The Philadelphia Eagles

Sports affiliations part 4: my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, of the National Football League (NFL).

Origins of Fandom

I grew up in Lancaster county, PA, which is ~80 miles from both Baltimore and Philadelphia.  Since Baltimore had no team at the time I started following football (the Colts had left in 1983, and the Ravens didn't come until 1996), Philadelphia was the de facto choice.

Recent History

I started following the Eagles when Buddy Ryan was the coach.  Buddy brought in a famed defense- one that included players like Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner, Eric Allen, and Wes Hopkins- and he also developed my favorite Eagle: Randall Cunningham (photo below).

Randall Cunningham

Randall was a very athletic QB, and he was just as comfortable running as he was in the pocket.  In fact, Randall still holds the record for QB rushing yards.  He had other skills, too; one time, in an emergency, he punted for the Eagles, and with some lucky bounces, his kick went 91 yards (the fourth-longest in NFL history).

Back to the Eagles: under Ryan, they would be good, but never great.  They had a great QB and great defense, but their offense lacked versatility.  If they made the playoffs at all, they wouldn't advance past the first round.  Ryan was fired after the 1990 season, and a brief coaching carousel started, with Rich Kotite, then Ray Rhodes, each given four years at the helm, with little success.  Then, in 1999, owner Jeffrey Lurie hired Andy Reid.

Andy Reid turned things around in a hurry for Philly.  The Eagles improved every year for his first five years (records here).  The offense was led by Reid's first draft pick- Donovan McNabb.  McNabb was a QB in a mold similar to Cunningham- an athletic running QB.  On the defensive side, safety Brian Dawkins was a formidable player for years, and my recent favorite (photos below).  Brian brought a toughness to the defense known for its frequent blitzing and big plays.

Under Reid, the Eagles would go to four straight NFC Championship games- from 2001-2004- though they won only the last one.  That last year they went to the Super Bowl, unfortunately losing out to the New England Patriots.  After that, they had a run of overall mediocrity- though they did make it back to the NFC Championship in 2008.  Their stars aging, the team that was so strong for so long finally started breaking down, and Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, and others were traded or not re-signed.  Andy Reid was fired in 2012- a sad end to a remarkable run.

Final Thoughts

Of all the teams I follow, I probably follow the Eagles most passionately.  I have a very hard time watching the games, as I tend to get emotionally involved.  In fact, I get so "into it" that I generally don't watch the games- I follow them on the Internet or wait until the game is over, to view the stats.  It's foolish, I know; one of my many weaknesses.

I miss the "kelly green" Eagles jerseys and helmets which they wore from 1985-1996 (jerseys here).  Their old logo, shown on those jerseys, is below.  The new look is fine, but old school is best.

Fly, Eagles Fly, on the road to victory!  E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!

The Baltimore Orioles

Sports affiliations, part 3: today we look at my favorite team in Major League Baseball (MLB), the Baltimore Orioles.

The Origin of Fandom

This one's easy: my dad was a big Orioles fan, and I inherited his fondness for the team.  Growing up 80 miles from Baltimore, it wasn't hard to root for them.

Recent History

Being born in 1980, I wasn't cognizant of the accomplishment when the Orioles last won the World Series in 1983.  I first remember being a fan in 1988, when the Birds had the "distinction" of starting the season 0-21.  Yes, the Orioles of my youth were not very good teams (they hovered around .500), but they did have my favorite player: Cal Ripken, Jr. (pictured below).

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Cal played with the team for 21 years- 1981-2001- and was a phenom.  Originally a shortstop, he moved to third base in the twilight of his career.  His most notable achievement was starting 2,632 straight games, well surpassing the previous "Iron Man" record of 2,130 games held by Lou Gehrig.  But, Cal wasn't just dependable- he also had great stats, finishing with over 3,000 hits, 400 HRs, a .276 batting average, 19 all-star selections, two MVPs, and two gold gloves.  Having long since given up my baseball cards, I kept all the ones I had of Cal- and I had amassed about 120 by the time I stopped collecting.

