It's just about here folks--the 2009 college football season! 6-days and counting to the first weekend of the season--and you may or may not need me to whet your whistle, but I will anyhow.
And what better way than with tailgaiting, more food and game atmosphere! And right now, I'm going to give you my best and worst over the last 21-years. Now, to review, I've been to my share of venues not all over the Big 12 (I've been to every conference stadium minus Iowa State), and the several around the nation--and not just NCAA Division. This is MY experience only. There may or may not be venues that are better and/or worse than the ones I'll be showing you. You may or may not agree, but I really don't care because, after all, this is my perspective. You can give yours in the comment section.
BEST TAILGATING COLLEGE: Michigan State, 1995. Spartans hosting top-ranked Nebraska in East Lansing, and the Spartans fans got started on Friday night, and by Saturday morning when I arrived at the stadium, they surrounded Spartan stadium by about what seemed like a quarter mile. And I mean ENTIRELY around the stadium! As I trudged my way into the stadium with both arms full of camera gear, I was greeted by several fans--a few of whom offered me both brats and beer (which I gladly partook). By the time I got to the pass gate, I was tipsy after about 5-beers, and put on about a half-inch of fat on my waist from those aforementioned brats. And on top of that, after the game--where the Huskers shellacked MSU 55-14, I was again offered about 5-beers and 5-brats, but this time, I only took the brats--I did have to drive to the airport, after all.
**SIDE NOTE HERE**--For those of you who remember the 1995 season, this was the game where NU's Lawrence Phillips rushed for just over 200-yards, but then after arriving back in Lincoln, dragged his girlfriend down her apartment complex's stairs and got arrested. I found on while on my flight back to Lincoln.
WORST TAILGATING: None. Some places don't do it up as big, but I've never had a bad experience around fans out enjoying food and beverages before supporting their teams. Now, some think they do it better than everybody else, but I guess that just goes with the territory.
LOUDEST VENUE: A 3-Way Tie: Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. And, if I had my drouthers, I'd say K-State. They may only pack in 55-thousand into KSU Stadium, but the field is low enough to where the sound all goes down there, and when I was there for the KSU-Nebraska showdown in 1995, it was absolutely deafening. However, for an overall loud, I have to go with OU because you have 82-thousand plus with a low stadium floor. But A&M gets props for it's closed-in end as the loudest half of a stadium in college ball--it should be sponsored by Miracle Ear or something.
LEAST LOUDEST VENUE: Texas, because DKR-Memorial Stadium is at ground level and some of the sound escapes. But, to be fair, I haven't been there since 2007, and they've added some seats.
MOST RESPECTFUL CROWD: Nebraska. And, this is hardly news. "The Sea of Red" is intimidating to visiting teams, I hardly ever heard a "boo"--and that was for either team playing--and even on occasions when NU lost at home, they'd give the winning visitors a hand as they ran into their locker room (just ask Mack Brown and the 'Horns).
LEAST RESPECTFUL CROWD: Oklahoma. And, yes, Sooner fan, I'm going to pick on you, and before you go getting all defensive and acting like a slug in salt-water, I'll give you an example that's just the opposite of NU: 1999 season opener versus Indiana State, a I-AA team (the sub-division right below NCAA Division I), who basically got paid $500,000 by OU to be a scrimmage--to basically get their heads handed to them. And what does Sooner fan do when the Sycmaores take to Owen Field? ISU got booed. Unmercifully. Almost as loud as when UT storms out of the Cotton Bowl tunnel for the Red River Rivalry. Classless. Oh, and that little thing you do at the end of The National Anthem? You know, ".. and the home of the 'sooners'." The National Anthem? Really? Come on!
WORST MEDIA SPREAD: Now before you think I'm just have a man-crush on all things Nebraska, NU won this one back during the 1996 season on a couple of occasions, when one of the area restaurants (that shall remain un-named--to protect the guilty) basicall mixed up some vegatables and meat--probably left over from the night before--and then put it in mass-mixer with this white cream sauce. Some of us unaffectionately called this concoction, "Cream of Brunch".
BEST MEDIA SPREAD: This is a tough one, because there have been so many. But Ohio State has to take it after the time Buckeyes brass served up prime rib as part of its buffet. However, personally? You couldn't go wrong when the Beef Council catered at OSU, Kansas and K-State, and when Uncle Dan's got the call at Baylor.
BEST MOMENTS FROZEN IN TIME: 1996 Fiesta Bowl, where Nebraska pounded Florida 62-24 to win it's 2nd-straight national title--and in the post-game press conference. The frozen moment? Gators coach Steve Spurrier being the most humble I think anybody had ever seen him. He and his Gators got clocked thoroughly and he knew it, and his 2-minute admission in his opening comments was something I knew I'd probably never, ever see again.
(And, wouldn't you know it? The Gators claimed the national championship the very next year).
MOST MEMORABLE VENUE: Again, so many-- I could go on and on. But on a particular day, one you probably never heard of takes the cake: NCAA Division II Pittsburg State's Brandenburg Field, vs. North Dakota State, 1994 post-season, where they played this one in a torrential rainstorm all day long--and on natural grass, or should I say, natural mud. They still call this one "The Mud Bowl". And, on top of all the sheets of rain that fell the entire game and the sieves of mud it caused, the game went to TRIPLE OVERTIME!!, where visiting ND State won 18-12. But the most tell-tale thing of that day was this. The only way you could tell who was on which team was the color of the helmets--Pitt State's red to NDSU's green. Everthing else was muddy brown. Incredible!
Ah, the memories. And, just think: we only have 6-more days to create some new ones!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Yes, less than 24-hours until--THE KICKOFF!
