Over-Officious Jerks

SEC officials getting lambasted for their performance in today's Fiesta Bowl. An obvious Michigan TD was ruled down on the one yard line. This turned out to be the difference in the game. Then on the Wolverines final fourth down an obvious targeting call wasn't called. Officials sure like to rule ballplayers down on the one yard line, to save their own skins. Easier to overturn a non-TD call than overturn a touchdown. Reminds of a few famous quotes from NFL Films.

My beef: it's useless to have a "rules expert" in the TV booth. He's going to side with the officials every time. Have you ever heard a rules expert call out an on-field official for blowing a call? Ain't gonna happen.

Ominous start tonight for the Dawgs. Hot Pod misses a field goal. Perhaps he shouldn't have announced that he was going pro. TE Washington gets hurt. Stetson enters the injury tent for ice on his leg. Then he throws an interception.

We stayed up late to watch the Orange Bowl. Was pretty sure Tennessee was going to win, and they did. But Klubnik was so much better than QB DJU. Had Potter made those 3 field goals he missed, and had holder pitched the ball to Potter on that fake field goal, the kicker would've gotten the first down, if not scored a TD. Then Clemson wouldn't have had to go for it on 4th down in the second half, and instead would've kicked a field goal. That's a 15-19 point swing right there. Just saying.

A decent round of golf this AM, finished up just before the drizzle started back.

1. A good drive off the tee. Good 6 iron to just short of the green. Flubbed one chip then a good chip. Two putt.

2. Flubbed two tee shots. Two okay chips. Two putts.

3. Decent 6 iron off tee that sailed just left of green. Great chip. Two putt for bogey.

4. Flubbed first tee shot then hit one well, though I didn't find it.

5. Okay 3 wood off tee, much better than the previous 2 times I played this hole. Two okay chips. Two putts.

6. I hit good drives on the final 3 holes, all with my driver except on 9 (3 wood). Then on six I hit a good 5 iron and chipped onto the green.

7. My drive went almost all the way up the hill. Flubbed one hybrid then hit one decent. Bad chip then okay chip.

8. Perhaps my longest drive ever. That's my ball a few yards in front of Paul. I chipped it just over the green. Hit a good chip coming back that lipped out. Two putt for bogey.

9. Three wood of tee stayed left. Cruddy chip rolled off the back of the green. Then another bad chip, then a decent chip.

After golf I hit three thrift stores. Scored a nice pair of Nike shorts and the pair of lightweight REI kaikis I'm always on the lookout for, but never find until today. Passed on a pair of black adidas and a Vortex sweatshirt, among other treasures.

Almost stopped for a haircut but came home to play with Shivonne. Bama rolled, as expected.

Best baseball player born every year since 1847. Interesting list.

What's the Buzz

Jay Leno had the new all-electric VW Buzz on his show recently. Looks good.

I like the shorter version (top), and the pickup.

There will be a bigger longer version for the US.

Thursday: not the greatest day. Golf was good. Used my new push cart. Much easier than lugging the bag on my back. Stopped by the library and Goodwill on the way home. Nap. Leftover lasagna. Another nap. Watched FSU beat Oklahoma.

Anna was out to eat and saw Lang on TV.

Walked 18 holes this morning, the first nine with the Professor. Then I walked through 3 thrift stores. Bought a pair of expensive kaikis (that will hopefully fit) and a unique red Freddie Freeman Braves jersey with the first year in SunTrust Park patch (also on the small side). Passed on a knockoff Dansby jersey.

Took down the Christmas tree and hauled it down to the woods to reduce erosion. Sustainability. Now I'm bushed. 14000 steps.

Chopped up the leftover steak to make a BBQ sandwich. Did several loads of laundry. Watched Maryland/NC State and SC/Notre Dame. Wolfpack announcer was suspended for using the term "illegal aliens".

Tenn/Clemson: kicker BT Potter saves the day for Clemson for the last 4 years, and was due for a bad game. Hard to blame him for the first two misses, after the offense took losses just before the long field goal attempts (55 & 49 yards). 

Tigers just aren't running the ball as much as they should. Dawgs pound and pound and then pound some more, wearing out their opponent's defense. Clemson will run once or twice, then go back to the pass.

Vols have a receiver named Squirrel, named by his great grandmother. Clemson needs to retire Will Shipley's number.

ESPN is running promo after promo for the Chickfila Peach Bowl, and almost ignoring Michigan vs. TCU. You'd think 2 vs 3 would be the more competitive game. 

