Tribute title reveals aha moment

Leave it to Bill Walton to guide us from a galaxy beyond.

The Hall of Fame basketball player, one-of-a-kind broadcaster and spiritual leader of peace and love taught the world that different is delicious. His approach to life reminds us to embrace … all of it.

A headline from one of the many tributes about Walton after his passing earlier this week spurred a kind of aha moment here.   

The Athletic headline, “Bill Walton only wanted more, and he always left you wanting more, too.” Christopher Kamrani’s column was personal yet familiar. If you met him at a basketball arena, a beach in SoCal, the pyramids in Egypt or a Grateful Dead concert, Walton left fans wanting a few more minutes. More insight. More joy.

The publicity part of this (you know, this newsletter’s purpose) is when you promote anything, you want fans to leave the page/project/performance wanting more. Some do it with meticulous publicity plans. Others do it with a special secret sauce that can’t be duplicated.

A reporter recently asked about Mr. Beast’s wild wannabe copycats. My answer was that no one can copy Mr. Beast any more than you can clone Walton. Your special sauce is what leaves people wanting more.

Bill left the planet with breadcrumbs of wisdom in his wake. Thanks to him, I, for one, won’t apologize for wanting more of the love, kindness, empathy and appreciation he promoted.

In the words of Walton and those who felt his every word, peace ‘n’ love. Shine on. ☀️☮️

“Once in a While You Get Shown the Light, in the Strangest of Places If You Look at It Right.” – Scarlet Begonias, Grateful Dead

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Bill Walton wasn’t the only one teaching in absentia. My piece about PGA Tour player Grayson Murray’s passing. “Acknowledge, Accept, Advance …”

© Gail Sideman, gpublicity 2024

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