At least for those of us here in Central Texas--the kickoff of the 2009 high school football season, and this one will be THE MOST unique in my 21-year broadcasting career. Yes, I will have traded in my video camera, computer video system, my Mac Studio Fix make-up (yes, we guys on TV do wear make-up)--traded all of that for a polo and shorts, along with a headset and mike to do radio play-by-play! **Shameless plug here: those of you in Central Texas can listen to the China Spring Cougars at Fairfield broadcast on "Star 92.9 FM--pre-game kicks off at 7:15pm Friday night!***
But back to the uniqueness of 2009. This will be the first time I will have spent Friday night at ONE GAME to start a season. In the small to medium-sized TV markets, a lot of us will go out and shoot parts of up to 4-games on game night. We do it so that we can have as many games on our sportscasts--as well as those of us who have/had 30-minute high school football special programs later the same night. It's exhausting work. But I won't have to worry about that kind of exhaustion this year, and I don't feel like I'm trading it for another kind--not at all. I will say that I have been doing preparations for my play-by-play debut for about a month now. No, I take that back: I've really been preparing for this since I was 8-years old. Back then, I would turn the TV down (back when you only had 3-channels and maybe a PBS) on a Saturday, pick up a pencil, turn it upside down, and pretend the eraser was the head of a microphone. And, I'd do my own play-by-play. My mom & dad will confirm this--because they got a huge kick out of it. So, fast forward 37-years, and what do I do? While driving, I turn the radio off and practice. When I'm home, I put in a cassette of a colleague's play-by-play and listen, and then go into the other room and practice. And then practice some more. Call it a 37-year old love affair with sports broadcasting.
I remember the first football game I ever watched beginning to end was the 1971 Nebraska at Oklahoma "Game of the Century" in Norman, where the top-ranked Huskers, led by Jerry Tagge and Jeff Kinney on offense and Rich Glover on defense, edged the #2 Sooners--where QB Jack Mildren and RB Greg Pruitt led the nation's most prolific offense--by a score of 35-31. I was mesmerized the entire game. But that was TV. I really can't remember the first time I ever heard a game on the radio--probably because I'd surf the old dial much like one would surf the internet nowadays. I would get bits and pieces of games: both football games and baseball games during the fall. Both mediums certainly have their charm.
But I think the reason I'm most looking forward to the radio gig is that I get to draw the picture for the listener--and that's like having a one-on-one conversation with a few thousand folks at once. There's no video and/or pictures to fall back on. It's up to me to be paying enough attention to a number of details and explain them--all while providing the essence of what's going on out there in front of me on the field. And, I have to admit--that's kind of scary. But at the same time, it's exciting. You know the feeling, don't you?
Anyhow, the season kicks off in these parts (Waco, TX) on August 27th, when Waco High and Belton collide in game-1 of the HEB Heart of Texas Kickoff Classic at Waco ISD Stadium. I can't wait to see it. But as I will be sitting there watching that game from the press box, I might just have to pull out that pencil and turn it upside down for a little more practice for my Friday night debut!
At least for those of us here in Central Texas--the kickoff of the 2009 high school football season, and this one will be THE MOST unique in my 21-year broadcasting career. Yes, I will have traded in my video camera, computer video system, my Mac Studio Fix make-up (yes, we guys on TV do wear make-up)--traded all of that for a polo and shorts, along with a headset and mike to do radio play-by-play! **Shameless plug here: those of you in Central Texas can listen to the China Spring Cougars at Fairfield broadcast on "Star 92.9 FM--pre-game kicks off at 7:15pm Friday night!***
But back to the uniqueness of 2009. This will be the first time I will have spent Friday night at ONE GAME to start a season. In the small to medium-sized TV markets, a lot of us will go out and shoot parts of up to 4-games on game night. We do it so that we can have as many games on our sportscasts--as well as those of us who have/had 30-minute high school football special programs later the same night. It's exhausting work. But I won't have to worry about that kind of exhaustion this year, and I don't feel like I'm trading it for another kind--not at all. I will say that I have been doing preparations for my play-by-play debut for about a month now. No, I take that back: I've really been preparing for this since I was 8-years old. Back then, I would turn the TV down (back when you only had 3-channels and maybe a PBS) on a Saturday, pick up a pencil, turn it upside down, and pretend the eraser was the head of a microphone. And, I'd do my own play-by-play. My mom & dad will confirm this--because they got a huge kick out of it. So, fast forward 37-years, and what do I do? While driving, I turn the radio off and practice. When I'm home, I put in a cassette of a colleague's play-by-play and listen, and then go into the other room and practice. And then practice some more. Call it a 37-year old love affair with sports broadcasting.
I remember the first football game I ever watched beginning to end was the 1971 Nebraska at Oklahoma "Game of the Century" in Norman, where the top-ranked Huskers, led by Jerry Tagge and Jeff Kinney on offense and Rich Glover on defense, edged the #2 Sooners--where QB Jack Mildren and RB Greg Pruitt led the nation's most prolific offense--by a score of 35-31. I was mesmerized the entire game. But that was TV. I really can't remember the first time I ever heard a game on the radio--probably because I'd surf the old dial much like one would surf the internet nowadays. I would get bits and pieces of games: both football games and baseball games during the fall. Both mediums certainly have their charm.
But I think the reason I'm most looking forward to the radio gig is that I get to draw the picture for the listener--and that's like having a one-on-one conversation with a few thousand folks at once. There's no video and/or pictures to fall back on. It's up to me to be paying enough attention to a number of details and explain them--all while providing the essence of what's going on out there in front of me on the field. And, I have to admit--that's kind of scary. But at the same time, it's exciting. You know the feeling, don't you?
Anyhow, the season kicks off in these parts (Waco, TX) on August 27th, when Waco High and Belton collide in game-1 of the HEB Heart of Texas Kickoff Classic at Waco ISD Stadium. I can't wait to see it. But as I will be sitting there watching that game from the press box, I might just have to pull out that pencil and turn it upside down for a little more practice for my Friday night debut!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
"Splitsville"
There's a "split" in dsg-land, folks, and politics and social issues are going their own way!
That's right. Sports talks heads to the right, politics and social issues to the left. In other words, this blog will pretty much be now sports and sports-related issues. And, my new blog, "VE Mod" will tackle politics and social issues--to encourage civil & intelligent debate on those hot-button issues that are WAAAY more important that sports in the grand scheme of things. Both really don't belong in one blog, so that's why we have splitsville.
