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 ON A ROLL 
Produced by Joanne Caputo, in association with the Independent Television Service, with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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 Tuesday, March 01, 2005 The pace of my business reminds me of my days in the late 80's early 90's at KTAR 620 NewsTalk Radio. Today, I had a conference call with a couple television producers and an editor in Los Angeles. Tomorrow, I'll be talking to a producer in New York about a second, completely different concept. Oprah is being contacted from several different allies in the television industry. My book will be out in May.My buddy Murv, the tv reporter who morphed into a comedian, says we always gotta be "Keepin' it REAL!" So that's what I've decided to do with every aspect of my work from here on up! Keepin it Real fact #1. I need help. I need a modern day swanky office surrounding me, giving me the resources to do my important work. My work is outgrowing the current setup in this office/bedroom/radio studio/kids playroom all in one. I need production people. I need sales people. I need an office manager to run the business. I need a Gail, our business manager from KTAR! I need a Ruthie (our office manager) a Kirk or a Paddy (our sales managers) a Stan (production) and a Dean (engineering). I don't even have a hybrid in this studio to record interviews! I have the equipment but couldn't get an engineer to hook it up right). Keepin it Real fact #2. If I had resources and structure, I could create a multimedia empire that would strengthen the world by bringing disability into the mainstream of pop culture. I would also do it by furthering racial harmony, from my unique perspective of having been born black and raised kinda "whitey." I can see deeper into both experiences. And I can see how both experiences meld with the disability experience. As I twist it all around in my head, I'm convinced that we can STRENGHEN AMERICA by respecting our teammates whose appearances or ways of life are nothing like our own. Keepin' it Real fact #3. My plan is to become a star, and create stars with disabilities. My plan is to create a niche for "keepin' it real" style motion pictures, television shows, reality shows, radio shows, news coverage, music talent that include the disability voice. My plan is to cure the greatest disability of all... people's unbelievable ignornance about disability. I say ignorance without meaning to insult. People have never been exposed to it until now. The media doesn't show you that one in five Americans has a disability. The media had never shown somebody getting on an airplane using the "Hanibal Lechter chair." They'd never shown somebody trying to get a wheelchair cab in DC! They'd never shown a gimp trying to turn of a lamp! Keepin it Real fact #4. LOL. People wanna see that stuff! The response to the documentary has been amazing! Joanne Caputo told me today that WGBH told her to expect to sell no more than "a handful" of DVDs from the toll-free number displayed at the end of the broadcast. 5 or 6 tops. They've sold 75! I need to follow up and find out how well that ranks. Is it a record. We need a Greg Smith (Research Director) to find that out! Keepin' it Real fact #5. I have a vision. I see what I want and I want what I see. I see a daily syndicated "Strength Coach" television show and a major motion picture about the On A Roll/ Strength Coach story. I see both as blockbuster successes, leading to an American disability lovefest, and an opportunity to finally be heard. If we keep it real, we have nothing to fear. Martin Luther King had a dream. I have a vision. In my vision, pity will be kaput! Homes will be visitable. Nursing homes will be replaced. Jobs will be plenty. The media can make it real. If the truth gets out, people will finally understand! We'll live in a world where I can go to a Cubs game with my boys, and we'll have a chance at getting on WGN! I've NEVER seen a shot of fans waving from the wheelchair section in a lifetime of watching baseball!!! Betcha never thought about that. Who'll be first? Today, an aquaintance who occasionally prepares my caramel lates smiled widely at me as she told me that had never even thought about a person with a disability having sex until she saw Joanne's movie. "It'd never crossed my mind!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm and excitement, having been offered some knowledge and insight. She was giddy to be less ignorant! It was cool. Keepin it Real fact #6. You can help make the vision a reality. Please spread the word about our site. Let's send site traffic through the roof. Please buy the DVD of Joanne's movie. If we sell it in record numbers, that's a huge message for television syndicators, networks and advertisers. Please buy the CD now! Go to http://www.thestrengthcoach.com/catalog.html It's late, but these evenings, my mind is racing and I can't sleep. Pray for me. Greg
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 Born with muscular dystrophy, raised by a football coach, Greg's inner strength message is woven into all of his programs: "In any situation, great opportunity exists for victory." 
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