THE WEEK THAT WAS

**** THE SUPER BOWL IS HISTORY & THERE IS NO MORE FOOTBALL FOR 6 MONTHS . I WILL REALLY HURT DURING THIS PERIOD .

THE PACKERS BEAT THE STEELERS , I DIDN'T THINK THEY COULD . THE STEELERS HAD MORE PLAYS MORE YARDS GAINED, & MORE TIME OF POSSESSION. THE STEELERS ALSO HAD 3 TURNOVERS WHILE THE PACK HAD NONE .

YOU CAN NOT WIN GAMES TURNING THE BALL OVER . THE PACKERS PROVED THAT YOU CAN WIN WITHOUT RUNNING THE BALL . GREEN BAY THREW ALMOST 3 TIMES AS MUCH AS THEY RAN .
THE NFL IS A PASSING LEAGUE TODAY . YOU CAN'T WIN THE SUPER BOWL WITHOUT A BIG TIME QB . THE LAST TEAM TO WIN WITH A GAME MANAGER AT QB WAS THE TAMPA BAY . THEY WON SUPER BOWL 37 WITH AVERAGE BRAD JOHNSON AT QB.

THE LAST 10 SUPER BOWLS HAVE BEEN WON BY 7 DIFFERENT TEAMS . I HOPE THEY DON'T KILL THE GAME WITH THE LOCKOUT OR STRIKE .

**** THE NFL PLAYERS CANNOT WIN THE BATTLE WITH THE OWNERS . THE OWNERS CAN FIND A GROUP OF PLAYERS ALMOST AS GOOD WHO ARE WILLING TO PLAY FOR MUCH LESS MONEY .

WHERE IS THE PLAYER GOING TO FIND A JOB OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL THAT PAYS 10 % OF HIS FOOTBALL SALARY . THE PLAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE WHAT THE OWNERS ARE WILLING TO AT THE END OF THE DAY .

REMEMBER THE TEXAS TORNADOES USED TO SING ' A LITTLE BIT IS BETTER THAN NADA ."

**** THE MEMPHIS TIGERS HAVE MORE DOWN TO THE BUZZER FINISHES THAN ANY TEAM I CAN RECALL . WINNING OR LOSING ON THE LAST SHOT OF THE GAME IS COMMON PLACE FOR THESE TIGERS .

THE TIGERS ARE VERY TALENTED & VERY INEXPERIENCED WHICH LEADS TO WILD INCONSISTENCY . THEY MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OVER & OVER .

I DON'T THINK THEY CAN WIN THE C - USA TOURNAMENT AT EL PASO . 3 GOOD ROAD GAMES IN A ROW MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR THE YOUNG TIGERS .

**** THE LAST TIME I CAN RECALL THIS MUCH SNOW WAS 1987 . I MUST BE SHOWING MY AGE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE SNOW .

I DON'T WANT TO BUILD ANY SNOWMEN , GO SLEDDING OR THROW SNOWBALLS . I JUST SIT AND LOOK AT THE LAKE , & DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!!!

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

**** HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THE PACKERS A 3 POINT FAVORITE OVER THE STEELERS ? HOW DO YOU FIGURE ?



BOTH HAVE VERY GOOD DEFENSES ,1 & 2 IN THE NFL . BOTH OPERATE FROM A 3/4 PACKAGE,BRINGING PRESSURE FROM UNEXPECTED AREAS. NO CLEAR ADVANTAGE HERE.

BOTH TEAMS HAVE PREMIER QB'S. RODGERS IS MORE FLASHY BUT ROETHISBURGER ALREADY HAS TWO SUPER BOWL RINGS. BIG BEN EXTENDS PLAYS MAKING 2 OR 3 BIG PLAYS A GAME WHICH CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THE WINNER WILL BE THE TEAM THAT CAN RUN THE BALL THE BEST . THAT LOOKS LIKE THE STEELERS BUT WITH CENTER POUNCEY DOUBTFUL THAT COULD CHANGE.

