Plans change, things rearranged
From the Cameron Citizen-Observer
Taken from Sept. 11, 2001
THIS JUST IN: This past weekend was proof as to why Florida State is the best and produces nothing but talent. On cable, they were showing ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ with Seminole alumni Burt Reynolds. On Saturday, although they didn’t look impressive, FSU moved to 2-0 with red shirt freshman QB Chris Rix at the helm. But Sunday was the icing on the cake.
First, Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke opened his NFL career by leading Carolina over Minnesota. Then, Chiefs – Raiders, Part I. Late fourth quarter, Green and KC driving to tie the game and who makes the beautiful diving catch, beating All-Pro CB Charles Woodson? Marvin ‘Snoop’ Minnis, from…Florida State University. But of course, the Raiders came back and that’s what makes this a great rivalry. After a good kickoff return and Tim Brown exploiting the major weakness of KC, who comes on to complete a 4-4 day kicking field goals? Sebastian Janikowski from…that’s right, Florida State University. Just like my Mets, they produce nothing but memorable moments.
Speaking of which, it was two weeks ago that I said the Mets were a long winning streak from being right back in the race. I think 16 of 20 would count as a long streak, but it’s not 19 in a row. Point is, they now control their own destiny – as pathetic as that may seem.
We get the Braves six out of the last nine games. I agree it’s going to take a straight sweep by us or a partial collapse by them, but the sheer fact that the worst team in baseball for four months still has a reasonable chance at winning the division. Is that praise for the Mets or speaking down on the state of the game today?
I was going to talk about the defending NFC champions. I was going to discuss the tradition of my favorite football franchise. How the mantle of the quarterback position has been passed down from Frank Gifford and Y.A. Title to Phil Simms to Kerry Collins. I was going to write about how this year’s defense reminds me of 1986 and the terror and chaos created by Jim Burt, Harry Carson, George Martin and LT. But there are other chaotic things going on in New York, and I don’t mean the subway system…
I have my opinion and I’m entitled to it, but something tells me I’m going to hear about this one.
I can’t listen to the reports of ‘terrorist activity’ on the Eastern seaboard and not feel a rush of confusing adrenaline. I can’t watch footage of planes crashing into building and not gaze in wonderment as people around me emit emotions of sadness and concern. Call it a defense reaction from a scarred boy or a natural reaction from a deranged lunatic, but I can’t hide my feelings.
Yes, I understand that people are dead. I heard that people jumped from the higher floors of the World Trade Center soon after the explosion to avoid the fire and brimstone that awaited them in their office. I’m sure the injuries suffered by the curious onlookers when the buildings collapsed were much higher than they should be because you can’t stop New Yorkers from rubbernecking.
I have family and friends that
live and work in New York. I have friends in Washington D.C., although I’m sure they weren’t anywhere near the Pentagon or the White House when explosions caused those buildings to be evacuated.
But I know people everywhere and everywhere, people are dying. Maybe that’s why I can’t get too upset with all this chaos. CNN may spend the next two weeks discussing every possible angle about this day, but they certainly didn’t spend two seconds talking about all the children in Africa that died yesterday from diseases treatable with modern medicine. They spent little time recounting the story of the hundreds of people that are dead today because of drug overdoses. MSNBC has yet to do an hour long special on the inner city youths that were shot yesterday in New York, Detroit, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston and Chicago.
I recognize the dark humor by whoever decided to do this (and there is one person who spearheaded this entire plan, regardless what the news or government says), picking September 11, or 911. I’m curious as to why President Bush was in Florida and not at home. I wonder why they didn’t try to bomb the Sears Tower or the San Andres Fault. Nevertheless, the fact that they shut down the entire airline industry in less than four hours shows me they knew exactly what they were doing. The question that will be tossed around every water cooler in America is why?
But just because it’s on television doesn’t mean that’s the only thing to worry and talk about. This country has a lot of problems and the events of Tuesday are just one of them. But finding out who did this isn’t going to get the millions of Americans off welfare and put their kids through school. The culprit isn’t going to confess to the crimes and explain how to end homelessness. It’s just another problem for this dying republic to deal with. Except this problem gets national media coverage while the rest gets pushed to the back burner and that’s the truth.