By Jim Vallet and Robert Perea
As I write this, it’s the 11th day of the 11th month, Veterans’ Day. I had to turn CNN and Fox News off because I’m tired of slanting news stories to fit a certain narrative. I’m tired of being told our country is heading towards authoritarianism on one channel and being fed that everything’s better now than a year ago on another. I’m tired of meanness and pettiness. I want to think of what really made America great. I want to talk about heroes. Real heroes who sacrificed, some of whom gave, “The last full measure”.
Ted Williams was one of the best hitters ever, period. He played 18 seasons in the majors and, despite missing four years of what should have been his prime to serve in the United States Navy and Marine Corps, hit 521 major league home runs and drove in over 1,800 runs. He was the last major leaguer to hit over.400 in a season.
Who knows what Ted Williams would have done had he followed today’s heroes advice and done, “What’s best for me and my family”, or not joined the ranks of, “Losers and suckers”. But, he didn’t. Instead, he earned the equivalent of 6 Air Medals, 2 different Campaign Medals, the National Defense Ribbon, and several unit citations flying combat missions in two wars.
That’s heroic.
James Stewart had established himself as a great actor when the United States entered WWII, and, a few months after Pearl Harbor, voluntarily entered the United States Army Air Force in 1942. Stewart, who was 33 at the time, was too old for regular pilot training. Instead of saying, “I tried” and going home, Stewart applied for and received special consideration because he already had a commercial pilot’s license. This American hero then asked for, and received, a combat flying assignment when he could have made patriotic films. He then went on to serve 6 years in the Army Air Forces, rising to the rank of Brigadier General before transferring to the newly formed United States Air Force Reserve. Jimmy Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, today’s equivalent of four Air Medals, and the French Croix de Guerre with palm. James Stewart continued to serve in the USAF Reserve until 1968.
That’s heroic.
Pat Tillman was a four year NFL veteran in May of 2002 when he decided to reject the Arizona Cardinals’ 3.6 million dollar contract offer in order to join the United States Army. The year before, Tillman had rejected a 9 million dollar offer from the then St. Louis Rams out of loyalty to the Cardinals. After participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Tillman completed Ranger School later that same year. Pat Tillman was KIA in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004.
I’ve got to believe that, if he were a college player today, Pat Tillman would have played in his school’s bowl game out of loyalty.
That’s heroic.
According to The Military Times, about 17% of the members of the current US Congress served in the armed forces, down from the approximately 18% of the prior Congress. That number has been decreasing for some time. Although 31 of the 45 men who served as president had military service, there have been no veterans in the Oval Office since George W. Bush.
Is it a problem that there are less politicians that are veterans than before?
I think it is, but probably not for the reason one might think. I believe everyone needs to contribute to society. Service in the armed forces is one way.
The dichotomy for me is that we live in a free society where we have the right to choose whether we serve anyone or anything or not, and I’m happy I do.
But if not me, who? Can I trust that there will always be a cadre of people like Ted Williams, James Stewart or Pat Tillman to do the bidding of our nation if I won’t? There always has been in the past, right?
I’m really worried that entitlement has become a part of our society, and that extends to more than just joining the military. I don’t think there is any job that I am “too good for”. I think the only thing I deserve is the right to be treated like a human being, and beyond that anything I get I have to earn. If nobody picks up trash or cleans toilets…
To me, Veterans’ Day is about service. We’ve always had people willing to serve something that’s greater than themselves in the past. I hope that we will be able to say that in the future.
As a veteran, I view all the, “Thank you for your service” wishes I get through the lens of time. When I was in the Air Force, many ridiculed us as “war mongers” and “baby killers”. In the ‘70s, we were easily identifiable by our haircuts as well as our bearing, and many of us were subject to harassment. It didn’t happen to me, but a fellow veteran had a bag of feces hurled at him as a “welcome home” from Vietnam. Now, I get to stand and be recognized at church and at sporting events while my grandson’s Kindergarten class writes me thank you notes. Times have changed but serving was the best thing for me then as well as now. Our country is great because of our people, we need people willing to serve to continue being great.
