Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Kicking a Few Things Around

Thought for the day:  In football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.  [Jean-Paul Sartre]

Okay, so granted, Sartre was probably talking about that other kind of football, the one we Americans call soccer, but it's still a nifty quote. And although soccer is a nifty game, we're not gonna talk about it today. Nope, we're gonna kick around some stuff about American football.


You a football fan? We're rabid avid Falcons fans. Our kids and grandkids, too. See? Even though they live in Florida, our younger son and his baby boy were all decked out in style to watch the Falcons play this past Sunday. (Too bad da Birds didn't win. Wait 'til next week, though!)


RAH! RAH! Now that football season has started, I figured I'd blatantly seize the opportunity to explain a couple football happenings from my novel Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade. (Aw, crap, she's talking about her damned book again.)

NO, no, now wait. Hold on. I'm not pimping my book. A couple readers questioned these two items is all, so I thought I'd remind y'all that I wrote a book address them here. You might even find it interesting.

Characters MaryBeth and Willie go to a Washington Redskins game, and a reader from Baltimore wanted to know why the heck they didn't go to a Baltimore Ravens game, fuh cryin' out loud.

Well, Baltimore's in love with the Ravens now, but that wasn't always the case. Its first love was the Colts, who played there from 1953 until 1983, when they slunk out of town under cover of darkness to move to Indianapolis. After that infamous departure, many locals threw their heart-broken support to the Redskins. Our story takes place in the late '90s, and although the Ravens started playing in Baltimore in '97, some fans were reticent about supporting the newbies, so they stuck with the Redskins for a while. Ergo, MaryBeth and Willie went to a Redskins game. (Plus, I had an ulterior motive for getting them on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.)

Big Georgette and Boss Hog
Much to my surprise, the other question came from my very own Smarticus. He wanted to know what the deal was about them wearing pig snouts at the game. (Oh, like that's any dumber than fans wearing a big block of cheese on their heads?)

Anyhow, in the 1980s, the 'Skins offensive line was... how shall I put this... large. Very large, as in super-sized. Their coach Joe Bugel called them... the hogs. (Ah-HA!)

Yep, so beginning in 1983, twelve male 'Skins fans... dubbed the Hogettes...  started donning dresses and pig snouts to every game to cheer on their team. (They also raised a considerable amount of money for charity.)


When this iconic group retired in 2012, it had twelve active members and fifteen former ones. Three were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the VISA Hall of Fans. (I'll betcha the hall has inducted at least one cheesehead, too.)

Bottom line? This group started wearing snouts in honor of the original hogs of the early '80s, and other fans quickly followed suit. ( No telling how many of the fans who wear them to games today know why they wear them, but now... you do.)

With a new season underway, football fans are... floating on air.

Hey! How's about some football funnies? Believe it or not, these are actual quotes:
  • Joe Theisman- Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein. (Um, yeah. Good ol'... Norman.)
  • Torrin Polk- (talking about his coach) He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings. (Heck, why not? Joe Namath wore pantyhose.)
  • George Rogers- I want to rush for 1000 or 1500 yards, whichever comes first. (I'm thinking this guy probably wasn't a math major.)
  • Bill Peterson- (former Oilers coach) You guys line up alphabetically by height. Peterson also gets credit for this one: Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl. (Math wasn't his strong suit, either.)
  • Dick Butkus- I wouldn't ever set out to hurt anyone deliberately unless it was important — like a league game. (Aren't all NFL games league games?)
  • William Perry- I've been big ever since I was little. (And he was, too! AKA Refrigerator, Perry was 200 pounds at the age of eleven!)
  • Jerry Rice- I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that. (No, of course not.)
  • Thomas Henderson- (referring to Terry Bradshaw) He couldn't spell cat if you spotted him the C and the T. (Now that's just mean.)
  • Joe Namath- I don't know if I prefer Astroturf to grass. I never smoked Astroturf. (He probably couldn't get it to light.)
  • John Elway- I normally run the 40-yard dash in 4.9, but when a 280-pound guy is chasing me, I run it in 4.6. (Darned good incentive to step it up a bit, I'd say.)
*****

                                               Half-pint footballers pull off quite a trick:



                                    Here's a little something for you fans of that other football.


                                                                       ( Happy?)

                                    Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.

