One Wrong, More to Go?

Okay, so I picked against Eddie Murphy for Best Supporting Actor. In that respect I was right, but I picked the wrong actor. Alan Arkin, who starred in one of my favorite comedies, the original, "The In-Laws" and also in "Catch-22" among others, was a sentimental favorite as the foul-mouthed, coke-addicted, grandfather in Little Miss Sunshine." Kind of a lifetime achievement award. Perhaps this bodes well for Peter O'Toole, though Forrest Whitaker will be tough to beat. This may also be a prelude to "Little Miss Sunshine" and a victory for Best Picture. Stay tuned.

Not Much Time

Usually, I write this prior to the start of the Academy Awards. Anyways, here goes my predictions for this year, just under the wire...

Best Supporting Actor: Mark Wahlberg
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker
Best Actress: Helen Mirren
Best Director: Martin Scorcese
Best Animated Movie: Cars
Foreign Language Film: The Lives of Others
Adapted Screenplay: William Monahan
Best Original Screenplay: Michael Arndt
Best Song: Love You I Do
Best Documentary; An Inconvenient Truth
Best Movie: Little Miss Sunshine

Okay, it has started, so these were my quick picks, even though I failed to see a single nominated movie this year. Quite a feat, eh?

Hope your predictions work out for you.

Don't Know Much About Speech History

Freeport High School recently sent seven individuals in eight events to the Illinois High School Association State Speech Tournament at Rock Island High School. Unfortunately, we did not place any duo or individual in the finals, but the team performed very well. Whenever the judging is subjective certain "favorites" tend to emerge. That seemed to be the case this year, as it was last year, when the Northwest Illinois Sectional failed to produce a single champion and very few representatives in the finals. DeKalb with 11 events for state had three finalists, who placed in 5th, 6th and 7th places. Rock Island had one individual with two 4th place finishes. Pearl City's "Performance in the Round" wound up 6th (though no points were awarded as this is an exhibition event). There is a definite pattern with the suburban schools ending up in the finals, whether their performances are the best ones or not. Much of the "downstate" area has difficulty reaching the finals, not just our neck of the (back)woods.

As stated in the FTLOC column of February 26, 2007, here are the years of Freeport's team champions and individual state winners:


Team/ Place/Year Coach(es)
FHS 1941 1st Jeanette Lloyd
FHS 1942 2nd Jeanette Lloyd
FHS 1949 1st Jeanette Lloyd and Ralph Enstrom
FHS 1950 1st Jeanette Lloyd and Ralph Enstrom
FHS 1951 1st Jeanette Lloyd and Ralph Enstrom

FREEPORT HIGH SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:

Event Champion Year
After Dinner Speaking John Voigt 1955
Extempore Speaking Roger Kasten 1951
Oratorical Declamation Harold Horstmeyer 1950
Original Oratory Jack Sellke 1943
Original Oratory Clarence Norman 1971
Serious Reading Louise Ousley 1945
Serious Reading Donna Smith 1949
Radio Speaking Scott Smith 2000
Verse Reading Lorraine Saunders 1941
Verse Reading J. Robert Beddow 1942
Verse Reading Gerald Kline 1950
Verse Reading Jean Bloomquist 1954
Verse Reading Clarence Norman 1972

Clearly Speaking Photo Montage FHS State Speech Team 2007

View full size

Proud Papa

I'm feeling rather proud of my daughter, Veronica, this week. She is the first female from her high school to qualify for the Illinois State Speech Tournament in the Humorous Duet Acting event. She and her partner, Jake, who has qualified the previous two years with a male duet partner, have had good success this year winning several tournaments. The Freeport team has once again done the school proud. Two years ago they sent six individuals or duets to state. Last year they were in nine events at state. This year there are seven individuals in eight events. Three of the team members are in two events each.

This is quite an accomplishment as they are currently ranked ninth in the state based on team strength. They join traditional powerhouse teams such as Wheaton North, Downers Grove South, DeKalb, and others. They are one of nine teams to have participants in at least eight events for the state tournament.

It has been a fascinating year to watch and attend the tournaments. These young men and women have shown tremendous growth not only in their presentations, but in their leadership skills and their personal demeanor. They carry themselves with a sense of self-confidence, knowing that they have excellent communication skills. This is a necessity in today's economic climate. It is imperative to be able to communicate well to succeed in college, grad schools, and in business. These students will have a distinct advantage.

