….is just one big wheel, something works for awhile until defenses catch up and then they go back to something else. Because of the spread and the way it’s made defenses adjust over the years (i.e. prizing team speed and a run to the ball gang tackle mentality on defense over size and physicality), a system like ours with a very physical power run element, or even the single wing stuff that people are running with their big running backs (or Tebow) were bound to come back into vogue and cause a lot of headaches for teams that can’t really man the middle with smaller guys.

but what seems most interesting from our perspective is how this team seems to be suited to take advantage of the transition period the game appears to be in at the moment. and, if nothing else, i certainly feel a hell of a lot more confident about Nov. 29 than i did at the start of the season.

football genius but I’ve always believed that the spread has its big advantage when you have better athletes than the other team. But when you don’t, look out. Remember the ’05 Cotton Bowl against TT? We held them to 10 points (?) in that game if I remember and I also recall them having a tough time moving the ball consistantly against us.

I knew the rest of what you had to say was gonna be a good-one. Big righteous “Aces!” to you my kind and learned Sir.

(uh-oh, this just in from “off-tangent central” : In advising my 16 year old niece on the topics of tattoo’s/tattooing culture, body art, body piercing, and favorite Sartre-antiheroes?- I remember somehow telling her about a woman I met years earlier who kinda freaked me out, in a manner of speaking and about 3, no 5 very different and particular ways. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be a long one, but. . .:I’m about to tell you about a beautiful Italian who had an insane gift of broken-English gab. She was a prolific charmer and quite the chatty Cathy! I could hardly get a word in edgewise with this one, and that’s pretty impressive. Remember, I’m verbose. So, you gotta understand- this niece of mine got WAY into punk, metal, Goth, 70’s London music/ dress/ and arrogance. Thanks to me! My sister- HER MOTHER – th dutiful Christian woman that she is, was not convinced I was (all-of-the-sudden) inherently “evil”, but. . . .she found it palatable to believe I was an agent “something”, possibly trying to poison her daughter’s mind and spirit. Who knows? She probably even thought I was leading my niece down a path of drugs and violence? (not that it’s “all around us” already and all?) Anyway, . . . .so I mixed, recorded, and sent my niece (and along with 6 other teenage/young adult family members) a ton of music in a 14-month period when I felt the urge to clue my sisters’ offspring in on music that “my mom and dad” played for me when I was young, some “classic” rock and blues, certain number of Jazz genre’s here and there, and the last 2 cd’s I sent to them was “my musical discovery” music (variously eclectic bands, LP’s, EP’s, ’45’s, cassettes, and cd’s of music I initially bought myself- “outta my own pockets” music that started to define my conscious and discerning tastes of music) So. . . . IT WAS A TON OF DANCEHALL, PUNK, SKA, EARLY RAP-SPOKEN WORD, METAL, HARDCORE, GRUNGE AND CLUB ANTHEMS!

Again, here I am on the phone with a sweetheart- and a tad-overweight, B-student, bespectacled with long brown wavy hair, and not a whole ton of friends 16 year old 10th grader who I took into THE “pit” (there’s always – “the” pit -at a punk show, and there’s also a few other “minor” pits that go-off somewhere along the fringes of the venue. well, I brought her into the very center of “the pit”) at a Black Flag/T.S.O.L./Rocket From the Crypt daytime concert. She wasn’t scared and went into The Pit, for the very first time, like she was born to dominate a “pit” !!! Get this, she had only heard of, but didn’t know a single iota of the history or the impact that Punk music had and has had on popular music since it’s inception. BTW: 4 of the 6 are also down with the Punk and have pursued their interests individually. As well as an occasional “borrowing some music” at a place called “Your Uncle’s Records”

Her name is Sache’ (pronounced Saw-shay), and I say to her- “Remember you met a woman I know who was named, Antonella? It was that time you and your dad came to visit me when I was flat broke and living in brand new high-rise in downtown San Francisco?” She says, “Was it when your Acura was broken into and the thieves didn’t touch your stereo but took out all the air-bags in the car?” I tell her, “That’s the time! ‘Member my steering wheel? It looked like a stripped-down, detachable racing steering-wheel because of the GIANT nothing anymore in the middle of it? Well, Antonella told me one time that I was the most (something very nice and flattering, but c’mon! I’m not gonna write down what she "actually” said) and when she complimented me that night- (post-coital by the way)- she firmly believed it was aided by the fact that I didn’t have any piercings, tattoos, chains, jewelry, bracelet/anklet accoutrement, cologne-prediliction, or much body-hair. Seriously. The body-hair and jewelry remarks should have sounded some alarms for me, but. No. It kinda didn’t. And for 5 minutes I’m telling my niece this story emphasizing the fact that this incredibly exotic “older” Italian-national who I’d dated twice before (and would ultimately end up only having 5 more insanity-filled “dates” with her) kept whispering in my ear over and over, “You’re a REAL rebel. You’re sexier than sexy because YOU DON’T HAVE A TATTOO! You have what a lot of women really like! But are afraid to admit it. You have SCARS! You are so PUNK”. Trust me when I say this: this woman knew her music. She had a couple of really really good things going for her. Wine, music, stories, and EYES from so far away- it’s a wonder how they ever met up with mine? But they did, and sometimes every now and again when thoughts go thinking her way. . . I can only describe it as an “infinite ache” sorta thing.

Here’s what my little Sache’ had to say upon hearing Antonella’s words, “OMIGOD my Uncle Cheesy-NO! – Mr. Who-Else-Thinks-I’m-Hot! If you seriously thought that what she said, was serious? Then the first tattoo I wanna get will be an ornately drawn arrow on my stomach pointing upwards and downwards to my boobs and also to my "lady area”! (and then she starts to guffaw loudly 2 or times). I’m categorically speechless. Could she be right? Was I duped? Wait a minute. I LIVED THROUGH IT! It was my experience. Wasn’t it? I know how Antonella MADE ME FEEL and I know for a fact that at THAT AGE, even though I was still pretty young- I had strong perceptions regarding most people’s veracity and character. And I recalled how much I truly believed the sincerity this angel of a woman displayed towards me at the time. It was majestic. And here, outta the blue- my 16 year old niece is clowining me as I’m trying to play the “responsible person” role in her life and at her behest.

So I Aikido-my-way-in by replying to her, “Let’s just say- hypothetically for instance, that a 16-year old Goth-nerd might actually have the capacity to accurately ascertain "forthrightness” of individuals involved in a physical courtship. What makes you certain “your perspective” is the correct or more accurate reality? And Little Miss “I-Wish-I-Had-a-Cool-and-Kickass-Uncle-Like-You”- if you truly follow through with “THAT” as your first OR SUBSEQUENT-IN-THE-FUTURE tattoo. . . . you’re bound to be a REAL HIT with a ton of stupid people you don’t seriously WANT to be a real hit WITH! That’s a fact if there ever was one, and between you and me Sache’. . . (I totally remember when you were 3 years old, round, and bossy! You were into pulling things in your wagon and getting the wheels stuck so I could help you get them out! Wasn’t that just like 2? It couldn’t have been no more than 5 years ago?) but, between you and me. . . . listen to me clearly with what I gotta say- I liked “the other Sache’ " better. Really, I do. You know, the one that’s fiercely intelligent and’s gotta volatile energy wrapped her light. The Sache’ that thinks adults are a special necessity, barely tolerated yet still lovable and believable. That "Sache”. Yup, that’s right. I like “her” better. She easily makes her cool Uncle look intelligent to others and by doing so makes her forgiving Uncle very proud. I’m also quite proud by the fact that “the other Sache’ " is respectful to herself, her body, and her family name. So do what you will princess. But remember, the relationship you have with your very own body will forever be the most intense love affair you’ll ever have. Your body purely exists for the sole purpose of trying to make YOU happy. That’s all it does and wants to do. How you treat it will ultimately determine how IT will treat you when you become older and evolve towards the reality that we humans all start to break down and decompose through aging. You’re only young once, and self-discovery is such a "non-thought” for our wasted youth suffering from a lack of priorities. Did you listen to that Smith’s song- titled “How Soon Is Now”? Or what about the Ministry song called, “Halloween”? Scratch all that! After we get off the phone, promise to listen and try to learn to words to the Talking Heads song, “Girlfriend is Better” and White Zombie’s “Grease Paint and Monkey Brains”. (complete silence and awkward pause)

“Great then”, I say. Soooo. . . . .ix-nay on the too-ta-tay and piercings okay? At least until your conscious enough as an individual to somehow assess the fact that you’ll “really be okay” drawing onto yourself something that doesn’t take away from the real beauty you truly are. Ideally- I would prefer you to decorate yourself with creations that enhance your states of beauty. Just, for all the things that are just in this world, would you please do something that pleases your Mom in ways which helps her to discontinue being such a detached and vindictive woman. My sister is an angel, I hardly know what she’s become lately. Especially since she’s convinced herself that the Time of Judgment is upon us! I don’t think you quite understand the conflictions and confusions I’ve had to endure since she “volunteered” me to be ‘Saved’ at that outdoor Billy Graham Revival I regretfully attended with her last year! It’s kinda weird to be blessed, prayed for, and submerged in undetermined guilt with 50,000 people cheering, praying, nudging me towards a salvation I didn’t know needed salving."

Sache’ then says, “Got it Uncle Tristan. You should talk to my mom about all this too. I lost that "I.R.S. Records” 2-disc album that had all that English Ska music. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. You deserved it though. I’m not getting that tattoo, and I’ll talk to my Dad, not Mom about buying me tickets to see Social Distortion and Pennywise at that bar in Santa Cruz next week. You sure you can’t buy me those tickets yourself? I’ll pay you back later . . .?"

Before I hung up, I told her she should either smile more or giggle a little when she decides to be funny. Then I said good-bye.

She’s 23 now. Graduated from University of San Diego this past summer. Has ZERO tattoos, but has a few piercings. Still wears the “Goth” look, has a pretty good Exene Cervenka/Siouxsie Sioux singing voice. She’s become a senior paralegal and hopes to be a house-owning citizen of America in less than a year! She’s a go-getter with verve and some boogie. . . . . . oh yeah, she’s also got this severe This Mortal Coil-addiction. She’s truly the rebel I never fully believed I ever was. (to be sure, tattoos are alright by me. people who have them aren’t toxic and they aren’t sheep to me. i’d like one someday, something “hieroglyphic-like” I hope?) The public ubiquity of body art is fairly common and has practically become a universally experienced American right-of-passage.in this day and age.

More exotic than not? For choosing NOT to get tattoos? Putting a smile on a mother’s face? Brother/sister relationship properly restored anew? Wow. Even I think you got more than was necessary with this one. (and remember, I think your post was remarkable. how could I get so “off” with this tangent? bummer kleph. this was not intended or foreseen. hmmmph! whoa!)

• relevant and/or tangential points of mine will be forthcoming. I forgot what I was originally gonna write in that regard. Yeah, well. . . . . I’ll be back later when I get things sorted.

…come in Cliff’s Notes?