Looks like there will be a break in the rain tomorrow morning, so I'll get to golf again.

An Old 69 Vs. a Young 71.

Bear Bryant looks old as the hills, perhaps due to his smoking habit. He won six national championships, broke the record for wins, coached in the Liberty Bowl, retired - and died four weeks later.

Nick Saban is 71, and looks great - perhaps due to his exercise routines, which includes competitive noontime basketball games with his coaching staff. ESPN's Marty Smith talked to Saban about the legendary hoops games.

https://fanbuzz.com/college-football/sec/alabama/nick-saban-basketball/

This week a video of Saban stretching with his team while practicing for the Sugar Bowl. Saban has won seven national championships, and just recruited the best class in the nation. Both Saban and Bear have statues in Tuscaloosa. 

In a related note, today UGA ended their Thursday practice in their usual fashion: with a session of yoga. The only coach to participate? Head coach Kirby Smart.

Great morning to get back on the golf course. And playing with my "new" bag cart is so much easier than lugging around the stand cart. 

1. Decent drive. Flub. Seven iron over green. Bad chip good chip.

2. Sliced a 3 wood off the tee. Chip wasn't pretty but settled on the green. Missed the par putt. Bogey.

3. Pulled the 6 iron left off the tee. Bad chip then a good one, across the green just into the rough. Could've putted but decided to chip - and rolled it in for bogey.

4. Nice 6 iron off tee, that rolled onto the green. That made two great shots back to back. I used to hit 3 woods on this hole. Decent lag putt.

5. Flubbed the 3 wood off tee. Decent chip to fringe.

6. Okay drive off tee. Flub. Decent 5 iron. Okay chip to fringe. Okay lag putt.

7. Sliced my drive. Okay 5 iron. Okay hybrid. Flubbed one chip, then chipped across green to fringe. 

8. Flubbed my drive. Flubbed my hybrid. Then a good 7 iron to fringe. 

9. Not sure where my drive went. Flubbed one chip, then chipped onto green. Great long putt barely missed. I would've played nine more but there were two groups waiting to tee off.

Stumbled across an interesting pair of Pumas: the Easy Rider. I like this colorway better than others. But I have too many Pumas already.

Wednesday I think

Shivonne is now 14 months old. For her birthday in October, Ceil gave her this little box that must run on batteries. The box is 6 inches square. It has a speaker and two knobs that look like cat ears. There’s a magnet on top. You buy separate little figurines about 2” tall with a magnet on bottom. One of the figurines is Mufasa the Lion King, another a Disney character from another movie. When Shivonne puts the Lion on the magnet box, it plays Lion King songs. Put a figure from Beauty and the Beast, and those songs play. The cat ears adjust the volume.

So you’ll be happy to know Shiv is already into music.  Shiv goes with MC to MC’s church praise team practices, and Shiv wants to hold the microphone and sing like the big girls – even though Shiv can’t talk yet. Shiv will point to a dog and say DAH!, or to Will and say DAA. That’s about it. Shiv is good at waving and motioning with her hands and fingers. She knows how to sign “more” and “all done” (top). She has like four teeth, and has already started “brushing” her teeth.

Worked past 5:30 last night. So much to do. Didn’t finish one project because of computer issues. Didn’t have time to finish another project for purchasing. When I went to finish it today someone had entered orders using the material they had wanted me to use. Printer isn’t working so one more thing to slow me down.

Taking off tomorrow. Maybe I can get caught up next week. At work many people only read like the first line of an email and miss just about everything else. So for work emails I try to keep them super short.

We had all this leftover steak from our Sunday meal, so I went home and chopped some up for BBQ. Matthew said I’d done a good job. Watched Jeopardy and a Hallmark movie. A movie we saw a couple of night’s ago featured Bill Murray’s brother, most famous as the mayor in Groundhog Day, and as Frankie’s boss at the used car lot on The Middle.

Last night’s movie was actually on CBS, a cook moonlighting as an Uber driver who drives a young lawyer to his parent’s house for Christmas, then through a series of crazy events serves as his pretend girlfriend to help the lawyer secure the top job in the family business – and manages to bring the family together. A Christmas Proposal.

My other friend Reid went to the Howell Mill Taqueria last night. Said there was a long line. I told him they should go to Cheshire Bridge.

I usually watch Lang’s postgame report (on tape delay the next morning).

Lifted weights this AM at the gym. Playing golf tomorrow morning and Friday. 

