In 1970, my brother had just completed his tour with the Navy on Guam. He had completed his medical training while receiving financial support from his commitment to our armed forces. It worked real well, and before completing his Naval career seven years later at Oak Knoll Hospital, he served his internship at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
My brother is six years older than me, and we have a sister that was born just one year after Mike, my brother. Margaret was an animal lover, could teach a cat to sit-up and roll-over. Mike and Margaret had been close since little kids doing mischievous things together.
When Mike got his internship, Margaret, a registered nurse, decided to take a nursing position close to the Mayo Clinic.
It would turn out to be a great family experience while Margaret, who loved kids, was able to help Dede, Mike’s wife, with their two young children. Two-years-old and less than one.
Because Margaret was going to need her car it was decided she should drive from California to Minnesota. Five years her junior, and full of teenage spirit, I offered to drive Margaret back in her 1964 Chevrolet Corvair and then fly home.
Margaret was still waking for the second day of our journey to Minnesota. It was sometime after 4:00 a.m., but not yet 4:15. I believe I spotted the rabbit running across the road first, but Margaret saw it too.
I was driving a Corvair and fully aware by this time of the warnings for safety associated with the vehicle. The speedometer was almost to its max, although that was just 70 miles an hour in this car. I could feel Margaret’s eyes open wide in hopes I could miss the rabbit. I made no adjustment to my path, not risking even a slight possibility of this little car leaving the road over that little rabbit.
I think I hit it twice.
Thump, thump.
Margaret looked at me, with desperation in her eyes, and asked, “Do you think you hit it?”
I didn’t for a moment take Margaret’s sorrow into account, and responded with something I thought was funny, “If you ever want to see that rabbit again, you’re going to need a spatula.”
It was not a kind thing to say, and Margaret responded appropriately.
But didn’t give up hope that maybe we just hit the critter’s tail and it limped off and is now huddling with his family in the warmth of an underground home.
Sound ridiculous?
Sure, but after 75 miles of arguing on whether that rabbit had a chance for survival it was the best way to appease Margaret’s feelings.
That was roadkill.
Why do I tell you that?
Because this week the National Football league is serving up roadkill too.
No team in the history of football is more prepared to take on the rigors of winning a Super Bowl than the Buffalo Bills. They have the talent, do not have any crippling injuries, and the motivation coming at them in double barrel action. An emotional tug that just makes the Bills winning it all a feel good story.
The last time Josh Allen threw a pass in a postseason game it was the "winning" touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Allen hasn’t run an offensive play since his winning touchdown pass last January was erased by Patrick Mahomes and his receiving corps and front line which turned 13 seconds into three points and overtime. Allen could do nothing as the Bills lost the coin toss, or while his defense wasn’t able to stop Mahomes from engineering the winning touchdown drive.
Yeah, that is what the Bills quarterback has been building off since that jarring defeat in Kansas City.
Now, wisely, the Miami Dolphins will not risk further injury to their dynamic young quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who has already suffered multiple concussions this season.
Without him, the Dolphins will be put under the direction of Skylar Thompson. Who has some brilliant possibilities with his skills, but up against a motivated Bills unit he is overmatched by both the stage and opponent.
After this one, I think Miami fans are going to feel a lot like Margaret did when, and I know this for sure, I hit that rabbit.
Qoxhi Picks: Buffalo Bills (-13) over Miami Dolphins