As the end of July approaches the so-called “Dog Days of Summer” arrive, personified by the glazed look on peoples’ countenances as the past two months’ activities have started to pile up! The idiom refers to the hot, humid, and sultry weeks of mid-summer, usually spanning from early July to early September. The phrase has no connection to actual canines, but rather refers to Sirius—the “Dog Star”—which rises alongside the sun during this time of the year.
Suddenly, after Annie Oakley Weekend festivities have concluded, most youth sports and other activities camps are over, family outings and vacations taken, enough backyard cookouts held and homemade ice cream eaten, and miserable weather suffered, we all begin to look forward to the start of fall. Bring on the cooler mornings and evenings, the lower humidity, the onset of high school fall sports and the school year, county fairs, and a routine whose time has arrived!
How about some random thoughts to start the week?
—Great crowds both nights at Greenville’s Wayne Theater for viewings of the 1935 movie “Annie Oakley” and the exceptionally well-done documentary “North Star” featuring the team of local Garst Museum researchers as they learn more of Annie’s background. The most well-known woman in the world in the late 1800s, courtesy of her time with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Annie was truly a remarkable woman, and to think that she was a Darke County native. Born Phoebe Ann Moses in 1860, how did she acquire the professional name Annie Oakley? Answer to follow!
—Baseball races have entered a stretch where the games begin to pile up (there’s that term again!) as teams position themselves for playoff consideration. The Reds are coming off a 6-3 road trip since the All-Star break but still remain six games under .500 and far behind in the wild card standings. I just don’t have confidence in the squad to have enough talent to go on a prolonged winning streak but hope I’m wrong!
—The Guardians on the other hand (for you Cleveland fans) are in second place in the AL Central and solidly in contention for a playoff berth as a wild card. If they can stay a few games over .500, they have a legitimate chance in an overall weak American League.
—LeBron James surprised most knowledgeable NBA followers by signing a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. At age 41 and entering his 24th professional season, “The Chosen One” is looking to add to the four title rings he already owns. I don’t know if he can continue to contribute to a great extent because that’s a lot of mileage on the body regardless of the care he receives in maintaining physical shape. Sometimes you have to know “when to fold ‘em”; Father Time has a funny way of always winning!
—A sure sign of things to come is the opening of NFL training camps this week. Fans of all 32 teams are always optimistic at this time of the year as everyone is undefeated. And the NFL this year will host even more games overseas during the regular season, beginning with the September 10th clash in Melbourne, Australia between the Rams and 49ers. The Bengals meanwhile travel to Madrid, Spain November 8th to face the Falcons while the Browns have to be content to remain in the States.
—I’m not sure what to make of college football at the highest levels this fall. Like most fans, the transfer portal, conference makeups, unbelievably high compensation for the players, etc have me both confused and concerned for the game. I do know this—fans will pack the stands, the bands will play, television viewership will remain high, and universities will be represented by basically minor league teams. For those schools who aren’t in Power Four conferences (SEC, Big 10, ACC, and Big 12) they have basically become feeder systems who develop players to move up to “better” things.
—This is a stretch of the season when it seems like I’m playing in golf outings on a regular basis. This past Monday was the Annie Oakley Cancer Association affair at Turtle
Creek Golf Course followed by Saturday’s gathering at Hueston Woods with forty-some of my Theta Chi fraternity brothers from Miami University. This Monday finds me at Stillwater Valley in Webster for the Wayne Hospital outing and a week later back in
Webster for the Darke County Chamber of Commerce festivities. Lots of money raised for worthy organizations (other than my fraternity brothers!).
—Good to hear that area high school bands will have their chance to perform fair week at Greenville High School Alumni Stadium on Monday, August 24th at 7:00 after ending a long-time relationship with the Great Darke County Fair. Have to love marching bands of all sizes!
—Finally, Phoebe Ann Moses acquired the stage name Annie Oakley as she developed a fondness for the Cincinnati neighborhood of, where else, Oakley. As an aside, in the late ‘50s fictional television series “Annie Oakley,” what was the name of Annie’s horse? How about the appropriately named “Target”!!
Have a great week; stay away from the “Dog Days”!! Stay healthy and active!!