I'll continue to post jokes on both, and some food for thought on both, but you can count on sports talk here at "dsgvince", and politics and social issues at the following address: http://vinceemod.blogspot.com
So, with that out of the way, sports fans, let's get a little more fired up about the upcoming college football season, shall we??!! The first AP poll came out Saturday (August 22nd), and to nobody's surprise, Florida's number-1. I have yet to really chime in on my picks for the upcoming season, so guess what? Here they are.
>My Top 5: 1) Florida 2) Oklahoma 3) Texas 4) USC 5) Alabama.
>My top 1st-game match-up: Georgia at Oklahoma State. How often do you see UGA leave its own part of the country for any non-conference game? Very rarely. They did trek to Arizona State last season and did win, but only beat a very average Sun Devils team. This OK State monster is a lot different--in what could be the nation's most prolific offense with the 3-headed monster of WR Dez Bryant, QB Zach Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter. The Cowboys must win at home, and the Bulldogs must win--or folks will think they really can't play west of the Mississippi River against any real competition. Very intriguing season opener.
>"The Red River Rivalry" winner? Oklahoma. Those that know me know I have no love for either of these stories programs--so no "homer" talk here, folks. I think both of these teams are very evenly matched, but my decision comes down to this: Oklahoma's defense is a notch better--with 9-returning starters (8 of those up front) to Texas's 6 (with only 4 of those up front). It'll be close, but I see the Sooners pulling out a 4-point victory, 28-24.
>Heisman winner: Colt McCoy, Texas. Last year's winner Sam Bradford won't have the secret-service protection he enjoyed last season--as OU re-tools its offensive line, and Tim Tebow won't put up the gaudy numbers he did 2-years ago because, like last year, he'll play only into the 3rd-quarter of many of his 2009 games--much like last year. McCoy has an experienced line that will protect him in the pocket, and will pancake folks when he decides to run. Colt by a nose over Tebow.
>BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma. And, like last year, Florida wins handily.
Got your whistle whetted yet?
That's right. Sports talks heads to the right, politics and social issues to the left. In other words, this blog will pretty much be now sports and sports-related issues. And, my new blog, "VE Mod" will tackle politics and social issues--to encourage civil & intelligent debate on those hot-button issues that are WAAAY more important that sports in the grand scheme of things. Both really don't belong in one blog, so that's why we have splitsville.
I'll continue to post jokes on both, and some food for thought on both, but you can count on sports talk here at "dsgvince", and politics and social issues at the following address: http://vinceemod.blogspot.com
So, with that out of the way, sports fans, let's get a little more fired up about the upcoming college football season, shall we??!! The first AP poll came out Saturday (August 22nd), and to nobody's surprise, Florida's number-1. I have yet to really chime in on my picks for the upcoming season, so guess what? Here they are.
>My Top 5: 1) Florida 2) Oklahoma 3) Texas 4) USC 5) Alabama.
>My top 1st-game match-up: Georgia at Oklahoma State. How often do you see UGA leave its own part of the country for any non-conference game? Very rarely. They did trek to Arizona State last season and did win, but only beat a very average Sun Devils team. This OK State monster is a lot different--in what could be the nation's most prolific offense with the 3-headed monster of WR Dez Bryant, QB Zach Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter. The Cowboys must win at home, and the Bulldogs must win--or folks will think they really can't play west of the Mississippi River against any real competition. Very intriguing season opener.
>"The Red River Rivalry" winner? Oklahoma. Those that know me know I have no love for either of these stories programs--so no "homer" talk here, folks. I think both of these teams are very evenly matched, but my decision comes down to this: Oklahoma's defense is a notch better--with 9-returning starters (8 of those up front) to Texas's 6 (with only 4 of those up front). It'll be close, but I see the Sooners pulling out a 4-point victory, 28-24.
>Heisman winner: Colt McCoy, Texas. Last year's winner Sam Bradford won't have the secret-service protection he enjoyed last season--as OU re-tools its offensive line, and Tim Tebow won't put up the gaudy numbers he did 2-years ago because, like last year, he'll play only into the 3rd-quarter of many of his 2009 games--much like last year. McCoy has an experienced line that will protect him in the pocket, and will pancake folks when he decides to run. Colt by a nose over Tebow.
>BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma. And, like last year, Florida wins handily.
Got your whistle whetted yet?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Some Sunday Fun!
Michael Vick? Yesterday's news! How about a little bit of "Sunday Fun" after all the heavy talk of Philly's new "Number 7". Today's fun courtesy of my old friend Rick Pliscott, who sent me these via e-mail. Now, once again, these are in much bigger print, so adjust your eyes accordingly. Then, you can let your funny-bone take over. Enjoy!
JOKES THAT CAN BE TOLD IN CHURCH
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in white?'' The mother replied, 'Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.'
The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the groom wearing black?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!'
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...but please don't shove me either!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.'
The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.'
The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married , she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?' He answered, 'Call for backup.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied, 'They couldn't get a baby-sitter.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.
Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?'
The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don't stop laughing because you grow old.
You grow old because you stop laughing!
Take heed and pass these along to people who need a laugh.
I thought you would enjoy this....times are tough right now - for all of us - so we need something to make the day a happy place.
"They" haven't found a way to tax you for laughing yet.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Vince on "Vick"
So, Michael Vick lands an NFL gig sooner than later, and that has sparked fierce debate, and it should. But we're still not dealing with a bigger, underlying issue. So, I will.
But first, let's review. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick to a 2-year deal. Year one will pay him $1.6 million, and the second an option year at $5.2 million. The team will hold a press conference on Friday (August 14th).
And, you can bet Vegas money that PETA will be out in force protesting, as well as many other pro-animal groups and individuals. And, good for them--it's their constitutionally-given right to do that. But I also say good for Michael Vick. After all, he served his time--at Leavenworth of all places!!--and is now back looking for a job--a job in a field he worked in before he got convicted of his crimes. Now, I ask you honestly: would you condemn somebody in your own family and/or your circle of friends for doing the same thing? Just asking.
