Jim's Guts

Quick Hits…

Thoughts from the "City by the Bay"…

I'm in San Francisco visiting with friend J. I love SF, the sights, sounds, and smells remind me of my youth (the folks and I came over to SF at least once a year). That said, I feel the same way about SF that I do about NYC – It's a great city to visit, but there's no way I could live or work here. The food is fantastic though.

Speaking of food, here's a good omen… So I know what I said about Army v. Navy a couple of days ago, but the truth is that of course I want Navy to win. While waiting for J I decided to have a little breakfast so I walk a block or so and saw Lori's Diner and knew I had to eat there. It was at this same Lori's dinner that I had breakfast before the 2004 Emerald Bowl in which Navy won. Probably had the same thing too (French toast with a side bacon [Mmmmm…bacon]).

I've seen more fixed gear bikes here than any place I've ever been. I know the bike messengers in Seattle are pretty "hard", the San Francisco guys are no slouches.

I left the bike at the in-laws in Sacramento while here on the coast, which means running instead of riding. I hate to run.

In addition to the Army v. Navy game, the Stanford v. Cal "Big Game" happens on Saturday. One of the taller office buildings was flying giant Cal and Stanford flags. Gotta like that. Go Cal.

Don't know if I'll post anything on the Game or not, but till then GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

To the great Arbiters of Sport…

…I have a question – "Is it okay to be okay if Army wins on Saturday?"

Look, by just about any measure, it's been a great year for Navy football;

Beat the Zoomies? Check
Beat Notre Dame? Oh hell yes!
Winning record for the season? Check
Keeping Commander In Chief's trophy? Check
Going to a Bowl Game? Check

And now on Saturday is the Army v. Navy game and the number is 5. That's what the current win streak over Army is. Five Saturdays that have been just a bit brighter. Five straight wins in one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport. And yet I still find myself wondering…

"Would I be okay if Army wins on Saturday?"

Don't get me wrong, I will watch every play and pace and all the rest, and I have no doubt that I'd be a little bummed out (the L&T can confirm that normally when Navy loses, I'm not the most pleasant person to be around), but given all of Navy's success this year, if for some reason we can't extend the streak to six… Seriously, I know I won't be happy, I can't even honestly say that I'll be okay, but I am sure I'll start thinking about San Diego in December…

Till then – GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

*The* Rivalry…

Look, I know everyone thinks that whatever their school plays for is the most important rivalry going, be it for the "Apple Cup", "The Axe", or the "Old Oaken Bucket". Truth is rivalry games are one of the coolest things about college football, and I enjoy watching all of them. Still…

Look, I know I'm not unbiased here, it's well established where my loyalties are. But when I watch all of the other games, I can't help but come to the same conclusion that John Feinstein did – Army v. Navy is the purest rivalry in sports (fantastic book, the L&T bought me a copy when it was originally published, but I wouldn't read it till Navy stopped what was a 5 game losing streak to Army).

Back in the day, Army v. Navy was the only game played on the first weekend in December, but because of championship games, and Div-II playoffs, that's changed. Still, if you love football, want to see young men leave it all out on the field, and then embrace like the brothers they are, tune in to your local CBS affiliate at 9am (PST). I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Let Army v. Navy week begin! Go Navy! Beat Army!!

BTW – Found a great summery of every Army v. Navy game played here.

 

A little Monday morning pick-me-up…

It's the Monday after a long holiday weekend for most, filled with travel and hopefully family and friends. So to ease you back into the work week how about a little pick-me-up from The Cat Empire…

"Hello" –

(This will take a minute to load but it's worth it...)

"The Car Song" –

Being Thankful…

The trails and tribulation of this year have been documented previously (and probably will be again at the end of the year), but as we in the United States approach our yearly holiday of giving thanks, it seemed an excellent time to reflect on the things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful that Mr. Stout and I reconnected. We were exactly estranged but with his new wife they did what all newlyweds did and cocooned themselves. But the upside of his tumor was that we were able to remember why we were friends in the first place. It allowed us to relieve old memories, and shore up support for one another. Together we covered a lot of tough miles, but those last three weeks made sense of a lot of it. Of all the things I'm thankful for, this would (both literally and figuratively) be at the top of my list.

I'm thankful for family and friends, and I'm especially grateful that the line between the two has blurred for several of us. I doubt I could have made it through the last year in nearly as good a shape if it hadn't been for the brothers I weren't born with.

I'm thankful for new beginnings; the L&T's new job, friends getting married, children being born, and friends starting new and varied adventures. Being part of these renewals is an excellent reminder that life is constantly changing, and it's the changing that helps us most to grow.

I'm thankful for the fact that all things considered, my life is in a pretty good spot right now. Sure there've been some real challenges this year (and probably will be next year too), but my health is pretty stable right now, I'm getting to ride a fair amount, I'm getting to see friends on a regular basis, life is actually pretty good (now if I could only win the lottery…)

Finally, I'm thankful for the L&T, this year has seen a host of challenges, and she's been there for me every step of the way.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And remember to be more grateful for the things you have, than regretful about those you don't.

My Top Five Navy Wins…

For some reason we as a species are very fond of making lists, and really I'm not any different. With Navy's fantastic win over Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago some might wonder where that game ranks on my list (probably not, but it's my blog so I'm going with it). I don't know that I can actually rank my favorite games from 1 to 5, so I'll just go with chronological order…

1983 – Army v. Navy game ("The Return") – The game was played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena that year. My friend Nan had come out with the Brigade from the Academy for the game and my folks came down from Sacramento as well. Unfortunately for me, being a lowly E-3 I had to stay in San Diego and work that day. So, in what may have been one of the worst kept secrets of all time, I snuck a small portable TV into my exam room, and watched the game between seeing patients. And it was a great game for Navy, with Napoleon McCallum returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on the way to a 42 – 13 win. By the end of the game I must have had 15 people crammed around a 6" TV in a 10'x4' room. Of all my Army v. Navy games, that may have been the weirdest place I've ever watched it from.

1989 – Army v. Navy game ("The Kick") – Despite the long distance, L&T and I were a pretty serious couple in December of that year, but this was her first Army .v Navy "with" me. She was back in Washington State and I was still teaching in SoCal, so our relationship was pretty much based on phone calls. Going into the game Navy had lost 3 straight against Army, so my anxiety was already a little more elevated than normal. The game was back and forth the whole 60 minutes. With time winding down and the Mids trailing 17-16, they got the ball to the Army 19 with 15 seconds left to play and prepared to make a field goal attempt. When Army called a time out to ice the kicker I couldn't stand it anymore and called the L&T, and so 1000 miles apart we watched as Frank Shank drilled a 36 yarder to win it. It was the first of many Army v. Navy games for the L&T and me.

2004 – Navy @ ZoomieLand ("The Road Win") – In 2003 Navy hosted Air Force and beat them for the first time in many years which lead to Navy winning the Commander In Chief's trophy. The Zoomies were steamed, and had a special case built in their locker room to display the trophy they "knew" they'd get back when we had to play there. The game was nationally televised and coincided with Stout's Las Vegas birthday trip. We arrived at the Bellagio Sports Book just in time for the kickoff. I broke a cardinal rule of sports betting, never bet on your team, but with Navy getting points, I just couldn't resist. Navy took an early lead, but the Zoomies kept hanging around and finally tied it late in the 4^th quarter, which lead to me pacing around the rear of the Book. Then Navy produced a classic drive, chewing up the clock till, with 4 seconds remaining, Geoff Blumenfeld drilled a 30 yard field goal for the 24 – 21 Navy win. It was a great start to the weekend.

2004 – Emerald Bowl, Navy v. New Mexico ("The Drive") – By a quark of fate we were headed to my brother-in-law's house outside of Sacarmento for Christmas in 2004. So when Navy earned a berth in the 2004 Emerald Bowl, I convinced the L&T that I had to take the opportunity to go to the game. December 30^th, 2004 was cold and rainy, so rainy in fact that a portion of the end zone had about 4" of standing water by game time. Still it's hard to dampen the fan base of a team that was going to its 2^nd straight bowl game, so from the time that the Brigade marched on the field Navy fans were ready for almost anything. Almost. With 1:41 left in the 3^rd quarter, Navy got the ball on their own 1 yard line and, in something I couldn't believe I was watching, proceeded to go on a 14 minute, 26 second, 26 play, 94 yard drive that sealed the win for Navy. I've never seen anything like it and most of us in the stands couldn't believe it, but it's the greatest drive I've ever seen in person or on TV. After the win I walked the two miles back to the hotel in the rain, but didn't feel it at all.

2007 – Navy @ Notre Dame ("The Streak") – I wasn't alive the last time Navy had beaten Notre Dame. You can say all you want about how this is a down year for Notre Dame, and how they shouldn't have lost the game, and a hundred other excuses, but the fact of the matter is that after 43 years, Navy went into South Bend and beat Notre Dame.

 

 

Saying Goodbye

This has been an especially difficult post to write, in some posts the words come so fast that my fingers can't keep up. In this case, the words come equally fast, but are so disjointed that it would be unreadable. My life in a nutshell I guess.