Football is like life— it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.  [Vince Lombardi]

Football is the ballet of the masses.  [Dmitri Shostakovich]

I like football. I find it's an exciting strategic game. It's a great way to avoid conversation with your family on Thanksgiving.  [Craig Ferguson]

95 comments:

  1. I'm a football fanatic so I loved this post!!!!! Those quotes are hilarious. Oh, and I grew up in southern PA about 40 minutes north of Baltimore. My high school band performed for the Baltimore Colts back in the day. One of the highlights of my high school career was twirling my baton at that pro game baby!!!!

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    1. Oh, cool! I'm glad you liked it. How exciting that you got to strut your stuff for the Colts! (Um, wait a minute. That doesn't sound quite right...)

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  2. I am a soccer person (thank you!) but I did enjoy the story about the Hogettes. How funny. And weird.

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    1. Hello, soccer person. I hope you got a kick out of the soccer bloopers video.

      I think all sports attract some funny and weird fans. (Not US, of course. Oh, no, I wasn't talking about US.)

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  3. Susan,
    I've told you this before, you should have known my husband. You two would have a conversation for days and also about the keilbasa. (I don't know how to spell it) Pig snouts, huh?

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    1. You're right; I probably would've gotten along swimmingly with your hubby. After all, we both like you.

      Funny you should mention the kielbasa. I just made a mess of it the other day, as well as some Italian sausage. And I did a whole lot better with the sausage gun this time. (But I'm hanging onto my old cow horn!)

      Yep, pig snouts. STILL not as bad as those big wedges of foam cheese, though.

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  4. You've just (unintentionally??) demonstrated what a good writer you are. I hate football, but you managed to make it interesting and amusing. I enjoyed this post.

    Should I tip my cowboy hat to you or my helemt? Heck, I don't know a touchdown from a hoedown.....

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Damn, every time I type quickly my keyboard makes mistakes (not ME, of course). I meant to say "helmet".

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    3. Well, thank you, dear sir. I'll take that as a compliment.

      You don't have to know a touchdown from a hoedown. Much more awesome that you can play "Warsaw Concerto". (How about some Beethoven next?)

      Oh, the cowboy hat. Definitely the cowboy hat. And if it woulon't be too much trouble, you can call me "ma'am."

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  5. I'm not a football fan at all. Even so, you managed to make me smile with this post. (Hugs)Indigo

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    1. Hi-ya, Indigo! I'm so glad to have made you smile. A smile's almost as good as a hug. Almost. (Hugs back atcha.)

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  6. LOL those quotes are great
    Seems to be a common trait
    I'm big and grand
    But can't count past two across the land

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    1. Brawny dudes have impressive parts,
      But I prefer a man with a head full of smarts.

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  7. I am funny about sports. I appreciate their place, but I don't like to watch. Now, a movie about sports is totally different. Or even a TV show. But to just sit and watch a game... no can do.

    I did enjoy the trick that the kids pulled. Funny stuff.

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    1. Depends on the sport. There's a lot of 'em I don't care anything about watching, and I don't care about watching ALL football games. Just our Falcons. I do enjoy an uplifting sports movie, though, on just about any sport.

      Yeah, those kids were something else. I don't think they can get away with it a second time.

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  8. Despite the fact that I know nothing about football, I really enjoyed this post! You have a way of generating interest in things I'm oblivious about...LOL...

    And that photo of dad and baby...OHMYGOD...so adorable! I love the way the wee little fan is looking up at papa. Doesn't get cuter than that!

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    1. Thanks. Just shows that you have an open mind.

      I know! Our son adores his daughters, but is over the moon to finally have a son. We can hardly wait to go to Florida to get hold of that little fella.

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  9. I dislike football as a game, always have. Bumping, grunting men running into each other. Watching one game I saw a guy get hit by two guys going opposite ways. It did not end well for that guy in the middle. Broke his back, I believe. That finished me watching football. Watching the sport and supporting a team you like are two different things in my mind. I'm always for the U of GA bulldogs, because I went to UGA. But I never attended a game.

    (I know the US is the land of football in certain parts; but baseball is my preference of the US sports.) Hubs is a Falcon fan too, but his brother is the one who LOVES football. Of course Canada has to have a few differences.

    Interesting and love that shot of the two in their team shirts! Did you know that some coaches on the big football teams make more than the professors at the universities? Got to be something wrong with that picture. Sports outranks education??

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    1. People die from 90 mile per hour fastballs to the head every year.

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    2. Good point, Joe!

