No, not like feathery landings, or literal feathers, or a fine-feathered friend.
You will start making the jokes to yourself when I get to the point, so I will warn you that I’m gonna be multi-pointed today, so just bear with me.
First – how about them Mounties football guys!
I was in Columbia, South Carolina last Friday, and had arrived in time to listen to the entire game over the internet.
What a great game they played, what an exciting finish. Congratulations to the school and the team, and best of luck Friday in the regional.
Second – it’s Bell Week. Can’t go long without making some DePauw insult or other degradation, but I’ll pass here, to maintain the friendships I have with a few Dannies. I do want to wish the Little Giants all the best, though.
Third – I was at Fountain Central last week to cover a girls basketball game, and as I walked to my spot at the score bench to sit down, there was Crawfordsville alum, FC clock operator and all-around good guy Rob Bowers.
It’s always great to see and talk to Rob, but there he was, all decked out in a Texas Rangers uniform shirt.
Why, you might ask.
Well, how about this – he was drafted by the Rangers back in 2000, and played in their organization. He was celebrating the Rangers winning the World Series!
He also had his championship ring from the season his minor league team won its season title. Very cool, and congrats to Rob for his Rangers winning their first-ever World Series. I know how proud he was of the organization, and of his being a part of their history.
Fourth – okay, the feathers.
As noted, I was in South Carolina for a college game last Saturday. The two teams were South Carolina, and Jacksonville State.
As it turned out, it was the first-ever football meeting between two college teams whose mascots are the Gamecocks.
I had stepped into history and didn’t even realize it until I read the game notes.
To say there were a few snickering jokes and comments, some double entendre’s and other subtle or not so subtle plays on words, is simply an understatement. Some folks enjoyed the edginess of the wording, and others just shrugged and went along.
I’ll let you readers just make up a few of your own jokes and plays on words connected with the mascots (there were some racy ones and some clever ones), and move on.
The college game was in the early afternoon and the travel gods smiled on me with a direct flight Saturday early evening from Columbia to Philadelphia, where a Sunday NFL game awaited.
The weather was nice, and the plane was on time. I can’t get a flight straight through to half the places I need to go, but I could get a direct flight Saturday to Philly.
The Sunday game was a rivalry game between a couple good teams, and it was fun to cover. I even got the back of my head, and my back, on a booth shot during the game, and yes, to all who saw it, that is my best side…
This guy has a face made for radio.
Oh yes, feathers.
The Eagles are the Philly mascot, and they have feathers. Sorry to make you wait for that poor of a joke.
Getting home needed a bit of improvisation, though, as I could not get a Monday morning flight from Philly to Indy. I could get back to South Carolina, but once was enough. Nothing direct (all full), nothing that connected early enough (also full). I had to be at Gainbridge at 1 on Monday afternoon to start work for the Pacers game that night.
So, I had to rent a car and drive the 90 minutes from Philly to Newark, through Monday morning rush hour, and there catch a direct flight to Indianapolis. My 5 a.m. departure from Philly kept me ahead of the nasty traffic and all went well. I was on the ground and in the production truck on time, to cover the Pacers tie a team record for most points scored.
Fifth, and we close this week on a very sad note, as I want to send my personal condolences, and I know the thoughts and prayers of everyone who reads these notes, to the family of Carrie Saunders, who lost her short but valiant battle with cancer last week, and whose funeral is this Saturday.
There is no family that has exhibited the faith or the strength that this family has endured more than they. I’ve known Carrie and Brian since they were little, having been blessed to know and or work with their parents. One of my personal-favorite feature stories was on one of Carrie and Brian’s children. Brian and I have covered many games together on radio or internet.
There is no happy ending here, but I know that the faith this family has, and Carrie showed in her battle, truly means there will be a happy ending some other time and place.
A thought that I came across helps me sum it up. She taught us how to live by all the good deeds and her life, and now she has taught us how to die.
Godspeed Carrie Saunders, and save us all a seat beside you in Heaven.
I’m off to Texas (again) this weekend, but no baseball. College game at Texas A&M and pro game in Dallas. I sure know the way to Dallas, and it’s a pretty decent drive south to College Station, but hey, it’s a long drive to some of these places around here.
Safe travels.
Jeff Nelson is a frequent contributor to the Journal Review and works professionally for Fox Sports assisting with NFL broadcasts and the Indiana
Pacers.
