Just picks…

I’ve got a big weekend planned… maybe I’ll let you know how it went on Monday (at least the parts that are ok to share). I’m still getting things ready, so I just have time to post my picks today.

The I’m just sayin... Football Predictions

High School
James Island at West Ashley – I’m picking James Island to win this game.

Summerville at Colleton County – I’m picking Summerville to win this game.

Ashley Ridge played last night so I won’t be picking this game this week.

Dorman vs. Woodmont –I’m picking Dorman to win this game.

College
#10South Carolina at #8Arkansas – 7:15pm (ESPN) – It won’t be easy, but I think the Revolutionary War Heroes will find a way to win this difficult SEC road game.

#11Clemson – The Tigers are off this week.

Navy vs. Troy – 3:30pm (CBS Sports Network) – I’m picking Navy to win this game.

CSU vs. Stony Brook – 1:30pm – I’m picking Stony Brook to win this game.

Wyoming vs. TCU – 12:00pm MT (The Mtn. HD)– I’m picking TCU to win this game.

Appalachian State at Furman – 1:30pm – I’m picking Appalachian State to win this game.

NFL
Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore – 8:20pm (NBC) – I think the Steelers will get some revenge in this game. I’m picking Pittsburgh to win.

Miami at Kansas City – 1:00pm (CBS) – I’m picking Kansas City to win this game.


Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Corporal David B. Champagne (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 28, 1952 in Korea. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Advancing with his platoon in the initial assault of the company against a strongly fortified and heavily defended hill position, Cpl. Champagne skillfully led his fire team through a veritable hail of intense enemy machine gun, small-arms, and grenade fire, overrunning trenches and a series of almost impregnable bunker positions before reaching the crest of the hill and placing his men in defensive positions. Suffering a painful leg wound while assisting in repelling the ensuing hostile counterattack, which was launched under cover of a murderous hail of mortar and artillery fire, he steadfastly refused evacuation and fearlessly continued to control his fire team When the enemy counterattack increased in intensity, and a hostile grenade landed in the midst of the fire team, Cpl. Champagne unhesitatingly seized the deadly missile and hurled it in the direction of the approaching enemy. As the grenade left his hand, it exploded blowing off his hand and throwing him out of the trench. Mortally wounded by enemy mortar fire while in this exposed position, Cpl. Champagne, by his valiant leadership, fortitude, and gallant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his fellow marines. His heroic actions served to inspire all who observed him and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Sergeant Henry F. Chandler (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Though seriously wounded in a bayonet charge and directed to go to the rear he declined to do so, but remained with his regiment and helped to carry the breastworks.

Coxswain James B. Chandler (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 while on board the USS Richmond. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Cool and courageous although he had just come off the sick list, Chandler rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged action as his ship maintained accurate fire against Fort Morgan and ships of the Confederacy despite extremely heavy return fire. He participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, with the Chalmette batteries, at the surrender of New Orleans and in the attacks on batteries below Vicksburg.

Happy November

Wow… It’s already November! Before we get too far into this post, let me take a minute to wish my Uncle Keith a very happy (late) birthday! His birthday was this past Sunday, but I didn’t have a chance to post anything on here until now. HAPPY (late) Birthday Uncle Keith!

We at I’m just sayin… hope you had a fun Halloween. I was going to take Mary Ruth trick-or-treating last night, but she decided she would rather hand out candy. She’s such a sweet girl always thinking about others first… reminds me of me. Here are a couple of pictures from this past Saturday. Our babysitter called us wanting to know if she could take the girls (free of charge) to the trunk-or-treat thing that was going on at the church where Susie and Daniel go to day care. Susie is a witch and Mary Ruth is a princess. I didn’t pick out the costumes but it’s hard to argue with how it played out. Daniel is dressed as a football player (and like the other football players in that uniform that night, he didn’t do much). Haha. I was dressed as a “River Float Gorilla”. The number on my shirt is 29475… that’s the zip code of the river float I went on a couple of years ago.

So, I learned Saturday night that The Wife takes a sporting event loss a lot harder than I do. She was not happy after the Clemson game this past Saturday night. I guess these past nine years have conditioned me for losing more than they have her. She sees the loss and gets mad. I see it, and then put a DVD in of the 2002 Clemson/Ga. Tech game and watch it. Clemson won that game and my friend Tony Elliott had 3 catches (one for a TD). Does that make up for this loss? No… but it made me feel better and that’s what really matters (to me). As far as this past Saturday night… I was more upset that Brent and Herbie were calling the Stanford/other-USC game and not this one. Oh well… maybe if the Tigers and Revolutionary War Heroes win out, they will be the announcers for that game.

Some post-Halloween thoughts:

*If you are at the age where you are too “cool” to wear a costume and/or say “trick or treat”, then you are too “cool” to get candy from me.