IN COACHING MATCHUPS, MIKE MCCARTHY VS DICK LEBEAU IS A PUSH . DOM CAPERS VS BRUCE ARIANS` IS ADVANTAGE PACKERS . MIKE TOMLIN DOESN'T CALL OFFENSE OR DEFENSE . HE JUST MANAGES THE GAME WHICH COULD BE AN EDGE BECAUSE MCCARTHY COULD BE DISTRACTED BY CALLING THE OFFENSE .

NEITHER TEAM IS GREAT IN THE KICKING GAME .

I THINK THE GAME WILL BE CLOSE & DECIDED BY 4 OR 5 BIG PLAYS . THE STEELERS HAVE MORE PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE WHICH HELPS.

THIS IS THE 8TH SUPERBOWL FOR THE MEN OF STEEL . THEY HAVE WON 6 , MOST IN THE NFL .

IF THE PACK WINS ,THEY WILL BE THE THIRD TEAM TO WIN WITH 3 DIFFERENT COACHES FOLLOWING DALLAS & PITTSBURGH.

I AM PICKING THE STEELERS IN A TIGHT ONE .

**** THE BEST ARTICLE I'VE READ ON THE MEMPHIS CHARTER SURRENDER WAS IN ONE OF THE NEW YORK PAPERS . I WONDER WHY THE CA CAN NOT PUT THINGS SO CLEAR .

THIS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION . THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE SCS IS APPX 84000 , AS COMPARED TO THE MCS APPX 37000.

THE HIGHER TAX VALUES LOCATED IN THE COUNTY PAY 40% OF THE MCS TAX SHARE .

THIS MERGER IS NOT ABOUT EDUCATING CHILDREN BUT IS ABOUT FUNDING [ MONEY ] & CONTROL .

IF THIS MERGER OCCURS , AS SOON AS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE ,THE SAME OLD CITY GROUP WILL BE IN CONTROL . i PREDICT WILLIE HERENDON WILL BE BACK IN CHARGE.

**** I START A 5 WEEK CHEMO TREATMENT NEXT WEEK . I ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS DURING THIS TIME . I AM JUST TRUSTING IN JESUS TO WALK ME THROUGH THIS VALLEY.

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!!

JUST WAITING

**** THIS MORNING I'M JUST WAITING ON MY RIDE TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE . THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRIP THIS WEEK .

SOME HAVE ASKED ME HOW I SPEND MY TIME SINCE I RETIRED & I TELL THEM WAITING IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE .

I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT WAITING BUT I AM GETTING BETTER . SOMETIMES I READ OR WORK SUDOKU . BUT LATELY I HAVE STARTED PEOPLE WATCHING .

THE PEOPLE IN THE WAITING ROOM ARE FROM ALL STAGES OF LIFE . YOUNG /OLD , RICH/ POOR , BLACK / WHITE . EVERYONE IS REPRESENTED.

ONE THING TO NOTICE IS THE AMOUNT OF HOPE WRITTEN ON THEIR FACE . SOME ARE BEAMING KNOWING THIS VISIT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM . OTHERS ARE TIRED & WORN BATTLING A RELENTLESS FOE .

TALK ABOUT JESUS IS MORE WELCOME IN THE WAITING ROOM THAN AT MOST LUNCH TABLES . MOST FOLKS THERE KNOW WHO IS IN CONTROL.

IN SPITE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS, WE HAVE THE BEST HEALTH CARE IN THE WORLD . WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY FOR MORE ACCESS & REDUCE COST .

I'M OPPOSED TO BIG GOVERNMENT BUT I DON'T THINK AN ILLNESS SHOULD DESTROY A FAMILY FINANCIALLY .AS AMERICA GROWS OLDER ,THIS PROBLEM WILL EXPLODE .

