Hard to believe that five years has passed.

The clear sky tonight leads me to believe that everything will be be just fine.

Five years ago tonight, the sky was equally as clear.

You the man Bubba...nothing more to say.

Smile, today could be your last.

We had a great day on Sunday, as we celebrated Knox turning 1. It has been a fun year:



Happy birthday Knox...you are loved.

Smile, today could be your last.

I was playing Super Tecmo Bowl online tonight (yes, I know I am 32) flipping between Monday Night Football and the ALCS. Everywhere you click on the internet, and on every channel is talk of the new policy that is going to be put into place in the NFL regarding helmet to helmet contact.

Maybe I just don't get it...



TJ ward didn't lead with his helmet...he led with his shoulder. What is the problem here? Maybe it was a split second late? Late hit? Maybe. Helmet to helmet...absolutely not.

Second video is of Dunta Robinson hitting Desean Jackson. A little more of a helmet leading hit, but again, don't call it helmet to helmet. There helmets never touch.



In all fairness to Robinson and Ward, if you were about to collide with someone, you would brace yourself for the hit. Wide base, lower the shoulder, etc. Taking that a step further, both he and TJ ward make their living blowing up plays. Making hard hits is what got them to the NFL.

James Harrison's hit on Massaquoi: Problem here is that he lowered his head. If he keeps his head up it is legit. No penalty was called on Harrison.



Here is James Harrison hitting Cribbs. Definitely helmet to helmet contact here. This is the type of hit that the NFL is deeming violent and unnecessary. Funny though that TJ Ward and Dunta Robinson were penalized and Harrison was not.




Bottom line is that players should be fined and suspended for leading with their helmets. The problem is that it is a real fine line between a hard hit, and a penalty. With 22 bodies flying around the football on every play, there are plenty of times that helmets collide and people get hurt.

On a side note, I was watching Sunday Night Football yesterday and the referee called a penalty because in the NFL you are no longer allowed to have more than 2 people form a wedge. Seriously? WTF is that?

I guess the school of thought is to prevent the "wedge-breakers" from sprinting down the field and throwing themselves helplessly into defenders. But boy, when I was growing up (I know from the same guy who was playing nitendo tonight) that was what the game was. I was on the kick return team in high school...part of the wedge. When the ball was kicked I formed the wedge with three other guys. We ran back to the 20 yard line and held hands and waited for the return guy to yell, "Go, Go, Go!". Then a player (sometimes twice your size) would throw his body into the four of us trying to break up the wedge. We knew it was going to happen, and he knew he was going to do it.

I guess I just think that we are becoming weak as a society. I mean, safety is fine, but I just feel like we are taking this to a whole new level. People will always get hurt in football. It is part of the game. When you start taking hitting people out of the equation, you are changing the sport...I'm just saying that those in charge need to be careful what they mold and shape.

Do those people that take jobs crab fishing for three months out of the year know that there is a risk involved? Police and firefighters? Drug task force members? Mine workers? The risk to any NFL player is laughable compared to any of the above. And oh yeah, you are paid $60,000 per game (that's one million a year).

Sign me up for any of the above hits for $60,000. Has to be easier than 10 cycles of chemotherapy and getting part of my lung removed.

Smile, today could be your last.

Hard to believe that is is already the middle of October. We have been very fortunate to have had such great weather over the last couple of days. I have enjoyed being outside. We have been working on a new-old sign for The Nail. We really wanted a new sign, but the budget allowed us to get some new letters, and paint it. I think it looks great.

Coop has been stuck on The Cat in the Hat lately. For a while there it was The Little Rascals. Here is a vid of Coop singing "You are so beautiful" along with Alfalpha:



Mr. Knox is ready to walk anyday now. He has taken a couple of steps here and there, but nothing of any distance yet. He now has four teeth on top and a couple on the bottom. We've also switched him over to milk, so the $26-a-can formula is now a thing of the past. He went to the doctor last week, and Dr. Russ said everything looks great. Looking forward to Mr. Knox's first birthday party. Should be a good time...hope the weather cooperates.

Knox on a trip to Lowe's with Dad...


It was a crazy weekend in the restaurant. Banquet Friday, Wedding Saturday, Wedding Sunday...homecoming at KSU.

Friday night, Tom and Coop and I went to the Kent Roosevelt/Ravenna game. Unfortunately, Ravenna won, but it was still fun to watch Coop watch football and the halftime bands. For 2 1/2 he didn't fuss-not one time.


I am truly blessed to have children like them.

Love you Mr. Knox.
Love you Coop.

Smile, today could be your last.