BANG BANG !!

**** Years ago at Medina , We were playing games behind the Ag shop . Games like two guys put their forearms together ,then place a lit cigarette between them . The one who moves first is the loser . Do not play this game with a Dude who has scars on his arms .
I didn't say these boys were smart . I just said they were players .

That day we were playing with those tiny Black Cat firecrackers . The object was to see who would hold the firecracker the longest before flicking it away .

Hold it too long ,and you had a burning ,stinging , & tingling hand . We had a lot of guys shaking their hands as we played .

Then a boy named Ben said " you boys ain't Shinola ,let me show you something "

Ben was a year or so older than us & was a fat nerd .

Well Ol Ben stuck one of those firecrackers between his teeth . He would shut his eyes & wait as long as possible before he spit . He did this about 3 times , getting rid of the firecracker just a few moments before it exploded .

We had to admit ,this was super cool . Eyes were closed for protection but there was a chance of facial burn .

On firecracker number four, the clock in Ben's head must have malfunctioned . Ben had not begun to spit when that firecracker exploded .

Ben grabbed his head with both hands ,staggered two steps to the left ,one to the right & then went down in a heap .

We ran to him to check his condition . If Ben had not been groaning we would have pronounced him dead . But since he was still alive quick action was needed .

Being great in a crisis even then, I sent J-Mack to the shop for a wheelbarrow . We put Ben in the wheelbarrow & rolled him down the hill to DR. Hunt .

Ben had busted lips , burns inside the mouth , & facial burns . He didn't come back to school for a long time . We awarded him the Best Dare trophy . We didn't think Ben's trick could ever be topped .

I saw Ben on the street in Medina about five years ago . We talked a few minutes & then I asked him about that day . Ben said " Big Rock ,that has been more than 40 years ago & my head hasn't quit ringing yet "

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AT THE RACES

**** Summertime Friday nights were Race nights in Gibson County . The venue was the Milan Speedway . The track was built in the mid 60's by Haywood Western .


Some said Mr. Western built the track so his boy J.D. would have a place to race . J.D. Western was the hometown favorite in his car F - 90 .

Cars & drivers came from all over the area to run for prize money . Tough Guy Leonard Mann driving car# 007 was from McKenzie .

Taze Lofton drove car # 62 . You either loved or hated Taze . They said he was a college boy who only ran well out in front . The word was Taze would not fight his way through the pack . Fact was when Taze started in front he most often finished there . Lofton rarely made a mistake .

Another masterful driver was George Merriweather who had several rides #22 & # 308 among them .

These four were the best of the local boys . There were many other locals but almost all of the money was won by the big four .

There were twins from Camden who weren't good drivers but excellent daredevils . They had an airplane which they often flew under the Tennessee River bridge . This scared the Snot out of cars on the bridge & boats on the water .

The event would not have been complete without the Big Name Memphis boys . Hoyt & Eddie Ray Alexander , Sam Swindell , Black Jack Al McDaniel , & the crazy Gatlin Brothers were regulars .

About 3 times a year the legend Hooker Hood would show up . I don't recall Hooker winning much at Milan . J.D. was hard to beat on his home track & if Taze timed well enough to start on the pole he finished first .

There were some exciting crashes , cars flying everywhere . Sometimes the cars jumped the fences & ended up in the grandstands or the cotton patch . I don't recall any fatal injuries .

After bumping on the track , tempers could get out of control . Fights between drivers , pit crews , & fans were commonplace . These were really good fights , usually pretty bloody .

If you thought someone was cheating you could protest . You put 50 dollars down on the hood of their car & they had to tear the engine down right there .

If they were okay they kept your fifty bucks . If they were cheating they had to return all their winnings . Some of the best fights were at protests .

I spent many a Summer Friday night at the races . Sometimes I went to Riverside In West Memphis on Saturday night . It was a lot of fun .

J.D. Western died in a wreck on the highway in 1966 or 67 . Mr. Haywood kept the Speedway going for a few years but it wasn't the same .

I wish I could hear them start their engines one more time.

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QUESTIONS ON MY MIND

**** I have a lot of questions that run through my mind . I would like for you to answer them . Just answer yes or no . You can e-mail me with your reasons if you like . Yes or no . Ready ?

