Back by popular demand!

Sorry I’ve been away but with the end of I’m just sayin...’s fiscal year coming up (March 1) I had some leave time that I needed to use up.

Let me start off today by wishing long-time I’m just sayin... reader, Ashley, a very Happy Birthday! Ashley turned 34 this past Sunday and I hope she had a great day.

Hey, did you hear Ben Roethlisberger went out last night to a (GASP!) piano bar with some teammates and (GASP!) drank beer! What is the world coming to?! Honestly, what this tells me is that there are too many “news” outlets in this country. I like to listen to sports radio during the day (when not listening to the TKS) and they talked about this waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. If he does something bad... fine, talk about it all day long. But this was nothing.

So, I saw where the leader of Egypt announced he wasn’t going to run in the next election. That’s probably a good idea... though from where I’m sitting in my I’m just sayin... office, I think it might be a good idea for him to run out of Egypt.

As I'm sure you know, today is known as the "Day the Music Died".  To honor this day, the only music I listened to today was Don McLean's American Pie.  If you don't know why today is called the "Day the Music Died", listen to the song and figure it out.  If you still can't figure it out, look it up.  If you still can't figure it out, ask me and I'll tell you (and then probably make fun of you on here... but I'm sure that goes without saying).

It seems some students from one school at a local high school basketball game started chanting “F*** You” to the students at the other school. How does this happen? Who thinks this is a good idea? I would have been scared to death to do something like this. I’m STILL scared to death to do something like this. As their favorite, I usually talk to my parents about once a day. The last thing I want is to call one night and have Mom or Dad say “Mrs. Owens said she saw you at the Winthrop basketball game yelling ‘F*** You’ at fans for the other team”. It seems I’m not the only one to feel this way. There was a discussion of sorts on Facebook the other night about this. It was somewhat funny, knowing what I know about some of the people on there, but most agreed that this kind of thing isn’t good. Listen, I’m not going to tell you I was a saint when I attended or played in sporting events in high school... but I like to think I knew when to watch what I was saying. You don’t even want to guess what kinds of things are said on a baseball field during practice... but you’ve got to know better than to say that stuff when parents and young kids are around. It amazes me that kids can be so stupid sometimes.

Speaking of stupid, an alert I’m just saying... reader let me know about what happened on Jeopardy last night. The Final Jeopardy category was US Presidents and the question was something like Of the 20 presidents elected to a second term, name 2 of the 3 who failed to complete that term.

The answer, of course, is Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley and Richard Nixon. I admit, if you had to name all three, I would have gotten it wrong (I forgot about McKinley)... but I would have gotten 2 out of 3. It seems all three contestants got it wrong. That’s sad, but it’s not the stupid part. One guy guessed Lincoln and Kennedy. Wrong, but I understand it. One guy guessed Nixon and then he went blank. He froze up... it happens. The defending champ (who was also the leader by a good bit going into Final Jeopardy) guessed... wait for it... wait for iiiiitttttt... Nixon and FDR. That’s part 1 of the stupid part. I can understand the other guys only being able to come up with one correct name. But FDR? That really blows my mind. I think Lincoln was shot early in his second term... so I can understand not being sure on him. I think Nixon's problems started late during his first term, so I can understand not being sure about him. Everyone knows Kennedy was shot, so I can see being caught up in the moment and thinking of him. Honestly, FDR? I'm pretty sure he died while in his FOURTH term of office. That's just bad. Part 2 of the stupid part is that she bet everything. So, even though she had a big lead AND the other two guys got the answer wrong... she will not be advancing because the guy who was in 2nd place didn’t bet everything... so he was the only one left with any money at the end of the game. But really, FDR? That’s just dumb.

Winthrop Update: My Eagles have been in a rough patch these past couple of games, but they look to rebound and get back into the win column tonight at Gardner-Webb. Go Eagles!!!!!!!

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Contraband Robert Blake (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 25, 1863 on board the US Steam Gunboat Marblehead in the Stono River. His citation reads:

On board the U.S. Steam Gunboat Marblehead off Legareville, Stono River, 25 December 1863, in an engagement with the enemy on John's Island. Serving the rifle gun, Blake, an escaped slave, carried out his duties bravely throughout the engagement which resulted in the enemy's abandonment of positions, leaving a caisson and one gun behind.

Specialist Fourth Class Michael R. Blanchfield (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3, 1969 at Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Blanchfield distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company A on a combat patrol. The patrol surrounded a group of houses to search for suspects. During the search of 1 of the huts, a man suddenly ran out toward a nearby tree line. Sp4c. Blanchfield, who was on guard outside the hut, saw the man, shouted for him to halt, and began firing at him as the man ignored the warning and continued to run. The suspect suddenly threw a grenade toward the hut and its occupants. Although the exploding grenade severely wounded Sp4c. Blanchfield and several others, he regained his feet to continue the pursuit of the enemy. The fleeing enemy threw a second grenade which landed near Sp4c. Blanchfield and several members of his patrol. Instantly realizing the danger, he shouted a warning to his comrades. Sp4c. Blanchfield unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives and prevent injury to 4 members of the patrol and several Vietnamese civilians in the immediate area. Sp4c. Blanchfield's extraordinary courage and gallantry at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Scout N/A Blanquet (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions during the Winter of 1872-73. His citation reads:

Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches.