Remarkably Bright Creatures

Watched Sally Field's new movie yesterday. Wasn't much like the book. Still very good.

Whiplash Hwang

 
Last night Ronald Acuna returned to the Braves lineup, after recovering from injury. Instead of his signature highlighter cleats, he wore cleats that were Mets blue. His lackadaisical play in right field allowed a run to score.

During one at bat Ronald fouled a ball off his ankle, and limped around in the batters box while the trainer came out to check on him. I started to wonder whether Acuna would make it 9 innings without getting hurt again. I was reminded of the character from MASH: Whiplash Hwang, who would throw himself in front of jeeps in an effort to be reimbursed by the Army.

Hall of Famers

 
My high school football coach is being inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame this year - quite the honor. I was able to have a brief chat with Coach Seward at our recent reunion, and he seemed to be doing well in retirement. A man of few words, Coach Seward always took time to check on how I was doing.

This past weekend Braves Hall of Famers Fred McGriff, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux gathered to celebrate Andruw's inclusion into the elite fraternity.

  

Tech's Greatest QB?

Construction on Mt Rushmore was completed in 1941. It portrays one president from the 1700's, two from the 1800's, two presidents from the 1800's, and one inaugurated in 1901.

What Georgia Tech quarterback deserves to be included in the Mt Rushmore of Tech football players? Hard to compare QB's across different eras, but we can compare their win/loss record and winning percentage.

Does a QB who averaged 7.5 wins and a 63.8 winning percentage worthy of inclusion? Are they really legendary? That's Joe Hamilton, whose record bested Haynes King.

If a player worthy of Mt Rushmore status if they never made first team All-America? If they couldn't lead the team to 8 wins every year?

Tech has a storied football history, with several All Americans and Heisman runner ups. But just because a recent player had a good run, that shouldn't place them ahead of a player from the 1950's who posted better results.

Of these seven GT QB's, which is most worthy?

WP%...W-L...bowl record

83.3 27-5-1 3-0 Wade Mitchell

65.6 21-10-1 0-2 Billy Lothridge

64.1 25-14 0-3 Josh Nesbitt

64.1 20-11-1 1-1 Kim King

63.8 30-17 3-0 Joe Hamilton

61.1 22-14 1-2 Haynes King

57.9 22-16 2-0 Justin Thomas

Haynes King finished 10th in the Heisman vote.

2023 7-6 Gasparilla Bowl (beat UCF)

2024 7-4 Birmingham Bowl (lost to Vandy)

2025 8-4 Pop Tarts Bowl (lost to BYU)

Total 22-14 winning percentage 61.1%, avg 7.3 wins & 4.7 losses

Billy Lothridge finished 2nd for the Heisman

1961 7-4 Gator Bowl (lost to Penn State)

1962 7-3-1 Bluebonnet Bowl (lost to Missouri)

1963 7-3 no bowl game

Total 21-10-1 winning percentage = 65.6%

Justin Thomas 

2014 11-3 Orange Bowl (beat Mississippi State)

2015 3-9 no bowl game

2016 8-4 Taxslayer Bowl (beat Kentucky)

Total: 22-16 winning percentage = 57.9%

Joe Hamilton finished second in the Heisman vote.

1996 5-6 no bowl game 

1997 7-5 CarQuest Bowl (beat West Virginia)

1998 10-2 Gator Bowl (beat Notre Dame)

1999 8-4 Gator Bowl (beat Virginia)

Total: 30-17 avg 7.5-4.25 winning percentage = 63.8%

Kim King

1965 7-3-1 Gator Bowl (beat Texas Tech)

1966 9-2 Orange Bowl (lost to Florida)

1967 4-6 no bowl game

Total: 20-11-1 winning percentage = 64.1%

Wade Mitchell was 3-0 vs UGA

1954 8-3 Cotton Bowl beat Arkansas

1955 9-1-1 Sugar Bowl beat Pitt

1956 10-1 Gator Bowl beat Pitt

Total: 27-5-1 winning percentage = 83.3%

Josh Nesbitt

2008 9-4 Peach lost to LSU

2009 10-3 Orange lost to Iowa

2010 6-7 Independence lost to Air Force

Total: 25-14 winning percentage = 64.1%

Friday and Saturday

Friday: got the emissions tested in Ceil's car. Grabbed a free apple pie from McDonalds. Took my car for emissions, but the place closed early due to the downpour. Ate supper over at the Hall's house, to hear about the recent trip to Banff.

Saturday: went for a couple of walks. Hadn't seen the Brasfields in over a month. They stopped by to catch up. Lasagna for lunch. Took my car back for emissions. Grabbed a free Coke at RaceTrac, then a free milkshake at Dairy Queen. Dropped off giveaways at Goodwill. Didn't go in to shop. Then stopped by Dollar Tree on the way home. 

The Chiles just returned from Europe. They're supposed to stop by this evening. 

Why I'm Ending This Blog

Over the past few months I have mentioned in several blog posts how I've been considering ending this blog, and noted some of the reasons. With this post I'm sharing these reasons all in one place.

This blog takes time. It doesn't just happen. Before I retired I sat at a desk all day. I'd email my friend, and most days before I left work I'd have those emails edited into that day's blog post. Now I'm retired, my friend is gone, and I have other things I want to do with my time. Simply put: I don't want to do this any more.

I want to get plenty of sleep. Spend plenty of time at the gym. Projects in the yard and house. De-clutter. My home office still isn't completely set up. 

I want to spend time with Ceil, my kids and grandkids, and friends. More time than I'm spending now. Volunteer. Travel, on short trips and long vacations. Plan. Read. Golf. Hike. Serve. This blog is literally sucking up my time, that I should be using for these other things.

Right now all the writing, editing, and posting to this blog cuts into my afternoons and evenings, when there's other things I'd rather be doing. You can tell how some posts aren't as good as others - mostly due to lack of time. Every day in the back of my mind I know I've got to figure out when and what to post. It can be a chore.

I've been blogging for over 20 years. It's helped me develop as a writer, something that's still not easy. It's been a wonderful creative outlet, a place I can post my research on various topics that interest me. This blog serves as a family record, a timeline, a history. For that I am grateful. For sure I have shared way too much personal information. Now I want to do other things.

So many blogs peter out after a year or two - if they make it that long. Some don't make it past the first few posts. I think I've done okay. I've never much publicized my blog. Never been concerned with the amount of traffic it's received. That's because I've used this blog mostly for me, to help me figure out my own thoughts and viewpoints. 

Thanks for reading.

Jim Jarvis = Chad Powers?

 
Braves rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis has played well. I can't figure out if he is a Chad Powers situation.

I've been watching The Hawk on Netflix. Not the greatest show in TV history, but it's okay.

 Slow day. Went out for a walk. Ceil got her haircut. Lee stopped by to discuss some financial matters.

This afternoon the Halls returned from their Canada trip, and this evening the Chiles returned home from Europe. 

Watched the Braves game, an afternoon affair.