Time is passing; are you?

With all due respect to John Lennon:

"I read the news today oh, boy 
About a lucky man who made the grade 
And though the news was rather sad

He always made us laugh"

Artie Donovan passed last night at the age of 89. And while you always expect it, you don't at the same time if that makes sense. Art played in the 1950's to the early 60's. He played at a time when players were larger than life but nearly all of the players held off season jobs to make ends meet.

Art was a huge man with the nickname "Fatso" that was given to him by his teammates. "He may have been a huge man with the personality of a clown but a lot of opposing players got religion playing against him" once said Baltimore writer John Steadman.

Art was the son of Arthur Donovan, Sr., a famed boxing referee, and the grandson of Professor Mike Donovan, the world middleweight boxing champion in the 1870s. Art stated in his 1987 book "Fatso" his father's longtime dream was to go back to Ireland and discover a red hair tall boxer that had a devastating left hook that would be heavyweight champion.

In each of Art's first three seasons he played for a team which went out of business. He 
began his career with the first Baltimore Colts that folded after the 1950 season, his first

year in the league. Then he moved to the New York Yanks in 1951 who promptly moved to Dallas and became the first Texans franchise in 1952. Donovan always stated that team was the worst he played for. He went on to comment about 2 games that the Texans played the Rams in that 1952 season when the Rams out scored them 147 to 0. After one year in Dallas the Texans moved to Baltimore and again became the Colts. But this time they had better ownership and a great coach Weeb Ewbank and an unknown quarterback by the name of John Constantine Unitas. The Colts started to build with players that would make All-Pro, some would go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

In 1958 the Colts won the NFL championship on December 28, 1958, by defeating the New York Giants 23–17 in sudden death overtime. It was the first overtime game in NFL history,and is often referred to as the "greatest game ever played". The game, nationally televised by NBC, has been credited for sparking the rise in popularity of professional football during the 1960s. As Gino Marchetti once stated "it wasn't the greatest game ever played. It was the first championship game to go into sudden death overtime. It was, however, the greatest game the league NEEDED to propel it into the national spotlight".

In 1959 the Colts repeated their championship, beating the Giants again 31–16 in the title game. Art was one of the stars in the Colts outstanding defense and was selected to five straight Pro Bowls, from 1953 through 1957.

With the Colts having great teams and great players, the town of Baltimore began a love affair with their Colts that is there to this day. This must have been a glorious, yet innocent time in NFL history. Art retired after the 1961 season and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

I got to see John Unitas play, starting in the 1969 season and saw he and the Colts win Super Bowl V with Jim O'Brien's last second FG. Though it was the end of his career he was still spectacular. I remember what was his last (and probably Joe Namath as well) great game. On September 24, 1972, at Memorial Stadium, the Grand Old Lady on 33rd Street, Johnny U. threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns, and Joe Willie Namath three for 496 yards and six touchdowns in a 44–34 Jets victory. We got that game locally and it was fantastic. There was no jealousy on this Colts team. They all accepted Unitas as their leader and Artie always stated his love and respect for Unitas.

I began to learn of Art through his days at NFL Films and his hilarious stories. I purchased his autobiography, Fatso, in 1987. I would encourage you to read this book. It is funny as hell and it is a view through the NFL in the 1950's. I was also a big fan of the NBC Late Night with David Letterman. This was back when Letterman was actually funny and not so damn political. Donovan appeared on Dave's show 10 times telling those stories and more and Dave was fascinated with Artie. He bought and managed a country club up till he passed.

Art also provided color on the Baltimore Colts radio broadcasts in the 1970's.

Artie died yesterday, August 4, 2013 at Stella Maris Hospice in Baltimore from a respiratory disease at age 88. He is survived by his wife, a sister; a son, Arthur J. Donovan III of New York City; daughters Debbie Donovan Smith of Towson, Maryland; Christine Donovan of McLean, Virginia; Mary Donovan O'Hern and Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli, both of Lutherville; and seven grandchildren.


I guess this is where I say rest in peace but I know that the old Colts are having a great reunion and heaven is laughing so much that tears are rolling down the cheeks.

We all should have been blessed to live this kind of life.

My junior high school science teacher always said to her students: "Time is passing; are you?" I guess she should have ask us that about life as well.

Day Trippin'; Issue 4 (House Call)

Gotta good reason.........

Was there ever a cooler geek than

Gregory House, MD?

And finally, what everyone should learn and take away from this show:

Amen, Dr. House.

AMEN

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  So until next time K-Nation....

"Tarzan go now;

Swing away on vines!"

(Watch out for that tree!)