And, I'm also asking you to think about some things that we don't like to think about, and one of them is front and center--albeit invisibly--in the whole Michael Vick thing: sub-culture. Yes, like the sub-culture of dog-fighting that's evidently alive and well in parts of our nation. Much like the cock-fighting sub-culture in other parts, and even the fraternity and/or sorority hazing sub-culture. Oh, yes, hits a little close to home for some, eh? You know--things that go on, but in the shadows and crevices of our society so that we don't have to think badly of ourselves.
Well, Vick--and his sub-culture-- got caught and exposed. Vick got caught lying to his former NFL team owner Arthur Blank, federal prosecutors, and even himself--all for something that's a dirty little sub-culture. And he's paid for it--although not as dearly as some of those dogs that were tortured. Totally reprehensible. Totally wrong. But now comes the age old question: he's paid his debt, but has he really paid it?
I say not yet, but that's no reason to keep him from playing in the NFL when his time comes. I have a feeling that a lot of people out there have a belief that a person convicted of such a crime should never be able to earn the kind of money Vick will with the contract he just landed. If Vick were to go to work in a shoe factory earning--let's say--ten bucks and hour? They'd probably have no problem with it. But big money on the biggest sports stage in the land? NEVER!! And, I think that's totally erroneous. Look, the NFL is about wins, losses and dollar signs. And if a team believes that Michael Vick can help it win and make money? He's in. And, even with all the protests and signs of wounded and tortured dogs that'll be hoisted around Lincoln Financial Field this season, folks will still buy tickets and put their fannies in the seats--and some of them just to see the spectacle that will be Michael Vick once NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upgrades Vick's conditional reinstatement to full reinstatement in Week 6 (October 18-19, 2009).
There have also been comparisons to guys like Leonard Little and Donte' Stallworth--both of whom have caused the deaths of humans. Stallworth pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after hitting a man while driving drunk, and has been suspended for the upcoming season. Similary story for Leonard Little back in 1998. He served some jail time, and the NFL suspended him 8-games. Many say both Stallworth and Little should have been banned for life because of their off-field atrocities, and that Vick should be as well. I'm not going to go that far. I do feel strongly that Vick should prove over a year's time that he has changed, and after that, give him a try-out and/or a contract. After all, he's served his time.
But, I also feel as strongly that we have to shine the light on the various sub-cultures that spawn folks like Vick. But that takes some courage and self-examination that no PETA sign can cover up.
But first, let's review. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick to a 2-year deal. Year one will pay him $1.6 million, and the second an option year at $5.2 million. The team will hold a press conference on Friday (August 14th).
And, you can bet Vegas money that PETA will be out in force protesting, as well as many other pro-animal groups and individuals. And, good for them--it's their constitutionally-given right to do that. But I also say good for Michael Vick. After all, he served his time--at Leavenworth of all places!!--and is now back looking for a job--a job in a field he worked in before he got convicted of his crimes. Now, I ask you honestly: would you condemn somebody in your own family and/or your circle of friends for doing the same thing? Just asking.
And, I'm also asking you to think about some things that we don't like to think about, and one of them is front and center--albeit invisibly--in the whole Michael Vick thing: sub-culture. Yes, like the sub-culture of dog-fighting that's evidently alive and well in parts of our nation. Much like the cock-fighting sub-culture in other parts, and even the fraternity and/or sorority hazing sub-culture. Oh, yes, hits a little close to home for some, eh? You know--things that go on, but in the shadows and crevices of our society so that we don't have to think badly of ourselves.
Well, Vick--and his sub-culture-- got caught and exposed. Vick got caught lying to his former NFL team owner Arthur Blank, federal prosecutors, and even himself--all for something that's a dirty little sub-culture. And he's paid for it--although not as dearly as some of those dogs that were tortured. Totally reprehensible. Totally wrong. But now comes the age old question: he's paid his debt, but has he really paid it?
I say not yet, but that's no reason to keep him from playing in the NFL when his time comes. I have a feeling that a lot of people out there have a belief that a person convicted of such a crime should never be able to earn the kind of money Vick will with the contract he just landed. If Vick were to go to work in a shoe factory earning--let's say--ten bucks and hour? They'd probably have no problem with it. But big money on the biggest sports stage in the land? NEVER!! And, I think that's totally erroneous. Look, the NFL is about wins, losses and dollar signs. And if a team believes that Michael Vick can help it win and make money? He's in. And, even with all the protests and signs of wounded and tortured dogs that'll be hoisted around Lincoln Financial Field this season, folks will still buy tickets and put their fannies in the seats--and some of them just to see the spectacle that will be Michael Vick once NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upgrades Vick's conditional reinstatement to full reinstatement in Week 6 (October 18-19, 2009).
There have also been comparisons to guys like Leonard Little and Donte' Stallworth--both of whom have caused the deaths of humans. Stallworth pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after hitting a man while driving drunk, and has been suspended for the upcoming season. Similary story for Leonard Little back in 1998. He served some jail time, and the NFL suspended him 8-games. Many say both Stallworth and Little should have been banned for life because of their off-field atrocities, and that Vick should be as well. I'm not going to go that far. I do feel strongly that Vick should prove over a year's time that he has changed, and after that, give him a try-out and/or a contract. After all, he's served his time.
But, I also feel as strongly that we have to shine the light on the various sub-cultures that spawn folks like Vick. But that takes some courage and self-examination that no PETA sign can cover up.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Calling "Dr. Love"
And, "Dr. Love" has a last name:
Denton.
Yes, those that went to Northwest Classen High School in the mid-70s through the mid-80s know EXACTLY who I'm talking about. For those of you who don't, I'll introduce you, but not until I tell you why. As you know, I'm writing a book about the 1982 NWC 5A state basketball championship team. And, Assistant Coach Love Denton was a vital part of our success--albeit not a popular part for some. But Love Denton will probably get his own chapter--but I want to find him and talk to the man. And, it'd be the first time in 25-years.
