I sense a rematch....from a long time ago.....
NFC EAST:
1) Washington Redskins: Even if RGIII has a hiccup or two, Kirk Cousins is good enough to start for half the league. If Alfred Morris even approaches his output of last year, the 'Skins will be just fine.
2) Dallas Cowboys: No doubt this is it for Jason Garrett. Dez Bryant isn't a championship receiver, but he's darn good. He and Romo will put up numbers. But DeMarco Murray cannot stay healthy and their defense is....eh. This is a one-team playoff division. Dallas won't be that team.
3) New York Giants: My G-Men are in for a down season. They'll miss Osi up front defensively, and it's past time for Eli to have a down year. He has them, and this will be one.
4) Philadelphia Eagles: Really excited to watch Eagles' offensive lineman's tongues drag on the turf...in the second quarter. Already down Maclin, they are certain to lose Vick at some point, then who runs the cardboard offense, Nick Foles? No, thanks.
NFC NORTH:
1) Green Bay Packers: This pick is almost by default as the other three teams having talent, but glaring issues. The Packers' issues are more minor. A good year running by Lacy or Franklin unleashes Rodgers to throw to Nelson, Jones, et al. Their defense needs to keep opponents under 20 points. If they can, the Packers make the playoffs with an inflated record.
2) Detroit Lions: One of my sleeper picks. Too much talent on this team for them to pull another clunker season. If they had a legitimate #2 wide receiver, they'd be VERY dangerous. But they don't. So triple team Megatron and force Brandon Pettigrew to win games. That's what I'd do.
3) Minnesota Vikings: No, Adrian Peterson won't run for 2,500 yards. He may not run for 1,500 yards, as history dictates years after a 2,000 yard season aren't nearly as successful on average. And I'm not sold still on Christian Ponder. Blair Walsh's leg may win a game or two, flipping the Vikins and Lions final positions in the division.
4) Chicago Bears: The CFL comes to Chicago! The only problem is, Jay Cutler is still there. Urlacher's presence is gone (it will prove to be a bigger loss than anyone is speaking of right now). Can you say 6-10?
NFC SOUTH:
1) New Orleans Saints: I just can't see Drew Brees going any longer without winning the division. Plenty of interchangeable parts on offense. In a scary similar scenario as the Packers, their defense much hold opponents to under 20 points. I'm not as secure in this unit doing this, but I think they'll have enough to hold off...
2) Atlanta Falcons: Last year is as close to the Super Bowl as Matt Ryan will get. He and Matt Schaub, to me, and two classic quarterbacks in the mold of those I've seen in my lifetime like Dan Pastorini, Neil Lomax, Warren Moon, Bert Jones and Brian Sipe. Very good quarterbacks that simply couldn't get to the Big Game. Julio and Roddy will score TD's, Stephen Jackson is a big question mark (health). They'll stub their toe a couple of times and get swept by New Orleans, but they'll make the playoffs.
3) Carolina Panthers: Don't you think it's about time Cam Newton reminded everybody who he is and what he does? Of course, it doesn't seem like the Panthers know what the whole world does, they desperately need a #2 receiver to line up beside 52-year old Steve Smith. If Newton finishes another 6-10 season, you think he'll be itching for his rookie contract to expire?
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The coaching hire last year is slowly proving to be a disaster. It all falls apart this year. Doug Martin will get yards, but Josh Freeman won't, and we'll realize once and for all he was really a psuedo-one year wonder. A top five 2014 draft pick is possible here.
NFC WEST: (By the way, the best division in football. Imagine saying that 4 years ago....)
1) San Francisco 49ers: A full season of Kapernick, the addition of Anquan Boldin, which stifles the loss of Michael Crabtree until his return. Then there's that Vernon Davis guy, and Frank Gore's got about two seasons left in him. LaMichael James brings a nice change of pace. Then there's that Kapernick guy....and the defense is ferocious. One possible achilles heel: why replace one breaking down kicker in David Akers with another aging kicker who could unwind at any moment in Phil Dawson?
2) Seattle Seahawks: I love, love, love Russell Wilson. What character, what a rookie season to end, finally, all the naysayers who have been in his ear since he graduated Collegiate School here in Richmond. Add Skittles guy in the backfield and a monster defense, and I think by season's end people will be saying, "Wasn't this team supposed to have Percy Harvin?" The two 49ers/Seahawks games should be the roughest, and best, of the regular season schedule. Move over Steelers/Ravens....
3) St. Louis Rams: In any other division, this team would fight for the title. They're just not good enough offensively to hang with the above two. Tavon Austin excites me. And their defense can hang with about anyone.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Arians steps in hoping to find the magic he had last year when subbing for Chuck Pagano in Indy. He won't find it. This franchise is ruining Larry Fitzgerald's career. It's painful to watch run 20-25 routes a game knowing there's no way that ball comes close to him due to bad snaps, bad offensive line play, and, of course, the lack of a quarterback. As a Raiders fan I can testify, Carson Palmer is NOT the answer. Long season in the desert.
NFC SEEDINGS: 1) Green Bay 2) San Francisco 3) New Orleans 4) Washington 5) Seattle 6) Atlanta
WILD CARDS: Atlanta gets revenge for sweep by Saints in regular season and wins in Big Easy, and in rematch of the game where RGIII went down, Seattle will send him to the offseason a 2nd straight year.
DIVISIONALS: Atlanta goes to Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers tears them apart in a track meet. The Seattle/San Francisco game goes overtime, and the 49ers win.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: San Francisco 30, Green Bay 27
******************************
AFC EAST:
1) New England Patriots: The winner...by default. Who in the world else could possibly knock them off? Tom Brady could throw to ME and win the division. That's all I need to say. :)
2) Buffalo Bills: If this team could stay healthy, they could be interesting. And EJ Manuel will be the best of the rookie QB's, though this season's crop are minor league imposters compared to Luck, RGIII and Wilson. I hope CJ Spiller can play the full 16. He could get closer to 2,000 yards than AP. Spiller loves breaking off long, long runs.....
3) Miami Dolphins: When I think of Ryan Tannehill, I think of Jay Fiedler, and Chad Pennington, and Daunte Culpepper....and whoever else has played QB there since Marino left in the sprinkler playoff game. I'd add David Woodley for old-schoolers but he at least made a Super Bowl. The closest Tannehill gets is when he plays at the Jets at the site of Super Bowl XLVIII.
4) New York Jets: The collapse, and end, of the Ryan Administration draws near. And to think, Mark Sanchez made back-to-back AFC Championship games. Good luck, Geno. Good luck. For 2014, a new coach and a top 3 draft pick will be in order.
AFC NORTH:
1) Cincinnati Bengals: There. I said it. This is their year IF, and only IF Andy Dalton takes the next step forward. Dalton must avoid the inevitable bad interception he's had in critical games the first two years, must throw 27 or more touchdown passes and should become more demonstrative on the field as their general. He has red hair. Let's see some fire. Mohamed Sanu, if healed 100 percent, will give AJ Green the partner he's always needed. The Law Firm gets help in the backfield. And the defense added James Harrison. He's a 3rd down player with an every down presence.
2) Baltimore Ravens: Everyone's raving (pun intended) about the defense in camp. Better even without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Yes, Elvis Dumervil is there, but I feel like all the Ray Lewis worship I heard in the Super Bowl run last year was smokescreen. It's amazing how dismissive pundits are now of his absence. They're gonna miss both him and Reed. They were the heart and soul of that squad, even if they didn't lead the tackle or interception department. They instilled fear in opponents who will go to their death bed denying it. The defense will be good, but not Super Bowl good. That's too bad for Ravens fans because last year it was the offense, not the defense, that won the day in New Orleans. But, Boldin's gone, Pitta's gone, and Dallas Clark is running out of lives. Ray Rice is fine and Joe Flacco is, to me, the poster boy for "one-time Super Bowl champion". He's got Kurt Warner, Brad Johnson and Steve Young written all over him.
3) Pittsburgh Steelers: This is Big Ben's 10th season. He's breaking down. Who's his running back? Who replaces Mike Wallace? Will they overwork Heath Miller? How old is the defense? See all these questions? For the Steelers, such a consistent team, a 6-10 season is a disaster. Send disaster relief in late December to Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
4) Cleveland Browns: I hear rumblings about their camp and preseason performances. That's nice. Their starting quarterback is Brandon Weeden and they're guaranteed to lose 5 or 6 division games. Welcome back to last place. I love Trent Richardson, though. He'll single-handedly keep them in some games.
AFC SOUTH:
1) Houston Texans: Andre Johnson gets help in the form of DeAndre Hopkins, so Matt Schaub has two wide receivers to throw to, and somehow he'll still find a way to short circuit this team's run. It seems the city of Houston itself is just cursed to not be able to reach a Super Bowl. Had there been TV replay in 1979, the Oilers may have made it. But they never did. Neither will this group of Texans.
2) Indianapolis Colts: I see Andrew Luck equalling 2012, but not more. Overall, I see the Colts around .500, taking a step back from a year which was fueled by emotion, inspired QB play, and surprisingly results from several newbies. They come back to earth and are an average team this time around.
3) Tennessee Titans: No team in the NFL is spinning its wheels like the Tennessee Titans. Jake Locker is about as good as he'll get. Jared Cook is gone, part of his O-Line protection is gone and Chris Johnson is about gone. Does any Titans wide receiver stay healthy for 16 games? Why did they ever let Jeff Fisher go....
4) Jacksonville Jaguars: That Clowney kid at South Carolina should learn the road to Jacksonville. He'll be there as the #1 pick in 2014 after the Jags are lucky to win 2 or 3 games. A healthy Maurice Jones-Drew will ensure those wins. If he's out again, it actually could be worse. Justin Blackmon is a lost cause and no one is going to win with the two-headed quarterback monster of Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert. Not even Jon Gruden's bus could save them.
