Hear the Hurd

AL's 2021 College Football Top 10 Rankings, Week 6

At this date in the season, there are clearly two great teams and then everyone else. This is not a hot take or a controversial opinion. Coming into this weekend, Bama and Georgia had games which could have been a test and if so, they both aced it. Georgia beat their second top 10 ranked team this season and while Ole Miss wasn't ranked in the top 10, they easily could have been and after last year, Saban definitely said that would not happen again. Neither game appeared to be a contest. Arkansas and Ole Miss are both good teams. Neither looked it yesterday because of who they played. So there is a definitive top 2. And then the rest...

1. Alabama (5-0)
2. Georgia (5-0)
3. Penn State (5-0)
4. Oklahoma (5-0)
5. Iowa (5-0)
6. Cincinnati (4-0)
7. Michigan (5-0)
8. Oklahoma State (5-0)
9. BYU (5-0)
10. Michigan State (5-0)

While I might jump Georgia over Alabama due to personal bias, I won't at the moment. I maintain...Bama will be ranked ahead of the Dawgs until Kirby finally beats his mentor (and it will happen...eventually.) As for the rest, I have been high on Penn State all season and remain there. For them, next week will be a real test and we'll see who is who when they face Iowa. Oklahoma won at Kansas State and while it wasn't a blow out, the Sooners remain the Sooners. They face Texas next weekend. No matter where Sark has the Longhorns, it's still Oklahoma vs. Texas.

A small word (and I do mean small) about Cincy...their victory over Notre Dame yesterday vindicates somewhat their lofty ranking. That said...who else have they beat? Who else will they beat that helps their strength of schedule? I do not really think Cincinnati is the top 6 team in the country. But they are ranked high in the national polls and will likely be (if they keep winning) in the playoff poll when it comes out in November. So for now they will remain in this spot.

As for the last four, it is a crapshoot. I dropped Ohio State from the top 10 because I had to drop Oregon out after their loss to Stanford yesterday. Head to head matters and while, in the long term, I think Ohio State is the better team it remains - Oregon beat Ohio State. So let us then bring in some new blood. All four of these last teams have looked good so far this season but even after a month, the season is still early. And at this point, being unbeaten matters as well. That said, you're probably not happy with me if you're a fan of Kentucky (now 5-0 after beating Florida) or SMU (beat USF 41-17 yesterday and remain undefeated so far) or Wake Forest (no...I really don't have anything for here) or whomever else you like. I will stand by this ranking. At the moment. And then watch the rest of the season play out and rank accordingly. I will bet right now...these top 2 will continue to be the top 2 all the way to the SEC Championship Game. And when that is over and one of them has lost? They will still be the top 2. No one else looks close. That is all.

AL's 2021 College Football Top 10 Rankings, Week 5

So not much changed this weekend, right? Except Clemson and Texas A&M lost. That actually changed quite a bit. Clemson is pretty much out of the playoff picture at this point, even if they win the ACC. And Arkansas is ascendant. For now. So while not much has changed in my top 10, there remains a good deal of movement and still subject to change. Therefor my all kinds of scientific and well informed rankings become:

1. Alabama (4-0)
2. Georgia (4-0)
3. Penn State (4-0)
4. Oregon (4-0)
5. Oklahoma (4-0)
6. Arkansas (4-0)
7. Iowa (4-0)
8. Ohio State (3-1)
9. Florida (3-1)
10. Cincinnati (3-0)

I'm not changing Bama and the Dawgs place even if one looks a bit better than the other at the moment (I'll leave it to you to figure which one I might pick.) Nor will I change the rest of the top 5. For now. I'll give you a few of the games coming up this coming weekend:

- Ole Miss at Alabama

- Arkansas at Georgia

- Oregon at Stanford

- Oklahoma at Kansas State

All four games will be a tell. I'm not too interested in Penn State vs Indiana. Unless they lose. But the other four will or could swing things. Ole Miss and Arkansas look good right now. On offense and defense respectfully. If either of the top two teams lose, things will most definitely change. And if Oregon or Oklahoma look a bit less again, I am tempted to drop them down. And if they lose? That will really change things!

I give a lot of credit to the Hogs for beating two ranked teams already so they get the 6th spot and was not terribly impressed with Iowa this past weekend. For that we'll have to wait another week when they face off with Penn State. And the last three? Ohio State remains Ohio State. I've bumped up Florida for some nice work (late but against a bad team this past weekend...so there is that) and Cincy had the week off. The latter face Notre Dame this weekend as well, so I guess that should be another to watch.

I am looking at the Irish, but they always seem to impress before they fall apart these last years. Both Michigan teams are looking strong. For now. BYU continues to show strength, but not yet ready to be in this top 10. And again, if Ole Miss wins this weekend, they will definitely be in this list. Good luck, Kiffen.

So much like last week, I see 2 great teams and then a whole lot of others. This weekend will tell if the top two are real or not (I think we all know that they are.) And it will be yet another reckoning for the rest of those wanting that spot. Here's to another great Saturday for football! That is all.

AL's New and Improved College Football Top 10

Since I am trying to revive this long dismissed but still slightly surviving blog (and thank you to my two and a half readers), I figure it's time to go back to a well that has always worked. What's that you ask? Indeed, my college football rankings. In the past, I used to do a top 25. As much as I like that format, it can get cumbersome trying to follow all of that and truthfully there just aren't that many teams year in and year out that deserve such attention. So instead let's just focus on those at the top. Thus, I will give you my top 10 throughout the season and now, after week 3, we have enough information to give an informed opinion. All that said, let us get to the rankings:

1. Alabama (3-0)
2. Georgia (3-0)
3. Penn State (3-0)
4. Oregon (3-0)
5. Oklahoma (3-0)
6. Iowa (3-0)
7. Texas A&M (3-0)
8. Clemson (2-1)
9. Ohio State (2-1)
10. Cincinnati (3-0)

Honestly, outside of the top two, I'm not sold on any of these teams. And even there, Florida took Bama to the wire. Many have the the Gators in their top 10 and I don't blame them. Still, it's Alabama and until they lose there is no reason to question too much. Of course, I am a Georgia homer (Go Dawgs!) but their defense looks all world and the best in the nation. The less said about Kirby's choice to place Bennet in there the better. As stated on social media yesterday, there is no quarterback controversy at Georgia despite ESPN's decided attempt to make it so, but there is still plenty to prove on the offense. As for three, I place Penn State here because of two impressive victories against Wisconsin and Auburn, both ranked when they played. Ohio State may have a contender to deal with later in the season.

