How many licks does it take to get to the center of a the tootsie pop?

What is the central idea in this advice from branch rickey to jackie robinson?  

According to the study what did john steinbeck do to prepare for his book the grapes of wrath

Imagine that your favorite sports team has been nominated for an award. you’ve been selected to write a brief paragraph about why your team deserves to win the award. write two short paragraphs explaining why. in one paragraph, write a note to the commissioner of the league whose vote counts for 50% of the award recipient. in the second paragraph, write to voters participating in the online poll that will determine the remaining 50% of the vote. your topic is the same for each paragraph. adjust your writing to accommodate two different audiences.