But enough about Cal- back to the team at large.  After mediocre performances from '86-'91, things looked up for a few years for the Orioles.  In 1992, their new home, Camden Yards, was completed.  A "throwback" stadium, it was (and is) a gem, its style imitated in several parks thereafter.  In 1993, Peter Angelos bought the team.  He initially spent money, and some of those "big money" Orioles I'll remember fondly include Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson, Bobby Bonilla, Rafael Palmeiro, Brady Anderson, Roberto Alomar, B.J. Surhoff; the list could go on.  Those initial Angelos years were big-spending ones, and baseball was fun in Baltimore again- they made the playoffs two times, advancing as far as the American League Championship  in '96 and '97.   Unfortunately, it didn't last.

After some good years, for whatever reason Angelos decided he didn't want to keep spending at that pace, and the Orioles became a small-market team, quickly sliding into mediocrity, then past that into the AL East basement.  There they stayed for 14 straight years ('98-'11- view records by year here), until last year's team- the '12 Orioles- made a surprise run, making the playoffs and advancing past the wildcard round.  This year's team has started well, giving hope in Baltimore where none existed.  The current manager, Buck Showalter, has been given due credit for his part in the turn-around, and I hope it continues. 

Final Thoughts

Sharing an AL East with big-spending Boston and New York, it is difficult for me to see the Orioles doing consistently well.  Still, the current team of castoffs and unknowns is fun to watch and support.  I love how they're winning without the big names- I hope that continues. 

Finishing with some odds and ends: the Orioles logo has undergone several variations over the years; a few of them are below.  The current, the "happy bird," is a classic, and my favorite- I was very happy to see it return last year.  Good luck this year, Orioles.

The Calgary Flames

Since I'm in a reminiscing mode, I'll go through all five of my favorite sports teams.  Last time was the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.  Today, it's the Calgary Flames of the NHL.

The Origin of Fandom

I'm somewhat odd in that my five favorite sports teams are from five different cities.  And, how I came to be a Flames fan is most unusual.  My dad was never a hockey fan, so I had no initial bias leading me one way or another.  Growing up in eastern PA, the Flyers were the closest logical fit, and I do root for them today.  But, the Calgary Flames won out, and they captured my heart for one reason: MacGyver.  For those who don't remember, MacGyver was an adventure series (1985-1992) starring Richard Dean Anderson.  The title hero sometimes wore a Flames hat (seen below).  I thought both MacGyver and the logo looked cool, so I became a Flames fan around 1990.

MacGyver rocking the flannel and Flames hat

Another shot, this time with the bandana and vest

Recent History

The Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980.  They won the Stanley Cup title in '88/'89, but honestly I don't remember that, so I must not have been a fan at that time.  In the early '90s, they had a plethora of good players that I still remember fondly: Theoren Fleury, Mike Vernon, Al MacInnis, Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts, Gary Suter, and Doug Gilmour.  Being a small-market club, though, they lost most of them through trades or free agency.  They would be a good team- almost always making the playoffs, though never winning it all, through the '95/'96 season (record for each year is here).

In 1996, the Flames brought in Jarome Iginla (pictured below), who quickly became a star.  Sadly, the arrival of "Iggy" (as he's affectionately known) coincided with a playoff slump- Calgary went through seven straight losing seasons.  Their woes ended, surprisingly, in the '03/'04 season.  That say, a new coach (Darryl Sutter) brought in a new goalie (Miikka Kiprusoff), and the upstart Flames nearly pulled off a Cinderella story.  They were a low seed- 7 out of 8- heading into the playoffs.  They beat the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd seeds in the Western Conference to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.  They ended up losing in 7 games, to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  The next year, the NHL had a lockout, and it looked like the league might end forever.

Jarome Iginla . . . All-star and Gentleman

The players and owners finally agreed on new terms, and the next four seasons after the lockout, Calgary would make the playoffs but lose in the first round.  Sadly, in the last four years, they've not even made the playoffs.  Their descent reached a nadir this year, when they started disassembling the team, and traded Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins, capping an 18-year Flames career.  He'll be hard to replace, and being a small-market team, I don't see the Flames being successful again anytime soon.


Final Thoughts

Like basketball, my interest in NHL has faded in recent years.  Of the "big four" professional sports (baseball, basketball, football, hockey), hockey has always been the one I've followed least, and the Flames' recent abysmal play has left me even less interested.  Still, I'll always have fond memories, and the 2003-04 Cinderella season will always stand out as a highlight.  Had they only won that game 7 . . . it will haunt me for a while yet.

