CWI time: Gettysburg bound

          The 2013 Civil War Institute begins Friday at Gettysburg College and this year’s conference will be very special. This year’s CWI begins less than two weeks before the beginning of the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg.

          This year’s CWI will cover the entire year of 1863 but it will include a special concentration on the fight at Gettysburg.

          Some of the top Civil War scholars of the day will speak at the 2013 CWI. They

Right flank marker for the 16th
Michigan regiment on Little
Round Top.

include Gary Gallagher, Peter Carmichael and Carol Reardon. Conference attendees have the opportunity for US Army Staff Rides on the battlefield at Gettysburg and at Chancellorsville. There are guided walks of Pickett’s Charge and other locations at Gettysburg.

          Attending the CWI is an extraordinary experience. You can meet and interact with the foremost experts on the subject. You are thrown together with attendees who share your interest in the war and the war’s era and you end up making friends with folks from all walks of life.

          I typically fill a legal-sized notebook with notes and thoughts gathered during the CWI. While I spend much of the year doing my own research, the CWI is a chance to gather a lot of information in a short time. If you came to your interest in the War late, the CWI represents a chance to accelerate your learning curve.

          The Civil War is a very complex subject. Learning what happened and why is an amazing journey through time and the CWI is one of the best parts of the journey. I recommend attending the event to anyone interested in history.

          Where else can you gather lots of different viewpoints from the top people in the field in a short period of time?

          You might consider getting ahead of the pack for next year’s conference and look at the CWI website online. The topic, I think, will be the war in 1864. If history is your interest, you’ll want to be there.

 

          Thanks for reading.

One word: Bristol

           There are race tracks and then there is the Bristol Motor Speedway. No matter how many tracks a race fan visits, an opportunity to visit BMS is a special thing.

          We had that chance yesterday. We’re here for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, which is on the same property as the famous half-mile oval.

          There simply isn’t any way to describe the place so that someone who has not been there can understand it. The track holds better than 155,000 fans, according to the track’s website. It looks really huge when you are one of two people who have the place to themselves.

          That was us.

          Here are two images from that visit. My wife stands in front of the grandstands

"Wow."

outside turn three with all the seats around her in the first image. The banking is evident in the distance (those are turns one and two behind Amy) but the eye-catcher is the immensity of the multiple-layer grandstands.

          If you know the sport, you understand what you are looking at. The great stock car drivers have raced and won there: Richard Petty, Little Joe Weatherly, Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and lots of others.

          We stood there in awe of the history.

          We’ve both been to tracks all around the country and each of them left us with a memory. Other than the sheer size of the place, the memory we’ll take home from Bristol is the steepness of the banking.

          You’ve probably seen races at BMS on television but there isn’t any chance that you can understand the impact the banking of the corners makes upon your senses until you see the place in person. It’s simply awesome.

          And that’s when the joint is empty. When the grandstands are jammed full of people and the infield is crammed full of racecars, haulers, officials and the two pit roads, it must be difficult for the claustrophobic.

          The second image shows the back straightaway. A gate was open and we asked

The back straight.

permission to lean out the opening and snap this image.

          We owe thanks to the nice folks who allowed us to visit the empty facility.

          The dragway was full of busy people preparing that part of the facility for this weekend’s event. We visited the strip so Amy could see Thunder Valley and understand the name. It is easier for her when she has seen where my office will be for the weekend.

          Lot of nice people pointed us around here as well, understanding what we were doing.

 

          So, thanks to all the nice folks here at the two speedway properties and thanks to all of you for reading.

The walking photographer

          The Goodyear Metro Park in Tallmadge, Ohio is a splendid example of what can be done and maintained in an urban area. The park includes ball fields, miles of walking trails, hills for sledding and a pond rife with waterfowl, fish and turtles. The trails allow the alert visitor to see squirrels, deer, rabbits and other wildlife roaming free.

