Christmas Day Column

It's Christmas morning.   My wish is that you have a wonderful day today.  I hope it is filled with family and food and friends.  It is a day to celebrate and remember.

I know that for some it is a difficult day.   Those going through their first Christmas without a loved one might find it a harsh day.   Still others might be more worried about food on the table and a roof over their head.  The absence of gifts under the tree.

I hope those of us that "have" are helping those that "have not" today.   Honorable pursuits like the Empty Pantry Fund do just that.  May we also remember to do so the rest of the year.

I guess it isn't really "politically correct" to talk about Christmas.  But does "politically correct" mean that you don't say or do anything that represents an idea or belief that someone might disagree with?  

I don't think so.  I believe that it means that you are sensitive to those that might have different religious, social, or political views from yourself.  Not that you abandon your own.

It means that I wish my Jewish friends Happy Hanukah (and that I understand that Yom Kippur is a much bigger event for them).   It means that when my Muslim friends stop for prayer, that I am quiet and respectful.

But we live in a community that celebrates Christmas.   And that's OK.  If you are on my Christmas card list, you will notice that it doesn't say "Happy Holidays."  No, it says Merry Christmas.

Our country's founders established a nation based on religious freedom.  That means that you can practice your religion as you see fit.  It also means that I get to do the same. 

It means that we don't have to always agree with our neighbors.   Heck, I don't always agree with my lovely spouse of 35 years but we do manage to get along (quite nicely, thank you very much).   To function as a society, we are obligated to tolerance.  To grow strong as a society, we must embrace our differences. 

I am thankful to live in a community where the good ol' boy and the college professor can live side by side and together make this a better place.  I appreciate a community that demonstrates great diversity yet manages to stay focused on the really important stuff like education, health, and quality of life.

Christmas  is, above all else, a religious holiday.   Sure, it's one filled with gifts and lights and maybe (certainly) too much consumption.   But it is also a time when most of us stop to think about what we believe in, to love on our families, and to appreciate our many gifts (and not just those wrapped under the tree).

Today, I wish for you a Merry Christmas.

One of the best teams ever!

I've been involved with Maryville High School athletics since 1982, when I began assisting Team Physician Dr. Bob Haralson on the MHS football sidelines.  

In the 80's, I also helped with Alcoa, Greenback, Heritage, and William Blount.  My work day usually ended with rounds to those high schools.  I would leave my office, drop by Heritage, Alcoa, Maryville, William Blount (in that order) then home.   When Bill Satterfield called, I would also make a trip down Morganton Road to Greenback.

In those days, I knew pretty much every high school athlete in the area.   When it came to game coverage, I would usually try and cover the games that involved two of our county schools.  If there was more than one of those on a given night, I would cover the "bigger" game.  Maryville College Head Athletic Trainer Sharon Wood was always there to help.

Then in the early 90's we were able to add Athletic Trainers and assign one to each of those same schools (that system is still in place today).  That was when I was able to focus on only one school.

I have great memories of teams and coaches from all those years.   The 1987 Greenback football and girls basketball teams that both won a state championship.  The 1989 Alcoa football state champions. The 1984 MHS and the 1986 HHS football teams that should have.  

Players like Mike Dunn and Lee Headrick.  Loren Riddick.  T.J. Myles and Steve Oliviera.  Kim Berry and Rosie Marsh.  Dawn Marsh.  Jamie Henry and Shannon Mitchell and Billy Williams.  Brian Hanley and Shane Edmonds.

Coaches like Yogi Wilson, Vernon Osborne, Jim Riddick, Earl McMahan, Punky Dalton, Ronnie Phelps, Rainbow Heatherly...that list could go on for days.

My favorite football team has got to be my son's 1998 MHS squad that won the state championship.   It was the team that kicked off Maryville's remarkable streak that has continued to this day.  The offensive line on that team had four seniors that played college football, three at Division 1 schools. 

But this year's MHS squad is really special.   Overall more talent than any team I've seen in red and black (sorry '98).   If you didn't watch the state championship game last weekend, you missed a great game.  Execution, courage, teamwork, discipline, coaching, and effort overcame a really good Whitehaven team.

 The Blue Cross win over Whitehaven was win #700 since MHS began playing football in 1926.  The defense gave up 120 points in 2011 to rank as the 8th best in the modern era, and the offense scored 563 points to rank 5th in all time scoring at MHS.  The 13th state title gives the Rebels the most state championships of all teams in the state.

An interesting statistic is that this team does not own any single-season records.   None.   They were just really good at everything.   They were "team" personified.

As best as I can find out, they are the only team in Tennessee high school football history that invoked the "mercy rule" in every single playoff game.  

Great players, great coaches.  Great student trainers that keep me young(er).  Thanks, guys, for letting me be a part of a very special year.  

A Surprise in Thailand

Let me give you a little background.  

Steve and Connie Bright have been great friends for over 20 years.   Steve and I work together at the Cherokee facility, where he is the Director of Fitness.   He's also my mentor and most frequent companion on the back of a bicycle.   Although we're not related, he is my brother.

Steve and Connie's daughter April (growing up, she was known as "Mooch") and her family moved to Thailand in July where they serve as missionaries.  Last week, April gave birth to her second child.  Two days ago, Steve and Connie flew to Thailand to visit the family.  April had no idea they were coming.

The following is one of the most touching videos ever posted.   Maybe it hits me more because of my relationship with the family but I think you will surely shed a tear when April keeps screaming "my Momma, my Momma!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ_Q4-aoRjQ

And you might find the following video interesting if not amusing.   Penny McIntosh, personal trainer extraordinaire, followed me around for a couple of days and then came up with this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87sBTyx1tg

jb