COLUMBUS, Ohio: Could we pack any more events and activities into tomorrow, Jan. 20, 2025? Martin Luther King Day all day. At noon we’ll have a new (former) President Donald Trump. The National NCAA football championship, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State starts at 7:30.
And Inaugural Balls all over Washington, DC. A good friend is flying there with her husband. I think his main job is to lug all the suitcases. She is packing four fancy evening gowns. (No woman can show up and dance at different balls wearing the same outfit.) And boots. Only one pair, but what a pair. Red, white and blue pattern with 16,000 sequins. With her in the saddle wearing those patriotic boots glistening in the sun, any horse would high-step mighty proud down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Ohio State is favored to beat Notre Dame tomorrow night. Thanks to a recent change allowing college football players to be paid for NIL (name, image and likeness) these two teams are among the most highly compensated.
But the idea is not new. Will Rogers suggested this in 1929: “Mr. Hoover has had all the financiers of the country gathered and made ’em sign a pledge to spend some money for the general prosperity of the country. So next week he is really going into big business: he is calling the coaches of the various football teams together and get them to promise to build bigger grandstands, make longer trips and pay more for promising high school talent… That’s what’s the matter with this country… a lot of cheap colleges won’t go out and spend the dough. Bigger grandstands! Look at Chicago with Soldiers Field [hosting games with] Army and Navy and Notre Dame! Why, that’s brought ’em more publicity than Al Capone and machine guns combined.” (DT#1044, Nov. 29, 1929)
The news from Los Angeles keeps getting worse. With fires still burning, and more expected, we’re learning about solid, scientific advice that politicians have ignored for years.
Stephen Pyne, a retired professor at Arizona State University, is an internationally recognized expert on fires. He warned that building houses among the natural landscape around Los Angeles is “guaranteed to compromise fire prevention.” So, what’s his solution? Build houses with roofs that won’t catch fire when wind-blown embers land on them. And, equally important, have open space around the house. No bushes or trees within several feet of the house. And the entire region has to do this, no exceptions.
Wow, will the Governor and Legislature follow Prof. Pyne’s advice and pass laws that put fire prevention above environmentalists’ demands that no trees or brush ever be removed? How about metal roofs?
The historic Will Rogers house was not the only “prominent” house to burn in Pacific Palisades. Several well-known actors, musicians, and others you see on television lost homes. For them, and everyone else in the region, the Will Rogers State Historic Park was a place to go and get away, kind of like Central Park is for New York City.
Will’s great granddaughter, Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry, knew at least 40 people who lost homes there, including nine who volunteered or worked at the Park. As I mentioned last week, to help those connected with the park, if you want to donate, go to: WillRogersRanchFoundtion.org, and click on “Join us in Rebuilding Lives.”
The historic quote gives another example of Will’s compassion, generosity and comfort, this time in Ireland.
Historic quote by Will Rogers:
“I had heard about that terrible Movie Disaster in the little Town of Drumcolloger [in Ireland; a fire in a theater killed 46] and by a coincidence I had passed through there when over here before. And it was such a quiet, peaceful little place and to have all this terrible trouble was certainly not deserved. So when I read about it and as I had finished playing in London, why I wired President Cosgrove of Ireland that I would come right over and for him to get me a Theatre and I would give a benefit. Well, they only had two days to do it in, but they did it, and they took over a big fine Theatre — the man donated it — and we had our show. They put on their wonderful Military Band and a Lady Singer and I want to tell you I have been mixed up in all kinds of shows but this one last night was the greatest one I ever was in. You talk about an audience! They were packed in! And you talk about “Getting” your stuff! Say, you leave it to these Irish. They get you and they get you good. If there is a speck of humor or fun in anything you say or do, they will dig it out, and they won’t be all day digging. They were without a doubt the most appreciative audience I ever saw in my life, and at moderate prices we got their fund about four thousand dollars. And then from New York come donations to me from Brandon Tynan, the best Irish Actor that ever started an argument, a Mr. Pandem of New York, and Mr. Frank Sogan, and Miss Lois Wilson the Movie Actress, and I want to hereby thank them and if they could have heard the applause their names got for thinking of those poor people away over there it would have done their hearts good. Had President Cosgrove in the Box and introduced him. He is doing a lot for Ireland.” WA #198, Sept. 26, 1926