          The park is a glorious place to be. On any given weekend day you are likely to see barbecuers, ball players, hikers, fishermen and women (the rule is that you have to release what you catch) and joggers

          Given all that, the park is a neat place to have a camera.

          As you walk the trails, the trees arch overhead to provide shade from the sun and cover from the rain. Those arching branches and spreading leafs darken the paths in some places and your loyal blogger set out recently to capture the tunnel effect those overhead coverings afford.

          The equipment, as usual, started with the Nikon D90 digital SLR camera. The decision about which lens to bring was complicated by the desire to travel light, as the photographic search would double as the day’s walk. Eventually the choice was the Nikor 70-300 mm. Although this lens is relatively slow (f4-5.6), the idea was to capture the effectiveness of the shade provided from above anyway and so, what the heck, that’s the lens that came along.

          Most of the images among the trees were shot at ISO 200, although a few were taken one setting lower. Most of the images were taken at f4 and at shutter speeds around 1/60 of a second.

          The first image here shows an area very early in the excursion. There is more light here than other places, but look at how the trees seem to reach for each other overhead to cover the pathways. The deeper you get into the park, the more the city seems to be closed out by the protective trees.

          Next is an image showing a gradual uphill slope peaking just ahead and then declining. But forget the path, look at the trees. The walker is closing in on the inner peace that is this park and the wild growth leads one onward.

          Alder Pond is home to the above-mentioned waterfowl. Here is a goose shaking

its head after picking under its wing for some reason, probably to clean itself of insects. The same goose prefers to stand on one for some reason.

          There was a heron in the pond (a heron herein?), as you can see. The lens was not big enough to really zero in on the floating bird, but sometimes you just do what you can. The reason for including the pond in the jaunt was the idea of capturing the reflection of the surrounding plant life on the still water’s surface.



The reflection of the plant life on the surface of Alder Pond.

The bird is floating in the center of this image.

          Free from the shady trees, most of the images at the pond were captured with shutter speeds at 1/125 of a second or better and at f11 or faster. The ISO remained at 200 while at the pond.

          The walking paths in the park include changes in elevation. While not overly challenging, these hills will get your legs in shape. The next challenge, photographically, will be to capture these jumps and drops in elevation.
   
          Thanks for reading.

The Secretary of Defense

                David ‘Deacon’ Jones passed away this week. The words were hard to read this morning but they are even harder to write.

          For football fans of a certain age, particularly pro football fans from the Los Angeles area in the 1960s, there was no more recognizable name or player than Deacon Jones.

          There was no better player at his position, either. A defensive end, he was known as the Secretary of Defense. Jones was a member of the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome, possibly the greatest of all defensive lines.

          Jones may or may not have invented the term ‘quarterback sack,’ and he certainly did not invent the head slap. But he popularized the term and used the slap to terrorize offensive linemen all over the National Football League.

          If the offensive linemen were worried, how do you think the quarterbacks felt?

          Jones was a big man but he had an even bigger personality and today, roughly 40 years after he played his final pro game, it is that personality that we miss. He never tired of telling his stories and we never tired of hearing them.

          Somewhere, the late quarterbacks John Unitas and Don Meredith are huddling together and they are asking each other this question: “He can’t bother us here, can he?”

          Probably not, guys. But, just to be safe, I’d put on a Rams helmet if I were you.

 

          Thanks for reading. And Deacon, thanks for the memories.

Hall of Very Good voting announced

Readers: As a proud member of the PFRA, I am happy to present in this blog the 2013 class of the Hall of Very Good. Interested in more information on the PFRA? Scroll on down.

In the meantime, read on and enjoy the memories.

