2024 NFL Throwback Review

Twenty NFL teams wore throwback uniforms this year. See link for more photos. Very nice. Falcons Bears Saints Browns Packers Cowboys Buccaneers Giants Jets Patriots Raiders Jaguars Dolphins Broncos Seahawks Vikings Steelers Eagles 49ers Titans. Teams without throwbacks are Bills Panthers Texans Colts Chargers Rams Chiefs Lions Bengals Redskins Ravens Cardinals – several of these teams could easily wear throwbacks.

 

Here’s a breakdown of the good, the bad, and ugly. Just wish teams would plan better to create more good looking games.

Bears throwback + a classic uni

Browns throwback + a classic uni

Buccaneers throwbacks + a classic uni

Cowboys throwback + a classic uni

49ers throwbacks home & road + a classic uni

Giants had 2 throwbacks plus a classic uni

Jets throwback + Sac Exchange uni

Packers throwback + a classic uni

Raiders throwback + a classic uni

Steelers throwback plus a classic uni

Chargers have a classic uni

Chiefs have a classic uni

Colts have a classic uni

Dolphins throwbacks home & road

Broncos throwback

Eagles throwback

Falcons wore throwbacks the max 3 times

Jaguars throwback

Patriots throwback

Saints throwback

Seahawks throwback

Titans use Oilers throwback

Vikings throwback

Bengals need a throwback

Bills need a throwback

Cardinals need throwbacks, have a classic helmet

Commanders need a throwback

Lions need a throwback

Panthers wore 13 diff combos (most bad)

Rams need throwbacks. Yellow jersey is close. 

Ravens too new for throwbacks but have decent unis

Texans too new

M brought a truckload of his stuff back home. We helped him unload it. Supper was Mexican leftovers, as C had eaten a late lunch. She’s been baking “healthy” sourdough bread and cinnamon bread.

Due to the cold I wore jeans to work today. I rarely wear jeans. Don’t like the way they feel or look. Also wore my rarely worn but warm Puma RSX hightops, which I have up for sale. Might wear my Nike Air Max Turf hightops tomorrow for warmth. Yesterday I wore some Cole Haans that didn’t keep me warm.

Currently down to 9 emails in my to do list, which is the lowest in months. I still have several big projects I need to get done.

You guys ready for the snow? Let me know if y’all need anything.

Small group tonight, on the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37

25. a lawyer tested Jesus, asking “what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26. Jesus asked “what is written in the Law?”

27. the lawyer replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

28. Jesus said “You have answered correctly, do this and you’ll have eternal life.”

29. The lawyer asked “who is my neighbor?”

30. Jesus: “A man on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and left him for dead.

31. a priest was walking that road, but passed by on the other side.

32. a Levite also passed on the other side of the road.

33. But a Samaritan had compassion,

34. and bound his wounds, put him on his animal, took him to the inn and cared for him.

35. The next day the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to care for him.”

36. Jesus asked “which of these three proved to be a neighbor to the man who was robbed?”

37. The lawyer replied “The one who showed him mercy”.

Jesus replied “Go and do likewise”.

Conspiracy Roundup

With ever increasing sightings of unexplained phenomena in the sky, incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday acknowledged the possibility that UFO’s are indeed alien beings. Some think the increased UFO sightings – and acknowledgement by the government and military – is because of the impending appearance of large mother-ship like spacecraft that will be impossible to hide from the citizens of the world. You heard it here first.

DENISON: A Washington Post writer, commenting on “an unimaginable AI future,” notes: “It’s no longer clear how much of ordinary life will survive the next 25 years.” ME: the soldier who died in the cybertruck in Las Vegas warned that the unexplained drones over site in the US cannot be shot down because they are controlled by Artificial Intelligence that has grown so powerful that it can no longer be controlled by humans.

DENISON: the killing of 14 people on New Year’s Day in New Orleans is the latest sign of a resurgence in radical Islamist terrorism around the world. ME: not good timing for Biden to release eleven foreign prisoners connected to September 11th, less than a week later. Biden takes the Lord's name in vain. You’d think all those pastors who had supported him would have a comment.

