Championship Week

Yeah, that was quite a second half I slept through last night. Baltimore never scored again, and the Bills' remaining points came from a single touchdown pass and the 101-yard interception return by a guy who lost his starting job earlier in the year.  I posted the NBC video of it earlier, but I also wanted to link to one that includes our local announcer's call of it.

Not long after that, the Ravens quarterback took a hit and left the game in concussion protocol. His backup played a nice final quarter, but it wasn't enough. Meanwhile, Bills fans responded to the injury by looking up Lamar Jackson's favorite charity and donating to it.

So now we await the results today. Heavily favored and rested Kansas City takes on the Browns in a couple of hours. An upset of the Chiefs would mean the AFC title game would be played here next Sunday; even so, I want no part of Cleveland next week. They're too much like us- plucky Rust Belt underdogs, no respect nationally, and one of their inspirational stories is an O-lineman named Wyatt Teller, who, as I heard it today, the Browns got in a trade "for a Snickers bar."  (That trade was with the Bills, and was actually for two draft picks, one of whom became Tyler Bass, the kicker who did about as well as the other kicker did last night;) Plus we haven't faced the Browns in ages. We've played KC a bunch, including earlier this year, and know them much better. And to ice the frozen cake,  our opponent the last time we played in (and won) the AFC title game? KC.

The late game today will then determine if there's still a chance of facing longtime nemesis Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Definite hard pass (probably to Gronk) on that one.

----

We headed out a little late for Dog Church this morning- just Pepper and Ursula attending, and I was a little groggy from the midnight interruption from neighboring screams and fireworks after the win, plus our bud was walking a little gingerly- but we made the most of it on the nearby trail.  It's the little memory assemblies I find the most touching over there, the artistic ones more than the fancy plaques.



----

Coming back from the trail, I passed this guy who, as of last sighting, had still had his TRUMP 2020 flag under Old Glory. I was pleased to see that the flag of insurrection was down... until the wind stopped enough for me to get this view.




What a sore loser. Plus, speaking of plaques, he took down one honoring the United States Marines that used to be at the base of the flagpole. Bet THEY don’t surrender in a snit.  Eleanor just told me she's cashed the guy out a number of times and he's really nice to her. Maybe he can be redeemed once the country doesn't all go to shit in a week as they all seem to be brainwashed into thinking.

On the unredeemable side, though, we had this lovely person:



She was actually tweeting out plugs for her real estate business while engaged in sedition.  That led me to help out with her listings while she's, um, indisposed:

JUST LISTED- cozy 6'x8' living space in exclusive gated community with 24-hour security. Peekaboo view of exercise yard. Close to dining, laundry and library. Unable to answer mobile, so leave message.

And OF COURSE she's angling for a pardon- as is the Shaman dude, who went on a hunger strike until they served him organic food in the pokey.  Snowflake.

I've seriously considered whether any of them will be eligible now that FPT's been impeached over that specific incident, because of limiting language in the Constitution on the pardon power "in cases of impeachment." There's authority from The Room Where It Happened to suggest it is so limited:

As just one example, regarding treason, the Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph voiced a concern at the Constitutional Convention that “the prerogative of pardon in these cases was too great a trust. The President may himself be guilty. The Traytors may be his own instruments.”

Plus, at the apparent going rate of $2 million per pop, maybe Kamikaze Karen can afford one, but I don't think Viking Boy is gonna come up with it.

That'll all work itself out. Meanwhile, we will be inaugurating a new President four days from now, as fitting a championship as any coming out of the sportsball field.