WMCC News

My friend and and fellow Chairman, Billy Solomon, passed along a video of the Cactus Cuties singing a great harmonic arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner.  (These girls are only 9, 11 and 14 years old!)  Turn up the volume.

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” - Erma Bombeck

Thanks to a faithful reader, we have been pointed to this article by Terrance Moore, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist, and the rabid responses by his readers on the subject of why the fallout over Uga VI’s death has been so emotional:

Even so, none of (the other college mascots) would come close to inspiring folks to do the following: Fly their remains on a private plane to campus, bury them in a fancy vault and have a funeral service that includes a Baptist minister presiding and the president of the university speaking.

So why are the Ugas such a huge cut above the rest when it comes to generating these kinds of emotions?

Help me out.

Please.

Read the responses from his readers and you’ll learn what it means to be a true member of the Bulldog Nation.

(Travis is a member.)

“Why the emotional fallout over Uga?” ajc.com 7/2/2008

From the “Most Popular Stories Now” section of today’s online Telegraph:

A special multimedia presentation of the entombment of the University of Georgia mascot, including the words spoken by the chaplain during this time of grief suffered by the Bulldog Nation.

(Also featured is Governor Sonny Perdue comparing three point stances with Uga VI.)

Remembering Uga VI

Oh, somewhere on I-75 a bouncer uses crowd control
Cheap sex toys are on sale and a girl wraps around a pole
And somewhere men are drinking, and gaping at girls exposed
But there is no joy in Byron - Cafe Erotica has closed.

“Cafe Erotica closes after 16 years” macon.com 7/2/2008

Uga VI’s online guestbook is now up to 166 pages.  (How long will your guestbook be?)  Some more entries from the faithful and distraught:

• The day that Uga VI took his place on the field was the day that my husband and I married. We were at picture day a few years ago and was able to meet Uga in person.
• You’ve got the best seat in the house now! No ice needed. Love ya big guy.
• I’m not quiet ready to remove you from my work computer; I don’t know if I will be ready any time soon. GO DAWGS…..
• I was so saddened when I heard the news. I’ve cried and cried. I looked over at our bulldog and remembered the day I was there when the “passing of the bone” ceremony was held for Uga VI. I remember we were running late that day and I was so worried that we would miss that ceremony. Wasn’t worried about the game….all I cared about was Uga! Godspeed Uga! May you go to rest in the land of National Championships and Auburn chewtoys.
• Having a bulldog myself I truly know how special they are. We will never forget his spunky personality and angelic face.
• Woof pfft hrunk hrunk snot rocket woof
• You were more popular than Lassie, Shilioh and Old Yeller ever thought about being!
• Here I am, a 44 yr. old man who cried real tears at UGA VI’s passing. … Sonny sent me a beautiful “autographed” paw print photo last year and it is amongst my most treasured DAWG collectibles.
• May you Bark in heaven.
• Great run VI, say hello to Lewis for us.

And it goes on and on and on.

We are a happy society.  These are the most popular news stories of the morning according to The Telegraph online:

I’ve upgraded the WMCC News “theme,” as it’s called, to take advantage of some software improvements not available with the old theme I’ve been using.  Although I’m still working out some kinks, if any of you have any problems with the new and hopefully improved design, please let me know.

These are actual comments left in an guestbook for Uga VI in the online Telegraph in the same manner as for a deceased human being.  (I am not making these up.)

• thanks for a job well done and all the memories rest well God will treat you well up there.
• Uga VI you are at the rainbow bridge among all God’s creature’s you will see your owner again one day!!!
• D@mn Good Dawg!!!
• damn good doggone!!!
• It’s true, if you lead a good life, when you die, you will go to Athens!!!
• Uga vI will be missed…by all of his fan an everyone that susported him thur the years (Note: Actual spelling. From a neighboring county.)
• Warm summer sun,
  Shine kindly here,
  Warm southern wind,
  Blow softly here.
  Green sod above,
  Lie light, lie light.
  Good night, dear heart,
  Good night, good night.

Okey dokey.

Josh Kendall’s article in the Telegraph tells us that “Uga VI’s registered name was ‘Uga V’s Whatchagot Loran?’ - a reference to the question regularly asked of sideline reporter Loran Smith by play-by-play announced Larry Munson.”