I never met Jesse Owens, but we were in the same hospital once.

Shortly before he died in 1980, he was undergoing cancer treatment at the University of Arizona medical center. I covered a news conference at that hospital as a reporter for the morning paper in Tucson.

It's not much of a link, I admit. But ever since, seeing or hearing the track legend's name always catches my attention. And so it was last night when I noticed that the “American Experience” on PBS was about Owens.

Maybe you have wondered the same thing upon seeing footage of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and hearing once again the story of how Hitler refused to shake the gold medal-winning black man's hand.

How do modern American racists feel when they see that? Is that who they want to philosophically link arms with — the Nazis? Doesn't that link shame them?

Fortunately, no matter how many times you watch, Jesse Owens always wins.

And the clock was already ticking on the Nazis.   

You know, the PBS “American Experience” on Grand Coulee Dam.

I recorded it Tuesday and watched it last night. I had a couple of quibbles, but thought it was pretty good.

Would be interested in knowing what others thought.

Rick Clapp shared this.

“With the end of Season 2 of the popular 'Downton Abbey' series on PBS this weekend, a co-worker of mine (at WSU Riverpoint) was heard to say that she was 'Not addicted, Don't care, Could stop watching it anytime.'

“A few minutes later she was seen asking some of the nursing faculty if anyone could provide a prescription for 'Downtonadone' until Season 3 next January.

“She wasn't able to get one, but was offered access to Season 1 on CDs, to help her withdraw more gradually. Nurses are kind like that.”

www.pauseliveaction.wordpress.com

A reader named Alice called to say she is sure the coming flu epidemic is going to claim a victim and alter the storyline in the PBS series. 

Or a mob movie…

Who would have gotten shot by now?

www.gq.com

www.devnowglass.com

Surely at least a few of those watching the latest Ken Burns series on PBS, “Prohibition,” sat there looking at glass after glass being filled with tumbling golden or amber liquid and found that they had no choice but to get up and pour themselves a beer.  

About 20 years ago, I watched two multi-episode documentaries on public television that I continue to appreciate to this day.

One was about the building of a skyscraper in New York City, One Worldwide Plaza. It introduced viewers to an architect named David Childs. In the years that followed, I would come across his name and think “Hey, I know that guy.”

Childs is the designer behind the tower going up at the 9/11 site. When I read his quotes or see him interviewed, I feel like I have some context in assessing the man.

The other series was about the development of the Boeing 777. Alan Mulally, then an executive with the airplane manufacturer, was prominent.

For several years now, he has been the CEO of Ford. And as the American auto industry has gone through its recent turmoil, he has been in the news right and left.

Again, because of the 777 series, he is not a stranger to me.

Thanks, PBS.