Fun fact to end: The Calgary Flames had an alternate logo for a few years (seen below) that I loved.  In fact, I liked it so much that I had a vinyl sticker made of it, which I put on my car's hood.  I named this horse "Dennis," and I drove with pride around town in my bright yellow 2004 Toyota Matrix with Calgary horse.  Had the Flames won it all that year, I would have driven it to Calgary to celebrate.  Alas, the things that never were, and likely never will be.

The Alternate Flames Logo, Worn for a Few Years in the Early '00s

The San Antonio Spurs

It's that time of year again: the NBA playoffs.  And, like every other year for the past 16 years, my favorite team- the San Antonio Spurs- are participating.  Take a walk down memory lane with me, as I recall the Spurs' greatness over the years.

The Origin of Fondness

Being from Pennsylvania, people have asked how I came to be a Spurs fan in the first place.  The answer is simple: David Robinson.  David Robinson is my favorite athlete of all time, and when he started playing for the Spurs in 1989, they instantly became my favorite team.  David is an amazing individual- how many NBA all-stars do you know of who:
- graduated from the Naval Academy
- majored in Mathematics
- play the piano
- are true Christians

The list could go on.  The point is, Mr. Robinson was an example to all, both on and off the court, and my affection for him endeared me to the entire team.

Mr. Robinson

With David, the Spurs would do impressively well.  Before his arrival, the teamed had been marred by poor showings.  After him, they'd be consistently excellent (their record by year can be found here).  But, of course, their success wasn't all due to David.  They've also had an excellent coach- Gregg Popovich, himself an Air Force Academy graduate- who instills discipline and ethics in his team.  Coach "Pop," as he's called, is another reason the Spurs have a wholesome image in the NBA and community at large.  The Spurs make headlines for personal problems so infrequently that TV ratings generally drop when the team makes it to the finals.  It's a sad truth: people like controversy, and tune in to watch more than basketball.  I digress; the point is, I root for the Spurs because they're a team with integrity.

The Spurs History Since Robinson

As I said, after Robinson began his career in '89, things looked up for San Antonio.  Starting in '90, they had a winning record every year.  They'd be stymied in the playoffs, though.  They were that good, but never great, team.  Then, in 1996, everything changed.

In the '96/97 season, Robinson went down early with an injury.  The Spurs were horrible in his absence.  From that dark year, though, came a bright spot that would last for years: they landed the #1 draft pick in the NBA lottery, and drafted Tim Duncan.  Tim, another 7-footer, was in the mold of David- a great "fundamentals" player with integrity off the court and no drama on it.  With David healed and Tim drafted, the Spurs were back in business.  The next year, they improved their win total by 36- but better was to come.

In '99, San Antonio won their first NBA title.  In '03, they won another.  Robinson retired after that year, but they weren't finished yet.  They had continued to draft quality players, especially in finding late-round "diamonds in the rough" in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.  These players formed a new core with Duncan, and the Spurs won it all again in '05 and '07.

Since '07, the Spurs have continued to be successful, though sadly, they haven't returned to the finals since that fourth title.  They're consistently first or second in their division, but their stars (still Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili) are aging, and the miles start to show in the playoffs.  They may not win again with this core- though I hope they do.  the window is closing in San Antonio, but it's been a great run.

Final Thoughts


It's probably just looking at the past with rose-colored glasses, but the NBA wasn't what it was in the '90s/'00s.  Gone is the era of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.  Today's players certainly have talent- no question there- but it seems as though something is missing.  Perhaps it's the fact that they all tend to jump from team to team, where it used to be you stuck with your team for your whole career.  Or, perhaps the way the game is played has changed, with (seemingly) less emphasis on team play.  Or, it could be my personal senility.  Whatever the cause, I'll always look back on this bygone era with fondness.  From my Spurs winning four championships, to cheering on my favorite Spurs players (those already mentioned, plus amazing Spurs like Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson, Chuck Person, and Dale Ellis), to the quality of the league in general, I'll miss "how it used to be."  When the current round of Spurs retires, I'm not sure how I'll feel.  I may fade away from the game entirely.  More likely, I'll follow with marginal interest, but prefer to recount to my likely disinterested children the days when the NBA was Mr. Robinson's neighborhood.  Go Spurs go.

