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
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
Makin me uncomfortable bein an American
Hell
A white man
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
