Notes from the Trail

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This is kinda techno geeky…Click on “Leave a Present” - unless you’re Scrooge.

Crispin: At the Edge of the World (Crispin)

by Avi

The sequel to Crispin: The Cross of Lead is as much a page-turner as its predecessor. If you haven’t read the first one yet, what are you waiting for?

I am assuming (and hoping) that a third installment is forthcoming. You can read the my review of the first book here.

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The Beardstown Ladies’ Guide to Smart Spending for Big Savings: How to Save for a Rainy Day Without Sacrificing Your Lifestyle

by Beardstown Ladies Investment Club

It was quaint when it first came out, but now there are simply other, better resources available for financial management and stewardship. By all means, if this is the book you want to read, and it’s the only book you plan to read in becoming a better steward of your resources, then do so.

However, I’d encourage you to check out other materials – perhaps by Randy Alcorn, David Bach, or Dave Ramsey.

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Aaaaah….

It was announced today that “last night” Houston Nutt reached an agreement with the University of Mississippi to become their new head football coach. Nutt leaves Arkansas almost exactly ten years after becoming head coach. He leaves Arkansas richer and poorer simultaneously.

We’re richer because now we can pursue a coach that might have an inspired offense, rather than working to death a few extremely talented players. We’re poorer because the University of Arkansas is paying Nutt $3.5 million as part of contract negotiations as he leaves! What?!

According to an AP News report, Chancellor White at UofA was the agent behind this:

White said Nutt’s contract gave the coach a set of “golden handcuffs” under which Nutt would have to pay the university if he takes another coaching job while also forfeiting a significant amount of money. White said he told Nutt he would ask the Razorback Foundation to free Nutt of the obligations. (AP)

In addition, Nutt has signed a $9.5 million/5 year contract at Ole Miss. A Mediocre Millionaire. Great.

Of course, I have a few issues with this, as should any thinking fan.

• First of all, why didn’t the negotiations stipulate that Nutt not coach in our own division? No matter how good/bad Arkansas or Ole Miss is in the years ahead, any win by Nutt is egg-in-your-face to us. We’ll have to face him every year because he’s in our division. Great thinking.
• Second, does anyone really believe the Ole Miss job was finalized yesterday? That Nutt hasn’t been approached by them before? That he was well aware yesterday during his own “resignation” negotiations that he was going to be signing another multi-million dollar contact within hours? So much for his love for Arkansas…
• Third, does it cause any pause in your moral fiber to consider what that amount of money - either way could do to help students - underprivileged and otherwise - attend college and create a future for themselves? Think of the money involved in this one coach’s future alone - $13 million - would like like in scholarships for students.
• Finally… I wonder if Mitch Mustain’s mom might be in line to be the new coach…?

America’s Game

by Michael Maccambridge

I began playing fantasy football in 1992, at the urging of Kevin Wieser. I remember in those days how I used to run out on Monday morning and buy a copy of the Dallas Morning News and with pencil and paper in hand, manually figure out my team’s score from Sunday. I’d do the same thing on Tuesday to add in the Monday night football game.

We didn’t get our “official” league scoresheet in the mail until Thursday, and it came from California. There were many times that I had added wrong and despaired over a loss that I had thought was a win.

Reading America’s Game gave me incredible background to the history and personalities that have made the NFL the No. 1 sports pursuit in America, surpassing baseball in the 50s.

I had no idea the Cleveland Browns were named after their first coach, Paul Brown. I didn’t recall how close the cowboys came to drafting Joe Montana. Instead, they opted for tieght end Doug Cosbie in the 1979 draft.

I was intrigued by the tightly-guarded circle of original owners and coaches. Their insistence on making the NFL be a league of parity through profit-sharing and joint television revenue-sharing contracts was ingenious.

If you’re an NFL fan, even casually, you’ll devour the book. It’s well worth a few hours of light reading.

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