Some words are seldom said. When’s the last time you heard someone say “akimbo”? I might be the only person I’ve ever heard say it, and that was because I made a point of it. As a boy, I got many of my “big words” from comic books. As a result, for years, until I …
A Bit More Olympian About Football
The Winter Olympics are about to begin. I don’t know why it’s a plural since no one ever mentions any individual Olympic. Olympics is one of those words where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.Grammatically.I’m embarrassingly uninformed. The only person I know who seems to be in the Olympics is Vladimir …
It’s Even History Now
It seems self-evident that history is important. Those who fail to heed it are doomed to repeat it, and all that.Yet it’s pretty obvious that fewer and fewer care. Many seem to take pride in their ignorance, which becomes obvious as one gets older. Any times comparisons are made, invariably someone says, “Well, that was …
The Power of the Dunk
Previous generations of African-American athletes were politically active. By and large, they aren’t anymore, and when they are, as in the case of Dennis Rodman, it tends to be maniacally weird. Today’s athletes stay clear of politics, seemingly unmindful and unappreciative of the benefits they enjoy due to the controversial efforts of Jackie Robinson, Muhammad …
Say, Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away?
I was just thinking – well, on and off, actually, for several days – about things people used to do and say. And don’t anymore. When’s the last time you heard the term “Red China”? That used to be short for the People’s Republic, back before it started supplying Walmart. “Nationalist China” sounded important, but …
Global Weirding
It’s up to 28 degrees. When my iPhone informs me it is above freezing – the forecast is 11 a.m. – I’ll stop the faucet dripping. I’ll be grateful for the water bill because it got as low as 9, I think, and the pipes held out.That’s the good news. The bad news is having …
A Futile Attempt to High-Def What Happened
College football has dwindled down to nothing. The great winnowing out is well under way in the pros. Parting from each sport, in its turn, is such sweet sorrow.Autumn nights find me inexplicably watching Bowling Green play Buffalo. Sleepless Saturday nights are extended by Boise State or Fresno State playing some other State.Then, just to …
The Glorious Anachronism
I don’t care whether or not you support them or even want them to win the playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.One of the great virtues of America is that there is a professional football team in Green Bay, Wis. It’s still possible! The country still has just a speck of respect for tradition …
Don’t Mourn; Be Happy
Phil Everly died, prompting me to peruse Youtube and marvel at the magical, intuitive ability of brothers named Everly, Louvin, Medley and Avett to influence various generations. It seems to me that few have recognized Scott and Seth Avett’s place in this parade of musical history.I watched “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Wake …
Selfish by Nature
I shouldn’t eat as much fried food. I’m probably drinking too much coffee (right at this moment, even). I should get more exercise. I should curb my vices, and, quite possibly, my enthusiasm. It’s stressful, you know. I don’t care, and to one extent or another, that’s true of most everyone. We pick our poisons, …
Nightrider's Lament 