Onward to Omaha!

Go 'Noles!

Can't You Read The Sign

Nebraska ... the good life.

Indeed, it is a lovely place, free from many of the ills that are increasingly permeating our society.  It is a place that is ideal for raising a family, and a state that welcomes virtue, principle hard work. It has been said the N on the side of the University of Nebraska football helmet stand for "nice people" rather than "Nebraska".

Outside of some of the downtown areas of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska is a very conservative state, as red a state as sea of red in beloved Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on football Saturdays with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the field.

State Senator Ernie Chambers, a Democrat from Omaha, who tried to take down the storied 'Husker football program a few decades back, has emerged as a leader in an effort to do away with the death penalty in Nebraska.

Although Nebraska has the death penalty, it has not been used very often, and only approximately ten people are the list to be executed at this time.

Even so, led by efforts from Chambers and others and sadly including GOP members who consider themselves Conservative, legislation to end the death penalty in the Cornhusker state passed in the state legislature.

Governor Pete Ricketts, a republican from Nebraska City, vowed to veto such legislation should it land on his desk, which he promptly did.  However, with the help of a handful of "conservatives" there were enough votes to overturn the veto.  One of these individuals was Brett Lindstrom, a former 'Husker backup quarterback who considers himself a 21st century Reaganite, which is ludicrous.

Poof!  Just like that, Nebraska no longer has the death penalty.

The state has been in mourning this past week. Omaha police were serving a felony arrest warrant against an individual with a lengthy criminal record (do you ever wonder like I do how these people do not remain in jail?) when a firefight broke out, mortally wounding the suspect and a member of the Omaha Police Department.

Kerrie Orozco, a 29 year old female member of OPD, died at Creighton University Medical Center from her wounds. Kerrie Orozco, who is survived by her husband and three children, one of whom was reported to be a premature infant who remains in an Omaha hospital.  Orozco, described by Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer as a remarkable person and officer and a perfect representative of the profession, is the first OPD officer slain since 2003.

Omaha came together strong to pay tribute and offer their respects to Orozco and her family, even thwarting efforts by the idiots from the Westboro Baptist Church to cause a raucous.  In Omaha, BLUE LIVES MATTER!


With the legislative vote to repeal the death penalty, the state legislature governed against the will of the people, as Nebraskans overwhelming support it.  Individuals of the sort who have no regard for law and order and think nothing or murdering police officers are those that the death penalty suits perfectly.

Can't the legislature read the signs?

I remember a day, when Lincoln was terrorized by a crazed killer, where everybody and anybody wanted this serial murderer put to death promptly after his apprehension.  In fact, police nabbed him in Wyoming, Charles Starkweather was brought back to Lincoln and electrocuted in the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln in 1959.

The death penalty may not be a deterrent to all, but it is certainly a powerful tool of penance for those who recklessly disobey the rule of law resulting in the taking of innocent lives.  As former Nebraska governor Dave Heineman said, “It’s important for Nebraska to have a death penalty, for the most heinous of crimes. We just had the most recent situation in Omaha, the shooting in Norfolk and a variety of communities across the state.”

Right on Gov. Heinemen, particularly that recent situation in Omaha, which took the life of a top notch member of the community.  It was a sign.

Thankfully the Omaha fugitive was killed in the field, or given the mindset of the moronic legislators, he would be sentenced to a life of three squares a day, lifting weights, congenial visits and watching sports on our dime for the rest of his pitiful existence.

It is sad the members of the state legislature did not see the signs.

A sign noting Blue Lives Matter. A sign of heartbreak in Omaha and a heartfelt sign of welcome on the state borders describing Nebraska as the good life.  And the sign of a Nebraska city in terror in 1959.

Keep your eye on the signs, and Keep Calm and Kerrie On!

Sunday Night Song

Since the Florida State baseball Seminoles failed to reach the College World Series in Omaha yet again, there was no trip to make.

However, with much of I-29 corridor flooding through Iowa up to north of Omaha, baseball may have to take a back seat. Take a look at a report from KFAB Omaha.

This is the worst flooding in the area since 1952. Unfortunately, much of the corn crop in Cornhusker country could be compromised, which will increase prices. These price increases will hit you, as corn is a central product. And, are there potentially deadly nuclear issues taking place at the Fort Calhoun plant north of Omaha? Although Russian sources are saying so, I don't buy it.

Here in Orlando, last night was yet another outstanding performance by Classic Albums Live with Zeppelin IV on the docket. Considering all the flooring, it seemed appropriate for the Sunday Night Song to be a cut off that album, "When the Levee Breaks"

As Robert Plant said, when the levee breaks, you got nowhere to go. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have had extreme weather disrupt the lives.

Plant and Page from 1995 with When the Levee Breaks:

Seminoles Blast A Towering Shot

After starting the season playing in uncharacteristically bad form, the Florida State baseball Seminoles, complete with some position changes, seem to have hit stride here at the right time as a potential trip to Omaha looms.

Although the Orlando Sentinel felt compelled to place the Gators baseball victory on the front page today, it was Florida State that assaulted the record books in destroying Ohio State by four touchdowns and a field goal, 37-6, after calling the dogs off in the fifth inning.

Among the 12 records set were NCAA tourney records for hits, runs and total bases and an NCAA record for doubles in a game with 15. The record for individual hits in a postseason game with seven was recorded by shortstop Stephen Cardullo.

Back in December, I had a chance to visit with Coach Mike Martin, which is always a pleasure. After coming up short in Omaha last year and losing the nations best player in Buster Posey to MLB, it seemed a tall climb for FSU to make it back to Omaha this year. For now, the Seminoles still have to get through a Super Regional to get there. But, it looks like the bats are alive and kicking, and I am hungry for a visit to Gorat's Steakhouse myself. Go 'Noles

Seminoles Omaha Bound!

In what perhaps is the best baseball bunch Mike Martin has put on the field in moons, the Florida State Seminoles are heading to the College World Series in beautiful downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

There are some great stories on the Seminoles 2008 squad, including fellow Orlando Boone product Stuart Tapley, who also was the winning pitcher in the Little League World Series for Apopka several years ago.

But the main reason FSU is in Omaha is on the back of the College Baseball National Player of the Year, Buster Posey. Posey, a first team All American and ACC Player of the Year as a junior, leads the nation in 3 offensive categories, including batting average and posts a stellar .981 fielding percentage on the defensive side. Posey is also a finalist for and likely winner of several other awards, inclusive of the Johnny Bench Award, Golden Spikes Ward and Dick Howser Trophy.
As great as that is, Posey was also named the Academic All American of the Year by ESPN the magazine, in conjunction with CoSIDA. Posey is pursuing a degree in finance (imagine that) and has a cumulative average of over 3.8. "It's gratifying," said Posey on receiving this award. "I've put in a lot of effort off the field with school and hopefully it can be a good example for younger kids out there that you can accomplish both school and athletics. It definitely takes discipline, but doing well in school is something I take pride in."

Longtime FSU Coach Mike Martin weighed in on Posey saying "The young man does his job in the classroom, and certainly he has does his job on the field. He is just a great leader." Before working on Wall Street, Buster can do some time with the San Francisco Giants, who recently drafted him fifth in the MLB draft.

Not surprisingly, I have not read anything in "The Orlando Sentinel" regarding the outstanding accomplishments of Posey. And since you didn't either, you can learn about him here.

Many thanks and congratulations to Buster Posey on his outstanding season. And conrats to Mike Martin and the Seminoles! The time may be right. Go 'Noles