We are looking forward to attending the state tournament in Rock Island, Illinois this weekend. Our daughter, who is competing in the dichotomous events, Humorous Duet Acting and Dramatic Duet Acting, will be one of the participants, but we will be there to root for our home team, as well as members of other teams in Northwest Illinois, including Eastland-Pearl City.

It is difficult not to cheer on all of these students, approximately eighteen individuals or duos, for each event. Some sectional events had ties, so that one or two additional students may be in an event. They have been honing their skills throughout the past several months and now it is their turn to shine.

To follow the tournament results, go to espeech.net. Best of luck to all of the students that qualified for state, but we'll be cheering on our home team of Freeport. Go Pretzels!

Ouch! That Hurts

Much like Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl for the BCS Championship game, the Bears started out great. Hester worked his magic on his way to another kick-off return for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Bears looked quite ordinary after that. They forced fumbles and even had an interception, but in the end, Rex is no Peyton.

The Bears had a great season, but in the overall scheme of the game, the NFC once again cannot stand up to the AFC when it comes to the big game. We should have been able to see this coming by the way the Bears lost to both New England and Miami during the regular season. These are teams that Indy beat during the regular season and playoffs. It was too easy to get blinded by loyalty and the way they played two weeks ago against the Saints.

The Bears may one day win another Super Bowl, but I don't think it will be with Rex Grossman as quarterback. He is a nice guy, but seems to get "happy feet" whenever he is being pursued; keeps throwing off of his back foot, which leads to many of his underthrows (interceptions); and can't seem to get a grip on the ball (fumbled snaps). They desperately need a Tom Brady/Peyton Manning type of quarterback, who is confident in the huddle, on the field, and in the pocket, which would then help his teammates develop confidence in him. Rex just doesn't have that going for him and it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon. As Simon and Garfunkel sang years ago, "You're shaking my confidence, baby."

Is it time for baseball season, yet?

Today is Super

Has it really been 21 years since the Bears beat the Patriots in New Orleans? Once again the Bears are playing a team from the original AFC East, though the Colts were moved to the AFC South (I thought that Indy was in the Midwest, but what do I know?). Anyways, everyone outside of Chicago is saying that it is Peyton Manning's year. Time to finally win the big one for the best quarterback not to win a Super Bowl in the current group of the better quarterbacks. Maybe it is his time, but if it hadn't been for the porous New England defense in the final quarter of the AFC Championship game, Tom Brady would be back in the big game.

I look for the Bears defense and special teams to stand up very well against the Colts. The two coaches, who know each other well, will be evenly matched, and if Rex Grossman can have even a decent game, the Bears will win. Peyton is good, no doubt. I saw him shred the Chicago defense for four touchdowns a couple of years ago at Soldier Field. I think it was during Lovie's first year in 2004. The Bears defenders looked like the proverbial "deer in the headlights," but there is something different about this team so far in the playoffs.

The pre-game is already going on the local radio stations and most likely on TV, though my son is spending the morning watching the Disney Channel, so I wouldn't know. I'll be getting the Buffalo Wings ready for the game and waiting for the new commercials to go along with what I hope will be a great game.

Contrary to my prediction if the Patriots and the Bears were playing, I am going to stick with the hometown team... Bears 27 Colts 24. Good as Gould in the last minute of the game.

"Pounding" Away

Our daughter graduated with her Associates Degree in Applied Sciences this past Friday in Nashville. The past 18 months have gone by very quickly. She is now awaiting her time to take the national certifying board exam to become a licensed massage therapist.

Now that she is home, she is part of our team that is focusing on the local "Get Fit Challenge" sponsored by FHN. Our unimaginative team name, Freeport Podiatry, consists of five folks trying to regain some semblance of fitness. Two are trying to get fit before their wedding in June. Two are trying to look and feel healthier before their daughter's wedding. One, recently married, is looking to get healthier (along with her new beau).

This past year was a revealing one for me as I was at a low point in health last January. Since that time I've been able to lose 25-30 pounds and regain better cardiovascular health. I still have room for improvement and look forward to getting to a more improved state of health. The Get Fit Challenge is a good way to maintain a level of accountability.

