What Do Kanye West, Scott Walker, and John Calipari Have In Common?
It is super cold outside, so I was thinking about a few things in the news this week. Kanye had one of the best media weeks ever. Scott Walker was called a "moron". And Coach Cal's undefeated Kentucky team - stayed undefeated.
Here is what they have in common:
1. They are bullies! Kayne was rude and disrespectful to Beck at the Grammy's and proceeded to blow up the internet. Walker announced a $300,000,000 cut to the University of Wisconsin Education system, another in a number of steps over the past few years to dismantle progressive elements in the State of Wisconsin. Coach Cal said, he wants his players to "bully" their way to the basket.
2. They love college dropouts! Kanye dropped out of Chicago State University and proceeded to write "The College Dropout" which fueled his narcissistic run to the top. Scott Walker dropped out of Marquette University and subsequently has made more cuts to education than any Governor in history. Coach Cal recruits the best players in the country most of them drop out of school in one or two years to turn pro.
To be fair, each of them has stated how important education is. Each of them has proposals to fix it. Kanye says we should teach rap lyrics instead of poetry and have kids spend more time with google. "because that is real life." Scott Walker has proposed our professors teach another class to two - to absorb the cuts. Calipari has said, "oh, my players will get their education, I'd rather see them be millionaires".
3. They are polarizing! They are fierce competitors. They are brash. They are winners. Let me repeat that. They are WINNERS. Kanye has dozens Grammy's and hundreds of millions in record and product sales. Walker has won three Governors races in two years. He might be our next President. Calipari has 5 Final Fours and one National Championship and is the highest paid coach in the game. He will probably win his second title this year.
As important, they are as focused on marketing their own personal brands as they are on their work.
Do not underestimate them. They are brilliant. You have to be "perfect" to beat them.
My plan for this week. Buy the new Beck record and crank it up in The Blast Factory. Rally for the UW education system. And cheer for the Badger's to whip Kentucky in the National Championship game!
Boom!
Stick Vega is the American Gunpowder Artist. He creates explosive pop art and blogs from The Blast Factory in Madison, WI and Bucktown, Chicago, IL. Follow Stick on Facebook and/or Twitter.