| Missed it by that much... |
Thursday, January 05, 2006 |
 Don Adams was an actor known for one role. He had many and worked one dozens of films. However, there was one particular role on one television show that put him into Hollywood history: Maxwell Smart. Now, for those too young to remember, Secret Agent Maxwell Smart was neither secretive nor smart. And when confronted by his countless failures, his catch phrase was always (Let's all say it together): "Missed it by that much."
Such is where we find ourselves tonight. Having watched a football game that is the epitome of "Instant Classic" (for those who don't get ESPN Classic, my condolences). #2 Texas beat #1 USC by a score of 41-38 to win the National Championship. Quarterback Vince Young scored the winning touchdown and 2-point conversion with 19 seconds left in the game to give the Longhorns a 3 point lead
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However, the game turned on a 4th down play just moments before that final drive. USC had the ball and the momentum, but were faced with a 4th and 2 situation to get a critical 1st down. LenDale White, who had been running over people all game and gaining yards by the handful every time he touched the ball, ran into a wall of white jerseys just as he was about to get that first down. He came up inches short. Texas got the ball and marched down the field to win the game. Had LenDale made it 1 yard further, USC keeps the ball and, in all likelyhood, wins the game. But he didn't, and they didn't. USC came within a mere 6 inches of winning an unprecedented 3rd consecutive National Championship. They missed it by that much.
I'd love to write something deep and insightful right now, but I'm all tapped out of deep and insightful. The game has exhausted me. But before I toddle off to bed, I will take one moment to correct the record a bit. My friend, Steve Norris, has gone off his meds again and has alleged on his blog that I am an alumnus of USC and am, therefore, a "felon". (Yes, this is the same friend who claimed that "God was a Bruin". This all really brings into question my friend selection process.) I am neither a USC alum nor a felon. I have committed a few misdemeanor violations of the California vehicle code, but I've so far managed to keep clear of the hard stuff. As for my academic history, I am an alumnus of Occidental College. I did not attend nor did I apply to attend USC. However, I am a fan of USC football. Theirs is a better, more enticing tradition. The players that have played there have had a bigger impact on the history of the game. And, well, they're just more fun to watch than... say... UCLA.
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| Stupid Judicial Trick |
Thursday, December 22, 2005 |
It seems as though our favorite late night talk show host has gotten himself into some legal hot water. Immediately, one would think that Mr. Letterman was caught speeding across the Connecticut countryside - again. Maybe some patrolman or some other legal official didn't take too kindle to some joke. Those would make sense, but they're not the source of Dave's troubles.
Seems his problems stem from the telekinetic messages of undying love and on-air employment offers he was sending out through the television beginning in 1993. (For those unfamiliar with the case, go here.) When the plaintiff in this case finally figured out that Dave wasnt' going to hire her - let alone marry her! - she did what every good American does. She sued him. For harrassment. In New Mexico. (You read that right.)
And, to make this farce complete, the judge granted a restraining order against Dave, ordering him to remain 3 yards away from the plaintiff at all times. 3 yards. Yea, that out to be enough room for her to safely navigate the streets of Albuquerque while Dave stalks her from Manhatten.
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| I've Got a Bad Feeling... |
Thursday, December 15, 2005 |
In the last year, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
has declared that his country will not stop their pursuit of self-suffient nuclear capabilities (he says peaceful reactors only capable of producing electricity; the rest of the world minus Russia says "Yeah, right."), that Israel should be wiped off of the map, and then this little gem today about how the Holocaust was just a hoax.
I suppose that this type of rhetoric (and I'm being overly optimistic that that's all this is) should not come as any great surprise. Mr. Ahmadinejad has held deep hatred for the West, and especially the United States, for the last 30 years. Let's not forget that he was one of the student revolutionaries who took over the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 American hostages for months.
