Sad Day / Coincidences?

This week I found a James Taylor recording of "Auld Lang Syne" that reached out and grabbed my attention. I also made phone contact w/ an old high school friend, Larry Miller. Both of these events started an avalanche of memories in my mind. And then... the BOMB exploded. "Walter Cronkite has died." I'm not sure anyone under the age of 55 can really appreciate the significance that this man had on America (United States).... When I compare Mr. Cronkite w/ the current group of "reporters" that fill our airwaves, I shutter at how far our standards have fallen. We've gone from a gentleman that earned the title of "the most trusted man in the United States" to people who only lie when their lips are moving.... SPIN - in Cronkite's time that was a term that referred to a short, carefree ride in your car - not the "story" that would be attached to every piece of even slightly negative news.... I sincerely hope that my children have the opportunity to experience a "newsman" (or woman) who demonstrates the same high standards of integrity and honesty during their lifetime. Lord knows, we could surely use someone truly like that now....

On a much less serious, even humorous vein I learned how far how our economy has fallen (or how badly Jamie Pollard mis-judged the ability / willingness of ISU fans to support his vision of ISU Athletics w/ their dollars).   In the fall of 2007,  to attend the Ia @ ISU FB game you had to purchase a season ticket w/ an individual game price of $90 for the IA/ISU game. In the fall of 2009 you can purchase a ticket to the Ia @ ISU FB game as part of a "package" of three games... a "preseason game vs. N Dakota (or ND ST), a Big 12 game vs. Colorado, and the Ia @ ISU game for (DRUM ROLL, please) .... $99! So if the the Ia game is still worth $90, and you assume Big 12 games are worth more than "preseason" games... the Colorado ticket is worth about $6 and the other game about $3! Or you can "slice and dice" this in another manner.... I am anxious and curious to see if local sports talk radio (this news was released on a Friday afternoon) will follow up on this "story" on Monday. I'm not sure how they maintain any semblance of credibility, if they don't address this topic....

2009 the year w/o summer .... Sorry, Doug.... but, I'm enjoying it! Until next time.... Q