the road is long....

I wonder what George Halas would have made of this year's Super Bowl.  The Chicago Bears owner and Hall of Fame coach didn't invent football - no one person can be credited with the invention of the greatest sport of all time - but he represented the then Decatur Staleys at the meeting which formed the NFL and was instrumental in the sport's early development.  His accomplishments are legion: he was the first coach to hold daily practices, study film, and broadcast games.  He won eight NFL titles and held the record for most victories until Don Shula passed him in 1993.  It's fair to suppose that the game we watch today might be drastically different without "Papa Bear's" influence.  But he'd probably be fired within a season if he were somehow able to coach a team in 2009.

I've been coming to terms since Sunday with the reality that my era of relevance in Karaoke to the Death may be drawing to a close.  But my situation isn't quite as dire as Dabysan's.  Daby has always been at something of a disadvantage because of his teetotaling, but even more tough to overcome is his utter lack of discomfort or shame in front of a crowd.  His voice is undoubtedly terrible, but he's clearly in his element on the Rock It Grill's grand stage; his performances are easily dismissed.  A hopeful contender in the modern era of Karaoke to the Death brings more than just a bad voice.  He (or she) brings also an uncomfortable stage presence and the most tin of ears.  Three yards and a cloud of dust just isn't going to cut it any more.  Daby and I are running around in leather helmets while Peyton Manning is lobbing forty yard touchdown passes to Emma because Aussie Bob is drawing the double coverage across the field.

And yet, that's somehow okay.  To borrow another metaphor - I, too, felt like something of a proud parent this past Sunday.  The sport of bad karaoke does have a couple of names with whom to credit the invention, but as proud as I am to have been part of the beginning, I am probably more proud of what KttD has become.  And it couldn't have become what it has without a lot of help from the George Halas types.  Emma's birthday was the impetus for the second event, which was prompted at Akaijen's suggestion.  Doc Paradox inspired our one and only rule change.  Bill was the first recipient of the trophy, which has long since been christened in his honor.  Vanna and Vrabel founded the increasingly popular KttFILMS.  It's been a group effort.  I just hope they all appreciate that effort as much as I do.

We initially chose Presidents' Day weekend because it was a holiday which we all had off but for which nobody makes any special plans.  But as Crunch astutely notes, KttD helps fill that often crushing void between "the Holidays" and the onset of Spring.  I don't get Presidents' Day off any more, but I take a vacation day anyway.  And I always feel a little guilty about it, but I honestly don't know why.  If you've got a better reason for taking a day off of work than a long-standing party in which you're expected to openly mock many of your dearest and closest friends without fear of reprisal, well then, I'd like to hear it.