IF YOU WANT ACTION ON HEALTH CARE , REQUIRE CONGRESS TO HAVE THE SAME HEALTH CARE PLAN THEY PROVIDE THE PEOPLE . YOU WOULD SEE SOME CHANGES THEN .

WELL, BACK TO THE WAITING ROOM . THESE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS TO PASS THE ENDLESS HOURS IN THE WAITING ROOM .

NOW I AM THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE WAITING ROOM . FOR A WHILE THERE IT SEEMED MY WAITING MIGHT BE OVER . AND IT IS STILL A LONG WAYS OUT OF THE WOODS FOR ME .

I AM NOT SURE WHAT JESUS HAS PLANNED FOR ME IN THIS EXTRA TIME BUT I AM SURE HE WILL MAKE IT KNOWN.


THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!!!

GRANDDADDY'S STORE

**** IN THE 1950'S MY GRANDDAD OWNED A STORE . IT WASN'T LIKE THE STORES OF TODAY .

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A QUICK CHECK WERE PEOPLE STAYED AN HOUR OR TWO . PEOPLE EXCHANGED THE LATEST NEWS & GOSSIP.

THEY ALSO MADE SANDWICHES SUCH AS HOOP CHEESE & RAG BALONEY. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG JAR OF PICKLES. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY ANYBODY WANTED ONE .

THERE WAS A TABLE & A LOT OF CHAIRS IN THE CORNER BY THE COAL STOVE . DOMINOES & CHECKERS WERE PLAYED ALL THE TIME .

THE COKE BOTTLE GAME WAS AN ONGOING EVENT THROUGH OUT THE DAY . IT WORKED LIKE THIS ; WHERE THE DRINK WAS BOTTLED IS WRITTEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS. YOU COULD PLAY CLOSEST TO OR FURTHEREST AWAY.

THE GUYS REALLY GOT INTO THIS. THEY EVEN POSTED A BIG MAP OF THE USA ON THE WALL . WHEN THERE WAS A DISPUTE THEY WOULD GO TO THE MAP TO MEASURE WHO WAS CLOSEST OR FURTHEREST.

THE LOSER HAD TO BUY ALL THE COKES BUT THEY ONLY COST A NICKEL .

THE BEST OF ALL WAS STORYTELLING . THE MEN WOULD TELL THESE STORIES & THE OTHERS WOULD TRY TO PROVE HIM WRONG .

THE CHAMP WAS MR.SIMS WHO TOLD STORIES OF BEING WITH ADMIRAL BYRD AT THE NORTH POLE. ANYTIME ANYONE TALKED ABOUT COLD WEATHER MR SIMS WAS READY WITH A NORTH POLE STORY.

FINALLY THE STORE SETTERS HAD ENOUGH . THEY GOT A PICTURE FROM THE SMITHSONIAN OF ADMIRAL BYRD'S GROUP AT THE NORTH POLE. THERE WAS NO MR SIMS IN THE PICTURE.

WELL 'THEY SET HIM UP . THE NEXT TIME MR SIMS CRANKED UP A NORTH POLE STORY THEY PULLED OUT THE PICTURE.

WHERE ARE YOU IN THIS PICTURE THEY ASKED ? I'M NOT SAID MR SIMS .YOU SAID YOU WERE THERE THE BUNCH CHALLENGED.MR SIMS SAID "BOYS , WHO DO YOU THINK TOOK THIS PICTURE "

WITH THAT ANSWER MR SIMS BECAME THE STORYTELLING CHAMP OF ALL TIMES .

WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE MEN SPENT 2 OR 3 HOURS AT JIMMIE'S. BUT IF YOU EVER WENT IT WASN'T HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

JIMMIE'S CLOSED IN 1960 WHEN GRAN DADDY WAS KILLED IN A CAR WRECK .I CAN STILL SEE HIM IN THAT FANCY STRAW HAT , STRIPED SHIRT & THOSE TWO -TONE SHOES SITTING ON THE PORCH OF THE STORE. JIMMIE WAS 53 WHEN THE LORD CALLED HIS NAME .

