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Showing posts from December, 2008

Replay This: Ditch Instant Replay

In my ongoing attempt to deal with the critical issues of our day ... After considering this for a long time, I've come to the conclusion that the NFL should do away with the instant replay for officials. You heard me. In the Pittsburgh - Baltimore game of December 14, 2008, the game was decided on an official review and the overturning of a call made on the field. With less than a minute left in the game, Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes (Go Bucks!) caught what looked like a touchdown pass to give his team the lead. But while his feet were in the endzone and he clearly had caught the ball, when he came down the ball landed just short of the goal line. The two officials who were looking right down the goal line ruled that the ball should be marked on about the 6-inch line - short of a touchdown. The rule is that the ball has to cross the plane of the goal line. Two officials looking right at it ruled that it hadn't done so. The play was reviewed automatically since there

Gil - I'll Miss You!

Well, it happened. I suppose it was inevitable. I mean - it's been ten years for the guy and I imagine he is tired of the routine. William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI (the original one; not CSI: The Beautiful One [Miami] or CSI: The Bad One [New York]), is leaving the show. We've known this for some time, but last night was the episode in which Grissom announces to his staff that he's leaving. I admit - I teared up. I have no doubt I'll keep watching the show because it's written so intelligently and I have always loved Laurence Fishbourne, who is coming on the show as a new character who will ostensibly replace Grissom. But there is something about Gil that I'll miss terribly. Partly, it's the witty remarks in the opening just before we hear the opening bars of "Who are you?" by the Who. Partly, it's the character being so well-read - philosophy, religion, Shakespeare - and his ability to deliver the right literary observation with

Those blogs you see on the left

You will notice that like many other bloggers, I have a list of blogs posted here that I encourage you to check out. They cover a wide range of interests and are on the list for a variety of reasons. Some are friends, some are folks I don't know but appreciate what they have to say. I especially want to point you to the blog I just added to the list: my attempt at RTV, written by Karen Reider, life partner of the late singer/songwriter Katie Reider who died much too young this past summer. Karen and her boys are trying to pick up the pieces after Katie's death and this blog allows Karen to share the journey with us all. It's a gift to all of us who knew Katie and know Karen, and it's a gift to anyone who has lost someone they hold dear.