NFL training camp update #1

Former University of Missouri Tigers quarterback Chase Daniel was not picked in this year's NFL draft (despite being featured in an article in The New Yorker). However, he has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins and is competing for the 3rd string QB position.

For a unexpectedly lengthy interview, click here. To follow Chase Daniel on Twitter, click here.

Six months have passed, and I can hardly remember the Super Bowl

Six months and two days have passed since Super Bowl XLIII, and, thankfully, I can barely remember what happened. I remember that at the end of the first half, the Arizona Cardinals were deep in Pittsburgh territory and were about to score, but Kurt Warner threw an interception and that one guy for the Steelers ran it all the way back for a touchdown and collapsed into the end zone. I also remember that the Cardinals were leading late, but then the Steelers scored. I really wanted that guy's feet (see photo above) to be out of bounds, but they weren't. Finally I remember that with about five seconds left, the Steelers player knocked the ball out of Kurt Warner's hand and the referees ruled it a fumble and didn't even bother to review it using instant replay. (Although, maybe they did after all.)

I am just happy that the human brain can deal with tragedy and injustice by simply forgetting about it. Imagine how horrible our lives would be if we had to remember everything.

What I have been reading lately #30

Hero of the Underground by Jason Peter with Tony O'Neill

Jason Peter was an All-American defensive lineman for the University of Nebraska during the 1990s. From there, he went on to play for the Carolina Panthers. His career, however, was cut short by injuries, and he quickly sank into the world of drug abuse. This book tells about his years spent abusing drugs and then finally recovering.

Interesting facts about this book:

• On the cover it says, "My journey down to heroin-- and back". It probably should read, "My journey from prescription painkillers to cocaine to crack cocaine to heroin (with a little crystal meth as well)-- and back". Maybe there wasn't room to put all that, or maybe the publishers just thought heroin sounded the scariest, but I think the jacket blurb misrepresents the book.
• Jason Peter has very strong views on different treatment options, mostly quite negative. He is especially annoyed at psychologists, group meetings, 12 step programs, religion, and treating addiction as a disease.
• Jason Peter also has very, very unpleasant things to say about former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, specifically about how Lou Holtz treated Peter's younger brother.
• Reading about people's completely deranged drug binges and then futile efforts to quit can actually be sort of boring after awhile. I still liked the book, however.

What I have been watching lately #3

I just finished watching the movie Kelly's Heroes for the first time since I was a little kid. It features many of the most important twentieth-century American actors, including Telly Savalas, Stuart Margolin, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod, and Donald Sutherland. I do have the following questions, however:

• If they needed the combat engineers to build a bridge across the river, how did Kelly and his men get across the river before the engineers built the bridge?
• Why was the town completely deserted before and during the battle, but then afterwards all the people came out as if from nowhere?
• When the American soldier was ringing the church bell over and over again, why didn't any of the Germans go investigate?
• Has there ever been a movie that had so many tanks and other vehicles crashing through walls so many times?
• How did Kelly and his men get the stolen gold back to Allied lines, especially since they were driving in captured German vehicles?

Below-- the main soundtrack theme as performed by the Mike Curb Congregation.

Abandoned books and/or movies #4-- more information about false memory #2?

Black and Honolulu Blue: In the Trenches of the NFL by Keith Dorney

In 1979, the Detroit Lions went 2-14, tying them for the worst record in the NFL that year. 1980 was a much better year for Detroit - during the offseason they drafted Billy Sims and started off the season 5-1. In the middle of this, veteran defensive back Jimmy "Spiderman" Allen recorded and released his own version of the popular song "Another One Bites the Dust," in which he explained how the Lions were going to defeat all their opponents. The lyrics included such statements as, "Come and watch the Detroit Lions that no one seems to beat," and "Last year's team was 2 and 14, but this is the year for New Orleans" (ie, Super Bowl XV, played in New Orleans). The song was a fan favorite in the Detroit area.

Despite the fact that Detroit finished the season 9-7, tying for first in the NFC Central Division and just barely missing the playoffs, the Lions were ridiculed for years to come because of Allen's song. According to Keith Dorney:

• That stupid song was rubbed into our faces time and time again and was played by our opponent's band after every away loss we suffered for years to come. How humiliating it was to hear Bamp, bamp, bamp. Another one bites the dust! as we walked off the field after a loss. (page 37)

Click here to find a link to the song. It is at the bottom of the article, before the comments section.

Click here to find out more about false memory #2?.

Historically significant baseball games I have attended #4

Who was playing? San Francisco Giants versus St. Louis Cardinals

Where did they play? Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, MO

When did they play? August 22, 1982

Did I know this game might be significant before it started? No

What happened? The St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in extra innings. The winning run was scored in the bottom of the 12th with two outs when Cardinal catcher Glenn Brummer stole home.

What do I remember? The Cardinals were playing well and were in a tight race for the National League East (old-style) Division title. The game was on a Sunday afternoon, and I went with my father, brother, and maybe somebody else (perhaps a friend of my brother). It was very sunny and hot, and we moved around a lot during the game to sit in different seats.

When the 12th inning came, we were sitting on the third base side. Either we were sitting in the sun and the field was in the shade, or we were sitting in the shade and the field was in the sun. Either way, there was both bright sunlight and dark shadows at the same time.

I remember being surprised when the base runner (Glenn Brummer) on third suddenly started running towards home plate. He slid in just as the pitch arrived, and the umpire called him safe. We were all very happy and cheering, but I remember having one worry - since there were two outs and also two strikes on the batter, if the pitch was a strike, then the run would not have counted. But the umpire made no signal other than safe at home, so the game was over.

Was there an aftermath? The Cardinals went on to win the National League East, the National League Championship Series (over the Atlanta Braves), and the World Series (over the Milwaukee Brewers).

Glenn Brummer's steal of home has gone down as the best-remembered moment of the Cardinals 1982 regular season. It has been the subject of many feature articles, blog postings, newspaper articles, and television programs. It has also been memorialized in a plaque that can be found in St. Louis. (See photo below)

At some point in my life, I heard a radio interview with the person in charge of making the World Series Championship rings every year for the winning team. When the radio host asked the ring-maker man who had the largest ring size of any player they had made a ring for, the answer was "Glenn Brummer."

Above, the World Series ring for the 2006 (not 1982) St. Louis Cardinals

Tony Pena, Jr. will try to become a pitcher

The Kansas City Royals have announced that they will attempt to convert shortstop Tony Pena, Jr. into a pitcher. So far this year, Tony Pena, Jr. has batted .098. Tony Pena, Jr. is the son of Tony Pena (both pictured below) and should not be confused with the other Tony Pena. Last year, during a 19-4 blowout against the Detroit Tigers, Tony Pena, Jr. pitched one inning and retired all three batters he faced. Tony Pena, Jr. will spend the next few months/years in the minor leagues working on the transition.