THE QUOTE BOARD 1976=2001

Like a lot of good ideas, it just happened. I don't recall its genesis, but I suspect it was in '75 or '76 when I began writing on the board verbatim what students said in my class. Well, it had to be pretty unique to make the board. It's duration was the rest of the school day. And, most importantly, it identified the speaker.

The purpose was twofold: 1. to allow students to seee the importance of what they say and 2. to allow them to see the different levels of meaning that words have. Of course, fun and drawing attention to the student, getting them to laugh at themselves were all secondary, but an important part.

In 1993, Mike Mateer wrote down all the quotes for the entire school year. He gave me a copy--it must have been 15 pages type written, but I've misplaced it. Several people told me I should have written a book about all of them. Isolated quotes by unknowns sound only appealing in context. But I wish I had a better sampling.

Here goes:

"The biceps on his legs look good." Jessica Payne

"This is a Thoreau-away society." Chucl Gray

"The 60's ate the grapes; the 70's got the sour taste." Scott Germann

"The average American really doesn't care about apathy." Beth Musick

"There are absolutely no trees in Texas." Kim Baker

Thousands more. Thousands better lost to the eraser. And my organization. I understand the practice lives on with Rob Flanagan, I believe, and art teacher Chris Mitchell at MTV High. Write on!!

ART'S STILL THE THING

Art Linkletter is awesome. He is truly an American icon. Besides his great tv series, "Kids Say the Darndest Things," and books, he is still extremely busy. At age 93.

Recently he was interviewed by Larry King and explained why his tv show was so successful and why Bill Cosby's remake was not. "Cos is successful because he generates laughter. My show was successful because the focus was on the kids. If anything was funny, it was because of the kids, not me."

Abandoned as a baby and adopted and raised by a preacher, Art is active in senior issues, currently serving as chairman of the National Seniors Association. His 23rd book is entitled," Old Age is not for Sissies."

He practices what he preaches and still surfs and snow skis.

But why blog about this amazing American? I think he might have been my inspiration for the quote board that I used for 25 years or so at MTV High. But that's for tomorrow's entry.

THE OLD WEST

When Scott was a freshman at the U of I, as he was walking back to the dorm, Illini star Andy Kaufman turned to him and said, "Can you believe it? My poly sci professor doesn't like country music.!" Scott didn't know what to say. So Andy never spoke to him again, except to say hello. No more insight revealed from that athletic mind.

And why was that brought to my mind? Yesterday the neighbor from across the street saw me loading some golf clubs in my car and came over to chat. He's a former West Point retired Army colonel who commanded me, "Wait here just a minute."

Always respectful to the US Army, I stood at quasi-attention until his return. In his hand were two arrows like those pictured. One tip was broken off. They were 30 weight which I think means they could hurt a lot.. Col. Pryor didn't elaborate. I actually think his expertise was in more advanced weaponry.

"These two were by my back door. One stuck in the ground pretty close to my house."

Who, when, where they were shot from are all mysteries, though I suspect they were fired from the back on a pick up at night when the shooter's tank waas filled with some John Barley Corn. I hope so anyway.

Sure, out here we have cowboys and indians. In fact, I have a little indian in me. But I don't want a little indian's arrow in me. Or in the colonel.

And as Register-News columnist Sally Purcell used to say, :"And that's life"--at least out in the Old West.

A LITTLE LIKE SUSHI

I've tried it, but I'm not wild about it. If I'm gonna eat fish, and I love fish, my first choice is not sushi. And that's the way I feel about the World Baseball Classic.

I love baseball. But I'm not too excited about a Spring Training extension that's supposed to inpire some patriotic fever in me. I'd rather watch the Alito hearings and that puffed up senator from Chappaquidick grill the guy over some college frat that he was in at Princeton. Now that's drama. And, of course, selective close examination of the past, too.

But I digress. Am I supposed to cheer against Mr. Pujols when he comes to bat for the D.R? Maybe I should go to Scottsdale Stadium and boo Yadier when he comes up for Puerto Rico.
Not gonna happen. And when a red sock or cub comes to bat for the USA, I'm gonna go crazy? Not this cat.

Wait till the first injury. I can't believe MLB would stand for it. So if xxxx xxxxxx tears an ACL or rotator cuff and is lost for the season, MLB Team yyyyyyyyy has to honor the contract? Yet Jeff Kent and others have to lie about their off season or in the case of Barmes last year, in-season injury, not to void their contract(s)? To me, somebody's been sold a bill of goods. Could it be selig?

