Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A good read about football

Touch football: I found a cool Washington Post story about a touch football game that's been played every Sunday since 1967. Doesn't say if it's just during football season or all year round; actually, it may have said, I just didn't see it.

 It reminded me of us playing flag football in college (circa 1971-73). We didn't have first downs; in our case, if you didn't score a touchdown in six plays, you turned the ball over on downs.

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Spam: Someone left spam on a comment on this blog today. Naturally, I deleted it.

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The Sea-Wolf: I've read Jack London's The Sea-Wolf five times. Yesterday, I found a used copy at Edward McKay (a used-book store), so No. 6 is coming.

 More later.
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Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie
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Monday, November 23, 2009

True grit for a Lion


I'm not hurt, much: I admired the grit of Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford after he hurt his shoulder Sunday against Cleveland. They replaced Stafford with Daunte Culpepper, but the Browns called timeout. Stafford normally would have to stay out one play because he was taken out, but the timeout allowed him to return.

He threw a one-yard touchdown, and the Lions won the game of 1-8 teams. Actually, it was one of the most exciting games of the day, and Stafford and Cleveland QB Brady Quinn were two good reasons.

I loved the quote by Lions coach Jim Schwartz.

“Matt’s best play of the day might have been eluding four team doctors to get back on the field,” Schwartz said.

You have to wonder about the shape of Stafford's shoulder, though.

As slippery as an eel: The Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo had one of the best plays of the day, as he threw a late touchdown to Patrick Crayton in a 7-6 win over the Washington Redskins. DE/LB Brian Orakpo had Romo within his grasp, but Romo spun away, rolled out, looked for an opening and hit Crayton. "Just Romo being Romo," Orakpo said. "Very elusive, very slippery. That's all she wrote. Touchdown."

Hard to believe: I was there when Dale Earnhardt won four of his seven Cup championships and when Jeff Gordon won his four titles. I've only watched Jimmie Johnson from afar, but I'm amazed that he's done what he has. Four in a row is amazing.

I wrote a story for Stock Car Racing magazine a few years ago about the eras of NASCAR. Herb Thomas had a short era. So did Lee Petty. Richard Petty's era ranged from around 1964 to about 1975. Cale Yarborough's era was from 1976 to '78. Darrell Waltrip's started somewhere around 1979 or '80 and ran to '85. The Dale Earnhardt era was from '86 to '94, and the Jeff Gordon era was from 1995 to 2001.

We didn't have an era for a few years. Then the Jimmie Johnson era began four or five years ago. And the end may not be in sight.

More later.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

One veteran

Rodney Gillispie had a big smile and a usually sunny temperament. He'd tell the same stories over and over, and you'd hear about Pete Richmond (not sure about spelling), the little giant of a man, and the many people he worked with over most of the 20th century in Bath County, Va.

 Often, he'd tell about his service during World War II and just afterward (he rejoined the U.S. Army for a few months after the war). He had quit school at age 16 in the fifth grade — apparently his teachers could move him along that far — so he had few talents to bring to the Army. He was a strong, hard-working laborer, and they made him a guard.

 He was in London, and he talked about Paris, but he never saw much of England or France. He spent his time close to his work, which was pretty simple. Guard prisoners and look out for Nazis.

 He had only one story about actual battle. He'd dug one of the many foxholes during his term overseas, and the Nazis were shooting machine guns. He was sweating bullets in his foxhole as the Germans' ammo sizzled overhead, hit something and dropped into the hole beside him.

 He talked about the boat ride to England. The ship swayed to and fro, and, yes, he had trouble keeping his lunch down all the way.

 Rodney actually ran into one of his brothers overseas — they were in different divisions — and they spent a few hours together.

 His favorite memory of war came when they were having a singing contest. He had a strong, clear voice and loved to sing; he was quick to break into song, any time, any place. He sang the "Wabash Cannonball" and a couple of other songs for the soldiers and civilians. Just when he was pulling out with his group, he received a gift from the French woman who had put on the contest.

 It was a box of fruit, sweeter than normal because it was earned with his voice. Many years later, he'd tell anyone who'd listen about the basket of fruit, and he'd happily break into the "Wabash Cannonball."

 He'd also show off his medals, including a Purple Heart, and his son still has them.

 He's remembered and missed every day, of course, but the memories of World War II resonate like his singing voice on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

 Happy Veterans Day, Dad.

And, on March 3, happy birthday, Dad.

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