      Athletes can get hurt in any sport. A high school pal lost an eye in a freak lacrosse accident. One of our sons was hurt while wrestling, and another broke a leg playing football ... in our yard. (Never got seriously injured playing for his school, but at home...?) I never like to see anyone get hurt, whether they're playing a sport or doing whatever, but in spite of their injuries, I'm glad our kids participated in team sports. They learned a lot from the experiences.

      As much as I enjoy watching sports, I find athletes' salaries to be extreme and obscene. It's ludicrous that athletes make so much more money than teachers, engineers, and scientists. As for the coaches making more money than professors? Yes, ridiculous, isn't it? And it's practically criminal how much money has been poured into college sports as opposed to college academics. I totally agree with you on that one.

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    3. Injuries are why I don't like/play sport. And while I agree their salaries are obscene, it's possibly high because their families may need that (saved) money to live on if the athlete should die suddenly on the field or from an injury.

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    4. Yeah, I see your point, but injuries are a part of life. Clumsy people like me can get hurt walking around in their own house. (Broke my foot... twice! But in my defense, the first time, it was dark, and I was in a hurry. The second time, it was light enough, but it was in our son's house, and that sofa had no business having a leg there! The third time, my grandkids jumped on it. No sports involved any of those times, unless "Let's jump on grandma is a sport.")

      True, some of the families save that money, and some of them need it if the athlete incurs a career-ending injury, but just as many of the athletes blow all their money on high-dollar bling and end up broke. Not my call how much money they, or anybody else makes, but teachers, scientists, and engineers get short-changed. And I? I will continue to watch and cheer for those over-paid athletes.

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  10. Dear Susan,
    thank you for this interesting initiation to American football! I love the photo of your son and grandson - so cute! Husband and son and lovely DiL are very great sport-fans (I DO sport, but I don't watch - except when very young one of my boyfriends was playing basketball in the German national league)
    I often post some quotes of Yogi Berra - to follow yours above this might work for American football too, not only baseball: "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical."

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    1. Doing sports is certainly preferable to watching someone else do them, but I'm a little too old to suit up and play football. HA!

      Yogi Berra's quotes are priceless. I like to post them sometimes, too. The one you chose for your comment is perfect. (I guess baseball players weren't all that hot with math, either.)

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  11. Nice post, right in time for this season.

    Loved the pee wee trick play!

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    1. Thanks. Glad ya liked it.

      That trick play was something else, wasn't it? I'll betcha the other team's players (and their parents) weren't terribly appreciative, though.

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  12. Very funny post - you are SUCH a good writer. It's Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys in this household even though my husband yells at them constantly. I'll watch some football but usually get kicked out of the room for my bonus color commentary. Somehow Ray is not amused by my observations. He does play fantasy football so I'm actually allowed to cheer for other teams' players like Drew Brees. The best part of football is the snacks.

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    1. Thanks! I appreciate you saying that.

      But of COURSE your hubby yells at them; that's half the fun of watching the game! My hubby and I get into the games, but we add a fair share of "bonus color commentary" to the experience, too, just because we're a couple of smart asses. (We crack us up.)

      You know what fantasy football REALLY is, dontcha? Dungeons and dragons for jocks.

      If you think the best part of football is the snacks, I've got an idea that might enhance the experience for you. For the past couple seasons, Smarticus and I celebrate with a cold shooter of Shonauer apple liqueur every time the Falcons score. (You could substitute whatever beverage or munchie floats your boat.) If the Cowboys are getting their tails whipped and not doing much scoring, that's when it's time to improvise. You know, "celebrate" because they made it safely onto the field without falling down, that sort of thing. Since you're already into the color commentary stuff, I'll bet you could come up with some fun things to celebrate. Every time someone swats the QB's butt, maybe? You get the idea.

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  13. haaa... yep Cowboys here too. Been a fan since way before they won a game in the early 60's. We won Sunday night! yay

    I don't watch like I used to ... but I still enjoy the game. Nothing like what it used to be with Tom Landry and George Allen .... Cowboys and Redskins? .... wouldn't miss it

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    1. Yipes! I'm outnumbered by Cowboys fans!

      For me, I don't watch baseball like I used to. I was a huge Orioles fan, and reluctantly supported the then-horrible (I mean really BAD) Braves when we moved to Georgia. Now, I can hardy bear to watch a team play its heart out all season long, rack up the best record in the league, and then fall flat on its face in the play-offs to a darned wild card team, no less. (Wild card? Doggone it, it isn't poker, people!) Besides, after I got hooked on football, a baseball game seems to move in slow motion.

