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Daily Speculations The Web Site of Victor Niederhoffer & Laurel Kenner Dedicated to the scientific method, free markets, deflating ballyhoo, creating value, and laughter; a forum for us to use our meager abilities to make the world of specinvestments a better place. |
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12/01/04
It's Just a Game: Part 1, by Tim Melvin
At the Naval Academy this week, as has been the case in 104 previous years
throughout one of the greater rivalries in all of sports, the primary focus
is on beating Army. But a palpable sense of pause has grabbed the coaches and
players, who are thinking often these days about J.P., the young man who was
all about sacrifice, the young warrior who died doing exactly what he had
set out to do.
When word came three weeks ago that James Blecksmith, a 2003 graduate and
second lieutenant in the Marines, had been gunned down on Veterans Day in
Iraq by a sniper during the takeover of Fallujah, football got kicked down
the priority list. One of their heroes was gone.
And the Midshipmen, especially the seniors who soon will embark on
obligatory five-year commissions, were left with a taste of what could await
them in a world considerably more perilous than the day they arrived in
Annapolis four years ago.
"When you're here for four years, your mind-set about life in general
changes," Jenkins said. "The longer you're here, the more you start to grasp
what your job is going to be. You grow up fast."
The reality checks are unrelenting. Two weeks ago, the seniors, who
committed to their military duties two years ago and will graduate in May,
chose their service assignments. Smith will train to become a fighter pilot,
and could be put into action within two years. Jenkins will be a surface
warfare officer. He could be exposed to battle much sooner.
They harbor no delusions about their possible fate. Nothing drove that
realization home more sharply than hearing about Blecksmith, the strapping,
6-foot-4, Southern California native with the strong arm who passed up a
chance to play quarterback in the Pacific-10 Conference because he was
determined to become a Marine Corps officer
12/01/04
It's Just a Game: Part 2, by Tim Melvin
Army-Navy. If you served in either, or simply live in Annapolis or near West
Point, the words themselves are good for a few extra bips of blood pressure.
One forgets at times that these young men aren't looking forward to NFL
tryouts and new careers...they are going on to ships, into tanks, troop
carriers submarines, fighter cockpits. No attaché cases and corner office
prospects.... rifles and sand dunes will be much more the order of the day
for the young men who will face off Saturday on the Philadelphia gridiron (am
I the only one who misses the VET? I know it was a crappy stadium at the end
but the place had attitude to spare). They will be playing for the commander
in chief's trophy, bragging rights, the honor and glory of their respective
institution. However, a few short months from now the sacked army
quarterback( I am a Navy fan so it's army that has to be sacked in my
example) may well be calling the linebacker who slammed him to the turf of
Lincoln field for fire support or air strikes in the sands of Iraq.
I know I've written something similar to this on previous occasions, and I
will again I'm sure next year when the town is hung with blue and gold n
star flags and Tecumseh dons his annual war paint in anticipation of the big
game. These kids are the best of the best in athletics, scholastics,
attitude and achievement. They could have gone anywhere, probably on a full
ride. Indeed Lt. Blecksmith, the academy grad who was recently killed in Iraq
had an absolute gun for an arm and could EASILY throw the ball 80 yards--an
Elway type of arm. He could have played at any pass-oriented big college
program. He came to the USNA and played mostly special teams, a little
safety before finally lettering as a receiver. The mids play an option
oriented attack and had no use for a classic passer. But Lt. Blecksmith
wanted to be an officer in the United States Marine Corp and serve his
country. Goodbye NFL, Hello discipline, duty and honor and finally Hello
folded tear stained flag. These young men and women endure a rigorous
schedule, an intense academic program and those who don the school uniform
for football, basketball or any sport, are not exempted from anything. They
have to fit it in around the regular schedule. Service is not an illusion.
Volunteering is not mandatory, but every year back in the days I helped run
Special Olympics in Anne Arundel county, I always had over 100 mid
volunteers visit my sister on one of her ER shifts the young man or woman,
following her around with a clipboard, fetching drinks, ice,
bedpans whatever she or the patient needs, is an academy student
volunteering what little free time he or she has. They are smart, talented
good kids. They are here because they believe in their country and chose to
serve.
Yup, it's just a game. I hope it's not even a good close game and that Navy
beats the tar-snot out of Army again this year (this of course, unless you are
Mr. Earle or one of the other West Pointers on the list, or Mr Lackey of the
tank brigade makes it a damn good game). The President will be watching from
the stands, I will be from the confines of some blue and gold be-draped
adult beverage establishment, and millions of servicemen and women from all
over the world a carrier in the China Sea, a mess tent in Iraq, a shortwave
in the mountains of Afghanistan will be tuning in to cheer on the teams of
their choice. There are other big games Harvard-Yale was talked about on the
list. Most of those playing go on to I-banks, brokerages, and teaching
positions. USC-UCLA--most are headed for the NFL. Florida-Florida state--again the
ones who don't go back to Raiford at season's end are headed for the big
bucks of pro ball. If you tune in Saturday and if you like good solid
football played by true scholar athletes as I hope you do, keep in mind that
every single player on both sides of the ball is going off to serve in the
Armed Forces of a nation at war and that they do so of their own choosing,
to serve their country and preserve the spirit and idea of democracy and
freedom. Just a game.
Oh yeah
GO NAVY