TWO Dogs Lives Here

TWO Dogs Lives Here

My dogs and I live in this house. You are welcome to come and visit me anytime but WE have a few things that you must understand before you visit:

You must expect a few dog hairs to stick to your clothes. I vacuum and clean on a regular basis, but remember; two dogs live in this house too.

You may be licked and given a paw a few times but they do this because they love people and want to say "Hello", so if you feel that you are too good for their love then you may not feel welcome here because this is their home too. My dogs are well mannered and very clean but if you are one of those people who think ALL animals are dirty and smelly then you and I will probably have difficulty feeling comfortable during your visit.

If you don't like the sound of barking, then my home is not likely to be a pleasant place for you.  My dogs protects me by letting me know I have a visitor. Whether it be a friend or uninvited stranger. If you are a friend, my dogs will consider you her friend too but if you are an unwelcome guest, my dogs will protect me with their lives as I would theirs.

Do not expect me to lock my dogs in another room during your visit. I have trained my dogs well so they will not do anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject them to feel as if they are being punished by locking them away for no reason. That is cruel.

When you walk in my home, be careful not to trip on a squeaky toy or a bone. These are my dogs little treasures and I will not take them away from them just to show you that I keep a clean house.  they know where all of their toys are. They may not look like much to you, but to them they are worth more than gold. deal with it.

You see, this is OUR home. We have been together for a long time. Through bad times they stand with me and now through good times they are there as well. I raised both of them into well mannered, beautifully behaved dogs. I am proud of both of them.

I consider both of them my personal gift from God. they have done nothing but give me their endless love and devotion for many years. I love them dearly and want to make their years happy ones as happy as they have made mine.

When you go home to your family, they stay here with me. a fine and loving companion, they ARE MY family and I wouldn't change that for the world.

When I was sick, they stayed right by my side as I did theirs when either one was not having a good day. Better friends I could not ask for. When no one else cared, they did. They have given me nothing but pure joy and I love them endlessly.

So please understand that I am not being rude. I'm just looking out for my best friends.

~ unknown

(I don't know who wrote this but may God bless you, your pets, your family and your home.)

"Bless the beasts and the children

For in this world they have no voice

They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children

For the world can never be

The world they see

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them

And give them love, let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from the storm

Keep them safe, keep them warm

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them

And give them love, let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from the storm

Keep them safe, keep them warm

Bless the beasts and the children"

Another Quarter Is Here!

So it is June 30, 2013. 

At midnight tonight the calendar will roll over to July 1st and another quarter at Strayer University will begin. But unlike the other quarters at Strayer, this one will be different. For this one will push me over to get my Associates Degree in Computer Science. Now granted, I will stay in school to achieve my goal of a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Computer Science. But you cannot reach a trifecta without hitting the first one.

I got off to a rough start at Strayer in 2009. I was in the hospital for 45 days during that summer quarter and suffered a mild stroke during the fall quarter. That was really tough on me. The stroke initially affected my speech and memory. But as the days and weeks went on I gained it back and decided to enroll my winter classes on campus. In reflection that decision changed my life. When the year of 2010 would end, I would be so different that I was on January 1, 2010.

I took my first English and Math classes in the winter quarter of 2010 (Jan-Mar 2010). There I met Tiffany Leslie and Kristen Call who would eventually enter my circle of friends. During the spring quarter we were all in the Intro to Business course and we all got closer. Then in the summer quarter, I hit the jackpot in my Intro to Programming class. I think it was the second week when a guy walked in wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers shirt. I told him I was a lifelong Pittsburgh fan and we began talking and a friendship was stuck that day. His name was Bob Santmyer and though I didn't know it that day, I had made not only a friend, but a BEST friend.

The funny thing about that class was sitting in front of me was to be another BEST friend of mine. His name was Scott Hager. We all pulled together our intelligence, or lack thereof, and got through the class.

What was spooky to me was Scott lived about 3 miles away from me. Even more spookier was that Bob lived about 1/3 of a mile from me and in the winter when all of the leaves have fallen we can see each other's homes. I am as close to those two than anyone I have ever been. They are great friends and Tiffany has been a daughter to me.

My son is such a waste of talent, literally no ambition. Am I being hard on him? You damn right I am. But maybe I shouldn't be that hard. His mother always told me that "no one comes between me and my child". Well, as soon as she started her stuff, he wasn't allowed in her apartment, now house. But he is now such a loser, like his mother. I blame her for ALL of it.It appears to me that the Johnson's (her family) will always choose the path of least resistance. Patrick has chosen to lead the life of "trash". Looking back I can see why everyone tried to tell me about her. But when you are on the inside you can never make the intelligence decisions. 

