My daugher and I noticed it at nearly the same time ... but she voiced it first. With an air of disgust she noted the words on the sign to her high school as we pulled in Friday morning for the drop-off ritual. The sign had the politically correct greeting of "Happy Holidays" but underneath was the "Word of the Day" ... Nativity. She said, "that just doesn't make sense!"
I understood her lament. In a politically correct world - afraid to mention "Christmas" as you might offend someone - yet encouraging others to understand the word "nativity" ... a term whose very meaning is "representation of the birth of Jesus Christ".
May I suggest to you ... do what I have been doing ... when those who feel compelled to simply offer the politically correct "Happy Holidays" ... respond with a hearty "Merry Christmas." I've been doing that lately and have noticed some of the best responses from cashiers and clerks and even passersby.
I think everybody would rather have a Merry Christmas instead of a Happy Holiday anyway!
Merry CHRISTMAS!!!!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
FINALLY!!
It took 32 years ... 1,864 kickoffs ... and 90-yards ... for Michael Spurlock to accomplish something that had NEVER been done before. It sounds relatively simple, but for a team that has never done things in a simple way ... it was tremendous. For the first time in history, a Tampa Bay Buccaneer scored a touchdown by returning a kick-off. Finally, that monkey is off of their backs.
I'm sure all of us have had things we have attempted over and over and over - and yet over again - and continually failed to the point that we just gave up trying. Well, take a lesson from the many who have found themselves on the receiving end of a kick off or punt and had their hope dashed by some defensive player who tackled him short of his promised land of the end zone ... keep on trying ... some day - you'll find yourself celebrating in the end zone!
I'm sure all of us have had things we have attempted over and over and over - and yet over again - and continually failed to the point that we just gave up trying. Well, take a lesson from the many who have found themselves on the receiving end of a kick off or punt and had their hope dashed by some defensive player who tackled him short of his promised land of the end zone ... keep on trying ... some day - you'll find yourself celebrating in the end zone!
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Football Parable
Once upon a time, there was a football team. They were pretty good ... had a good team ... moved the ball well. But they just didn't score too many touchdowns. So, they tried some new plays and that seemed to work ... but pretty soon, the new plays became standard plays and they were back to just making it to mid-field and not much farther.
So, they decided to draft a couple of new players. They were full of energy and passion for the game, nearly to the discouragement to some of the players that had been on the field for a long time. All of a sudden, the quarterback had a really good receiver to go along with some of the seasoned veterans and he had a running back that could not only move the ball, but could block for the other backs when necessary. The quarterback began to notice that the team was playing at a level they had never played at before.
But then, one day, some of the veteran guards and backs and receivers started talking amongst themselves in the lockerroom. They didn't like the new receiver and running back too much. One of them didn't wear their uniform the same way everybody else did and the other one seemed to get the ball too much, they thought. Disgruntled, even though their team was winning, they decided, one by one, to simply stand on the field. They wouldn't move from their position. So, one game, the quarterback received the snap, went back to pass the ball and because he couldn't see over the line very well, he threw the ball to where the receiver was supposed to be, but he hadn't moved. The opponents intercepted and ran unimpeded to the end zone.
The next series of downs didn't go much better. The running back was handed the ball, but he just stood there. He didn't even try to move. The quarterback wondered what was going on, but recieved the next snap and by now, a couple of the guards had decided to simply do nothing as well and the quarterback, left ungaurded, was pummeled by the opposing team. After a couple more plays like that, he was simply carried off the field ... defeated.
The moral of the parable ... everybody has a place on the team and when one or two players purposefully decide not to play ... it leaves the team vulnerable and helpless.
So, they decided to draft a couple of new players. They were full of energy and passion for the game, nearly to the discouragement to some of the players that had been on the field for a long time. All of a sudden, the quarterback had a really good receiver to go along with some of the seasoned veterans and he had a running back that could not only move the ball, but could block for the other backs when necessary. The quarterback began to notice that the team was playing at a level they had never played at before.
But then, one day, some of the veteran guards and backs and receivers started talking amongst themselves in the lockerroom. They didn't like the new receiver and running back too much. One of them didn't wear their uniform the same way everybody else did and the other one seemed to get the ball too much, they thought. Disgruntled, even though their team was winning, they decided, one by one, to simply stand on the field. They wouldn't move from their position. So, one game, the quarterback received the snap, went back to pass the ball and because he couldn't see over the line very well, he threw the ball to where the receiver was supposed to be, but he hadn't moved. The opponents intercepted and ran unimpeded to the end zone.
The next series of downs didn't go much better. The running back was handed the ball, but he just stood there. He didn't even try to move. The quarterback wondered what was going on, but recieved the next snap and by now, a couple of the guards had decided to simply do nothing as well and the quarterback, left ungaurded, was pummeled by the opposing team. After a couple more plays like that, he was simply carried off the field ... defeated.
The moral of the parable ... everybody has a place on the team and when one or two players purposefully decide not to play ... it leaves the team vulnerable and helpless.
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