**Dirtball of the Year!!…Dec. 30**
Philadelphia Eagles (1933-2003) Quiz: 1) Rushing, career? 2)
Passing yards, career? 3) Receptions, career? 4) Passing TDs,
season? [32] 5) Rushing, game? [205, pre-1970] 6) Who was
the last QB chosen with the 1st-round pick before Donovan
McNabb in 1999? Answers below.
[Err, sorry about T.O., Eagles fans.]
Folks, I returned from South America on Wednesday after a 9-
hour flight from Santiago, Chile to Atlanta, and then another
flight up to Newark. I realize I’ve now been on 11 planes in
three weeks so I figure I’ve had enough radiation for the time
being.
But the payoff was Continental lost my bag in Atlanta. [If you
weren’t with me earlier, I was without my bag for the first 5 days
of my trip.] And now I’m really ticked because I have all these
cool t-shirts from Paraguay in there.
So you’re going to have to cut me a little slack this time as I nod
off. But before I do, in going through the e-mails I see that Allen
H. had a friend who found a brown tree snake on his boat while
sailing in waters off Guam. Luckily he saw it before it saw him.
Which reminds me, if you find a brown tree snake under the tree
Christmas morning……….RUN!
And I made a comment the other day that former coach Rick
Majerus was a bit of a jerk and Manny R. couldn’t help but
remind me of the story of Majerus recruiting Shawn Bradley to
play at Utah.
“On the first day that he could legally visit Bradley, Majerus
went to his home. He was then told by Bradley that he had
chosen to go to Brigham Young. When Majerus challenged
Bradley, Bradley responded by saying that God told him to go to
BYU. Majerus turned to Bradley’s father, who felt that if God
wanted his son at BYU then that was where he belonged.
Majerus then filed a protest with the NCAA against God,
alleging an illegal recruiting violation.”
Finally, I see that in the last few days the Yankees lost Randy
Johnson after they thought they had him all wrapped up for
Christmas giving to Yankee fans. As Nelson of “The Simpsons”
would say…. Haa haa!
—
Christmas
[Some of the following is now annual material.]
World War I – Christmas Truce
By December 1914, the war had been picking up in intensity for
five months. Ironically, the feeling during the initial phases
was that everyone would be home by Christmas, though little
did they know it would be Christmas 1918.
On Christmas Eve 1914, along the British and German lines,
particularly in the Flanders area, the soldiers got into
conversation with each other and it was clear to the British that
the Germans wanted some sort of Christmas Armistice. Sir
Edward Hulse wrote in his diary, “A scout named F. Murker
went out and met a German Patrol and was given a glass of
whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back saying
that if we didn’t fire at them they would not fire at us.” That
night, where five days earlier there had been savage fighting, the
guns fell silent.
The following morning German soldiers walked towards the
British wire and the Brits went out to meet them. They
exchanged caps and souvenirs and food. Then arrangements
were made for the British to pick up bodies left on the German
side during a recent failed raid.
Christmas Day, fraternization took place along many of the lines,
including a few of the French and Belgian ones. Some joined in
chasing hares, others, most famously, kicked around a soccer
ball. British soldier Bruce Bairnsfather would write, “It all felt
most curious: here were these sausage-eating wretches, who had
elected to start this infernal European fracas, and in so doing had
brought us all into the same muddy pickle as themselves…(But)
there was not an atom of hate on either side that day; and yet, on
our side, not for a moment was the will to war and the will to
beat them relaxed.”
In the air the war continued and the French Foreign Legionnaires
in Alsace were ordered to fight Christmas Day as well. Plus,
most of the commanders on both sides were none too pleased.
Nothing like the Christmas truce of 1914 would occur in
succeeding years (outside of a pocket or two) and by December
26, 1914, the guns were blazing anew.
[Source: “The First World War,” Martin Gilbert]
“May You Always”
[From 1959-2002, Harry Harrison was a fixture on New York
radio, the last 20+ years at the great oldies station WCBS-FM.
Unfortunately, he was forced to retire, but then a few months ago
WCBS brought him back for Saturdays. Years ago Harry
recorded “May You Always”…a huge hit with his listening
audience.]
As the holiday bells ring out the old year, and sweethearts kiss,
And cold hands touch and warm each other against the year
ahead,
May I wish you not the biggest and best of life,
But the small pleasures that make living worthwhile.
Sometime during the new year, to keep your heart in practice,
May you do someone a secret good deed and not get caught at it.
May you find a little island of time to read that book and write
that letter
And to visit that lonely friend on the other side of town.
May your next do-it-yourself project not look like you did it
yourself.
May the poor relatives you helped support remember you when
they win the lottery.
May your best card tricks win admiring gasps and your worst
puns, admiring groans.
May all those who told you so, refrain from saying “I told you
so.”
May all the predictions you’ve made for your first born’s future
come true.
May just half of those optimistic predictions that your high
school annual made for you come true.
In a time of sink or swim, may you find you can walk to shore
before you call the lifeguard.
May you keep at least one ideal you can pass along to your kids.
For a change, some rainy day, when you’re a few minutes late,
May your train or bus be waiting for you.
May you accidentally overhear someone saying something nice
about you.
If you run into an old school chum,
May you both remember each other’s names for introductions.
If you order your steak medium rare, may it be so.
And, if you’re on a diet,
May someone tell you, “You’ve lost a little weight,” without
knowing you’re on a diet.
May that long and lonely night be brightened by the telephone
call that you’ve been waiting for.
When you reach into the coin slot, may you find the coin that
you lost on your last wrong number.
When you trip and fall, may there be no one watching to laugh at
you or feel sorry for you.