As the New Year morphs into its second month, it is a good reminder that it is necessary to take care of one's self if one is to be able to help others. Best of health in the New Year!

What Will the New Year Bring? 2007

Way overdue in getting to this site. Thought that regular readers, if there are any left, would like to catch up on one of the most recent columns from "For the Love of Community." Two years ago this column (for 2005) had a far-reaching audience when it ended up in the "Best of the Web" from the online version of The Wall Street Journal. Anyways, Happy New Year!
And as for the Bears-Patriots prediction... I'll enjoy my crow now, but it sure makes it easier to maintain a single allegiance... GO BEARS!

What Will the New Year Bring? 2007

by

Roland Tolliver

Today we welcome back that pugnacious prognosticator, Mr. Al Bebach. He gained a smidgeon of notoriety two years ago by ending up in the Wall Street Journal’s online edition with his predictions. Let’s see how he does this year with his ancient Ouija board....

January

* Denver will be known as the Mile High City for the 5280 feet of snow that fall on the area. "Global warming my butt!" complains a stranded traveler.

* The Academy Awards announce that Will Ferrell has been nominated for the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth Stranger than Fiction." Al Gore complains that he "invented fiction."

* The Chicago Bears eke their way through the NFC playoffs with "Good Rex" at quarterback.

February

* The Chicago Bears meet the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl and promptly lose 46-10 with "Bad Rex" having a -20 quarterback rating.

* The Grammy Awards give the top record award to The Dixie Chicks, who attend the show with the Bush twins.

* The Academy Award for Best Picture goes to "The Deported." The backstage crew have all left before they realize "The Departed" was misspelled.

* John Walsh of "America’s Most Wanted" is an election judge for Freeport’s primary when he sees that there is an Alderman "At-Large."

March

* Osama Bin Laden receives a nomination form from the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest continuous game of "Hide and Seek."

* State laws change under pressure from the tobacco industry’s lobbyists and "No Breathing" sections are established in restaurants.

* The 700 Mile fence along the Mexican border is delayed until Halliburton can put in a bid.

April

* The Governor announces that mandatory health insurance will be free for all Illinois residents without raising taxes. A spokesman announces, "April Fool’s!"

* Hillary Clinton announces that she is forming a task force to study the results of her candidacy’s task force report. "I just want to be sure I can win," she says.

* Freeport’s general election results in four new city council members to balance the voting.

May

* Mother’s Day is celebrated throughout the world when an 80 year-old French woman gives birth to triplets. "We don’t like losing to ze Spaniards," she proclaims alongside her 60 year-old daughter.

* Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s record and immediately goes on the disabled list. No one hears from him again.

* Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani throws in his hat to become the Republican Presidential candidate. "I let Hilary win the Senate, but I’m not pulling out this time," he proclaims.

June

* Wal-Mart decides that 186,000 square feet is still too big and downscales our Super Center to 100,000 square feet. "It’s still plenty big for y’all," a spokesperson from Bentonville comments.

* The NBA playoffs conclude with the Detroit Pistons regaining the championship. Detroit catches on fire.

* The NHL playoffs end with the Detroit Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup. The stadium’s ice is used to quench the fire.

July

* Halliburton is announced as the general fence contractor by President Bush. Senator Kennedy calls for an investigation into "Border Gate."

* YouTube.com surpasses the CW and NBC to become the third most-watched network. Google’s stocks push the Dow past 16,000.

* Judy Baar Topinka plays "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch of a White Sox game. "She was available," explains a memo from the PR department.

August

* Bozo, Chuckles and Clarabelle the Clown are hired posthumously to promote a new line of designer meats. "That’s supposed to be ‘cloned’ meat, not ‘clown’ meat, you fool," a spokesman tells the ad agency.

* Senator Barack Obama officially enters the Democratic race for the presidential nomination. "If someone from Illinois is going to be President, they’re not going to be from New York," he declares.

* The Emmy for best show goes to "Betty’s 24 Ugly Heroes are Lost in a Desperate House. "We couldn’t come to a consensus," says the producer.

September

* The state legislature finally decides that school shouldn’t start until after Labor Day.