Media contact:

Ken Crippen

(215) 421-6994

Ken_Crippen@profootballresearchers.org

 

PFRA ANNOUNCES THE HALL OF VERY GOOD CLASS OF 2013

 

WARMINSTER, Pennsylvania (June 3, 2013) – The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) announced today the Hall of Very Good Class of 2013. The inductees are (in alphabetical order):

 

Erich Barnes

Position: Defensive Back

Teams: 1958-60 Chicago Bears, 1961-64 New York Giants, 1965-71 Cleveland Browns

 

Mike Curtis

Position: Linebacker

Teams: 1965-75 Baltimore Colts, 1976 Seattle Seahawks, 1977-78 Washington Redskins

 

Roman Gabriel

Position: Quarterback

Teams: 1962-72 Los Angeles Rams, 1973-77 Philadelphia Eagles

 

Cookie Gilchrist

Position: Fullback

Teams: 1962-64 Buffalo Bills, 1965 Denver Broncos, 1966 Miami Dolphins, 1967 Denver Broncos

 

Bob Kuechenberg

Position: Guard-Tackle

Teams: 1970-83 Miami Dolphins

 

Daryle Lamonica

Position: Quarterback

Teams: 1963-66 Buffalo Bills, 1967-74 Oakland Raiders

 

Lemar Parrish

Position: Defensive Back

Teams: 1970-77 Cincinnati Bengals, 1978-81 Washington Redskins, 1982 Buffalo Bills

 

Donnie Shell

Position: Defensive Back

Teams: 1974-87 Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Jim Tyrer

Position: Tackle

Teams: 1961-73 Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, 1974 Washington Redskins

 

 

Begun in 2003, the Hall of Very Good seeks to honor outstanding players and coaches who are not in the Hall of Fame.

 

The Professional Football Researchers Association was founded in 1979 as a 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to research into and the preservation of the history of pro football. The membership includes many of the foremost football historians and authors. The PFRA publishes a magazine, The Coffin Corner, six times each year. More information is available at www.profootballresearchers.org.

 

Previous Hall of Very Good enshrines are:

Class of 2012

Bill Bergey, 1969-80 – LB

Curley Culp, 1968-81 – DT

Kenny Easley, 1981-87 – DB

L.C. Greenwood, 1969-81 – DE

Lester Hayes, 1977-86 – DB

Jack Kemp, 1957-69 – QB

Eddie Meador, 1959-70 – DB

Ray Wietecha, 1953-62 – C

Swede Youngstrom, 1920-27 – G , T, E, C

 

Class of 2011

Ken Anderson, 1971-86 – QB

Cliff Branch, 1972-85 – WR

Bobby Dillon, 1952-59 – DB

Cliff Harris, 1970-79 – FS

Harold Jackson, 1968-83 – WR

Andy Russell, 1963-76 – LB

Lou Saban, 1960-65, 1967-76 – Head Coach

Tom Sestak, 1962-68 – DT

Jerry Smith, 1965-77 – TE

Class of 2010
Robert Brazile, 1975-84 – LB 
Ed Budde, 1963-76 – G
Don Coryell, 1972-86 – Head Coach
Ox Emerson, 1931-38 – G, C, LB
Chuck Foreman, 1973-80 – RB
Bob Gain, 1952, 1954-64 – T, MG, E
Riley Matheson, 1939-48 – G, LB
Jimmy Patton, 1955-66 – DB
Drew Pearson, 1973-83 – WR
Ken Riley, 1969-83 – CB

Class of 2009
Bruno Banducci, 1944-54 – G 
Harold Carmichael, 1971-84 – WR
Blanton Collier, Browns assistant coach 1946-53 and 1962 and head coach 1963-70
Boyd Dowler, 1959-69, 71 – WR
Claude Humphrey, 1968-74, 1976-81 – DE
Ken Kavanaugh, 1940-41, 1945-50 – E
Verne Lewellen, 1924-32 – HB
Walt Sweeney, 1963-75 – G

