Oller's Second Thoughts: 'Here you go, Mike.' Blue Jackets coach free to view my photos

Smartphones may be the most powerful electronic gadgets ever invented. They control us. Consume us. Educate us. Amuse us. And, apparently, help us better understand one another.

Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock wants to get to know his players, and their families, so he asked CBJ captain Boone Jenner if he could view cell phone pictures to better appreciate Jenner’s interests and “meet” his family.

At least that’s how Babcock and Jenner described it after hockey social media blew up following a report that Babcock was using players’ phones to check up on them.

Babcock’s motivational methods, if that’s what you want to call them, have been described as intoxicating, heavy on the toxic, but this “Can I see your phone?” bit actually shows he’s trying to connect in the right way, even if the request does come off a tad different. Usually, it’s the owner of the phone who offers to show family pics, not the boss who asks to see them. Or am I wrong here?

Anyway, I figure Babs also needs to know something about the media who cover him, so here’s a few descriptions of photos from my own phone to help him understand where I’m coming from:

∙ Three Spidermans (Spidermen?) pointing at each other, which any therapist would be able to unwrap as my propensity to, er, point at people when I’m talking to them.

∙ Interviewing Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, with his right hand on my left shoulder. Clearly, we either are talking about old football injuries (stupid rotator cuff) or he is warning me not to write about ND’s 1-3 record against Southern California when he played for the Fighting Irish from 1973-76.

∙ Standing on the Swilcan Bridge at the 18th hole of the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. I am dry, which is more than I can say for my golf ball anytime I step on a course.

∙ Portrait photo of Tom Hanks. Favorite actor and doppelganger (physical resemblance only; not similar bank account or acting chops).

∙ Chickadee perched on hand. Occasional birder.

∙ Cigar in mouth. In a boat. On water. Likely holding a glass of bourbon. #downtime

∙ Ohio State Lantern football team posing after crushing Michigan Daily college journalists, circa 1982. Call me, Ryan Day.

∙ Family, including dog and cat.

∙ Former Dispatch columnist Bob Hunter (left) and current beat writers Bill Rabinowitz (center) and Joey Kaufman (right) with me (on ground waving hat) marching in celebration to a watering hole after (barely) making deadline following another Ohio State night football game.

∙ A still shot from my high school football playing days.

∙ Saturdays at the office.

Mike, I hope this helps you understand me better. Feel free to send your phone pics to roller@dispatch.com. Can’t wait to get to know you better.

Avery Glenn: the Annie Oakley of high school golf

I don’t know exactly what it takes to be named Dispatch Athlete of the Week, but I know that Centerburg junior Avery Glenn deserves serious consideration. In her match against Northmor at Twin Lakes, Glenn shot 33 at the par-37 course, including carding an eagle on a par-5. The 33 was a school record for low nine holes. The next day, she shot 31 against Lexington on Centerburg’s home course, Wyandot. The 31 tied the boys school record, set by Jeff Butler in 1999.

Golf isn’t easy, but when someone makes it look so, well, applause, applause.

Nice job – not! – PGA Tour on 9/11

A quick scan of social media showed that every major sports organization posted about 9/11 on Monday, with one exception. Care to guess?

The PGA Tour. It may have been a simple oversight, but given the new business connection between the tour and Saudi PIF, well, it’s just bad optics. Never Forget … that 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens. Or maybe the tour wants you to forget? Regardless, the tour keeping quiet was disappointing.

Listening in

“Oh my god!” – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, as Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald closed in on him untouched during Sunday’s 30-13 Rams win.

Off-topic

Comedian and TV actor Bob Newhart turned 94 last week, and while his current photo is not something the ancient Greeks would have considered beautiful, it deserves to be admired in all its wrinkled splendor. I find it unfortunate that celebrities from way, way back in the day – and especially women, sadly – go into hiding as they age. Part of their hibernation is ego-driven; they want to be remembered as they were when they appeared on magazine covers (which explains cosmetic surgery, much of it poorly done). But society does not make it easy for them, either, taking something so natural as aging and turning it into something grotesque. A shame.

roller@dispatch.com

@rollerCD

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock free to check my phone photos