Rebels 2010 Schedule Similar to 2009…More or Less

It was the winter of 1993, January to be precise, and I was in Mobile, Alabama with my parents, who were attending a business seminar. I always loved these weekend functions. After all, I didn’t have to go to the meetings; I could run around the hotel all day at my parent’s expense. Great gig, huh?

Anyways, I was hanging out with a friend whose parents were also at the function. I can’t remember what hotel it was, and I’m not even going to try and guess, but it was definitely a high-rise. I remember this because of the frequent up-and-down elevator trips.

So we were eating at the hotel restaurant when I notice a lot of young, big guys walking around the lobby area. Turns out that they were all college football players who were in town for the Senior Bowl, which is sort of like the NFL Pro Bowl, but on a college level. The best players in the nation come to this game.

Of course, I was at the impressionable age of 11, so college students were pretty much adults in my estimation. And since I was a college football fan, my friend and I decided to get autographs. So we grabbed a sheet of paper that had the roster of all the players in the game (believe I swiped it off a table, but don’t quote me on that).

We garnered a lot of autographs over the next hour. Didn’t get everyone’s, of course, but my page was stacked with signatures. Bear in mind, all of these players were big time NFL prospects at the time. For instance, I remember getting Jerome Bettis’ autograph, among others. Not sure how significant it would in terms of monetary value, but it would be interesting to take a look at that sheet and see who signed it. Probably in the depths of my parent’s attic somewhere.

So this was an important sheet of paper to me. Once we were through getting autographs, my friend and I decided to resume running around the hotel. As we passed by the elevators, one of them was opening up and the ol’ up-and-down elevator game sounded like fun.

So we rushed into the elevator, but in the process, my signature-ridden sheet of paper slipped from my hand and start floating in the air. It began spiraling to the ground and at the angle it was going, it was actually going to FALL DOWN THE ELEVATOR CRACK!!!

I knew it in my heart that it was gone. Sure, I could have gotten another sheet of paper and asked everyone again to please sign the paper. Yeah, right. Bother all of them again to get an autograph? Besides, even if I did that, most of the players had already left the lobby to go do what college football players do when left unsupervised for a weekend.

Flashes of despair and grief went through my mind as the paper headed toward the crack. It was slow motion. Honestly, what are the odds that a piece of paper would go down the crack? What terrible luck!

Sure enough, the paper was proceeding to go down the elevator shaft. But just when half of it was gone, a hand miraculously intervened and snatched the sheet before it went all the way down. It was one of the college football players. Calmly, he handed me the sheet of paper and went up the elevator with us. I said thank you. He said you’re welcome. I asked him for his autograph.

Turns out that player was Tony McGee, a tight end who played for the Cincinnati Bengals throughout the 90′s. Now, I believe he’s an analyst on an NFL analysis show called Pro Football Plus.

At any rate, this guy went out of his way to make sure that a young kid’s hopes and dreams didn’t slip through the cracks. Maybe that’s being a bit dramatic; a contrived attempt to fit the title into the article. Some people may say, “that’s something anyone would do.” As I see it, kindness is kindness, and it should not be taken for granted.

If you think it’s a good idea to share a good memory, go for it. It makes people feel better. I feel better already.

How it did it go for the boys in red and blue? Check it out below…

Ole Miss Rebels Spring Game: Cotton and Defense Stand Out

This is still the case on some sites, but Google has created the handy Google Translator app which allows me to get information on the page without having to figure out what it all means.

However, it has occurred to me that this is only the beginning. It will be within our lifetime that robotic implants will be placed in our bodies that will be able to translate other languages without having to be an expert in linguistics.

People will speak, and we will understand.

Like a sci-fi movie. Is it that hard to fathom? Not necessarily. One reason we love technology is that the convenience it creates in our lives. And understanding everyone in this world would be convenient for everyone. Thus, I believe we will aim to reach that goal.

Perhaps it will bring us to a greater understanding of all the different cultures in this world. I bet Christopher Columbus wished he had Google Translator when he met the natives in the West Indies for the first time.

But then there is the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. The story where the people of this ancient city wanted to build a tower into the heavens. The story was resolved when God caused everyone to speak different languages in order to confuse them. This confusion led to anger, which led to resentment and separation.

So what of the future if we come back full circle? If we all understand each other with implants, Google Translator or whatever the instrument?

Will we unite? Will we realize that we have more in common with each other than differences?

Will we try to ascend to the heavens, or will we separate from each other once more?

Thank you. The film could not have been made without you.

Also, I want to thank everyone who was in attendance tonight and gave encouraging words. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I will be updating people when more developments arise.

Peace.