* The Cubs are in first place heading toward the playoffs when three starting pitchers go on the disabled list. Somewhere a goat is laughing.
"Wait’ll next year," everyone shouts.

* Osama is still hiding among the weapons of mass deception. Al Jazeera starts production of the game show, "Where’s Osama?"

October

* 12 inches of snow fall on Columbus Day. There won’t be another snow fall until January.

* It is announced that Paris, Lindsay, Nicole and Britney will join the cast of "The Biggest Loser" before they realize it is about weight loss. "Nevermind," they collectively say.

* The Christmas shopping season officially kicks Halloween off of the calendar.

November

* Palestine says that it will be at peace with Israel. "Just as soon as we’re sure that Iran has the bomb," announces their Prime Minister.

* The Detroit Tigers win the World Series when a rule change ensures that the pitchers are not allowed to field a ball in play.

* Nicholas Sparks releases his new book, "John Deere" about a forlorn Iowa farm girl who invites John Edwards to join her before the Iowa caucus. "You know y’all want a man from the South to run this country," she says.

December

* Osama Bin Laden is found only 30 years short of the "Hide and Seek" record set by Josef Mengele.

* John McCain enters the Republican Presidential race after being given the key to the Border Fence’s gate. "Remember the Alamo!" he shouts.

* Christmas is finally remembered as a time of peace and for once we experience a true, "Silent Night, Holy Night."

Dear Santa

My fellow columnist, Andrew Heller, from the Flint Journal, came up with a similar idea to the column that I wrote for The Journal Standard here in little ol' Freeport, Illinois this week. Unfortunately, part of this week's column was edited out due to space constraints in the paper I'm guessing. Anyways, here is the column in its entirety from this week. Hope everyone had a glorious and blessed Christmas.

Letters to Santa

by

Roland Tolliver



For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

—John Greenleaf Whittier

Merry Christmas Morning to You! I have intercepted some letters that were directed to Santa, but due to the public figures involved in writing these, the letters were to be made available to all. So, here is a sampling...

Dear Santa,

I always, like, loved to hear that Dorothy sing in "The Wizard of Oz," but my favorite character was that Scarecrow guy. It may be because I could, like, relate to him. So, Santa, could you, like, um, bring me a brain for Christmas?

Love,

Britney Spears

Dear Britney,

Why don’t you wait outside with Paris, Nicole, and Lindsay tonight? I’ll see if I can get a four-for-one special. Like, totally, cool, eh!

Love,

Santa Dude

Dear Santa,

I seem to have lost my way. I never should have listened to my friend Tony Rezko. It seems that I put my own power and greed ahead of the people that I was elected to serve. I was going to ask for forgiveness or maybe some way of making restitution, but what I really want is some more hair gel. Thanks.

Yours in Power,

Governor Rod

Dear Governor Rod,

I think that there are quite a few things you could use before I stuff your stocking with hair products. Maybe I could provide you with common sense, a calculator that tells you the real numbers and damage you are doing to your state, and what it means to raid the working people’s hard-earned savings (think TSP). Instead, I’ll just hold off the feds and that possible indictment for a while longer.

Wishing I Were the Prosecutor,

Santa

Dear Santa,

I really need your help. I have been in office for six years and now I’m really at an all-time low. The voters chose Democrats to lead both the Senate and the House of Representatives. My poll numbers are slipping lower than Jessica Simpson’s IQ and now Rummy has left me. May I please give me a clue how to end this mess in Iraq? Thank you.

Respectfully,

President George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,

There are some things that even Santa has a hard time getting someone for Christmas. I hope that Mr. Gates (not Bill, but the other one, Robert) will aid you in this endeavor. Let’s face it, though, you can’t keep hiding your head in the sand. Our men and women deserve to know what the real plan is. They’re the ones stuck every day in the sands of Iraq. Mrs. Claus and I would like to see them come home safely. Our best to Laura and the twins. By the way, have they been naughty or nice this year?

Wondering Where the Answers Are,

Santa

Dear Mr. Claus,

Perhaps you have heard of me. I have written two best selling books. They loved me in New Hampshire and even in New York. I am gaining momentum with a capital "MO"! I am eloquent, suave and debonair with a flair for the spoken language. I may have made a mistake in doing real estate business with a Mr. Anthony Rezko, but I got a great deal on my mansion. Mr. Claus, sir, what I am most in need of, however, is having done something of substance in my political career, besides, become the golden child of the Democratic Party. Will you help me?