The Advantages of Hair Loss

"Do you miss it?"  So asked my stylist,* as I sat down in the chair.  She was referring to both the color of my hair (it's faded from the vibrant red of my youth) and the density (I'm thinning on top and have lost 2" of hairline since high school).  "Not really," I replied, perhaps a bit too hastily, my curt answer indicating that it was a sensitive subject, which in turn implied that my answer was less than honest.  Afterwards, I reflected more on the topic.  Do I really care?  Well, yes and no.  While part of me mourns the presence of such an obvious sign of aging, there are many benefits to having less than a full mop on top.  In fact, as I think through it, the advantages to baldness may be greater than I initially realized.  So, without further ado, today's topic discusses . . .

the advantages of balding

1) You use less shampoo

Less hair means less shampoo.  A lot less.  Some women go through a bottle of shampoo every two days.  At least, I believe they must.  When I got married, I was used to the typical man-bathroom: one bottle of shampoo (probably purchased 10 years ago), and one bar of soap (likely a sliver, which should have been replaced long ago).  Then Beth and I were wed, and I was introduced to the concept of 5+ bottles of different shampoos, conditioners, and who knows what else in the shower.  Not understanding the rationale, I must conclude that women have so many bottles because they have so much hair, and use so much shampoo for it.  Continuing my trend of making up numbers, if a bottle of shampoo costs $3.29, and your typical hair-empowered person uses a bottle every two days, it means people with hair spend $600 on shampoo each year- $1200 if they rinse and repeat as recommended.  Now, us bald guys can make a bottle last the better part of a year, so we probably spend $6.58.  The savings speaks for itself.

2) Haircuts are cheaper

 The event that kicked off this post occurred in a salon that serves men and women.  Women can pay over $100 for a haircut, due (I guess) to having more hair.  With next to nothing on top, I got charged "only" $21, and $5 of that was to trim my beard.  As my balding progresses, I can buy a $70 razor and do it myself at home.  Assuming women get their $100 hair cuts once a month, and ignoring variables that would weaken my argument, that means I'll save $1130 the first year (when I buy the razor), and $1200 a year thereafter on haircuts.  The savings is staggering.

3) Your morning prep time is way down

Well I remember the days of thick tresses.  I'd have to spend at least an hour in the bathroom, washing, drying, and styling my lovely scarlet locks.  Now, with next to nothing on top, showering time is way down, and it takes only 15 minutes to massage my scalp into something marginally presentable.  Saving 45 minutes a day = 16,425 minutes a year.  That's 274 hours or 11 days.  That's right; bald guys get two extra weeks of vacation.

4) You don't have to worry about bed/hat head

I recall those times where necessity dictated I shower at night, meaning I'd likely wake up in the morning with "bed head"- that weird condition where (presumably) night gremlins style your hair in amusing,  embarrassing, and unalterable ways.  Fast forward to present day- nothing to work with means those night gremlins are unemployed, at least on this guy's scalp.  The same concept applies to wearing hats- I can now exchange headpieces as early and often as I like throughout the day, with no concern of consequence.  Live free, cue balls!

5) It's easier to check for ticks

Lyme disease is a horrible condition that affects about 30,000 Americans a year.  People with lyme disease are subject to a number of horrible conditions, to include ear swelling, "blue nose," and desire to enter politics.  Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks who've eaten at Denny's, and then nestled in people's hair.  Upon leaving said chain of restaurants, people are advised to check for ticks lurking in those hard-to-see areas.  Bald men have no problems here.  Ticks can be spotted on a shiny cranium from over 500 yards; needless to say, the baldies don't have to worry about this one, while the rest of you should be fearing for your lives.

6) You have the advantage in a streetfight

This one has several subcategories:
- You deter crime by looking more menacing.  The best thing bald guys can do is get a tattoo on their skull, and grow out odd and/or intimidating facial hair patterns.  Nothing says "don't mess with me" quite like that look.
- You can blind your enemies. Hand-to-hand combat  with a bald guy on a sunny day definitely favors baldie.  His head effectively becomes a mirror, blinding his opponent and making for an easy win.

- You can't be affected by hair pulling.  'Nuff said.

Tip for Bald Guys

Now, while I've just conclusively proven that being bare up top is, in fact, a marked advantage, you have to learn how to "wear the look."  The most important thing here is to embrace the hair loss.  Embrace it.  in other words, keep what little hair remains on your head short- very short.  Let's face it, guys- comb-overs have never, ever fooled anyone, and have done nothing but make the bearer look ridiculous.  Once, I even saw a "comb-forward-and-over"- the guy sporting it had one small patch of hair left, behind his left ear.  He grew it out long, and combed it forward and over his scalp.  He looked like he had a spider clinging to his head.  That's ridiculous.  Heed my advice- keep it short, and enjoy the savings previously discussed.