So, in review, we've got a crack-pot dictator in North Korea, who has no qualms about starving his own people to get nuclear weapons so as to blackmail his neighbors; we've got an Islamic revolutionary who is now President of a country seeking entry into the nuclear club and talking at the same time about eliminating Israel; and we've got a bunch of free agent muslim extremists willing to blow themselves up whenever and wherever Osama Bin Laden tells them to do so. At least Kaddaffi came to his senses, or who knows where we'd be![top] [Read More] |
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| Not This Guy Again!!! |
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 |
 This past weekend, while the civilized world was basking in the glow of another (#7, thank you very much) USC player winning the Heisman Trophy, the NBA's biggest nut job (which is saying alot) opened his mouth to the Indianapolis Star.
Indiana Pacer forward, Ron Artest, claimed that he wanted to be traded. In and of itself, that's not so outrageous. However, he also said that he couldn't work with his coach, Rick Carlisle - who he says he likes and thinks is a friend - and that he needs a more nurturing environment. He then suggested that New York (you can't make this stuff up!!!) would be the ideal locale for him. Needless to say, the Pacers were none to pleased about this. Especially since he didn't say any of it to them directly. And, because of the disaster that last season became after Mr. Artest went into the stands and assaulted a fan. For those who don't remember, I give you:
and
Oh yeah. New York will be really nurturing.
So, that was Saturday. This morning I was driving into work and listening to the radio. I tend to flip all around the dial, but I'm finding that I listen more and more to Colin Cowherd on ESPN. (For those not familiar with him, go here.) Colin had a very interesting take on this Ron Artest situation, saying that just a few years ago there would be no immediate pressure on the Pacers to make a move. But because of the ever-present media and the frenzied world in which we live, the team is facing the unwarranted need to trade Artest before he becomes too much of a distraction. Twenty years ago this would have taken weeks to become a national story; now it takes a few minutes. Twenty years ago the team would have time to see if things blew over or if they could make a deal before the other teams in the league knew what was happening; now the team is hoping to get a warm body in a trade just to get rid of him and try to salvage a season. Concluding, Cowherd said that he thinks this frenzy for immediate decisions and actions has deprived our society of one of life's most critical tools to success: patience.
I thought about that idea all day. I think that Colin is right, and I think that it's even more clear this time of year. According to the church calendar, we are now in the season of Advent. Advent is a different time with an entirely different reason for being than Christmas. Advent is about waiting. Advent is about patience. We need to be patient and wait for Christmas. For centuries the Hebrews waited patiently for the Messiah. Advent is a celebration of that perseverance.
In the last few years I've come to realize that Christmas is less meaningful to me the less I celebrate Advent. Joy to the World is dulled without O Come, O Come Emmanuel. A light shown into a lit room doesn't have the impact of light brought into a dark room. I need to live in that darkness a bit. I need to try to get my head and heart around the longing for the Savior. If I don't, then the significance of The Gift of Christmas is lost.
As for Ron Artest, who knows what's going to happen. He'll probably get traded (exiled) to Toronto and he'll spend the next six months longing for some GM to be his savior and get his career back on track. Who knows. Maybe not getting what he wants right away will make him appreciate it more when it finally comes.
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| All Is Right with the World - Part II |
Sunday, December 11, 2005 |
Last night USC tailback Reggie Bush was awarded the Heisman Trophy, as the most outstanding college football player of 2005. The vote was such a landslide that the organizers only invited 3 players (Bush, Vince Young of Texas, and Matt Leinart from USC) instead of the customary 5. And the only reason they invited the other 2 guys was so ESPN would have something to talk about for the 48 minutes of airtime they needed to fill before handing Reggie the trophy.
Bush received 85% of the first place votes - the highest percentage in the history of the award! His point total was higher than all the other vote getters combined. This was a blowout in true SC fashion.
And so in honor of this historic achievement by Reggie Bush (and only slightly as a way to tweak my "God is a Bruin*" friend, Steve Norris), I give you your 2005 Heisman Trophy winner:
You know, even in this still photo he looks infinitely faster than those guys in the blue shirts. Wouldn't you agree?
*Yes, he actually wrote this. For those who can't believe that such nonsense came from an ordained elder and the owner of a hugely successful real estate firm, go here.
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