I Could Be Great in ‘08,

Senator Barack Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,

Thank you for writing. The elves have been very busy this year building a platform. Perhaps, they could help you when they’re done. It would be good to have a foundation of substance on which to build your campaign. Let’s see, you did try to make amends with Senator McCain from Arizona and you once visited that nice little town of Freeport in northwest Illinois. And you... and you... well, good luck on that, sir. I wish you the best in your quest, but be wary of Illinois politics. It not only makes for strange bedfellows, but they can turn on their own in a hurry. Say hi to Hillary if she’s still speaking to you.

In a Non-Partisan Way,

Santa

That’s all the space we have folks. May you and your families have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas Day! Till next year....

Still the Same, Only Different

Bob Seger. Where has the time gone? First concert: 1974 at Cobo Arena, where he would record Live Bullet a year later. He played for $1 for a bunch of high school students who had participated in a March of Dimes fundraiser. We also had the "pleasure" of hearing Brownsville Station and a group called, Church. It was Seger that we had all come to hear, though.

Two years later at the Pontiac Silverdome there were 76,000 of us together to hear the local legend who had made a big splash with "Live" with the Silver Bullet Band. One giant sing-a-long, as we all knew the words. "Beautiful Loser" played on the 8-track of my Mustang Ghia as we drove to the concert. After listening to Elvin Bishop sing about how he "fooled around and fell in love" the crowd waited anxiously for Bob Seger to take the stage and I can't recall how long he played, but it was most of the new album plus a few other songs.

When Seger hit it big, he headed out to the streets of L.A. for some of his most successful albums. I saw him a couple of time during those years at Cobo Hall and Pine Knob where the tickets to each concert became harder to come by. He was Michigan's answer to Springsteen, but he had been at it longer, though for years mired in the regional success without the same level of national recognition. That was until "Night Moves" anyways. He then strung together a number of successful, millon-selling albums, including "Stranger in Town," and "Against the Wind."

After a long layoff, he came back with a decent, if nondescript album, "It's A Mystery." The tour, however, in 1996, was excellent and I was able to see him again, this time at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Then the real hiatus took place and Bob Seger became family man, motorcycle dad, and yacht captain (winning the Port Huron to Mackinaw race twice). He stayed close to home in the Detroit suburbs and took the kids to school.

The love of music apparently never died, just like Rock and Roll Never Forgets. He kept writing and culled down his 60 new songs into the 12 that appear on his newest album, "Face the Promise." I wasn't sure what to expect of the concert, as his voice sounded weaker and raspier on his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and during a few television appearances when the new album came out. He must have either a great vocal coach or some tricks to strengthen his voice because he was in fine form for the concert last night at the Allstate (formerly Rosemont Horizon) Arena.

His set was excellent and mixed with some hard rockers and his famous ballads. A few songs could have been left out, "Satisfied" and "Simplicity" weren't his best and could have added a few like "Fire Lake," "Like a Rock," and one of my favorites, "Jody Girl." All in all, though, he sounded stronger than he did in 1996 and that is saying something for the man who has gone from sweet 16 to 61. He has faced the promise and his fans are the ones who have benefited.
I hope we don't have to wait another 10 years to see him rock the house, though.

Over the Blues

Here it is the day after Thanksgiving and I'm finally back to writing. Of course, the doldrums that were left over after the Tigers lost in 5 are finally starting to subside. At least the team made a trip to the World Series after more than a dozen years of ineptitude. Michigan came thisclose to earning a trip to the BCS game. Well, maybe not that close, but close enough that they should be considered to play OSU again. More on that on another day.

There are the lingering effects of the elections to consider. The thought of four more years of Blago in office is enough to frighten many people, including me. The national elections took a "throw the bums out" mentality. Now that the Democrats have control of the House and the Senate, let' see if they can live up to their promises of bipartisanship or block everything that President Bush tries in the final two years in office. I'm betting that it will be the latter instead of the former, but maybe a wake-up call was needed for the Republicans that couldn't keep their hands out of the trough. The Dems may be looking to share in a larger portion of the pork, though it would be nice to find some real reform in politics. The odds are it isn'g going to happen.

