(268) 1812, LUCY, AND FOOTBALL
December 24, 1814: The Treaty of Ghent is signed, ending the War of 1812. However, there was a massive British force on the way to New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson was unaware that a treaty had been signed and set up enormous fortifications. A huge battle ensued with the British sacrificing men in an effort to take the city of New Orleans. In the end, the British suffered more than 20,000 dead! The United States' casualties were eight dead and a small number wounded.
* * *
Lucy Vodden died yesterday after a long battle with lupus. She was the person immortalized in the Beatles tune, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". I knew her only because of the song. However, it was a sad day, and I remind everyone to gather your rosebuds while you may, old time is still a-flying (paraphrasing).
* * *
FOOTBALL: I reacquainted myself with Steve Wright in the last 30 days. He played on an undefeated State Championship team at Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky when he was a Senior. He also played on a National Championship in Alabama when he was a Senior, and he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. In his first four years with the Packers, they won four NFL Championships--the last two ending in Superbowl victories. He left the Packers because they would not give him a raise. Through a circuitous route, he ended up with the Chicago Bears. He wrote in his book, I'd Rather Be Wright, about how poorly the Bears treated Dick Butkus, one of the great Linebackers of all time. He had to take massive pain medication in order to be able to play. He was never given enough time to let his injuries heal. Earlier this year, I saw Butkus at a game on television. He was hunkered over, and he looked to be in poor shape. It was a shock seeing him.
Next, I read an article in Playboy Magazine about the Oakland Raiders of the 1970's. The team was shot full of horse testosterone and human growth hormone was available at every meal. Jim Otto recounts his experiences as a Center for the Raiders. He made every snap for 308 games in a row, which amounts to every snap for 15 years. He played with broken fingers, ribs, a broken jaw, kicked-in teeth, and pneumonia. He broke his nose more than 20 times. During the course of his career, and after his career, he had more than 50 surgeries, 12 knee replacements, and 2 shoulder replacements. He broke his back twice, and, in 2007, had to have his right leg amputated as a result of injuries he sustained while playing football. Meanwhile, the NFL has tried to cheap-out on retirement benefits for the older players and cheap-out on their medical expenses. The NFL is too concerned about excessive celebration in the End Zone and players taking their helmets off before they cross the out-of-bounds line. It pains me to watch these scumbags on television. I know it is not the fault of the current players, it is the organization at large.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your servant of truth
* * *
Lucy Vodden died yesterday after a long battle with lupus. She was the person immortalized in the Beatles tune, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". I knew her only because of the song. However, it was a sad day, and I remind everyone to gather your rosebuds while you may, old time is still a-flying (paraphrasing).
* * *
FOOTBALL: I reacquainted myself with Steve Wright in the last 30 days. He played on an undefeated State Championship team at Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky when he was a Senior. He also played on a National Championship in Alabama when he was a Senior, and he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. In his first four years with the Packers, they won four NFL Championships--the last two ending in Superbowl victories. He left the Packers because they would not give him a raise. Through a circuitous route, he ended up with the Chicago Bears. He wrote in his book, I'd Rather Be Wright, about how poorly the Bears treated Dick Butkus, one of the great Linebackers of all time. He had to take massive pain medication in order to be able to play. He was never given enough time to let his injuries heal. Earlier this year, I saw Butkus at a game on television. He was hunkered over, and he looked to be in poor shape. It was a shock seeing him.
Next, I read an article in Playboy Magazine about the Oakland Raiders of the 1970's. The team was shot full of horse testosterone and human growth hormone was available at every meal. Jim Otto recounts his experiences as a Center for the Raiders. He made every snap for 308 games in a row, which amounts to every snap for 15 years. He played with broken fingers, ribs, a broken jaw, kicked-in teeth, and pneumonia. He broke his nose more than 20 times. During the course of his career, and after his career, he had more than 50 surgeries, 12 knee replacements, and 2 shoulder replacements. He broke his back twice, and, in 2007, had to have his right leg amputated as a result of injuries he sustained while playing football. Meanwhile, the NFL has tried to cheap-out on retirement benefits for the older players and cheap-out on their medical expenses. The NFL is too concerned about excessive celebration in the End Zone and players taking their helmets off before they cross the out-of-bounds line. It pains me to watch these scumbags on television. I know it is not the fault of the current players, it is the organization at large.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your servant of truth
posted by Donald Heavrin at 2:40 PM
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