1. Will Fred Smith buy Memphis a BCS membership ?

2. Will Fed - X stockholders challenge the purchase ?

3 . Is Cannon Smith a lock to start at QB for the Tigers ?

4. Did Daddy's money & influence buy the position ?

5. Did Bush have plans to invade Iraq before 9/11 ?

6. Did the Bush crew have advance knowledge of the attack ?

7. Were the interceptor Jets ordered to stand down as the airplanes approached the World Trade Center ?

8. Did FDR have advance knowledge about the attack on Pearl Harbor ?

9. Did the Shelby County Attorney General close the Fox & Hound because they didn't pay protection money ?

10. Are all Memphis & Shelby County politicians crooks ?

11. Are race relations today better than 10 years ago ?

12. Is Memphis the most racially polarized city in America?

13. Will Obama be re-elected ?

14. Will Hillary challenge him for the nomination ?

15. Can the Republicans find a real candidate ?

16. Does your church make a real impact in your community ?

17. Is the gift of tongues in existence today ?

18 . Does Hebrews 6: 4 - 6 apply to believers today ?

19. Will a world wide financial train wreck occur in the next 5 years ?

20. Will the USA throw Israel under the bus ?

These are a few of the questions that cross my mind . E - mail me at rockyjoegraves@ yahhoo.com .

Let me know what you think . Oh a bonus question. Will Tennesse win 5 games this year ?

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!

MONEY TALKS REAL LOUD

**** Conference expansion is over . For now . For a few moments we saw the true face of college sport . It is all about the money .

You can forget all that Shinola about student - athletes, tradition. & love of the school . Those things are dumped when it comes to making a dollar .

The conferences want more teams to increase TV market which translates into more TV money .The fact that these conferences make no geographic sense is meaningless

I think they need to contract rather than expand . Forget those conference championship games . The SEC is the only one that makes big money . And how many teams are there that have national TV appeal ? 7 or 8 at the most .

Also no conference championship game is one less hurdle to jump on the path to the National Title .

**** I don't see the Celtics winning tonight . The Laker Bigs should be too much for Boston to deal with without Perkins .

Phil Jackson is the most successful coach in professional sports . Yes ; He always had great players . News Flash ; everyone who wins has great players . You can't win without them .

Doc Rivers must have some mightly bad Karma . To have to depend on Rasheed Wallace in a championship game is tough. Just think if Phil had to trust in Ron Artest .

**** Did LBJ diss Tom Izzo ? Yes , he did . Was Izzo correct in saying no to Cleveland ? Yes , he was .

Izzo learned that in the college world the coaches are the movers & shakers . In the NBA the coach is just a guy who is going to get fired . Most likely two seasons after being Coach of the Year.

Would Byron Scott be a better choice ? Yes ! Scott played in the NBA . He has coached two NBA teams , & been to the finals as a coach .Scott has more Street Cred.

Izzy ; When your star player won't take your call it really tees you off . When You call those Michigan State boys they come running . Stay in college Izzy .

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QUICK SHOTS

**** The conferences are playing musical chairs . I don't think we will know until tomorrow what will happen .

Right now , the PAC - 10 has added Colorado giving them 11 teams . The BIG - 10 has added Nebraska bring them to 12 teams . Boise State has moved to the MWC. Those are the facts at this moment .

Will four more BIG - 12 teams move to the PAC ? I don't know . I hope not . I wish the PAC would add Utah giving them a dozen . That would be a good geographic fit .

The BIG - 12 is short two teams as we speak . I would like to see them add two & stay together . They could add TCU & I don't know who . I hope they can save the league .

I hope the SEC does not add at this time . We will know tomorrow .

**** The Celtics - Lakers . Every time I think I have it figured they throw me a curve . Can Boston win one in LA before the Lakers win two ?

Maybe Bryant needs to involve some of the others . He does not have to win it by himself .

**** Did you see that dude blow the St. Jude Classic . I could have won that tournament .

3 strokes up with one to play . Come on now . He flat lost it . Not like someone else won it . If Robert had a bogey & another player an eagle you have a case . But a 7 on the 18th . Get out the choker chain for Robert .

**** I will not care . They can't make me care . About the stupid World Crap uh World Cup .

I won't watch even if Demi ,Cindy ,& Minka are the commentators . Those girls are like burgers on the grill : hot , sizzling , & bad for your heart .

