Good morning. Many of us use sports as an escape from the daily grind of life. As a Jets and Notre Dame fan, I use the daily grind to escape from sports. I had a brutal week last week; I screwed up at work, found out my house has termites, and stepped on a thorn (had to go to the urgent care center for that). Since I retired from Friday night happy hours about a decade ago, I was in need of something to do to help put the week behind me. I decided to go to a local high school football game. Forest Hill High School is right down the street from me and they are bad. I mean historically bad. The Falcons hold the Florida state record for consecutive losses, dropping 43 straight from 1999 through 2003. They were currently on a 37 game losing streak, and had only won 4 games all decade. This is the same school that Otis “O.J.” Anderson graduated from, they were very good in the 60’s and 70’s.

My wife was out with some friends so I drove over for the 7 pm kick. Parking was $3, (I was surprised they still charged, I mean they haven’t won since 2005), and the ticket was $5. I dropped $2 for a program and climbed up about 3/4 of the way to the top of the bleachers at the 50, preparing to witness a massacre. The Falcons took the kick off and promptly drove 75 yards in 5 plays capped off by a 30 yard run for a TD. The point after hit the upright, but a guy sitting a few rows in front of me declared it was their first lead of the season.

They then trotted 10 guys out for the kick off and 90 yards later, the lead was gone. The extra was good and it was 7-6. It stayed 7-6 through halftime (the band played Zeppelin and Hendrix, I was impressed), Forest Hill lost a touchdown on a holding call, but the defense was playing well.

The third quarter came and went with no scoring, lots of penalties and tons of bad punts. With about 5 minutes left, their opponent snapped a ball 10 feet over the punters head and the Falcons were in business, 1st and 10 at the 30. Sack. 2nd and 18 at the 38. Sack. 3 and 27 at the 47. They ran a screen and picked up about 15, but got bailed out on a defensive holding call! 1st and 10 at about the 25. The QB had a guy wide open in the end zone but overthrew him. On second down, they ran a draw and picked up 9. On 3rd and 1, the QB made a perfect pass to the back corner of the end zone and……………………..holy crap the kid caught it, 12-7 lead with 1:40 on the clock! They missed a 2 point conversion, but had 11 guys on the field for the kickoff this time, and they needed all 11 because the last kid back saved the game (temporarily) with a shoestring stop at the 40.

Their opposing team then started to drive straight down the field. 12 yards. 16 yards. 11 yards. All of a sudden they were at the 25 with a minute on the clock. The QB ran a sweep keeper and got hit as hard as I’ve ever seen a high school kid get hit. Helmet to helmet, the dood was out cold. Not moving at all. Flags everywhere. After about 10 seconds he woke up, got up and wobbled off the field, after the penalty it was 1st and goal at the 8. The back up threw to the end zone and it was batted down and……………..pass interference, 1st and goal at the 4, 35 seconds left. The Falcons were done, they were gonna lose again. No one on the team had EVER won a game and with the next 2 opponents playoff bound, it looked as if the seniors would graduate winless.

And then it happened. The pass that was going to break these kids hearts was caught, caught by the middle linebacker! He collapsed in the end zone, the Falcons had done it. They offense ran on the field with 20 seconds left to run the victory formation. Of course they had never done it before and screwed it up, got called for having 6 men in the backfield. They got it right the second time and the victory was secured. The cheerleaders, band and students rushed the filed. Many of the parents were crying. The coach got Gatorade’d. It was effin’ awesome. Forest Hill had won a game! They were on the front page of the paper today! And I was there. My shitty week was forgotten. I even bought a Falcon hat.

Gut wrenching end to a gut wrenching week. Class shown by West Virginia all around.

Memo to the boss, I’ll take a pay cut if we add this dood to the staff.

Trust me on this, guilty or not, this kid’s problems are only just beginning.

People really need to chill out. I mean, is it totally not plausible that Juan eats Mexican food? Hell, Mexican food is freaking awesome, I eat twice a week.

Larry Bird is smiling.

I hate the Phillie’s, but I always root for the NL, would love to see this.

They are giving up less than 9 points a game, have lost 1 game to a top 5 team, were preseason top 10. Why are Big 10 teams punished so severely when they lose? Meanwhile, we have the SEC rammed down our throat. Beating Tennessee on the last play of the game? Watching Tebow throw touchdowns to Mississippi State all night as well as getting more gifts from the zebra’s. Real impressive.

I’m no Dick Rod fan, but the guy had nothing to do with Michigan’s total lack of class when ousting Carr.

Maybe Mason wants a new job? He may actually be worse than Zook.

BCS worthy.

NFL Picks: Last Week 1-1, Overall 7-5-1. I told you the Chiefs would win. I also must say taking the Giants was first total miss of the year. This week is tough as almost every home team is a dog.
Atlanta +4.5 over Dallas. This is not a gimme, as many believe it is. I do think the line is slanted a little bit however because Dallas fans are idiots and bet on their team every week. Dallas 20, Falcons 19.
Giants -7.5 over Arizona. The Gints bit me last week, but I still think the Cards won’t travel 3 time zones east and win. Its a night game, and Zona can’t run the ball. Kurt is a statue, Giants 37, Cards 20

Just Because: Craigslist rules! This is just funny.

patphish is a senior writer for Sparty and Friends. Email him at patphish@spartyandfrineds.com .

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