Jimmy Light did say that Steve Head and Clay Ramsey came to his 60th birthday party that Deborah had organized for him. Steve Head has retired from the job he had taken over from his father at Georgia Tech, but still works a couple of days a week.  Jimmy had a knee replacement and a hip replacement. At one point he had run as many Peachtree Road Races as I had, but now I have moved ahead of him. Jimmy’s sister Deborah will probably pass him and run more Peachtrees than Jimmy did as well. I was going to tell Jimmy about Jerome helping the Whitakers, how George does so much for SPdL, and other news like a David Hurt update.

Sunday: watched an episode of Elsbeth. So good. The actress’ real life husband has joined the cast as an evil judge, that Elsbeth figured out had committed a murder that he was trying to frame someone else for.

I noticed several people who waited until Jimmy Carter passed away to speak poorly of him. One of the good things about what I call social media is that you can block certain people who aren’t worthy of my time. Wish I'd taken the time to pay tribute to Carter this weekend at his Presidential Library. In honor of today's National Bobblehead Day, here's my Jimmy Carter bobblehead.

Sold two pairs of shoes this weekend: one of the two pair of adidas Stan Smiths that I own, and a pair of Matthew’s boots. Yesterday in an effort to clear out my mountain of shoes, I had offered price reductions to everyone who’s expressed interest in the shoes I have for sale. To celebrate I shopped on line for a pair of slip on sneakers that I could wear around the house as house shoes, but I didn’t find a perfect pair.

Man that fall that I took really wore me out. I never feel so bad as I did on Monday. Shoulders sore. Went home and drop down on the couch.

Got home from work last night and pulled 3/4 of the way in to the garage, since that’s as far as I can go without running into the furniture we have out there. Matthew said he was bringing stuff over, so I pulled out of the garage. Later he said he would come another day. So I pulled my car back in to the garage. This morning my battery was dead. Couldn’t get into the trunk to get jumper cables because of the dead battery. Called AAA. My battery is 2-1/2 years old. But AAA said my battery was in good shape, but the connector had broken loose. Only $22 to repair. Arrived at work at 11 am.

The Babylon Bee knows Ceil well.

Players who hit 50+ HR in a season, but did not lead the majors.

Player       Year  HR Leader    HR

Mantle............1961...54...Maris...........61

Foxx...............1938...50...Greenberg...58

Griffey, Jr.......1997...56... McGwire.....58

Griffey, Jr.......1998...56....McGwire.....70

Ortiz...............2006...54....Howard.......58

Gonzalez.......2001...57....Bonds..........73

Vaughn..........1998...50....McGwire......70

Fielder...........2007...50.....A-Rod.........54

B Anderson...1996...50.....McGwire.....52

S Sosa...........1998..66.....McGwire.....70

S Sosa.......... 1999..63.....McGwire.....65

S Sosa...........2001..64.....Bonds.........73

A Judge.........2017..52.....Stanton.......59

S Otani..........2024..54.....Judge..........58

The Fall

Last night when I took Winnie outside, I had forgotten to turn on the outside light. Usually not a problem. But when we were headed back into the garage I approached too close to thee house. I wasn’t paying attention, and forgot about the large flower pot – until I tripped over it. Fell down hard and skinned my knee. My wrists and shoulders are a little sore from catching myself. Stayed down on the ground for a minute to agonize. Still a little sore this morning so I skipped the gym.

After church we ate at Pappasitos. The place was busy, and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. Someone recognized Ceil and they had a chat. Just when our table was ready, Jimmy Light walked up to say hello. We invited him to eat with us. Evidently he is a regular there, as he knew almost all the employees. Jimmy still lives in Dalton, where he referees basketball and volleyball and sells insurance.

Jimmy had gone to George Wright’s funeral, and said that Van Earl had delivered a humorous eulogy. Jimmy said Van Earl often caddies up at an exclusive course near Chattanooga. Jimmy had asked what we thought of the new JFBC pastor, but might not of liked it when we said we preferred Clay’s preaching to Bryant’s.

