Happy Elvismas!!!

Happy Elvismas!!!

Elvis was born on January 8.

“And it came to pass that in the winter of 1935, the shadow of a Great Depression lay over all the land. And nowhere was this Depression more deeply felt than in Mississippi, in the dark days of the Deep South. For it was there, in the little town of Tupelo, that Papa Vern and Mama Gladys were dwelling in a tiny, two-room wooden shack among the poorest of the poor.

Their faces were gaunt and careworn and their spirits were heavy for they had not two sticks to rub together to make a fire, and they were reviled as outcasts known cruelly as white trash. Papa Vern was greatly dejected and unemployed and engaged in all manner of scams to survive. And his heart trembled for the future, for Mama Gladys was big with child. And when her time was upon her, the midwife was called, and that night of the holy birth would bring both joy and tragedy. For Mama Gladys was delivered of twins and the first was stillborn. And he was called Jesse and was later buried in an unmarked grave, in a shoebox tied with a red ribbon.

The second son was called Elvis and He survived.

Yet the outcome was long in doubt for both Mama Gladys and the baby Elvis were weakened by the terrible ordeal of His birth and the death of His twin brother. But even as the tiny Elvis fought for His life, wailing louder than the cold wind outside the dismal shanty, many miracles did occur which heralded His arrival.

A mysterious blue light appeared outside the shack that was seen by Papa Vern and Mama Gladys. And the light was seen also by three wandering musicians who had followed it from afar. They appeared at the door bearing humble gifts for they were but poor and itinerant bluesmen. The first was named Furry and he offered a gallon of wine to warm the family and keep from them the chill of the drafty shack. The second was named John Lee and he brought pills of many colors which would keep the family awake and alert during the long hours of their vigil over their newborn son. The third was named Robert and he was the greatest musician of all. And his gift was the most precious of the three, a great can of oil, which Mama Gladys used forever after to fry the foods that would make her son grow big and strong.

And after they bestowed their gifts, the three bluesmen gazed upon the baby Elvis, saying, ‘Let us give praise for this miraculous babe for, surely, on this day and in this unknown shack in the little town of Tupelo, one is born who will reveal to the world a new way of music, and all the world shall some day proclaim Him King.”

And so it was to be. Amen. Celebrate Him this Holy Day of Twinity in the Sprit of The Rock. For he is Elvis, our Rock and our Roll.

Today's Rachel

College Football Playoff System

OK.

I figured out how to make a playoff system for college football work.

The highlights of this plan

1. 16 teams make the tournament - 5 At large bids and 11 conference winners
   
2. All the major bowls are preserved.
3. All major bowls are played in the first round.
4. Conference winners get automatic bids to bowls that they are affiliated with traditionally. PAC10 & BIG 10 will ALWAYS play each other in the ROSE Bowl on New Years Day. The SEC goes to the Sugar, the ACC to the Orange, BIG 12 to the Fiesta. New affiliations are made with other conferences like the MWC and the Cotton Bowl.
   
5. There is still an orgy of football on 12/31, 1/1, and 1/2.
6. The second and third rounds are on different days than the NFL playoffs.
7. The national championship game is on the weekend between the AFC & NFC Championship games and the Super Bowl.

Drawbacks

1. Tournament must be seeded every year to ensure a fair playing field or announced well in advance to ensure that the matchups are random.
2. The ROSE Bowl game is a tough first round matchup for both teams placing them at a competitive disadvantage. But hey! There are no easy roads to the national championship.
3. There are two weeks between the semi finals and the championship game.
4. Some bowls may be moved from day to day each year to make the schedule work.
   
5. There is no AUTOMATIC place for Notre Dame. Join a conference fellas!

You're Welcome!