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Today in Texas History – October 26

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From the Annals of the Military-Industrial Complex –  In 2001, Lockheed Martin won a $200 billion contract for the production of the “Joint Strike Fighter” jet.  The 40 year deal was the largest defense contract in history.   After a competition between the Boeing X-32 and the LM X-35, a final design was chosen based on the X-35. This is the F-35 Lightning II which intended to replace numerous tactical aircraft in the U.S., Canadian and British armed forces. The most persuasive demonstration of the X-35’s capability was the final qualifying JSF flight trials, in which the LM X-35B prototype aircraft took off in less than 500 feet, went supersonic, and landed vertically – a feat that Boeing’s entry was unable to match.

Today in Texas History – October 25

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From the Annals of World Series – In 2005, the first World Series game ever to be played in Texas started.  The Houston Astros played the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Field losing 7-5 in 14 innings.  The game was also the longest in World Series history lasting 5 hours and 41 minutes and actually ended on October 26.   The long game produced many all-time World Series records.  The teams combined to use 17 pitchers (9 White Sox and 8 Astros), throwing a total of 482 pitches, and walking 21 batters (12 by the WS, 9 by the Stros); 43 players were used (the White Sox used 22 and the Astros used 21), and 30 men were left on base (15 for each team). Scott Podsednik set an all-time record with eight at-bats in the game.

The Series itself was remarkable as the teams had combined for 132 years of championship frustration.  The Astros had not won in their 44 year history and the Pale Hose last championship had been in 1917.  The White Sox would go on to sweep the Astros in 4 games and break their long drought.

Beto O’Rourke for Senate

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Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) is the Democratic frontrunner to take on “Lying” Ted Cruz (TP-Texas) in 2018.  The Texas Observer has an long article on O’Rourke unorthodox campaign and background.  O’Rourke stands in stark contrast to the narcissistic, unlikeable and prickly Cruz who seems afraid to be in Texas right now as he has refused to hold a town hall meeting anywhere in the state for months.  O’Rourke on the other hand is rolling through Texas shaking hands and making friends.  Beto is still unlikely to unseat “Lying Ted”, but he just might make the smug and self-righteous Cruz sweat.  That would be worth the price of admission.

If you’re a Democrat and you find yourself running for statewide office in Texas, somewhere along the way you’ve made a wrong decision. A campaign is a two-year hell, and you have a very low chance of winning. If you lose badly, like Wendy Davis, your political life is probably over. Stay on the sidelines, like the Castro brothers, and your time may never come. Either way, you and your party lose. To run, and to commit to it seriously, requires either a sort of blindness to reality or a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.O’Rourke has a bit of both. On the one hand, he has very little experience with state politics, having skipped from a seat on the El Paso City Council to Congress. He’s unfamiliar with the bitterness and cynicism that pervades party politics in the rest of the state.

But he also feels a certain urgency. Many people believe the whole system of American politics is breaking down, he says. “I know so many people who voted for Trump, and I say, ‘How could you do that? You live in El Paso. You don’t want a wall.’ They’re like, ‘No, I could give a shit about the wall. I just want somebody to blow that place up. That place is so fucked up and corrupted, and it is a swamp, and that’s the first guy who I know could care less about the system.’” In his own way, O’Rourke is trying to blow up the system, too. When he describes his reasons for doing so, it becomes clear that the campaign is a sort of personal crusade.

“I think that your successor 500 years from now is going to be writing about us the way that we write about the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages,” he tells me. “It’s just so corrupt, in the same way that they were selling bishoprics and indulgences to shorten your time in purgatory. We’re selling votes. We’re selling amendments. We’re selling democracy, and it’s absolutely disgusting. But what makes it even more fucked up is that everybody knows that it’s happening, but it’s just what has always happened for so long now that it’s all-encompassing in the system. No one seems really willing to do anything that will compromise their ability to be successful in that system by stepping out of it.”

Today in Texas History – October 24

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From the Annals of the Builders –  In 1971,Texas Stadium officially opened in Irving with the Cowboys beating the New England Patriots 44-21.

The Cowboys’ original home was the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park in Dallas.  However, by the late 1960’s, owner Clint Murchison, Jr. was concerned about that area of Dallas and believed that Cowboys’ fans should not have to experience any less than pleasant experience on their way to games. CMJ attempted to persuade Dallas to build a new downtown stadium as part of a municipal bond package, but failed to get any traction for the idea.

Murchison was a visionary and planned for a new stadium with sky boxes for elite patrons that would provide a new revenue source that would not have to be shared with other owners.  He also came up with the idea of selling bonds (now called personal seat licenses) as a prerequisite to purchasing season tickets and as a way to finance construction of a new stadium to be located in nearby Irving.

The somewhat pretentiously named Texas Stadium was the first football only stadium built for an NFL team.  NFL teams had long-played in baseball parks or stadiums such as the Cotton Bowl original intended for college football games.  Then came a wave of multi-purpose stadiums such as the Astrodome.  But Texas Stadium with its iconic hole in the roof (really an accident as the stadium was supposed to have a retractable roof) set the mark for NFL teams who now aspired to controlling their own venue.  In the future, local taxpayers would bear the brunt of paying for the billionaires playgrounds.

