LaxPower Back-Up Stick

Interesting that a new generation, way removed from when Sweet Home Alabama was released back in 1974, have adopted this song to include in the pregame pump-it-up playlist. Doubtful any know of the compelling, multifaceted history behind this song. Some of it was news to me too. I would venture to say if they knew the story of the song, against the backdrop of today's social climate--it's unlikely they'd be playing it for pregame motivation. Just a guess.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Home_Alabama

Dobbie running around like a teenager. USA up 4-2. 4 minutes left in the 2nd period.

Masera plays with such confidence, even cocky to a degree. She's going to be a real problem for Seawolves opponents in 2023.

Very close affair here. 6-6 at the half

"Right now, the Canadians seem to be in the ascendancy."

Jonny Bryan—UK color commentator during the broadcast.

7-6 USA 6 mins left in 3rd

Evans for Canada. Belle Smith answers. 8-7 USA

Ageless Dobbie again. 8-8 4 mins left in 3rd

Pippi for Canada. Petty for USA. 9-9

Baxter again. 10-9 Leafs

Baxter natural hatty 11-9 Leafs near the end of 3rd. Canadian defense clamping down.

Belle Smith again 11-10 Leafs

Wurz 11-11. Still in 3rd less than a minute left

End of the 3rd. 11-11. One final 8 minute 4th period left.

(edit: filled in name of color commentator and corrected his country of origin.)

Long delay before the beginning of the 4th. Some talk that maybe the scorekeeper gave Canada one too many goals thus far. And of course, now the signal is getting sketchy.

Just took a goal down for Canada. 11-10 USA beginning of 4th

And The Ageless One scores again. 11-11

Cordingley 12-11

Smith's 5th 12-12

Evans 13-12 Leafs

5 minutes left

Perroni 14-12 Canada less than 4 minutes left

Not a good shot by the US. Then Spence makes yet another critical save off a turnover.

Looks like Canada's going to take it.

14-12 with 41 seconds left. Time out

That's it. Canada wins the Gold. 14-12. Well deserved. They took over the game in the 2nd period even though the score was still close the rest of the way. The tougher craftier team won.

Canada's own Rush is heard over the PA. Limelight. Fitting all around.

This particular rendition is special at this address as the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup later that night.

Next on the horizon, sports fans—yet another (4th) form of women’s lacrosse (we’ve seen in the last 3 months) to help pass the interminable offseason. Only 4 days away. All the Athletes Unlimited fun starts Thursday.



Sam Apuzzo and Meg Douty

When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school;
It's a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none;
I can read the writing on the wall.

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors;
Give us the greens of summers.
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah.
I got a Nikon camera.
I love to take a photograph,
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away.

In an interesting way, some of the lyrics to this song sum my feelings about other forms of lacrosse, like Six Chicks and All Star Exhibition Scrimmages a.k.a. Athletes Unlimited--they don’t bother me. Don't hurt me none. They’re a mildly interesting distraction during offseason. But the main connection to the lyrics for me on this topic—as long as NCAA D1 (in my case) women’s lacrosse exists—I’m more than happy. That’s my Kodachrome, as it were. And as long as the game remains the same, (a few minor rule tweaks here and there once in a while to the contrary notwithstanding) I’m very satisfied. I don't care which form of lacrosse makes an event that happens once every 4 years. As long as Hope Springs Eternal annually every second week of February--I'm fine and dandy.

As for the song itself apart from lacrosse, And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none is a delightful paradox. Ol' Elston Gunnn hisself mighta betrayed the slightest quarter-smile at that line, being a master of them type lyrics his own self... but I digress)

I remember when Kodachrome first hit the airwaves back in the early 70’s. I liked the song alright. One day my friend and I were driving somewhere with his dad. Kodachrome came on the AM radio station my friend’s dad had on. (No FM back in those days for pop songs.) From the backseat, I could see that every time Simon sang, …sunny day, oh yeah. the father would extend his hand and tickle his son who giggled happily each time. The song sounded great that day and it was a fun memory that attached itself on that occasion.

And the last memory related to this song that I’ll bore you with, faithful readers—My older brother was a fairly good photographer in his spare time away from being a union electrician. (IBEW I'm Broke Every Wednesday [they got paid on Tuesdays]). He detested Nikon cameras. He swore by the Pentax K1000. One day he was holding forth (what can I tell you—it runs in the family) on the profundities of Paul Simon. For one of the few times in the whole history of me and bigger brother, I stumped him so that he had no response when I mentioned the line, I got a Nikon camera.

One other time was when he took my queen in chess and I still croaked his king—but that’s a whole other bushel of rooks.

This ought to be good. Looking forward to seeing the state of the game as it was in 2015. That was the year Penn State made it all the way to championship weekend before being bounced by the PBC. Televised at 4am tomorrow on the BTN Network. Automatically dvr'd and ready to go thanks to YouTube TV.

What is it about this lousy, low rent topic that garnered 15,000 views in a little over a month?