As for the rest, again I am not sold. Oregon played the Little Sisters of the Poor yesterday...oh, sorry...Stoney Brook. They won. And still have the Ohio State win on the record. That's big. Oklahoma won vs. Nebraska but it was not a going away victory. Still, it's Oklahoma. Iowa has the impressive win against Iowa State and Texas A&M will be tested next week when they face Arkansas (which I was tempted to place here after their win against Texas last week.) Both Clemson and Ohio State rank here because...well, they are still Clemson and Ohio State. Sure, they have a loss. But if I rank Georgia and Oregon so high, I have to give them some credit for not being embarrassed (although Oregon really did put a number on THE Ohio State University.) And Cincinnati? They are undefeated so far and the national folks still like them. I'll give them that. That said, do I think they would beat Florida, Notre Dame, UCLA (who I really wanted to place here until they lost to Fresno State) or North Carolina? How about against Arkansas right now? Even BYU? No. No I don't. But I saw with my own eyes a very near run thing against my Dawgs last year so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for the time. As the weeks go by, we will continue to consider if they deserve such a lofty place.

The meat of the schedule is starting to come into place finally, so we can start to weed out those that are pretenders and those that are real contenders. As the season moves on (as I've done in the past) I will revise this list until we get to the playoff portion of the whole thing. Fall is upon is, folks. I think my favorite time of the year. So look forward to my terribly misinformed and biased look at those college football teams that have a chance to fight for the National Championship. As always, feel free to argue, agree, disagree or boo and hiss in the comments or on social media. I can take it. After all, I'm placing my opinion out there. Why not you? That is all.

20 Years and We Have Learned Absolutely Nothing

I was sitting in a hospital bed twenty years ago when I saw the second plane fly into the WTC and then watched in horror as the events of that day continued to unfold. People literally jumping to their deaths rather than die by fire. They had no choice that they would die. That was already made up for them. And the passengers of Flight 93 that chose their most certain death to be sure another horrific image like in Washington and NYC did not occur. Nearly 3,000 people died that day and countless more after as a result of actions taken to combat radical Islamic terrorism, and yet here we are as if none of it ever happened. Conspiracies remain by those that need them and those same people that harbored the terrorists, supported them in various ways and cheered them on remain all over the Middle East, most especially in Afghanistan.

Here at home, we're back to the fights that were ongoing for years in the lead up to that day. Abortion? You bet. That always plays. Congressional spending that just gets higher and higher every single year? We're just fighting over the right way to get it done. It doesn't matter what the national debt is anymore. No one gives a shit apparently. And for all those people that thought George W. Bush was BushChimpHitler and thought Trump was sucking off Putin every night while establishing a dictatorship seem to have little issue whatsoever with "I've got a phone and a pen" and "Governors just need to get out of the way." After all, when their guy is grabbing power and control it's all just perfectly fine so stop whining!

The real truth is, we have no principle anymore as a nation. No actual guiding light in which we can at least agree upon as citizens when we look at ourselves as opposed to the rest of the world. At our founding as a country, we were the most liberal country in the world...a classical liberal idea...a powerful message contained within it that a free peoples could govern themselves because our rights were ordained by God and not government. And yet, little by little, we have allowed government, tiny cut by tiny cut, take those rights back...away. That is how freedom dies. The old saw about the frog in the pot of boiling water is not quite true, but it remains an old saw for a reason. It has happened elsewhere and people noticed it. George Orwell noticed it. Vaclav Havel noticed it. And those of you with a brain are noticing it now.

The War on Terror began on September 11, 2001. Our first response? Develop an entirely new and additional government administration. Somehow this was to assist in sharing of information between the CIA, FBI and Defense Department. Notoriously unable to work with one another...because why would they? They don't think they work for us. They think they work for themselves and power is the ultimate desire, if not aphrodisiac. So how's that Homeland Security Department going? Do you enjoy having to take your shoes off every time you get on a plane? Because it's possible that a little old lady might have a bomb in their orthopedics.But no...we're going to get serious about this now after years of looking the other way.

So then we invade Afghanistan, which I supported. We followed that with the invasion of Iraq, which I also supported. There were different reasons for my support and I'll briefly outline them here: Afghanistan had been harboring terrorists and given them safe haven. We took that away from them. Iraq was an unfinished conflict, frankly. Bush pere should have finished the job in the 90's but instead left a dictator in power so he could pay off suicide bombers in Israel. He boasted about it. So Bush fils finished the job. And yet again...what happened? State can't agree with Defense which can't agree with National Security which can't agree with Homeland Security and we end up in a nation building exercise doomed to fail. That's at least four agencies that are supposed to work for us, but instead work for themselves. Yet again.

I'm not a military planner, but I am a student of history. We had won both of these conflicts as far as our limited military goals were concerned. But we had to throw on yet another level (which was poorly understood and defined) and ended up staying for years longer than needed. And then when we tried to get out when the numbskulls finally realized this, they did it...both times..ass backwards! Abandoning Iraq (because it was supposedly the bad war) under Obama led to the rise of ISIS and destabilized an already unstable Middle East. Abandoning Afghanistan will lead to a similar situation because we've seen this play before. We saw it in the 80's and 90's. We've seen it since and will continue to see it because these people that we have willingly elected to office to work for us only work for themselves.

