Everyone needs heroes. The trouble is that heroes and events and projects turn out not to be perfect. And sometimes something doesn't have to be perfect, but there's still something sticking in your craw and you'd like it not to be there. Well, viola - welcome to Paul's Universe As I Remember It. In my little world, you're allowed a mulligan in every category and sub-category that's important to you.
For me, for instance, I choose to believe that the following things never happened:
• Jerry Rice never played for the Oakland Raiders.
He now only played for the San Francisco 49ers, and a bit of a warm-down with Seattle and Denver. There...now it's a perfect career. But I can also hold 2 opposing thoughts in my head at the same time ('cognitive dissonance', for you wordies), because I'm still counting his TD catch in the Super Bowl with the Raiders. The reason is that it makes him the only play to have caught a TD in 4 Superbowls. Jerry, Jerry!
• The movie "The Abyss" had a great ending.
It was totally in line with the gritty, realistic, fantastic first 7/8's of the movie. Something didn't "just happen" because the studio forced him to shorten the movie - there was a great explanation and ending! Fantastic movie.
• Brett Favre didn't play for the Minnesota Vikings this year.
It's a shame he didn't - he probably would've kicked ass they would've won the Superbowl...they were so close last year. Still, he retired on top and did it his way. And was a darn good family man too. We'll never forget you, Brent!
• The rain scene in the movie "Tombstone" was done well.
Of course they had to use fake rain - that's perfectly fine. They didn't stop the rain short and make bone dry soil 10 feet beyond them - that would have been annoying.
• Pierre Trudeau never tried to implement the National Energy Policy.
Thus leaving a colourful, fascinating, world-recognized and loved leader. Now the worst thing he did was flip us the bird - that's just style, baby.
• The scene where Nitty was falling in "The Untouchables" and where Hans was falling in "Die Hard" were well done close-ups.
Look how good the rest of the movies are - obviously these scenes rocked!
• The Oilers never messed up their goalie situation in their 2005-06 Stanley Cup run.
Woohoo - another Stanley Cup for E-Town! Keep those "City of Champions" signs up!
• Bill Clinton never took up smoking cigars and played more sax.
Or at least found a better looking humidor.
Of course I have a legacy of personal mulligans to take too: errant throws, shots, half-assed efforts, wrong blames, stupid play calls, 'witty' comebacks to significant others/friends, work 'reply to all' emails, childhood comments to 'different' kids, etc. But hey - I'll keep mine to myself for now, thanks. La la la...happy place.
Terry David Mulligan
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