JUST FOOTBALL

[cklaurence]

I don't think the NCAA allows them to house facilities like that anymore, Em. Student-Athletes aren't allowed any privileges that would not be available to each and every student--when I last heard. They DO get around it, but I can't offhand remember how. The NCAA's function, as I see it, is to do everything in its power to stop student-athletes from getting any extra assistance that might help them graduate, lol. As far as the football players' dreams--the NFL realities make it possible for only a tiny few to get there; so they'd best take advantage of the opportunities for degrees.

[Emeritus]

That was as of 2009 that I know of, ck.

[cklaurence]

I'm not sure of dates, Em. I just know of the changes.

[Emeritus]

I checked, ck. They are using those special facilities right now. They are paid for by the football program, not the university. The university makes no contributions at all to the athletics programs, which are run independently. They pay for the use of the university stadium. They have found some way to make it all fit within the NCAA rules.

[LadyHawk]

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not serve as one of the team's captains this season.

Awww. Too bad. Twerp.

[TryThinking]

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not serve as one of the team's captains this season.

Awww. Too bad. Twerp.

Are they going to make him wear a large "A" on his jersey?

[LadyHawk]

I doubt the Steelers fans are educated enough to know the meaning behind the Scarlet letter.

[cklaurence]

Wow, Lady--you'd best be careful how you post over herel We do have one Steeler fan here. Although he hasn't posted much in the past year or so, but you never know who is *hoovering. We never know when someone is going to come home to the family. Phantom Ace? You out there?

[peddlefest]

I doubt the Steelers fans are educated enough to know the meaning behind the Scarlet letter.

Now that's funny!!!

[cklaurence]

It wouldn't be so funny if Phantom Ace saw it, hee hee.

[LadyHawk]

It wouldn't be so funny if Phantom Ace saw it, hee hee.

Phantom Ace... WHO?!!

[cklaurence]

It wouldn't be so funny if Phantom Ace saw it, hee hee.

Phantom Ace... WHO?!!

Yeah, I know. Another casualty of disappearance. Disappearance: A strange phenomenon by which bloggers at Switzerland no longer post. Sad, but true...

[Emeritus]

Phantom Ace was a good guy and I miss him. When the Steelers won that record sixth Super Bowl, he didn't crow about it at all.

[cklaurence]

Yes, he was a good guy, Em. I enjoyed my visit with him here a lot; however, his very strong political beliefs somehow caused him to make a break with Switzerland. I am sorry he felt the way he did after Obama was elected President, but I guess stuff just happens to people...

[LadyHawk]

It wouldn't be so funny if Phantom Ace saw it, hee hee.

Phantom Ace... WHO?!!

Yeah, I know. Another casualty of disappearance. Disappearance: A strange phenomenon by which bloggers at Switzerland no longer post. Sad, but true...

A casualty of our country's economy and status quo. He's working hard to make a living for his family, and supporting politics to make a change became his passion.

[cklaurence]

True, Lady. If anything can draw people over the edge, it is politics.

[Emeritus]

It is a tribute to our Constitution that our government has survived bitter divisions and even civil war. People always overestimate the effects of a change in party representation. The problems don't just go away when there is a political shift. Economic problems have economic causes and they can't be voted away. It's as useless an exercise as the apocryphal story of changing the value of pi by legislation. That doesn't keep both parties from promising to do something about it, however.

[dredwak]

the problem is...we have 2 parties...instead of patriots...

[Emeritus]

I'm afraid that if there was another party it still wouldn't fix all of our problems. In a global economy there is only so much that one government can do. We are competing with Third World economies with very low labor costs. The only way that we could equal that is by paying Third World wages. There is no way that Americans would agree to that.

[Emeritus]

I just realized what I was doing. This is the Just Football topic. Sorry about the economics and politics.

[dredwak]

i agree with the global thingy...hence the word...patriots...doing the right thing for this country without thought to lining their or their constituents pockets...or their chinese political contributors...

[cklaurence]

Well guys... this week is the real thing. No more "it doesn't matter." From hear on out, every game matters (A LOT). Can you hear my heart pounding?

[Emeritus]

You're so right, ck! This is where we separate the contenders from the pretenders. I'm afraid that the Texans have a schedule that it too much for them, but this season will be a good test of the progress that they have made.

[Reecey]

I've probably watched more tv in the last four weeks than I have all year long. I think that really says something.

[cklaurence]

Yes, my darling Reeceykins--it says we are all football fanatics!

[Reecey]

*Football Fantastics!

[LadyHawk]

*Football Fantastics!

**Two Thumbs Up**

[cklaurence]

What LadyHawk said.

[TryThinking]

*Football Fantastics!

**Two Thumbs Up**

"Three thumbs up"
Wait skip that, nevamind....

[Emeritus]

The mascot of Williams College (a truly great liberal arts college) is the Purple Cow. Can anybody top that one? I admit that the Horned Frogs are hard to beat.