AFC WEST:
1) Denver Broncos: No-brainer here, though please remember the defense doesn't have Dumervil, Von Miller is out six games and Champ Bailey is out for the opener. Bailey, Manning and Welker aren't getting any older and they're on their fourth-string center. Another injury there and they'll call out the really large guy sitting in Section 323 to sign a one-year deal. But, with all this, there simply isn't another team in the division with talent enough to beat this crew.
2) Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid will shake things up, and he'll like Kansas City BBQ, too. Alex Smith got the shaft in San Francisco, and gets to manage an offense with no pressures like he felt on the Bay. Jamaal Charles is a top 5 back, and maybe Dwayne Bowe actually overperforms once in his career. Lots of talent on a defense that seemed to stop playing last year, but, to their defense last year was rough at Arrowhead. Imagine watching a teammate shoot themselves in the stadium parking lot. Then you're supposed to go in and study film? I believe the Chiefs will play with new hunger and Reid will be the Reid of 5 straight NFC title games, not the Reid barely holding on in Philly the past few years.
3) San Diego Chargers: We've seen the best of Philip Rivers, which is bad news for Bolts fans. Ryan Mathews still hasn't played a full season, and after Vincent Jackson and an aging Antonio Gates, who catches the ball? The defense is marginal, and that's being nice. The top question in San Diego in 2013 will be what is decaying faster, the Charger roster or Qualcomm Stadium?
4) Oakland Raiders: In a dogfight with Jacksonville and the Jets for the #1 pick in next May's draft. To think, this is the 40th anniversary of my decision to become a Raiders fan. There won't be much reason to celebrate....
AFC SEEDS: 1) New England, 2) Houston, 3) Denver, 4) Cincinnati, 5) Baltimore, 6) Kansas City
WILD CARDS: Cincinnati takes giant leap forward in franchise history, finally getting a home playoff win, knocking off defending champions. Andy Reid tries everything in the playbook, but it's not enough in Denver.
DIVISIONAL ROUNDS: Cincinnati turns the NFL on its ear as their defense gives Brady fits all day, and Dalton finally plays "that game" Bengals fans have been begging for. Peyton won't throw under ill-advised pick and the Broncos knock off Houston.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Dalton completes the trifecta by knocking off the legend Peyton Manning, dominated by the Bengals defense, now being recognized by casual fans and pundits alike for being just that good.
SO, SUPER BOWL XLVIII:
San Francisco vs. Cincinnati
I don't think precipitation would make much of a difference for either team, though it would lend to a low-scoring affair. And if these teams win conference championships on the road in Green Bay and Denver respectively, cold weather's not an issue when they head to Met Life Stadium
But Bengals fans, this is where the train must end. There's just too much firepower for a franchise that should have made the Super Bowl two years ago and didn't, then should have won a Super Bowl back in February and didn't. With Jim Harbaugh leading the way, you keep kicking that wall 'til it comes crashing down.
FINAL: San Francisco 30, Cincinnati 21
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Thursday, April 04, 2013
30 Years Ago Today: April 4, 1983....
I know I'm behind, missing a key date of March
26th, which I will come back soon and blog about, but I gotta, gotta do this
one on time.
The whole story of the N.C. State
1) This was Ralph Sampson's senior season at the University of Virginia Charlottesville
Sampson and the Cavs made the Final Four in '81
only to lose to an ACC nemesis, North Carolina
UVA's surprisingly quick exit to, of all teams, UAB,
in the '82 Tournament helped pave the way for UNC to finally get Dean Smith his
first title, albeit with some timely help from Freddy Brown and his errant pass
of renown...
So, when N.C. State, losers of seven straight to
Virginia, not only beat them in the ACC Tournament final, but again in the West
Region Final to get to the Final Four ended what became an era of promise
turned disappointment in C'Ville. No skin off my back; I couldn't stand Virginia Maryland Maryland
2) North Carolina Georgia
3) Duke was a mess in 1983, its third under
"Coach K", who back then was just another young coach, and one who
heard the calls for his dismissal grow. The Blue Devils lost in the ACC
Tournament quarterfinals that year by 46 points, but, as history would soon
show, the freshmen who learned from that beating, Jay Bilas, Johnny Dawkins, et
al, would learn quickly, and soon, Duke was back.
4) The first win in the run to the title was
against a Wake Forest
SO......
All that to say, the story of the 1983 N.C. State
team is made all the more surreal when looking around them in the ACC at
everything they overcame, and the teams, all of which once, and some twice,
stood in their way.
After an afternoon trip into Beaverdam via a nice
walk along Route 715 to shoot hoops with Lyn Buchanan and Brian Luck, I
returned home and nervously got ready to watch the game. A 9pm tip meant a longer wait.
We played an awesome first half, and had we been
able to shoot the ball better the first ten minutes, our halftime lead could,
could have been more significant than 33-25.
Then what I feared happened; Houston
Fatal mistake.
When he put on the brakes, in spite of Olajuwon
needing rest and Drexler having four fouls due to incompetence, they had enough
horses to push another three or four minutes, go PSJ on a Wolfpack team with
little depth, build the lead, THEN hold on. Nine minutes, against an N.C. State
You see, N.C. State Houston
And meanwhile, N.C. State
What if Houston N.C. State
The Houston Cougars played like overwhelming
favorites who didn't know how to act like overwhelming favorites. That
was exactly what the N.C. State
Not that the Pack didn't almost squander the whole
thing. Go back and watch the final 40 seconds and see bad pass after bad
pass after bad pass. I remember standing up in my room now, no longer on
my pull out chair bed on the floor, listening to the game loudly in stereo
headphones (back in the days when our CBS TV affiliate's audio could be heard
at 87.7 FM) because my folks were long asleep.
I remember these moments, these images, these
reactions.....
---The pass into the corner to Thurl Bailey, who
had no intention of shooting...
---His baseball pass out to Whittenburg, which
almost went horribly awry...
---His desperation shot from 35
feet and me thinking, "overtime".....
---Out of nowhere, there's Lorenzo Charles on my 19
inch black and white television set, grabbing the ball out of the
air and slamming it home on Phi Slamma Jamma...
---I froze for about three seconds, watching the
clock go from 02, to 01, to 00, wondering:
---Did it count?
---Did the clock really
run out before Houston
---And suddenly, one of the voices of my childhood,
longtime ACC analyst Billy Packer, said in my speakers, "THEY WON IT!!!!
ON THE DUNK!!!"
I threw my arms up in the air, watched Jimmy V look
for a hug partner, stunned and amazed by what I saw.
The first words out of my mouth (in the most
whispered yell I could muster) were, "LORENZO!!! LORENZO!!!"
And then the phone starting ringing. UT OH.
I ended up fielding two congratulatory calls from
great friends, friends who knew how much this meant to me. I also had to
hope and pray their good will gestures wouldn't ruin the night's sleep of my
Dad and Stepmom....
In the end, all was well. I watched the
interviews, the nets being cut down, then it was over.
I was in Beaverdam, so no early cable for me, no
"flip it to SportsCenter". You watched the 11pm news that came on late due
to the length of the game and waited for the sports segment to see the
highlights one more time, all the while jamming loudly to my favorite tunes of
the day on my stereo in surreal celebration.
So, while the team that EARNED this most improbable
of titles celebrated in Albuquerque, one of their more die-hard fans partied
alone in a small bedroom just west of Beaverdam, Virginia deep into the night,
knowing these type of things usually only come along once in a lifetime.
I was blessed enough that mine came sorta early, on
a high school spring break, and I had the boundless energy of a 15 year old to
jump, dance, shout, and celebrate.
And, rolling all this back to present day, I think
that's why I'm so apopletic about the latest version of N.C. State
Ever since, there's been no magic. I don't
expect a title run as a six-seed every ten years, but I do expect a cohesive
program that seems to have short and long-term vision. They've had
neither in Raleigh
No regular season titles, no ACC Tournament titles,
multitudes of appearances in the "Thursday night play-in game" in
March, and just enough Sweet Sixteen appearances (two) to briefly get one's
hopes up, only to find them dashed with 12 months.
So, from the perspective of 45-year old Rob Witham
looking back on one of the greatest nights in the life of then 15-year old
Robbie Witham, I appreciate four weekends in March/April, 1983 even more now
than ever, mindful that many people never get to see their beloved team have
their "One Shining Moment".
Just ask any Cubs fan under the age of 112.......
P.S.---So it was poetic that, five years to the day later, on another Monday April 4th, I began my first full-time job ever in radio, my career dream, and in Christian radio in my hometown no less, Operations Manager for WDYL-FM/WGGM here in
And for my son to finally begin his first full-time job post high school exactly 25 years later, on this
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
30 Years Ago---March 20, 1983
This was a great Sunday.
It began with one of those special Sunday morning worship services at our church. The kind where Dad never got around to preaching.
That's not meant as a cut towards my Pop. :)
Sometimes, a random testimony during the announcements would turn into a testimony session, and as God's Spirit moved in the church, people were truly moved and truly blessed. That's what we had going on this Lord's Day and I remember it to this day. My testimony was a thank you to my Dad for all the evenings he spent taking me from Beaverdam to Ashland for play practice at school, waiting on me by going to his second job place, Ukrop's in Ashland, and chewing the fat with employees until it was time to get me.
No big deal, right?
Well, it was, considering he had to turn around and get up at 3:45AM to go to work the next morning. It makes my trips to take and get Rachel from Glen Allen (a simple 6 mile roundtrip) extremely easy by comparison.