Conclusion

It looks like there are more advantages to balding than I thought.  I'll save $1700-$2400 a year, have 11 more days to do what I want, and avoid the horrors and political ambitions associated with Lyme disease.  I'm off to enjoy my time and money- I hope that hair is worth it to you.

*yes, stylist.  Anyone charging over $20 for a simple men's cut shouldn't be called a barber.

Problem of Pain (CS Lewis)

Reading CS Lewis is always a mixed bag for me.  The man is full of insight and wisdom (this book is so packed with it that it felt akin to reading Scripture) that each sentence needs much examination and reflection.  I love his insights and the tone- he never comes across as holier-than-thou, or puffed up with knowledge.  In The Problem of Pain, he investigates a topic of much consternation among believers and non alike- why does a good God allow pain?  He discusses the different kinds of pain, Heaven, Hell, and a variety of related topics here.

Overall, the book is a great read.  My main issue is how deep it is, and (in my opinion) Lewis can ramble a bit.  He operates inside a high-level structure, but within each chapter, there were moments when I found myself totally lost.  Part of that is due to the depth of his arguments/observations- and part may be Lewis' fault.  That aside, this one is recommended for people of all beliefs.

Rating: A

A Maryland Rant

To the residents, government, and nature of the state of Maryland,

Greetings.  I lived in your state on and off for several years (2000-2003), and full time for several more (2003-2007).  Since 2007, I've lived overseas, and return to "MD" about once a year.  As a result of this construct, I get annual snapshots of your state, and have noted, with considerable alarm, some changes in recent years that bear discussion.  So, with nothing but genuine concern for your welfare, I present the following topics for your consideration.

1) Population Growth

The housing boom that started over a decade ago has yet to abate; indeed, housing developments, apartment complexes, and shopping centers are continuing to spring up at a staggering rate.  A general observation: it isn't necessary to plan to house the entire population of the United States within your borders.  There are 49 other states; think of them for a change.  And, if nothing else, think of the trees, and the poor Loraxes of the area . . . who look on, powerless, as you attempt to make the entire state into one big Suburbia, and force innocent people to pay $500K for a reasonably-sized home within a 60-minute drive of their place of employment*.

Also, I see you put a casino in Arundel Mills mall.  What's the intent?  To attract people of integrity?  I can see the upstanding citizens of the area flocking now to waste their hard-earned money in turbulent fiscal times within your doors.  In a time where everyone spends too much and saves too little, building such an establishment seems like a really good idea.**

Perhaps I'm being too critical.  You've made several attempts at  curbing this population growth- a high murder rate (especially in Baltimore, which held the top spot in America for a few years in this category), and attempting to kill off residents by serving 5,000 calories meals at all local restaurants.  Still, I can't help but think there are more productive ways to deal with the issue.

2) Drivers

Here is some food for thought, MD drivers:
- The exit-only lane is for those planning to exit the highway; it is NOT a passing lane for those intending to stay on the road.  Perhaps you should learn acceptable lane changing methods in Germany, where passing on the right is grounds for execution.
- A turn signal should be used to indicate, well in advance, an intent to change lanes or perform a turn onto what most would agree is another road; apparently, most in your state feel its use is prohibited, save only to advertise an extremely ill-advised driving maneuver- like, say, changing 5 lanes at 70mph in 30 yards to make that exit you had miles to prepare for, or suddenly swerving off the road onto a patch of grass, where you jump out and start shouting at your girlfriend about something that clearly can't wait until you reach, say, a parking lot.
- the horn and/or middle finger are not the sole methods of communication on the roadways.
- it's not necessary to slam on your brakes at the first sign of rain- a safe and reasonable speed can be enjoyed in mildly inclement weather.
- you really, really need to learn how to drive in a roundabout, or traffic circle.  In the one outside my hotel, I saw no fewer than 4 instances of Americans driving the wrong way on the thing.  Please, in this Internet age, use youtube or some other mechanism to learn about how roundabouts work.

Other Categories

As I thought about it, I realized that there really are no other categories.  Most people in MD spend their lives on the roads, cursing about the insane cost of living and endless population growth.  I shouldn't complain, though; you do have a lot of Chipotle restaurants here. 

Sincerely,
The Right Honorable John Mark McLean, Esq.