From Clinton to Bush to Obama to Trump to the ghost of Biden that we see trotted out from time to time when his meds are working, we are treated to worthless politicians that only care about power. Gaining power, keeping power, using that power to better their own lots but not ours. And yet...they still work for us!!! That is, if it remains important to anyone, if the Constitution still holds any sway. And on that, I am having my doubts. Executive actions by the Presidency have been out of bounds and overused for far too long. And Congress seems to have no desire to take back that power they rightfully hold unless they are in the opposition party to the President. And the Supreme Court just wants to be liked.

So here we are, twenty years later, and nothing has really changed. The Taliban are ruling in Afghanistan. Strongmen continue to rule in the Middle East from Turkey to Iran and all parts in between. We're over here arguing the same old talking points about abortion, race, and guns while seeming to look the other way as the federal government takes on more and more power for themselves at the expense of states and individual citizens. The debt keeps rising. The bureaucracy continues to grow. And if anyone remembers 9/11 now, it's just this sad state of history. Someday those memorials and statues will come down too, I guess. It's disgusting.

For me, I pray for all of those families that still grieve their fallen loved ones either on that day and since that day. I pray for this country. And I pray that at least some of you do actually care about things like federalism and the Constitution, personal rights and freedom, the country itself and what we've stood for all these years since our founding and for a future that is not preordained. We still run this country...if we are willing. Are we? Think about that next time your hard built business is looted. When you get fired for not putting something into your body that you find undesirable. Or when some snotty pseudo-intellectual tries to shout you down when you just want to share your well earned opinion. Most of all...think about that the next time you have the opportunity to vote.

That is all.

Bug Out...or Shame in D Minor

I could have alternately titled this post from the Lou Reed song Last Great American Whale...

"Don't believe half of what you see and none of what you hear..."

It is interesting to me that when someone is "woke" or thinking they are "in the right" they can just spew whatever venom they feel or wish to infect upon another, because they feel so justified. Except...the facts don't always align. It has been said...facts are tricky things. I believe that was John Adams. He that might be spinning in his grave right now, regardless of his worth as a President. We can be certain that we've seen no one of his ilk in any of our lifetimes, as President or any other.

And so we continue on as if this is all just normal. Two parties. Each hate one another. We get involved at whatever level and somehow...just believe what they say. Smart people! People I know with great intelligence! And yet the chance to throw something on social media is overwhelming, I suppose, and so we get something like this:

It should come as no surprise that this post and my words have to do with the situation in Afghanistan at the moment. My pedantic self wants to fix the punctuation. There are quotes that someone has enjoined to the meme, but they don't quite fit. Did Trump himself say that Biden couldn't stop the process? Maybe he did. I certainly wouldn't put it past the man. Donald Trump is the most shameless President of my lifetime and would say whatever and whenever anything that came into his brain at any given moment, regardless of the veracity. And yet...again...he is wrong. As is the person that put this graphic together.

I'd also say, I beg a question because it suggests 21 years. We've only been there 20. But whatever. It's the internet. Things get muddled, right?

Here's the thing (for those of you smarty pants that like to use that phrase)...Fox "News" isn't the only one blaming Biden. The world is. The Afghan people are. Allies of the United States are looking and wondering who or what is in power given this circumstance. A horrible circumstance. The Taliban is looking and seeing a perfect opening for whatever it is that they wish to do, regardless of whatever posturing they are doing right this minute. China is certainly seeing an opening, especially given their words to Taiwan in the wake of this. Russia? Sure, why not? Iran? You bet.

You know who else is blaming Biden? CNN. MSNBC. Obama's former Sec Def Leon Panetta. Biden's own top Generals and Intelligence Agencies (and more about them later.) And why? Because he fucked up. Royally. I won't get into the whys and hows of his former ill advised theories on geopolitics, but Sec Def Gates suggested he was wrong on nearly every situation of the sort over his lifetime and an apocryphal tale is that even Obama suggested that one should "never underestimate Biden's ability to fuck things up."  This would have been when he was Vice President. I'll leave it to you to decide if that was true or not.

The fact remains that there is only one truth in the above meme. Trump did indeed start the latest push to end the "War in Afghanistan." I use quotes only because it is a murky thing. Let the reader consider what is a war. WWII ended in 1945. We still have U.S. troops in Germany and Japan. Korea is indeed an armistice and factually that war is still ongoing. Since 1953. It's not a hot war, regardless of what North Korea might wish from time to time (and they don't...they just like to rattle the sabers.) Yet our troops remain. Under Obama, we were to get our troops out of Iraq and he did attempt. Which led to the rise of ISIS. A contingency seen by all with actual eyes and when it flared up, they were defeated. And so we remain with soldiers left in Iraq and Syria (as well as many other places within the Middle East.)

So what exactly was the impetus for the current President to get out of Afghanistan? Let us also remember that this was the "right" war as opposed to Iraq (which Biden voted for as Senator, by the way.) Was it to end an endless war in a far off land in which we had no stake and had spent countless lives and money? Or was it to score a political point...somehow? I put it to you that it was the latter. An ill advised attempt to score something that was not readily available (if one actually gave a shit about the actual geopolitical environment of the world.)

The fact is, we went into Afghanistan after 9/11 to scour the country and root out the terrorists that had been given safe haven and carried out that atrocity. We also desired to keep that from being a safe haven going forward. Now I will be honest (intellectually and otherwise) and say that many of the perpetrators came out of Saudi Arabia and we needs must continue to keep them honest, but they are at least willing to work with the western world. Sneaky about it, true. But they at least attempt to play as world actors. The Taliban does not give a shit about legitimacy. They don't care. Strong horse, weak horse. We've heard that for at least 20 years.