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE STORES LIKE JIMMIE'S ANYMORE.

**** STEELERS OVER JETS

**** PACKERS OVER BEARS

THANK YOU FOR READING!!!!!!!

WHAT A SHOW

**** THE NFL PUTS A GREAT PRODUCT ON THE FIELD . THE GAMES THIS WEEKEND WERE OUTSTANDING AS THEY HAVE BEEN ALL SEASON.

I HOPE BILLIONAIRES FIGHTING WITH MILLIONAIRES DOES NOT DESTROY THE LEAGUE . IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD .

I MISSED ON 3 OF 4 GAMES THIS WEEK BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

STEELERS / RAVENS

THE RAVENS WERE SAILING ALONG IN COMPLETE CONTROL UNTIL THE RAY RICE FUMBLE . THEN IT WAS LIKE A BIG JET PLANE LANDING & REVERSING THE ENGINES . ALL STEELERS THE REST OF THE WAY .

IT WILL BE HARD TO KEEP THE STEELERS FROM WINNING THE SUPER BOWL . THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM LEFT .

FALCONS / PACKERS

THE FALCONS CONTINUED THEIR PLAYOFF WOES . BUT AARON RODGERS WOULD GIVE ANYONE THE PLAYOFF BLUES WITH THE GAME HE HAD .

THE PACKERS ARE HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME . IF RODGERS CAN PLAY CLOSE TO THIS THE NEXT 3 WEEKS THE PACK COULD WIN SB45.

TO THE # 1 FALCON FAN : SORRY JULIE ,GET 'EM NEXT YEAR .

BEARS / SEAHAWKS

THE GOOD JAY CUTLER SHOWED UP & THE BEARS ROLLED . CAN WE COUNT ON THE GOOD JAY FOR 2 MORE GAMES ?

THE PACK VS THE BEARS AT SOLDIER FIELD IS A GAME FROM THE PAST . BACK TO THE FUTURE I GUESS .

PATS / JETS

I PULLED HARD IN THIS ONE . I WANTED LITTLE BILLY BELLS TO GET BEAT . WHAT'S WITH THIS HOODIE ? SOME OF BELICHICK'S STAFF LOOK LIKE MONKS WHO HAVE ESCAPED THE MONASTERY. ALFRED HITCHCOCK WOULD LOVE THESE BOYS.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH BRADY ? I HAVE ONLY SEEN HIM LOOK THIS BAD ONCE BEFORE . TOM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE INTERESTED IN THE GAME . NO FIRE ,NO EMOTION .

A WORD TO THE JETS : SANCHEZ IS MUCH BETTER AT PLAY ACTION THAN DROP BACK .

REX RYAN & THE JETS . WHAT CAN YOU SAY BUT,

JETS- JETS - JETS

I WILL PICK THESE GAMES LATER THIS WEEK .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!

SCHOOLS SCHOOLS SCHOOLS

**** JUST SOME THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOLS.

I SPENT 17 TO 18 YEARS AS A STUDENT, 32 YEARS AS A TEACHER & ADMINISTRATOR , & ABOUT 4 YEARS AS A HIRED COACH .

HERE ARE SOME THINGS I NOTICED ALONG THE WAY .

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS ARE A FAILURE . THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE IS THE COLLAPSE OF THE FAMILY UNIT IN THEIR COMMUNITY .

THOSE CHILDREN ARE COMING TO SCHOOL TOO FAR BEHIND TO CATCH UP . THEY ARE NOT ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD .

THE SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE SOME BETTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE BETTER PREPARED STUDENTS WITH MORE HOME SUPPORT .

THE SCS STUDENTS HAVE A HEAD START IN THE RACE SO THEY SHOULD DO BETTER .

CONSOLIDATION WILL HURT BOTH SYSTEMS WHILE HELPING NEITHER ONE .

