Jeff Whitten

Columnist

Welcome to what may well be the next-to-last edition of the Pembroke Mafia Football League, ever.

But more on that later.

For now, let’s take stock of our surroundings.

In first place as we wind this sucker down are B.J. Clark, who as everyone knows is a retired Navy chief petty admiral and big cheese in Pembroke American Legion Post 164; Mike Clark, the only one of us with groupies; the Rev. Lawrence Butler, who shalt not be allowed groupies on religious grounds; and Bryan County Commission Chairman Carter “Pius Pipsqueamious” Infinger, who prefers these days to be called “His Nibs.”

Each of them has 11 misses so far.

Me and another great journalist of our times, Mike Brown, are tied for second with 12 misses.

I’m ex-Army field artillery, Mike is still a Marine because once a jarhead, always a jarhead. We get along good. The biggest difference between us is Mike knows his stuff. I don’t, but tend to wing it.

Sometimes it even works.

In third with 13 misses are our resident dentist and District 5 Commissioner Dr. Gene Wallace; former BCN journalist Ted O’Neil, now winning Michigan Press Association awards like nobody’s business; Bryan County Administrator Ben Taylor, one of the ablest of his kind on the planet despite being only 4-foot-1; and District 1 Commissioner Alex Floyd, who not only thinks I’m not right in the head, but also owns just about every pine cone in the greater Pembroke area.

He’ll go far in this world.

In last is retired Fire Chief Freddy Howell, who ably served his communities for many years and is now selling fire trucks or something while also dabbling in being an online radio magnate – check out Lowcountryradio.com or something like that. Freddy has 17 misses but in fairness he didn’t make any picks one week, so otherwise he’s fared well.

No longer participating in the weekly PMFL whatever- it-is – having apparently had an attack of good sense –is Noah Covington, one of my favorite people in the world.

Noah is of course enshrined in the PMFL Hall of Fame, giving him the right to wear the coveted PMFL HOF uniform, which as everyone knows is an ensemble of plaid sports coat, PMFL baseball cap and waxed handlebar mustache. Pants are optional. Drawers are required.

This week’s games: Miami vs. Ole Miss: B. J., Mike Clark, Alex and Ted take the Rebels, the rest of us pick Miami.

Oregon vs. Indiana:

Me and Ben take Oregon.

Everyone else rolls with Indiana.

National champs:

Ben predicts Oregon wins the title.

B.J. and Alex say Mississippi wins it all.

Mike Clark, Mike Brown, Ted and The Dentist take the Hoosiers.

Me and the good Rev.

Butler take the Hurricanes, who have definitely got their swagger back.

Carter’s pick didn’t arrive by deadline, so we’re putting him down for Clemson. He’ll like that.

He’s orange.

POSTSCRIPT

I had seriously thought of winding the PMFL up after last season, but come spring there was some interest in going another season and so we did, and it’s been fun. But to everything there is a season, and I think in some ways I’ve about worn out my welcome, even with myself.

Besides, what we all knew as college football has become at its so-called “highest level” nothing more than a money grab.

Much as we love the sport, it’s changing.

Some of us fans blame players for being greedy, but I think there’s enough greediness to go around.

Coaches, administrators, the NCAA, conferences, all were raking in money long before NIL – which at least finally meant players too could cash in on all the money flowing into the sport, or weigh their options and take the one that made the most financial sense to them.

Now, of course, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme and college football powerhouses are basically professional football franchises.

He who has the most money stands the greatest chance of getting the talent necessary to win, and as a result the rich keep getting richer. Of course many of the rich – the UGAs and Ohio States and Alabamas, for example – have long been so, giving them a massive cash advantage over, say, a Georgia Southern. And by the time Georgia Southern comes close to catching up in terms of financial resources to where UGA is now, UGA will be far off in the distance along with the rest of the powerhouses.

The playing field hasn’t been level in a long time.

Ah well. Remember to be nice to old people, kids, immigrants and animals, and try not to be right all the time. It isn’t healthy.

Your friend, Jeff.

Whitten is a retired editor of the Bryan County News. He’s looking for work, if you know anybody hiring.