The Last Husky Legends Lunch of 2024

Monday, December 30, 2024

Mark Johnson, a 55+ year friend from our undergraduate days at Washington, is still working.

As his business brings him to the Los Angeles from time to time, he likes to call for lunch meetings with Huskies from our generation who have settled in the greater Los Angeles megalopolis.

Today was one of those days.

Usually we meet at Dinah's Kitchen Restaurant in Culver City but to our surprise, it was closed for renovations.

Mark quickly contacted us via text and phone calls of the predicament and implemented Plan B, he moved the lunch up Sepulveda Blvd. to one of SoCal's iconic dining spots, Johnnie's Pastrami.

It was a great Plan B in my opinion!

How many Old Huskies would

make it today was anybody's guess

I believe that the largest turnout that we've ever had for one of these special lunches was ten. Remember, this group includes senior citizens driving from Riverside County, Orange County, Northridge, La Mirada and even one from Ventura County.

On this final Monday of 2024, with people scattered due to the Holidays, only four of us made it to Culver City for lunch today.

Besides Mark Johnson and myself, we were joined by Loren Brucker and Ken Lee.

As usual, the conversation swung around to lots of great memories from years with Loren directing the conversation towards Ken.

Now, two things need to be mentioned at this point.

First, Ken Lee was easily the most accomplished athlete in our overall group having played five seasons of professional football as a linebacker with the NFL's Detroit Lions (1971), Buffalo Bills (1972), the CFL's Toronto Argonauts (1973) and the World Football League's Southern California Sun (1974-1975).

In 1972, when he played for the Bills, Ken led the team with six interceptions. That interception total tied him for seventh in the NFL that season.

Second, in all the years that I have known Ken, I have never once heard him talk about his pro football career in any way, shape or form.

Until today when Loren got him to open up.

Ken Lee, LB, Southern California Sun

Not surprisingly, Ken was modest throughout his fascinating epiphany.

As for those six interceptions, he modestly professed that those passes magically found him more than him making any great plays.

I asked him who threw him his first interception.

The answer floored me, Johnny Unitas!

As for the other five picks, two came from Jim Plunkett and then one each from Daryle Lamonica and Earl Morrall.

Finally, Ken got a gleam in his eye and asked us who we thought he got his sixth interception from?

He gave us a hint. It was perhaps from that NFL era's most popular QB.

Loren immediately nailed it, Joe Namath.

It was fun to hear Ken's stories for the first time and I loved how he quickly steered the conversation in other directions away from himself.

Modesty is a fine attribute.

Now, for some football bowl predictions for the next two days . . .

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

I have no choice but to go with my heart, the Washington Huskies (6-6) over the Louisville Cardinals (8-4).

The College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

In Tuesday's Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, I think that the #6 Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) will beat #3 Boise State Broncos (12-1).

But I'll be rooting for Boise State. 

In Atlanta, the Peach Bowl will see the #4 Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) take on the #5 Texas Longhorns (12-2). My pick is Texas but I want Arizona State to win.

Pasadena, California's 111th "Grand Daddy of Them All," the Rose Bowl, should be a dandy!

The #1 Oregon Ducks (13-0) edged the #8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) in their regular season BIG-10 matchup. This time around I like Oregon to do it again.

Truthfully, I would be happy to see both teams lose if that were only possible.

The final College Football Playoff Quarterfinal contest will take place in New Orleans' Sugar Bowl. The #2 Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) will take on Pope Francis' favorite team, the #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-1).

Over the past quarter century, Notre Dame has laid huge ostrich sized eggs on college football's biggest stages. I'm riding that streak in this game, Georgia for the win and no, I NEVER root for Notre Dame.

PAYBACK FOR THE NUNS AT PASADENA'S ST. PHILLIP THE APOSTLE SCHOOL BACK

IN THE 1950s!

The Long Post-Christmas Weekend

Thur.-Sun., Dec. 26-29, 2024

As the year continued to wind down, so did we. 

We still were enjoying the warm

afterglow of the Judeo-Christian Holidays

Camarillo has been in the grips of chilly, damp weather the past few days leading to some unusual growth in our front yard, large patches of mushrooms.

Some grew in large clusters . . .

. . . others in small ones

All were interesting . . .

. . . and somewhat unique

Nature can be just so darn interesting at times.

Of course, there was lots about American football over the past four days.

Italy's Caserta Steel Bucks, located

near Naples, are getting pants

16 UnderArmour pants donated

by La Salle H.S. in Pasadena, CA

Laurie and I boxed them off and

shipped them via the U.S. Postal Service

There is a U.S. Naval Base in Naples and the Steel Bucks have a team friend who lives and works on the base.

Considered by the USPS to be American soil, shipping the box to this friend becomes a relatively inexpensive and quick way to get this box of wanted gear to the Steel Bucks.

Now, only 33 more of these red pants are left in our garage in need of a new home overseas.