I don't want to relitigate the last 20 years, but some things must be made certain. We rooted out the terrorists. We "got" Bin Ladin (which Biden opposed, supposedly.) We made it so that the Taliban has fought to a stalemate with the Afghan forces propped up by the NATO alliance (and yes...it's not just the U.S.) There has not been an American casualty in country for over 17 months. The situation was stable, if not ideal. So the only reason to "bug out" was and is political. Trump made the promise because he ran on it. Ill advised, perhaps, but at the least he made it conditional. Biden did not make that promise but went so far as to make the bug out date 9/11! Really and truly? Let's just give them another fucking win??

And so let us look back at the meme above...so Biden had no choice?? The Iranian deal Obama made and then dumped by Trump. Biden had no problem trying to get back into that. The Paris Climate Accord that Trump got out of? Biden had no issue going back into that. The World Health Organization that excused everything that China did in the lead up to Covid? Trump was not a fan. Biden apparently is. There is chapter and verse of things that the previous President did that were wiped out on day one (so important!!) upon Biden getting into office and yet...he is beholden to a semi-peace deal with the Taliban? The fucking Taliban? Trump should have never met with them in the first place (anymore than anyone should with North Korea) but now...this is a thing that is set in stone and we "just can't get out of it!"

It would be laughable if it were not so serious.

The truth is, we are living with decisions made under four different Presidents and four different administrations, all of which have failed us poorly. Every single one of them are paid by our tax dollars and work FOR us. Choices made since 2001 that are coming back to haunt and choices not made are really coming back to haunt! The truth is that Afghanistan has become a political matter and so we deal with it as such. No need to really solve it. The American public won't remember. Just keep it as a ball to tumble for the next election. Except this one isn't. Not this time. No one gives a shit about Benghazi...why would they? What does it matter at this point, right Hillary? Maybe they don't, but the numbers of families that have fought and lost loved ones fighting in country for these last 20 years do. Those of us (and yes...I supported it) that thought we did the right thing in 2001 are left with an incompetent military infrastructure and more importantly intelligence forces...are left woefully disappointed.

And more? A President that wants to blame everything on someone else. Trump. He didn't say it but implied...Obama too. Why not throw Bush on the brush fire? Certainly the Afghan people and their armed forces, right? Pretty much everyone but himself...and the Taliban. But no...let's just put it on Trump. That's the meme, right? That's the one that plays. That'll get the votes. And people will forget. That's all that matters.

It's a Republic...if we can keep it. Can we? I'm having my doubts.

That is all.

The Past

I’ve had occasion of late to think about the past. To be sure, the past of high school. It honestly could be any past, but for me I think about those years when I was 12 or 13 to when I was 17 or 18. Some, both or all in between...I was not particularly a fan of school. I was shy, and so thus not able to make friends well, and as I’ve realized now over the years, I’m fairly anti-social to start with. I did not realize that at the time. I could not explain to you why that is the case (sadly, I need a better therapist) but as I’ve looked at it recently, I cannot let go of a certain emotion.

There are many people that don’t like school. Certainly high school. You have your groups, or at least I did, and I didn’t fit...always fit...never fit. I was discussing briefly to another recently about “The Breakfast Club” which is a fine movie...I love the movie...but it was not indicative of my high school career as much as I recognized it and it fit my generation. We did indeed have the dweebs...the nerds...the jocks...the stoners...but I got something when I moved into high school that I had never had before. A found a family. A family of friends that, in many ways, remain my friends today. Not everyone gets that so I guess I was lucky. I came up in the late 80’s. Maybe things were different before, but I found a group of people that have influenced my life then, in the many years since then, and continue to do so today. Honestly, I have a number of groups throughout my life that have done that. High school...college...post school and since. I’ve been on a number of dating apps over the years and a question is often asked or prompted… “The thing about me is...”

The thing about me is that I will be a true friend if you are in return. Nothing against my family, and I love them, but THE thing that has sustained me throughout my life has been the deep and certain relationships I have developed in every step of that way. I have my family, but I also have...my FAMILY. That is all of the various people that have colored my life since I was barely able to keep my short pants up because I was so damn skinny and so skin pasty as to be compared to Caspar the Ghost. An outsider, as I thought of myself, and yet...so many good people have moved in and out of my life. I didn’t think of myself as part of a group, not after I got to high school. Just one of many. Many that were trying to figure it out. And...we had each other.

I won’t go chapter and verse of the many, but they are there and they know who they are should they read this. Into college, I had more. After that...even more. The thing is, I have tried in my life to surround myself with good people. Honest people. Real people. I’m a singular person and so I am drawn to those likewise inclined. People that wish and desire to be more than just themselves. People that want to be...for others. That’s what I had. What I got. What made me want to be now. A good man that cares. A good man that values family. A good man that values FAMILY.

One could get deep into the modern political environment, so I won’t, but there is no doubt that we suffer from an era in which people don’t want to hear what they don’t want to hear. All the time. Listen to your networks, read your websites...find your echo chamber. That is not what helped me grow from a young man to middle aged, and it likely won’t help anyone else. What helped me, and maybe yourself, is to find a group of people and just...belong. Just accept. Just enjoy. Trust is always important. Loyalty too. But the biggest to me is...just listen. That is acceptance, because you WANT to hear what another is saying. Because you seem to like them, but what are they saying? Hear them. I’m not great at it, to be sure. I’ve spent a good portion of my life trying to be heard. Yet step back...open your mind...and just listen. It doesn’t always work because so many others want to be heard as well, but when you just open your mind...try to enjoy and appreciate...make yourself available...you might find a Family too.