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  14. But of course! Some of our closest friends have no use for any kind of sports at all, and that's okay. Given the choice, we'll hang out with them, and record the game to watch later. (If my hubby preferred football to me, I wouldn't be a fan, either.)

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  15. I'm not into football - but cricket, that's another matter. I spent three days watching cricket when I should have been revising for my finals - so I do understand how a sport gets under your skin.

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    1. Now, cricket, I don't know very much about. (Which actually means, I know absolutely nothing about.) But I'm "sure" I've (cough, cough) "never" let sports interfere with my studies. (Right!)

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  16. Thanks for your post--I've been sitting with a friend whose been in the hospital for several days. A smile was a blessing.

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    1. Sorry about your friend. Sending positive thoughts your way.

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  17. Thanks for Shostakovich quote. Friend of mine played football through HS and college, then became a ballet dancer. Many of the warm-up exercises were identical.

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    1. Some football players actually took ballet lessons. Helped them be more agile on the field. However, I don't think many of them did that leaping into someone else's arms stuff, though. Just a few kickers, maybe...

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  18. football..soccer....baseball...tennis....well any game actually with two or more sweaty men and a moving object..phhht.

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    1. HA! You crack me up. I bet there was a time you didn't mind watching a couple sweaty men running around in their snug little sports outfits. All romance disappears when you're the one who has to wash those smelly things, though. (Um, the outfits, that is. Not the sweaty men.)

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  19. Maybe the Bill Peterson bits were my fave. My sister designs framed art to celebrate occasions and she recently did something for Dick Butkus's wedding anniversary. :)

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    1. Oh how neat! Gee, I know someone who knows someone who knows Dick Butkus! (Kinda sorta.)

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  20. Hi Susan,

    Ah yes, that football as in that football and not football, football as in soccer, y'all.

    Of course, you do realise that "football" season started back in June? Yes, that fast-paced and what I consider, much more exciting version of football, the Canadian Football League. Yay British Columbia Lions.

    What is Baltimore's claim to fame? Why the city has won the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Stallions won the Canadian equivalent, the Grey Cup.

    We get to see the NFL over in Britain. Live coverage, in fact. Watched Dallas play the NY Giants.

    See you, still trying to catch up in blogland! Desperately seeking a clone! :)

    Gary

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    1. Hi-ya, Gary. We've actually watched a little bit of Canadian-style football when the Stallions were playing. But if I'm gonna watch a Canadian kinda game, I'd go for curling. Totally cool. (Especially that ICE!)

      Sorry, still no word on a cloning machine. Give Penny a pat on the head for me.

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  21. I'm not a football fan, but I applaud this post. It's very humorous. Especially Norman Einstein. Oy vey. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, but they play a mean league game. BTW, there are few names worse than Dick Butkus. Don't ya think?

    Be well, Susan.
    xoRobyn

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    1. Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

      Yeah, Dick "Buttkiss" is a pretty bad name, but my father's doctor had a pretty bad one, too. Seymour Weiner. (I kid you not!)

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  22. I love that little kid running off with the ball! Pure genius! The quotations are hilarious, too. I kind of wondered about the snouts in the wonderful book, HOT FLASHES & COLD LEMONADE, but I wasn't surprised that they went to a Redskins game. I lived in Maryland for a long time. Favorite Young Man's high school band director also directed the Ravens' band. The arranged for the high school band to play during half-time at a Ravens game. I asked FYM what it was like to play in front of all those people. He said his hat fell down over his eyes the way it always did so they could have been playing anywhere.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. It'd REALLY be funny if the kid came up with that ploy on his own. If so, he's a born politician. (Poor kid.)

      Your son's too funny. Then again, he had a point. Kinda like I imagine it would be for someone who's spent the night in one of those famous historical "George Washington slept here" kinda places. When asked what it was like, the person could rightly say, "I don't know. I was asleep."

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  23. Great post ! I love the Hal-pint Football play.

    cheers, parsnip

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  24. It is indeed fun that football season has started. BTW, going to be up in your town for the Atlanta Italian Car Day (or something like that) October 12th. Come out and lets drink a beer.

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    1. Very cool! That Italian car show is held about a mile away from our house. We've been twice. The first time, it was terrific, but the following year, turn-out was mediocre because of a threat of rain. (Not an idle threat, either. It poured.) Are you coming just for the day? There are a number of places in the area of the show where we could grab a bite to eat and/or a drink. When the time gets closer, we can try to nail down a time and place to meet.