Class of 2008
Dick Barwegen, 1947-54 – G
Randy Gradishar, 1974-83 – LB
Bob Hoernschmeyer, 1946-55 – HB
Cecil Isbell, 1938-42 – TB
Buddy Parker, 1951-64 – Coach
Spec Sanders, 1946-50 – TB
Jim Ray Smith, 1956-64 – G
Billy Wilson, 1951-60 - WR

Class of 2007:
Frankie Albert, 1946-1952 - QB
Roger Brown, 1960-1969 - DT
Timmy Brown, 1959-1968 - RB
Marshall Goldberg, 1939-1948 - B
Jim Lee Howell, 1937-1947, 1954-1960 - E
Glenn Presnell, 1931-1936 - B
Dick Schafrath, 1959-1971 - T
Jake Scott, 1970-1978 - DB
Ed Sprinkle, 1944-1955 - DE
Tank Younger, 1949-1958 - HB-FB

Class of 2006:
Charley Conerly, 1948-1961 - QB
John Hadl, 1962-1977 - QB
Chuck Howley, 1958-1973 - LB
Alex Karras, 1958-1970 - DT
Eugene Lipscomb, 1953-1962 - DT
Kyle Rote, 1951-1961 - E-HB
Dick Stanfel, 1952-1958 - G
Otis Taylor, 1965-1975 - WR
Fuzzy Thurston, 1958-1967 - G
Deacon Dan Towler, 1950-1955 - FB

Class of 2005:
Maxie Baughan, 1960-1974 - LB
Jim Benton, 1938-1947 - E
Lavvie Dilweg, 1926-1934 - E
Pat Harder, 1946-1953 - FB
Floyd Little*, 1967-1975 - RB
Tommy Nobis, 1966-1976 - LB
Pete Retzlaff, 1956-1966 - HB-E
Tobin Rote, 1950-1966 - QB
Lou Rymkus, 1943, 1946-1951 - T
Del Shofner, 1957-1967 - E

Class of 2004:
Gene Brito, 1951-1960 - DE
John Brodie, 1957-1973 - QB
Jack Butler*, 1951-1959 - DB
Chris Hanburger*, 1965-1978 - LB
Bob Hayes*, 1965-1975 - SE-WR
Billy Howton, 1952-1963 - E
Jim Marshall, 1960-1979 - DE
Al Nesser, 1920-1928, 1931 - G
Dave Robinson, 1963-1974 - LB
Duke Slater, 1922-1931 - T

Class of 2003:
Gino Cappelletti, 1960-1970 - E-K
Carl Eller*, 1964-1979 - DE
Pat Fischer, 1961-1977 - DB
Benny Friedman*, 1927-1934 - TB
Gene Hickerson*, 1958-1973 - G
Jerry Kramer, 1958-1968 - G
Johnny Robinson, 1960-1971 - DB
Mac Speedie, 1946-1952 - E
Mick Tingelhoff, 1962-1978 - C
Al Wistert, 1943-1951 - T

*Voted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame after induction into the Hall of Very Good.

 

Hogwash

                Thank goodness the Pew Research Center and Peggy Drexler are on the job. Whoever they are, the Center has just published a masterpiece of research and Drexler’s interpretation explains all of life’s problems for some of us males.

          Drexler explains everything, using this research. Every problem some of us have had for, lo, these many decades. Years of low self-esteem. Years of terrible depression. Years of self-doubt, uncertainty and confusion.

          Yes, even decades of all that stuff lumped together. Just terrible angst. Imagine three decades or more of bad TV nights and that’s what we’ve been through. Oh, the humanity.

          Now, with all the science the Pew Research Center was able to use to study the problem, Drexler has put a name to it. At long last, some of us poor, suffering men can point a shaky finger at the root of the agony and say, “There. It isn’t my fault after all.”

          According to a story I read on the internet (and remember that anything you read on the internet has to be true, including this blog) written by Drexler, many women earn more than their husbands and men suffer when their wives earn more money than the men do.

          Yes, the word used is, “suffer.”