I cannot deny that I hated high school in many ways. I hated my life. I was a teenager. Is it not always thus? My friends that know Latin could find an appropriate phrase for that because it has been around forever. I was angst ridden (hello, rock and roll!), unsure about myself and about relationships and unsure about my future (such as I thought about it.) Yet I was very lucky to find myself involved with a group of people (and not everyone is) that made those difficult years so much better for me and I hope I did the same for them. I’ve made life long friends from that era and beyond. I found people that were accepting (perhaps a life amongst the arts) and so it taught me to be the same. I found a lot of people that don’t really care about their past. They do...but they have moved beyond it. Because they found. They discovered. They learned. They...dare I say...accepted. What else can a human being do?

I’ve always been a fan of Thoreau. Not all of his philosophy, to be sure, but simply just being able to see what is around you and appreciate it. To try to do so. Go to nature. See what (in my mind) God presents. For me it was always hikes. Camping. Nature. And yet we see that day in and day out with those we encounter...and it is still there. The natural human being, with all of the warts...all of the petty problems. And the good ones remain. The good remains. Nature remains, pristine as it should be and our own awareness of nature, red in tooth and claw as it can be. Find the good ones. As I have, as I have tried to do and as I have found. In “The Tempest” Shakespeare suggests that “the past is prologue.” It is, and it isn’t. It is a foundational building block of our lives. History matters. Some Christian theology suggests that it is preordained...God has a plan. I believe that both work in tandem. We’re given free will to make of the gifts we’ve been given and then pass that forward to another. And then another. And then another! That passing on can be harsh, no doubt, but it can also be a saving grace. A grace by God and in the end it is how we interpret that.

I really don’t have a message here other than to say...one cannot dwell on the past too much. It is the future given our promise, and the willingness to accept and appreciate what came before to inform it. I can tell you plainly that I would not be the man I was...the man I am...without that influence. My family...and my Family...all of those that inspired me. Taught me. Colored me. And remain to do so now (I have lost a few along the way but they remain as an influence, to be certain!) Social media can be what it is, but I am so thankful that I have those people still in my life in some way. Close personal hugs are always better but just a note...a picture of a life ongoing...an idea that they are doing well. Just to keep in touch, certainly, but also to see their journey. Our journey. A journey.

I am touched by my recent experiences and find it fascinating that some cannot let go of the past and some don’t even care. Both, I think, are wrong. Yet who am I to judge? Because whomever you are, you are touched by your past. As you will be by your future. One informs the other if you are willing to pay attention. And no matter how bad things might have been, that does not have to be your lot in life. Life is promise, should you accept it. Enjoy the little things. Every single one matters! Ghosts will always haunt, but a foundation is built to last. It is a choice, no doubt, but what kind of house would you prefer to live in? One of bitterness born of the past and the slights and cuts offered by those that did not care or even those perceived that did not exist (who does not have those?) or one of a solid foundation built one by one from good friends over many years that provide at least some few memories and experiences gained that helped form what we might be today?

I, for one, choose the latter. (And thank you to all of those that made my formative years happy. It wasn’t easy...but you did so. It certainly informed my thoughts today!) That is all.

2020 In Review

Back in the days when I was in high school and especially college, some of you may know that I studied theatre. And most especially in college, I began the art of the review. Even in plays that I was in, or was part of, I could be unsparing (it was usually a class project and thank you to Dr. John Countryman at Berry College for making that the case for every production we did.) With that disclaimer made of my background and perhaps bona fides, I will say that this production of 2020 was pretty much shit...with some few highlights. Harsh, I know, especially with some very promising actors involved but a production team that has found their work wanting in many past works.

To set the scene, the work begins after a very involved Christmas of 2019 and our actor is moving into his new year ready to turn 47. He spends more money that he truly has to make it the "best Christmas ever", and I quote purposefully because that can be questioned as it is never shared what other highlights may have been missed from years of Christmas past (note Dickens, Mr. Playwright. Make it count!) He is moving off a multi-year run of successful writing and the times seem high before he (and many others) is hit by one catastrophe after another. This reviewer applauds the allegory of Job within the work, but it begins to become a tad too heavy handed after an early death and then a plague. More deaths occur, an oddly timed farce is introduced in the middle of the play, and then ends with...you guessed it. More death. One dare suggests that Hamlet is a sunny, happy picture compared to this vision.

And yet, this reviewer must single out some few performers from this work. There is the wife that loses her husband early in the play. Leaving two youngish daughters without a father, it is a heart-wrenching moment that promises perhaps a brighter future in the manner in which they respond to their grief. Our main actor is certainly part of this, being the brother of the wife, but then we get the plague. This, again to this reviewer, seems hard upon hard and perhaps too much to begin such a production unless it becomes a positive affair. This work does not do this. There is also the mother that loses her child, and not due to this supposed plague. A masterful actress does her best to elevate the work, but the subject matter is perhaps too heavy-handed by this point. And then there is the son that loses his father near the end. A terribly sad scene with two great actors that bring out the pathos, but now we are far past any sort of uplifting. How the audience has sat for this as long as they have (which this reviewer was forced to so it may be reviewed) is rather amazing.

And then there is the farce in between! While this writer is certainly a fan of Moliere, this is no drawing room, comedy of errors type of play. Shakespeare has already been mentioned, but even he did not put Othello or Macbeth through these paces! The great Brian Friel could put his characters through their harsh beats, but this? This is sprawling, across the world, political figures involved...and indeed, a plague! One might applaud the author for being audacious in their vision, but there is only so much grief, destruction and dirt pounding hopelessness that one can take when watching an over two hour production comprising just one year in the lives of these characters. It is too much. Worse, it is not terribly hard to follow because the writer beats you over the head with all of the hardship and destruction. While the aforementioned performances (and some others) elevate the piece due to their excellent acting, it is not enough to save what insane consideration this playwright meant when he sat down to put this play to page.

