Defense of Fort McHenry

On the morning of September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem after witnessing the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD during the War of 1812.  He originally named that poem "Defense of Fort McHenry".  Key was inspired by the sight of a large American flag waving proudly after the American victory over the British forces. 

However, most people have never seen or read this poem in its entirety, having only been introduced to the first verse of the four verse poem.

So, on the eve of the anniversary of that hard fought battle, in honor of those that lost their lives during that battle and on September 11, 2001...

Here is the full re-printed text of Francis Scott Key's "Defense of Fort McHenry" which later became more commonly known as "The Star-Spangled Banner"".

GOD BLESS AMERICA
_________________________________________________________________

Defense of Fort McHenry 

By Francis Scott Key

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming!
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,
And this be our motto--"In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

 

Red Bulls Are Fit to be Tied

 

 

Let us step back and analyze this from a neutral observer’s point-of-view first…

The NY Red Bulls came out flat in the first half, and Vancouver had the bulk of the possession which eventually lead to a beautiful goal in the 23rd minute by Davide Chiumiento.  Some poor officiating lead to a series of circumstances which saw Rafa Marquez escape a 2nd yellow card, and a few minutes later Jan Gunnar Solli receive a totally bogus straight red card in first half stoppage time.

So, the first half ends with the Red Bulls down a goal, down a man, and playing poorly against the team with the worst record in MLS.  A team who hasn’t won a game on the road all season.

The Red Bulls began playing better in the second half, and had a lot more possession despite playing down a man.  But, the game completely changed in the 61st minute when Hans Backe inserted the Red Bulls 18 year old phenom, Juan Agudelo.  His youth, speed, and desire gave the team some much needed width, and caused Vancouver’s defense fits as soon as he came on.  Then in the 68th minute, Agudelo lost his defender in the box, and got on the end of a long Rafa Marquez pass, leveling the game at 1-1.

The Red Bulls continued to pressure Vancouver trying to get the game winner, and Agudelo almost accomplished that in the 80th minute.  Rising above the defense, he headed a shot on target forcing Caps keeper Joe Cannon to make a save to knock the ball out of bounds.  In the 81st minute, Luke Rodgers returned from injury to add more pressure to the Caps defense, and the Red Bulls attack came inches from getting the game winner as Thierry Henry made Joe Cannon sprawl to knock away another shot destined for the back of the net.  In the end, the short-handed Red Bulls fought back for a hard earned point, but failed to get the much needed win.

</end neutrality>

However, the Red Bulls now find themselves with the dubious distinction of having a league high 15 ties (Chicago also has 15 ties).  And, they also find themselves behind DC United for the last playoff spot after United’s 3-0 victory over Chivas USA.

The Red Bulls now have to hit the road to face FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas needing to find a way to get 3 points, or risk falling out of the playoff picture all together.

They have 7 games left to make the playoffs. The fans will not accept positive spins on how this was a good tie any longer.  They are having fits about all the ties this season.

Bottom-line: This team is too expensive and too talented to not make the playoffs. 

Get it done…PERIOD!  No more excuses.

Peace
G

Post game Interviews from Hans Backe, Carlos Mendes, Luke Rodgers, and Thierry Henry

Red Bulls Return Hoping to Make a Playoff Push

 

The NY Red Bulls (32 pts.) find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot by a mere point over arch-rival DC United (31 pts.).  After finishing best in the East last season, the most expensive team in the league began positively, but the Red Bulls have fallen from 1st place all the way to 5th place in the Eastern Conference; a full 3 points behind the Houston Dynamo (35) and upstart Philadelphia Union (35), 5 points behind Sporting KC (37), and 8 points behind East-leading Columbus (40).

The class of the league continues to be the LA Galaxy who lead the league with 55 points in 28 games played, and they became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with their 1-0 win over defending champion Colorado on Friday.  Mercifully, the sold-out derby game between the Galaxy and Red bulls at Red Bull Arena was postponed by Hurricane Irene to October 4.  The Vancouver Whitecaps now come into Red Bull Arena to face a well-rested team (last game on August 20, 2-2 draw at New England) looking to break a 7 game winless streak.  During that stretch the team has gone 0-3-4, and their last win was a 5-0 drubbing of lowly Toronto at Red Bull Arena on July 6, 2011.  

The Whitecaps are the polar opposites of the Galaxy in the league having the distinction as the worst team in the league with a mere 21 points from 26 games played, and are winless on the road all season.  So, step one for the Red Bulls is not to allow Vancouver to get their first win on the road; step 2 is to secure a 1-0 lead; and then final step to dismantle them with a similar drubbing as they gave the last Canadian team to set foot in Red Bull Arena…Remember Red Bull Arena is Our Home Your Hell!

Bottom-line nothing less than a dominant and convincing performance and win is acceptable at this point in the season by a team that considers itself worthy of being in the playoffs when facing a team out of the playoff picture.  Especially, in a league where the playoff picture can turn on a single win or lose.