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  25. Oh, also heard you might be down this way for the Mirror Lake Classic in Lakeland. Plan to make that one too. Maybe you and Pixel, Punch and me can get a beer at lunch.

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    1. Not so sure about that one anymore. I really want to make it, but the weekend is the only time for sure that the grandkids will be out of school and our son won't be at work. Since they spend a good part of the day at church on Sunday, that leaves Saturday. Not too likely that they'd want to go to a car show, especially with a new baby, and it'd be kinda crappy for us to go off to a car show without them. (You guys free to meet on Sunday maybe?)

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  26. Normally I'm a Tampa Bay Buc's fan but I support any team in which Peyton Manning could end up crushed to a chunky salsa mixed among the blades of AstroTurf.

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    1. What? No Panthers?

      Ouch. Got a little beef with Manning, huh? Kinda like my hubby had with bragging Joe Namath for mouthing off before the 1969 Super Bowl about how he was gonna beat the Colts. And then he did.

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  27. Nah. Just not a fan of football (any version). Just the same I think the young man responsible for that 'trick play' is going to go far - not sure in what direction, but he is going to go a looong way. And I do admire a bit of sneakiness, though I am not sure what that says about me.

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    1. HA! I think you're right about that young man. Either he's a whiz kid at following the coach's directions, or he's sneaky enough to fool everyone. Wait, no. Not sneaky. Clever. Wily. (That sounds better!)

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  28. I have to admit I miss watching college football. We got rid of TV and only have Netflix.

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    1. No TV? Wow, good for you. (Bad for you?) Most stuff on TV, I wouldn't miss, but there are a few things... like Falcons games.

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  29. I don't know much about football or soccer - I'm a hockey sort of girl, but I enjoyed those clips!

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    1. I don't know much about hockey, but from what little I've seen of it, it's an exciting game to watch.

      I'm glad you enjoyed the clips.

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  30. I don't know anything about football. Seriously.

    You mean football season already started? And what city are the Falcons from? And the Redskins?

    I do know that the Baltimore Ravens were the Cleveland Browns once, because my ex-husband was/is a huge Browns fan.

    But like Jon said...this post proves you are a great writer. I finished it. And loved the quotes!

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    1. Atlanta Falcons, and Washington Redskins. (D.C.)

      Thanks! I appreciate you sticking with the post, and am glad you found something in it to enjoy.

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  31. I remember the pig snouts!! And I remember when the Ravens were the Browns. I'm a football fanatic! It's a cruel joke and my lot in life that I am stuck with the Cincinnati Bengals. :D

    Absolutely love the pic of your son and his baby - how adorable.

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    1. YAY! I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers the snouts. Your comment about the Bengals cracked me up. When we moved to Atlanta (after leaving the Colts behind, mind you!) the Falcons were worse than awful. The Braves, too. For a LOT of years. We used to joke that if you called the stadium to ask what time the game began, they'd ask you what time you could get there. Or if you left a couple tickets on the dashboard of your unlocked car, when you came back to it, there'd be a four tickets there.

      Thanks. I love that picture, too. To say he's a proud papa would be a gross understatement.

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  32. I get very involved with football when the Super Bowl is played. On that day, I clean, cook, greet, serve, and clean up again. That's about it. Oh yes, the year that the Philadelphia Eagles went to the SB ( yes, they did go once), I wore a green feathered wig to my party. I have not had to wear that since as our birds seldom fly.

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    1. Too funny! We used to go to super bowl parties, but the only trouble is while all the socializing was great,none of us got to actually see much of the game. Your last line is a hoot. I sure hope OUR birds fly this year. (They got their wings clipped in the first game, though.)

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  33. One likes football. I remember when I live in the DC area the Redskins were basically a religion.

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    1. I think it's still the same in D.C. Used to be that way for the B'more Colts, too, which is why is stung so much when they left.

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  34. Not a fan, but loved playing touch football when I was a kid, does that count? Honestly, I don't mind the game - it's the announcers and their incessant talk that drives me nuts! My husband loves football season, and I do watch the games with him, well, mostly I'm writing - but I am in the same room. Sometimes he watches the games on mute and lets my listen to music - so much more fun that way, for me! :)

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    1. Really? I played touch football as a kid, too. And flag football.

      Your hubby is quite a guy to watch the games on mute so you can listen to music. Remarkable. That one's a keeper.

