The Patriots Are 2-2 and I Don't Feel So Good

 Tom doesn't look too good, either. (Photo/The Boston Globe)

We New England fans have gotten up and out of bed

In the grip of unfamiliar feelings - mainly dread -

That and deep depression, disbelief, and gnawing doubt

Because Kansas City beat New England in a rout.

There was nothing good about the Patriots last night

And the fans, who've grown up unaccustomed to the sight,

Couldn't understand what they were seeing on the field.

Now our heads are pounding and our stomachs have congealed.

This could be a long and painful season for the team

And for Mr. S. - who has to listen to me scream;

Mad because they're not protecting Brady - who looked old.

Throat is sore.  I'm feverish...  Perhaps it's just a cold?

Unsolicited Advice for Attorney-General Eric Holder

Want to be Attorney General?  Heard they're hiring.

Eric Holder's just announced that he's retiring.

Says he'll stay until someone's confirmed to take his place...

I think he should wait to pack his office - just in case.

I would guess it's 50/50 Congress will agree

To whatever sucker is Obama's nominee.

Some poor slob Republicans will always castigate

In pursuance of their next, pretend "Whatever-Gate."

Someone with the patience and composure of a saint

(Hearings before Congress are like watching drying paint.)

Why someone would put themselves through that I'll never get

But, if I were Holder, I would not start packing yet.

A Pink-Hat Farewell to Derek Jeter

(Photo/news.yahoo.com)

It is not my fault (this year) the Red Sox haven't won;

Wasn't due to any rhymes or taunting that I've done.

I'm not sure exactly what did happen to my team,

Making our World Series win seem like a distant dream.

We will end our season here at home against New York

And, though I'm about to sound like some pink-hatted dork,

I believe it's fitting Derek Jeter's coming here;

That it will be Fenway where he's ending his career.

He will not play shortstop but he says he'll swing the bat

And I do not blame him for it; I can tell you that.

No way he could top the note he finished on last night;

Knocking in the winning run - a single out to right.

Twenty years in pinstripes - where he's done the Yankees proud -

His name being chanted by a happy, hometown crowd.

If it were a movie script it would be past believing...

Coming here to Fenway will remind him why he's leaving.

The UN and ISIL - Promises, Promises

President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday. (Photo/in.reuters.com)

President Obama gave a speech at the UN

(Kinda like when Daniel stepped into the lions' den)

He stood up to Russia in support of the Ukraine;

Said that Putin's actions there would cost more than they'd gain.

Mainly though, he spoke about the flailing Middle East;

Pointing out, when tensions rise, religions are the yeast.

Sunni versus Shia versus Christian versus Jew...

When you fund a sect you're funding terrorism, too.

Voting was unanimous; the Council stands opposed

To the new Islamic State (whose oil fields we've just closed.)

Countries pledged to do their part - whatever that might be.

Will they keep their solemn words? We'll have to wait and see.

Many Thanks

Thank you for the birthday wishes, everyone; you're sweet.

When I read them yesterday it made my day complete.

All those rhymes and cards and greetings... Really, I was thrilled.

Thought I oughta let you know - your wishes were fulfilled. 

I hope, when your birthday comes, that it's as good as mine.

You all must have special powers.  Weather was divine.

Mr. S. played golf with me and hired maids to clean

Because I might be the biggest slob you've ever seen.

(Didn't use your wishes on the course - or, not enough -

Since I spent most of the game in hitting from the rough.)

My clan came for dinner - and I didn't have to cook.

I got cards that made me laugh until my belly shook.

Oldest son remembered and he called me up to sing;

Youngest found the perfect card and I got everything

That you all could wish for me...  You guys ain't shooting blanks;

Wishes can be powerful.  Again all; many thanks

A Hypocritical Pats Fan

Even though it wasn't pretty yesterday, we won;

Leaving my New England Patriots at 2 and 1.

Offense isn't clicking yet 'cause Brady's getting hit...

Losing Logan Mankins' talents hasn't helped a bit.

I feel bad for Edelman who always gets the ball.

Brady doesn't seem to throw to others much, at all.

'cause he's getting open when Tom's pass is being rushed,

Just like Wes before him, Edelman is getting crushed.

Gronk will catch a pass or two and Ridley gains some yards

Yet the other team keeps getting players through our guards.

Until we can slow them, Edelman is on the hook

But, once he has caught the ball, I cannot bear to look.

Football's not as fun for me because I'm now aware

Just how bad the damage they're sustaining is out there.

Knowing that these guys I like are injuring their brain

Makes it hard to cheer about some yardage that they gain.

Does this mean that I won't watch the Patriots next week?

Call me an old hypocrite without a right to speak

But I'd never miss the Pats, despite what I now know...

Will I let my own sons play the game, however? No.

The Scottish Independence Vote

(Photo/Courtesy of theguardian.com)

Doesn't matter if you took the high road or the low;

Scots, in a secession referendum, voted No.

Meaning that they chose to stick with England and with Wales

And the Northern Irish...  From the Highlands to the dales

85% of those who registered took part.

Independence voters wound up trailing from the start.

Polls showed things much tighter in the race, but I would guess

Scotsmen didn't advertise if they were voting Yes.

Either that or England's last ditch effort at the Scots

(Letting Edinburgh  be the one to call the shots

On some local issues) may have paid off dividends.

As for this American; I'm glad the two stayed friends.

Glad the kingdom's still united; that it didn't split.

World is busy fracturing and I've grown sick of it.

Scotland's voters proved beyond the shadow of a doubt

People of good will can find a way to work things out.

What's a Little Mugging Between Friends?

(Photo/Courtesy of funnyfeeder.com)

 

BBC reporters, recently, got beaten up...

Do they think this "random" mugging looks suspicious? Yup.