Boy , if those guys across the pond had real football they would go bonkers .

**** when SEC expansion does come , I think Clemson would be perfect . They have great football , location , & will not let academics get in the way .

**** I must read my new Do It Yourself Manuel on by- pass surgery . Ordered it right off TV . Beat High Medical costs by doing it yourself .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!!

LESSONS IN ADDICTION

**** I left Medina forty years ago but I learned all I needed to know about addiction before I split . I learned about alcohol & drug addiction . This is saying something because drug addiction was rare before 1970.

A lot of men around Medina enjoyed a drink from time to time & a few could be called problem drinkers . But the title of top drunk belonged to Gregory Hollister .

Most men over 21 carried the title of Mister but not Gregory . He had drank away all respect & esteem . I often wondered how a person could lose control like that . To be mastered by a bottle .

A wonderful family in town used to take Gregory in & get him dried out for a while . But they couldn't hold him , the call of the booze was too strong . I have seen Gregory drink after shave lotion & shoe polish when he couldn't get anything else . How can a man get that far ?

The story was that Gregory was a great guitar player . He even had a gig playing for Johnny Cash . Gregory would get drunk & miss dates ,so Cash had to let him go .

Gregory was drunk one cold night ,walking across a field on his way home . He fell ,went to sleep ,& froze to death during the night . They found him there the next day .

I learned that alcohol can wreck a life . A drink could have a powerful grip .

How did I learn about drug addiction in the mid-sixties ? We had a drug addict in town . They called addicts dope fiends back then .

Mr. David Perry was a member of a powerful prominent local family . Mr Perry had an accident & while recovering became addicted to morphine.

This was the beginning of a decades long horror show . The Perry family had enough resources to try every treatment center known at the time . Nothing worked . I knew then addiction was serious business .

Mr. Perry made the most profound statement about drugs that I have ever heard . In front of the barber shop , some men were asking Mr. Perry about his struggle & some of the treatments he had undergone .

Mr . Perry said " They can get it out of my body but they can't get it out of my mind ." WOW , that says it all .

All of us struggle with our personal demons & addictions . It could be drugs ,alcohol, money, fame ,power , or sex . No matter which , it is an awful place to be . In 32 years of working with addicts I have seen less than 10 beat the addiction .

Only through the power of Jesus can you overcome your demons . A 12 step program is fine but to be successful that first step has to be Jesus.

**** My prayers to an old friend Jane Mills Price in the loss of her husband Tommy . May Jesus give you comfort & peace, Jane .

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THE WIZARD'S LITTLE HELPER

****The Wizard of Westwood died at age 99. John Wooden was a fine basketball coach & a fine person .

Wooden won 10 National Championships at UCLA . The Wizard was also hailed for his clean program . He produced the Pyramid of Success & many other inspirational books . Wooden was known for his values & his example of a fine man .

Does this sound too good to be true ? I am sorry but all is not what it appears to be .

Wooden coached at UCLA for 15 years with a record of 285 - 126. That is right at winning 70 %. Wooden was doing a great job of teaching basketball .

Starting in 63 - 64 UCLA went of a 12 year rampage, winning 10 NCAA tournaments with a record of 335 - 22 . Whoa , that is winning 94% over a 12 year span .

What was the difference between the first 15 years & the next 12 years ? Sam Gilbert was . A rich man, Gilbert began to play a huge part in the program .

Known as Papa Sam , Gilbert became the go to guy for the UCLA players . He provided the cars ,cash, clothes & whatever else the players wanted .

To make it simple Sam Gilbert bought all those great players for UCLA .

Now , John Wooden hated Sam Gilbert & had no relationship with him . Wooden told the players to stay away from Gilbert but the players flocked to Papa Sam . That is where the Good Times were.

Wooden was the same master teacher & builder all his time at UCLA. Sam Gilbert just purchased & provided much better material the last 12 years.

**** Do you have trouble forgiving ? Is don't get mad ,get even your philosophy ? Yesterday's wrongs just keep stinging . Remember , Jesus has forgiven us more than we will ever have to forgive anyone .
When you total it up ,we are way ahead on the balance sheet . We have been forgiven more than we forgive .

THANK YOU FOR READING!!!!

TOJO & MR. ALVIN

**** In 1960 our neighbors to the north were Ms. Belle & Mr. Alvin. They were an older couple whose house was about two football fields from ours .

Ms. Belle was a sweet lady & still very pretty at around 70 . Mr. Alvin was a real deal WW1 hero . He had a cigar box full of medals to prove it . Stars , hearts & ribbons , all kinds of stuff.

Mr. Alvin told me about the battles he fought & how they won the war . All these stories were proved to be true .

Mr. Alvin told me about one battle where Mr. Alvin's group of 205 attacked & only 6 survived . For the longest time they thought Mr.Alvin had died . There was a funeral service for him over at the church . Months later Ms. Belle got a letter from Mr. Alvin saying he was coming home .

A lot of people said Mr. Alvin was so crazy because he was gassed in the war . I don't know but he had the most explosive temper of all time . Mr. Alvin would fly into a rage & go berserk .

Sometimes he would chase Ms.Belle , swinging his walking stick & cussing . Mr. Alvin could cuss better than anyone on earth.

This wasn't really as bad as it sounds . Ms. Belle was really fast for an old lady & Mr. Alvin had no chance to catch her . But you could hear him cussing from a quarter of a mile .

Anyway ,every Saturday morning for about 5 years I went to watch wrestling with Mr. Alvin. The Welsh boys , Jackie Fargo & Tojo were the stars .

Mr. Alvin hated Tojo Yamamoto . He would fly into a rage at the sight of Tojo . Mr. Alvin would throw his pipe across the room & whack the sides of the TV with his walking stick . And do some fine cussing .

Mr . Alvin would yell for Ms. Belle to bring him his gun . He said he was going to Memphis & deal with Tojo once & for all .

Mr. Alvin couldn't drive to Memphis . My parents took him to the Veterans Hospital when he needed to go . I would roll on the floor laughing while Mr. Alvin raged .

This was Saturday morning for a long time . Ms.Belle aways had us some cookies & cokes for the show . I made Mr. Alvin a big orange ashtray for his pipe . And he had the reddest pair of socks possible .

Around 1964 Dad & I stopped in to see Mr. Alvin before we went to Jackson . He had been feeling bad & we wanted to check on him before we left .

While we we visiting Mr . Alvin called for Ms . Belle to bring him his red socks We had a good time & I said" I'll see you Saturday" As we were leaving Mr. Alvin tossed me the red socks .

We made the trip to Jackson & back & had just rolled into the
driveway when Ms. Belle hollered for us . Mr Alvin was gone .

Well that has been 46 years ago & those red socks are still in my sock drawer .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!

ROLLING WITH ROCK

**** Today is Chilli Pepper 's birthday . She would be mad if I told you how many . I will let you figure it out .

Birthday candles come in a box of 24 . Chilli Pepper & I together need 5 boxes of candles . We will have two candles left over . I need 2 more candles than Chilli Pepper . How old are we ? Do the math .

Our deal has been rolling for 38 years . It is kind of one - sided . I got the greatest life partner ever & she got well not much . I love her lots & know she is the best ever.

Happy Birthday Chilli Pepper !!!

**** Goodbye to an old friend - The Pride of Puryear passed away this weekend . Paula Osbron Miller was one of the finest people I have ever known . Paula used to pray for me a lot in our younger days . I am glad she is my sister in the Lord . See you soon Paula .

**** I take great pride & pleasure in the lives of my old players . I am so proud of my boys & girls .

They are doctors , lawyers , teachers , coaches , business leaders ,& even an Indian Chief or two . They have been fine parents & citizens through the years .

I knew the sun was sinking low in my career when I had the children of my old players playing for me .

Players , I am thankful for the time we had together & hope it means as much to you as it does to me .

**** I was reading about some of the elite fighting forces in the world . They spoke of the Green Berets , the Rangers , the Republican Guard , & the Scottish Black Watch .

They did not mention the most fearsome fighting force of all . A pick - up truck load of Gibson County Rednecks .

I would put them up against the Mossad or anyone else . I have seen first hand the Havoc they bring . It is not a pretty sight .

**** Give your loved ones lots of love in case tomorrow never comes .
Thank you for reading !