Given what they had to work with, one does applaud the lighting and scene shop for the excellent set and scene. It is definitely done well to create that slice of life setting, and the sound design is truly exemplary. One would be hard pressed to put sounds to this nearly terrible work, but it is done well. Outside of the actors, only this last joins to truly elevate the work beyond pure trash. Even there, however, this reviewer wonders if the constant reminders of the plague...the call for masks at every turn...the call for distancing when few are doing so...it is ever present and in the end, do not fully represent the characters involved. It certainly does present an ominous tone for each, our main character included, yet each scene is made less by the plague when more heart felt might be the singular instances in which they were found.

Lastly, I must call out the director of the play. I shant call him by name. That, in itself, would be a travesty close to this production as it might give him more exposure and ability to create much of the same. I must say, I wish not to see it. They say that the play is the thing, so I must ask the question...why so heavy handed? Mayhap I am too harsh, because one must blame the playwirght surely. But this combination between writer and director has produced one of the worst, harmful, and terrible plays of the season. One may write it, but it takes another to direct and produce it. This writer hopes he never works again. His behind the scenes efforts notwithstanding, these actors are able to produce their work without such deleterious interventions.

And that is why I must applaud the actors for their valiant efforts in working on this production. I must once more ask the question "why" such a play was produced, but I must say that I do applaud all of those actors involved for raising this piece beyond the intentions of those behind it. As I left the theatre, I was left with their notes...their beats...their hearts. It is that that has moved this from truly terrible to a piece worthy of your eyes and mind. I suggest, should you see this play, that you leave your seats with that in mind. No matter how terrible a thing you have watched may be, there are still some few that may rise above it and make it all worthwhile. As I wise teacher once told me, theatre is a symbiotic and synergistic thing and in times like this presented, one must remember that always. 

That is all.

2021 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

It's been a while since I've filled out my baseball Hall of Fame ballot (which I do not have but consider every year.) Even during these pandemic times, the world moves on and yet another year is upon us. Those elected this coming year will join a rather banner crop of elected Hall of Famers from 2020 which includes Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller. Whomever joins them will all be inducted formally in Cooperstown in July of 2021 (assuming we've turned the tide of COVID by then.) This past year offered some many great names from which to choose. This year? Not so much. Before we begin, here is the list of players eligible for 2021 induction.

To remind those unfamiliar with the process, a player must have been retired for 5 years and the voter may only choose up to 10 from the list. Not every able baseball writer (those that actually get to vote) selects 10 players, but for the past many years there was a backlog on the ballot. For the first time in a long time, I do not see that issue this time around. I think I have a solid ballot, but it was actually quite difficult to choose the full compliment. I am a larger hall guy rather than a small hall guy. There are men that probably don't belong there but that water is under the bridge at this late date. So I always try to pick a full 10. There is no lack of talent in the Major Leagues and if we are supposed to honor the best of the best (which a Hall of Fame suggests, though that may be another discussion) then there should be little issue giving out this honor.

So, let us see the choices...

• Barry Bonds
• Roger Clemens

These two are beyond argument as among the greatest players to ever play the game. When one speaks of a small hall, 1st ballot, inner circle MLB player these two are indisputable. They are, of course, saddled by PED claims (none of which has ever been proved, by the way.) I need not get into discussion of PEDs other than to say that it is beyond hypocrisy that the Commissioner of MLB when this era occurred is already in the Hall of Fame. Say what you will about Bud Selig, but these 2 did more for the game than Selig did in his entire career as either owner or Commish. Barry Bonds is the greatest player of his era (hands down) and my favorite hitter of that time, regardless of his steroid use. Before it is suggested he began using PEDs, he already had a HoF case. It is absurd that he is outside looking in. And for Clemens, despite the fact that he may be the Anti-Christ, he ranks among the top 10 pitchers of all time by the numbers (though my beloved Greg Maddux has 1 more win. Hah!) There is no good reason that they have not already been elected other than sanctimonious baseball writers that wish to punish them for crimes that these very same writers looked beyond at the time because the numbers they produced were good copy. 'Nuff said. I'm not going to win that argument because I don't have a vote. Yet these 2 are easy.

The next tier gets a bit tough. Yet these are my picks:

• Curt Schilling
• Gary Sheffield
• Andy Pettitte

All three could be considered borderline candidates. However, each has plenty of evidence behind their case to be included in this august body. And also perhaps personal/integrity issues that may have stalled their various campaigns. When Schilling played, there was very little issue with his ability on the field. He went to the playoffs with 3 different teams (Pirates, Diamondbacks and Red Sox) and got a World Series ring from 2 of those. The bloody sock from 2004 is likely already in the Hall. Why not the man that wore it? Because people don't like his politics? That's outside the game. Sheffield, I think, is also dogged by PED claims (again unfounded by fact) and so he continues to wait. Yet I recall very well that he was known as one of the quickest bats in the game while he played and though he was perhaps known as surly, when he played for the Braves (my team, sure) there was no issue there. Over 500 home runs and 1600 RBI (which used to be traditional metrics for the Hall) should have ushered him in. Also waiting. Finally, Pettitte has his own PED issues. He's admitted his usage, but once more I don't really care. I do not love the Yankees (readers may already know this) but there is no mistake of what this man accomplished. He was directly involved in the late 90's run of that team and with 256 career wins, clearly shows his standing as we see numbers today. There are better writers than myself (and indeed number crunchers) but I believe he belongs in the Hall.