For, if you have asked yourself; "What did the muggers get?

"Did they steal their watches, car, or wallets from them?" Nyet.

While in Russia, looking into soldiers who have died

(Where they found some evidence that Putin may have lied;

That he does have troops within the borders of Ukraine

Fighting with the rebels because Russia seeks to gain

Access to Crimea - which they've already annexed)

BBC reporting left somebody rather vexed.

 "Muggers" smashed their cameras.  Then, questioned by police,

It was hours later before victims gained release.

They went back to find someone had rifled through their car

But the only damage they're discovering - so far -

Is to their computer drives with files for their report...

I have doubts their case will ever make it into court.

I suspect the mastermind behind this petty crime 

Never has to worry that he'll end up doing time.

How do you arrest a head of state who's doing worse?

When you're stealing territory, what's a little purse?

Commissioner Goodell and CTE

 

My sons played Pop Warner football back when they were young.

I remember, once or twice, them getting their bells rung.

Not quite a concussion (because neither one's that fast.)

Thankfully, their football playing days are in the past.

Coaches for our high school's team will stop my youngest son

(16 at 250; he is over 6 feet 1)

"Kid, we need you on the team," the football coaches say.

I can't, in good conscience - now, allow the boy to play.

Not with all the evidence that those who play the game

May sustain brain damage and that tackling's to blame.

Maybe that's the explanation for the recent news;

Players hitting people hard enough to leave a bruise.

What is not as clear is why Commissioner Goodell

Has been guilty of some recent stupid moves, as well...

Moves that make you wonder what is going through his mind.

If he thinks the NFL can weather this, he's blind

Africa - I'd Take ISIL Any Day

Hemorrhagic fever in West Africa has spread.

Thousands are infected now; 2,000 plus are dead.

Doctors there were overwhelmed - the system broken down -

As Ebola moved from rural village into town.

This outbreak got out of hand 'cause locals didn't trust

Guys in plastic suits insisting quarantine's a must.

Scary strangers came to take their relatives away

Since, without a cure, there's nothing else to do but pray.

Doctors Without Borders were the targets of these fears.

Villagers threw stones, sometimes, at health-care volunteers,

Lied and said they weren't exposed and they were feeling great;

Hiding any symptoms of disease until too late.

President Obama, in a speech he made today,

Just announced he's sending U.S. troops into the fray,

Plus supplies to aid the victims of this dread disease...

I think I'd feel safer bringing ISIL to its knees.

Yes, of course we have to help in any way we can.

They need our assistance; I support Obama's plan.

But I know if I were still in uniform today;

Africa, I'd think, should merit hazard duty pay.

#WhyIStayed With the NFL

(Image/Courtesy of jezebel.com)

We're big fans of football here (the kind the U.S. plays)

'though it's much more difficult to be a fan these days.

All the news about the sport is not, at all, the same;

It's about the violence inherent in the game.

With the Ray Rice video (the guy who punched his wife)

There is now a spotlight on the football way of life.

What we've found ain't pretty...  Once you've cut through all the noise,

Turns out that the NFL believed boys will be boys.

Didn't care if players got in trouble off the field;

They'd let athletes play before their girlfriends' bruises healed.

Why I stayed with football?  It's because I didn't know.

Focused on the passes that my quarterback would throw.

Once, I'd be ecstatic that my team - New England - won...

But we won, in part, because a Viking beat his son.

This October let's replace pink arm bands on the sleeve

With a vow:  Abusers play? The fans get up and leave.

Whacking Moles

Critics are complaining that Obama's stated goal -

Going after ISIL - is like playing "Whack a Mole."

First we hit al Qaeda hard - invade Afghanistan;

Hit again when they reorganize in Pakistan.

Hammer them in Africa; they pop up in Iraq.

When they crawl out of their holes we take another whack.

'though the critics have a point, it isn't quite the same...

These moles want to hurt us and the fight is not a game.

True, these guys are vermin who we'll have to hunt and kill

And this infestation will keep spreading there until

Countries in the region put their differences aside;

Muslim leaders find a way to heal their great divide.

If they cannot pull together things will fall apart...

Still, our coalition to fight ISIL is a start.

Enemies of enemies could, possibly, be friends;

That's the only way extremist terrorism ends.

Supporting The President's Strategy

President Obama, with his Nobel Prize for Peace,

And determined that we not become the world's police

Did his best to extricate us from the Middle East...

Give the poor man credit for attempting it, at least.

'though we tried to walk away from it - they've dragged us back.

The Islamic State is where we'll focus our attack.

With a coalition, some who wish to not be named,

Fearful that, when things go wrong, their governments get blamed.

Countries who believe we lack the will to see this through;

Betting that Americans are sick of war...  That's true.

What they haven't counted on, however, is the fact;

We are very good at war once we decide to act.

Congress must support Obama; give him all he needs.

Our words aren't enough right now.  They must be backed with deeds.

We can't fix the Middle East...  Of that there's ample proof.

But, we can find ISIL and put missiles through their roof.

The Massachusetts' Primaries

Yesterday I went to vote; there wasn't any line.

Only 3 were casting votes while I was casting mine.

(Turnout for a primary election's never great

Even though it helps decide who's gonna run the state.)

To the shock of no-one, after all was said and done,

Most of the front-running candidates for office won.

There is one incumbent shocked; a Congressman who's out.

Relatives' shenanigans brought Tierney's fall about.

Candidates for Governor were narrowed down to 5;

'though it's only 2 campaigns with any chance to thrive. 

Democrats chose Martha Coakley while the GOP

Cast their votes for Charlie Baker overwhelmingly.

I'm a likely Coakley voter with an open mind.

Need to do more research and assess the facts I find,

Watch debates and listen to what candidates will say...

There is still a lot of time before election day.