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Show ztSe! State playoffs are time for reflection t The state football playoffs are uon us. There's a kind of holiday atmosphere in the air that adds a ctlain element of excitement to the sting of the crisp October air. Have you ever asked yourself th: simple question: why is football in the fall and not in the spring? Well, as a matter of fact, the answer is simple. Football and the inevitable foball playoffs were designed to signal the approach of the upcoiing holiday season. They are a beacon to mankind that another yec is drawing to a close. - Yes, the playoffs blend perfecy with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas as a time for famil; unity and togetherness. Personally, Personal-ly, my fondest, down-home, famil kind of memories revolve around the quiet goodness of an overtime holiday grudge match for the conference con-ference championship. There's nothing quite like sittig around the tube, gulping down the Thanksgiving dinner your wif i, mother or significant other spent hours labonously preparing. Once you've stuffed every moe1 of that heaping mound of food that once caused even your favori: floral Chinette paper plate to fail beneath its heavy load, you settkback, bulging at the sides, you're ready to feast on a hom-o'-plenty )f another kind, football. So, there you sit throughout the day feastin; on food and football, propped up against the living room sofa until your eyes roll back into your head. Yes, I can't imagine what the holidays would be like without the cheer and enthusiasm that the color team from CBS Sports brings into each and every happy home. Mistakenly, many have opined that the reason behind that sparkle in the eye of every youngster and his or her unbridled, giggling, holiday holi-day enthusiasm is the thought of Christmas presents or the impending impen-ding visit of grandma, grandpa or Aunt Bessie. No, I humbly disagree. So, what is the true secret behind holiday cheer and goodwill toward men? Can you say, "Rose Bowl, Holiday Bowl and Liberty Bowl?" How about, "NFL playoffs?" Nothing brings joy into my life like the words "wildcard berth" when attached to my favorite team which has struggled throughout the season and finally managed to put things together, even without a coaching change. "What does this have to do with the state football playoffs?" you ask impatiently wondering if this mindless babbling will ever end. Oh my poor misguided friend! You have eyes but you cannot see, ears but you cannot hear, can't you understand that once state playoff festivities begin, they set off a virtual landslide of celebrations culminating in the biggie itself, Christmas. It all starts with the first round of state playoffs which began yesterday. yes-terday. Then, before you know it, it's Halloween followed by the quarter finals, semi-finals and the glorious state championship. Believe me, it's no accident that Thanksgiving, is next. It's like a victory vic-tory feast for the triumphant team. (Don't tell me that there was no divine influence that has led our great nation to celebrate Thanksgiving Thanksgiv-ing when it does.) From there, it's a virtual domino effect of playoff games right up until Christmas day. I have a theory that football was designed to help kids of all ages, big and little, young and old, cope with the otherwise harmful effects caused by the excitement and anticipation of Christmas. I believe it's either that or, unlike all that baloney of the original Christmas being mixed with pagan traditions in order to fall on Dec. 25, Christmas was really changed by the original NFL commissioner to coincide with the Super Bowl, but due to calender incongruities the Super Bowl has begin to slide further and further toward spring. In fact, scientists now predict that in the year 2050, the Super Bowl will be played in June. (But that's beside the point.) At any rate, the culmination of football season is a time to celebrate, a time to join hands, and voices with our fellow men and j root that Bountiful, Woods Cross and Davis High Schools end up in the championship games. The Clipper wishes each of the south Davis teams the best of luck in this state football tournament. , i |