 

Red’s NFL Picks – Week 8

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Last week Red was 3-3 which drags down the average but Red is still well ahead of last season with a 26-16 record for the season.  Against the money line, Red was a bit shaky last week but is still making it for his readers:

Raiders to cover – Paid $

Raiders/Chief over – Paid $

49ers to cover – Bust

49ers/Cowboys under – Bust

Rams to cover – Paid $

Rams/Cards over – Bust

Falcons to cover – Bust

Jags to cover – Paid $

Jags/Colts  over – Bust

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia:  Matt Prater kicked a 64 yard field goal for the Denver Broncos in 2013 in their game against the Titans.

This Week’s Trivia:  When was the last time that no NFL games appeared on TV during a week of the regular season?

Your TV Game of the Week:  Chiefs over Broncos.  Well at the beginning of the season if you had told Ol’ Red that this would be the NFL Game of the Week, he would have not wanted some of what you were smoking.  But here it is.  This is probably the best game of the week in a week of rather sad sack matchups.  The Broncos looked sad losing 21-0 to the Chargers last week (one of an incredible shutouts last week).  The Chiefs at least managed to eke out a loss to the Raiders.  But here you have a 3-3 team up against a team on a two game losing streak and it’s your best game of the week.  This is a good week to catch up on your reading, clean out the garage, polish your shoes or maybe spend some time with the family.  KC 21 Denver 13

Your Please Don’t Televise this Game of the Week: Bengals over Colts.  It’s also hard to pick a Shit Bowl this week.  Among the many choices, however, this one stands out.  Red just cannot figure out how the Colts have managed to actually win two games until he remembers that they have beaten the Browns and the 49ers.  The Colts chances of beating a less than awful team are less than likely this year.  The Bengals are a bad team with an offense so horrible that a mediocre rookie running back is mouthing off about lack of carries.  Fortunately for the Bengals, the Colts are even worse.  Red can’t wait to see the fireworks when the 28th and 29th ranked offenses take the field.  If you are lucky, you will be temporarily blinded in an industrial accident on Friday and miss out on seeing this Beastly Bowel Battle.  Ten bucks says the World Series games has a higher combined score on Sunday. Cincinnati 5 Indianapolis 2.

Your Red will Watch Anything Game of the Week:  Patriots over Chargers.  The homeless waifs that are the Chargers seemed to find themselves last week in dismantling the Broncos.  Unfortunately, they must travel far to the east and north this week to face the soulless machine that are the Patriots.  The few loyal Chargers fans have hearts ripped out by the third quarter.  Red invokes the triple time zone, latitudinal inverse weather shift hex this week.   New England 42 Los Angeles 24

Your Regular Season Game of the Week: Buccaneers over Panthers.  Bucs season is over if they lose this one.  Bucs have an offense that can beat anyone but seems to struggle in the clutch.  Panthers are a total mystery.  They score 33 and beat the Pats.  They score 9 and beat the Bills.  They score 3 and lose to Bears.  This is your classic regular season game pitting two teams going nowhere in a gladiatorial struggle for the entertainment of a the bored public.  Tampa Bay 35 Carolina 25

Your Presidential Game of the Week: OTNAs over Cowboys. Red will keep picking the Cowboys to lose until they do.  Landover, MD 17 Arlington 13.

Your Accidental Texas Game of the Week: Texans over Seahawks.  Texans have been able to put up some impressive numbers against some unimpressive defenses since Deshaun Watson took over the helm.  The Seahawks are not the Seahawks of Old anymore, but they are still a better than average unit.  The key will be the Texans’ 3rd ranked running attack.  A credible running game will force the S’hawks into more man coverage and then look for Will Fuller to break loose.  Texans have field day with this one.  Houston 36 Seattle 13.  

 

Red Goes to the Movies – Lucky

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The great Harry Dean Stanton’s last major role is in Lucky which came out shortly after his death in September.  The eponymous Lucky is 90 something a WWII veteran living in a small tidy house somewhere in Arizona.  His well ordered life consists of morning Yoga exercises, a walk to the diner for coffee and crossword puzzle, watching game shows, tending his garden and have a couple of Bloody Marias at the local bar that he hasn’t been tossed from for smoking – and lots of smoking and the occasional phone call to a mysterious unknown person.  He has no family, but his friends about town seem to like him.  When he falls down one day, the local doctor (Ed Begley. Jr.) can find nothing wrong with him except that he is old which does get Lucky considering his own immortality.  That is complicated when his tortoise loving friend Hank (David Lynch) is planning for his demise with the help of an estate planning attorney (Ron Livingston).  From there, the movie descends into a conversation on death, the after-life or lack thereof and the contemplation of nothingness and run-away tortoises.  There are a few enchanting moments such as where Lucky spontaneously breaks into singing “Volver” backed up by the Mariachi band and a local birthday party.  That scene is out of character with Lucky and the rest of the movie.  When Mrs. Red asked why that scene was included, Red’s only response was, “so you would be less likely to kill yourself when you left the theater.”  It’s not a sad or happy movie and it ends on a Buddhist theme.  Red gives it two stars and sideways thumb.