ONLY MEMPHIS VOTERS SHOULD DECIDE THE SURRENDER OF THE MEMPHIS CHARTER . THIS IS A MEMPHIS THING.

ONLY SHELBY COUNTY VOTERS SHOULD HAVE ANY SAY IN THE COUNTY SCHOOLS .

IF THERE IS ONE UNIFIED SCHOOL SYSTEM THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE WILLIE HERENDON .

THE ONLY WAY FOR SCHOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS TO GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE , & SCHOOLS MUST COMPETE FOR STUDENTS .

THE UNITED STATES HAS THE WORST K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE WORLD , BUT HAS THE FINEST UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN THE WORLD . THE REASON IS THE COLLEGES MUST COMPETE FOR STUDENTS SO THEY MUST GET RESULTS .

YOU LET SCHOOLS START COMPETING FOR STUDENTS , THEN YOU WILL SEE SCHOOLS GETTING RESULTS .

GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE & WATCH THE POOR SCHOOLS FADE AWAY . PRIVATE SCHOOLS KNOW THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE OR PERISH .

WHY SHOULD YOUR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY BE DETERMINED BY YOUR ZIP CODE ?


CHOICE & COMPETITION ARE THE ANSWERS .

THANK YOU FOR READING . !!!!

A STRANGE SEASON

**** HOORA to AUBURN FOR WINNING THE MAKE - BELIEVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

HOORA TO THE SEC FOR WINNING THE FANTASY CHAMPIONSHIP 5 YEARS IN A ROW .

HOORA TO THE NEWTON FAMILY FOR BEATING THE SYSTEM . CAM WAS PAID TO PLAY .

BOO TO THE NCAA FOR A 7 WEEK LAY-OFF BEFORE THE FANTASY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME .

THERE WILL BE NO REAL CHAMPION UNTIL THERE IS A PLAY-OFF.

YOU COULD HAVE A 12 TEAM PLAY-OFF IN THE 4 WEEKS FROM THANKSGIVING TO THE NEW YEAR .THAT IS 11 GAMES . YOU CAN USE THE CURRENT BOWL STRUCTURE . THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A REAL CHAMPION,NOT A FAVORITE .

THE BOWL SYSTEM IS A JOKE . A 6-6 TEAM DOES NOT BELONG IN A BOWL . A TEAM SHOULD HAVE TO WIN 8 TO PLAY IN A BOWL .

**** NFL PICKS

LAST WEEK I WAS 2-2 .

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT MANNING & BREES WOULD BOTH BE OUT .

RAVENS VS STEELERS
THE STEELERS HAVE THE BEST QB & ARE PLAYING AT HOME . THE RAVENS HAVE THE BETTER DEFENSE &THE BETTER RUSHING GAME . THE RAVENS IN AN UPSET .

JETS VS PATRIOTS
THE PATS HAVE THE BETTER QB , THE BETTER COACH , THE BETTER OFFENSE & ARE PLAYING AT HOME . ALL THE JETS HAVE GOING IS A BETTER DEFENSE & THEY COULD RUN THE BALL TO KEEP NEW ENGLAND OFF THE FIELD .
NEW ENGLAND IN A CLOSE ONE .

PACKERS VS FALCONS

THE QBS ARE ABOUT EVEN , THE PACK HAS A LITTLE BETTER DEFENSE BUT THE BIRDS ARE HARD TO BEAT AT HOME .
THE FALCONS MOVE ON .
ONE OF MY OLD QBS IS A COACH FOR THE FALCONS ; GERALD BROWN .

SEAHAWKS VS BEARS

IT IS HARD TO PICK THE WACKY BEARS IN ANY GAME BUT THE HAWKS SHOULD NOT BE HERE . THEY HAD THEIR MOMENT WHEN THEY BEAT THE SAINTS.

LOVIE SMITH OF BIG SANDY TEXAS WILL ADVANCE .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!