Goodbye Hall of Famer

Years ago I taught a Speech and Presentation class at Cass High School. The class was made up of mostly freshmen, so I only knew a couple of the kids when the class began in August. After providing some preliminary instructions and going over some basics, I gave them their first assignment. They were to present a five minute speech on either of these topics: "The best day of your summer break." -- OR -- "The worst day of your summer break."

The kids prepared for a class period or two, organized and rehearsed for homework and then had to make their first-ever presentations for the course. It would be a good way for me to learn something about them, let them do some speaking without having to research a topic, and allow me opportunity to begin putting names with faces, etc.

Among these presentations was a cute little girl who started telling the story of "The worst day of her summer vacation." She began by describing this long journey to New York in a car with her family, but really caught my attention when she said the trip was to Cooperstown. Now I'm a baseball fan, so Cooperstown, NY and the Hall of Fame had me paying closer attention. Girls like baseball too! How could she have been so miserable visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame?

She went into a description of having to go to a reception for her grandfather who was being inducted into the Hall of Fame the next day and how boring all of it was for her. She was trapped in a hotel room and there just wasn't enough to do. Keep in mind, she never used her grandfather's name in the speech. She just kept referring to him as 'my grandfather.'

At this point, my mind is spinning. I'm on the edge of my seat. I'm looking at her last name on my class roll, but it doesn't immediately come to mind who her grandfather could be. . . . besides, it could be her maternal grandfather and the last names wouldn't be the same. I'm momentarily at a loss. I could not figure this out and her speech was continuing, so I kept listening for clues.

She was very descriptive. She talked about how boring Cooperstown was for a 14 year old girl. She talked about how hot and humid it was on the induction ceremony day. She complained about having to dress up for this occasion and sit in a folding chair for such a long period. She had to listen to long presentations and lengthy speeches from people she had never even heard of before.

She had been truly miserable.

Meanwhile, I'm the baseball fan still racking my brain to figure out possibilities of who her grandfather could be. I still had not figured it out as the summary of her first-ever speech was winding down. I was going to have to ask her who her grandfather was. Was he a player? a manager? a front office executive? a writer or announcer? Then it hit me.

Her last name was Weaver, so as she finished I asked: "Was your grandfather. . ." . and she interjected. "Earl Weaver."

My mouth probably dropped open and I looked around the room of 14 and 15 year old kids to see if they were just as astonished.  Of course they weren't. It was 1996. They had all been born in the 1980s and most didn't care one bit about baseball even though the hometown Braves had recently won a World Championship. One kid even asked: "Who was Earl Weaver? What did he ever do?"

So I received a quick lesson in generational gaps, but it gave me a chance to share a little baseball fan experience from my younger days.

For my memories, Weaver was the fiery manager of the Baltimore Orioles in the 1970s. His teams won over 100 games five times. They won the American League East six times and they were in the World Series four times, winning one. He was always feuding with his superstar pitcher, Jim Palmer. He was ejected from games almost as often as Bobby Cox in recent times and was well known for kicking dirt on the umpires during arguments. He was feisty, to say the least, but I loved his competitive -- almost combative -- managerial personality.

Over the years I've told versions of this experience many times, so it saddened me this morning to read of Earl Weaver's passing at the age of 82. He was vacationing on a cruise according to team reports. My prayers are with his, now adult, granddaughter from my speech class.  May peace and comfort be with her and her family. Rest in Peace, Earl of Baltimore. Rest in Peace.

Please make it a blowout

I have several friends that are die-hard Notre Dame fans and they will tell you I have been slow to come around regarding the Irish football success this season.  At the same time those friends will tell you I have no problem with Notre Dame's place in this year's national championship game.  It is simple, they fulfilled the obligations of their schedule and won every game.  (A schedule that has ultimately been rated slightly tougher than Alabama's.)  The Irish can't do more than that.  They've earned their top ranking and spot in the title game. 

Courtesy MrCFB, Tony Barnhart... 3 hours before kickoff

In contrast, Alabama detractors have a valid argument for Oregon to be the more deserving opponent.  Oregon's biggest blemish was similar to Florida's.  Each lost a game that kept them out of their own conference championship game, but let's not forget that issue did not keep Alabama out of the NCG in the past.  Oregon was also solid in their bowl appearance, and we all know what happened to the Gators.


The long layoff for teams before bowl games occasionally creates some mysterious results, but that often has more to do with motivation than any other factor.  Teams playing one game for a national championship will be motivated.  I don't think Alabama will be complacent as a defending national champion.  That means coaching, preparation, talent, and experience are a bigger deal in this game than most other bowl games and my opinion is the Crimson Tide hold an advantage.

Notre Dame's best chance in this game is similar to other upset bids.  The Irish need to start fast, take an early lead, and be successful enough with their ground game to hold off the Tide.  That would put pressure on A. J. McCarron to orchestrate a comeback and that would not be an easy task against that defense.  I don't, however, expect that to happen.

I have no brilliant revelations here.  My take on this game is similar to many.  Expect a close score at halftime.  Expect two conservative approaches as the two teams feel one another out, but expect the Tide rushing game to eventually prevail.  Many see Notre Dame's defense as the best in the country, but when Bama decided to run directly at Georgia in the SEC championship game their results were decisive.  Both teams want to lean on their defenses to control this game, but it will be surprising if Alabama's offensive line isn't again the big story by the end of this one.  The odds maker point spread sits at 10 points and the Tide should cover with a two touchdown victory.  My guess is 24-10.

If Notre Dame can somehow pull off the upset, please let it be by a two possession or more difference.  Even though we want a thrilling game as fans, we want our national champion to be definitely determined -- especially if it is an upstart, new team in the title mix.  Like it or not, Alabama gets the benefit of the doubt if they win a close game.  Similar to boxing or the Ryder Cup, the title holder gets to retain status in a perceived draw.  Since Notre Dame is breaking new ground (they were unranked to begin the year and are new to the title discussion in recent years), we do not want to hear about how the Irish (or the Tide for that matter) benefited from some controversial call.  If they can win it, let Notre Dame win in such a manner that no one doubts their prowess.  Let them have a clear cut victory -- even a blowout.

Either way, this game gives us some great story lines and plenty to talk about in days to come.