In Eckleburg's Eyes - 2/13/2009, Part 1

News & Notes from Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

-Wednesday was a windy day in East Tennessee. Scott County Schools were dismissed due to the wind and at day’s end much of Knox County had yet to regain power from earlier gusts. My home was effected as well. The vent in my attic was blown off, leaving a hole in my house!

-On Wednesday afternoon, my mother and I drove to 3025 Ginnbrooke Lane in Maryville to the condo of the late HMC. I was there to pick up HMC’s books while his daughter ACR cleaned his condo. It recently sold. I was selected to inherit his library as his wife knew I would appreciate the books and because both her husband and I were devoted to John Claypool. Dr. Claypool used to provide his sermons via a mailing list and Dr. Chiles was one of the recipients. I was thrilled to get the sermons.

-I have been blessed to inherit several pastor’s libraries. The task of going through their books is always strange and I cannot help but wonder who will one day browse mine. HMC’s library had been reduced when he left the mission field. 22 banana crates full of books had been distributed to pastors throughout South Dakota where he was working at the time. What was left were his favorites. I could tell that, in addition to Dr. Claypool, he especially appreciated the preaching of Helmut Thielicke (1908-1986) and Elton Trueblood (1900-1994). HMC had also saved a copy of Ralph Elliott’s The Message of Genesis, which will tell the initiated where he stood on the SBC-CBF split.

-I also picked up books for some fellow members of the Central Baptist Church of Bearden who went to seminary. I felt that we should all have a part of one of the great people associated with the church.

-On Wednesday night, I met MPW and RAW at Thompson-Boling Arena to watch the Tennessee basketball team play Georgia. They arrived late as they had been celebrating their mother’s birthday in Seymour. They missed a humorously awkward Wayne Chism shot at the 18:50 mark, Brian Williams typical palms open hand gesture questioning a foul, and uncertainty in the Vols offense. The usual.

-Actually, Tennessee destroyed the Bulldogs on this day. The game was sloppy and the Vols missed numerous easy looks but it would have been hard to lose to Georgia on this night. Note: Firing coaches in January is a terrible idea!

-How dominant were the Vols? With 13:32 left in the second half walk-on (and Knoxville native) Quinn Cannington (SQC) checked into the game. This was highly irregular. Over the Vols’ first 22 games, SQC had totaled three minutes and had yet to score. SQC held his own and hit his first jump shot.

-Tennessee won the game 79-48. Georgia remained unvictorious in conference play (0-9). This was our best chance to receive free chicken (done when the Vols score 90 or more) and the missed lay-ups cost us this promotion if not the game.

-As an aside, freshman reserve Emmanuel Negedu has become a huge fan favorite, typically getting the biggest ovation from the crowd when he enters the game.

-I did not see anyone I know at the game. Attendance was surprisingly low, with the student section again being largely empty. Is there something happening on campus on Wednesday nights? With the stands empty, the Georgia team probably felt at home.

-The halftime entertainment was a six minute demonstration from the Tennessee baseball team, who will be opening their 100th season on February 20th. Vol baseball players were positioned at each entrance to distribute fliers and star Kentrail Davis was announced to the crowd during one break. During halftime, the coach narrated a series of drills. The indoor setting was not conducive to baseball and I am uncertain whether they helped or hurt their cause of creating a crossover audience.

-It was not all bad. At the end of the drills, the players hit items into the stands. While this seemed to be a lawsuit waiting to happen, no one appeared to be injured. Plus, we did not have to pay these guys. (I am still not over the Vols hiring a “professional Simon Says leader" to fly in from New York).

-After the game, I met JTH and JDM at Applebees where we watched North Carolina win at Duke, 101-87. AFH was our server. JTH ordered the buns that accompany their mini hamburgers. AFH did not deliver it with his meal. She explained the oversight, “I forgot because it’s ridiculous”. As you can see, JTH eventually got his bread.