Hawks, A Not-Too-Swift Bet, and the Fleeting Nature of Celebrity

Yesterday morning, I was getting out of the car after taking Maria to school. I looked up, and there in the top of our front yard tree was a hawk. Just sitting there. I noted that he was surrounded by smaller birds, sort of pelting him. I'd seen that before, back when I'd written about hawks. Might be a nice time to re-read this.

The night before, I also saw an owl in a tree down at the creek.






Neither of them need the money, but I'm pretty sure that T. Boone Pickens owes John Kerry a million bucks.






If you have a girl Maria's age, there is no way you do not know the name "Hannah Montana." Think of her as The Beatles for girls, age 8-14. I am not talking about talent of the star. I am talking about the adoration of the fans. Hannah Montana is as hot a celebrity as there is, or ever has been, for girls this age.

Hannah Montana was in concert in Fort Worth Wednesday night. We were not fortunate enough to remember to buy tickets in the first fifteen minutes, so we had no chance of going. Apparently, we could have bought a scalped ticket for a thousand bucks each.

Celebrity is a funny thing. Who you are really shapes who you see as a celebrity, and who you don't. For example, I was reading the paper this morning, and found this small item about how Troy Aikman had taken his daughters to the Hannah Montana show.

So, while we were at dinner tonight, I mentioned to Dennise, "Hey...did you hear that Troy Aikman took his kids to see Hannah Montana?"

To which Maria broke in and asked, "Who's Troy Aikman?"

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What I Love About College Football

Where to start with the list of things I love about College Football? I love it way more than the Pros, that's for sure, and not just because the Cowboys suck.

First, on any given Saturday, it's at least theoretically possible that the best team in the land might lose to somebody nobody's heard of.

Another thing I love is the passion. As much fun as the NFL is to watch, there is a machine-like precision at that level that often lacks passion.

In college football, the emotion of a crowd can actually change the course of a game. Like the Aggies say, crowds really are the 12th person. (Work with me here on the language...)

In college football, one key turnover, one long pass or run, can change the momentum of a game long before the score does. In other words, there are intangibles that always keep you on your toes as a fan.

So, that's another thing I love about college football.

A third thing I love about college football is that so many other people love it. It's such a unifying cultural experience. Take away the big schools for a moment. I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the "Austin Peay's" of the world. I'm talking about the "Colgate's"

Every Saturday, check the scroll on SportsCenter, and you'll find the names of tiny little schools nobody's ever heard of will flash by...

...Furman vs. Wofford

...Samford (no, not Stanford) vs. South East Missouri State

...Butler vs. Valpairiso

I just listed six schools I know nothing about. Couldn't begin to tell you what towns they're in. And I'm only confident about the state for one of them. But as those scores scroll, you get the sense that thousands of people in these tiny little towns have turned out to stadiums nobody's heard of, to scream at the top of their lungs at games nobody else will remember.

It really is not whether we win or lose. It's that we all play the game. We're all in this together on those Saturday afternoons, cheering on our teams, big and small, hoping against hope that this year will be "our year."

College football is a unifying experience that is not just about the "Top 25." It's about everybody else too. And that's another thing I love.

But the thing I love most about college football is that only in college football do things like this video clip happen. Maybe you have seen this clip already. Pay special attention to the joy of the announcers.

As long as you live, you may never see another play like this. Check it out:

THIS is what I love about college football.

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Greenberg Redux, Iconoclasts, Big O' Hybrids, and 30 Days every week

It's the time of year to start thinking about Greenberg Turkeys, and to re-read this. There is probably still time to get you one before Thanksgiving. Or, failing that, Christmas.






I am so pleased there was an election where I didn't personally know a single person running for anything. That used to be common. Not anymore.






I have noticed that FX is running reruns of 30 Days. I'm excited about this, because if you haven't seen this show, you should. Here's what I said about it, back in the day. Hope they put out some more episodes.






I'm also really getting in to a great show on the Sundance Channel, called "Iconoclasts." Since this show is in its third season now, it's a bit of a "Columbus Discovery"* for me; but maybe you haven't heard of it either.

What the show does is to pair two persons who are famous or successful in two very different fields of endeavor. And yet, what the show uncovers almost every time, are surprising amounts of connection and similarity between values and core beliefs.

For example, Alicia Keys is paired with Ruby Dee. Jon Krakauer is paired with Sean Penn. OK, obvious connections there. So how about Mike Myers and Deepak Chopra?

That episode was really great, in that they both seem to agree that deep-level spirituality is intimately connected with our sense of humor. The ability to understand the deepest truths of human existence, and the ability to laugh at ourselves and our situation, share commonalities. I have intuited this for a long time, but it was nice to hear others express it.






This is very good news about the GM plant in Arlington. And another good reason to re-read this. This is apparently the first time a full-size SUV will be available as a hybrid.

Excellent.






Connections Band should be announcing several new shows for 2008 soon...stay tuned.






*Columbus Discovery defined: When I stumble on some new cultural phenomenon that is new to me, but has been known by others for some time. These can be musicians (often are), artists, TV shows, fads, etc... Something that entered the cultural zietgiest some time ago, only I never knew it. So, like Columbus, I am ignorant enough to say "Hey, I just discovered this!"

But, unlike Columbus, I have an inner voice reminding me that it was around a long time before I finally paid attention.

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No Show Saturday

Just a quick reminder....

Although it's been on my schedule for some time, I will not be a part of the "Tredway and Friends" showcase on Saturday. I found out a few weeks back that this is also the same weekend as a campout with my daughter and our Y Princess group...and I'm gonna go camping with her.

So, if you were coming just to see me, don't.

However, there will be a lot of other great songwriters performing that night, and it will be worth you while to go see them anyway.

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