987 and 36 - 7

Hi there.  Well its that wonderful time of year again where the holidays meld together and become such a blur that you wake up on January 2nd and have to write 2014 on your checks, lol.  Sort of the way football and basketball seasons have been the past two years for me.  A blur with no down time between seasons.
You got to give Queensbury credit.  In this age of no huddle, quick count, empty backfield, multiple receiver, shotgun and pistol read option formations, John Irion did it the old fashioned way.  Grinding it out running the ball with 9 or 10 guys in a rotation behind a line that once it started going down hill is tough to stop.  Let me describe it this way, trying to tackle a back in that double wing is like trying to find the needle in the haystack. Since most teams try to stop it by putting 9 guys up close, if the line gets to the second level of the defense, the big play takes place.  The other thing Queensbury did well was play defense and they had serious game on the other side of the ball.  If the 3 interior linemen didn't get to you, the ends or the 2 linebackers would.  The coaching staff also made the right adjustments at half time.  My favorite quote during this whole great run the Spartans had came from Marcus Hughes who was the coach of the team that they played in the semi-finals.  His team was wishing they wouldn't have to play Burnt Hills.  He told his squad that Queensbury had beaten Burnt Hills, not once but twice so be careful what you wish for.
On to other things.
I remember as a kid watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and loving those big helium balloons.  As an adult, I want to see one get loose from its handlers and fly over some restricted air space around New York and have it shot down by either the Civil Air Patrol or Air Force. This year I had to settle for Spiderman losing a battle with a Central Park tree and getting a gash on his arm.
Lady Gaga and the Muppets. Ummm, O.K. There has been much worse, like Carrie Underwood's performance in "The Sound of Music."  That was brutal.  
Come on Seth MacPharlane, did Brian really have to die?  Chris and Meg would have made better choices.
For all the debate about the BCS, the two best teams in Florida State and Auburn are playing for the national title.  Sorry Ohio State and Alabama, look at yourself in the mirror and realize that the college football universe really does not revolve around you.  
Robin Williams new sitcom "The Crazy Ones" isn't half bad, but it would be nice to see Pam Dawber make a cameo appearance as one of his ex-wives in a future episode.
I was given a copy of Billy Crystal's new book on CD and I'm listening to it driving around in SUV.  My conclusion.  He is still a great stand up comic and one funny cat.
Finally the numbers in the title of this entry stand for 2 things.  36 - 7 was the final score of Queensbury's championship game win to complete a perfect 13-0 season.  Thanks guys for saving a seat on the bus for John and I to come along for the ride.  987, well that is amount of kids we adopted this year in our annual "Adopt a Child" for the holidays campaign.  We shattered last years mark and coming up Thursday and Friday is the annual charity auction.  The generosity of this community blows me away every time.  Leccese out.