Black Friday. Time for the retail industry to turn a profit. It would be better for our community if we had a stronger retail market. Super Wal-Mart and Big Menards will offer some shopping alternatives, but what about a higher end retail store, like Kohl's or even Target. The declining purchasing base, mid-level and high-level managers are leaving like geese flying South. These jobs will not be returning anytime soon, however. Newell-Rubbermaid, Honeywell, Titan Tire, General Casualty are each showing effects of mangement or ownership changes. The tax base is weakening and we keep incentivizing the big-box retailers.

Waiting is the Hardest Part

When a team is on a roll like the Tigers have been it is tough to sit back and watch the other teams playing to get into the World Series. Detroit, however, should benefit from the week's rest, especially Sean Casey and Joel Zumaya. They are two very integral parts of this team's success and its projected fortune once the series starts against... either the Mets or the Cards. Watching the pitching of both of the National League teams must have Detroit chomping at the bit to get back out and hit the baseball.

Much like last year's White Sox, there is the waiting while the National League Championship series goes longer and potentially wears out the starting pitchers. Detroit's young guns and old rifle, Kenny Rogers, have time to re-energize and come out slinging in the Series opener in Detroit on Saturday. The biggest question going in, once it has been decided who they'll play, is the weather. Colder weather tends to favor the pitchers, because most batters don't relish the thought of hitting a ball thrown at 100 m.p.h. when the temperature hovers around freezing.

I'm sure that the media and the folks at Fox are rooting for the New York Mets with their larger potential television audience. It would be fun to play a new team in the Series for the Tigers, but the lingering smell of success against the Cards in 1968 is sweet, also. The Carloses, Delgado and Beltan, scare me with their ability to reach the fences, but the walls at Comerica Park are quite a distance from home plate if the ball is hit anywhere but directly down the lines. Albert Pujols seems to be the biggest threat for the Cards. Neither team, however, has a pitching staff that holds up against the Detroit aces.

Another rainy day and night here at Tigers' Central in Freeport, Illinois and this doesn't bode well for the weather the next few days in Detroit as they usually have our weather 24-48 hours later. I look forward to the Series even though I can't be there or see the first game live on TV. There are at least four good reasons to believe that Detroit will once again be World Series champions and they are... Nate, Kenny, Justin, and Jeremy, and of course there is Joel, Jamie, and Todd out of the bullpen... and Placido, Pudge, Maggs, Brandon, Carlos, C-Mo, Curtis, Sean, Marcus and the rest.

Detroit in 5.

Celebrate, but Keep the Ultimate Goal in Sight

Seven games in a row for the formerly beleagured and now beloved, Tigers. I can't remember a home run as sweet as the one that Magglio Ordonez hit last night in the bottom of the ninth inning. One pitch. One swing. Delirium in Detroit and for Tiger fans everywhere.

Destiny is often overrated when it comes to sports teams. Over the last three years, however, three of the oldest teams in baseball, Boston, the Chicago White Sox, and Detroit have each made it into the World Series. Of course, Boston and Chicago had been waiting much longer than Detroit for World Series championships. Detroit has been so dismal over the past decade plus that it seems like 1984 was an eternity ago. Face it, when your team loses over 400 games in four years, it seems as if time has stood still.

Now we are there once again. Does Jim Leyland keep the same lineup for the Series? Can he bring Chris Shelton back as a first baseman with Sean Casey injured, or is he stuck with the players that he brought to the ALCS? What about the pitching rotation? Does he stay with what is working and start Nate, then Justin, then Kenny, and finish with Jeremy? Or does he tinker and put his post-season ace, Kenny Rogers, as the starter for game one now that the series will start at home in Comerica Park?

These and more questions will be decided, but first we have to find out who Detroit is going to play... St. Louis or the New York Mets? For now it is the infamous TBD.

Tonight's the Night

It's deja vu all over again. Back to 1972. The Detroit Tigers against the Oakland A's. Back then, however, the A's would win and go on to three World Series Championships. The Tigers wouldn't make it back to the Series until 1984, the "Bless You Boys" year of Sparky Anderson and that amazing 35-5 start to the season. Now here we are again. Detroit has just taken game 1 of the ALCS 5-1 and turned a record-setting five double plays in the game. And this was with their number 4 starting pitcher, Nate Robertson.