Went to the thrift store and passed on several items:

1. Gwinnett Stripers Mex Freid bobblehead (didn’t have a box).

2. light blue Lacoste dress shirt (missing a button)

3. a black Matt Ryan throwback Falcons jersey (I alredy own both a Ryan jersey and a similar throwback).

4. black Under Armour Batman t-shirt (too big).

Malcolm S. Forbes observed, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/amy-grant-receives-kennedy-center-honors-will-host-same-sex-wedding/?vgo_ee=sem7UpWnNWpENDtls9L7KqFP0jHkyQbSyQxxZpp8Ek4%3D

Received a card yesterday from “the Murphys” of Suwanee. Enclosed was an old photo of me and former Falcons defensive end John Zook. The photo had been in an album at my parent’s house. Not sure how “the Murphys” of Suwanee came into possession of this photo.

The Zooker, a Pro Bowler who passed away in 2020, autographed the back - making it quite valuable.

Mike Alstott: Hall of Fame?

People keep saying TB FB Mike Alstott should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I decided to compare his career to Herschel’s NFL career AFTER Walker was traded to the Vikings – when Herschel was no longer the featured offensive threat for Minnesota, the Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys…when Walker played fullback and special teams. Alstott played 19 more games, but the stats are almost equal – unless you add in Herschel’s 5084 return yards (Alstott only had 43 return yards).

G YR rush yards avg long rec yards avg long AllPurposeYds

158 11 1359 5088 3.7 47  305  2284 7.5   44 7372 MA

139 08 1152 4837 4.2 91  301  2541 8.4   93 7378 HW

This doesn’t include Herschel’s rushing and receiving yards in his first 3.3 seasons with the Cowboys, which were as good as anyone in the NFL, when he gained 5706 yards in 49 games. That 116.5 yard per game average was only bettered by Jim Brown and Billy Sims.

http://www.secsportsfan.com/herschel-walker-vs-bo-jackson.html

https://sacrificefly.blogspot.com/2022/03/rushing-yards-per-game.html

Is Crackerjack the movie on Amazon Prime? Kind of a Napoleon Dynamite plays church softball. Produced and directed by my friend Bryan Coley, featuring Jeff Foxworthy, Paul Byrd, and Lanny Donahoo.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1906351/

In 1942, C. S. Lewis wrote his most famous paragraph in his classic, Mere Christianity: I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/denisonministries.lt.acemlnb.com/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZGVuaXNvbmZvcnVtLm9yZyUyRmRhaWx5LWFydGljbGUlMkZoYXZlLXlvdS1oZWFyZC1vZi1jaGF0Ym94LWNoZWF0aW5nJTJG&sig=5CfGd5XpJ3sZb7q8MydEYP8VgKffHAFPDzNLVaBe898L&iat=1672140431&a=*7C*7C27068980*7C*7C&account=denisonministries*2Eactivehosted*2Ecom&email=sem7UpWnNWpENDtls9L7KqFP0jHkyQbSyQxxZpp8Ek4*3D&s=3b84f751f8249232acac5d27a798e77c&i=2439A2479A5A52503__;JSUlJSUlJQ!!AE29DT8V!Wl2bRJUT3vs_GtQ0GVjarZ3sHk6TU0F9jfTO1CAMEdKF66fxYSNt3zQ7bDK7soIwGrH1BOBro8k5zyMHU2ut3oMCFA$

Shiv's Snapshots

Shivonne found my phone today and snapped some pictures. Looks like she's already copied my trademark sneaker shot.

Saturday I cleaned all day. Drove C on one errand.

Sunday more cleaning. Dishes. Anna and Caleb finally arrived. W&MC and Shiv and Okie got here much later. First we opened presents. Lots for Shivonne. Anna gave me a nice shirt. Ceil gave me some sort of phone charger that I'll have to figure out. Shiv gave me a mug with her photo on it. When we were done Will went outside and brought in my present - a three wheeled push cart for my golf bag! Very nice.

Then supper - prime rib, mashed potatoes, grilled Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, salad, and Bavarian custard cake. Will and I watched the Grizzlies. Crazy refs. Everyone spent the night. Miss Shivonne's portable crib was in our room.

For breakfast this morning M baked homemade biscuits with country ham. Also grits. I fed Shiv her oatmeal. She ate a lot. Later A went to be with Caleb's family. W&MC just left before Shiv's early afternoon nap.

After my nap this afternoon C told me we were going to a small gathering at my other friend Reid's house, just around the corner.

