Federal Judiciary

Field of Dreams

By Michael Smith

Yeah, this is off-topic - so sue me. 

Last night a Smith (one of my Smiths anyway) returned to the gridiron in Marshall for the first time in 33 years, when my nine year old Grayson had his first practice in pads and helmet.   His best play appears tentatively to be a variation on the old Statute of Liberty, except that he lulls opponents into a false sense of security by impersonating a garden gnome wearing pads and a helmet.  
This video

Download 009.mp4

captures his first practice play from scrimmage, where (to look at it optimistically) he showed that he'll never get flagged for a false start.  The priceless moment was when he turned to look for the pass and started to tip over because he was so top-heavy.
This being Marshall, Grayson's practices are on the same field where his grandfather practiced when he played football at Marshall High in 1948-50, and showed me how to kick a football a quarter of a century later.  This picture taken his senior year was taken just about where the cars in the background are parked today.  The more things change ...

Full post as published by Eastern District of Texas Federal Court Practice on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).