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  35. Very entertaining blog bit, SUSAN!

    It was the 1972 Miami Dolphins that turned me into a football fan. (And I have said on my defunct ‘Stuffs’ blog that the footage of defensive lineman Manny Fernandez pulling an alligator out of a Florida swamp while a lit cigarette was dangling from his lips is The Greatest Moment In “Real Man” History!)

    I was never a Colts fan, but THIS SCENE is a total classic!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    ‘Loyal American Underground’

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  36. I just saw this:

    "Or if you left a couple tickets on the dashboard of your unlocked car, when you came back to it, there'd be a four tickets there."

    HA! Very funny!

    But I think the best ever was the (very real) New Orleans Saints fans who used to wear brown bags over their heads with eye-holes cut out. Not because they didn't want their bosses to spot them at the game after calling in "sick"; because they didn't want ANYONE to spot them and know they were still a Saints fan.

    "Who Dat? Who Dat Gonna Beat Dem Saints On Sunday?"

    The Saints have come a long way, baby!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  37. Thanks. Glad ya liked it.

    We just re-watched "Diner" a few weeks ago, and you're right; that scene is classic.

    The Colts' sudden death win of the 1958 world championship game (They didn't call it a super bowl back then.) had to have been the MOST exciting finish in football history. We used to have a vinyl record of it, but gave it to our older son for his sports collection. I haven't looked, but wouldn't be surprised if YouTube has those last minutes of that game on there.

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    1. Answer to your second comment, Stephen:

      I remember the brown bags and the "Who dat?" song quite well, and yeah, they've have come a long way. But I still want the Falcons to beat 'em next time they meet.

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  38. lol, I had a great chuckle over those quotes in particular.

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  39. I'm not a fan of football, or any other sport for that matter, but I loved the football quotes.
    alphabetically by height? really?
    and holy cow! 200 pounds by age eleven?? At age eleven I weighed about 55 pounds. Maybe 60 if I ate lunch already.

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    1. I'm glad you liked the quotes, anyway.

      Five pounds heavier if you ate lunch? HA! That musta been a BIG lunch! (Five slices of pound cake, maybe?)

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  40. I am a HUGE football fan. I love my Cincinnati Bengals - even though they've been breaking my heart for 20 years :)

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    1. You don't LOOK huge...

      Isn't is something how we can get our hearts broken year after year, and come back at the start of a new season filled with optimism that "this could be the year"? (I still remember the Orioles slogan from years ago: It can be done in sixty-one!) We're still waiting for the Falcons to win their first Super Bowl. Hey! This could be the year...

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  41. Susan, I ready your post earlier at work and I broke out into laughter over some of the things these players said... hilarious and I almost lost it a couple of times. Thanks so much for posting :)

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    1. Great! I'm glad to hear it. After all the stress you've been under recently, you could use a good laugh. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  42. Too funny! I don't keep up my favorite teams anymore. I do miss it and keep thinking maybe this year I will get the fever back.
    Enjoyed your post. Always fun to come by here.
    Love
    Maggie

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    1. Ah, you'll get the fever back if and when you're ready.

      Thanks. Glad ya liked it. It's always great to hear from you.

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  43. Hi Susan .. I think I lost the plot - and certainly struggled ever to find it with your football - my type doesn't impress either!!! Sorreeeeee ... but am certain Smaricus won't ask about hogs again?! cheers H

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    1. Well, darn. And here I imagined you and your mum spending time over the years sitting in the bleachers cheering madly for your local football team.

      That's okay. Different stroke for different folks, as they say. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment, anyway. Very sweet of you.

      Cheers!

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  44. hilarious fun for football season!
    we have 3-4 games a week! (3 boys!)

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    1. I'm glad it tickled your funny bone. Boy, three of 'em playing football at one time, huh? I have an inkling of how busy that must keep you. Enjoy! They'll be grown before ya know it.

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  45. Football fans are a hoot. I go crazy when Alabama plays on TV.

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    1. I'll betcha your neighbors aren't at all appreciative of your allegiance. One of our sons lives in AL, and he has the nerve to be a GA Tech fan. Needless to say, his allegiance goes unappreciated, too.

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  46. All of the boys in our family love football! My husband had a great time last weekend, as he and my older son went to two games. On Saturday they went to the Northwestern game, followed by the Bears on Sunday. Adorable photo of your son, and baby grandson! Congrats on the newest member of the team Susan!

    Julie

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