So Drew Kelly fractured his ribs while walking his dog, and went to the Northside ER for treatment. Later Drew posted what happened on social media, so I told Will, thinking that Will hadn't been working when Drew went in. When W got my text then W realized who he'd treated. W is friends with Drew's son Rob. But W couldn't tell me, instead encouraging me to ask Drew about it. Finally I messaged Drew - and only then did Drew and Nancy realize that it was Will that had treated him. Drew said W had a good bedside manner.

I will probably work tomorrow and Wednesday, and maybe golf Thursday Friday Saturday and Monday. We'll babysit Shivonne Saturday night while W&MC go to the Peach Bowl - MC's dad has to work New Year's Eve and can't go.

More of Shivonne's snapshots. Okay, I did a little cropping.

This is Shiv's "say cheese" face.

And last but not least: happy birthday Don Head!

Merry Christmas

Our family wishes you the merriest of Christmases, and a most happy new year. We are thankful to God for his many blessings in 2022, and have many reasons to look forward to 2023.

Dave and Ceil celebrated our 35th anniversary in September, and are looking forward to actually scheduling a trip to celebrate. We did get away in June to visit longtime friends up on the Albemarle Sound, another fall trip to Asheville to see the leaves and load up at a craft fair, a trip to North Myrtle Beach, and several trips to Jefferson.

Ceil remained busier than ever, spending two days a week playing with granddaughter Shivonne. Ceil continues to teach art to kindergardeners and first graders at Veritas. She also served as project manager to several renovation projects on our house. Ceil's mother passed away in May, but the entire extended family was able to gather at Joan's bedside for her last couple of days with us.

Dave also celebrated his 35th anniversary at his work. He played more golf than ever, and started meeting a friend at the gym every morning, helping Dave lose a little weight. Dave enjoys his Saturday lunches with the guys, his small group Bible Study, and the monthly Hot Stove meetings in winter with the old men to talk baseball.

Will started a new job at Northside Hospital in north Atlanta. Mary-Clayton still works from her home office, with occasional trips to DC and other places. Will & MC took Shivonne on trips to Colorado, Washington DC, and Hilton Head. Little miss Shivonne is the happiest of babies, growing and exploring and walking, and playing with Okie and Winnie.

In October Anna got engaged to Caleb, and we had a big party to meet the Schaefers. They live just around the corner from us in East Cobb. Anna is now working in the High Country home office. She and Caleb made several trips to Athens, and attended a wedding in Savannah.

Matthew was integral in local brewery Monday Night Garage's pizza startup. Now he's working with a friend to develop a baking business. We enjoy being his taste testers.

Winnie enjoys the twice-a-week trip downtown to see Shivonne and Okie just as much as Ceil, though she's worn out by the time she goes home.

The entire fam all traveled to Charleston in March for a family wedding, to Jefferson in May for Joan's funeral, to the Atlanta Botanical Garden in September, and Shivonne's first birthday party in October.

We hope your year was just as delightful,= and that 2023 will be even better. Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

More Goodies

Matthew had another busy day today, baking and delivering pastries.

John MacArthur: ”If we could lose our salvation, we would.”

All of the Steelers wore #32 Franco Harris jerseys to the stadium this afternoon. Tonight Pittsburgh is wearing their throwback jerseys with the old school block numbers, with a Franco harris Immaculate Reception patch. Frenchy Fuqua was on hand to rally the team, as well as Mel Blount. Terry Bradshaw read a poem. Wild that 50 years later both teams still wear the same uniforms.

Will UGA look to the transfer portal for Stetson’s replacement? Probably not.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/will-georgia-add-or-lose-a-qb-in-the-transfer-portal-this-offseason/ar-AA15n4Xc?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=305375ae775e40c2ac19ca4cbbf1aea1

RICKEY HENDERSON struck out more than any other batter against Randy Johnson: 30 times in 85 plate appearances.

CHARLIE HOUGH is the only pitcher to log ten years each with a team in each league: eleven years with the Dodgers and 11 years with the Rangers. Also two stints 2 seasons each with Miami and the White Sox.

Pastry Deliveryman

I think I'm more conditioned to the cold now than I was a year ago. Not bundling up quite as much to play golf. I did pull out turtlenecks to wear as one layer. Had to get out and make a pastry delivery for Matthew, to our friends the Mayfield's. Wanted to stop by the library but it was closed. Drove through McDonalds for a 50 cent double cheeseburger. C is still rushing around getting ready. She made two trips running errands.