Now we move to the third tier. All 4 are definitely borderline cases but, I think, deserve the nod:

• Andruw Jones
• Jeff Kent
• Manny Ramirez
• Billy Wagner

When these 4 men played, no one would dispute that they were among the best of the game. Jones is considered by many the finest center fielder in the history of the sport. Kent is considered (and the numbers support it) one of the best 2nd basemen to play in the game. Wagner was a lights out closer that has numbers nearly similar to Trevor Hoffman (already in the Hall) and Ramirez...well, he's never getting in by the writers. His numbers are beyond dispute. He falls in the same territory as the PED suspects above and unlike them, he actually tested positive and has been disciplined for it (on more than one occasion.) I am open to argument why he should be different, but I'm looking at the player and not the man. Indeed his case is more difficult than Bonds, Clemens, etc. but the numbers do not lie. Before or after the juice, this man was feared. He also had his issues. Again, he is not likely to ever get enough support for the Hall, but I think he belongs.

So now we are at 9 and I need to make my 10th pick. While I said that this class was less than previous classes, that does not mean that the last pick is not difficult. I'm looking at 3 pitchers and 3 hitters as I wish to fill out the ballot. The pitchers are Mark Buehrle, AJ Burnett and Tim Hudson. All three were excellent pitchers (and I'm a bit biased as I watched a lot more starts by Hudson) but I don't consider any of them a Hall member. The hitters are Todd Helton, Scott Rolen and Omar Vizquel. All three were amazing athletes and excelled at their positions (1st, 3rd and SS respectively.) Helton and Rolen have the offensive stats to consider and Vizquel is a bit of a bridge between Ozzie Smith (HoF) and Andrelton Simmons as the finest defensive SS in the game. It really is a push. Vizquel got over 50% of the vote last year on his 4th year on the ballot. Rolen was at 35% in his 4th. Helton was at 29% in his 3rd. All 3 pitchers are going through their 1st time. (Note - a player needs 75% for those unaware.)

If I am pressed (as I am) to pick which should be chosen, I'd probably go with Rolen as his sabermetric numbers are slightly better than Helton (who played his career at Coors Field half the time.) That said, I think to go with Helton personally. Vizquel was excellent with the glove, but does not move the meter on me and none of the three pitchers gets above that level. So with my last pick I go with...

• Todd Helton

Difficult for me to do given that Mr. Helton was a Tennessee Volunteer, but there we are. I'd not really have issue if any of these men got into the Hall. But these are my 10 picks (should I have a ballot, which I do not.) If I have to guess which will actually be elected, I suspect Schilling alone. He, Bonds and Clemens all received over 60% of the vote last year. Schilling got over 70%. All three are on the 9th year on the ballot and these days, you only get 10 (used to be 15.) Bonds and Clemens have pretty much stalled over the years. There are simply too many that will not vote for them and these two can't move the numbers. But Schilling has moved up, despite his post career persona.

So these are my suggestions, should the writers wish to consider them (which they never have.) This year is a time to maybe right some wrongs, but I doubt that will happen. Next year sees a bit of a bumper crop - Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Jimmy Rollins (among others.) Of those left on the ballot this year that I would not vote for, let me allow a shout out to Torri Hunter and Barry Zito. Both great players but they just don't get there. So, there is my 2021 vote. That is all.

Where We Go From Here...

I must start this post with a disclaimer. I have voted Republican nearly my entire voting life outside of my first Presidential election in 1992 (gave that to the Libertarian) and for Governor of Georgia once (when I voted for Roy Barnes over Sonny Perdue in 2002.) Whenever I discuss a political issue these days, I think I need to make that known before I say the next piece...I DID NOT vote for the first time ever in 2016. OK, I voted in the primaries, but I did not vote in the general election. I consider myself a conservative (notice the small c) or otherwise a classical liberal. I don't tend to traffic often in the social stuff of the GOP, but fiscally I prefer their platform (usually.) Basically, I prefer the Constitution. I tend to like candidates, such as they come along, that will stand up for that and keep it in place as it should be. Due to that, I was not a fan of Donald Trump. I did not support him throughout his run through the primaries in 2016 (I was a Ted Cruz man) and I refused to vote for him for President. That said, I could not in good faith vote for Clinton either (anymore than I could her husband back in '92) so I was a man without a party suddenly.

Not a terrible place to be at first blush. Until Trump won in 2016 and then I was thrust into a position that was more than uncomfortable. I was never a NeverTrump person, I just did not wish to support his candidacy because I did not think he was a true conservative (and more, he was a Populist which I don't care for.) Yet once he won, I then found myself in discussions with two types of people. Those that REALLY loved him and those that REALLY hated him. I was REALLY in a small minority because I was neither. If I said anything positive about him to the Trump haters, I got blow back. If I said anything negative about him to Trump lovers, I got blow back. Suddenly the ability to discuss politics at all was out the window. Some might say that is a good thing, but I don't. I've been a political junkie since I was aware of politics and history.

I'm almost certain that anyone reading this that hates Trump will blame him for that environment. I say you are wrong. Trump is/was a product of that environment. One that has been going on as long as I've been able to remember. Reagan was going to start a nuclear war. Clinton was a scoundrel and the GOP spent 6 years finding a cum stained dress that led to perjury. George W. was selected not elected and was Bushchimphitler. Obama wasn't even born American. And on and on and on...

Look, it's politics. I get that. It can get heated and people passionately believe what they believe (as do I.) Yet what we seem to have lost is the ability to hear what someone else believes with a reasonable mind. We seem to want to live in an echo chamber so we only see and hear what we want to see and hear. The idea of of discussion has now become argument. All the time!

I won't get into a litany of the issues over these last 4 years other than to say that over that time I was forced to both defend him and speak against him, depending on with whom I was speaking. Flash forward to a week ago, I had a choice. I knew the election would be close and so I voted this time around and yes, I voted for Trump. (Waits for the vast exit for the doors from readers or those getting ready to type something on their keyboards.) I'm not going to list the things I liked or didn't like, but I thought he was better than the other guy. I get that choice, thankfully, due to the Constitution. And then suddenly we are in a whole new world once again.