I’m not sure how much I’m serving gamblers with my picks, or even if someone is foolhardy enough to listen to me. But this year has been good, and I’ll try again to pick winners against the point spread. Lines are from espn.com on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
New England Patriots (-11 ½) vs New York Jets: The Jets haven’t lost in three weeks! Say that while you still can.
Miami Dolphins (-2 ½) vs Washington Commanders: At this point in their season, the Commanders can boast of being better fighters than football players. Maybe that’s the problem, because punching someone in his football helmet is not a smart thing to do.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-5 ½) vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Like I said, the Steelers will beat bad teams and get beat by the good ones.
Chicago Bears (+2 ½) at Minnesota Vikings: The Bears are hot, J.J. McCarthy is not.
Los Angeles Rams (-2 ½) vs Seattle Seahawks: This should be a good one. Both teams are good, but I’ll take Matthew Stafford over Sam Darnold.
Kansas City Chiefs (-3 ½) at Denver Broncos: Another good one. The Chiefs have been great coming off their bye, and the Broncos seem to have a hitch in their giddy-up.
Dallas Cowboys (-3 ½) at Las Vegas Raiders: Betting on the Cowboys is always risky, but betting on the Raiders is riskier.
Last week 5-2
Season 38-25
Robert’s picks
Air Force (+7) at Connecticut: UConn is 7-3 and averages 36.9 points per game, against an Air Force team that allows 33 points per game. But the list of teams UConn has beaten, other than their 3-point win over Duke last week, isn’t very impressive. Of particular interest here is that the Huskies allowed 300 yards rushing on 56 carries against Rice’s version of the triple option three weeks ago, and Air Force is a lot better at it than Rice. UConn may well win, but they’re going to give up yards and points in bunches too, and I can’t see a two-score win happening here.
Tulsa (+2 ½) over Oregon St.: I might be a sicko, but this game is just too fascinating for me to pass up. You are probably a lot smarter than me and weren’t watching last week when Oregon State outgained Sam Houston St. 474 to 157 and still managed to lose the game, giving up a blocked punt for the winning touchdown. That was after Sam Houston St. returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. Sam Houston St. came into that game 0-8. Tulsa is pretty bad, but Oregon St. has no business being favored on the road, over anybody.
San Diego St. (-3) over Boise St.: I thought last year that Ashton Jeanty was so good, he covered up a lot of flaws on an otherwise mediocre Boise St. team. But now they’re without quarterback Maddux Madsen, who got hurt early in the game against Fresno St., and without him they got rolled 30-7. Meanwhile, San Diego St. went to Hawaii last week but left their motivation at home and got blasted 38-6. But back home, in a battle for first place that they were looking ahead to last week, I think their defense will take advantage of an inexperienced backup QB.
Steelers (-5 ½) over Bengals: After losing three of the last four games while their offense disappeared, along comes a Bengals defense that can’t get off the field. Or at least, usually doesn’t until the other team has crossed the goal line. This seems like a spot for the up and down Steelers to hit a peak and avenge their loss to the Bengals a month ago.
Chargers (-3) at Jaguars: These two teams have pretty similar strengths as far as their statistical profiles go, but everything the Jaguars are best at statistically, the Chargers are better at. I expect Jim Harbaugh to have the Chargers ready for a strong effort leading into their bye week with a chance to come out of this week tied for first in the AFC West, if the Chiefs beat the Broncos.
Chiefs (-3 ½) at Broncos: Speaking of the Chiefs, that’s exactly what I expect them to do. The Chiefs are off their bye, and everyone has heard their stellar record under Andy Reid after a bye. The Broncos win close game after close game, but this is the type of situation I call a smackdown game, where an established contender shows the upstart it still has a way to go.
Last week
College 1-2
NFL 2-1
Season
College 15-17-1
NFL 15-16
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