“Yeah, what paper you write for, Ernie?” Yogi Berra upon meeting Earnest Hemmingway
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Run, Doggies, Run!
Banshee Blog prides itself on keeping its audience abreast of slightly bizarre and humorous sporting events. So, I am proudly spreading the word about the National Dachshund Races which will be run at Doxie Downs in Janera, OH on September 26, 2004.
The 2004 races will feature a variety of events including a senior’s race for dogs over 10, a puppy race and an obedience/obstacle race. There will also be awards for non-race events in such categories as “best dressed female” and “best nose.”
But, the National Dachshund Races aren’t just about competition. Since the event will take place on a Sunday, there will also be a religious component to the day’s festivities. The Methodist church in Janera, OH will provide a “special sermon for people and all animals that have ears.”
This should be an outstanding spectacle.
The 2004 races will feature a variety of events including a senior’s race for dogs over 10, a puppy race and an obedience/obstacle race. There will also be awards for non-race events in such categories as “best dressed female” and “best nose.”
But, the National Dachshund Races aren’t just about competition. Since the event will take place on a Sunday, there will also be a religious component to the day’s festivities. The Methodist church in Janera, OH will provide a “special sermon for people and all animals that have ears.”
This should be an outstanding spectacle.
Vatican on the Playing Field
Pope John Paul II recently announced that the Vatican will be taking a more active role in the world of sports. The Vatican will be setting up a new sports department. Despite the fact that the Vatican is sort of an independent country, this does not mean that the Vatican will now be sending a team to Athens for the Olympics or participating in the next Euro Cup. Rather, the Vatican hopes to participate more actively in the world’s sports discussions as a means of spreading Christian values. The Vatican hopes to promote the “testimony of Christian life” from the sporting world.
A Vatican spokesman said, “The church, which has always shown particular attention to various and important sectors of human coexistence, is called upon without doubt to pay attention to sports, which certainly can be considered one of the nerve centers of contemporary culture and one of the frontiers for new evangelization.” The spokesman continued, “Tendencies that have distanced more and more the practice of various disciplines from the original ideals of sports pose with urgency the need to appeal to fundamental values in this field.”
No word yet if one of the chief goals of the Vatican’s new sports department will be to restore a winning tradition to the University of Notre Dame football team. But, if I were on the Pope’s committee, I would put this to the top of the agenda. Seriously though, I think the establishment of a Vatican sports department is an interesting and worthwhile endeavor. I wholeheartedly agree that positive influences from the world of sports can be a great force for good in many cultures.
A Vatican spokesman said, “The church, which has always shown particular attention to various and important sectors of human coexistence, is called upon without doubt to pay attention to sports, which certainly can be considered one of the nerve centers of contemporary culture and one of the frontiers for new evangelization.” The spokesman continued, “Tendencies that have distanced more and more the practice of various disciplines from the original ideals of sports pose with urgency the need to appeal to fundamental values in this field.”
No word yet if one of the chief goals of the Vatican’s new sports department will be to restore a winning tradition to the University of Notre Dame football team. But, if I were on the Pope’s committee, I would put this to the top of the agenda. Seriously though, I think the establishment of a Vatican sports department is an interesting and worthwhile endeavor. I wholeheartedly agree that positive influences from the world of sports can be a great force for good in many cultures.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Quote of the Day 8/3/04
“I don’t hold jail against you, but I hate a liar.” Will Anderson (John Wayne) in The Cowboys
Smarty Jones retires
You can only imagine the weeping that occurred in the Banshee household when this announcement came out on Monday afternoon. Smarty overcame a nearly fatal accident a year ago to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Along the way, he galloped into the hearts of Americans. But, in the end, all that galloping took its toll. Smarty is being forced into retirement by bruising in all four hoofs. Trainer John Servis had planned a fall racing season for Smarty and was greatly disappointed at the abrupt ending. Servis said, "It hurts me. He could do things so effortlessly. .... He was an exceptional individual. It hurts, but you have to move on."
(AP)
I, for one, would like to thank Smarty Jones for a fun summer of racing, and I look forward to seeing his babies in the Derby in a few years.
(AP)
I, for one, would like to thank Smarty Jones for a fun summer of racing, and I look forward to seeing his babies in the Derby in a few years.
Monday, August 02, 2004
Quote of the Day 8/2/04
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill
(contributed by Katy Underwood)
(contributed by Katy Underwood)
The danger of John F. Kerry
For about 3 ½ seconds, I liked John Kerry. It was an MTV special, and he was fielding various questions from college kids. Everyone had his own request: “What about health care?” “How can you help with my college loans?” “I’m gay; what rights do I have?” And each question followed with a sincere, personal promise. It started to feel like Santa Kerry could work some Christmas magic on anyone’s wish list, and I actually found myself thinking, “What would I ask him for, if I had a slot? What could the President do for me?” That’s when the realization hit me. This is not my birthday; it’s an election. Somehow we seem to have drifted from the ideal of the other J.F.K., who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you…” This year’s election, more than ever, has the possibility of utilizing the ever-enticing appeal to personal rights, needs, wants. Two things bother me in light of this. The first is the rather obvious fact that a politician, or a country, that promises everything to everybody will miserably and dangerously fail. People-pleasing may work in high school, but it’s no way to run a country. But I think what troubles me most about this tactic is that it just might work. Values, unlike birthday presents, are sometimes difficult, often annoying, and not always appealing. Values - true, specific stances on actual issues - don’t always sell. I know I was lucky enough to snap back into reality while listening to Kerry. My fear is that America may not.
Back in the Loop
The bar exam has ended. I was able to keep the blog pretty well updated in the days leading up to the exam, but, as you may have noticed, I let a few days go by without posting in the wake of the exam. I apologize for that. I especially apologize to those of you who were relying on this blog to keep you updated as to the events at the Democratic National Convention and to those who were expecting immediate commentary on the Nomar trade.
But, fear not. I will be gradually catching up with this blog. I will be back-dating the posts so that they will appear in the sequence in which they should appear. So, take a little scroll back and see what I may have posted from July 28th forward. This back-dating is not for the purpose of deceiving readers into believing that I have never let a day go by without a post. Rather, it is to keep the posts appropriately archived so that they will be easier to access in the future.
But, fear not. I will be gradually catching up with this blog. I will be back-dating the posts so that they will appear in the sequence in which they should appear. So, take a little scroll back and see what I may have posted from July 28th forward. This back-dating is not for the purpose of deceiving readers into believing that I have never let a day go by without a post. Rather, it is to keep the posts appropriately archived so that they will be easier to access in the future.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
NASCAR Update
This a brief update.
Jimmy Johnson continued his dominant season and took home the victory at the Pennsylvania 500 from Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Obviously, this finish kept Johnson in first place in the championship standings. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was forced to leave the race early again this week. John Andretti replaced Junior. The Budweiser team finished in 25th. This caused Dale Jr. to slip to third place in the standings. Jeff Gordon finshed 5th in the race and moved up to second in the points race.
Next week: The Brickyard 400 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Jimmy Johnson continued his dominant season and took home the victory at the Pennsylvania 500 from Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Obviously, this finish kept Johnson in first place in the championship standings. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was forced to leave the race early again this week. John Andretti replaced Junior. The Budweiser team finished in 25th. This caused Dale Jr. to slip to third place in the standings. Jeff Gordon finshed 5th in the race and moved up to second in the points race.
Next week: The Brickyard 400 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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