*if they leave at 4am
**sarcasm

Lion in the White House (Aida Donald)

A "short" biography of Theodore Roosevelt (it's 265 pages), Lion in the White House provides a satisfactory overview of the man.  It covers each stage of his life, though admittedly some areas are noticeably lacking in detail.  As you'd expect, things like Roosevelt's Rough Riders experience in Cuba, building the Panama Canal, expanding the navy, conserving millions of acres of natural beauty, and hunting game in Africa are all touched on, at least at a high level.

Having little prior knowledge to go on, it's hard for me to accurately rate the book.  It's an okay read, and left me wanting more- I sense Edmund Morris' Roosevelt trilogy in my future- but short biographies aren't intended to be in-depth, so it's hard to place too much blame.

Rating: B

Sherlock Holmes in Summary

Most of this is a shameless re-post of my earlier musings on Sherlock Holmes. Now, however, I've finished the series, so I've updated the ratings for each work, and added a brief thought or two.

Arthur Conan Doyle penned several stories concerning Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective in literature, and his faithful assistant Dr. Watson. His stories are presented as both novels and short story collections, and all are relatively short reads. In chronological order, I list the works below (with associated ratings), collections of short stories being shown in Italics.

A Study in Scarlet- A
The Sign of the Four- A-
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- A+
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes- A-
The Hound of the Baskervilles- A+
The Return of Sherlock Holmes- A
The Valley of Fear- A
His Last Bow- A-
The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes- A-

As I said, all are excellent. The difference between the "A" and "A-" ratings above are quite trivial, and related to the order in which I read them, so had I read them in a different order, the ratings may have shifted a bit. The "-" on some merely indicates that I thought it was more of the same, without being overly original. But, like many iconic heroes, more of the same is exactly what people want.

If you read only one, choose The Hound of the Baskervilles. A Study in Scarlet introduces the characters Holmes & Watson to each other, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is quite well known, so those would be my top three, but every work here is of top quality, so you can't go wrong.

If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories, check out the BBC's recent television show Sherlock. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes, it's a modern take on the classic writings (to include being set in modern-day London). Two series (seasons) have been released so far, each containing 3 episodes. Each episode follows the spirit of one (or more) Holmes story, so if you read the stories first, you can better enjoy the references.

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)

We come to the final entry in the Sherlock Holmes tales- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.  A collection of short stories (12, if memory serves), this is out last glimpse of the famed sleuth in action.  In this final collection, two stories are narrated by Holmes himself, rather than the typical Dr. Watson.  That aside, it's more of the same.  Good stories; good storytelling.

The Holmes' series is excellent, and any tale is well worth the read for fans of mystery.  I'll miss it.

Rating: A-

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

When creating my British reading list, I deliberately tried to be as broad and inclusive as possible.  That meant works made it on the list that I would never plan to read otherwise, and the three that I most dreaded were what I presumed to be "girlie books"- Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre.  A few years into my list, I could no longer put these off, so I bit the bullet and started with Pride and Prejudice.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Now, I consider myself the manliest of men, so it was with no small degree of consternation that I found myself enjoying P&P.  It's the story of the Bennet family, consisting of five daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Katherine, Mary, and Lydia), each of whom is at (or near) marrying age (so, mid-teens, as this is Victorian England).  Mrs. Bennet is determined to marry her daughters off, preferably to men in better stations of life, who can provide a comfortable living.  Through a variety of amusing or suspenseful situations, three of the girls end up married by book's end, and the book's title alludes to the fact that, in such a class-based society as Victorian England, pride and prejudice played a large part in determination of suitable partners. 

I enjoyed this for two reasons:
1) the elegance and eloquence of the prose.  Victorian authors are unequaled in this regard, and it's my preferred literature era for that reason.  Austen has a way with words that I found delightful.
2) the comical characters.  Mr. Bennet's coy way of dealing with his wife and daughters, the ridiculous Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet's foolishness, and some "one-off" statements by Elizabeth and Lydia I enjoyed exceedingly. 

Now, I hear demands for my man card.  I refuse to give it up.  Though I enjoyed this overall, it was lacking in a few areas.  The overall story, in the end, really wasn't the original- a simple "boy-meets-girl" tale.  I read this not for the girly "will she marry her love?" aspect, but for the comedy and insight into prejudices in Victorian society.  For those reasons, it's valuable to all. 

Rating: A-