Then it was home to watch N.C. State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, this time against UNLV, a 28-2 team. As usual, the Wolfpack fell behind, and, as usual, they roared back just at the right time.
Thurl Bailey got a rebound after batting the ball off the backboard to himself, and his put-back gave State a 71-70 win and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
Another nailbiter, another win!
And the Road To Albuquerque continues.....
It began with one of those special Sunday morning worship services at our church. The kind where Dad never got around to preaching.
That's not meant as a cut towards my Pop. :)
Sometimes, a random testimony during the announcements would turn into a testimony session, and as God's Spirit moved in the church, people were truly moved and truly blessed. That's what we had going on this Lord's Day and I remember it to this day. My testimony was a thank you to my Dad for all the evenings he spent taking me from Beaverdam to Ashland for play practice at school, waiting on me by going to his second job place, Ukrop's in Ashland, and chewing the fat with employees until it was time to get me.
No big deal, right?
Well, it was, considering he had to turn around and get up at 3:45AM to go to work the next morning. It makes my trips to take and get Rachel from Glen Allen (a simple 6 mile roundtrip) extremely easy by comparison.
Then it was home to watch N.C. State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, this time against UNLV, a 28-2 team. As usual, the Wolfpack fell behind, and, as usual, they roared back just at the right time.
Thurl Bailey got a rebound after batting the ball off the backboard to himself, and his put-back gave State a 71-70 win and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
Another nailbiter, another win!
And the Road To Albuquerque continues.....
30 Years Ago---March 19, 1983.....
So, the actual game was played on March 18th, but on the west coast, and, thanks to the then-magic of "tape delay", the parts of the game that mattered most.....and that I saw....were show on 3/19.
Now, with THAT technicality out of the way........:)
I went to bed that Friday night knowing N.C. State played its first NCAA Tournament game in Oregon in the West Region against that powerhouse Pepperdine. I was confident and hopeful to awaken Saturday to hear that they had, again, survived and advanced.
I woke up in the middle of the night instead....about 1:30....
...and since the CBS "tape-delay" broadcast began at 11:30, that meant the game was still on. So, I get up, turn on my awesome black and white TV, and, much to my surprise and shagrin, we were LOSING.
In what would, of course, become the "State Standard" of this March, the Wolfpack frantically came back, tied the game, sent it to overtime, then forced a second overtime, before FINALLY picking up the 69-67 win.
So, by a little after 2am, I turned off the TV, crawled back into bed, and rested very, very well. But not until I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.
Up next was a date with 28-2 UNLV on Sunday afternoon. :)
Now, with THAT technicality out of the way........:)
I went to bed that Friday night knowing N.C. State played its first NCAA Tournament game in Oregon in the West Region against that powerhouse Pepperdine. I was confident and hopeful to awaken Saturday to hear that they had, again, survived and advanced.
I woke up in the middle of the night instead....about 1:30....
...and since the CBS "tape-delay" broadcast began at 11:30, that meant the game was still on. So, I get up, turn on my awesome black and white TV, and, much to my surprise and shagrin, we were LOSING.
In what would, of course, become the "State Standard" of this March, the Wolfpack frantically came back, tied the game, sent it to overtime, then forced a second overtime, before FINALLY picking up the 69-67 win.
So, by a little after 2am, I turned off the TV, crawled back into bed, and rested very, very well. But not until I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.
Up next was a date with 28-2 UNLV on Sunday afternoon. :)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
30 Years Ago Today---March 13, 1983.....
Alright, Dad, preach well, but preach quick so we get home in time for tip-off!
I hated it when the ACC moved its Tournament final to Sunday afternoon from Saturday night in 1982, but my voice was not listened to. Happy to report we got home in time to watch N.C. State battle Ralph Sampson and Virginia for the ACC Tournament title.
Virginia was desperate because they had yet to win an ACC Championship with the big man and he was a senior. N.C. State was more desperate because a loss would end their season. Virginia would make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team with a much better regular season record.
Back and forth we went....the nail biting was excruciating. But when it was all said and done, I can still remember Thurl Bailey filling my black and white TV screen with a huge smile, as the Wolfpack celebrated on the floor of the old Omni in Atlanta, with an 81-78 win over the Cavaliers!!
One of my all-time favorite teachers, Mrs. Sharon Adams, called my house long distance from Richmond to congratulate me on my team's accomplishment. I'll never forget that. :)
Later on, they announced the 52-team field for the NCAA Tournament. CBS was only in its second year covering the tourney, and the year before had premiered a 30-minute program late on Sunday afternoon to announce the tournament field. Back then, they had no cameras at college sites to "get the reaction of a team" when they see if/where they will begin their March Madness journey. Heck, the term March Madness had just started to catch on (Musburger should have copyrighted that immediately....). It was Brent and Billy Packer in a studio talking about the upcoming event, maybe a coach or two interviewed.
I went to church and later found out State was going to the West Region as the #6 seed and would play Pepperdine in the first round on Friday night. Late Friday night.
Until then, I savored the Tournament championship, headed to bed to ready myself for another week of school and play practice, patiently awaiting Friday night. Late Friday night.
I hadn't been this happy about a sporting event since my Oakland Raiders won Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981.....I had no idea what was about to unfold over the next three weekends.
I hated it when the ACC moved its Tournament final to Sunday afternoon from Saturday night in 1982, but my voice was not listened to. Happy to report we got home in time to watch N.C. State battle Ralph Sampson and Virginia for the ACC Tournament title.
Virginia was desperate because they had yet to win an ACC Championship with the big man and he was a senior. N.C. State was more desperate because a loss would end their season. Virginia would make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team with a much better regular season record.
Back and forth we went....the nail biting was excruciating. But when it was all said and done, I can still remember Thurl Bailey filling my black and white TV screen with a huge smile, as the Wolfpack celebrated on the floor of the old Omni in Atlanta, with an 81-78 win over the Cavaliers!!
One of my all-time favorite teachers, Mrs. Sharon Adams, called my house long distance from Richmond to congratulate me on my team's accomplishment. I'll never forget that. :)
Later on, they announced the 52-team field for the NCAA Tournament. CBS was only in its second year covering the tourney, and the year before had premiered a 30-minute program late on Sunday afternoon to announce the tournament field. Back then, they had no cameras at college sites to "get the reaction of a team" when they see if/where they will begin their March Madness journey. Heck, the term March Madness had just started to catch on (Musburger should have copyrighted that immediately....). It was Brent and Billy Packer in a studio talking about the upcoming event, maybe a coach or two interviewed.
I went to church and later found out State was going to the West Region as the #6 seed and would play Pepperdine in the first round on Friday night. Late Friday night.
Until then, I savored the Tournament championship, headed to bed to ready myself for another week of school and play practice, patiently awaiting Friday night. Late Friday night.
I hadn't been this happy about a sporting event since my Oakland Raiders won Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981.....I had no idea what was about to unfold over the next three weekends.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
30 Years Ago: March 12, 1983....
A pensive Saturday, as I joined Wolfpack fans around the world from my living room to watch the boys try to stay alive against defending national champion North Carolina in the ACC Tournament Semifinals.
As will be the case for the next three weeks, nothing would come easy, and we ended up going to overtime. And that's about the time I realized.....
....I was wearing a UNC wristband on my left arm. I had been for some time (days, weeks...) because I love all things North Carolina. But this HAD to go. I took it off and flung it across the living room! Don't worry, I picked it up later...
....after the Wolfpack stormed through overtime en route to a seven-point win, 91-84! One more win, and the Pack would be back in the Big Dance. No way their regular season record would get them an at-large bid in a field of just 52 teams in 1983. They'll have to beat....
....Ralph Sampson and Virginia. The team we led by 27 and lost to after losing Dereck Whittenburg to injury that fateful January night that seemed to doom the season. Sampson, Wilson, Miller, Carlisle, the usual Cavalier suspects.
We've GOT to beat Virginia. If there's one team I could NOT stand then...and now, it's Virginia, though not as vociferously as I did in the early 1980s.....
See you tomorrow, Ralph.
As will be the case for the next three weeks, nothing would come easy, and we ended up going to overtime. And that's about the time I realized.....
....I was wearing a UNC wristband on my left arm. I had been for some time (days, weeks...) because I love all things North Carolina. But this HAD to go. I took it off and flung it across the living room! Don't worry, I picked it up later...
....after the Wolfpack stormed through overtime en route to a seven-point win, 91-84! One more win, and the Pack would be back in the Big Dance. No way their regular season record would get them an at-large bid in a field of just 52 teams in 1983. They'll have to beat....
....Ralph Sampson and Virginia. The team we led by 27 and lost to after losing Dereck Whittenburg to injury that fateful January night that seemed to doom the season. Sampson, Wilson, Miller, Carlisle, the usual Cavalier suspects.
We've GOT to beat Virginia. If there's one team I could NOT stand then...and now, it's Virginia, though not as vociferously as I did in the early 1980s.....
See you tomorrow, Ralph.
30 Years Ago: The Series....
The period from February to July, 1983 was, in hindsight, the most pivotal five month period in my life. Most of my career direction and life trajectory came from the events of this time....
It began with a shocking and complete surprise when I was named to a lead role in my first-ever high school musical, "The 1940's Radio Hour", the story of a rundown New York City radio station trying to get ready to produce its Christmas spectacular in late 1942 during World War II.
Walking into Webb Auditorium cast as the host/producer of the show was a daunting task as I was surrounded onstage by juniors and seniors with ages upon ages of experience. I drank it all in, tried not to be in awe of my fellow actors and actresses, and hit the ground running.
A couple of weeks later, I participated in my first-ever Central Region forensics competition in the Original Oratory category, parlaying a love of college basketball into an expose of the problems besetting big-time athletics in the early 1980s (which seem somewhat faint compared to today's multi-billion dollar behemoth that is the NCAA).