But for now, let's introduce you Dr. Love. Yes, his real name is Love Denton. I don't know the middle name, nor do I care to. The first name of Love says enough. And, he loved Love. Loved saying Love. Called himself "Dr. Love", although many students called him many other things--many of those started with the word "mother". Love Denton was a big man--like "Big Bad Leroy Brown (of the late Jim Croce song), he stood about 6-foot-4--and considered himself as much of a ladies man as Leroy Brown. Loved his big voice. Loved a big paddle he carried around--called it "Cool-Aid"--although any swat(s) from it were anything but cool. Love loved to round up people in the hall who were the slightest bit late to class and giving them the business in that big voice Love loved, and depending on his mood--a little "Cool-Aid" as a chaser. Love loved teaching his phys-ed classes--but that's all I can tell you about that because I never took his phys-ed class. But, I did play two seasons of JV basketball for him, and I credit Love Denton for helping make the me the man I am today.
And, it's there I'll really stick up for him. Love Denton was VERY hard on me. You want examples? First, in my junior year, I thought my name had been changed to "cabbage head". That's what he called me for a good four months. Cabbage head or "Ichabod Crane"--because he said I moved about as slow as Washington Irving's plodding fictional character in "Sleepy Hollow". He also would yank me from the practice floor if I made one mistake during a scrimmage. But the one thing I remember more than anything coming out of Love's mouth was this phrase: "It's hard, but it's fair!". I didn't think so at the time, but he was right. Love knew that I could take it. Love knew that's what I needed even though I didn't know it. Love taught me the love of discipline--of doing what I was afraid of, which at the time was executing the game plan the way it was designed. And, even though many of my teammates might not agree--I believe Love instilled that discipline into all of us. And, it was that discipline, along with head coach Don Piccolo's x's and o's of our offensive and defensive systems--that helped us win the 1982 5A state title, which was no small feat. After all, state of Oklahoma "class of 1982" included three future NBA standouts in Wayman Tisdale, Mark Price and Anthony Bowie, as well as Steve Hale, who started at point guard at North Carolina for 4-years--not to mention Bowie's Tulsa East Central teammates Shawn Baker and William Childs, who went to play division-I ball (Baker at East Central, Childs at West Texas State (which is now West Texas A&M), and Jay Davis, who played as a senior at Oklahoma State. But none of those guys tasted victory at state, but the NWC Knights of '82 did--and we owe a large portion of that title to "Dr. Love".
I know there are many other stories about Love--but there's only one I'm really interested in: WHERE IS HE? Last I heard, he was somewhere near Washington, DC. I want to find him, interview him for the book, and then just sit and shoot the shit for a couple of hours. I want to hear HIS stories--and not just the ones about Dr. Love. I want to show him that I embraced, "It's hard but it's fair!"
So, if anybody can help me--my question remains: Where is the Love?
Denton.
Yes, those that went to Northwest Classen High School in the mid-70s through the mid-80s know EXACTLY who I'm talking about. For those of you who don't, I'll introduce you, but not until I tell you why. As you know, I'm writing a book about the 1982 NWC 5A state basketball championship team. And, Assistant Coach Love Denton was a vital part of our success--albeit not a popular part for some. But Love Denton will probably get his own chapter--but I want to find him and talk to the man. And, it'd be the first time in 25-years.
But for now, let's introduce you Dr. Love. Yes, his real name is Love Denton. I don't know the middle name, nor do I care to. The first name of Love says enough. And, he loved Love. Loved saying Love. Called himself "Dr. Love", although many students called him many other things--many of those started with the word "mother". Love Denton was a big man--like "Big Bad Leroy Brown (of the late Jim Croce song), he stood about 6-foot-4--and considered himself as much of a ladies man as Leroy Brown. Loved his big voice. Loved a big paddle he carried around--called it "Cool-Aid"--although any swat(s) from it were anything but cool. Love loved to round up people in the hall who were the slightest bit late to class and giving them the business in that big voice Love loved, and depending on his mood--a little "Cool-Aid" as a chaser. Love loved teaching his phys-ed classes--but that's all I can tell you about that because I never took his phys-ed class. But, I did play two seasons of JV basketball for him, and I credit Love Denton for helping make the me the man I am today.
And, it's there I'll really stick up for him. Love Denton was VERY hard on me. You want examples? First, in my junior year, I thought my name had been changed to "cabbage head". That's what he called me for a good four months. Cabbage head or "Ichabod Crane"--because he said I moved about as slow as Washington Irving's plodding fictional character in "Sleepy Hollow". He also would yank me from the practice floor if I made one mistake during a scrimmage. But the one thing I remember more than anything coming out of Love's mouth was this phrase: "It's hard, but it's fair!". I didn't think so at the time, but he was right. Love knew that I could take it. Love knew that's what I needed even though I didn't know it. Love taught me the love of discipline--of doing what I was afraid of, which at the time was executing the game plan the way it was designed. And, even though many of my teammates might not agree--I believe Love instilled that discipline into all of us. And, it was that discipline, along with head coach Don Piccolo's x's and o's of our offensive and defensive systems--that helped us win the 1982 5A state title, which was no small feat. After all, state of Oklahoma "class of 1982" included three future NBA standouts in Wayman Tisdale, Mark Price and Anthony Bowie, as well as Steve Hale, who started at point guard at North Carolina for 4-years--not to mention Bowie's Tulsa East Central teammates Shawn Baker and William Childs, who went to play division-I ball (Baker at East Central, Childs at West Texas State (which is now West Texas A&M), and Jay Davis, who played as a senior at Oklahoma State. But none of those guys tasted victory at state, but the NWC Knights of '82 did--and we owe a large portion of that title to "Dr. Love".
I know there are many other stories about Love--but there's only one I'm really interested in: WHERE IS HE? Last I heard, he was somewhere near Washington, DC. I want to find him, interview him for the book, and then just sit and shoot the shit for a couple of hours. I want to hear HIS stories--and not just the ones about Dr. Love. I want to show him that I embraced, "It's hard but it's fair!"
So, if anybody can help me--my question remains: Where is the Love?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Crabby About Crabtree
Man, it's sure nice to have the NFL back in action, but not-so-nice that former Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree is pulling a diva act when he hasn't even earned one stripe as a real pro!