They closed the golf course until after Christmas, due to the cold. I didn't even go to the gym. Slept until 9 am. Cleaned upstairs and now gotta straighten up downstairs. Hurricane Ceil. M was in full baking mode this morning, so I couldn't fix myself anything to eat. Tonight C made homemade pizza, dough and all.

Gonna stay inside as much as possible. Work holiday today and Monday. Gotta go to the office next Wednesday. Not sure about Tuesday or Thursday.

This past Tuesday I was sitting at the kitchen table facing the kitchen. Seemed colder than normal. I looked at the new windows to my left to make sure they were closed. The new French doors were closed too. I kept working on my important project (comparing Mike Alstott's 156 game career to Herschel's final 138 games with the Vikings, Giants, Eagles, & his 2nd stint with the Cowboys). Later I stood up and realized our new back door to the garage was open. Winnie was no where to be found. I grabbed the little squeaky toy we only use in emergencies and squeaked it. Winnie came running, from our next door neighbor's house.

Wednesday while I was raking the yard Winnie got loose again, but she came running to me, wanting to play. Fortunately she doesn't run away like Barney used to do. 

CRAIG BIGGIO  [SABR Bio] after his wife was slapped by a White Sox fan, said, “Don't put him in jail. Bring him to me in the dugout.” The slap occurred during G 2 of the 2005 World Series. The quote is at least what Biggio said he had told the authorities. He is the last player to hit 100 doubles to lead the majors over two consecutive seasons with at least fifty doubles each year. In 1998 & 1999, Biggio hit 51 then 56 2B. During one stretch, he led the league in plate appearances five out of eight seasons, twice leading the majors. From 1992 through 1999, he averaged 696 PA and that included two seasons marred by work stoppages.

Stay Away From the Red Shirts

C and I ate at Pappasitos last night. Very good. Chicken fajitas. Split a medium order (there is no small) and had plenty to take home. For such a huge semi-high-priced restaurant with such excellent food, the clientele certainly come dressed casual. Caps, Crocs, sneakers, sweats. I dressed to fit in: Nike dri-fit jogging pants, Pumas, NBA quarter zip. Left my Braves cap at home.

While eating I was marveling at all the employees hustling around. Well over twenty, all dressed in one color or another, based on their position. Reminded me of the starship Enterprise. I tried to stay away from the Pappasitos employees in the red shirts.

Lifted weights this AM at the gym. Work just keeps piling up. Just handed another big project. Nothing to do with my customer.

Tonight the temps are gonna drop 25 degrees in 4 hours.

Are the Hawks fighting amongst themselves? Does Trae Young not get along with head coach Nate McMillen?

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://heavy.com/sports/atlanta-hawks-trae-young-nate-mcmillan/__;!!AE29DT8V!Uq_M42ASSMvbYYoBmKfu7_jZavtH8cCALsiBz--OrDMtocdBz1NjTeVXBB7_9Sr9dRztqr-unTOr5hFSfw8$

Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano has been outspoken about the Immaculate Reception over the years, to the point Franco would call Phil every year on the anniversary of the play. Phil had been assigned to cover Harris on the play, so he had an up-close view of the proceedings.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/phil-villapiano-s-plan-to-tackle-franco-the-immaculate-reception__;!!AE29DT8V!VBGg-CrZlljowiB9eHZtteuCkYX7JQBbqB-aLVb4FHjm6deB7dLAdlzuqXw3M4I1UMl818FJUOetgbV_sag$

Signs the recession is here to stay.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://endtimeheadlines.org/2022/12/15-indicators-showing-that-a-massive-economic-meltdown-is-underway/__;!!AE29DT8V!W-jGSfPhUWCupoZFfOACdfelu-IyqMQP_X71HAOYhTOMJ-DrtxBz3PlU4a-qCDv8M1hZ6Absor6mDqx_fVI$

I stumbled across the 2024 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, which looks the same coming and going.

More on a similar vehicle tomorrow.

ANDREW McCUTCHEN  [B-R Bio] was the 7th Pirate to win NL MVP, in 2013. Previous winners were Paul Waner, Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente, Dave Parker, Willie Stargell & Barry Bonds. McCutchen was born and raised in Ft. Meade, FL. When McCutchen was traded, the local press accused the team of being, “…content running a thrift store disguised as a baseball team.” Quote taken from Mike Wysocki in a column in the Pittsburgh City Paper. McCutchen saw postseason action with Pittsburgh in 2013-15 and the Mets in 2018.

I hate to be late. Kills me.

I couldn’t work at Home Depot because I’m not a fix-it kind of guy. Though I could figure out what aisle everything was in.