Got home from lunch around 3 pm but wasn’t able to plop down on the couch until almost 4 pm. Watched the second half of the Falcons game. Ceil isn’t quite used to the never ending poor play. The Falcon coach is getting LOTS of criticism. He just stands there. Bad clock management. He did say the defense took a step back, and it sure did. Panthers looked like the Green Bay Packers and Bryce Young looked like Bart Starr.

Watched the Chiefs@Broncos and Raiders@Chargers while playing on my phone and laptop. Pancakes for supper.

Saturday we worked around the house all day, mainly upstairs. Also organized and packed up all the Christmas decorations. While we were putting stuff away in the attic we pulled out 2 or 3 old boxes of stuff to give away / throw away. Finally found an old VRC tape that I’d been looking for from 1994, of me and Lang at the Super Bowl Experience delivering a sports report. I’ll send it to you once I get it converted to a video. I also need to convert an old Camp SPdL tape to video.

We were both worn out Saturday afternoon from all the work we had done. Ceil fixed a Mexican dinner.

With last night’s overnight low only 51 degrees and the rain moving out, I thought I might be able to sneak in a quick round of golf this morning. But the rain didn’t move out quite as quickly as needed, so I didn’t make the drive downtown. Plus I am meeting a guy for lunch today. Gonna get back cold this afternoon, and stay cold all week.

Had lunch at Chickfila with Lee. Skipped fries and got a sandwich and a milkshake.

DAVID ORTIZ [SABR Bio] was the last 20th century American Leaguer to go an entire season (min 20 AB) without collecting a hit. He went 0 for 20 in 1999, but did walk 5 times. A plaque was presented to Ortiz on 06-Sep-2005 by Boston Owner John Henry and President Larry Lucchino declaring Ortiz to be “The greatest clutch hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox”. He had eleven career walk-off HR during the regular season and two during the 2004 postseason, the first of which clinched the AL Division Series. Ortix set major league career records for home runs, RBIs, and hits for a DH. As a DH he finished with 485 HR; 1590 RBIs; and 2192 hits. He also struck out 4 times in a game ten times: here are Papi’s = 4K X 10.

How Not to Change Your Mind

I had checked out a book with the title “How to Change Your Mind”. I never research library books as much as I should. New York Times bestseller. Turns out it’s about how LSD is being used to treat depression, anxiety, and addictions. Not sure if I will finish, though it is educational. One woman had a trip and met a being who refered to himself as "I AM". 

New Years Eve: Ceil had me drive her so she could return several items at Perimeter Mall and High Country. Also Publix. C had wanted to go from Perimeter Mall over to the Brookhaven Taqueria for lunch, but that would’ve killed the day.

Wednesday: Ceil sent me to Kroger and get gas. Also McDonalds and RaceTrac. I was following the news and didn’t get much done around the house, except laundry.

Thursday morning: skipped the gym and came in early to work, so I could leave early to watch the Sugar Bowl at home. They’ll probably have the game on at work, but not the sound. Back up close to 70 emails that I’ll need to work through again. Work should be “slow” until the 13th but still plenty to do.

Shepherd’s pie for supper, made from lean organic grass fed ground beef and real potatoes. Also kale.

Friday: went to the gym. Did a decent job of getting there relatively early.

The US Surgeon General sounds the alarm about the link between alcohol and cancer.

The CDC covered up how the surge in heart failure cases is linked to the covid vaccine.

On New Years Eve lightning struck the US Capitol, Washington Monument, Empire State Building, and the new World Trade Center. Coincidence?

Article: according to the Global Terrorism Index, there’s been a fivefold increase in fatalities from terrorist acts since 9/11.  Four groups are responsible for most of these - all Islamic. Yet the EU’s anti-racism body wants a gag order on reporting this.

DENISON: persecution against Christians has long been a fixture in places dominated by Islamic extremism, such as in parts of the Middle East and Africa. North Korea, China, and India are other places where government is known to be hostile toward Christianity. Persecution has also increased in Latin American countries like Nicaragua and Venezuela—both traditionally Christian.

