirst for knowledge that eventually led Smith to classical music. One of the first CDs he owned was the soundtrack to "A Clockwork Orange" in which Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is a chief interest to the main character in the movie. This sparked Smith's interest so he bought the CD to hear the Ninth in its entirety. From there he listened to the most familiar of the classics and has since expanded his collection.

What I liked about the article besides his interest in classical music was that it also covered his other musical tastes. His tastes range from the jazz of Oscar Peterson, Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald to the rock of the "Artist" and the Black Crowes. It is refreshing to hear of a famous athlete who enjoys all types of music.

As a music teacher many people think I only listen to classical music. They think I do not enjoy rock (not true), jazz (not true) or polkas (true). I think that people, such as Robert Smith does, should listen to whatever type of music that they want to hear at that moment.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 1999


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