The not so Frozen Tundra

I leave early tomorrow morning for Green Bay for the Titans pre-season game. It's a business trip but I can't help be a little excited about seeing the legendary Lambeua Field in person. It won't be frozen tundra but what true football fan wouldn't relish the opportunity to be on the sidelines of Lambeua during a game no less. I'm sure plenty of the fans in the stands would be envious. Hopefully the Titans will give us all something to cheer about but from what I've seen so far I doubt it

Snakes in a Theater

I cut this from a news script at work.

IN ARIZONA-- A SCENE RIGHT OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE.
SOME PRANKSTERS SET TWO BABY RATTLESNAKES LOOSE IN A THEATER SHOWING THE MOVIE "SNAKES ON A PLANE."THE TWO DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKES CAUSED A PANIC AND SNAKE WRANGLERS HAD TO BE CALLED IN. OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE SNAKES WERE SMUGGLED INTO THE THEATER IN BACKPACKS. THE SNAKES WERE RELEASED INTO THE DESERT.

Ok, nobody was hurt so that makes this really funny.

LV On Sports: Reggie White Hall of Fame

It was nice to see Reggie White get some much deserved recognition. White along with Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden and Rayfield Wright were recently inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I followed White's career from his days at Tennessee. He was like no player I had ever seen. A player of that size, speed and strength with the best technique the game had ever seen. I hate that Reggie never got to experience the post career accolades that he more than earned. He did live to see himself inducted to the College Football Hall of fame in 2002 and to see his number retired by the Packers in 1999. White recorded 32 sacks during his 4 years with the vols. 15 of those coming in his senior year. I know that there was a moratorium on retiring jerseys at UT for awhile but why did it take so long for Tennessee to honor him? Also, why couldn't Peyton Manning's jersey retirement be pushed back a year. I think it was an insult to have Mannings jersey retired the same year as White's after Reggie had to wait for so long. Manning already had a street named after him and so does Tee Martin which I never understood. Manning never won a National championship. Tee Martin did win one but it was far from a mvp season. Matter of fact half of that year they won despite him not because of him. That street should have been Al Wilson/Peerless Price/ Dewayne Goodrich/ Jeff Hall/ Travis Henry/ Travis Stephens Road because these guys plus a few more are the ones who really got the job done. Where is Reggie's street? In my opinion Reggie White is the best player to come out of the University of Tennessee. That's right all you Manningacs. Reggie had two solo mvp seasons and a Super Bowl victory. Manning hasn't even made to one yet and that door is closing fast. Don't get me wrong. I am a big Manning fan. When the Colts play the Titans I root for the Titans to win but for Peyton to look good in defeat. I just wish that the University of Tennessee had done more for Reggie while he was still alive. A former player shouldn't have to give money to his alma mater to get the recognition that he deserves.

Lunch Money

Back to school is full of emotions. Happy to see old friends. Sad at the prospect of school work or getting up early. Never thought sticker shock would be one of them. My kids usually eat lunch at school. I'm a single parent with a full time job that often requires me to work late. So, I don't have time to worry about preparing lunch. This can get expensive. This year more than ever. My son goes to high school. His lunch went from $1.75 to $2.25. My two daughters elementary school lunch went from $1.65 to $2.00. That's insane! It's gone up before but usually like 10 to 15 cent and I wasn't happy then. That's a buck forty more per day, 7 more per week and between 28 and 35 dollars a month. Not only did the lunches go up but at my daughters school they have done away with charging. So, if I forget to buy them lunch tickets they will be fed peanut butter or cheese crackers with milk or juice to drink. Where in the past they would eat lunch and I would repay the school the next day. Many times when they didn't have tickets it was an accounting error by the school.Where is this money going? Didn't we just have a budget surplus? Why can't some of this money go directly to school districts to help with things like this and school supplies. The supply list get longer every year and they ask for more after Christmas. How about the "education lottery"? Why does all that money have to go to scholarships? Why can't we improve our public schools as well?

U rid'em U wreck'm

I had friend tell me once there are only two types of people who ride motorcycles"those who have wrecked and those who will wreck". After last night I am now officially in the "have" category. As I pulled onto Nolensville road last night from 440 I felt my bike start to go as I leaned into my turn. I tried to straighten back up but bike started fish tailing out of control and threw me across the road. I got up a little disoriented. I stumbled to my bike and picked it up. Another motorist stopped to see if I was ok but my concern was to get on my bike and get back to work. I was on my dinner break and was running a little late getting back. I hope I wasn't rude to him but I was a little out of it at the time. I got back to work, finished my shift and got my bike home. My girlfriend insisted following me home since my break controls were a little damaged from the accident.

At this point my hip, back and elbow(the same elbow that I'm still having bursitis trouble with) were really hurting. So, I decide to go to the hospital to get checked out. You never know. Something could be wrong. Two hours and about 10 X-rays later I'm on my way home. No broken bones. Just soreness and a little swelling. I guess I'm pretty lucky. Especially since it appears I put a dent in my gas tank with my elbow.

Incase you were wondering. Yes, I will get my bike repaired and ride again.