How about this, bud? The winner of the WBC gets to have the World Series played in their country? With the winner of the All-Star game, the home team. They can use the DH on any days beginning with a T.

WHAT A HIRE !!

I waited through nhl news. I was watching the ESPN News Channel. I was wanting to see if the RAMS had hired their defensive coordinator yet. I was even willing to wait for MLB news to see if they had announced the signing of my bud J. R. House by the Astros.

The scroll started. "Jim Haslett has been signed," Man, I wish the RAMS had gotten him, I thought. It continued, " to a three year contract," Man, he must have gotten one of the head coaching jobs. He's a good one, I thought. "as defensive coordinator," Wow, I wonder who snagged him? I thought to myself. I was alone, so I don't know why I didn't say it aloud. "By the RAMS."

"All right!" Now I was talking out loud.

I think it's a great, and gutsy call by Linehann. I have lots of Haslett memories, mostly from the ED, where the RAMS and Sts. had a quiet rivalry before divisional play separated them. The one game I remember best was when the RAMS blew a huge halftime lead (28-3, or something) and lost to a spirited Sts. team. Haslett was hard nosed and cocky, displaying the same kind of defensive arrogance that the RAMS had in the glory years. I never thought it disrespectful. Just self-assured cockiness. "We will win you know. You can't beat us. We
are the champs." That kind of persona.

And now we can have that on both sides of the ball. Wow!

I didn't even wait for the scroll to get to mlb. I know he signed with the 'Stros. He called another friend of mine on Monday. I'm sorry St. Louis missed out onJ. R. But batting .500 is always good.

KEMO SABE

I don't think I ever struck him out. But I don't rremember heading back to the dugout with my my bat in hand against him either. Oh, that's not to say I hit Tommy McGannon. He owned me, that was for sure. The best I ever did was go 1 for 4 against him, if memory serves.

But I didn't care then. Competitiveness was never a strong suit for me. I would have loved to go deep against my best bud, but it wasn't a compelling thing for me. Competitiveness is kinda like a crooked nose: you either have it or you don't.

Everything, man, I mean everything, Tommy and I did together. One Halloween we parafeened, not soaped a car. And not just the windows. We used a whole bar each of Gulf Wax parafeen on a 1952 or 1954 Chevy. Two guys caught us, but we ran away and hid. I've never been more afraid. Thankfully we got away. What were we thinking? Who knows? But like a lot of bad ideas, one of us came up with it and the other followed.

He moved away to McCook, Nebraska, the year between our 8th grade and freshmen years. I've only seen him once since then. I did write him a couple of times and he answered once. He was glad to hear from me. Once.

I can still see him on the mound in that green Giants uniform. I've got a great view behind the plate in my catcher's squat. It's an All-Star game in 1961. I call for one on the outside corner. He hits the spot as the mitt pops.

I think we went to my house after the game. My cousin Jerry was in town. He watched us win. Or maybe lose. I can't recall. Remember, I'm the guy without the competitive spirit. Maybe I'll crank out another letter to Tom. He'll remember.

So I got on google images. I type Kobe. This is what I get. Actually I got a lot of pictures of the cat who drop in 81 points last night . 81. That is huge. I haven't seen the box score to see how many assists he had. Or minutes. But plenty of teams don't score 81 points in a game anymore.



I also found that Kobe is in Japan. They earthquaked there not long ago. I thought I might find some cheese. Besides the picture I mean. I don't know who this Kobe is, but I remember getting a lot of looks like that from girls like her back in the day. Kudos to Mr. Bryant. Did the Lakers win?

RIP IT (so I couldn't find a bronco clobbering a boston patriot)

Having just watched the Steelers manhandle the Broncos and earn a trip to the Super Bowl, it became apparent what a roll they're on. Although they didn't get to take the title from the new englanders, they crushed a formidable opponent who did.

Big Ben and Coach Bill put away an exceptional Bronco team that finished 14-4. That's a pretty good season, especially in this year's dominant AFC. They didn't even need a ton from the Bus, but he answered the bell for his 92ndcareer td. Wow. And to think the Rams thought him washed up years ago.

With one more league championship to go, I'd say it's a toss up with the CHawks and Panthers. I know, I touted the Pacificers in a previous blog, and as a transplanted Midwesterner I should root for them, but there's something about the Panthers that makes me think they could go to the Super Bowl.

They won't win, of course. It's a Steeler win, now that the Colts and patsies are history. Hail to the new AFC and XL champ--Pittsburgh. And for new eng.--we hardly knew ye.