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The Daily Dose/December 15, 2007
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
   
Notes from the human experience, campers, as we are officially in mourning as, again, an official Writer's Shack fave loses, On This Date takes time to have tea, get only the facts and take a look back at some OJ Simpson's early work, we take partial credit for emergency rule being lifted in Pakistan and Andy Pettitte apologizes, though we are not entirely sure what for. Plus, the Column Four Foto is Italian opera beauty Cecillia Bartoli.
THE WRITER'S SHACK JINX: For the second time in ten weeks, an official fave Writer's Shack athletic team failed to win the championship we had so boldly predicted for them.
The Final From Salem, Virginia: In the Amos Alonzo-Stagg Bowl, the Wisconsin-Whitewater Whatevers defeated the juggernaut that had been the Mount Union Purple Raiders 31-21 for the NCAA Division III national football championship.
Dry, Technical Matter: Mount Union had won 37 games in a row and was looking for their third consecutive national championship and tenth in the past 15 years. This was the third consecutive year the Purple Raiders and the Warhawks had met in the championship game.
The Evil Mr. Beaver: Wisconsin-Whitewater running back and noted communist Justin Beaver, who earlier had stolen the Gagliardi Trophy - issued yearly to D-III's top player - from a deserving Mount Union player, rushed for 249 yards and one touchdown.
Uh-Oh: Mount Union did their part, too, turning the ball over four times, losing three fumbles and an interception. All three fumbles came in Wisconsin-Whitewater territory, including one late in the first half at the Warhawk 21, which ended a march that had started on their own 20.
A Long Time: Wisconsin-Whitewater led 10-0 at the half, the first time Mount Union had been held scoreless in the first half in over 17 years.
Lord Beaver: Beaver was so good that even when he fumbled a few minutes into the third quarter, he insured the ball went into the end zone so a teammate Michael Sherman could recover it for a touchdown, giving the Warhawks a 17-0 lead. Our Purple Raiders were able to close within three twice, at 17-14 and 24-21, but a clutch, backbreaking 66-yard run by Beaver late in the game set up Wisconsin-Whitewater's final touchdown.
Geaux Tigers. Or Buckeyes: The Writer's Shack staff has discussed it, and while official policy has yet to be promulgated because we are still too busy weeping and rending garments, we're considering the withholding of official Fave status in the future until a tournament or competition has been completed.
What The Hell's Going On Here!: This is the second time since October an official Writer's Shack fave, scientifically chosen based on a combination of historical excellence, current newsworthiness and because they were expected to completely dominate and win without so much as breaking a sweat, has not won as expected. In October recall that our faves the All Blacks, the New Zealand national rugby union team, lost in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup to France - France! We would like to be able to claim that France, as host country, had an unfair advantage, but 1) we note the 2011 Rugby World Cup is to be hosted by New Zealand, and, 2) the match was played - for reasons which we're sure were explained to us - in Cardiff, Wales.
GOD, THIS HURTS: On this date, Dec. 16, in 2006, Mount Union won its second consecutive NCAA Div-III national championship, defeating Wisconsin-Whitewater 35-16 in the 34th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia.
Just The Facts: On this date in 1951, Dragnet debuts on NBC television. It would run through 1959, and then again from 1967-70. Interestingly, Sgt. Joe Friday never did utter the line he is most famous for, "Just the facts, ma'am." He came close on a couple of occasions, saying "all we want are the facts, ma'am" and "all we know are the facts, ma'am". The phrase "Just the facts, ma'am" came from a parody done by Stan Freberg.
Hut, Hut Hike: On this date in 1973 - years before embarking on his career as a defendant - Buffalo Bills running back and future acquitted double murderer OJ Simpson slashes his way through for 200 yards against the New York Jets and becomes the first person in NFL history to rush for more than 2000 yards in a season. His record would stand until 1984 when Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams rushed for 2,105 yards.
This Is Definitely A Violation Of Regulations: On this date in 1773 the Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded three British ships, the Dartmouth, Beaver and Eleanour, and dumped approximately 45 tons of tea in Boston Harbor to protest tea taxes.
IT'S ABOUT TIME: While the Writer's Shack is oh-for-two picking the right bandwagon to ride, we can, and do, claim success in getting the state of emergency lifted in Pakistan. Responding to direct international pressure, paced, of course, by regular condemnations here at the Writer's Shack, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf lifted Pakistan's state of emergency rule this weekend.
Get Out Your Recent History Books: Recall that on Nov. 3 Musharraf declared emergency rule in Pakistan. His October reelection as president was under challenge by various lawsuits the Supreme Court appeared to amiable to ruling in favor of, and, his election was further undercut by having been boycotted by much of the opposition.
Voila!: But emergency rule magically changed all that! He was able to get replace the members of the Supreme Court that irritated him, and, indeed, the entire judicial system, jail his opponents and shut down media that annoyed him, and, in general, act like a dictator.
So Has Anything Really Changed?: No, not really. Pakistan's judicial system, including the Supreme Court is still packed with judges loyal to, and chosen by Musharraf. The former Chief Justice remains under house arrest. Media restrictions are still in place. All that's really changed is that all legal and political obstacles to Musharraf's rule have virtually been eliminated. Sure, there are still those pesky parliamentary elections coming up next month, but for someone in as complete control as Musharraf, those should be easy enough to fix.
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?: New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte apologized this weekend for having taken the performance enhancer known as HGH during the 2002 season.
Was This Necessary?: No, it was not. Pettitte has nothing to apologize for. The Mitchell Report stated Pettitte, looking to enhance his recovery from an elbow injury, took HGH on two occasions in 2002. This is a statement of fact, not an allegation or an indictment because in 2002 a major league baseball player was not violating any rule by taking HGH and Pettitte needs to apologize for this as much as he needs to apologize for drinking Gatorade.
The Mitchell Report, which did what is was meant to do - report on the use of performance enhancers by major league players - fairly well, really didn't do much else. It named some names, but by and large it merely confirmed what fans have known for a long time, that major league players have been taking various performance enhancers for a long time.
So What?: The Writer's Shack, again, renews its heretofore ignored call - issued, between Marion Jones and the Mitchell report, pretty much every hour on the hour this week - to let athletes put whatever they want into their bodies.
If you want to watch pure, athletic competition, go watch small college sports. There you will find good, though perhaps not great, athletes playing for the love of the game and to impress chicks. If you want to watch the very best athletes in the world, watch whatever you sport you want at the highest level, and let athletes do what they think is required to get the most out of their bodies.
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