VS

Head to Head: American Patriots vs. New England Patriots

With the 4th of July saving us from an otherwise boring day, it's important to remember the accomplisments of our founding fathers.  What better way to admire their greatness than to compare them to the "Patriots" of today.

Head Coach: George Washington versus Bill Belichick

George Washington led the upstart but under armed American Army to a dramatic victory over the British at Yorktown.  Bill Belichick led the upstart but under armed 2001 New England Patriots to a dramatic victory of the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Winner: George Washington.  Both were upstarts, but the British were a little less one diminsonal than the Rams.  Besides, Washington dealt with vicious winters, the Rams played in a dome.

Leadership: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams versus Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi

This is a tougher battle than it looks, if you're willing to discount the incredible significange of the former for the football skills of the latter.  Thomas and John were the intellectual backbone of the American Revolution, the sparing between the Massachusetts farmer and the Virginia Plantation owner would define the revolution itself.  Jefferson and Adams would struggle over the years, but their friendship and embodiment of the philosophical side of the revolution still ring today.  Sorry Tedy and Tom, no matter how good you guys are on the field, there's no way you stack up here.

Wild Card: Samuel Adams versus Rodney Harrison

One is the leader behind Boston's protests to the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party, the other is the "dirtiest" player in the NFL.  Both have a larger reputation than they deserve, but the scale is on Samuel's side.  Unless Rodney starts a brewery, then it might close to a draw.

Conclusion: Patriots Win!

By that, we mean the real patriots, the ones that signed the Declaration of Independence, the ones that stood up against the largest empire in the world and declared in one voice that they would not stand for imperial tyranny, that these United States would stand together and unite against oppression. 

No matter how important football may seem, nothing can be more significant than what the Founding Fathers of this great nation did in 1776.  On this day, we insist that everyone takes a few minutes and reads the declaration in its entirely.  It's worth the time.  You can read it below the fold.

We hope everyone has a fantastic holiday!  Please remember our Armed Services as they're deployed around the world.

-Chris

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Jaxson De Ville is going head to head with the dreaded Tennessee Titans "mascot" T-Rac.  I don't know who in their right mind thinks that a racoon makes for a good mascot, but I don't want to pass judgement on the fine folks of Tennessee.  They just don't know better about mascots.  T-rac might have ruined Adrian McPherson's knee with a golf cart, but Jaxson is the personal nemisis of Colts GM Bill Polian.  They re-wrote the Mascot Rule Book because of Jaxon. 

So, in order to defend his honor, I demand that everyone who reads this go to the CBS Sportsline vote page and help keep Jaxson on top of the voting.  We cannot let the tyranny of poorly-chosen mascots ruin our day!

-Chris

It's Sunday Morning, that means it's time for a little off-topic reading.  I've arbitrarily decided that until football season beings, Sunday's will be where we take a part of our day and read some examples of fantastic writing.  This week's off-topic features the King of American Writing, Mark Twain.  This piece, "On the Decay of the Art of Lying", was submitted to a writing contest for a 30 dollar cash prize.  It did not win.  But it's a fantastic piece of satire, and worth a few moments of your Sunday.

Also, and please may Big Cat Country not be your reminder, but it's Mothers Day today.  This website and my passion for football wouldn't exist were it not for my Mother's persistence.  I may not understand her obsession with Oakland's Rob Ryan but she introduced me to football.  So on this day of days, I like to say thanks!

Mark Twain, below the fold:

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Here's something fun to remember as you enjoy your friday

I remember being at this game.  I remember singing "goodbye" to Dan Marino.  I also remember the crushing disappointment of the next week as the Jaguars run the Super Bowl was thwarted by the Tennessee Titans.  I remember thinking back that this game was filled with hubris and that we paid for it over the next several seasons.

Anyhow, I'm a bit under the weather this week.  I'll be back later this afternoon with possibly another interview.

-Chris