2017 Army-Navy Game: Not A Single Bended Knee

The 2017 college football season came to a close today at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly with the 118th edition of the Army-Navy game.

Before the game aired, CBS Sports produced one of the classiest and emotionally stirring videos celebrating those who have committed their lives to protecting our country.

Since 1890, the Army/Navy game has celebrated those who have committed their lives to protecting our country.

For the 118th time, it’s much more than just a football game. pic.twitter.com/f8ruphRpUd

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 9, 2017

"The only game where everyone playing in it is willing to die for everyone watching it.". WOW THAT REALLY SUMS IT UP! Not a dry eye in the house, not a knee on the turf! pic.twitter.com/eSh9NK4Vjf

— Charles Byrne (@ByrneLearning) December 9, 2017

Rivalries stir the soul and today’s game was no exception.  On a snowy field, the Black Knights of the Hudson took on the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy to win 14-13.  Before the game, in a solemn and majestic moment, the choirs of the Annapolis and West Point academies sang the national anthem.

Dad would have been proud of his Army and his country today. 

Living Your Life As A Champion

“An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame-Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins.” ― President Dwight D. Eisenhower

In a sport where rivalry games serve as the lifeblood of college football fans, nobody does bitterness and contentious showdowns quite like the Southeastern Conference.  Grudge matches abound in college football:  Army-Navy, Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, Oklahoma-Texas, USC-Notre Dame, Georgia-Florida.

For the past ten seasons Alabama and LSU have carved their own niche in iconic college football history.

How did LSU overshadow Auburn as the biggest game on Alabama’s schedule?  Nick Saban left the LSU football program for the NFL after guiding the Tigers to the 2003 BCS National Championship against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.  After his stint with the Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to the college ranks at none other than SEC West rival Alabama.  The Tiger Nation has never forgotten the pain he caused.

I wish I loved anything as much as I hate Nick Saban #LSUvsBAMA

— Duty/ Doody (@EmboG) November 8, 2015

I have been a Bama fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper; going all the way back to the Paul “Bear” Bryant era.  If I couldn’t be a Bama fan I would be an LSU fan.  Through adversity, triumph and defeat the LSU faithful are rabid, devoted fans.  I admire their heart.

A tradition that began three years ago between friend and SEC sister Diogenes’ Middle Finger involves a friendly wager on the slugfest between our two beloved schools.  For two years we made sizeable contributions to Wounded Warrior Project.  Last year we directed our donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  We have agreed to do so again this year.

It hurts when you lose to your most-hated rival.  Diogenes and I know one of us will face losing the ballgame on Saturday. Somehow, giving from the heart to a noble cause like Shriners Hospitals, we know we’ve helped make these children champions in their own right.

It’s all too easy to lose track of what matters in this world.  What could be better than helping a precious child become all God meant for him to be?  I hope you’ll join us in making a donation of whatever amount you can afford to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  The holiday season is right around the corner.  Your gift will help provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs. 

For almost 100 years, the Shriners Childrens Hospitals have helped more than 1.3 million children under the age of 18 and through the generosity of its donors turns patients back into kids.

Dear God, let Your grace and love fall on them like gentle breezes and give them inner strength and peace and patience for the journey ahead.

Please click here to make a donation.  Thank you.

NOTE:  According to Charity Navigator, Shriners Hospitals for Children has an Overall Score and Rating of 93.58.  Their financial rating is 91.44 and accounting and transparency is 97.00.  All ratings are four stars.

For charities performing similar types of work, Shriners ranks highest over Interfaith Dental Clinic (87.17), Turner House Children’s Clinic (91.70), Doctors Care (90.67) and Mission of Mercy (93.62).

Competitive Spirit

Randy Rosetta noted today at Gridiron Now, “In a sport where rivalry games serve as the constant lifeblood, nobody does bitterness and contentious showdowns quite like the SEC. Every week, it seems like at least two teams from the best football league in college football collide with bragging rights at stake and hatred for the other overflowing like the stadiums that are often filled to capacity and then some.”

For the past 10 seasons, the Alabama-LSU game has catapulted into the spotlight as arguably the biggest game in the SEC and one of the most impactful games nationally every season.

My SEC sister, Diogenes, is a devout LSU fan.  I am a rabid Alabama fan.  I consider it a blessing to share a sport I love with someone I care about.  Since 2014 she and I have had a friendly wager on the Bama-LSU game.  The loser would make a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project; out of love for our brave military service members the winner would make a donation as well.  This is the way two dyed-in-the-wool fans handle their fierce competitive spirit.

Continuing our tradition, this year we agreed to make a contribution to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  Since 1922, more than 1.3 million children have received life-changing care at Shriners Hospitals helping them reach their potential to lead more fulfilling lives regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

I designated the Shriners Hospital located in Shreveport and here’s the letter they sent me:

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” — John Bunyan

As we approach Thanksgiving and the season of giving, I hope you’ll join us in the joyful act that reflects a thankful heart and relishes in the happiness that comes from helping those less fortunate than ourselves.  If you’d like to donate to the Shriners Hospitals for Children here is the link.  May God bless you today and always.