Anyway, we held a small memorial for Eric on Nov. 7^th, which would have been the Stout's first wedding anniversary. Jana decided that scattering Eric's ashes from the ferry and sailing they were married on would make a nice circle, I think she was right. About 16 of us walked on to the MV Walla Walla, while Jana wisely decided to drive on. After getting underway we all went to the car deck fantail where we met up with Jana. After getting passed the major traffic lanes, the ferry came to a stop to allow us to have our memorial (quick aside, I've got to give major props to the MV Walla Walla crew and the Washington State Ferry system, they were fantastic and very easy to work with). Jana had written a very nice piece, which I read, then she scattered Eric's ashes.

After the ferry docked Jana continued on to the peninsula while the rest waited for the return trip. On the return trip Jana's mom had brought some sparkling cider which we used to toast Eric. The remainder of the sailing was spent sharing Eric stories.

I think I have come to understand why Mr. Stout's death has been such a challenge for me. He was the last link to my "ancient" history (pre-1989). We had gone through so much together, Corps school, the Navy, the deaths of my dad, the Boss, mom Stout, and my mom, and so many other things. Don't misunderstand, my life now is very blessed and I have more friends and family now that some people will have in their entire lives. Still there are times when it's fun to talk about the old days, bombing our way up to University Town Center in the Camaro with 91X blasting loudly…

"And it'd please everyone
Got thrown off the boat before the trip was done
So with a smile on your face
You disappear without no trace…

Oh, don't cha' know we gonna have us a little fun
I'll light the candle we can get a lot of reading done…

Somewhere the sun is shining
On this world, but not for me
Two lover's hearts are rising
How long before I'm free…

Yes I feel like Jonah in the belly of the whale…"

- Burning Sensations – Belly of The Whale (1983)

Navy Football

I love Navy Football. I've loved Navy football since my junior year in high school when I decided to join the Navy "undergraduate" program (meaning regular, enlisted, US Navy). In high school a very good friend went to Annapolis and we joked about "our" team (Nan Russell, USNA Class of '86. Nan – If you're out there in the ether I'd love to hear from you). The L&T would probably say that "love" is an understatement. When a Navy game is on TV, I'm watching and/or getting it on TiVo. Win or lose, I'm watching. The annual Army v. Navy game is a pretty much a "high holy day" in the Smith household. I know the players, stats, and coaches. I can explain in detail Navy's triple option, Navy's 4-3 defense, and why both are the perfect schemes for us to run based on the type of players we get. I know the history and can discuss it depth (but usually don't unless friends need to fall asleep).

All of above isn't a brag, but it is to lend gravis to the fact that when I say Saturday's triple overtime victory over Notre Dame is one of the most important wins in Navy history, I have some idea what I'm talking about. It's not just a win against a rival, and it's not just another step closer to a bowl game, and it's definitely not Army. But it is an end to the questions – "Why can't Navy beat ND?" "What about The Streak?" and worst of all "Should Navy really be playing D-1 football?"

We had come so close to beating Notre Dame so many times recently, including twice in the last six years where we were just one defensive stop on 4^th down away from winning. So you can imagine how my heart sank when we gave up a 4^th and 14 conversion late in the 4^th quarter. Another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory… OT brought its own anguish, holding them on the 2 point try only to have a "questionable" (that's how ND's broadcasters described it) pass interference call. When we held them on the second attempt, I just sat there on the floor. I couldn't believe it, I must have sat there for 5 minutes, not moving, not yelling, just sitting there in disbelief.

Thanks to Sirius satellite, I'm able to listen to the Navy radio broadcast (with TiVo I actually sync the TV and Radio). It means I get to listen to Bob Socci, the Navy play-by-play announcer who has been around the program for about 25 years, who along with former Navy quarterback Omar Nelson and occasionally author John Feinstein, make the experience that much more enjoyable (of all the weeks for John not to be in the booth!). After the game, Bob wasn't saying much, then Omar told us why – Bob and his producer couldn't talk because they were crying. I love pro football and the NFL, but there's no way that's happening in a pro game. There's nothing in the world like college football…

I'll leave the final words to a young Ensign and 2007 USNA grad that is getting ready to steam for the "Med" (Mediterranean Sea):

"While it would have been awesome to be at the Academy when it happened... (we really would have been the coolest class ever... four Commander in Chief's Trophies, finally toppling Army in amount of Army/Navy wins, and beating Notre Dame!  No one would have compared!) ... (O)n some level it still feels like a personal victory.  I was able to witness players that I've watched from the beginning of their college careers defeat a team that has been holding us down for forty-three years… Believe it or not, a win like that, when you have nothing else to hold on to, shakes not only the stadium (Navy/Air Force 2003) but can shake one's soul to the core.  These guys deserve it, the Mids and the players, their dedication to our school (especially the Firsties) is unparalleled…Go Navy.  Beat everyone."