Weinzierl

Jewelers

Victoria’s Corner Bar.  Nightly Specials and Menus.  952-443-9944

Specialized assisted living for those

with memory challenges. 

Victoria.  952-908-2215

8 First Street in Waconia.  952-442-2885

942-443-2078

Funeral Home & Cremation Services

952-474-9595

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy.  Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Huber

City of Lakes & Parks  952-443-2363

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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Notes and

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The Scoop

at City Hall

         It's been five months since we were in a movie theater.  That's how long it took for something good to come along again.  We don't frequent theaters because there's nothing else to do; we go because we've been enticed.  Some interview or article or recommendation is usually the enticement, occasionally a preview.  Previews normally inform us as to what we don't want to see.

         We don't want to see violence, certainly not prolonged violence or torture, and certainly not violence for the sake of violence -- in other words, not just for shock and awe.  I understand that violence is necessary for some storylines.  Life is violent, after all.  I don't seem to mind the violence in Clint Eastwood movies.  As a matter of fact, I love Clint Eastwood movies.  It's satisfying to see the bad guys get their comeuppance. 

         I don't want to see too much action packed adventure that has me screaming or jumping out of my skin.  If I'm going to get a heart attack, I'd rather have it be from thick-sliced bacon or juicy porter house steaks and Big Macs. 

         I don't want to see pornography.  There's never a good excuse for it.  It has become commonplace but that doesn't mean we have to like it or accept it.  Why would anyone want to be slapped in the face? -- which is what pornography does to decency.

         I don't want to see comedies because they're mostly not funny anymore.  Funny seems to have died with Walter Mathau and Peter Sellers.  Remember "Grumpy Old Men" and "Pink Panther"?  Comedy isn't funny on TV either.  Canned laughter sends me up a wall.  Situational comedies aren't funny because the situations aren't funny.  They're contrived.  Real humor is in reality.

         I don't want to see horror movies.  I hate scary and gore and abominable creatures from the grave.  I don't like to be frightened out of my mind or sickened out of my seat.  There are enough scary things in the world without seeking them in a movie theater.

         So what's left?  Let me tell you about "When the Game Stands Tall."  We went to see it at Eden Prairie Center on Friday night, August 23rd.  It was outstanding.  I was enticed by a television interview, a recommendation, and also newspaper advertising in my favorite journals.

         "When the Game Stands Tall" was about a high school football team and its coach.  Sports are normally not my cup of tea -- who drinks tea at a football game anyway? -- but, as I said, this movie was about a team and a coach.  There was plenty of football action on the field and tons of tackles and touchdowns but that's beside the point.

         The point is that training, perfect effort, and character count more than winning a game, and yet, with that exact coaching,  the De LaSalle Spartans were the winning-iest team in the world.  They won 151 games in a row over 12 years under Coach Bob Ladoucer.   It's pronounced La-dew'-chur. 

         "When the Game Stands Tall" is based on a true story.  Stories based in truth are always my favorite.  The school is located in Concord, California.  The coach only retired in January 2013.  I found myself clapping, cheering, getting choked up. 

         I'd go back to watching Sunday football in the winter if the Vikings had a coach like Bob Ladoucer.  When our kids were little and also not so little but not yet graduated from high school, our routine was to  curl up downstairs with quilts to watch the Vikings on Sunday afternoons.

         Each member of the Spartan football team should get an academy award for Best Supporting role.  Jim Caviezel, who played the coach, most likely won't be up for an academy award because it wasn't about acting or playing a role.  As I said, it was about character and conviction, which Jim Caviezel also has in real life but there's not an academy award for that.

         I mustn't say too much more about "When the Game Stands Tall."  I don't want to spoil it for you.  Nobody spoiled it for us, thank heaven.  Stay for the credits and you'll get to see and hear the real Bob Ladoucer.

         By the way, we sat through several previews prior to the movie and not one of them enticed us to an upcoming feature.  We usually go to the movies early so we get those front seats in the middle of the theater where I can put my feet up on those metal bars.  You're supposed to put your feet up whenever you can, and I do.  Gotta keep that blood evenly distributed.

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From the Editor

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

The Victoria GAZETTE

September 2014