Well here we are. It's a week after Thanksgiving, and my stomach is finally starting to return to its normal size.
Its seems that the holidays are right around the corner - as the weather gets colder and colder - and students are already thinking of cramming for finals.
But during this time of student bliss, when that turkey buzz is finally wearing off and the thought of one more month fills you with quiet calmness, I feel a more somber mood upon me, mainly due to the recent deaths of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor and Gatorade inventor Dr. J. Robert Cade.
It seems that there is a sense of cruel irony about Taylor's death. The 24 year old was reportedly in his house when an intruder shot him in the leg.
From the description that Taylor's girlfriend made, the two were awakened by a loud noise. Taylor grabbed a machete - I'll admit that it does seem a little ridiculous - that he kept in the room for protection and headed toward the door.
But before he could do anything, the intruder busted through the door, firing two shots, one hitting Taylor in the leg.
Thankfully, neither Taylor's girlfriend nor 1-year-old daughter was hurt.
According to doctors, Taylor was shot in the femoral artery, and suffered a significant loss of blood. Doctors did seem encouraged once Taylor responded to simple commands after several hours of surgery.
However, that report would only serve as false hope, as Taylor would die early Tuesday morning.
While this heinous crime is currently unresolved, the worst part about this tragedy is the loss of someone with so much potential.
Taylor had problems both on - seven fines for late hits, etc - and off - he skipped the mandatory rookie symposium after the NFL Draft - the field, but with the birth of his daughter 18 months ago, it seemed that Taylor had turned over a new leaf.
While Taylor was already a Pro Bowl player, this was arguably his best season as a pro. He was leading the league in interceptions with five, and was considered one of, if not the, hardest hitting defensive back in the NFL.
I personally was a big fan of Taylor, ever since he was at the University of Miami. I remember quite fondly watching him in awe as he returned punts for touchdowns, interceptions for touchdowns, and basically picked up receivers and carried them around the field.
On draft day in 2004, I prayed that he would somehow fall to the Packers, knowing deep down that he would not fall past the top 10 picks.
Taylor was the kind of guy you rooted for through the good and the bad, and it is sad to see his life end when his future seemed overflowing with potential and optimism.
Along with Taylor, my solemn demeanor is also because of the death of Dr. J. Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade.
Cade died Tuesday due to kidney failure at the age of 80, and will surely be missed.
At this time I wish I could cue Keith Jackson and that cool 70's music - I can't remember if it's Fortunate Son"" by Creedence Clearwater Revivial or ""House of the Rising Sun"" by the Animals - during the rest of the column, but alas I cannot.
Gatorade has become one of the biggest companies in the sports world, and basically made up the beverage category ""sports drink"".
Without Gatorade, who knows how long I would have had to wait for Riptide Rush, Glacier Freeze, and of course - my favorite - Cool Blue.
And we have Dr. J. Robert Cade to thank for it.
Remember the one commercial he was in? When he says, ""Naturally we called our stuff Gatorade."" I love that commercial, and I loved that old man.
It may seem weird for me to say that about someone I have never met, but that guy rocked. I'm drinking a Gatorade right now. I live off of the stuff.
If I could, I'd probably intravenously pump it into my body. But once again, I cannot.
So in honor of Dr. J. Robert Cade, I raise this Fruit Punch+Berry X-Factor Gatorade before me for a toast, and ask all of you who are reading this during lecture to do the same.
But this toast is not just for Cade, but for Taylor as well.
It is sad to see such a promising young life end so tragically and so soon, and I personally like to cope with death by living in the liquor store for a day or two.
But on this occasion, let's raise our Gatorade bottles, and celebrate the lives these two men lived.
To talk about your favorite Gatorade commercial or the life of Sean Taylor, e-mail Nate at ncarey@dailycardinal.com.
