Jasper Journal

First off, a tip of the Jasper Journal ball cap  to the coach of the Navy Midshipmen who chose to go for the win today  against Maryland rather than a certain tie with 31 seconds left. It didn’t work, but it is the kind of courage I like to see in college football.  Speaking of college football, Congrats to FSU, Colorado, Nebraska and Air Force.  Condolences go out to CSU fans and die hard supporters of the Washington State Cougars. Remember , there is always another week!

I was reading the Denver Post today and came upon a commentary reprinted from Indian Country Today. In it, the author compared the building of the Islamic center near the site of 9/11, to the desecration of Indian lands such as with Mt Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills,  and Denver International Airport.  Clearly the author is upset over the treatment of native Americans and their culture, and is using the mosque issue to make his point. His final comment was  ” Why not build a mosque near the hallowed grounds of the world trade center? American Indian holy sites are desecrated by Christians all the time.”

 The author states he wants to do away with double standards. However, I fail to see how desecrating a site revered by so many today can make up for insensitivities in the past. If indeed the author wants people to respect other’s sacred areas,  then don’t build the Islamic center there.  I suspect the author was using shock value to make his point about how poorly the native american culture was treated in the past. I was not aware that Denver Airport was built on a burial ground either.  Nonetheless, it is probably not helpful to complicate an already  explosive issue with 200 years of mistreatment of native Americans.  The last thing we need is another group joining in this fray. If you wish to read the whole article, the link is below. Am I off base here?

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_15986921

Well it’s back, and I don’t mean the new school season. College football is back again after seven long months. Those of us who enjoy college over the pros can again salivate over the prospect of our school or adopted school reaching a championship game or at least a bowl game, or at least a win over a despised rival.

There’s something for everybody:  For Catholic subway alumni, there is Notre Dame; for Mormons , there is BYU; for any serviceman, there is the respective service academy. Each state has at least one  or more major football playing schools; Each region has major powerhouses; There are traditionally black football powerhouses; traditionally east coast elite football powerhouses; traditionally west coast run and gun powerhouses; mid west powerhouses, southwest powerhouses…. the list goes on endlessly.

So for four and a half months a year the nation’s eyes will turn to the college gridiron and watch in awe as underdogs upset favorites, as new names enter the lore of college athletics, as dominating schools falter and new schools enter the top levels.  It is a great time to be an American.

My college didn’t have division one football, or division two or  but we enjoyed our club level games anyway.  After living in Nebraska for five years I became a supporter  of Big Red and its legion of die-hard fans.  I admired Tom Osborne and still look kindly on the Huskers … except when they play Colorado.

Living here since 2002 and sending two offspring to the University of Colorado at Boulder, CU,  I became committed to the rebirth of Colorado football. While they have not done well at all in the last four years, hope springs eternal, and we look to 2010 as the year of the turnaround.   The big test for many schools comes later in the season when they play their arch rivals. For CU, they play their arch rival Colorado State University this Saturday at Invesco field. It begins again.

So on Saturday afternoons when the world is still in turmoil and we still have Obama as president, we can for a few hours escape the doldrums and become consumed with sport, rivalry,  pageantry, and competition. God Bless America, and Go Buffs! Enjoy your weekend.

This week Major league baseball played its annual All Star Game. While we all enoy a well played game , sometimes other events intervene to bring American values home. The following video may show the greatest moment in baseball ever. What do you think? Have a great weekend!