That is now four games in a row in the playoffs. Those of us who long for another championship watch actively. Hanging on every pitch. Holding our breath during the tense moments and wanting to be there to congratulate the players, like Brandon Inge, who had more hits tonight than in the entire Yankees's series.

This was never meant to be a sports blog, but at this time of the year and the Tigers still playing in October, I am fantasizing about another World Series title. I see the Tigers beating the Cardinals in 7 games like 1968. I imagine the Tigers beating the Mets, whom they've never played in the post season. I wear my Tigers jersey and remember my week at fantasy baseball camp with players from the '68 team. I close my eyes and relive my one at bat against Mickey Lolich and the hit down the first base line that drove in a run.

Most of us will never know what it is like to face a 100 MPH fastball or what it is like to hit a home run or make the winning play in a major league game. Very few in life ever do. We live vicariously through the exploits of our favorite teams. And as a lifelong Tigers fan, this year the exploits have been much more enjoyable.

Game one down. Three more wins to go before the Series. Let's go, Tigers!

Free Falling and Bouncing Back

Okay, so it has been years since the Tigers were in the playoffs. Once they clinched a spot they went into a season-ending free fall losing their last five games when a single win would have clinched the division. Was it a major league choke or was there a method to their madness? Now that they have bounced back with a win against the vaunted Yankees it appears that maybe, just maybe they have a chance to win one or both games at home. This is especially true if Randy Johnson is not up to his normal self and Kenny Rogers can keep his head in the game.

So, this was not intended to be a sports blog and in essence it isn't, however, as a lifelong Tigers' fan it is too exciting playing in October to not be enjoying the moment and sharing thoughts about it. This has been such a turnaround season after more than a decade of futility that I find myself sneaking away to read about the team, watch as much of the game as possible, and then read some more when not catching the latest sports talk radio or internet buzz.

It would be great to see Detroit face Oakland for the ALCS and then the Tigers to take on the Cardinals like it was 1968 all over again. And any Tiger fan recalls the first championship since WWII that happened that magical year of Mickey Lolich, Denny McClain, Al Kaline and the entire '68 team. For now, it is taking it one game at a time and praying that the pitching holds out and keeps the Yankees to three runs or less in at least 2 of the next 3 games. Besides, Al Kaline will be throwing out the first pitch tomorrow.

GO TIGERS!

The 20 Year Cycle

It seems that it happens about every 20 years or so. Sure, there was the blip in the system when they made the 1972 and 1987 playoffs without going to the World Series, but the Detroit Tigers have won the Series about every 20 years at least since 1945. They beat the Cubs that year then for the first time in my lifetime, they won in 1968 and again in 1984. Figuring that they are due after more than a decade of udder futility, the Tigers are in the playoffs again this year. Of course, it appears that they are trying to give away first place, a position they have held since early May. Now that the Twins, who just happen to have eliminated them from the 1987 playoffs, have caught them.

Detroit only has to win three straight against a Kansas City team that they have dominated this season in order to maintain first place and a date with the Oakland, the team that beat them in the 1972 playoffs. Either way, the goal is to win first place and not have to face the Yankees during the first round.

The hope is that in a short series the Tigers pitching will prevail. They have been strong all season with a few down weeks. The team chemistry should return to early season levels with the return of Placido Polanco at second base. He was sorely missed during the late August/early September swoon.

So, let's win three and then head to the Playoffs with home field advantage at least for the first round and possibly the second round and World Series. Of course, the success they have had on the road this year means that maybe it would be better if....

Nahhh, let's not think about that.

A Tiger in the Tank

I've been following the Detroit Tigers all season. Unbelievable start for a team that lost 119 games just a few years ago. Here they were 10 games up at the beginning of August and looked like a sure bet to make it to the playoffs, most likey with home field advantage. Then before we know it they start looking like the 1969 Chicago Cubs. They went from winning at almost a .700 clip to dropping 2 out of every 3 games.