Alabama Crimson Tide Vs Tennessee Volunteers

It’s been “Tennessee Hate Week” here at Casa de Curmudgeon. 

Back in 2007 a journalism student at Bama interviewed fellow student Irvin Carney.  Carney did not hold back his feelings about hating Tennessee.  “Neyland Stadium looks like a garbage truck worker convention.  Tennessee’s colors are that throw-up orange.  It’s not that orange you can sit with.  It’s that puke inside of a pumpkin.  And I don’t like pumpkins.  I can’t stress that enough.  I hate Tennessee.”

The annual “Third Saturday in October” tailgate party is going to be epic.  Just before kickoff we’ll have the obligatory pumpkin smashing event.  From my deck the 40 pumpkins I bought will be lobbed over the railing and splattered onto the tarp I have spread out on the ground below.  It’s the best way to blow off your “I hate orange” loathing.

For the 115 years Alabama and Tennessee have battled one another the simmering hatred of this rivalry has been palpable.  This year Tennessee is hoping to recapture the glory days of the Peyton Manning era.   Alabama is currently on an unprecedented run against the Volunteers, with the Tide winning the last nine contests.  The Tide is 53-37-8 against the Vols.

The bookies in Vegas like the Tide.  Chances of Bama winning:  67.6%.  Tennessee’s chances:  32.4%.

In order to upend the Tide, the Rocky Toppers will need to play like “second-half” Tennessee in the first half too.  They’ve got to guard against fumbles and stop allowing the really big plays.

Unlike the abovementioned Mr. Carney, I don’t think all Tennessee fans are low-down, dirty snitches.  I am of the opinion that the “Garbage Truck Workers” have run out of miracles for winning games and Big Al is going to pop Smokey across the nose with a rolled up newspaper and head back to Tuscaloosa with a 10-game winning streak.

Dirty Dutch, loyal follower of this blog, is a rabid Tennessee fan.  The video embedded below is for him because he’s a friend.  Enjoy it buddy ‘cuz that’s as close as you’re going to get to “winning” against my Boys from Bama.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Diogenes’ Unavoidable Envy

It all began with a blog post by Hammer and Loupe over at The People’s Cube in which the absurd notion was floated that the University of Alabama would replace its “racist elephant” mascot with a donkey.

“According to President Obama, the University of Alabama lost their privilege when they did not share their football trophies with the less fortunate colleges and universities.  Some folks thought they could get away with putting a Republican elephant next to a word that has ‘Bama in it.  That was a distasteful and disrespectful attack against me and I want Americans to realize that personal attacks against me will not be tolerated.  It’s not who we are.” 

“University of Alabama students became divided on the issue, with the best and the most progressive part of the student body organizing spontaneous marches in support of President Obama and his ruling.” 

"’Elephants are a symbol of oppression and Alabama has won too many trophies for their own good. The mascot change is progressive, and I hope Alabama will learn to share a bit more,’ said Melissa Click, former communications professor at the University of Missouri, who joined the march as a volunteer legal observer.” 

"Finally, there is someone else important that agrees with me,” added local sophomore Colin Cowherd, whom Ms. Click trusted to carry her purse.”

I had a good chuckle, but then my friend Diogenes apparently thought that goading her “SEC sister” (me) would be funny and decided to post Hammer and Loupe’s fairy tale over at her place.

I posted this comment:  I thought we were friends. Now I have carte blanche to post Tiger jokes right?

She replied:  It’s only fair I guess. LOL!  And we’ll try and relieve ya’ll of the burden of another SEC trophy this year. ;)

To which I replied:  That's a provocation.  I'll go all Trump on your ass.  I'm counting down the 5 1/2 months until we come to Death Valley and swing Mike by his tail in an epic victory.  ROLL TIDE!

Soon there appeared a comment by blogger buddy Woodsterman who noticed an uptick in my attitude and declared:   WHOOHOO! Girl Fight!

The advent of the Crimson Tide’s on-field mascot, Big Al, came during a game between Bama and Ole Miss waaaaay back in 1930, but it was legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant who was instrumental in Big Al coming to life in 1979 during the Sugar Bowl, the game made famous for the goal-line stand that turned back the Nittany Lions of Penn State and gave Bama its 11th national championship.

The original costume now resides in a place of honor in the Paul W. Bryant Museum.  Big Al continues to stomp into the hearts of fans.

I’ve made good on my threat by photoshopping Mike the Tiger (LSU’s mascot) as half jackass, half tiger along with the highly coveted 2015 SEC Championship Trophy and Big Al clutching the 2016 CFP National Championship Trophy.

The rivalry between our schools is one of the most bitterly contested in all of football, but it doesn’t get in the way of our friendship.  Diogenes always roots for my boys and I for hers except when they battle each other.

The smack talk is all just good-natured fun and to prove it Diogenes' last reply to me was:  Okay, I guess as reigning national champion we can forgive your Trump-like bluster ‘til this fall. You earned the right.  We can stay SEC sisters, at least until that glorious night in November. ♥  Geaux Tigers!!!

Sorry Jan, but I have to get in this dig at ya:  Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns and Alabama's defense smothered Leonard Fournette in a 30-16 rout over your Tigers a year ago.  See ya November 5th on the field of battle.