The sound on the television set was OFF

he detested their voices 

the National Networks announcers

prettified milquetoast

even if they did know the game

they hadnt anything or were nearly on par with the local radio boys who won his allegiance with their hulk gristle and menace as they talked up the game from the corrugated-wrapped booth clinging like a bat to the steel rafters above the playing field 

         

their words were his cup of tea

they sounded like his city and the teams who performed for its blue-collared mutts

                            

their throats bawdy  thickened with cigarette and cigar smoke  lacquered with shots and beers

“The kick is up   and   it      is       GOOOOD!!

Fiftytwo yards  Tough kick  Critical  Putsem up by four with just over three minutes to tick”

on the television screen the football strikes and rolls down the net erected spun behind the uprights in the endzone

the camera follows the ball down the net to a waiting attendant who may or may not catch it cleanly

 

something else to bet on

and just behind the net  blurred by its seine  are hand-lettered black print white signs  JOHN  3:16

--   Jesus

--   Jesus

--   Yah

  

Awright Im looking that shit up What the fuck is john three sixteen

--   From the bible

--   The bible  You know what it means

--   Sumptin biblical

Hurrah for our team Hurrah for our side

--   Hurrah for our team

--  Donknow Guessin Why doncha look it up

--   I will

--   You  

got a bible

--   I do Snatched it out of the Howard Johnsons nightstand where we stayed when we went north a couple years back

Up to Green Bay

--   Dat was a great fuckin trip Great game

--   Great

--   Yah

Yadon tink

--   I had a great time You got the clap From the girl off the Wisconsin River

--   Fuck Did Damn Near forgot

Tanks

--   Youre welcome

Hmm John

Awright

  

An three

Yes

An sixteen

 Here

          I quote  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

--   At a game Why

--   Freaks

--   Jesus Christ football freaks

--   Come on man  I get it                  

You gotta follow                                                                                         

Free airtime  glimpses  to pitch the Man
 

--   Deres other signs in the other endzone

--   There are

Strategic huh

--   Strategic  Could ya imagine being one of dem screwballs

I couldnt 

 

Couldnt hold a sign
Id have beers in either hand or a flask of Jimmy an a beer

--   Yes

 

Got to have octane for a ballgame

Could suppose their octane is Jesus Christ

--   Jesus Christ 

Ya said it

Between those holies an military jets streakin over the stadium at the end of the National Anthem

 

I wonder

--   Wonder

--   Yah

Whaddafuck

Whas wid da stripes  blatant IDs

his down cast eyes and expression suggested he was working overtime in his skull  not his forte

Mahn  I got half a mind to wear a yamaka flip off the anthem an jets

Makin me uncomfortable bein an American 

Hell
        A white man

--   There is that

--   Deres dat dats all ya got

--   Comes with the turf

Sole super power

Entitlement Indispensible In God We Trust

You know

he puts his hand over his heart

God Bless America

--   Like wees som Goddamn Tiny Tim

God Bless Us Everone

But not really everone

Everone who looks like us

--   Careful friend

 

Good thing the games ending

 

You sound loaded Sounds like you need some food an black coffee

--   Nah really

When dis country get hijacked

--   When

You havent thought that before

--   Nah  Ashamed to say I havent

he put his arm over his shoulders

--   Dont beat yourself up

Insidious

An youre a workin man with a family 

Distracted

Eyeing shiny things they want you to eyeball

Keeps your screws tight

--   Ya sayin yers are loose

--   Youd think 

                       Wouldnt you

1757,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  30  9. 15

1539,  Thursday,  1  10. 15