On Sunday, Laurie and I went

out for a late lunch

The call went to  Camarillo's oldest

and most iconic Mexican restaurant

El Tecolote did not disappoint either of us. Great chips and salsa as always. 

Ohio State at UCLA in 1962

Back when college football was a lot more fun to watch.

I did not know this

There were a slew of mostly meaningless college bowl games on TV over the past few days.

Only three bowl games drew my interest.

The Pop Tart Bowl was one because,

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A POP TART!

Iowa State(11-3) beat Miami (10-3)

Played in Orlando, Florida, there was controversy in this one.

Miami's QB Cam Ward only played in the First Half setting an all-time NCAA Division I record for most passing TDs in a career, 158.

Record in hand and healthy, he did not play in the Second Half during a close, tense game that ended up in a one point win for Iowa State.

His choice? Coaches choice? Mutual agreement?

Not sure but it was not a good look.

The second one was played in

Fort Worth, Texas,

The Armed Services Bowl

Navy (10-3) beat Oklahoma (6-7)

Michael and Jacob joined us at our home to watch this one. If you recall, the three of us had traveled to Annapolis, Maryland earlier this year to watch the Memphis-Navy game.

 

A GREAT season for the Midshipmen!

Jacob and Michael are both Army fans,

so the third bowl game of interest was

Shreveport, Louisiana's

Independence Bowl

Army (12-2) drubbed Louisiana Tech (5-8)

This was the game where Sun Belt Champion Marshall was originally scheduled to face Army but opted out due to their Head Coach leaving for the same job at Southern Mississippi and then over 30 players opting out to enter the Transfer Portal.

In stepped nearby Louisiana Tech despite their losing record God bless their hearts.

This Bowl win might help get the

bad taste out Army's mouth after

their loss to Navy in their last game

of the regular season

But I doubt it.

Still a record setting season

for the Black Knights

Army's QB Bryson Daily was

so much fun to watch this season

The success of both Army and

Navy this year was fun to watch

during these NIL/Transfer Portal

troubled days

Air Force, pick up the pace in 2025, please.

The Washington Huskies are in

a bowl game next week

The Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas

on December 31st

Louisville Cardinals

Tied for Fourth Place in the ACC

8 Wins - 4 Losses

vs.

Washington Huskies

Tied for Ninth Place in the BIG-10

6 Wins - 6 Losses

The Sun Bowl looking serene

Sun Bowl tickets available for

$5.00 USD?

The truths about Supply and Demand Economics can really bruise one's ego.

Nevertheless . . .

The Rams got an important win

on Saturday night over the Cardinals

Still a fan of the 1951-1969 logo

Not so surprisingly, the 1970-1982 logo was my number two pick.

1910 and 1918 work for me

After Sunday's NFL games, the

Rams officially won the NFL West and

the #3  playoff seed that goes with it

Odds and ends from the net . . .

Alaskan city at -74°F/-58.9°C

And I thought that Camarillo was chilly. DAMN!

New Year's Eve Truth #1

Thank goodness that Laurie is

NOT into these Hallmark films!!!

New Year's Eve Truth #2

Cuban coffee is too strong

to serve in a cup this large

I have to agree

Sorry for the colorful language.

Yet another truth

Reading Is FUNdamental!

Another Michael D'Antuono inspired

historical read from awesome author

Erik Larson

This was the fourth Larson tome that I have read and each one has been uniquely interesting.

History buffs like Paul Sabolić should read all of Larson's books in my opinion.

Christmas Day 2024

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We would have a small gathering

at our home today around this tree

Laurie had prepared our dining table

for the evening's festive meal

On this Christmas night it would just be Laurie and me sharing the day withVanessa, Michael, Mary and Jacob.

We first opened gifts

Most were for these two

irrepressible scallywags . . .

. . . but there were some for the adults

Simple pleasures . . .

. . . are often the best

This wine glass ornament . . .

. . . looked GREAT on Gigi's tree!

Michael liked the Maté infusion cup

that we got for him in Buenos Aires

Mary and Vanessa both loved these

collectible dolls from the Wicked movie

 

Proud Grandparents indeed

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

Both Michael and Jacob got one for Christmas but not from us.

They opted to get into partial

Civil War gear and use our backyard

as a shooting range

Not sure about his choice of

combat boots today

Jacob donned protective googles

that he bought at a war surplus store

in Oceanside outside of the U.S. Marine

Corps Camp Pendleton

The afternoon ended with all four of their eyes still healthy and in place.

From the net . . .

D.

TOO BAD OREGON DUCK FANS!

We need this one!

Ollie Matson

RB, Los Angeles Rams, 1959-1962

This Hall of Fame RB also played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1952 and from 1954-1958, the Detroit Lions in 1963 and for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964-1966.

In 1959, the Rams traded NINE players to the Cardinals for him.

A great player who was fun to watch in his prime.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

EVERYONE!