KEN GRIFFEY, Jr. [SABR Bio] is the only player to win the All-Star Game Home Run Derby more than twice, in 1994, 1998, & 1999. Those who have won twice are Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, & Pete Alonso. In 1996, 97, & 98 Griffey put up 140, 147, & 146 RBI.  He followed up with 134 in 1999. He was the first Hall of Famer to hit 40 home runs in both leagues. In 1994 with Seattle, Griffey led the AL with 40 HR in that shortened season.  In his first season with the Reds he again hit exactly 40.

Only four players have walked six times in one game. JIMMIE FOXX [SABR Bio] was the first, on 16-Jun-1938. He walked in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, & 9th offf Browns’ pitchers Les Tietje, Ed Linke, & Russ Van Atta. Since then 6 BB in 1 G has been done by Andre Thornton, Jeff Bagwell, & Bryce Harper. Foxx won his 3^rd MVP that year. Foxx was the first player to hit 300 home runs during the administration of a single U.S. president. Foxx hit 353 HR 1933-1943. Foxx’s 1^st MVP, the first by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) was in 1932, the season before the advent of baseball’s annual All-Star game. He lost out on a Triple Crown that year by .003 for the batting title to Dale Alexander, who hit .367, playing for DET & BOS.

NEWS: click here to watch the little project I compiled all last year – 366 one second long daily photos of my year, one for each day. Six minutes long.

Being Parker Jones

Let’s say you are a big sports fan. If you could be granted any wish, what would you wish for? How many would wish to be a part of their most beloved sports team? For some young men, they hold on to their dreams by walking on to their favorite football team. Perhaps they weren’t highly recruited, but just being able to practice with the team, to contribute in any way possible, to be able to dress out and / or be on the sidelines on college football Saturdays…an experience they’ll always take with them.

But for the vast majority of us sports fans, we have to experience the game from the stands, or on the couch watching at home. We “contribute” by voicing our "expert" opinions to friends and family members, and on social media. We’re not there for the practices, meetings, film sessions, or in the trainer’s room. We know only a tiny bit of what actually goes on. Yet we are quick to tweet or comment because with the benefit of hindsight, surely our “expert” opinion is what the coaches and players should have done. Hardly ever do we realize just how lamebrained we sound.

But man, if we were on the sidelines, we’d be right up there watching and urging on our more talented teammates. What I’m trying to say is that all us bozos on social media expressing rage at a walkon redshirt sophomore from Albany who quite accidentally suffered a most unfortunate brush with a referee – who was himself straying out of the white buffer and onto the green of the UGA sideline. Something that very well could have happened to any one of us, had we been so fortunate to have been in Parker Jones’ place.

You know, the “there by the grace of God go I”. 

Several new angles showing the ref running into Jones. Parker was across the line, but the ref was at some point in the green (below).

But since the rule states that it's a penalty if there's contact, the call was hard to argue. But hard to blame Jones, as his error wasn't egregious.

One more thing: Jones was also outside the player box, which extends only down to the 35 yard line (the line to the right of the referee above). Not many of the experts at home caught that, did they?

Article: Parker Jones becomes social media scapegoat in Georgia's Sugar Bowl loss - Yahoo Sports

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://sports.yahoo.com/parker-jones-becomes-social-media-scapegoat-in-georgias-sugar-bowl-loss-021205671.html__;!!AE29DT8V!W9HLBP4MW9GmkU-9u-G27GkuBPcAmDrZCF14x2dGZBO4fQFeIxbngqLdnflojnsI-wpHnz4SRA2h2u8lIEk$

After the Sugar Bowl so many of those "knowledgeable" fans are finally starting to realize that just maybe Carson Beck wasn't the root of all the Dawgs problems. Maybe it had a little to do with the rest of the offense, with injuries, with the talent a step below the numerous matriculations to the NFL. Maybe Bobo isn't quite the playcaller that Dan Lanning or Todd Monkin was - but I wouldn't call him the root of the problem either.

Heck the Dawgs won the SEC Championship after facing the toughest schedule in the country. Went into the playoffs as the second ranked team in the country, but without their veteran starting QB. Then had to play the 5th ranked team with an inexperienced QB. Maybe it wasn't such a bad season after all.

