Wednesday, December 26 - Monday, December 31, 2018
It was a week to finish off all of the Christmas festivities and start preparing for New Year's Day and the 105th Rose Bowl game between the Big-10 Champion Ohio State University Buckeyes (12-1) and your PAC-12 Champion University of Washington Huskies (10-3).
An early week sleepover
with Jacob made for a good
start to the week
Spending time romping about our local park is always high on Jacob's list of things to do on one of his sleepovers.
The day after Jacob's sleepover, we were joined by Mike as we headed to Pasadena to do some early Rose Bowl shopping before the multitudes arrived on January 1st.
Jacob and Mike in the Arroyo Seco
This huge souvenir store just outside
the Rose Bowl was still stocking their wares
They would not start sales until the next day so I search for gear would have to continue in Old Town Pasadena.
Jacob by the relatively new
Rose Bowl Court
Lots of dedicated bricks in the
Rose Bowl Court . . .
. . . like these three
Thanks to the efforts of Mike and Susan D'Antuono, the names of Paul and Joanne Sabolic plus our names were added to the Court back in 2015 as part of the "S Cal Huskies" in the section of the Court dedicated to Washington Husky fans.
As always, THANKS D'ANTUONOS!
Jacob imitating Jackie Robinson
This statue of Robinson, easily the greatest athlete to ever grow up in the athletically talent rich city of Pasadena, shows him in the #55 jersey he wore when he played for the old Pasadena Junior College Bulldogs.
His old school is now known as Pasadena City College and has changed their nickname to Lancers.
Of course, after his days at PJC, Robinson went on to insane athletic success at UCLA lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track!
Of course, his most famous athletic feat came when he signed a baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers thus breaking organized baseball's notorious "Color Barrier."
He would become major league baseball's first black player when he joined the Dodgers in 1947.
He was inducted into Baseball's Hall-of-Fame in 1962 on his first ballot.
Robinson died at the way too early age of 53 in 1972.
Laurie and I attended this game
35 years ago with the D'Antuonos
THIRTY-FIVE years ago?
How is that possible?
We weren't born yet for this one
We found what we wanted in
Old Town Pasadena
So many decisions to help improve Pasadena's economy.
NO!
After buying out the store, we opted to buy some pizzas in South Pasadena before going to visit my Mother in the ancestral Casa Contreras for lunch.
Near the Blaze Pizza Shop we stopped
at this modest South Pasadena home
Why you ask?
Because back in the day, it was the home of one . . .
Pee Wee Herman!
It is located at 1848 Oxley St. which is near its intersection with . . .
. . . Milan Ave.
Only a little over two weeks until the flight back to Lombardia and our beloved Varese Skorpions.
Speaking of the Skorpions . . .
. . . what do you think about our
2019 coaching shorts
Great Grandma Chuny with Jacob
Two happy campers after a few slices of good pizza.
We just had to let Jacob run
amok in San Marino's great park
before the one hour drive home
Mary was at our house on Friday
night still enjoying her Christmas gifts
Saturday was a somber day.
We attended a celebration of
the life of legendary good guy and
Newbury Park Coach George Hurley
George was that rare person who always placed others before himself while being one of the most successful, respected and well liked football coaches in Ventura County history.
The celebration was held at Newbury Park High School's stadium whose field bears his name. The stands were packed on a crisp, sunny day as we remembered our dear friend who passed away after a heroic 14 year battle with cancer.
He will always live in our hearts.
The Rams finished the regular season
on a good note!
Thank goodness that the Rams
defensive line held up strong
Much of the 49ers scoring came long after the final outcome was decided. The Rams led 48-17 early in the fourth quarter.
The Rams finished with a 13-3 regular season record and the NFC West Division title. Their record earned them the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a much needed first round bye.
As I write this blog post on the last day of 2018, I can only think of tomorrow's big game in Pasadena.
Our group of seven (Brian and Koreen FitzGerald, Ryan Bolland, Mike, Jacob, Laurie and myself) will drive down early Tuesday morning to enjoy a long tailgating experience before entering the Rose Bowl in time for the 2:00 p.m. kickoff which sees the Buckeyes as a six point favorite. The over/under is 57 points.
This will be the eighth Rose Bowl that Laurie and I have attended that involved the Huskies. The Dawgs are 5-2 in the Rose Bowls that we have attended so far.
Getting a sixth Rose Bowl win will be a tall order.
A review of our previous Husky Rose Bowls . . .
1978
Washington (8-4) 27
Michigan (10-2) 20
Upset!
Hope for 2019?
1981
Michigan (10-2) 23
Washington (9-3) 6
Payback.
1982
Washington (10-2) 28
Iowa (8-4) 0
Domination.
1991
Washington (10-2) 46
Iowa (8-4) 34
Shoot out.
1992
Washington (12-0) 34
Michigan (10-2) 14
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
1993
Michigan (9-0-3) 38
Washington (9-3) 31
Back and forth.
2001
Washington (11-1) 34
Purdue (8-4) 24
Beating a team with Drew Brees at QB is never easy.
2019
Washington (10-3)
Ohio State (12-1)
I'm trying to channel the 1978 Husky upset mojo for this one.
Thus I am wearing the Husky hat
created by, and given to me by,
Mark Johnson back in 1978
I only hope that it doesn't disintegrate.
Reading Is FUNdamental!
Liked it
Laurie has read and enjoyed several of Greeley's works in the past. This was my first one.
If you went to a Catholic school in the late 1950s and early 1960s as I did, then you would enjoy this book immensely for its historical perspective on the upheaval that was going on in the Church in those turbulent days.
GO HUSKIES!
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