The Bandit Says Goodbye

Although I knew he was in failing health, I was just so saddened to learn of the passing of Burt Reynolds.

As a kid, like so many, Reynold's portrayal of the Bandit in Smokey and The Bandit was the greatest thing ever. Reynolds racing across country in his Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with his cohort Cletus Snow (played by his good friend Jerry Reed) to bring Coors beer back to Atlanta will still stop me in my tracks if I am searching through the channels.

Reynolds began his wonderful life at Florida State University, where he played running back for the Seminoles. Burt made great friends there, which included Vic Prinzi and Lee Corso.

Reynolds love for Florida State University extended a lifetime. He was great friends with famed coach Bobby Bowden and was an incredibly generous benefactor to both academic and athletic arms of Florida State. Reynolds for many years filmed a halftime segment with the voice of the Seminoles Gene Deckerhoff. Before the likes of ESPN and the internet, these coaches shows were where you found the opportunity to watch game highlights. Reynolds shined doing this show, and we so appreciated him.

Reynolds was an accomplished actor, and while many of his movies were not of critical acclaim, he sure was. Several performances later in his life gave proof of that, but it wasn't anything he really worried about. Even so, he lived quite a Hollywood life, with relationships with several of the finest women in the business.

Never forgotten by Burt was his Florida roots and his entourage of friends. The first time I met Burt was in Tallahassee at an FSU game, where he traveled along with Dom Deluise, Ricardo Montalban, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ann Margaret and others. I ran into him at the Tampa Westshore Holiday Inn, after seeing Vic Prinzi waiting for him. Fortunately, I was in Tallahassee at a game two seasons ago where Burt placed the spear in the ground before the game, an honor bestowed upon a very select few.

Last year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Smokey and The Bandit," although Pontiac is gone, a Chevrolet Camaro was modified to look like a Pontiac Trans Am and 77 were made. Reynolds participated in the design and rollout, an event in which Burt had Bobby Bowden along as a guest.

 

Tim Linafelt of Seminoles.com recounted a funny old story about Burt today:

"Burt Reynolds used to love to tell the story of how Bobby Bowden knew his name — “Buddy.” It wasn’t until later that he realized Bobby Bowden called everyone Buddy."

This is a tough one. Burt Reynolds is an individual I have great affection for, a cherished member of the Seminole faithful. His advocacy for our beloved Florida State University has always been greatly appreciated. His loyalty to his friends was admired, and his wisecracking sense of humor brought smiles to us all. Smokey and The Bandit will always get us going as we run east bound and down, and we can always thank Burt Reynolds and his gang of friends, most notably Jerry Reed, for that.

RIP Burt Reynolds! Go Seminoles!

Hell, I got to go!

Just Good Ole Boys, Never Meaning No Harm

Just good ole boys; never meaning no harm.

The Dukes of Hazzard

Several years ago, I remember Glenn Beck saying that in a few years, you will not recognize your country. We have arrived at that destination in a thunderclap of wreckage not witnessed since the Bandit ran through a funeral procession while Buford T. Justice was in high speed pursuit.

In the aftermath of some asshole racist punk murdering some of America's finest citizens in Charleston last month, the left has seized the opportunity to take political correctness, as they see fit, to mind boggling levels. With their main goals set at, as Michelle Obama stated, at changing our history and traditions, the Confederate Flag, or some semblance of it, has now been banned everywhere.

And with political correctness completely run amok, Viacom has pulled the classic favorite "The Dukes of Hazzard" from rerun circulation on channels they own, most notably TV Land and CMT Television.  Fans of the show, those who support free speech and folks who have had it to their eyeballs with political correctness, are seething.

Viacom can show hour after hour of television that is offensive to many, with sexual situations, murders, conspiracy and hours of endless reality shows, but for the love of Pete, The Dukes of Hazzard is much too offensive with that flag on the roof of the car.

Actually, Viacom can show whatever they want on their network, and they can be as politically correct as they wise. However, I can choose not to watch their product, or invest in their company (VIAB:NASD), whose stock price is challenging yearly lows.

The General Lee

Although the show was very successful,  both during the initial CBS run and in rerun circulation, even though it had a hot chick and a fast car, two of my favorites, I was never a big fan. The chick, Catherine Bach, was nothing short of fantastic and the car, The General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger, was a hot rod to be sure.

I hardly ever caught this show on reruns.  However, the removal of "The Dukes of Hazzard" from the airways is symbolic of the absolute ridiculousness of the level of political correctness in this nation at the moment. You might say folks have lost their mind, but you must recognize this is an effort by the progressives to remove any traditional items from the marketplace and change our history, moving us to a different place they, not you, deem appropriate.

Even NASCAR, home to the real good ole boys, is running scared and has asked those attending the Coke Zero 400 on Sunday to leave their Confederate Flags at home or exchange them for an American Flag at the World Center of Racing on raceday.

Just good ole boys, never meaning no harm, which is no matter to the progressive left, who think they know what is proper for us to consume.  I do not plan to let them steal my rights without a fight.

Who Could Care?

Senator Chuck Schumer (D:NY) is quite full of himself, and much like our current President, thinks his goings on are much too significant for the likes of us to be concerned with. Schumer and his arrogance could be the poster child for the thought process that government should be making far reaching decisions for the common folk, you know, us with the pitchforks.

In thinking about it, Schumer maybe smarter than we give him credit for. A ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, Schumer ran off his mouth about the solvency of IndyMac Bank, which in turn led to a run on the bank. IndyMac Bank was the first bank to collapse in the now infamous housing crisis. Schumer denies any wrongdoing. And I'm Buford T. Justice.

The failing of IndyMac was a serious blow to a teetering financial system, which looking back in retrospect is just the sort of chaos which could catapolt a politician with soaring rhetoric, scant experience and a command of economic policy that is embarrassing to the Presidency at a time when this country could least afford unproven leadership.

One thing we do know. Americans are hurting, and Chuck Schumer could not care!

NOTE: INDYMAC IS THE HOLDER OF ONE OF MY MORTGAGES

So Long Snowman

One of my favorite characters passed away this week as 71 year old Jerry Reed died of emphysema last Sunday.

I became aware of Jerry from his guest star appearances on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Then he became legend in one of my all time favorite movies, portraying Cletus Snow (The Snowman) in Smokey and The Bandit. Reed also recorded the theme song, East Bound and Down, which is great interstate traveling music as I hold the hammer down on my Pontiac on I-75.



Reed was an extremely accomplished musician, but is better known for his hilarious antics with sidekick Burt Reynolds in a handful of these great car chase movies of the late '70's.
I could go on for days how funny these guys, along with The Great One, Jackie Gleason, were.

But, Hell I Got To Go!