Normal mode of operation: Be humble, reduce expectations. Don’t believe your own hype. Don’t embarrass your partners while drawing all attention to yourself. Be confident, but classy.
And then there’s…
Today, in West Virginia, a former member of the KKK will be honored at our State Capitol, with the first black President there to praise him.
Kind of remarkable. Much like the life of Robert C. Byrd.
I won’t go into the “Things I Disagree With Senator Byrd About List.” It would be a long one, but that’s not at issue today.
The longest serving Senator in U.S. history was from my home county, Raleigh. He apologized again and again for his early involvement with the Klan, and denounced them publicly, repudiating their views.
He was, by all accounts, a faithful and devoted husband to his wife, Erma. Theirs was an unusual, moving, love story. From early courtship in poverty (where a stick of gum constituted an extravagant gift) to him caring for her through Alzheimer’s. Those close to him said that he never got over her death.
He rose from poverty to the heights of public office. His death marks the end of an era in West Virginia politics. He has been in federal office about twice as long as I have been alive.
My prayers are with the Byrd family, and the many they have impacted in life.
Sharing something is special. This is a video of fans in Seattle gathered in the last moments of the must-win-to-stay-alive U.S. soccer match in the World Cup –from The Seattle Times. Note: This goal is what they were viewing.
Check out the dude on the right with the spiked hair. Classic. I felt exactly like that.
OK, here’s another video which shows many different reactions across the nation (and one in my old home province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa –Durban).
Tomorrow at 2:30 EST the U.S. takes on Ghana in the knockout portion of the tournament (you lose you go home). But…we’ve already experienced that.
So, what’s your prediction for the game? Final score? Hero? Number of good U.S. goals disallowed?
OK. Following up my rare Saturday (and sports-oriented) post with another. Note: If the U.S. had lost I’d just pretend it never happened.
The poor English goalkeeper, Robert Green, is behind the tears of many in England. His botching of a routine stop allowed the U.S. to draw even and cause a tie in Saturday’s World Cup round one match. The man of the match? Our goalkeeper, Tim Howard.
As for us, the U.S., we’ll take the tie over the favored English and hope to seal our advance with two important wins in the next weeks.
Here’s the video of the tie-allowing goal. (I have scored some weak ones like that myself, actually. Back a million years ago when I played. But not against England. Yikes.)
See the video here. (The Youtube I had up was taken down.)
Also: I did tell you to look out for Clint Dempsey (the guy who scored for us). I guess Robert Green, shockingly, is one of the few international sports stars who doesn’t read this blog.
A rare Saturday post.
In 1781, English General Cornwallis surrendered to the underdog United States’ Commander, General George Washington.
In 1950, the massively underdog U.S. Soccer team upends the heavily favorited English side.
What will happen in 2010?
And do those jerseys look familiar?
My prediction: Look out for Clint Dempsey.
May the best team named the United States of America win.
It’s after 2am, and I’ve just learned that (as of now) there are 25 confirmed dead in this horrible, coal mining disaster in my home county here in West Virginia.
I don’t have much to say beyond asking for prayers for the families. Reportedly there are 4 more men down in the mine who may need rescue.
AP Photo/Jeff Gentne
Been getting updates all evening from:
http://twitter.com/charleywest
…among others.
I don’t know why things like this happen, but am convinced that when we receive the gift of life for one day it is a profound mercy, and on the other hand this kind of thing is not how the world ought to be. Someday all things will be made new, and this from Jesus Christ. Not because people are good enough to earn merit with God, but because Jesus (God the Son) will do it for the glory of God and the good of his children.
God is sovereign, and good, all the time.
Pray with us, not because God needs us, but because we need him.
Well, there are a couple of more games to go (hopefully), but West Virginia hasn’t seen the Final Four in 51 years. We’re back.
We’re partying like it’s 1959.
I love the way this team actively identifies with the state of West Virginia and repeatedly pays honor and gives thanks to the blue-collar people of the state. That comes from Coach Huggs, the native son, who recognizes what this means to people all across the Mountain State.
I know it doesn’t interest everyone (and oddly infuriates others), but I’ve been a dyed in the wool Mountaineer fan for every second of my 33 years on earth, and this is pretty exciting for me and many other long-suffering, loyal fans.
We’re going to enjoy it!
Here’s hoping for a victory against the Devil, I mean, the Blue Devils. But win or lose, this has been a great year.
Mitch Vingle has the best article on the victory over (what could almost be a future NBA all-star team in) Kentucky that I read. Enjoy it.
Interesting note. Joe Mazzulla has played Duke before in the NCAA’s. With good results.
OK, probably won’t interrupt my usual scintillating content (ha) for this kind of thing much more. Only on big events. Scouts honor.
If you could force every member of government (all 3 branches) to read one novel, what would it be?
My Top Choice?
1984 by George Orwell (with Animal Farm being a close second). Every voting adult should read these.
What else?
Well, I got myself mentioned over at www.hatrack.com, the website of first-class author Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game, The Worthing Saga).
Kind of cool. And kind of lamely self-promoting.
