Pac_Man63

No worries Cats Eye, it is impossoble to convince someone of progress if they've never been here. I too am stationed at Camp Ramadi, and entertained that Aiden Seamus finds your facts about IEDs useless. It is very apparent that he has never seen the destruction of one, and the demoralizing effect it has on our fellow soldiers. Much like the effect of media filtering out good stories from Iraq, and replacing them with stories that they think will sell the most papers. The truth is, most Americans dont want to read about improvements in the war here because they think we shouldnt be here. Many of you may remember the sight of the charred, dismembered bodies of four US contractors hanging from the "Brooklyn Bridge" on Highway 10 in Fallujia back in 2003. This is the nature of the enemy here. Those werent extremist who beat the bodies with the soles of their sandals to show that we (americans) are as disgusting as the dirt they walk on, or dragged the body of one american through the street tied to the back of a truck untill nothing was left of him. They were illiterate, impoverished youth led to believe by their "holy leaders" or Sheiks that Americans would put Jews in charge of their country. One major strategy in fighting the insurgents in Iraq is to win over hearts and minds. We cant even do that in our own country. So you see Cats Eye, this has become a war in which the American people support the troops, but not the war. If only they knew that they are doing more harm than good for us. Keep politics and media out of war.

Guess we'll have to wait till October 19 to see whos the best team. As long as players on both teams realize that you actually gotta play the games between now and then. By some miracle my leave falls in October, so you bet ill be there Cheifsmoke!!

Never had the pleasure to play Lewis in my short career, but those boys seem to fight 10 times harder when they play Mason. It just feels personal. Not like the Fleming rivalry, but Lewis will fight till the end. Should be a hard hitting game!!

Looks like the Royals ran outta gas in the second half. Classic flaw with a small school where most guys play both sides of the ball. Only game two though, this will only make the Royals stronger come district!! No better way to recover than a trip to Vanceburg to see the Lions.

I like the Double A. When I lived in Cincinnati I traveled it at least every other weekend. My only complaint was getting stuck behind trucks going through Lewis County where there are literally only two places to pass and only one long straight stretch with enough visibility to pass. But for those of us in the Ashland Area it's still the fastest way to get to that end of Cincinnati. If I was going to the Eastgate area or King's Island though I would probably take 23 to Route 32 since it is four lanes all the way and comes right into to Batavia and 275.

 

I have seen three bad wrecks on the Double A and all were the result on someone trying to pass getting hit by oncoming traffic. I have yet to see accident on the four lane portion of the road. All three were on the two lane section between Maysville and where it goes to four lanes just outside of Alexandria.

 

My prayers go out to the family. According to the story the Dad was in Wisconsin training to be deployed to Iraq.

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070725/NEWS0103/707250394

I too am a soldier in Wisconsin waiting to be deployed to Iraq. My squad leader got a call the other day that his family had been in an accident, and needed to catch the first flight home. Staff Seargent Mike Evans lost his daughter to this wreck. His wife is also in critical condition and his son has been in and out of the hospital all week. Its not right that a man who is sacrificing so much for this country was called to sacrifice so much more. He is one of the most genuine and sincere individuals i have ever met in my life, and know that all of us here in the 478th Engineer Bn. are praying for him and his family. Please join us in supporting SSG Evans in this tragic time.

While some accidents are pure mother nature, (deer), most are caused by humans. All of us have sped on the AA, especially between Maysville and Alexandria. Its not the road structure or lack of huge signs that remind of basic driving fundamentals. Its the complacency of operating our vehicles and disregard for others.

Maybe I am rememering this wrong, but didn't that very average team without Lofton still beat Florida the back to back national champions?

Not exactly futurecoach, the "very average" team fell to the back to back national champions Febuary 3rd 79-84.(w/out Lofton) While the national contender Vols, (w/Lofton), returned the favor later that month on the 27th 86-76. Lofton had 21 and sealed the game with free throws. Not to mention Lofton comes back from the injury to lead his team to victory 7 out of last 8 games, with wins over Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Kentucky.:sssh:

Just revisiting my last game i played in high school. Sure i would have rather won the game and went on to play the grudge match game with Ashland, but this game was special. The Rock players were so humbled and almost apologetic for winning it seemed. They knew that it was one of those games that you live for, and appreciated as a football player. In the end, the guy i had battled to exhaustion on the line for the past 2 hours helped me up and stood with me while the rest of his team celebrated the missed field goal, and win. I realize now that football was not just a game, its was a tool that molded me as an individual over those few short years. My day as a player has come and gone, but my passion and appreciation for the game are still as strong as ever.

Yeah, because the media sees players play more than the coaches.... I think even you know that stats aren't everything. The media votes off stats, the coaches see the other things.

Other things being what? Maybe leading your team while recovering from an ankle injury or the excellent sportsmansip and devotion to the game that some players never seem to be credited with, not only on the national level but locally as well. But your right, no coaches commitee would find these attributes worthy of an award seeing that stats aren't everything. :confused:

Write this down guys: Tennessee makes a run at the National Championship this year with another 2 seed and automatic bid from the SEC championship. Surprisingly, they dominate inside with the new transfer Smith and Crews, all the while freeing up the perimeter for two time SEC POY Lofton. Kentucky and Florida fight till the end, but neither makes it to the Sweet 16. Lofton catches a lottery pick, plays for the Bobcats a couple years, makes his million, and lives happily ever after.

The "skills" positions will definately have to step it up this year for Mason, which is diferent from the last couple years when the lines were on the choppin block. Look for a strong running game from the new Royals, and who knows, maybe a passing game that could surprise us all. Cox has got the arm, time to see if hes got the head.

Gotta agree with ripcity, the Mason County d-line has battled the best the likes of Ashland, Boyd, and Johnson Central fielded the last couple years. That experience is invaluable, trust me, the whole Mason County defense will be ready for the new 3A. If i remember correctly, Russel had 1 loss in 2005 on their way to the championship (Boyd 33-14). Mason county beat Boyd that year 40-28. Brace and Huron played in that game. Mason County will definately make some noise this year.