IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury My ancient Uncle Mort claims only fuzzy memories of Texas’ first hockey games. He said something about chipmunks competing on 50-pound ice blocks, or something equally absurd. Suffice it to say that the sport has fully arrived. When 86,000 fans showed up at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl for the “hockey classic” featuring the Dallas
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Time has been bought, answers have been delayed and responses have been hedged as “squirmers” have opted for the “Texas two-step” instead of crystal clear comebacks to probing inquiries. I’ve “rambled” a bit–again. Let’s shoot for “bullseye centeredness” to sharpen focus on this new year, one when we’re bound to grow weary of
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Upon recollection of 2019, what are considered “top-of-the-heap” memories depend on who is doing the recollecting. This has to be one of the most brain-scrambling beginnings ever unleashed during 17 years of column-writing. Completing what I thought to be an “OK” discourse to a convention audience long ago, I experienced a “bubble-bursting.” The
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Even novices in U.S. history know that discovery of our part of the world was made by Christopher Columbus in 1492. On a far more personal note, Beverly Hindman–an 82-year-old widow in Burleson, Texas, has collected important “puzzle pieces” this year to greatly clarify her family history. Now, 527 years after Columbus landed,
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IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury The youngster, maybe 6-7 years of age, is on one of those “select” league baseball teams that may play four games or more on a single weekend during most months of the year. Sometimes, they fly commercially to tournaments, but so far, I haven’t heard of any teams chartering planes. But that’ll be
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury My Uncle Mort, a dedicated “frog gigger” during most of the 20th century and all the years so far in this one, claims to have made the best possible use of “Indian Summer.” “It was the shortest season ever, limited to a few hours on November 24,” he mused. “I’m glad I didn’t waste it
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IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury It is a simple request, embodied in a one-syllable, five-letter word. Yet, it is potentially sobering, whether perused by an individual, or considered by an entire nation, or even the world. Whoever penned it likely had no clue that its message should be implemented beyond the walls of Chick-fil-A to a world spinning
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury This would be a terrible time for the meek to inherit the earth. However, it would be a sobering time to acknowledge that TV revenue to major university football programs has greatly changed views on what intercollegiate athletics are supposed to be. It would be great if our nation were swept by a
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury At neither occasion is humor expected, but when it’s an added bonus, the comments eliciting laughter are the ones most remembered. Current examples were separated by some 50 miles and 74 years. Both were in churches–at a memorial service in Farmers Branch and at a parent-child dedication in Burleson. There were many smiles–and some
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