Random Thoughts While Downloading Courtney Love Off The Internet

1. ALL THINGS MITCH MUSTAIN ALL OF THE DAMN TIME-  Boy, the chat rooms, bulletin boards and radio call-in shows are abuzz about the news that Springdale High quarterback Mitch Mustain has withdrawn his oral commitment to Arkansas in order to look at other schools.  Most of the callers I heard were high-pissed that this kid would even consider forsaking the good ole U of A for Tennessee or Notre Dame.

Even Wally Hall got into the act in this morning’s Democrat-Gazette.  Wally, whose finger is always gauging the breeze, came down squarely on both sides of the issue.  He conceded that the young man had every right in the world to look at other schools.  However, Wally took it upon himself to counsel Mustain against the two schools he is rumored to want to visit.  Notre Dame is a bad choice because it has too many freshmen quarterbacks coming in.  Tennessee would be an even worse choice, in Wally’s view, because Mustain would be booed unmercifully by Hog fans who would not soon forgive his treachery.

Look, this is ridiculous.  The kid has a right to go where he feels he will be happiest.  If that’s Tennessee,great.  If it’s ND, cool.   I’ll bet that at least a third of the idiots calling for Mustain’s treasonous head never even friggin’ went to college.   This is football, people.  If one freshman player can make or break your squad of 45 guys (or whatever it is) then your team’s problems are worse than what that one guy is gonna be able to fix.

I remember when Keith Jackson outraged Hog fans all over the state when he chose Oklahoma over Kenny Hatfield’s 3 yards and a cloud of dust Razorbacks.  He is the color commentator for the Razorback games.  Houston Nutt himself transferred to Oklahoma State when it was clear to him that he couldn’t run Lou Holtz’s option game.  He’s now the Head Coach for God’s sake!

Everybody is going to live.  Get lives.  Chill.  Leave the kid and his Mother alone.

Act like adults.  Jesus.

1. ANOTHER REASON TO HATE THE HOLIDAYS- Nowadays you are seeing lots of ads from some of the little towns in our fair state, urging you to come do your Christmas shopping there.  This morning I noticed that Camden now has one such ad.  The ad showed antique stores, cafes, gift shops etc.  But my favorite business that was proudly displayed was a pawn shop in downtown Camden that offered free gift wrapping.  I don’t know about you.  But nothing says Christmas for me like free gift wrapping for that second hand Glock 9mm.

1. HUH?-  The Demzette ran a story last Sunday about the new illustrated version of the venerable old “Elements of Style” by Strunk and White.  What the hell.  Maybe somebody will get around to setting the Oxford English Dictionary to music.

1. HERE’S THE REAL REASON MITCH MUSTAIN SHOULDN’T GO TO TENNESSEE- Phil Fulmer screws with the quarterbacks too much.  And David Cutcliffe, the new Offensive Coordinator, has a bad ticker that he undoubtedly acquired while at Ole Miss.  Not a good combination.  Forget Wally.  This is why he shouldn’t go to Tennessee.  

1. PAX TOOKIE-  The State of California executed Stanley “Tookie” Williams last night after about 20 years on Death Row.  Tookie, whom we all can agree had a really pussy nickname for a major criminal, was the founder of the Crips.  If that were not a sufficient feather in his cap, he was convicted of shooting four people to death.  I did not know this until today but back when Tookie was awaiting trial, the authorities learned of a plot to bust him out pendente lite, steal a prison bus and to shoot the cops guarding said bus. Suffice it to say, Governor Schwarzenegger viewed this plan as inconsistent with his historic claims of innocence and denied clemency.

Look, I am opposed to the death penalty.  While I believe that this is a punishment that society can mete out, I believe that it is unfairly done so.  I mean, is there any reason the Menendez brothers are pulling sentences while Tookie is no longer with us?  Further, punishment should be meted out swiftly.  I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago.  Neither was Tookie Williams.  

Having said that, and despite being opposed to the death penalty, I have always maintained if they are going to have capital punishment that some guys “got it comin.’  Stanley Williams had it coming.

I don’t care what Joan Baez says.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to say good bye to a friend.  Well, not to a friend but to a friend’s blog.  Joy Ritchey has announced that she is pulling down the Arkansasmedia blog.  Joy’s blog was funny, smart and occasionally offensive.  It was one of the best ones around and I will miss it.  She said that it was taking too much of her time.  I don’t doubt that.  She worked hard and felt an obligation to her readers to put out a good product.  

She’s young and energetic.  Here’s hoping she recharges her batteries and comes back out here.

And that’s all for now.  I’m off to Camden to buy some pawn shop golf clubs so I can take advantage of the free gift wrapping.