I was stunned when I was named second place winner in the category, which meant a trip to the State Championships at UVA a few weeks later.
In the meantime, my beloved North Carolina State Wolfpack were about to embark on a little journey of their own. Having just gotten guard Dereck Whittenburg back from a foot injury suffered against Ralph Sampson and Virginia several weeks earlier, the Pack went to the ACC Tournament the #4 seed, but, in reality, needing to win the whole thing in Atlanta in order to punch a ticket to the then-52 team field of the NCAA Tournament.
And there is where we pick up the story.....
Friday, March 11, 1983: A typical 10th grade Friday at Patrick Henry High (sans all of those roofs they have today...hee hee), where I sat in my final class of the day wondering how my Wolfpack, who had a 2pm tip against Wake Forest, were doing.
Remember, kids, no Twitter, no Smartphones, no internet, no WatchESPN app.
The school day ended, I got on the bus for the long hour ride home to Beaverdam, and.....
.....lookie what we had here. Somehow, someone managed to have a 5 inch, battery-operated black and white TV on the bus. And, better still, our driver let it play. :)
NC State beat Wake the previous weekend 130-89.....but NOTHING came easy in the post-season. I watched frantically as the Pack hit critical free throws down the stretch to begin what we all know now as "Survive and Advance", a 71-70 win that set up a match in Saturday's semis against Jordan, Perkins, and North Carolina, the defending National Champions.
See you tomorrow, from the living room in the parsonage in Beaverdam.
It began with a shocking and complete surprise when I was named to a lead role in my first-ever high school musical, "The 1940's Radio Hour", the story of a rundown New York City radio station trying to get ready to produce its Christmas spectacular in late 1942 during World War II.
Walking into Webb Auditorium cast as the host/producer of the show was a daunting task as I was surrounded onstage by juniors and seniors with ages upon ages of experience. I drank it all in, tried not to be in awe of my fellow actors and actresses, and hit the ground running.
A couple of weeks later, I participated in my first-ever Central Region forensics competition in the Original Oratory category, parlaying a love of college basketball into an expose of the problems besetting big-time athletics in the early 1980s (which seem somewhat faint compared to today's multi-billion dollar behemoth that is the NCAA).
I was stunned when I was named second place winner in the category, which meant a trip to the State Championships at UVA a few weeks later.
In the meantime, my beloved North Carolina State Wolfpack were about to embark on a little journey of their own. Having just gotten guard Dereck Whittenburg back from a foot injury suffered against Ralph Sampson and Virginia several weeks earlier, the Pack went to the ACC Tournament the #4 seed, but, in reality, needing to win the whole thing in Atlanta in order to punch a ticket to the then-52 team field of the NCAA Tournament.
And there is where we pick up the story.....
Friday, March 11, 1983: A typical 10th grade Friday at Patrick Henry High (sans all of those roofs they have today...hee hee), where I sat in my final class of the day wondering how my Wolfpack, who had a 2pm tip against Wake Forest, were doing.
Remember, kids, no Twitter, no Smartphones, no internet, no WatchESPN app.
The school day ended, I got on the bus for the long hour ride home to Beaverdam, and.....
.....lookie what we had here. Somehow, someone managed to have a 5 inch, battery-operated black and white TV on the bus. And, better still, our driver let it play. :)
NC State beat Wake the previous weekend 130-89.....but NOTHING came easy in the post-season. I watched frantically as the Pack hit critical free throws down the stretch to begin what we all know now as "Survive and Advance", a 71-70 win that set up a match in Saturday's semis against Jordan, Perkins, and North Carolina, the defending National Champions.
See you tomorrow, from the living room in the parsonage in Beaverdam.
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012: One Last Look.....
Boy, I didn't blog much here, did I?
I was a little bit busy on my other blog, carefully disguised as a web site that I am extremely proud of (www.hanovercountysports.org), and its corresponding Twitter page. It's been up less than eight months and we've already eclipsed 1,000 followers, thanks to a lot of great people.
So, let me catch up on my 2012 in one fell swoop, shall I? When I think of 2012, I will think of, in no particular order, the following:
--Getting to watch my kids' teams in the NFL playoffs, my son's team almost make it back to the Super Bowl, and my second favorite team winning it for the 4th time....
--BBC World News (a great addition to our cable lineup)
--Speaking of cable, GOODBYE COMCAST! Thank you, Verizon FiOS. So far, so good.
--My fifth evening with The Moody Blues, and, for the first time, with my brother, in Durham, North Carolina...
--Watching Bubba Watson win the Masters at a Virginia Beach restaurant on an overnight trip and being so impressed with his humility.
--The London Olympics.....in spite of NBC....
--The Patrick Henry girls basketball team's 23-3 season, and following Katie Anderson over to Randolph-Macon...
--Speaking of Macon, what a beautiful new football facility! The press box is incredible, the field even moreso...
--Trips up I-95 North to watch:
--The Patrick Henry softball team play for a state championship
--Mechanicsville Post 175 play for an American Legion state championship
--Happily eating Chick-Fil-A
--Me-TV, added by one of our local stations to their digital lineup in February. Perry Mason and The Untouchables were nightly appointments, The Fugitive on Sunday nights...
--Our second trip to Cincinnati to see Rachel's Bengals battle MY RAIDERS....and, ah, beat the living tar out of them....:)
--Going to Cincinnati with an extra hole in my head, thanks to my crown coming out the night before after coming home from a football game...
Oh, did somebody say football??
--13 straight weeks of tremendous high school action, including seven Hanover games, three games that ended on the final play, watching Morris Jackson score some of his 33 touchdowns for Atlee, watching Chris Simpson and his offensive line from Lee-Davis manhandle opponents, and another regional championship for the Hawks.
--The end of the Central Region (thanks, VHSL....no, really, thanks. Not.)
--My daughter's stage debut in "Guys and Dolls" and subsequent first speaking role in "It's A Wonderful Life" at Glen Allen High School
--My son's summer with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, keeping vendors straight, fans fed, and even meeting Bret "The Hitman" Hart...
--My wife's move after years in Short Pump to the Virginia Credit Union branch in the DMV Building next to the Science Museum....
--Welcome, Chanel Ann Witham! I have a chihuahua, over 30 years after losing Teko.... :)
Milestones...
--24 years of wedded bliss.....for the most part.....;)
--Robbie turning 20!!!
--Rachel turning 15!!!
--Our 20th anniversary living on Tavern Way. Hard to believe I've been in this house longer than I lived in Beaverdam...
--Speaking of which, an October trip to Beaverdam with Rachel to relive memories and make new ones reporting on Heritage Days for the Herald-Progress...
--Speaking of which, my work all year with the Herald-Progress, writing most of the sports section, and, unbelievably, teaming with my former English and Advanced Novel teacher from high school, Nick Liberante, as a devastating tag team! I shoot from the hip, he shoots with a Canon. It's a win-win relationship. Who knew? One day my toughest teacher would become my sports superhero partner. :)
People we said hello to in 2012:
--Bonnie's new best friend at work, Margaret
--Great coaches I worked with in various sports like Matt Crowder, now AD at Patrick Henry, John Earley, Jackie Davis, Brian LeTourneau, Phillip Cobb, Leslie Nuckols, Curtis Carpenter, Sharon Gaston, Zac Hayden, and Eddie Gates, ONLY to name a few.....:)
--Janice Murias at the Herald-Progress, just as sweet as they come...
--Our new editor, Lee Francis!
People we said hello again to in 2012:
--High school friends I ran into again in my newspaper travels like Melissa, Kara, Claudia, Lyn, Julie, Charlotte, and Logan....for starters...
What I'd Like To Forget About 2012:
--The Presidential Election and its 5,210,443 commercials in this, a swing state...
--Bonnie's November blood pressure scare...
--Nausea
--Medical Insurance and Co-Pay hassles
--The Kardashians
--Anything "Gangham Style"
--"We Are Young"....
People We Said Goodbye to in 2012:
--Randy Barnhill
--Elsie Rusnak
--Donnie Sipos (just yesterday...)
--Barbara Nicely
--Jack Moynihan (my first postmaster at the Beaverdam Post Office)...
--Dick Clark (boy, tonight's so different without him...)
--Neil Armstrong
--General Norman Schwarzkopf
--Donna Summer
--Jack Klugman
--Earl Scruggs
--Andy Williams
--Ernest Borgnine (I need to watch The Poseidon Adventure again...)
--Joe Paterno
--Whitney Houston
--Etta James
--Andy Griffith
--George "Goober" Lindsey
--Junior Seau
--Mike Wallace (of "60 Minutes")
--Larry Hagman (Major Nelson to me moreso than J.R.....)
--Deborah Raffin
--George McGovern
--Robert Hegyes ("Epstein" of Welcome Back, Kotter fame...)
--Davy Jones
--Gary Carter
--Freddie Solomon
--Chuck Colson
--Don Cornelius
--Maurice Sendak
--Kathryn Joosten (just weeks after her character on "Desperate Housewives" died...)
--Bob Welch
--Richard Dawson
--Ray Bradbury
--Frank Cady ("Mr. Drucker")....
--Phyllis Diller
--Ron Palillo ("Horshack" of Welcome Back, Kotter fame...)
--Steve Sabol
--Zig Ziglar
--Dave Brubeck
--Charles Durning
Songs of 2012 (not necessarily favorites, but what's scorched in my brain, thanks to Rachel):
--Maroon 5
--Maroon 5
--So Good, B.O.B. (was on Atlee softball's warm-up CD, heard it...A LOT) :)
--50 Ways To Say Goodbye--Train
--We Are Never, Ever....you know the rest....--Taylor Swift
And for 2013?
--Our 25th wedding anniversary is up first...
--Robbie turns 21...
--Rachel hits Sweet 16 and....gasp....drives!
--And I just hope to live to see another year of ups and downs....with significantly less nausea and exhaustion. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)
I was a little bit busy on my other blog, carefully disguised as a web site that I am extremely proud of (www.hanovercountysports.org), and its corresponding Twitter page. It's been up less than eight months and we've already eclipsed 1,000 followers, thanks to a lot of great people.
So, let me catch up on my 2012 in one fell swoop, shall I? When I think of 2012, I will think of, in no particular order, the following:
--Getting to watch my kids' teams in the NFL playoffs, my son's team almost make it back to the Super Bowl, and my second favorite team winning it for the 4th time....
--BBC World News (a great addition to our cable lineup)
--Speaking of cable, GOODBYE COMCAST! Thank you, Verizon FiOS. So far, so good.
--My fifth evening with The Moody Blues, and, for the first time, with my brother, in Durham, North Carolina...
--Watching Bubba Watson win the Masters at a Virginia Beach restaurant on an overnight trip and being so impressed with his humility.
--The London Olympics.....in spite of NBC....
--The Patrick Henry girls basketball team's 23-3 season, and following Katie Anderson over to Randolph-Macon...
--Speaking of Macon, what a beautiful new football facility! The press box is incredible, the field even moreso...
--Trips up I-95 North to watch:
--The Patrick Henry softball team play for a state championship
--Mechanicsville Post 175 play for an American Legion state championship
--Happily eating Chick-Fil-A
--Me-TV, added by one of our local stations to their digital lineup in February. Perry Mason and The Untouchables were nightly appointments, The Fugitive on Sunday nights...
--Our second trip to Cincinnati to see Rachel's Bengals battle MY RAIDERS....and, ah, beat the living tar out of them....:)
--Going to Cincinnati with an extra hole in my head, thanks to my crown coming out the night before after coming home from a football game...
Oh, did somebody say football??
--13 straight weeks of tremendous high school action, including seven Hanover games, three games that ended on the final play, watching Morris Jackson score some of his 33 touchdowns for Atlee, watching Chris Simpson and his offensive line from Lee-Davis manhandle opponents, and another regional championship for the Hawks.
--The end of the Central Region (thanks, VHSL....no, really, thanks. Not.)
--My daughter's stage debut in "Guys and Dolls" and subsequent first speaking role in "It's A Wonderful Life" at Glen Allen High School
--My son's summer with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, keeping vendors straight, fans fed, and even meeting Bret "The Hitman" Hart...
--My wife's move after years in Short Pump to the Virginia Credit Union branch in the DMV Building next to the Science Museum....
--Welcome, Chanel Ann Witham! I have a chihuahua, over 30 years after losing Teko.... :)
Milestones...
--24 years of wedded bliss.....for the most part.....;)
--Robbie turning 20!!!
--Rachel turning 15!!!
--Our 20th anniversary living on Tavern Way. Hard to believe I've been in this house longer than I lived in Beaverdam...
--Speaking of which, an October trip to Beaverdam with Rachel to relive memories and make new ones reporting on Heritage Days for the Herald-Progress...
--Speaking of which, my work all year with the Herald-Progress, writing most of the sports section, and, unbelievably, teaming with my former English and Advanced Novel teacher from high school, Nick Liberante, as a devastating tag team! I shoot from the hip, he shoots with a Canon. It's a win-win relationship. Who knew? One day my toughest teacher would become my sports superhero partner. :)
People we said hello to in 2012:
--Bonnie's new best friend at work, Margaret
--Great coaches I worked with in various sports like Matt Crowder, now AD at Patrick Henry, John Earley, Jackie Davis, Brian LeTourneau, Phillip Cobb, Leslie Nuckols, Curtis Carpenter, Sharon Gaston, Zac Hayden, and Eddie Gates, ONLY to name a few.....:)
--Janice Murias at the Herald-Progress, just as sweet as they come...
--Our new editor, Lee Francis!
People we said hello again to in 2012:
--High school friends I ran into again in my newspaper travels like Melissa, Kara, Claudia, Lyn, Julie, Charlotte, and Logan....for starters...
What I'd Like To Forget About 2012:
--The Presidential Election and its 5,210,443 commercials in this, a swing state...
--Bonnie's November blood pressure scare...
--Nausea
--Medical Insurance and Co-Pay hassles
--The Kardashians
--Anything "Gangham Style"
--"We Are Young"....
People We Said Goodbye to in 2012:
--Randy Barnhill
--Elsie Rusnak
--Donnie Sipos (just yesterday...)
--Barbara Nicely
--Jack Moynihan (my first postmaster at the Beaverdam Post Office)...
--Dick Clark (boy, tonight's so different without him...)
--Neil Armstrong
--General Norman Schwarzkopf
--Donna Summer
--Jack Klugman
--Earl Scruggs
--Andy Williams
--Ernest Borgnine (I need to watch The Poseidon Adventure again...)
--Joe Paterno
--Whitney Houston
--Etta James
--Andy Griffith
--George "Goober" Lindsey
--Junior Seau
--Mike Wallace (of "60 Minutes")
--Larry Hagman (Major Nelson to me moreso than J.R.....)
--Deborah Raffin
--George McGovern
--Robert Hegyes ("Epstein" of Welcome Back, Kotter fame...)
--Davy Jones
--Gary Carter
--Freddie Solomon
--Chuck Colson
--Don Cornelius
--Maurice Sendak
--Kathryn Joosten (just weeks after her character on "Desperate Housewives" died...)
--Bob Welch
--Richard Dawson
--Ray Bradbury
--Frank Cady ("Mr. Drucker")....
--Phyllis Diller
--Ron Palillo ("Horshack" of Welcome Back, Kotter fame...)
--Steve Sabol
--Zig Ziglar
--Dave Brubeck
--Charles Durning
Songs of 2012 (not necessarily favorites, but what's scorched in my brain, thanks to Rachel):
--Maroon 5
--Maroon 5
--So Good, B.O.B. (was on Atlee softball's warm-up CD, heard it...A LOT) :)
--50 Ways To Say Goodbye--Train
--We Are Never, Ever....you know the rest....--Taylor Swift
And for 2013?
--Our 25th wedding anniversary is up first...
--Robbie turns 21...
--Rachel hits Sweet 16 and....gasp....drives!
--And I just hope to live to see another year of ups and downs....with significantly less nausea and exhaustion. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Rob's 2012 NFL Season Predictions
So, here we go again........:)
NFC EAST: 1) Giants, 2) Cowboys, 3) Eagles, 4) Redskins
NFC NORTH: 1) Packers, 2) Lions, 3) Bears, 4) Vikings
NFC SOUTH: 1) Panthers, 2) Saints, 3) Falcons, 4) Buccaneers
NFC WEST: 1) 49ers, 2) Seahawks, 3) Cardinals, 4) Rams
SEEDS: #1--Packers
#2--49ers
#3--Panthers
#4--Giants
#5--Saints
#6--Lions
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Packers over 49ers
-----------------
AFC EAST: 1) Patriots, 2) Bills, 3) Jets, 4) Dolphins
AFC NORTH: 1) Ravens, 2) Bengals, 3) Steelers, 4) Browns
AFC SOUTH: 1) Texans, 2) Colts, 3) Titans, 4) Jaguars
AFC WEST: 1) Broncos, 2) Chiefs, 3) Chargers, 4) Raiders
SEEDS: #1--Texans
#2--Patriots
#3--Ravens
#4--Broncos
#5--Bengals
#6--Chiefs
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Ravens over Texans
SUPER BOWL XLVII: Packers 23, Ravens 20
MVP: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
ROOKIE OF YEAR: Andrew Luck, Colts
COACH OF YEAR: Ron Rivera, Carolina
BIG SURPRISES: Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts
BIG BUSTS: Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers
2013 NFL DRAFT ORDER:
1) Cleveland Browns
2) St. Louis Rams
3) Arizona Cardinals
4) Oakland Raiders
5) Miami Dolphins......
NFC EAST: 1) Giants, 2) Cowboys, 3) Eagles, 4) Redskins
NFC NORTH: 1) Packers, 2) Lions, 3) Bears, 4) Vikings
NFC SOUTH: 1) Panthers, 2) Saints, 3) Falcons, 4) Buccaneers
NFC WEST: 1) 49ers, 2) Seahawks, 3) Cardinals, 4) Rams
SEEDS: #1--Packers
#2--49ers
#3--Panthers
#4--Giants
#5--Saints
#6--Lions
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Packers over 49ers
-----------------
AFC EAST: 1) Patriots, 2) Bills, 3) Jets, 4) Dolphins
AFC NORTH: 1) Ravens, 2) Bengals, 3) Steelers, 4) Browns
AFC SOUTH: 1) Texans, 2) Colts, 3) Titans, 4) Jaguars
AFC WEST: 1) Broncos, 2) Chiefs, 3) Chargers, 4) Raiders
SEEDS: #1--Texans
#2--Patriots
#3--Ravens
#4--Broncos
#5--Bengals
#6--Chiefs
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Ravens over Texans
SUPER BOWL XLVII: Packers 23, Ravens 20
MVP: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
ROOKIE OF YEAR: Andrew Luck, Colts
COACH OF YEAR: Ron Rivera, Carolina
BIG SURPRISES: Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts
BIG BUSTS: Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers
2013 NFL DRAFT ORDER:
1) Cleveland Browns
2) St. Louis Rams
3) Arizona Cardinals
4) Oakland Raiders
5) Miami Dolphins......
Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Grocery Wars: Which store is winning the battle in Richmond?
