Holy Crap, The Sox Did It Again!

Yeah, I know I'm a little late to the party. This one definitely was a lot less stressful now that the Red Sox have overcome their demons, so I didn't blog about it anywhere near like I did the last run. In case you're interested, the 2004 posts were much more interesting. I suggest starting here and working up.

This year? All gravy man. All gravy.


Looks like Papi is starting to get used to carrying this trophy around.


For the best coverage of all things Red Sox, I suggest you look no further than the Boston Globe, Red Sox Department. And pretty much anything written by Bob Ryan about them will explain things for you well enough.


Thanks Again Bosox, yet another fabulous run!

Would Ted Rall Get Accepted To Harvard Law School?

The reason I ask is because today I read Ted's latest sickening excuse for a cartoon at the blog Weasel Zippers. I'm not going to post the cartoon because I don't want to soil my own blog, but Rall essentially makes the point before the war in Iraq America was "dumber than dirt" but as Americans enlisted "only idiots signed up, only idiots died. Back home the national IQ soared".

Hey Ted, a friend of mine who enlisted after 9/11 is now at Harvard Law School, after serving around three tours in Iraq. You wouldn't hold a candle next to him on an intellectual level. And I know plenty of others who have served who are light years more intelligent than you.

You don't deserve the freedoms that they defend for you.

This is a perfect time to honor Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who grew up in Patchogue NY, and joined the elite Navy SEALs after college. He has been awarded the nation's highest battlefield award, the Medal of Honor, for a valiant attempt to save the lives of comrades that cost him his own.




Thanks to all of our Armed Forces for your service to our country.

Vince Bowl I-Year Two For Houston, Bosox Against The Wall Again, And Them Preds Sure Don't Look So Good

Yes, it is time for Vince Bowl I-Year Two, a term I came across from my favorite Texans blogger Matt at Da Good, Da Bad and Demeco. This year he and I are wagering on both Titans-Texans games, and the loser must send a bottle of the winners choice, to be drank in a merry victory round. We've been going back on the forth on the whole 2006 Houston Draft Day saga, as I still believe the guy on the left in this picture was the best pick, but these Texans fans are consistent in defending the pick and fully expect to see it redeemed. I fully expect to watch Lendale "Bowling Ball" White pick up some serious yards in this game as the Texans run defense is allowing ridiculous numbers. Let's hope all Vince has to do is hand the ball off to Lendale all day, as the last thing this team needs is for Vince to further injure his quad. Kudos to the Titans defense this year as they've played beyond anyones expectations. Should be a good game.

Then we have my beloved Bosox attempting to write another fall masterpiece comeback, this time from down 3-1. Can we do it? Will Manny shut up and play baseball? Will Beckett pitch lights out? Will we finally see the last of those stupid "It's Tribe Time" banners from Cleveland?

Let's ask Manny!



Ahh. Thanks Manny!


And the Nashville Predators. Here's how I would sum up the current state of this years Nashville Predators-




Yep. Gonna be a long weekend.

You have new Picture Mail!

Titans!

Your Must Read Tear Jerker/Patriotic Story Of The Day

I recently came across these two stories today at the Corner and thought I'd pass them along. It contains a little history about a certain airport in Chicago which I had been previously unaware of. It's definitely worth the five minutes it takes to read the stories.

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago .. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.

And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.

He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against TheMob, and he knew that the cost would be great.

So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street.

But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

The poem read:

The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.

He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching
danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.


Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.

He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.


So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.




Pretty cool huh? I had no idea that's why it's called O'Hare airport, and I've been through it a gazillion times.

I will soon catch up with some Bosox/Preds/TITANS!!! posting, as I realize I've been slacking lately.