          Naturally, Drexler’s story uses only first names when pointing toward examples of this load of nonsense. The story did not mention the names of the firms where either spouse was employed. Gee, that sounds reliable.

          Let me explain for you how your loyal blogger has suffered all these years with a wife whose employment generated more funds than my own.

          When our kids were sick, my wife’s insurance benefits paid for doctors, hospitals and medicines. That hit me hard.

          Sometimes I got sick and, again, my spouse’s insurance paid the medical bills. Once in a while, even my wife got sick and her benefits paid for her to get well.

          I suffered through all of that. It was terrible. I was saddened that I wasn’t paying cash for all those bills.

          When the kids were off from school, I had to spend up to half a day watching my own children. Had to spend time with them virtually every day of the working week, sometimes.

          What punishment. If only wifey had made less money, I might have been spared the depression.

          Yep, when I went to the used car lot and ended up with a Mustang GT convertible instead of a fuel-efficient money-saver, I suffered again. I paid for the car but I suffered because I knew I couldn’t have afforded the payments if my wife didn’t make enough money to pay for so much else.

          Still have the car. Still suffering for it. Talk about trauma!

          I’ve been unemployed. Who hasn’t? I sure felt terrible about my wife’s earning prowess then, let me tell you. Catastrophic humiliation.

When my newspaper career (which paid poorly and kept me away from the family constantly) threatened my health, my wife told me to do what I had to do. I did. When I choose self-employment and a profession that takes me away from home much of the time, my wife gave her blessing.

Yep, her salary and benefits made all that possible and I was miserable.

          Read this and understand the words: Neither the Pew people nor Drexler asked this blogger about the terrors of having a successfully-employed wife. I’d have told them that any husband who feels inadequate because his wife out-earns him was probably inadequate before they were ever married.

          My wife and I have had more than 20 great years together and she has always been the top money-earner. Come to think about it, I really don’t feel too bad about that at all.

 

          Thanks for reading.

It's the greatest ritual in sports

                It is among the most cherished sporting rituals in all of Americana. It is one I have been doing since I was old enough to figure out the radio. After mastering the radio, the ritual switched to television, where the ritual has played out for decades now.

          After all these years, through three careers, two kids, a dozen moves involving six cities and two states, through a lot more years than I want to admit and, incredibly, through just one marriage, I still get the same thrill when the ritual plays out each May.

          My understanding wife doesn’t even make fun of me for it.

          We live in the Eastern Time zone now so the ritual does not have to be played out quite so early in the morning, but I know I’ll awake early anyway with the same enthusiasm I always have.

          This year the ritual involves a big screen TV. Yippee!! I can’t wait.

          Every year on a Sunday in May, I count the minutes before the opening of the television coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and I watch with great intent for the opening shot of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

          Forget the announcers. Forget the pole sitter. The opening montage is usually pretty neat, but it is not part of the ritual. That first live glimpse of the cherished oval is at hand and is the moment of high drama:

          Is the track dry or wet?

          Everything else will play itself out. The Purdue band will play, someone will sing Back Home Again in Indiana, the drivers will report to their cars and someone will give the command to start the engines. The race will start and bring with it a whole different drama.

          But that first glimpse of the track tells us how our day will go by answering the single most important question of the year: Is the track dry or wet?

          In this day and age, cheating is easy. Just fire up the computer and glance at one of the forty million or so weather websites, as soon as you wake, to learn what the weather is in Indy. Sure, that can be done. You could tune in to Twitter or check out Facebook.

          But the internet is not part of the ritual and neither is social media. There is no mystery, no fun that way. There is no anticipation. That first look at the racing surface is a magical moment. It is more than just a question of atmospheric conditions, more than just the start of a motor race and much more than just a television broadcast.

          It's the Indy 500 and come Sunday, I'll be waiting for that first look.

 

          Is the track dry or wet? That’s all that matters.

          Thanks for reading.