Yes, Diva act. Didn't participate in OTA drills in the off-season--as he recovered from off-season foot surgery. But he has now missed the first 8-days of regular training camp. And, one of his "advisors", a cousin named David Wells, says Crabtree is ready to sit out the season should the 49ers--who took Crabtree as the 10th-overall draft pick--not meet his contract demands. And, for the last item, "The San Francisco Chronicle" Scott Ostler crowned Crabtree as "The Knucklehead of the Week". And if the crown fits..
Come on, Michael. Get into camp and earn your spurs, rook. You haven't caught a pass in "The League" yet, you slipped from being a sure-fire top-3 pick all the way to 10th--even the lowly Raiders passed on you to take Darius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland--but is still demanding top-5 money. Uh, hate to tell you, Mr. Crabtree, but the only thing you've proven thus far is that you need to put the muzzle on at least one member of your posse, and it's not your agent.
Come on, Michael. Get into camp, prove that you're healthy and that you can take a hit, bond with your teammates, show your coach Mike Singletary that you can take the heat of the NFL while negotiating your deal and build yourself some leverage. But that seems to be something that the "diva" personality just either doesn't get or just refuses to get. Wide receivers are the NFL's divas (do the names Owens, Ochocinco, and Keyshawn come to mind?).
Look, I know it's becoming pretty common practice for top rookies to hold out. Even the great Emmitt Smith held out on the Cowboys for 48-days back in 1990--and he turned out more than okay. But there were never any questions about Smith's durability coming into the NFL. With Crabtree, there are. He wasn't the same after he rolled an ankle versus Baylor late last season--thus, the off-season foot surgery. And, with a renowned tough guy as his future head coach in Mr. Singletary, holding out doesn't exactly make Mike sport those intense eyes he was known for as the centerpiece of those Bears "Monsters of the Midway" teams.
So, come on, Michael. Sit on your agent to get this deal done, and muzzle your cousin. Or else they're going to create a name-plate for the back of your jersey that says "Crabby"--which will be your disposition for playing catch-up for every day you're not earning your spurs as an NFL player.
Yes, Diva act. Didn't participate in OTA drills in the off-season--as he recovered from off-season foot surgery. But he has now missed the first 8-days of regular training camp. And, one of his "advisors", a cousin named David Wells, says Crabtree is ready to sit out the season should the 49ers--who took Crabtree as the 10th-overall draft pick--not meet his contract demands. And, for the last item, "The San Francisco Chronicle" Scott Ostler crowned Crabtree as "The Knucklehead of the Week". And if the crown fits..
Come on, Michael. Get into camp and earn your spurs, rook. You haven't caught a pass in "The League" yet, you slipped from being a sure-fire top-3 pick all the way to 10th--even the lowly Raiders passed on you to take Darius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland--but is still demanding top-5 money. Uh, hate to tell you, Mr. Crabtree, but the only thing you've proven thus far is that you need to put the muzzle on at least one member of your posse, and it's not your agent.
Come on, Michael. Get into camp, prove that you're healthy and that you can take a hit, bond with your teammates, show your coach Mike Singletary that you can take the heat of the NFL while negotiating your deal and build yourself some leverage. But that seems to be something that the "diva" personality just either doesn't get or just refuses to get. Wide receivers are the NFL's divas (do the names Owens, Ochocinco, and Keyshawn come to mind?).
Look, I know it's becoming pretty common practice for top rookies to hold out. Even the great Emmitt Smith held out on the Cowboys for 48-days back in 1990--and he turned out more than okay. But there were never any questions about Smith's durability coming into the NFL. With Crabtree, there are. He wasn't the same after he rolled an ankle versus Baylor late last season--thus, the off-season foot surgery. And, with a renowned tough guy as his future head coach in Mr. Singletary, holding out doesn't exactly make Mike sport those intense eyes he was known for as the centerpiece of those Bears "Monsters of the Midway" teams.
So, come on, Michael. Sit on your agent to get this deal done, and muzzle your cousin. Or else they're going to create a name-plate for the back of your jersey that says "Crabby"--which will be your disposition for playing catch-up for every day you're not earning your spurs as an NFL player.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
New Year's Day?
It is, for some. Yes, as January is the 1st day of the New Year, today was the "1st day" of the year for some rabid college football fans: the first day of major college practice.
Some don't start 'til later, some may have started before, but I really don't care what day--I'll leave that up to those that like to argue for argument's sake (and there are plenty who will waste the energy).
But, I can tell you it was day-1 for defending national champion Florida, and here in Central Texas, the Baylor Bears--and for BU, it was TRULY a new beginning, with the first "Fall Drills" practice on the new on-campus practice facility fields. Now, Baylor isn't anywhere near the Gators when it comes to tradition, and certainly not in the same sentence when it comes to recent success, but the Bears do have the right and the place to feel like they're more than a step closer now that they have state of the art digs right there on campus. Brand new fields, brand new indoor practice facility, and that means a brand new attitude they can take into the season opener at Wake Forest in less than a month.
Now, I know some of you out there will say the new digs won't make a bit of difference--that "Baylor is Baylor, after all". Well, that may or may not be true. But I bet Sooner fans would have a mini-conniption if I said the same thing about their recent bowl game record, so I think you get the picture. I'm certainly not going to make any predictions about the Bears challenging for the Big 12 South--I still think that's years away. What I am saying is that having a state of the art facility to call home will help the team's perception of itself--which has already been improved exponentially by head coach Art Briles and his staff over the last year-and-a-half, and when a team starts thinking of itself well, it starts to play well, and when it starts to play well, it starts to win, and when it wins, hello bowl season! And, again, picking on Sooner fans, I think you can go back to 1999 for an example--after suffering through the John Blake years, a certain Bob Stoops improved the team's attitude in one season--to reach the Independence Bowl. The next year? National title. Now, Baylor's much different. But the principle is the same. Change the attitude? Change the direction of the program. Stoops had the OU tradition to recruit to . Baylor now has practice facilities to lean on not only for now, but for future recruits to look at and think, "Hmmm. I could play here."
Now, as for stadiums? That's a whole 'nother talk show. I'm not going to advocate vacating Floyd Casey Stadium for an on-campus stadium until Baylor fans prove they'll fill up the current digs. But that's another attitude change for another day.
