CHAMPION—January 11, 2021
1973 Fastpitch softball team
The first photo to pop up on Monday morning’s Facebook feed was the 1973 Fastpitch softball team of the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. There were a dozen fine looking young men, all of them fit and focused. And there was General Fastpitch himself, front and almost center, just a little to the left. Joy Ann Coonts Firrell commented, “Looking good in this picture, Robert, but my eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be.” When queried about his ‘no hitter,’ he responded that because of the Wyoming wind, he always managed to hit two or more batters a game. J.c. Owsley said, “I’d still hate to have to catch you. Your pitches could still burn through a good catcher’s mitt.” J.c.has the physique of a catcher and is learned in myriad subjects, a cowboy who likes to sit a big white mule. Back to sports, the blonde football neophyte says, “All this trouble for $.25! They toss the coin and then spend an hour, on the clock, yelling, ‘Get the quarterback!’” It looks like the Kansas City Chiefs (14 & 2) will play the Cleveland Browns (11 & 5) next Sunday. The Old Champion self-appointed Grandmother of the Chiefs says, “It is lovely to have something wholesome and exciting to look forward to!”
 Matthew Henry |
Last Wednesday’s extraordinary happenings have prompted a wide variety of responses on social networks, as well as phone conversations and face to face exchanges. The charming Champion Spouse writes, “When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond. That’s where your power is.” Kim Linder Porter posts, “Be careful not to dehumanize those you disagree with. In our self-righteousness, we can become the very things we criticize in others and not even know it.” Aunt Tiffany Marie Putnam, formerly known as ‘Aunt Mary,’ now wants to be called Aunt Tiffa. She says that she was a teenager during World War II and is fully acquainted with antifascists. “My father and all his brothers, and my mother’s brothers were all antifascists. They every one wore uniforms of the United States Military and fought against Hitler. They had the full support of every breathing American.” Aunt ‘Tiffa is way up in her 90s now and will tell you that old women can get away with speaking their minds. While we are all comfortable expressing our views to people of like minds, some eloquent listening to each other might help us be less anxious. Back in 2006, Lonnie Krider, in his Sunday lesson, quoted Mathew Henry (1662-1714), “If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long.” We are treading lightly with each other’s feelings these days and that is a good thing as it is figured that, ultimately, we all want the same things—a safe, just, prosperous Nation of Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!
