Today's Sports

There were guys prowling the green grass of Forest.

They were making big hits.  There was some grunting to be heard.

Although they were playing golf, have no doubt about it:  These guys are all about the pigskin game.

"Crack"

"Thwock"

"Thud"

That was the chain of sounds I heard the other day.

Playing senior softball (for those 50 years and older), we had a bit of a situation.  My good friend Marvin was pitching.  Another good friend, Al, was at the plate.

The cracking sound was the ball coming off Al's bat.

The thwocking sound was said ball hitting Marvin squarely in the coconut.

The thudding sound was Marvin hitting the ground.

Sometimes, you're dealt a lousy hand.

Sometimes that bum deal comes at the most inopportune of times.

Sometimes it comes in a form that is both stunning and mystifying.

And when such misfortune strikes, it is in our human nature to lash out in anger or to wallow in introspective pity.

Not Luke Arrington.

The 18-year old native of Bedford County was recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the blood.

Well, this World Cup business will finally be settled this Sunday.  Even though this column isn't about the World Cup, per se, I'll still throw out a prediction.  It could be way off, however, since the semifinals haven't taken place yet as this paper goes to press.  Nevertheless, I'll boldly go with Brazil over Netherlands, the former seemingly the New York Yankees of FIFA, and the latter the Buffalo Bills (three title games, three losses).