JackalTalk — JackalWorks Blog

Weather-filled Pre-Season for Bulldog Soccer

The Jacksonville, Florida weather gods greeted the Citadel Bulldogs with a mix of dark clouds and steamy heat. Friday night the match started an hour late because angry angry storm clouds ringed the University of North Florida campus. Just before the start–though distant–Old Glory waved against the backdrop of a rainbow, signaling a treaty with the foreboding clouds. Fortunately, for safety’s sake, the treaty held throughout the match and the only lightening bolts that struck were quick goals wrought by Osprey feet.

The Bulldogs seemed to be feeling their way through their defensive scheme and the Goal Keeper had plenty of opportunities to be brilliant, and she was, fighting back an onslaught of shots on goal. Four eventually found net but it was not because of a lack of effort or skill. The attack was too sustained and persistent given the tentativeness of the defense. On the other end of the field a Penalty Kick and a chaotic scrum netted two for the Bulldogs at final tally.

One of the best Bulldog highlights was the precision short passing ball control strategy that the team put on at he beginning of the 2nd half. It seemed to throw the Ospreys into confusion and opened up lanes to push the ball forward for two tremendously powerful long range shots on goal that struck the cross bar, just barely missing their intent. The match ended and the Bulldogs filed into the visiting team’s locker room, displaying bags of ice taped to their sore limbs as badges of honor.

On Sunday, steam and bright sunshine greeted the start of play against Jacksonville University. The Bulldogs were in high spirits and their pre-match routine showed it. Unfortunately those spirits did not translate well to actual play. The Dolphins were quicker to the ball on most counts and scored five times. Steam and sunshine gave way to clouds and rain intermittently, and suddenly, as if the gods tired of watching, the clouds really opened up and an official mercifully ended the match.

Don’t Cry for Me Venezuela

Last week I was in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  I’m telling you, the weather was great.  The sky was clear and there was no humidity.  The view from my hotel room was absolutely stunning: the beautiful Charles River on a cool sunny day with sail boats and rowers on it, with a backdrop of Boston’s skyline.  As I scanned the breadth of the skyline I hit a huge eyesore.  There, in the middle of the skyline, stood a gigantic CITGO sign.  The sign was the only like sign on the entire skyline.  I wondered how in the heck Hugo Chavez’s state-owned oil company could have possibly pulled off such a coup?  How’d he get that gaudy monstrosity perched so prominently in the middle of Boston’s skyline?  How’d he do it?

After scrutinizing my map I finally realized that I was looking in the direction of where Fenway Park should be, and as flashed images of the park from my memory I realized it was the CITGO sign at Fenway Park.  I confirmed my suspicion with a Charlestown born taxi driver.  “Yes,” she said, “I’m not a big sox fan, but when you see that CITGO sign you know you are home.”  I guess the universal appeal of baseball really can help overcome the starkest of political differences.  Only in a baseball context can one of America’s most hated villains have an enormous neon reminder of his existence, but it really not matter.  “Venezuela owns CITGO, Hugo Chavez is its president, and he hates the U.S.”, I reminded her. “After all,” my taxi driver replied, “none of that matters to me.  He [Chavez] doesn’t play for the Yankees.”

New Look!

I am truly ashamed to say that I have let my blog fall into an abyss. Aside from intermittent Tweets appearing in the feed, it has been morbid for too long. In an attempt to crawl out of the same I have ditched my previous —gritty— template and launched a mid-year resolution to do much better job about commenting on the day-to-day things that make life so interesting. The new layout and colors certainly add a strong bit of life. Now, let’s hope I can write something witty and succinct to complement it.

Super Moon

There was a super moon the night we brought you home, its pale fire illuminating the very essence of our imagination.

Merry Christmas!

Had a good Christmas Eve with the boys and the ladies. Santa brought me a new wallet (really needed one) and some cologne. This year things were exceptionally quiet — we all loved it.

It’s A Long Way

Last Thursday was an exceptional day.  I was running a little later than usual and experienced one of the moments when everything seemed to be just right.  After a few years of slogging it out at work — and dreading each day with cynical anticipation — I actually felt invigorated and ready to take on whatever the day brought.  The air was cool.  The sun was just rising over Potomac Park.  And, AC/DC was blasting on my satellite radio.  “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll…”  It was a magical moment and one I will not soon forget.

The Continuing Decay of Landmark

At Landmark Mall today and I am really disappointed that the place is so empty. Over the years it had its ups and downs but for the past few its all been down. I have to hope that the city is finally going to move forward to revitalize this area.

Only the Good Die Young

Only the good die young.  We have heard the phrase before.  What can we make of it?  We watch the calamity of the world swirl around us.  Poverty – pestilence – famine.  We sit, aging as silent witnesses, living as those around us die.  Are we not good?