And sometime soon, may you be waved to by a celebrity,
Wagged at by a puppy,
Run to by a happy child,
And counted on by someone you love.
More than this, no one can wish you.
—
[The following is from a Times of London editorial, 12/24/02]
“The knowledge that it is through love for others that one lives
most fully is at the heart of the Christian message, the reason for
its initial appeal and the explanation for its endurance through
persecution, schism and indifference. In this age of scientific
skepticism the miracle of Christmas, God becoming Man, the
Word becoming Flesh, is considered a fanciful conceit. But the
essence of the Christian message, the Word at the heart of the
faith, is the transformative power of unconditional love, the real
freedom we achieve when we live for others. When families
gather tomorrow to celebrate Christmas Day they will be re-
enacting a scene of affection and adoration that is a moment of
human and spiritual renewal. And the religious services which
many will attend are a celebration of faith and of the most
profound love.”
Linus [From “A Charlie Brown Christmas”]
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel
of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown
round about them. And they were so afraid. And the angel said
unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy
which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall
be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill
toward men.”
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
—
Christmas Tunes
[First year it ‘charted,’ including the Billboard “Christmas”
chart.]
1934 – Winter Wonderland…Guy Lombardo
1934 – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town…George Hall
1935 – Silent Night…Bing Crosby
1938 – The Man With The Whiskers…Hoosier Hot Shots
1939 – Hello Mr. Kringle…Kay Kyser
1941 – Jingle Bells…Glenn Miller
1942 – White Christmas…Bing Crosby
1943 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas…Bing Crosby
1944 – White Christmas…Frank Sinatra
1944 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas…Judy Garland
1945 – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!…Vaughn Monroe
1946 – The Christmas Song…Nat “King” Cole
1947 – Merry Christmas, Baby…Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers
/ Charles Brown
1947 – Here Comes Santa Claus…Gene Autry
1948 – All I Want For Christmas…Spike Jones
1948 – You’re All I Want For Christmas…Frankie Laine
1949 – Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer…Gene Autry
1949 – Blue Christmas…Ernest Tubb
1950 – Frosty The Snow Man…Gene Autry
1950 – Lonesome Christmas…Lowell Fulson
1951 – It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas – Perry Como &
The Fontaine Sisters
1952 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus…Jimmy Boyd
1954 – White Christmas…The Drifters
1954 – There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays…Perry
Como
1957 – Jingle Bell Rock…Bobby Helms
1958 – The Chipmunk Song…The Chipmunks
1958 – The Little Drummer Boy…The Harry Simeone Chorale
1960 – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree…Brenda Lee
1960 – Please Come Home For Christmas…Charles Brown
1960 – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer…The Chipmunks
1961 – Baby’s First Christmas…Connie Francis
1962 – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town…The 4 Seasons
1963 – White Christmas…Andy Williams
1963 – Do You Hear What I Hear?…Bing Crosby
1963 – Little Saint Nick…The Beach Boys
1963 – Pretty Paper…Roy Orbison
1964 – Blue Christmas…Elvis Presley
1964 – The Man With All The Toys…The Beach Boys
1964 – A Holly Jolly Christmas…Burl Ives
1966 – Silent Night…Barbra Streisand
1967 – Snoopy’s Christmas…The Royal Guardsmen
1968 – The Christmas Song…Herb Alpert
1970 – Merry Christmas Darling…Carpenters
1971 – Happy Xmas (War is Over)…John Lennon & Yoko Ono
1973 – Step Into Christmas…Elton John
1973 – If We Make It Through December…Merle Haggard
1977 – It’s Just Another New Hear’s Eve…Barry Manilow
1982 – Christmas In Dixie…Alabama
1983 – Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer…Elmo ‘N Patsy
1985 – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town…Bruce Springsteen
My favorite modern tune is Donny Hathaway’s “This
Christmas,” released in 1972. This guy was awesome.
Unfortunately, he was gone at the age of 33 but I’m not going to
bring up any details today…wouldn’t be prudent.
Philadelphia Eagles Quiz Answers: 1) Rushing, career: Wilbert
Montgomery…6,538 (1977-84). 2) Passing yards, career: Ron
Jaworski…26,963 (1977-86). 3) Receptions, career: Harold
Carmichael, 589 (1971-83). 4) Passing TDs, season: Sonny
Jurgensen, 32 (1961). [This was his career high…played with
Philly 1957-63; Washington 1964-74…where did he go to
school? ………Duke] 5) Rushing, game: Steve Van Buren, 205
(1949). [Hall of Famer Van Buren led the league in both rushing
and TDs four seasons, rushing for 5,860 yards while scoring 77
TDs in 83 career games…played at LSU] 6) 1st-round pick prior
to McNabb in ’99: John Reaves, 1972, out of Florida.
–Alcohol consumption rises in the UK more than any other
leading Western country around Christmas; some 41% more than
the annual monthly average there. [The U.S. is 28% more.]
Treat yourself to a premium lager anyway…because you deserve
it.
–Nice road win for my Demon Deacons at New Mexico on
Wednesday. Maybe I shouldn’t panic just yet.
–So I keep this little notebook with me and I’ve been forgetting
to write a line I learned while out at the PGA’s Q-School about
two weeks ago. Referring to the golfers attempting to earn their
tour card and the incredible pressure, one fellow with long roots
in the game told me:
“They all know they can play the shot, but they have to play that
shot now.”
Merry Christmas, friends.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday, 12/30, as the editor takes a small
break.
**But next time we hand out our awards for Dirtball, Idiot, Good
Guy and Animal of the Year!!!! Still don’t know who is hosting
the show, but we’ll come up with someone.