Quite similarly, many of those self-proclaimed experts spent much of this past Braves season first ragging on Charlie Morton’s struggles, and then on Max Fried’s lack for postseason dominance. Both pitchers experienced the frustrations and struggles firsthand, and worked long hours to return to form. But the social media experts were ready to show them the door – good riddance, the Braves will be better off without them.

And the experts got their wish. The Yankees open the bank for Fried, and Baltimore signs Morton for more millions. And what is the reaction of the experts? Panic. How could the Braves let them walk? How can “we” compete without them? Really. Should the Braves have spent to keep them? No way. Much wiser to use the money on younger arms. No credit for trading a backup shortstop for the 2024 Cy Young winner – whose salary was paid for the Red Sox.

Maybe us social media experts need to take a step back every once in a while. You think?

Interestingly, the most recent Adam Grant tweet I happened to save addresses this very topic.

Bowl Premonitions

Happy New Year. Did you stay up until midnight? I didn't, but did make it to the end of the Fiesta Bowl because I was doing other stuff. 

Wednesday morning I had a premonition: I know I picked Oregon but if the Buckeyes play like they did last week they could pull the upset. But Ohio State has a recent history of flopping in big games. 

I know Bama had at least 9 players missing from the bowl game. Not sure about that South Carolina / Illinois Cheez Itz Bowl. Something about players signaling each other when there’s not going to be a kickoff return, then SC faked the signal and ran the kick back.

Refs didn’t call targeting on Texas (it was a close call) which may have been the difference in the Peach Bowl. Sun Devils missed 2 field goals and missed out on a TD, but still tied it up in regulation. Some game.

The Sun Devil star gives glory to God. So does the Buckeye QB, and later the Notre Dame QB. Previously it was the Texas QB and the UGA QB. Also the Boise State head coach. The Colorado head coach has been known to glorify God. And Clemson's head coach and QB. Quite the trend. 

Because of the Peach Bowl overtime, few watched the first quarter of the Rose Bowl that ESPN paid almost $8 billion to televise. Rose Bowl wants to kick off at 5 pm eastern because of the beautiful sunset on the San Gabriel mountains.

Thursday morning I had another premonition: just like my feeling about Ohio State turned out to be true, I had a feeling that with the delay, Notre Dame would find a way to win. Guess I should go in to fortune telling, huh? UGA was missing 12 players. Kirby’s father fell there in New Orleans and is in the hospital. Not good indicators.

1.03 0400 N Tex vs Tex St

1.03 0730 Minn vs Va Tech

1.04 1100 Liberty vs Buffalo

1.04 0430 Browns @ Ravens

1.04 0800 Bengals @ Steelers

1.05 0100 Panthers @ Falcons

1.05 0100 Jaguars @ Colts

1.05 0425 Chargers @ Raiders

1.05 0425 Chiefs @ Broncos

1.05 0820 Vikings @ Lions

1.09 0730 Notre Dame vs Penn State

1.10 0730 Ohio State vs Texas

NEWS: click here to watch the little project I compiled all last year – 366 one second long daily photos of my year, one for each day. Six minutes long. Happy with the result. Hope to make the 2025 version even better. Have I shared this yet?  

Denison on the terrorist attack in New Orleans: we ask how an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God could allow such a tragedy (Habakkuk 1:13). God created humans to love him and each other (Matthew 22:37–39). God endowed us with the freedom necessary to make this choice (Joshua 24:15). When we misuse this freedom, the consequences are not his fault but ours.

MICKEY MANTLE [SABR Bio] has the most career RBI in the World Series: 40. Yogi is right behind him with 39. Mantle broke Babe Ruth’s career regular season strikeout record in 1964 and held it (1710) until 1978 when Willie Stargell passed him. There are now 40 players with career K totals greater than Mantle’s. He hit .353 in 1956, by far his highest to that point. He also led with 130 RBI that year. His 52 HR to give him a Triple Crown. 1956 was the only time The Commerce Comet led in either batting average or RBI.

