We had to see Joplin. Just had to see the damage to this small, Southwestern Missouri town....we had seen the damage on TV, and just had to take a look for ourselves as we cruised east bound on I-44, headed back home from a weekend visiting relatives in Oklahoma.
We exited the interstate and started north on the drive through town. The GPS was set to take us to the hospital, the now famous St. John's Regional Medical Center...so we knew that we would see the scene soon. Having seen hours of TV coverage, we knew we would see the familiar frame of the hospital and we would recognize the immediate area. As we headed into town, Joplin looked as normal as any small American city. We drove perhaps a mile and a half into town and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, except for the occasional flag at half mast or a business sign which thanked the volunteers for their help.
We came over a ridge, and that's where the enormity of this catastrophe hit us....There are few things in life that are truly jaw dropping, witnessing the birth of a child, perhaps, but THIS was jaw dropping. This was unbelievable. And to think that all this happened to this town in just a few short minutes. I can try, but words cannot describe what we saw. Miles and miles of complete and utter devastation. We're not talking about a tree down on a roof or some windows blown out....we are talking about a swath of destruction in which every building was completely demolished. Complete devastation. After seeing the site, I am completely flabbergasted that "only" 144 or so people have perished.
What struck Lou Ann and I was that as we looked at the mortally wounded Regional hospital, we realized that this tragedy could have been far worse. You see, the hospital was on the edge of the path of the tornado. Move the hospital even 100 yards to the north, and the entire facility would have been leveled, and many, many more serious casualties would have occurred.
May we all pray for Joplin, for the families there, for the injured and deceased, and may we also pray for the workers there busily cleaning up, attempting to restore what will never, ever be the same.
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What now, Ohio State? Jim Tressel is gone and the Bucknuts have got to be hoping that the NCAA shows them some clemency when it comes to punishment time. My guess is it won't work, that the NCAA has seen it's worst nightmare come to life in Columbus and it will stomp HARD on tOSU as a pre-emptive strike to get all the other cheaters to clean up their act. I can't say that I feel sorry for the Scarlet and Grey faithful, because the culture of over-the-top, look the other way, pamper the spoiled athletes culture there that so many fans have fed into is much to blame. If there wasn't someone willing to pay top dollar for game-used jerseys, then they wouldn't be for sale. My guess is that a loss of scholarships will be very close to what USC has gotten and at least a two year bowl ban goes in place....that just helps move my Illini into a much better position to earn a January bowl bid in the next few years....
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Question for the Cardinals equipment manager: Just exactly how do you get tire tracks off of Jaime Garcia's jersey? Tony LaRussa threw the young left-hander under the bus during a bad start in Colorado, leaving him in to absorb a brutal beating and over 100 pitches. I sure hope the kid bounces back in his next few starts.
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The NBA Finals begin tonight, and I have to cast my lot with the Miami heat. Just too much athleticism and star power. When properly motivated, the Heat are the best in the business. Many folks are negative about the Heat, but I admire LeBron James and Chris Bosh for leaving more money on the table to go to South Beach to WIN. As Herman Edwards once said during his time as the New York Jets' head coach, "You play to win the game." James and Bosh proved it with their contracts....not that they are starving or anything....
Heat in 5. Dirk Nowitzki gets hot and helps Dallas win one game. Other than that, Metroplex sports fans, you still have the good Rangers team and maybe the Cowboys will play this fall.
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In closing, I want to say THANK YOU to all the veterans of the US Armed Forces for serving our country and protecting our freedoms. So many have given so much, and I am thankful to them all. God Bless you and God Bless the USA.
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