THAT WAS IT!
I never thought this day would come in my lifetime,… -Stevie Wonder
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 16, 2040
One hundred twenty thousand of what seemed like representatives from the entire world arrived at the packed LA Coliseum to bid farewell to the most beloved performer known to the music industry. Some had camped out until their vacation time had run out to get a parting glance at a legendary music icon. Many left flowers at stadium gates or lingered in adjacent neighborhoods playing HyperPod music or shedding tears to mourn the memories made during the four decade long career of a man who can only be described after his passing as the King of Popular Music.
At more than 80 years of age, Michael Jackson, who spent his life after the 2009-10 This Is It! tour traveling around the world feeding the hungry, visiting those who were sick, in prison or impoverished, and starring in his own reality television series entitled Extreme Community Makeover, passed from this Earth. To say he will be missed by music fans and laymen alike would be a horrendous understatement. Jackson is survived by his three adult children who each have a charity foundation named after them which is funded entirely by Jackson's Love Trust Foundation.
Traffic and crowd control was nearly impossible for the Los Angeles Police Department so backup was called in from many nearby suburbs as a million LA'ers for a day waited in unbearable traffic, splashed by the stellar southern California sunshine for 16 hours or more just to salute the parted celebrity. It was a solemn occasion which will never be forgotten by anyone who organized, publicized, patrolled or attended the events. Each of four ceremonies were as shiny with stars as Jackson's famous sequined jackets, worn in concerts so many decades ago.
Instead,…The Staples Center in LA was filled beyond capacity as Michael Jackson's controversial life was celebrated by his loving family and celebs from all areas of the performing arts. Jackson's fame had certainly ebbed and flowed and for reasons which at times may not have been positive to most of mainstream America or even his fans. No one could question Jackson's ability to sing even Baptists into a groove and his energy onstage was unequalled.
To quote a CBS news anchor who reported on Jackson's life in the aftermath of his passing, there were so many parts of his life that were just "for lack of another term weird", that it was tough for him to maintain a huge following at times. After many hooplas which do not need to be recounted in this newsletter, Jackson's departure came way too early, disappointing Stevie Wonder, among many other colleagues, fans and relatives. With a movie documenting the steps to Jackson's comeback tour being released just this week, entitled This is It! the flick can't help but be a reminder of how fleeting life is and how we should decide whether we, as followers of celebrities, should demand more from our entertainers offstage. In Jackson's case, he lived, entertained, brought more controversy to the world than it need or he should have. Everyone watched sadly and saw it coming (with the exception of Wonder),…then That was It!
AGE OF COMPLIANCE
Jenks, Oklahoma has one of the most successful, if not the most successful, high school football programs in the state. Recently, some coaches got in hot water regarding treatment of some student-athletes. One infraction cost the Trojans (not to be confused with Southern Cal) nine forfeited games from the 2008 season. Yipee for those nine opponents which could only pad their win-loss records long after the season was over.
The governing agency over high school sports in the state of Oklahoma decided that part of Jenks' penalty would be to mandate a compliance officer to oversee that the entire athletic department so they will follow all the Oklahoma high school sports rules in every sport. Sounds like a great idea. Colleges have compliance officers to consort with the NCAA so why not the "football factory" high schools in the Sooner State. After all, if student-athletes can't spend part of the school day on athletics anymore, why not regulate the sport until it's no fun for anyone, from the athletes and coaches to the kindergartener's who go to the games to eat popcorn and drink Sprite from the concession stand. Ah, but digression has reared its ugly head.
That aside, the more interesting part of the mandatory compliance officer scenario is the fact, reportedly, Jenks has to pay for this new required post during a time when the state legislature has just cut the state budget by 5% and more cuts may follow. It would not be a stretch to think other larger sports programs will be next and soon there could be compliance officer conclaves with foam antenna toppers and thermal coffee cups celebrating the fact the big boys aren't on top any more because athletics have become so expensive, even the big ticket schools can't afford to comply with the rules.
Then the little guys will want compliance officers because if the big boys have 'em, everybody gets 'em. That should tank sports in schools across the state fairly quickly and then folks have to find something else to do as a community on Thursday and Friday nights in the fall. Yes Winston, the age of compliance has come. Save your glove, helmet, parallel bars, cleats, ball caps and shoulder pads because high school athletics may be headed to a museum near you.
MOUTHS OF BABES
"Why are 'Up With Trees' signs made of wood?"
FALLING BACK
This has nothing to do with the Essential John Waite Album. Set your clocks back one hour Saturday night or you're gonna be early for your next meeting/appointment/meal/phone call, etc… This has been a public service announcement of the CPeL.
RETRACTION X 2
Due to some speedy research for the last issue of CPeL, there were two incorrect items in the reports. First of all, Arkansas defeated Auburn soundly in Fayetteville, Arkansas instead of on the road at Auburn. Secondly, the Oklahoma City Thunder won their exhibition game against the Miami Heat 96-91. Thanks to readers for keeping the editor on his toes!