Game Notes: Sugar Bowl

Game notes: two lost fumbles. Kickoff return for a touchdown. Notre Dame scores 17 quick points. UGA gets in a 3rd and long and has to burn a valuable time out. Not winning football. Early in the game it was the Irish committing penalty after penalty. Then Riley Leonard started running the ball like GT QB Haynes King. If Riley was so good, why did he have to transfer? At least he's a Christian.

Then after the Irish scored on the kickoff return, the Dawgs try to run the kickoff out of the end zone. It didn't turn out well. 

Cash Jones missed most of the first half, then came back to score a TD. WR Bell also missed time. Dawgs weren't able to capitalize on two long drives. First lost fumble all year by Etienne. Wide open receiver drops another pass, making for a second and long. The poor play carries over to the second half. Offsides on a 4th down play. Dawgs not tackling well, or taking good angles to the ball. 

Pretty sure I saw a couple of Notre Dame players in the white border during the kickoff return TD. Later announcer Greg McElroy got into an on air argument with the rules official - weird. Sean McDonough had to break it up. 

For the most part Gunner Stockton played well. Really zipping passes to his receivers. Didn't get much help from the running backs, wide receivers, and offensive line. Tight ends did good.

Huge gamble by UGA on 4th and 13 pays off with the obvious pass interference. But the Dawgs can't cash in. Replace two missed 4th down conversions with two field goals, and it's a 7 point game.

Give credit to the Irish kicker for nailing all his field goals. 

Guess all the experts were right: Dawgs can't beat the Irish with an inexperienced backup QB. First time Notre Dame ever beat Georgia. First Irish team to win the Sugar, Rose, or Orange since 1974. Can the Irish beat Penn State...on two days less rest? 

Announcer Matt Stinchcomb said earlier this week that most of the Irish players he'd met were nice gentlemen, most probably future corporate executives. So they have that going for them.

Walkons: Cash Jones. That UGA LB #17. That Arizona State do everything RB. Clemson WR Hunter Renfroe drafted by the Raiders. Was Ladd McConkey a walkon? What do they all have in common?

That poor #39 on the sidelines. I'm probably wrong, but it didn't look like he was on the white border to me. Maybe the official just hit the kid's arms.

Maybe the official was too close to the Georgia team. A tough penalty. After that the border was clear on both sidelines. 

Did Kirby actually write his tweet? A nice sentiment but it seemed uncharacteristic for him, as uber focused as he is on football. Also kind of wordy. Maybe Kirby spoke those words. 

Irish defender loses a shoe and sprints toward the sideline - then drops to the ground faking an injury. Nice.

Never realized both Notre Dame and Auburn have the same fight song.

I liked Notre Dame better when they wore black shoes and didn't have the names on the backs of the jerseys. 

Glad they moved the Sugar Bowl playoff semifinal to 4 pm so the Duke vs Ole Miss Gator Bowl could stay in prime time. At least either the SEC or the ACC will finally get a bowl win.

Guess I shouldn't have left work early to watch the game at home. 

All four top teams given a playoff bye lost. Guess UGA should've been treated like FSU and been left out of the playoff, since their starting QB was out. Not!

Tomorrow: more bowl observations.

Got a lot done at work today because it was so quiet. Still tons to do. Brad gets all his flu shots but keeps getting Covid and the flu. But he keeps running every day. I'm going to be sure to take my vitamins. 

Young dad Marty took a job with a competitor. Probably closer to home, higher paying, and easier than what he was doing. Can't blame him. Poor Sherryl is going crazy. It's not SAP but all the extra work she's having to do with the new slitter being broke. She was already overworked. 

Lots of craziness going on in the US and the world. Seemed like the FBI knew in advance there was a bomb in the cooler. Vegas bomber was burned beyond recognition with a gunshot wound to the head but his two ID's were intact? A supposed bomb making expert who loved his country and Trump. Could he have been killed and placed in the cybertruck before it was exploded? Two suspects both from Ft Bragg. Lots of double talk from the government. Plus all this fog business. I don't want to go outside, and I don't want to look up. The year isn't starting off well.

Appropriately my library reservation for George Orwell's  "1984" just became available for me to check out.