Today in Texas History – October 20

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Louisiana Purchase Map

From the Annals of Manifest Destiny –     In 1803, the United States Senate approved the Louisiana Purchase almost doubling the size of the country.  The enormous acquisition allowed continuation of the western migration that characterized the first 100 years of our nation’s history. 

Red’s NFL Picks – Week 7

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Last Week Red was 5-1 on the pure picks putting him at an excellent 23-13 for the season. Against the money line, Red did okay:

Buccaneers to cover –  Bust (but J. Winston went down)

Saints to cover – Paid $

Saints/Lions Under – Bust

Texans to Cover – Paid $

Eagles to Cover – Paid $

Eagles/Panthers Over – Paid $

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia:  On November 28, 1929, Ernie “Big Dog” Nevers scored all 40 points in the Chicago Cardinals’ 40–6 victory over the Bears. Nevers scored on six touchdowns (also an NFL record) and four extra points.

This Week’s Trivia:  Which player kicked the longest field goal in NFL history?  Bonus points for getting the yardage.

Your Ass Kicking Pick of the Week:  Raiders over Chiefs.  The NFL game of the week is not usually on Thursday night, but this has the makings of a barn burner.  The Chiefs came down to earth last week losing to the resurgent Stealers.  The Raiders have struggled and losing to the Chargers is frankly embarrassing even given that “on any given Sunday” nonsense.  Raiders need a win because a 2-5 record will get you an early vacation 9 times out of 10.  Raiders need to figure out what is wrong with the Beast and get offense moving.  Raiders are getting 3.  They probably need more.  If they win it will be close.  Red does like the over at 47.  Oakland 28 KC 27.

Your High Kicking Pick of the Week: 49ers over Cowboys.  Red is high on the real thing – Jesus, Coke Zero and Premium Sausage Sticks – in picking the 0-6 Niners to beat even a sagging 2-3 Cowboys squad.  But a guy can dream can’t he? And there is always the Red Rule – Score 14 points and beat the Cowboys.  Take the Niners and 6 and the under at 47.   Santa Clara 17 Arlington 10.

Your “Kick Me” Pick of the Week: Rams over Cardinals.  The Cards 32nd ranked rushing game got a pick-me-up from Adrian Peterson (of Palestine, Texas) on Sunday.  It’s amazing what you can get for a 6th round draft pick these days. The Cards and AD both needed that one.  Red thinks that continues this season, but not necessarily this week.  The Rams are well balanced and happy to be winning before uncaring “crowds” in the Coliseum.  After this win, the Rams are 5-2 and suddenly a hot ticket in the City of LA.  The Rams getting 3.5 is not the bet of the year, but take it anyway.  Red also likes the over at 47 – but he doesn’t like it a whole lot. Los Angeles 31 Arizona 24

Your Kick Starter Pick of the Week: Bengals over Stealers.  Red has to pick six games every week under this rubric.  Yawn!  Red is sure this game matters to someone, he just doesn’t know who.  The Bengals getting 5 points does get Red’s attention and he will jump on that one given the problems with the Steel ShowerCurtain.  The O/U at 41 is mysterious and opaque and to be avoided.  Cincinnati 23 Pittsburgh 21

Your Kick Butt Pick of the Week: Falcons over Patriots.  The Falcons could easily be like 1-4 as they have been unconvincing in any game this season.  The 4-2 Patriots are on schedule for a less than exhilarating 12 win season.  This is a road bump, however, and if the Falcons can’t get it up for the team that humiliated them before a world-wide audience in February, they need to pack it in and let a real team lead the way in the NFC.  Red takes the Birds and 3.5, but will avoid the hefty 56O/U line. Atlanta 28 (sound familiar?) New England 24.

Your Kickapoo Joy Juice Pick of the Week: Jaguars over Colts.  My how the tables have turned. This one is too easy really.  But who said Red had to work hard on Thursday.  Take the Jags giving up a three-spot and the Jags to cover the over at 43 by their lonesome.  J’ville 44 Indiantown 2.

Today in Texas History – October 19

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From the Annals of the Vandals – In 1889, H.S. Barber carved his name in Devil’s Sinkhole near Rocksprings. The 350 foot deep sinkhole was first encountered by settlers years before, but Barber was the first known person to explore the cave.  The vertical cavern is the largest known single-chamber cavern in Texas. The cave opening is a shaft approximately 50 feet wide with a 140 foot vertical drop into the cavern. The shaft widens to a diameter of over 320 feet and reaches a total depth of over 350 feet. The cave is home  to more than three million Mexican free-tail bats.  It is now part of the Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area and can be visited by making advanced reservations.