Conservatives have no place on Thanksgiving

Con·serv·a·tive - holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics, religion or football.

Innovation - the introduction of something new

In 1989, Charlie Weis became a first-time head coach at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ, installing a run-and-shoot offense, guiding Franklin Township to a 10-1 record and a state title. A much slower paced formula seemed innovative for Weis as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady from 2000-2003. Stops with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, University of Florida, University of Kansas, University of South Carolina(twice) and the University of Notre Dame should be classified as conservative.

The oldest schoolboy rivalry in Southern Ohio is neither conservative nor innovative. Ironton High School has played Portsmouth 125 times since 1899. The first meeting ended in a scoreless tie, 0-0. The game was a double-header for Ironton, which also played to a scoreless tie against rival Ashland, Kentucky. Portsmouth and Ironton are deadlocked in the series at 58-58-9.

In 1997, Ohio changed the rules for ties. If a game is tied after regulation, each team gets an offensive possession from the opponent's 20-yard line. If no winner is determined after one round of possessions, overtime play continues until a winner is determined. Now that's innovative.

Lower Merion and Radnor High School in Pennsylvania meet each Thanksgiving with a lot riding on its outcome. The annual football game played since 1897 has been a great rivalry with Lower Merion holding a slight edge over Radnor, 56 wins, 55 losses and 11 ties. Radnor High School grants the students of the school a half-day on the next school day if the school beats Lower Merion. However, the students of Lower Merion do not enjoy any similar reward.

Nobody noticed when the diminutive Timmy McCarthy brought the water bottles onto the field for Radnor during a fourth quarter timeout. Little did the Lower Merion defense know that Timmy would be staying in the game lining up at the tight end position next to the right tackle.

While in the huddle, Timmy took the ketchup packets from his pocket and spread the ketchup on his knee pads. His white pants now had the look of a player who worked in the trenches. When the teams broke the huddle, the defense didn't recognize that he was by far the smallest player on the field.

Most high school coaches like to run the ball and throw mostly on third downs. Screen passes are quite prevalent and trick plays are generally used in the season's final game.

Plays like Red Rocket Right, Hook and Ladder, Statue of Liberty, Fumblerooski, Fake Punt, double and triple reverses usually get snuffed out before the play unfolds. Lower Merion never saw "Heinz 57" coming.

It helped that Timmy McCarthy's older brother Tommy, was the starting QB. Other than the fact that Timmy might get trampled coming off the line, the play was called with Radnor facing a third down and one at midfield. Tommy took the snap from center and threw a short pass in the right flat to Timmy. The ketchup on the knees never touched the ground as Timmy caught the pass and lateraled to his brother who ran down the right sideline untouched.

Thanksgiving Feast with All the Fixings - Rachael Ray

“All Rachael wants is to go to bed knowing that everyone who came to Thanksgiving dinner couldn’t have had a better meal and is stuffed beyond belief.”

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Dried Plums, Parmesan Flats, Goat Cheese Truffles, Cranberry Sauce, Autumn Greens and Apple Salad, Mushroom Stuffing, Calabaza Squash with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts, Chive Mashed Potatoes, German Chocolate Pecan Pie, Orchard Fruit Pie, and plenty of Ketchup.

One high school play from scrimmage. One half day off from school. One win on Turkey Day. Not a chance I'm playing my senior year, said Timmy. "I only have, but the one brother."

Happy Thanksgiving

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

There is no hesitation in Houston

Tyler Lauletta, Business Insider:

In June 2014, the prestigious spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated went to the Houston Astros, who were then coming off three consecutive seasons with at least 105 losses and had a 36-48 record that season.

The cover boldly predicted that the Astros would be World Series champions in 2017, and it was backed up by a story from Ben Reiter titled "Astro-Matic Baseball: Houston's Grand Experiment," which took readers through the Astros' rebuilding process with an in-depth look at the team's front office as it prepared for the draft and planned the team's future. George Springer would be 28.

With the Astros' Game 7 win Wednesday night, Reiter's bold prediction came to fruition.It was one of those slow-developing ideas. The Astros were so bad. Losing 105 games three seasons in a row, Alex Trebek is making fun of them on "Jeopardy," they're putting up 0.0 local television ratings — it just seemed from afar like a total disaster. So we were thinking, "What is going on down here? What's the plan?" And this was before the Sixers started "The Process" — this hadn't really happened in sports to this degree.

The question that should precede the sardonic answer is, "What is a blowout preventer?"

Stutter -to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.

Early in high school, George Springer was 5-foot-2. By his senior year, a growth spurt added nearly a foot. Even as he flourished on the field, he had to contend with a stutter that was evident at a young age. Self-conscious of it, he became withdrawn and avoided speaking in school or other public situations. Kids can be mean so the best way to avoid ridicule was "to not speak at all."

Springer was called up to the big leagues in April 2014, adopted new techniques to help with his speech, and later became a spokesman and fund-raiser for the Stuttering Association for the Young.

“It took a lot of courage,” his father said, adding: “This didn’t happen overnight. It was hard work, most of which, quite frankly, George did. We were there to guide, assist, coach and support, but he was the one that had to be comfortable in his own skin. He was the one that had to adopt all the techniques. I give him all the credit.”

“I can’t spread a message to kids and adults if I’m not willing to put myself out there,” said Springer.

Sports Illustrated got it right when they put George Springer on the cover three years ago. The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres are possible choices to win the World Series in 2020. Alex Trebek is working on questions for these two perennial losers.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy