| Mike Pirtle: Not going to miss 2009 |
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By: Mike Pirtle
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Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009 7:42 am
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Goodbye 2009, ain’t gonna miss ya.
Hopefully, we will look back and see 2009 as a year of healing, recovering, finding a new foundation for this nation economically.
For most 2009 was another tough year financially with stress in that area playing out in most areas of life.
The good news is that as the year ended a number of signs pointed toward a probable improvement in the coming new year.
Unemployment appeared to have hit bottom, sales tax collections were doing likewise and reports indicated on the business front companies were looking at 2010 in a generally positive fashion with a significant increase in the number that anticipated hiring.
Consumer confidence was way down, likely a reflection of financial fatigue from the duration of this historic downturn.
This community also suffered a horrendous tornado, the aftermath of which came still be seen starkly across the length of our county.
So, welcome 2010 and hope for new times, new opportunity, new prosperity.
•••
Just wondering and just saying:
Could Middle Tennessee have played any more of a Blue Raider football game than it did last Sunday night?
Google the New Orleans Bowl and you will find a number of stories, blogs and posts of Southern Mississippi folks whining about being “humiliated” by the loss to Middle Tennessee.
I guess they don’t have ESPN down in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Apparently, the Golden Eagle fans just expect to win the New Orleans Bowl, a fairly reasonable expectation since they had done that three or four times.
But, if they had checked out the Raiders at all they would have seen Middle’s record was much better, 9-3 compared to 7-5; they had won on the road four times; they were hot with a six-game win streak; and they were dangerous with Dwight Dasher superb at running Tony Franklin’s spread offense and a defense that just made things happen.
So, what happened?
Dasher was Dasher with maybe a little extra since he set a new NCAA record for bowl rushing yards by a quarterback, breaking Vince Young’s amazing output against USC in the national championship game in 2005.
But, it’s not like he did anything he hasn’t done all season, just more of it.
And, Middle’s defense, not particularly big, got pushed around a little, especially early, but then did all the things, forcing turnovers, tackling for losses and just generally being aggressive and disruptive as it has been all year.
End result: Raiders won No. 7 in a row in a great, fun game, apparently serving up a big helping of humble pie to Golden Eagle fans.
•••
OK, a few weeks ago I questioned the wisdom of starting Vince Young at quarterback. That was based on his more recent playing history when the rookie Vince had disappeared and been replaced by a guy throwing two interceptions for every one TD pass.
Ignoring my advice, the Titans started him anyway and the original Vince, the confident one who made defenses respect his running and mobility, reappeared, and arguably smarter with a better recognition of defenses and their vulnerabilities.
So, way to go Bud, I was wrong and you were right. But, the middle finger thing at the Buffalo game???
•••
So I have a bowl game on one night last week, California vs. Utah, and am working away on my laptop.
A Snuggie commercial comes on, proclaiming the sleeved, fleece wrap is now available in fashion prints.
Looking up with a chuckle I noted they are zebra, leopard, warthog? I know nothing about fashion, but know that’s not.
And, do you really care what you look like in a Snuggie? Do you entertain in one? Answer the door?
•••
Why do we say “tape a TV show” or “dial 911”
How many of us actually have tape?
Or a phone you can dial?
Just wondering.
•••
Have a Happy New Year. Be safe.
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