The Freakin' Weekend (1974)

I am stunned at how scarce of information a simple Google search yields for "Tex Maule."

Here's the complete text of his May 18, 1981, Section D, Page 13, obituary in The New York Times:

Tex Maule, a noted sports writer for the last 25 years, died of a heart attack Saturday, Sports Illustrated announced last night.

He was 66 years old.

Mr. Maule covered professional football for Sports Illustrated from 1956 though 1975. He also covered boxing, horse racing and baseball. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and three children. The funeral will take place today at 2 P.M. at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan.

Here's the first paragraph of his Wikipedia entry: "Hamilton Prieleaux Bee Maule, commonly known as Tex Maule (May 19, 1915 in Ojus, Florida — May 16, 1981) was the lead American football writer for Sports Illustrated in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s."

And while it goes on to list some interesting facts about his life, even those ask at least as many questions as they answer:

-- Tex Maule played college football. (Hmmm ... was he any good?)

-- Tex Maule served in World War II. (Hmmm ... what was his experience?)

-- Tex Maule's coworkers in the Los Angeles Rams front office included Pete Rozelle and Tex Schramm. (Hmmm ... did they lunch together?)

-- Tex Maule wrote a book in 1972, Running Scarred, about his taking up running after a heart attack. (Hmmm ... was he on the job at some NFL game or practice when he suffered the heart attack?)

-- After leaving Sports Illustrated, Tex Maule went to work for three years with The Dallas Morning News. (Hmmm ... what was the impetus for that change?)

My ghost of Christmases past is happy to report that good, ol' Hamilton Prieleaux Bee hasn't left SI as of this date in 1974. No, on this Thursday, April 4, non-quarantined 1974 me is relishing the notion of a hopefully quiet weekend at home, flipping through the most recent Sports Illustrated (it's the baseball-preview issue!) and absolutely devouring Tex Maule's dispatch from Venezuela on a George Foreman-Ken Norton bout. There's next to zero possibility that thing is anything less than fantastic.

#Stamps

Thank you, God, for giving us fun.

Developing ...

Rick Pitino Says that Kentucky Is "the Premier Job in College Basketball"

It's hard to disagree with him about that.

For the record, I think we should have Iona visit Rupp and have a special event for Pitino quite soon.  The 2022 season will be the 30th anniversary of the Unforgettables, and that would be a good time to do it.

NFL20 Update

Updated final prediction: Super-bowl champions.

A Timely Thought from Isaiah

Come, my people,
enter thou into thy chambers,
and shut thy doors about thee:

hide thyself as it were for a little moment,
until the indignation be overpast.

Isaiah 26:20 (KJV).