TULSA
The Hurricane played on Wednesday night for the second time in a row last week. The first week, Tulsa lost to Boise State in Tulsa, 28-21 in front of cold rain-drenched spectators. Then, for the second time in as many weeks, they dropped another close game. TU was leading the University of Texas-El Paso 24-13 early in the 4th quarter. That's when the Miners tunneled out 15 unanswered points, winning 28-24. The Texas-El Paso loss hurt worse due to the fact it was a tough Conference USA road game.
The stylish blue road helmets with Tulsa in gold on the side can take another rest this weekend because, at 4-3 overall with only one conference loss, Tulsa hosts Southern Methodist University this Saturday. The game kick's off at 1pm. A good win can get the Hurricane back on track to clean up on the rest of the conference schedule. Golden Hurricane 45, Mustangs 27.
ARKANSAS
The Hogs faced former head coach Houston Nutt at Ole Miss on Saturday. While the Razorbacks trailed early, they showed some grit by getting within 7 points of the Rebels 24-17 in the 3rd quarter but two 4th quarter field goals put the game out of reach. The final score was 30-17 in the loss. Eastern Michigan visits Fayetteville, Arkansas Saturday evening for what will be a nightmare for the 0-7 Eagles. Nothing like scheduling a directional school at home to build some mid-season confidence. Kick-off is at 6pm CDT,…Eagle Alka Seltzer at 6:30 CDT.
TENNESSEE
Sometimes rebuilding can be a rough gig. Tennessee fans are witnessing what appears to be a legitimate resurgence of the Volunteer football program. Aside from the UCLA game, this team has lost to some of the superior teams in its conference by narrow margins instead of being taken behind the proverbial woodshed by the likes of Florida and Alabama on the road Saturday. Tennessee lost those two games by a combined total of 12 points. The loss to the Crimson Tide at Tuscaloosa, Alabama Saturday was a 12-10 heartbreaker. That's a vast improvement.
Another year or two with some great coaching and this team will be competing for the Southeastern Conference title, if not a national championship. Provided Tim Tebow graduates (and he has to eventually) and Nick Saban pulls his customary disappearing act from 'Bama after they play for a national title, in the near future, the Volunteers are next in line considering Georgia's recent journey into mediocrity.
Saturday evening finds the guys in the white helmets and jerseys with tangerine trim at South Carolina for an eastern division SEC game against the Gamecocks. SC needs to be prepared to be haunted by a stingy UT defense. Things continue to turn around for Rocky Top & Company. Tennessee 20, SC 13.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State won over Baylor at Waco, Texas Saturday 34-7. The previous week, they defeated Missouri 33-17. Will they score 35 this week? If they do, they could be leading the Big 12 Conference. Maybe, just maybe,…this is the year.
Tulsa sports anchorman big Al Jerkins said this week Halloween is a perfect time for Oklahoma State and Texas to meet because each "has just the right shade of orange" to be playing October 31st. Yes, the Longhorns will make another appearance at T. Boone Pickens Stadium, get scared out of their collective wits by a spunky Cowboy squad and saunter back to Austin, Texas with another late, comeback victory under their belt, on the way to an unobstructed Big 12 Conference championship. Texas 36, OSU 35.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma faced arch nemesis Texas at the Cotton Bowl on October 17th. The game was a hard fought 16-13 loss. The Sooner defense more than rose to the occasion but a sputtering offense, guided by the youthful, mustached, backup quarterback, Landry Jones, went into its cocoon just like it did against BYU and Miami as they surrendered the noisiest patch of grass on the Texas State Fairgrounds to the Longhorns.
OU's hopes for overtime sailed away when a field goal attempt seemed to have been caught by a six-year old boy riding in a box, attached to the bottom of a homemade weather balloon. The way the game had gone, OT would not have been a pleasant event for Oklahoma so it was better to accept the crushing 3-point defeat in regulation time. That must be five in a row for UT. So goes the series.
A trip to Lawrence, Kansas was much more fun for OU's offense which had not trouble putting 35 points on the board when it didn't count a lick. This was the Sooners' first win outside of Norman, Oklahoma this year. Holding the Jayhawks (whatever they are) to 13 points was another strong showing for the Oklahoma defense. This weekend, Boomer and Sooner are at home to trot their stuff against another team from the Sunflower State.
Kansas State was once coached by a man named Bill Snyder. Snyder was credited with the greatest program turnaround in NCAA history at KSU. His assistants had the familiar names of Stoops, Mangino, Venables, etc.. This is Mr. Snyder's first season back with the Wildcats (excuse me, PowerCats) and he gets to visit his protégés for a friendly contest this Halloween. It's homecoming for the Sooners and they don't want the kitty kats ruining it for them. The OU defense comes up with another brilliant effort and the offense plays to its potential for a 6-0 Oklahoma win!
THE PERCENTAGES
CPeL missed last weeks picks but the picks from the October 17th weekend played to the tune of 3-1 for a total season record of 18-8. That's a whopping 69% for all those Northwest Airline pilots out there.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Carlos
www.crimsonpigskin.com
THE CRIMSON PIGSKIN e-LETTER
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