Motivation — the subject of two of the more underrated singles of last year.
Kelly Rowland, embraced tighter in international dance circles than even Destiny’s Child sister-turned-superstar Beyoncé, addresses it explicitly — commanding Weezy to get as freaky as can be in the bedroom — in, yes, “Motivation.”
Hardened soul howler Charles Bradley, meanwhile, recounts more of a struggling-on-the-streets version in “No Time For Dreaming.” “While you’re sleeping, somebody’s scheming. … Gotta get on up … and do my thing.”
Also always crucial in the world of sports, motivation has come to the fore in many forms of late.
Temple basketball Coach Fran Dunphy rode it — through a trip on the subway to reinforce the school’s working-class roots — to an Owls upset of those blue bloods at Duke.
It’s also been much discussed on the gridiron, where the incentive to win seemingly has taken a back seat to glorifying a god (Tim Tebow) and playing for personal gain (J-E-T-S).
On the recruiting front, the allure of what Rowland so libidinously touted reportedly played a major role in top prep football prospect Landon Collins choosing Alabama over home-state LSU, much to the chagrin of his less-than-supportive mother — “LSU Tigers, no. 1. Geaux, Tigers.”
And yesterday it was exemplified by Missouri basketball player Mike Dixon, who through Twitter encouraged Tiger fans to give a few sophomoric Kansas State pranksters their comeuppance. many obliged via returned constant badgering and perhaps dozens of delivered pizzas, no doubt fueling the frat boys for another counterattack tomorrow, when Dixon and crew take their unbeaten record into Bramlage Coliseum.
“Whatever works,” the lyrics go, whether it’s sausage and green pepper or an imaginary being in the sky.
Fifty of one, half-hundred the other.
Reach Pete Bland at 573-815-1782 or e-mail pbland@columbiatribune.com.
Copyright 2012 Columbia Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 
TAKE TWO: Finding motivation in the darnedest places
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