*There is NO REASON for anyone in my neighborhood to drive to trick or treat. As if childhood obesity isn’t bad enough.

*If someone gives you candy, say thank you.

*If you put a bowl of candy out on the porch with a sign that says “Take One”… don’t think for a minute that kids will just take one. I mean really, that’s like putting a bowl of candy in front of Scooby and expecting him not to eat any because there’s a sign that says “Not for you, Donkey”.

*If your porch light is on, don’t get mad if kids come knocking on your door.

*If the porch light is off, don’t knock on the door.

*I don’t know what the rules are at other houses as far as when trick-or-treating should start or end, but here’s how it is at my house. We “open” for kids a little after 6:00pm (after we’re done eating supper), but should anyone come before then I will give them candy. Why? Because it’s usually the smallest kids that come around early. I turn off the lights and close the door at 8:30pm. Why? Because I don’t feel the need to keep my house open any later than that to hand out candy. When I ran a store with paying customers, I closed at 6:00pm… so I think I’m being pretty dang generous keeping my light on until 8:30 to give some kid (and at that time of night, usually an older kid) candy.

*If you really don’t want kids to trick or treat at your house, just put apples out every year. After a few years of doing that, kids will start walking by your house like it isn’t even there. Trust me… or ask Sonny or No-Name Teri if you don’t believe me.

The I’m just sayin... Football Predictions Results

High School
James Island vs. Stratford – I picked Stratford to win and I was RIGHT! JI lost, 0-31.

Summerville vs. Beaufort – I picked Summerville to win this game and I was WRONG! Summerville lost, 7-17.

Ashley Ridge at Goose Creek – I picked Goose Creek to win this game and I was RIGHT! Ashley Ridge lost, 3-65.

Dorman at Byrnes –I picked Dorman to win this game and I was WRONG! Dorman lost, 10-31.

College
#14South Carolina at Tennessee – I picked USC to win this game and I was RIGHT! The Revolutionary War Heroes won, 14-3.

#6Clemson at Georgia Tech – I picked Clemson to win this game and I was WRONG! Clemson lost, 17-31.

Navy at Notre Dame – I picked Navy to win this game and I was WRONG! Navy lost, 14-56.

CSU at Gardner-Webb – I picked Gardner-Webb to win this game and I was RIGHT! CSU lost, 7-14.

Wyoming at San Diego State – I picked Wyoming to win this game and I was RIGHT! Wyoming won, 30-27.

Appalachian State vs. Georgia Southern – I picked Appalachian State to win this game and I was RIGHT! Appalachian State won, 24-17.

NFL
Pittsburgh vs. New England – I picked Pittsburgh to win this game and I was RIGHT! The Steelers won, 25-17.

Miami at New York Giants – I picked NY to win this game and I was RIGHT! Miami lost, 17-20.

I’m just sayin… Football Prediction Record

High School: 29-9

College: 38-9

NFL: 10-5

Overall: 77-23


Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Second Lieutenant Orville T. Chamberlain (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 20, 1863 at Chickamauga, Georgia. His citation reads:

While exposed to a galling fire, went in search of another regiment, found its location, procured ammunition from the men thereof, and returned with the ammunition to his own company.

Private Joseph P. Chambers (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 25, 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of colors of 1st Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

Colonel Justice M. Chambers (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions from February 19-22, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 3d Assault Battalion Landing Team, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 to 22 February 1945. Under a furious barrage of enemy machinegun and small-arms fire from the commanding cliffs on the right, Col. Chambers (then Lt. Col.) landed immediately after the initial assault waves of his battalion on D-day to find the momentum of the assault threatened by heavy casualties from withering Japanese artillery, mortar rocket, machinegun, and rifle fire. Exposed to relentless hostile fire, he coolly reorganized his battle-weary men, inspiring them to heroic efforts by his own valor and leading them in an attack on the critical, impregnable high ground from which the enemy was pouring an increasing volume of fire directly onto troops ashore as well as amphibious craft in succeeding waves. Constantly in the front lines encouraging his men to push forward against the enemy's savage resistance, Col. Chambers led the 8-hour battle to carry the flanking ridge top and reduce the enemy's fields of aimed fire, thus protecting the vital foothold gained. In constant defiance of hostile fire while reconnoitering the entire regimental combat team zone of action, he maintained contact with adjacent units and forwarded vital information to the regimental commander. His zealous fighting spirit undiminished despite terrific casualties and the loss of most of his key officers, he again reorganized his troops for renewed attack against the enemy's main line of resistance and was directing the fire of the rocket platoon when he fell, critically wounded. Evacuated under heavy Japanese fire, Col. Chambers, by forceful leadership, courage, and fortitude in the face of staggering odds, was directly instrumental in insuring the success of subsequent operations of the 5th Amphibious Corps on Iwo Jima, thereby sustaining and enhancing the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.