The Big One

G-Men drop "The Big One" on the Bullets

LOWNDESBORO, AL - "The Big One" these days is used to describe the anticipated megathrust earthquake along Western North America, or Japan. Fred Sanford, played by veteran comedy actor Redd Foxx, used the term "The Big One" when faking a heart attack that would happen regularly on his classic television series entitled Sanford and Son. In NASCAR, "The Big One" is also a phrase used to describe a big crash that usually involves five, or more cars, which occurs at some point in most all stock car races. When I think of the "The Big One" it usually goes back to World War II when the United States, led by President Harry S. Truman, decided to drop nuclear weapons on Japan to help end the war. A lot went down in March through August of 1945 that led to the end of WWII. In the Pacific theatre, US air forces had launched a massive firebombing of strategic cities in Japan in an effort to destroy the Japanese war industry and civilian morale. This devastating bombing raid on Tokyo in March was the deadliest conventional bombing raid in history. On April 12, President Roosevelt died and was succeeded by his vice president, Harry S. Truman. Benito Mussolini was killed by Italian partisans on April 28 and Hitler committed suicide in his headquarters on April 30. American naval and amphibious forces were moving towards Japan, taking Iwo Jima by March, and Okinawa by the end of June. At the same time, a naval blockade by submarines was strangling Japan's economy and drastically reducing its ability to supply overseas forces. By July of 1945, the United States’ Manhattan Project had produced two types of atomic bombs: "Little Boy", an enriched uranium gun-type fission weapon, and "Fat Man", a plutonium implosion-type nuclear weapon. On July 11, Allied leaders met in Potsdam, Germany to confirm agreements about Germany’s surrender and the American, British and Chinese governments reiterated the demand for unconditional surrender of Japan, specifically stating that "the alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction". The call for unconditional surrender was rejected by the Japanese, so on August 6, Truman dropped "The Big One" on Hiroshima. When the Japanese refused to surrender after "Little Boy", Harrry dropped "Fat Man" on Nagasaki on August 9. On the night of August 10, Emperor Hirohito agreed to accept the unconditional surrender terms demanded by the Allies in the Potsdam Declaration. On August 15, the Emperor communicated this decision to the Japanese people through a speech on the radio. Surrender documents were finally signed by the Japanese foreign affairs minister Mamoru Shigemitsu at Tokyo Bay on the deck of the American battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, thus ending World War II. In Week 3 of the BDFL, seems the Armadillos, Gamblers and Bellcows all missed out on "The Big One". The Texas Armada left 24 points on the bench with RB-Achane/MIA, while The Gambino left 28 points on the pine with PK-Gay/IND and the Bellringers left 19 points behind from Ft. Payne's PK-McPherson/CIN. The Grenadiers (formerly known as the Grenades) also dropped "The Big One" on the Bullets at Rebel Stadium (49-33) to get off the schneid and in the "win" column for the first time in 2023.

Downstream by The Rainmakers (1986)

Final Scores

Throwback Week

Throwback Week looks back to 1969 QBs

NEW ORLEANS - On February 10, 1967, Kilmer was selected in the expansion draft by the New Orleans Saints and, despite originally being thought of as the team's third-best signal caller, he became the team's starting quarterback for much of the next four seasons. He was the starter for the team's first game, a 27-13 loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams. Kilmer lost his starting job in 1967 after the first three games (all losses), and was replaced by former Baltimore Colts QB-Gary Cuozzo. However, Kilmer regained that job in 1968. His most prolific performance during his four-year stint with the team came in 1969, when he threw for 345 yards and six touchdowns in a 51–42 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on November 2, 1969. Kilmer finished his career with the Saints throwing for 47 touchdowns and 7,490 years. During the 1970 season, Kilmer's last in New Orleans, rumors surfaced that Kilmer missed curfew before a game against the Denver Broncos and that his Saints teammates had nicknamed him "Ole Whiskey." That reputation had been noted by Saints owner John Mecom, Jr., who mentioned Kilmer's many late-hour visits to New Orleans bars while playing for the team. Kilmer's six (6) touchdown passes in one game was the club record until November of 2015 when Drew Brees threw seven (7) TDs in a thrilling 52-49 win over the New York Giants. Kilmer's honorary BDFL team for Week 6's Throwback Week will be called the Crescent City Killers.