Patrick always figured that he was going to get everything my parents owned.  Well, that was never the case, me being an only child. But I can tell you I seen the old will and the new will. It was always made out to me, lock, stock and barrel and still is. I recently added on to my will. If something happens to me and my parents are not here, he is going to be in for one hellacious downer and someone out there is going to get the happiest surprise of their life. I no longer put up with that shit. I have washed my hands of the entire Johnson family. Sadly, Patrick has half of that blood in him. And until the medical profession finds a "cure" for his situation, he will always be on the outside looking in. The rules of the game has not changed. If you do something to me you have to have the guts and gonads to come and sit down and talk to me face to face, eye to eye. Phone calls are NOT allowed. I don't answer phones nor respond to text. That's my little rule.

Now on the other hand, Tiffany is so driven and her grades will tell you that. She loves her husband, Ryan and her two kids, Michael and Haley and what I respect about her and Ryan is they build their lives around those kids. You don't see that too much in this world today and they have all of my admiration for it. Anytime they need any kind of help, I will always be there for them.

I also met Jennifer Kennedy and through her met her husband Scott Kennedy who is just a great friend as well. He keeps me loose and laughing through days I really don't want to laugh. I found out that Scott was a really great guy.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't put Beth "Bethy Bug" Greter in here as well. She is a really great friend to me and she is someone that I know I can rely on day to day. She doesn't take any shit off of me and I like that. Again, just lives down the street from me.

What were the odds?

So there you are... these are my "peeps" as they say today and I love all of them.

So tomorrow will begin a huge 11 weeks for me. I want this so bad I can taste it now.

I think of two quotes I like:

Vince Lombardi once said "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender".

Frank Sinatra once said "The only revenge is massive success".

Looks like I am going to find out what that is like.

Unlike 1998 and Michelin, no one is going to reap the benefits of my success this time, other than yours truly. (And two canines and maybe someone else out there who embodies the word "class".)

I am the one who God has looked down and blessed. All I know is someone up there must really like me. Sometimes I think God lets loves ones in Heaven place their fingers on our lives. If that is the case, I will take it the distance because my both of my grandmothers are there. He has blessed me with all these friends and though I lost my son, he gave me a daughter and son-in-law who I pledge to help anyway and anytime I can. 

I sincerely love you all! 

So it's 11:30pm and WE'RE OFF!!

Good luck Strayer University students for the Summer 2013 Quarter!

  ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲


  So until next time K-Nation....

"Tarzan go now;

Swing away on vines!"

Day Trippin'; Issue 3

"Got a good reason"

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Yep, damn skippy!

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This is something my friend Scott Kennedy would think up. Necessity is truly the mother of invention!

       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

Self Explanatory.

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I can hear U2 singing in the distance!!

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Self explanatory!! 

CLICK HERE for a Word From MY Sponsor!

       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

....and this, my friends, is how Karma works.

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       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

Immediately my thoughts went to Hannah "Montana" Thomas and Sarah "I Be Bad" Jane.

       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

Let this picture be a warning to you.... do NOT

ever let Tiffany or Kristen touch you. NEVER.

Be afraid..... be VERY afraid!!!!

       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

Amen! We are fascinated by Boobs!

So shut up Hannah!

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This looks like crazy shit my former son would have done.

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And Finally......

Now another word from our sponsor!!

       ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲ ✙ ✙ ➲ ➲

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the passing of NFL great Deacon Jones on Tuesday at age 74. Deacon was one-fourth of the L.A. Rams great

front four known as the Fearsome Foursome. The Foursome was made up of Deacon, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy. Now only Rosey Grier, age 80, survives. Even though his age was a factor, Hall of Fame defensive back Lem Barney thinks that head injuries played apart in it and that the NFL does not do enough to protect these guys after football.

I agree with Mr. Barney, in that all of the injuries these players sustained throughout their shorten careers, the NFL, being a multi BILLION dollar business should do the right thing and step up for these guys who have made their industry so viable. If you throw away all of the TV contracts the NFL has and just look at the billions made per year in the NFL Properties department, no one has to buy a ticket to the game for this league to still kick ass.

Year ago the late Tex Schramm once said the NFL would do just that and that the stadiums could be a studio. Well Tex... the league that you and Pete Rozelle envisioned is here. Now take care of the guys who paid the price making that league for all owners.

Rest in peace Deacon.

I prefer to remember Deacon this way:

Miller Lite Commercial #1

Miller Lite Commercial #2

The "Deac"

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So until next time K-Nation....

"Tarzan go now;

Swing away on vines!"

No K-Bytes again. 

Writing my damn term paper on Religion.
The countdown for the first goal, my Associates Degree is just 11 more weeks. 
Do YOU have so much as an Associates Degree? I didn't think so. 
(**This is in NO way, shape or form intended for all of you card carrying members of the 
K-Nation).