Well, apparently adding beer and opening seven days a week doesn't quite win over the Richmond shopper. Actually, it only made Martin's "just like everyone else".....
Food Lion took over the market share lead in Richmond from Ukrops back in 2009, mostly because they have double the amount of stores in the area. This brick and mortar advantage kept Food Lion ahead in 2010 as well.
A few thoughts....
1) This market is up for grabs. Even with the remodeling of many of their stores, Food Lion is nothing special. There's no personality, and no driving force product-wise that makes me think, "I want to go to Food Lion". I think about going to Martin's because of the salad bar, or the Ukrops fried chicken. I love Kroger's macaroni salad. Food Lion? Eh.........
2) Martin's, as I mentioned on this blog a year ago when Martin's came to town, is Giant with another name. And Giant died in Richmond once before.....they may have some "Ukrops" products, but they have the charm of.....well, Food Lion.
3) Kroger is expensive as crap.
4) Walmart has cheaper prices. But I hate Walmart. I go when I HAVE to. Keyword: HAVE.
5) It's funny watching these other guys fighting for the 3 to 6 percent market share (CVS, Walgreens, Target, etc....). For all the talk about organic foods, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's barely make up two percent of market share. Yes, I know they have hardly any locations, but the way I hear people talk, you'd think there were lines out the door of those places constantly....
6) Farm Fresh needs to pack it in.
Click on the title link, see the numbers broken down, and tell me what you think, where you shop, and has it changed in this "Post-Ukrops" Richmond....
Food Lion took over the market share lead in Richmond from Ukrops back in 2009, mostly because they have double the amount of stores in the area. This brick and mortar advantage kept Food Lion ahead in 2010 as well.
A few thoughts....
1) This market is up for grabs. Even with the remodeling of many of their stores, Food Lion is nothing special. There's no personality, and no driving force product-wise that makes me think, "I want to go to Food Lion". I think about going to Martin's because of the salad bar, or the Ukrops fried chicken. I love Kroger's macaroni salad. Food Lion? Eh.........
2) Martin's, as I mentioned on this blog a year ago when Martin's came to town, is Giant with another name. And Giant died in Richmond once before.....they may have some "Ukrops" products, but they have the charm of.....well, Food Lion.
3) Kroger is expensive as crap.
4) Walmart has cheaper prices. But I hate Walmart. I go when I HAVE to. Keyword: HAVE.
5) It's funny watching these other guys fighting for the 3 to 6 percent market share (CVS, Walgreens, Target, etc....). For all the talk about organic foods, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's barely make up two percent of market share. Yes, I know they have hardly any locations, but the way I hear people talk, you'd think there were lines out the door of those places constantly....
6) Farm Fresh needs to pack it in.
Click on the title link, see the numbers broken down, and tell me what you think, where you shop, and has it changed in this "Post-Ukrops" Richmond....
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
How Obama Got Elected... Interviews With Obama Voters
Here is the biggest stumbling block to making Barack Obama a one-term President.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Barney Frank knocked on his Fannie
You MUST read paragraph #2 of this article (click on the title link). Frank argues his point, and by doing so, proves the point of many of his critics, including myself. BOTH political parties see Washington through this nasty prism and it is a major reason why we are in the $14 trillion debt mess we find ourselves in.
The new "in" word in Washington needs to be "recuse".
The new "in" word in Washington needs to be "recuse".
KATV Little Rock Pre-empts Oprah Finale With Storm Coverage
Awwww.....too bad Oprah fans. Some Little Rock viewers are incensed when they can't watch the finale of their favorite TV show. Click on the title link for some of their choice comments to local station KATV.
A gentle reminder--TV and radio stations are licensed by the FCC. When those licenses are up for review and renewal, a major component is whether the owner of said station "acted in the public interest".
It is much, much more "in the public interest" to warn thousands of people of life-threatening weather than it is to run a talk show. The primary purpose of TV and radio locally is to INFORM. Secondary is entertainment.
People who whine that their show is preempted when tornadoes are all around them are, in my opinion, a bag of fries short of a Value Meal, if you know what I mean.
Somehow I don't think alot of people in Joplin, Missouri cared about whether the Oprah finale aired in their market yesterday. They were busy with this.
A gentle reminder--TV and radio stations are licensed by the FCC. When those licenses are up for review and renewal, a major component is whether the owner of said station "acted in the public interest".
It is much, much more "in the public interest" to warn thousands of people of life-threatening weather than it is to run a talk show. The primary purpose of TV and radio locally is to INFORM. Secondary is entertainment.
People who whine that their show is preempted when tornadoes are all around them are, in my opinion, a bag of fries short of a Value Meal, if you know what I mean.
Somehow I don't think alot of people in Joplin, Missouri cared about whether the Oprah finale aired in their market yesterday. They were busy with this.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Stifling dissent on a bumper sticker, Back to the Future of 1967, and Vince McMahon blew it big time.....
So, if you don't like political or controversial talk, you might want to skip over this entry......
1) Media Matters Goes After Fox News----Again.....
Usually the people who scream for tolerance are the most intolerant. Such is the case with Media Matters and their friends on the uberleft, who now offer the masses bumper stickers that say "Turn Off Fox: Bad News For America". I've seen two of them on the road in recent days and it reminded me of the following.....
I watch ALL cable news channels. I still believe CNN beats the tar out of Fox News when breaking international news takes place (and Fox was AWFUL last night when the Joplin tragedy came to light. CNN was all over it, while Fox dedicated its time to the Casey Anthony case). But the bottom line is, anyone who takes the actual time to watch the channels have to admit (as a new Suffolk University survey shows) that Fox is, indeed, the most trusted and fairest news organization on television.
It's simple. If I disagree with a Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow or whoever on the left, I can offer my opinions and rebuttals. But one thing I've never done, and never will do, is call for their removal from the public square.
The fact that Media Matters wants people to "Turn Off Fox", all the while pressuring advertisers to leave them as well, proves that they can't handle dissent. They can't handle when people disagree with them. You see, Media Matters knows what's best for you. Don't you understand that? Just give them your life and your brain and everything will be just fine.........
Be weary of ANYONE who wants opinion stifled, and speech eliminated. There's always a reason, and it's never a good one.
----------------------------
2) Obama says "Welcome Back to 1967".........
I shake my head listening to all the Obama zombies in the media yelling and screaming about how "all the President did last week by invoking the 1967 borders is to publicly use a starting point for negotiations that have been in talks privately for YEARS!!"
Apparently, pointing out that a new idea is not "new" makes it right. Good. Acceptable. Great for all parties. I mean, my Lord, we are talking the Democratic Messiah, right, so he has to have the solution!
Jimmy Carter got Anwar Sadat and Menacham Begin together at Camp David in 1978 for about 12 days, and, in the end, we got the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty. The Camp David Accord. What did it produce? Sadat's assassination three years later, and 33 years of, at best, a cold peace, all the while Israel having to fend off the other Palestinian haters around them.
The same ones who want to play Pac-Man and eat up more real estate to place their mortal enemy in a position to be eliminated.....
....which is what Hamas wants anyway. Just read their charter sometime.....
Prime Minister Netanyahu schooled Barack Obama in the White House last week. I loved every minute of it. The realist, the man on the ground in the Middle East who knows the realities, knows the threats to his people, took the Harvard professor to school in Middle East Reality 101.
Just because George W. Bush privately discussed a proposal doesn't mean it's good.
President Obama squarely placed his ball in the court of the Arabs. No surprise there. Apparently over the 20 years he spent not listening at Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church, an issue not brought to his attention was the history of Israel and how God will protect His people, no matter what.
And taking America away from Israel can only mean bad things for America.
-----------------------------------------------------
Now, from a totally different universe.
Vince McMahon, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Please, spare us the "too little, too late" idea of posthumously inducting the late Macho Man Randy Savage in 2012. It would just be that.
What a horrible injustice, a horrible shame.
The meteroric rise of the then "WWF" was built on the shoulders of three wrestlers in the 1980s: Hulk Hogan (the hero), Andre The Giant (the villain), and Randy Savage, the one who could be counted on to pick up the big ball and run with it.
Thus was the case in 1988 when, smartly, McMahon realized Hogan couldn't be champion forever, and created circumstances whereby Wrestlemania IV was headlined by a tournament for the WWF Championship. And Savage, without having to face Hogan, got to wear the strap.
And he did it well. Then, when the inevitable turn to heel in early 1989 occurred to place him and Hogan in the main event at Wrestlemania V, Savage did a tremendous job, realistically portraying the heel character in a way today's wrestlers can only dream of.
And I haven't even discussed his Wrestlemania III match against Ricky Steamboat, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest matches, if not the greatest, technical match, in wrestling history.
McMahon diminished Savage's role in the company as the 1990s progressed to the point where he wanted out. McMahon gave it to him, and kudos to him for that. He must have thought Savage's tank was dry. He was wrong.
He gave another five years of compelling performances in WCW, and his 1997/1998 feud with Diamond Dallas Page was one of the best in the later years of that company. Remember, Page was a retread manager/midcard wrestler at best over the years, and Savage was the one whose feud with Page gave DDP "the rub", launching him into a main event status.
For whatever reason, McMahon and Savage haven't exchanged Christmas cards in recent years. I have no clue why. But before a 46 year-old Shawn Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, there should have been a Macho Induction. He should've been in the Class of 2010, or 2009, or 2008......I could go on.
Now, in light of the tragic end to his life Friday in Florida, if McMahon decides to induct him, it will be so hollow, and, as stated earlier, too little, too late.
My Dad used to praise parishoners from the pulpit when they did things never wanting to be noticed or praised, saying, "We should give bouquets to the living so they can enjoy them, rather than to the deceased."
He's so right.
