Monthly Archives: December 2008

Life in 2009

There’s really not much to write about in recent weeks. Since the election, my comments have been mostly about sports.

A few folks have e-mailed with their dissatisfaction with me for not commenting about politics. I am sorry your daily fix from The Western Word has been lax, but I don’t see it getting much better in 2009.

Sports are much more interesting to me these days than politics. This time of year is football time. Playoffs, bowl games, championships are much more interesting than Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich or who President-elect Obama is hiring, or even the Minnesota Senate race.

Besides, everything will be great after 12-noon (Eastern Time) on January 20, 2009, right? The sun will be shining brightly, the skies will be the bluest blue, and that night billions of stars will be shining.

Democrats are happy that George W. Bush is leaving office just as Republicans were happy to see Bill Clinton leave office. Both sides are saying it was a long eight years. I have been around the block a time or two and realize what goes around comes around in the political world.

The U.S. Congress will go back to work (with a nice pay raise I might add) on January 6, 2009, and help us just like they promised they would. The Democrats have solid majorities in both the House and the Senate for the 111th Congress. They had the majorities during the last session, too. The ball is in their court.

Here in Montana, the 61st Legislature meets on January 5, 2009. We all know they will help us. They promised.

Yes, life will be good in 2009. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus

1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3. And everyone went to his own town to register.

4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Week 16 and Week 17

Last weekend we saw some great games in the NFL. The Sunday night game between the Giants and Panthers went to overtime with the Giants winning. The Monday Night game between the Packers and the Bears went to overtime with the Bears winning.

Going into week 17, there’s still a chance for the Patriots, the Jets and the Chargers in the AFC and in the NFC, the Cowboys, Eagles and the Bears are not eliminated yet.

The final week of the NFL regular season has some good games. The one I am looking forward to watching is the Broncos/Chargers game. Denver travels to San Diego where the winner will win the AFC West. This game is on Sunday night football. I pick San Diego to win this one.

Dallas heads to Philly for a late afternoon game. New England heads to Buffalo in an early game, and then they can sit back and watch the Jets play Miami in a late game.

I think Philly will beat Dallas. New England will beat Buffalo, and the Jets will beat Miami.

To figure out the different playoff scenarios, click HERE.

The NFL executives must be pretty happy with what they have to offer the fans during the last weekend. It will be fun to watch.

O for Two

Last night the Montana Grizzlies lost to the Richmond Spiders 24-7 for the FCS National Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Today, the Carroll College Saints lost to the University of Sioux Falls Cougars 23-7 in Rome, Georgia, for the NAIA National Championship.

The Grizzlies finished their season 14-2. The Saints finished their season 13-1.

Although both teams lost in the championship, they had fine seasons and made Montanans proud.

The Perfect Gift: “Flame”

Fit for a king! For those of you who like the smell of grease and burgers, Burger King as launched a new body spray called, “Flame.”

You can read the story HERE. The website for the “Flame” can be accessed HERE, which tells readers, “Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.”

Frankly, I am a Quarter Pounder with cheese man myself.

Changes are good

The Kansas City Chiefs were a decent team in the 1990s. They had one losing season in the 1990s, but they have not won a playoff game since the 1993 season. They last made the playoffs in 2006.

This year is a rebuilding year. The Chiefs are 2-12 coming off of a gigantic collapse on Sunday. They were up by 18 points on the Chargers in the third quarter and lost 22-21. That hurt. Really hurt.

Last year the Chiefs finished 4-12.

Today, long-time Chiefs’ General Manager and CEO Carl Peterson announced that he is stepping down at the end of this season. Since he’s been with the Chiefs, they have compiled a record of 176-141-1 (55% winning percentage).

Some of the most exciting football happened with Peterson in charge of the Chiefs, but it was time for him to leave. Sometimes a team needs a change at the top to right itself. Thanks to Carl Peterson for his 20 years of service.

Some may wonder if head coach Herm Edwards will be next. I believe Herm Edwards deserves one more year. With a new general manager, that may not happen. It may be time to wipe the slate clean and start completely over.

Two National Championship Games!

The Montana Grizzlies beat the James Madison Dukes at their house tonight 35-27.

Next up, the National Championship game in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Friday night (December 19).

The game became a nail-biter late and the Griz defense had to make a stop for them to get to the big show. Congratulations Griz!

Next Friday night, and then on Saturday (December 20), two Montana teams (Montana Grizzlies and the Carroll College Saints) will play for national championships in their respective divisions. Nice.

Casual Dress Friday

Football, football, FOOTBALL!

Friday Night Football

The Montana Grizzlies play the James Madison Dukes tonight for a spot in the Football Bowl Subdivision Championship game. The game will be telecast on ESPN2 at 6:00 p.m. Montana time. Go Griz!

Richmond plays at Northern Iowa in the other semi-final game on Saturday.

More Playoff Football

Northwest Missouri State (13-1) plays for the Division II National Championship on Saturday against Minnesota Duluth (14-0). This game will be on ESPN2 at 11:00 a.m. Montana time.

Wisconsin Whitewater plays Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wheaton College plays Mount Union in the semi-finals of the Division III playoffs on Saturday.

Heisman Trophy

Saturday night, we’ll get to see who wins this year’s Heisman Trophy. Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Colt McCoy (Texas) and Tim Tebow (Florida) are the finalists. All are quarterbacks. Tebow won last year and if he wins again, he will join Ohio State running back, Archie Griffin, as the only two-time winner. Tebow was the first sophomore to win. It should be a close vote, but I think Sam Bradford will win it.

History

ESPN is airing “The Greatest Game Ever Played” on Saturday night. This is the 50th Anniversary of the 1958 NFL Championship game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts, and it was the first game to go into sudden death overtime. The game was played at Yankee Stadium. A couple of men were offensive and defensive coordinators for the Giants at that time. The Offensive Coordinator was Vince Lombardi and the Defensive Coordinator was Tom Landry. Many historians believe this was when the NFL started gaining popularity. The game was televised nationwide on NBC.

Looking ahead to Sunday

There are a couple of good games (on paper) in the NFL this Sunday. Pittsburgh plays at Baltimore. This should be a black and blue game. We probably won’t see this game in Montana as Denver plays Carolina at the same time. The New York Giants play at Dallas Sunday night. Tennessee, Arizona, and the NY Giants are the only teams that have clinched playoff spots.

Holy Cow! $161 million

“Holy Cow” would be what the late Chicago Cubs broadcaster, Harry Caray, would be saying about pitcher CC Sabathia being on the verge of signing seven year, $161 million deal, to pitch for the New York Yankees.

That’s a cool $23 million per season. In the worst of economic times, this 28 year old is about to sign the largest contract ever for a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Baseball. In comparison, Yankee’s infielder Alex Rodriguez made $28 million last season and Derek Jeter made $21.6 million.

Sabathia’s lifetime Earned Run Average (ERA) is 3.66. He has won 117 games and lost 73 in his seven year career.

Is this a great country or what? Teachers, police officers, and firefighters make $30, $40, or $60 thousand a year, while men playing a game make millions.