The Explorers Club
No. XLIV - Medusa






The ever-fascinating Medusa was next up in the rotation, but I brief considered the 1973 Yom Kippur War for this week's episode of "The Explorers Club," given that Yom Kippur was on Friday/Saturday. But I thought it better were I to cover the Arab-Israeli wars to do so as a series - 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, the First Intifada, the Second Intifada, 2006 - rather than one here and one there, all willy-nilly.

The Victors
While yesterday was certainly fun and I extend my sincerest congratulations to the valiant Wolverines, methinks the statement, reprinted in today's newspapers, that "Michigan is back" may be a tab premature. Penn State's "best" victory had been over *snicker* Notre Dame; so, there can be much debate as to how deserved was the ferocious Nittany Lions' No. 10 ranking. That said, woot! How about that Mike Hart? Sweet merciful crap, the kid's a juggernaut! Again and again he charged straight into the teeth of Linebacker U's signature players like a one-man bloody Light Brigade, though with far better results. Actual analysis to follow later in the week.

The second best news of the day was the dastardly Spartans' triumph over the most hapless team in football, the vile Fighting Irish. But, even in victory Michigan State gave us a gift: they allowed Notre Dame to score two offensive touchdowns. Jumpin' Jack Pratt, how pathetic does your defense have to be to give up points to "offensive guru" St. Charlie's staggeringly impotent offense? Bwa ha ha ha ha! Never send a Spartan to do a man's job. The vile Fighting Irish are 0-4! MSU gave up points to the worst offense in college football! Win-win.

And of course Tressel & Co. displayed all the sportsmanship one would expect from the hated Buckeyes by running up the score against a beleaguered Northwestern squad. THE Ohio State University: genuine class.

Go Blue!