Networks calling the election in certain states but not others before they should (as they always do), a tight election once again as I went to bed that night, a change in the morning (that might be expected given this year) and then finally another potentially premature call late in the week (since counting votes is also something we find harder to do in 2020 apparently.) I have written and said that it looks like Biden won the electoral college (which I still champion), and if so then we will have a new President. Certainly many are already celebrating and ready to usher him into the Oval Office (2 months too soon, by the way.) Others are crying foul as they say there is voter fraud and maybe this thing was stolen.

Here is where I come down on all this (get to it, already, because that's all we really care about!) - Count all of the legal votes and remove any that are proven illegal. (Prove, of course, is the important word there.) Given that it appears that there were certain abnormalities or anomalies in certain areas (which seem to be in highly contested states), that will mean challenges. The system provides for all of this. The election is in early November and gives each state just over a month to certify their vote in December. So go through the process and get to that point where each state can send their slate of Electors to Congress and do their part. There is no reason to concede defeat or declare victory until there is finality. I'm sure that makes many people uncomfortable, and on both sides. But that is how the Constitution works.

You can re-litigate the past and I'm certain whomever loses will re-litigate the future, but for the rest of us...just wait. Indeed, I did not and still do not desire a long protracted legal fight. Yet we've seen that in the past and still ended up with a victor. Is it good for the country? Likely not. But neither is distrust in electoral integrity. As it was in 2000, it could be again where a subset thinks a President is selected rather than elected. Make no mistake...whomever gives the oath of office in January will be MY President. I don't have to like him. I just love the country and the Constitution. The best way to get back to that ideal is to allow the process to work (legally!) and don't get too far ahead of ourselves. We're not going anywhere. 2020 (unfortunately in the near future) isn't going anywhere. The only thing going somewhere is this country and our future lives.

If you want healing, then stop calling people you disagree with horrible people, deplorable, racist, communists...(you can fill in the rest.) If you want healing, then listen (which I admit I needs must work on as well.) If you want healing, then allow the founding document of this country to work as intended...all the way through (there is a reason we have amendments.) If you want healing, then physician heal thyself. Especially on this day (as of this writing) when we celebrate and remember all of those that placed their life on the line to defend this great country of ours, I think we owe it to ourselves.

And to be sure to all of our veterans, thank you for your service! Would that keyboard warriors be as brave.

That is all.

100 Bands Better than Green Day Update (2020 version)

In 2015, Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Till this time, I'm still not sure why when so many other deserving acts had better resumes. Don't get me wrong. I don't hate the band. Perfectly serviceable in the post grunge era and had a fine pseudo-punk sound (though I will never agree with any idea of pop punk - those two things do not go together.) They are a good band and maybe they were inducted because the HoF wanted to get better views, but they did not deserve it when compared to so many others over the years.

I spent some few hours over some many weeks with some friends in 2015 compiling a list of 100 bands (artists) that deserved it far more than Green Day. Today I revisit that list. Here is where we stand:

[Note this list is in no particular order]

Jethro Tull

Yes (inducted in 2017)

Soundgarden

Eurythmics

The Cure (inducted in 2019)

The Smiths

The Zombies (inducted in 2019)

Mott the Hoople

Adrien Belew

The Cars (inducted in 2018)

Blue Oyster Cult

UFO

Deep Purple (inducted in 2016)

Iron Maiden

Iggy Pop

Willie Nelson

Warren Zevon

Phil Collins

Graham Parker

Townes Van Zandt

Steve Earle

Emmie Lou Harris

Herbie Hancock

Judas Priest

The Misfits

Dead Kennedys

Motorhead

Ozzy Osborne

Duane Allman

Bjork

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Joy Division

MC5

King Crimson

David Crosby

Stephen Stills

Dire Straights (inducted in 2018)

The Replacements

Indigo Girls

Huey Lewis and the News

Janes Addiction

Journey (inducted in 2017)

Meatloaf

Sinead O'Connor

Harry Nilsson

New York Dolls

Tears for Fears

XTC

Jeff Buckley

The Pogues

Ted Nudgent

Henry Rollins

Peter Frampton

Ministry

Steppenwolf

NWA (inducted in 2016)

Joe Cocker

Chicago (inducted in 2016)

The Doobie Brothers (inducted 2020)

Black Flag

Roxy Music (inducted in 2019)

New Order

Steve Miller Band (inducted in 2016)

The Moody Blues (inducted in 2018)

Cheap Trick (inducted in 2016)

Def Leppard (inducted in 2019)

X

John Lydon

Sonic Youth

Pat Benetar

LL Cool J

Pavement

Rage Against the Machine

Thin Lizzy

The Commodores

ELO (inducted in 2017)

Jeff Lynne

Devo

Squeeze

Slayer

Anthrax

Roky Erickson

B-52s

Tina Turner

Blind Faith

Steve Winwood

Annie Lenox

Robert Palmer

Nine Inch Nails (inducted in 2020)

Procul Harem

The Germs

The Go Gos

Tommy James and the Shondells

Danzig

Graham Parsons

Sting

Rick James

Husker Du

Tori Amos

 

In 5 years, 17 of these bands/artists have been finally given their due. AFTER Green Day. I am keeping a running tally and will continue to do so until these folks finally get their deserved day. I'm sure that there are many others that I and my friends forgot or failed to mention. Please feel free to offer your own suggestions. You need not complain about the Hall itself because that is a given. Since its inception in Cleveland, they have become worse and worse about who gets in and especially why. A Hall of Fame is itself a subjective thing these days and the music industry is one of the worst offenders. But I love music and would like to see those I love honored. I'm keeping tabs and will continue to do so. Billie Joe Armstrong has his when so many others are so much more deserving. I am never going to let that go. That is all.