Perhaps another "New Year's Day".
Some don't start 'til later, some may have started before, but I really don't care what day--I'll leave that up to those that like to argue for argument's sake (and there are plenty who will waste the energy).
But, I can tell you it was day-1 for defending national champion Florida, and here in Central Texas, the Baylor Bears--and for BU, it was TRULY a new beginning, with the first "Fall Drills" practice on the new on-campus practice facility fields. Now, Baylor isn't anywhere near the Gators when it comes to tradition, and certainly not in the same sentence when it comes to recent success, but the Bears do have the right and the place to feel like they're more than a step closer now that they have state of the art digs right there on campus. Brand new fields, brand new indoor practice facility, and that means a brand new attitude they can take into the season opener at Wake Forest in less than a month.
Now, I know some of you out there will say the new digs won't make a bit of difference--that "Baylor is Baylor, after all". Well, that may or may not be true. But I bet Sooner fans would have a mini-conniption if I said the same thing about their recent bowl game record, so I think you get the picture. I'm certainly not going to make any predictions about the Bears challenging for the Big 12 South--I still think that's years away. What I am saying is that having a state of the art facility to call home will help the team's perception of itself--which has already been improved exponentially by head coach Art Briles and his staff over the last year-and-a-half, and when a team starts thinking of itself well, it starts to play well, and when it starts to play well, it starts to win, and when it wins, hello bowl season! And, again, picking on Sooner fans, I think you can go back to 1999 for an example--after suffering through the John Blake years, a certain Bob Stoops improved the team's attitude in one season--to reach the Independence Bowl. The next year? National title. Now, Baylor's much different. But the principle is the same. Change the attitude? Change the direction of the program. Stoops had the OU tradition to recruit to . Baylor now has practice facilities to lean on not only for now, but for future recruits to look at and think, "Hmmm. I could play here."
Now, as for stadiums? That's a whole 'nother talk show. I'm not going to advocate vacating Floyd Casey Stadium for an on-campus stadium until Baylor fans prove they'll fill up the current digs. But that's another attitude change for another day.
Perhaps another "New Year's Day".
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Stupid and Stupider.
And just when you think you've seen it all, someone posts something that just makes you shake your head even more--like this little ditty from another Facebook buddy and former KXXV-TV colleague Ryan Crowe. Enjoy while shaking your head:
Yes, "Stupid is as stupid does", but one could almost imagine--and nobody around the said pump to get hurt--and this doofus's cigarette and/or cell phone would spark that gas. And, he's probably still say afterward--if he survived, "What'd I do?".
Sometimes..
(Ryan Crowe): dear random citizen of east fort worth next to me at the gas station. I'm sorry your girlfriend stole $100 from you while you were sleeping, but please, put out the cigarette and hang up the cell phone while you are pumping gas. (via Facebook, August 5, 2009)
Yes, "Stupid is as stupid does", but one could almost imagine--and nobody around the said pump to get hurt--and this doofus's cigarette and/or cell phone would spark that gas. And, he's probably still say afterward--if he survived, "What'd I do?".
Sometimes..
We Have A Winner!!
How about this--a 6:05am (CDT) post? I have to admit, it's inspired--by my Facebook friend Eric Hutchison, who posted what's below on his homepage. Eric, you win the "August 5th Genius Award", although what he says really isn't genius, it's just common sense a lot of folks just don't want to remember:
ERIC JAMES HUTCHISON: would like to propose his plan for health care reform: Get off your lazy ass. Quit smoking. Drive past McDonald's. Don't suck down five sodas just because refills are free. Play with your kids. Don't look for the closest parking spot. Why haven't we started a war on weight? And for those shouting about government running everything I'll bet they're glad we have a GOVERNMENT RUN MILITARY! (via FACEBOOK; August 5, 2009).
I'm still not sure I want government-run health care, but he sure brings up a good point about the military! Well said, Eric!
ERIC JAMES HUTCHISON: would like to propose his plan for health care reform: Get off your lazy ass. Quit smoking. Drive past McDonald's. Don't suck down five sodas just because refills are free. Play with your kids. Don't look for the closest parking spot. Why haven't we started a war on weight? And for those shouting about government running everything I'll bet they're glad we have a GOVERNMENT RUN MILITARY! (via FACEBOOK; August 5, 2009).
I'm still not sure I want government-run health care, but he sure brings up a good point about the military! Well said, Eric!
Monday, August 3, 2009
What Goes Around..
.. comes around. We've all heard it, but evidently only some really believe it. Well, I'm one of those that does. And, so is my good buddy Jermaine Ferrell, who sent me some proof in an e-mail that I posted below. Enjoy!
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president... Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under20his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't d o anything.."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria a nd stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh.."
The woman smiled again.. "I thought that might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for yo u right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I
saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich tha t I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my
food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll
find something for you to do around the office."
She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.. "Thank you for your help officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget, And20thank you for the coffee."
Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You always and don't forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you. God is so big He can cover the whole world with his
Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.
Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!
The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe, send it. If you don't believe, delete it.
God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..
If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...
"The Task Ahead of Me is Never as Great as the Power Behind Me!!"
Thanks, Jermaine. May all of you know God's love so that you can freely give it, and freely get it back!
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president... Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under20his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't d o anything.."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria a nd stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh.."
The woman smiled again.. "I thought that might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for yo u right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I
saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich tha t I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my
food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll
find something for you to do around the office."
She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.. "Thank you for your help officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget, And20thank you for the coffee."
Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You always and don't forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you. God is so big He can cover the whole world with his
Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.
Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!
The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe, send it. If you don't believe, delete it.
God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..
If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...
"The Task Ahead of Me is Never as Great as the Power Behind Me!!"
Thanks, Jermaine. May all of you know God's love so that you can freely give it, and freely get it back!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A Message to "The Generations".
Ah, the romanticism of "the good ol' days"!
And, for a lot of us, those good 'ol days were when we were growing up, and for a lot of us, it's either the decade (I consider myself a child of The 70s), or our generation (I'm at the tail-end of The Baby Boomers). Well, no matter your decade or generation, we need to temper our reminiscing with some truth--and that truth is, "Those good 'ol days weren't always so good at the time".