I'm sorry that Savage's widow will now have to stand in for him whenever McMahon finally does the right thing. Macho deserved that last moment in the sun, the cheers from the crowd and from peers and the next generation of wrestlers, the ones who grew up watching him.
Vince McMahon's ego gets in the way of alot of good decisions. This is definitely one of them.
While I'm at it, may I go on record as saying McMahon missed a chance at genius this spring. With Wrestlemania in Atlanta, it was the perfect opportunity to induct someone extremely worthy into the WWE Hall Of Fame......
Ted Turner.
Yes. Ted Turner. The guy who tried to put Vince out of business with that "WCW rasslin'!"
Long before McMahon was top dog, Turner showcased wrestling, using it to build his cable empire, and giving the industry/sport exposure it had not enjoyed since Dumont Television in the 1950s (Gorgeous George, anyone?).
His decision to battle head-to-head with McMahon in the 1990s created the super-era of professional wrestling in the late 1990s, which set the stage for the current landscape (with its ups and downs.....). If anything, he should thank Turner for pushing him into having to "become a billionaire himself" in order to fight off the challenges of "Billionaire Ted" back in the day.....
Vince should have named him to the WWE Hall of Fame AND should have inducted him.
Big men do that sort of thing.
1) Media Matters Goes After Fox News----Again.....
Usually the people who scream for tolerance are the most intolerant. Such is the case with Media Matters and their friends on the uberleft, who now offer the masses bumper stickers that say "Turn Off Fox: Bad News For America". I've seen two of them on the road in recent days and it reminded me of the following.....
I watch ALL cable news channels. I still believe CNN beats the tar out of Fox News when breaking international news takes place (and Fox was AWFUL last night when the Joplin tragedy came to light. CNN was all over it, while Fox dedicated its time to the Casey Anthony case). But the bottom line is, anyone who takes the actual time to watch the channels have to admit (as a new Suffolk University survey shows) that Fox is, indeed, the most trusted and fairest news organization on television.
It's simple. If I disagree with a Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow or whoever on the left, I can offer my opinions and rebuttals. But one thing I've never done, and never will do, is call for their removal from the public square.
The fact that Media Matters wants people to "Turn Off Fox", all the while pressuring advertisers to leave them as well, proves that they can't handle dissent. They can't handle when people disagree with them. You see, Media Matters knows what's best for you. Don't you understand that? Just give them your life and your brain and everything will be just fine.........
Be weary of ANYONE who wants opinion stifled, and speech eliminated. There's always a reason, and it's never a good one.
----------------------------
2) Obama says "Welcome Back to 1967".........
I shake my head listening to all the Obama zombies in the media yelling and screaming about how "all the President did last week by invoking the 1967 borders is to publicly use a starting point for negotiations that have been in talks privately for YEARS!!"
Apparently, pointing out that a new idea is not "new" makes it right. Good. Acceptable. Great for all parties. I mean, my Lord, we are talking the Democratic Messiah, right, so he has to have the solution!
Jimmy Carter got Anwar Sadat and Menacham Begin together at Camp David in 1978 for about 12 days, and, in the end, we got the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty. The Camp David Accord. What did it produce? Sadat's assassination three years later, and 33 years of, at best, a cold peace, all the while Israel having to fend off the other Palestinian haters around them.
The same ones who want to play Pac-Man and eat up more real estate to place their mortal enemy in a position to be eliminated.....
....which is what Hamas wants anyway. Just read their charter sometime.....
Prime Minister Netanyahu schooled Barack Obama in the White House last week. I loved every minute of it. The realist, the man on the ground in the Middle East who knows the realities, knows the threats to his people, took the Harvard professor to school in Middle East Reality 101.
Just because George W. Bush privately discussed a proposal doesn't mean it's good.
President Obama squarely placed his ball in the court of the Arabs. No surprise there. Apparently over the 20 years he spent not listening at Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church, an issue not brought to his attention was the history of Israel and how God will protect His people, no matter what.
And taking America away from Israel can only mean bad things for America.
-----------------------------------------------------
Now, from a totally different universe.
Vince McMahon, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Please, spare us the "too little, too late" idea of posthumously inducting the late Macho Man Randy Savage in 2012. It would just be that.
What a horrible injustice, a horrible shame.
The meteroric rise of the then "WWF" was built on the shoulders of three wrestlers in the 1980s: Hulk Hogan (the hero), Andre The Giant (the villain), and Randy Savage, the one who could be counted on to pick up the big ball and run with it.
Thus was the case in 1988 when, smartly, McMahon realized Hogan couldn't be champion forever, and created circumstances whereby Wrestlemania IV was headlined by a tournament for the WWF Championship. And Savage, without having to face Hogan, got to wear the strap.
And he did it well. Then, when the inevitable turn to heel in early 1989 occurred to place him and Hogan in the main event at Wrestlemania V, Savage did a tremendous job, realistically portraying the heel character in a way today's wrestlers can only dream of.
And I haven't even discussed his Wrestlemania III match against Ricky Steamboat, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest matches, if not the greatest, technical match, in wrestling history.
McMahon diminished Savage's role in the company as the 1990s progressed to the point where he wanted out. McMahon gave it to him, and kudos to him for that. He must have thought Savage's tank was dry. He was wrong.
He gave another five years of compelling performances in WCW, and his 1997/1998 feud with Diamond Dallas Page was one of the best in the later years of that company. Remember, Page was a retread manager/midcard wrestler at best over the years, and Savage was the one whose feud with Page gave DDP "the rub", launching him into a main event status.
For whatever reason, McMahon and Savage haven't exchanged Christmas cards in recent years. I have no clue why. But before a 46 year-old Shawn Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, there should have been a Macho Induction. He should've been in the Class of 2010, or 2009, or 2008......I could go on.
Now, in light of the tragic end to his life Friday in Florida, if McMahon decides to induct him, it will be so hollow, and, as stated earlier, too little, too late.
My Dad used to praise parishoners from the pulpit when they did things never wanting to be noticed or praised, saying, "We should give bouquets to the living so they can enjoy them, rather than to the deceased."
He's so right.
I'm sorry that Savage's widow will now have to stand in for him whenever McMahon finally does the right thing. Macho deserved that last moment in the sun, the cheers from the crowd and from peers and the next generation of wrestlers, the ones who grew up watching him.
Vince McMahon's ego gets in the way of alot of good decisions. This is definitely one of them.
While I'm at it, may I go on record as saying McMahon missed a chance at genius this spring. With Wrestlemania in Atlanta, it was the perfect opportunity to induct someone extremely worthy into the WWE Hall Of Fame......
Ted Turner.
Yes. Ted Turner. The guy who tried to put Vince out of business with that "WCW rasslin'!"
Long before McMahon was top dog, Turner showcased wrestling, using it to build his cable empire, and giving the industry/sport exposure it had not enjoyed since Dumont Television in the 1950s (Gorgeous George, anyone?).
His decision to battle head-to-head with McMahon in the 1990s created the super-era of professional wrestling in the late 1990s, which set the stage for the current landscape (with its ups and downs.....). If anything, he should thank Turner for pushing him into having to "become a billionaire himself" in order to fight off the challenges of "Billionaire Ted" back in the day.....
Vince should have named him to the WWE Hall of Fame AND should have inducted him.
Big men do that sort of thing.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Morning Show with Bowman and Henderson
A MUST SEE VIDEO for long-time Richmonders like me! Click on the title link to see Bill and Floyd in action. I salute WHAP in Hopewell for having the fortitude to allow two legendary personalities, long since forgotten by "corporate media" to continue to entertain and inform audiences.
Long live Bowman and Henderson! THIS is radio!
Long live Bowman and Henderson! THIS is radio!
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Rip Van Witham
I've been mulling over this blog post for quite some time now, and, in light of tonight being one of those nights where I find myself "tired, but not sleepy", I'll take the opportunity to opine.
I can pretty much tie anything that happens in life to an episode of my all-time favorite television show......"The Flintstones".
One of the more thoughtful episodes was at the Slate Company picnic, where Fred begins in his usual rotten mood, not wanting to partake in the annual three-legged race. He ends up getting away to himself and actually falling asleep somewhere in the park.....
....and he dreams that it's 20 years later. A gray-haired Fred, complete with LONG beard, proceeds to run back to Bedrock to discover what's happened to Wilma, Pebbles, the Rubbles, et al in the 20 years since his apparent demise. It made him realize he should enjoy every moment.
Even the three-legged race.
He wakes up, goes flying back to the picnic, and he and Barney are the hit of the day.
Carpe Diem.
------------------------------
After completing my fourth week at a job yesterday, this is a good time to share my "similar to Fred" story. Going back to Aunt Sharon's sudden passing in February, my life schedule started to get back to a reasonable normalcy. It certainly has since April 11th. And I've realized how much has come and gone over the past nine years.
For example:
--I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that it's 2011. It doesn't seem like it's been almost 10 years since 9/11.
--I've realized how much pop culture has come and gone, much of which I don't know, know bits and pieces of......now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I regret it, it simply is a barometer of the volume of what's gone on while I've slept.....
....and slept.....and rested......and tossed......
Now, add to that the egregious error of allowing myself to live at my job at Clear Channel the last four years I was there, and it all adds up.
My son is now 19?
My daughter starts high school in September?
What happened to Blues Clues?
Has it honestly been seven years since we left Longdale Elementary in rezoning?
Some of what I've experienced (and missed) the past several years was truly out of my control. Concoct a potion of sleep apnea, depression, bipolar, then throw in some diabetes, and there have been many days where I may have wanted to conquer the world, but, in the end, I was lucky to get to the bathroom. I know some who read this will truly not understand. That's okay. I certainly never want you to experience it simply so that you'll "get my point".