I have been watching the games over the internet and I don't think I've seen a victory in a month of games that I have been able to watch. What happened? Is it the pressure of playing in a pennant race among a group of young players who are short on experience? Is it that the pitchers aren't used to pitching that many innings, even though Justin Verlander, the phenomenal rookie, has been the team's best pitcher since the swoon started? Maybe it is that the novelty of Jim Leyland has worn off? Or perhaps the Twins are really the better team?

Of course, it doesn't help that as I watch the game, write for this site for the first time in more than a month, and turn to see that the Lions have lost on a last second field goal...yech! Oh well, they are only games. No life and death situations, but the third triple hit today by the Twins definitely hurt.

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of 9/11. I wonder what we have learned as a nation. Do we feel any safer? or have we gone back to our complacency of worrying about the more mundane things in our lives? It is hard to imagine that five years ago today how much our lives would change within the next 24 hours of September 10, 2001. There was no indication to the general public that we would not be able to look at the world in the same way, travel freely, look at other cultures the same, or consider what the future holds for our children without some sense of dread. May tomorrow be remembered for the innocent lives that were taken on that day, for the families that were personally affected and for a nation that must now keep a constant vigil of its borders from both sides.

The Journal-Standard

The Journal-Standard

It was nice to have the J-S write a positive story about children with special needs. This is a great program which was started through a collaborative effort. It was in the formative stages over the past few years and really meets a community need. We have been fortunate to be the beneficiaries of several endeavors through Malcolm Eaton Enterprises. It was an honor to serve on their board for three years. This is one non-profit entity that deserves the praise that it receives.

WTVO.com - Rockford, IL

We were fortunate enough to receive our service dog, Shia, for our daughter at the same time as the Diamond-Tsingos family. It is inconceivable that a corporation that is supposedly as forward-thinking as Bally, would have the audacity and temerity to deny admittance to Robert and his dog, Anna. We have encountered few problems with acceptance of our dog and the one company whose manager did give my wife a hard time, no longer does hair cuts for our family. Most people and businesses have been very courteous and accepting of our daughter and her dog.

It would seem that a major fitness corporation would be progressive enough to realize that their acceptance of this family who has been members of their club for many years would be an act of goodwill (even knowing that it is legally mandated that they be allowed to be on the premises). Their unwillingness to follow the standard, legal guidelines only hurts their image in the community. There is enough discrimination in the world. Maybe, this Bally club is in need of new management or else they need a refresher course on sensitivity and common sense in the work place.

For more about the situation read the following from WTVO.com from July 21, 2006:
A Local Family Says Its Autistic Son Faced Discrimination by a Local Corporation

Rockford, Illinois- Susan Diamond-Tsingos had planned a trip to the gym, but says Bally Total Fitness said no because she wanted to bring her son, Robert, and his service dog.

Robert is autistic.

"It was the first time I had ever felt discriminated against and it hurt," says Diamond-Tsingos. "And it wasn`t just me; it was my son, so it was more magnified."

Diamond-Tsingos says Robert’s dog, Anna, keeps him from having panic attacks; she`s necessary for him to go out in public. Diamond-Tsingos says she explained that to the manager at the East State Street Bally Total Fitness.

"She’s not just a regular pet dog, she`s my son`s service dog and he said, `There’s nothing I can do, we don`t allow animals in the health club,`" says Diamond-Tsingos. "And I was left speechless."

Matt Messinger is a spokesman for the company.

"Bally Total Fitness is working with the family to accommodate the needs of its members," says Messinger. "The health and safety of our members is our number one priority."

But Julianne Taylor, who trains service dogs, says it shouldn`t be a matter of working things out. She believes both federal and the state`s "White Cane Law" are being violated.

The "White Cane Law" reads: "Any person or corporation who interferes with admittance of the public facilities shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor."

"If Bally`s doesn`t allow access to Anna, the next step would be to file criminal charges with the State`s Attorney`s Office," says Taylor.

"Having a child that`s autistic is enough of a challenge; you`d like to think the public is on your side," says Diamond-Tsingos.

Bally Total Fitness reps say they`re doing everything they can to accommodate Robert and Anna.

"It felt awful, it really did," says Diamond-Tsingos. "But I’m just a little person, what I am going to do."

WTVO.com - Rockford, IL