I bring this up after a friend right about my age got stiffed by a baby-sitter for the rest of the summer--and the babysitter didn't tell my friend until she was out the door for the final time--and this baby-sitter is 15. And, my friend was pissed. And, rightfully so. Pissed not only for the inconvenience of having to find a new baby-sitter pronto, but also for the blatant inconsideration of the offense. My friend was--and rightfully so at the time--wondering what the world is coming to these days, with young people so wrapped up in themselves that they can't/don't/won't think of anybody but themselves? After all, it wasn't that way when we were young.
Well, that's where we're amiss.
I remember being around 15, and hearing my parents and most of my seven older siblings say the same kind of things about kids my age. And I would bet that my parents' parents said the same thing about my mom & day way back in the day--and so on & so on.
And, it's here where I get back to the "romanticism" of our youth. Right now, I think of some times in the 70s where you looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons on two of the three channels available on your TV (until about 1977 when we got cable). We also walked to school for four blocks without worrying about a drive-by shooting or kidnapping, and you really lost social points if your mom and/or dad followed you when you went trick-or-treating--in fact, for those kids and the ones who got scared and wanted some of us to walk them home, we took about five handfuls of their candy as payment! Yes, a simpler time--without video games, the Internet or cell phones. But, now, the trade off: I also remember gas lines after the Arab oil embargo of 1973. I also watched the news back then, and remember stories about interest rates being upward of 20%. My dad also made me watch history being made--when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in 1974. And that's just the beginning.
And, how about the 60s, with the Bay of Pigs, the LA riots, the civil rights movement at its peak, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the Chicago riots by the hippies & yippies, the Manson Murders, etc.. Even the 50s, with your "Leave It To Beaver" image of that decade--you have McCarthyism, the Korean War, and the proliferation of the Soviet Union. The 40s? World War II and the A-bomb for starters. The 30s? The Great Depression is enough. And to think I'm only two generations removed from people who may not have even had a car--or even knew what one was!
Do you get the picture?
I think every generation generally thinks the newest one is a little softer and spoiled than the it is. And, on some things, it's probably true. But our romanticism with our own generation sometimes blinds us to the fact that the generation before ours said the same thing about ours. And I think we need to remember that as we take some of the wrongs of the current generation to task. If one is really committed to making this a better world, coming from a viewpoint of understanding will go a long way toward righting those kind of wrongs--like the one my friend experienced with her now-former baby-sitter. However, this is NOT license to excuse such behavior. The kind of inconsideration shown by my friend's babysitter is inexcusable no matter the decade or generation. Folks like that need to be called on that kind of crap. I'm suggesting understanding, not approval.
Yes, no matter our generation, we should consider sticking up for what we believe is right, and then live it so that OUR children see it, and then model it. Maybe then the decade and/or generation won't really matter.
And, maybe then, the "good 'ol days" will be the days we get to live in today!
And, for a lot of us, those good 'ol days were when we were growing up, and for a lot of us, it's either the decade (I consider myself a child of The 70s), or our generation (I'm at the tail-end of The Baby Boomers). Well, no matter your decade or generation, we need to temper our reminiscing with some truth--and that truth is, "Those good 'ol days weren't always so good at the time".
I bring this up after a friend right about my age got stiffed by a baby-sitter for the rest of the summer--and the babysitter didn't tell my friend until she was out the door for the final time--and this baby-sitter is 15. And, my friend was pissed. And, rightfully so. Pissed not only for the inconvenience of having to find a new baby-sitter pronto, but also for the blatant inconsideration of the offense. My friend was--and rightfully so at the time--wondering what the world is coming to these days, with young people so wrapped up in themselves that they can't/don't/won't think of anybody but themselves? After all, it wasn't that way when we were young.
Well, that's where we're amiss.
I remember being around 15, and hearing my parents and most of my seven older siblings say the same kind of things about kids my age. And I would bet that my parents' parents said the same thing about my mom & day way back in the day--and so on & so on.
And, it's here where I get back to the "romanticism" of our youth. Right now, I think of some times in the 70s where you looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons on two of the three channels available on your TV (until about 1977 when we got cable). We also walked to school for four blocks without worrying about a drive-by shooting or kidnapping, and you really lost social points if your mom and/or dad followed you when you went trick-or-treating--in fact, for those kids and the ones who got scared and wanted some of us to walk them home, we took about five handfuls of their candy as payment! Yes, a simpler time--without video games, the Internet or cell phones. But, now, the trade off: I also remember gas lines after the Arab oil embargo of 1973. I also watched the news back then, and remember stories about interest rates being upward of 20%. My dad also made me watch history being made--when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in 1974. And that's just the beginning.
And, how about the 60s, with the Bay of Pigs, the LA riots, the civil rights movement at its peak, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the Chicago riots by the hippies & yippies, the Manson Murders, etc.. Even the 50s, with your "Leave It To Beaver" image of that decade--you have McCarthyism, the Korean War, and the proliferation of the Soviet Union. The 40s? World War II and the A-bomb for starters. The 30s? The Great Depression is enough. And to think I'm only two generations removed from people who may not have even had a car--or even knew what one was!
Do you get the picture?
I think every generation generally thinks the newest one is a little softer and spoiled than the it is. And, on some things, it's probably true. But our romanticism with our own generation sometimes blinds us to the fact that the generation before ours said the same thing about ours. And I think we need to remember that as we take some of the wrongs of the current generation to task. If one is really committed to making this a better world, coming from a viewpoint of understanding will go a long way toward righting those kind of wrongs--like the one my friend experienced with her now-former baby-sitter. However, this is NOT license to excuse such behavior. The kind of inconsideration shown by my friend's babysitter is inexcusable no matter the decade or generation. Folks like that need to be called on that kind of crap. I'm suggesting understanding, not approval.
Yes, no matter our generation, we should consider sticking up for what we believe is right, and then live it so that OUR children see it, and then model it. Maybe then the decade and/or generation won't really matter.
And, maybe then, the "good 'ol days" will be the days we get to live in today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