Other things, though?
One of the coolest things about the new workplace is everybody looks at each other just before 5:30 each day and implores the others to "get up and get out". We get there at 8:30, we work throughout the day (thankfully it's close enough to home where I can come home for lunch and check on Harry!), but then, when it's time to go home, WE GO.
I'll never make that mistake again. Am I saying I'll never stay late? Of course not. But if I ever get back to working 70/80 hours a week again (and I KNOW that can't happen in my current physical condition), somebody slap me silly.
Fourteen years of mostly seven day a week newspaper delivery, having 2 or 3 jobs for 17 straight years, working 80 hours a week in the mid-2000's....they all had a hand in the permanent crater that now occupies my half of the mattress, I'm sure.
--------------------
But what I'm really trying to convey is simply this.
1) Remember what's important in life, and focus the most on it. I gave Clear Channel the bulk of my energy and devotion, and it got me.....a pink slip. I married Bonnie, I'm hired to do jobs. BIG difference.
2) When the kids are young, breathe it in. ALL OF IT. Even the hard times. Rachel and I are at Roy's Big Burger in Lakeside today and in line is a dad with his son, probably three years old. Some of the boy's behavior reminded me of Rachel when she was that young. Then I smiled, looked at the practically grown Rachel in front of me....part of me kept smiling, part of me sighed with great disappointment. That Rachel, the one looking for her binky, is gone forever.
3) Enjoy the current moment. If you've experienced/are experiencing similar regrets to what I've shared here, DO NOT dwell in them. Period. You must live in the moment, enjoy what's happening NOW, otherwise "now" simply becomes an extra day in the regret column.
In the past ten years, I missed many things in life. Some I couldn't control. Others I could have. Those which I can, from here on out I will. I suggest you join me. :)
I can pretty much tie anything that happens in life to an episode of my all-time favorite television show......"The Flintstones".
One of the more thoughtful episodes was at the Slate Company picnic, where Fred begins in his usual rotten mood, not wanting to partake in the annual three-legged race. He ends up getting away to himself and actually falling asleep somewhere in the park.....
....and he dreams that it's 20 years later. A gray-haired Fred, complete with LONG beard, proceeds to run back to Bedrock to discover what's happened to Wilma, Pebbles, the Rubbles, et al in the 20 years since his apparent demise. It made him realize he should enjoy every moment.
Even the three-legged race.
He wakes up, goes flying back to the picnic, and he and Barney are the hit of the day.
Carpe Diem.
------------------------------
After completing my fourth week at a job yesterday, this is a good time to share my "similar to Fred" story. Going back to Aunt Sharon's sudden passing in February, my life schedule started to get back to a reasonable normalcy. It certainly has since April 11th. And I've realized how much has come and gone over the past nine years.
For example:
--I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that it's 2011. It doesn't seem like it's been almost 10 years since 9/11.
--I've realized how much pop culture has come and gone, much of which I don't know, know bits and pieces of......now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I regret it, it simply is a barometer of the volume of what's gone on while I've slept.....
....and slept.....and rested......and tossed......
Now, add to that the egregious error of allowing myself to live at my job at Clear Channel the last four years I was there, and it all adds up.
My son is now 19?
My daughter starts high school in September?
What happened to Blues Clues?
Has it honestly been seven years since we left Longdale Elementary in rezoning?
Some of what I've experienced (and missed) the past several years was truly out of my control. Concoct a potion of sleep apnea, depression, bipolar, then throw in some diabetes, and there have been many days where I may have wanted to conquer the world, but, in the end, I was lucky to get to the bathroom. I know some who read this will truly not understand. That's okay. I certainly never want you to experience it simply so that you'll "get my point".
Other things, though?
One of the coolest things about the new workplace is everybody looks at each other just before 5:30 each day and implores the others to "get up and get out". We get there at 8:30, we work throughout the day (thankfully it's close enough to home where I can come home for lunch and check on Harry!), but then, when it's time to go home, WE GO.
I'll never make that mistake again. Am I saying I'll never stay late? Of course not. But if I ever get back to working 70/80 hours a week again (and I KNOW that can't happen in my current physical condition), somebody slap me silly.
Fourteen years of mostly seven day a week newspaper delivery, having 2 or 3 jobs for 17 straight years, working 80 hours a week in the mid-2000's....they all had a hand in the permanent crater that now occupies my half of the mattress, I'm sure.
--------------------
But what I'm really trying to convey is simply this.
1) Remember what's important in life, and focus the most on it. I gave Clear Channel the bulk of my energy and devotion, and it got me.....a pink slip. I married Bonnie, I'm hired to do jobs. BIG difference.
2) When the kids are young, breathe it in. ALL OF IT. Even the hard times. Rachel and I are at Roy's Big Burger in Lakeside today and in line is a dad with his son, probably three years old. Some of the boy's behavior reminded me of Rachel when she was that young. Then I smiled, looked at the practically grown Rachel in front of me....part of me kept smiling, part of me sighed with great disappointment. That Rachel, the one looking for her binky, is gone forever.
3) Enjoy the current moment. If you've experienced/are experiencing similar regrets to what I've shared here, DO NOT dwell in them. Period. You must live in the moment, enjoy what's happening NOW, otherwise "now" simply becomes an extra day in the regret column.
In the past ten years, I missed many things in life. Some I couldn't control. Others I could have. Those which I can, from here on out I will. I suggest you join me. :)
Monday, May 02, 2011
Bin Laden Dead---What's Next?
Some rapid-fire thoughts on the historic news breaking tonight.....
1) Congratulations to the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces, the "boots on the ground", who never gave up in spite of waning public support at home. Special thanks to the special forces who were involved in the raid at Abbottabad, Pakistan to put an end to this scourge on humanity.
2) Congratulations to President Obama and his National Security Team for not dropping the ball, painstakingly planning from a tip on August, 2010 all the way to the execution of the raid that finally got the job done.
3) A reminder of thanks to the previous Bush Administration for their tireless work, much of it during withering criticism and pressure at every turn, to prove a surge works (Iraq), which set the stage for Obama to surge in Afghanistan, quelling any Taliban or Al-Qaeda gains, all the while looking inside Pakistan for the big catch.
4) All U.S. interests, both foreign and domestic, should be extremely vigilent in the days and weeks to come. If they can pull it off, those who side with Bin Laden will want to retaliate, quell our victorious feeling, and return us to that feeling of "this war will never end...."
---------------------
Which brings me to my final point, and I believe it is the most important. In light of this development, some issues are going to rocket to the top of discussion.
A) If the reason for going to Afghanistan was to "get Bin Laden", isn't it now time to come home? If the President does not do this, he risks making the hard left in America very, very upset just as the 2012 election campaign is ramping up. Meanwhile, Bin Laden's demise takes much of the wind out of the sails of those who want to continue in Afghanistan. On the other hand, April was the deadliest month for Americans in IRAQ since 2009. And we're ramping down there. What happens when we're gone?
B) How much political hay will Obama be able to make from being the one who authorized the successful raid on Bin Laden? Much, I suspect, and deservedly so. I could care less which President got him, I just wanted him gotten. This is a time to give credit where credit is due, and foremost, it goes to Obama and his National Security Team. Conservatives should not try to politicize this. There's nothing here to politicize.
C) What about the body? Yes, remember, in Islam, burials are normally done within 24 hours, and the fact that the "infidels, the Americans" have, in their possession, the body of their martyred leader, Osama Bin Laden, is really going to stir their passions, their hatred. Let us be vigilant.
As someone posted on Facebook tonight, now we know where Jack Bauer went after the final season of "24"....... :)
1) Congratulations to the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces, the "boots on the ground", who never gave up in spite of waning public support at home. Special thanks to the special forces who were involved in the raid at Abbottabad, Pakistan to put an end to this scourge on humanity.
2) Congratulations to President Obama and his National Security Team for not dropping the ball, painstakingly planning from a tip on August, 2010 all the way to the execution of the raid that finally got the job done.
3) A reminder of thanks to the previous Bush Administration for their tireless work, much of it during withering criticism and pressure at every turn, to prove a surge works (Iraq), which set the stage for Obama to surge in Afghanistan, quelling any Taliban or Al-Qaeda gains, all the while looking inside Pakistan for the big catch.
4) All U.S. interests, both foreign and domestic, should be extremely vigilent in the days and weeks to come. If they can pull it off, those who side with Bin Laden will want to retaliate, quell our victorious feeling, and return us to that feeling of "this war will never end...."
---------------------
Which brings me to my final point, and I believe it is the most important. In light of this development, some issues are going to rocket to the top of discussion.
A) If the reason for going to Afghanistan was to "get Bin Laden", isn't it now time to come home? If the President does not do this, he risks making the hard left in America very, very upset just as the 2012 election campaign is ramping up. Meanwhile, Bin Laden's demise takes much of the wind out of the sails of those who want to continue in Afghanistan. On the other hand, April was the deadliest month for Americans in IRAQ since 2009. And we're ramping down there. What happens when we're gone?
B) How much political hay will Obama be able to make from being the one who authorized the successful raid on Bin Laden? Much, I suspect, and deservedly so. I could care less which President got him, I just wanted him gotten. This is a time to give credit where credit is due, and foremost, it goes to Obama and his National Security Team. Conservatives should not try to politicize this. There's nothing here to politicize.
C) What about the body? Yes, remember, in Islam, burials are normally done within 24 hours, and the fact that the "infidels, the Americans" have, in their possession, the body of their martyred leader, Osama Bin Laden, is really going to stir their passions, their hatred. Let us be vigilant.
As someone posted on Facebook tonight, now we know where Jack Bauer went after the final season of "24"....... :)
Friday, April 29, 2011
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