Did you see where there was an Under-19 football tournament in Austin, June 30-July 7? I’m not talking 7-on-7 here; I’m talking about the International Federation of American Football. No, I hadn’t heard of it, either.

The guests were Japan, France, Sweden, Austria, Panama, Canada, and American Samoa. I imagine the other Samoans feel discriminated against. Also, I wonder if Friday Night Lights is a big seller in say, Tokyo, or Nice. Permian is where?

I can understand American Americans (not the Samoans)—and the Canadians—would want to win a “world” championship, when the odds are better for a triumph than they would be for Adam Dunn taking on Cameroon’s big hitter in a Home Run Derby, but I’m confused why the French, the descendants of Monet and Eiffel (of the Tower Eiffels), would desire to come to the land of the free safety, which has produced Dick Butkus, Mean Joe Greene, and Terrell Suggs. Were Turkey, Oman, and Qatar too busy or too smart?

I’ll bet our guys will be loaded with confidence when they go to college workouts next month knowing they’ve taken on the world unlike their worthy, but not as worldly, teammates.

Would you like to tell me what thrill it was for the Red, White, and Blue gridders to beat up on Austria 70-7 in the much-anticipated semifinals? Why don’t we invite Scotland, Spain, Italy, or the Far East to play a little Final Four baseball, softball, or basketball? Certainly don’t suggest women’s golf, soccer, or men’s tennis. Who won our last Grand Slam event on the men’s side? Bill Tilden?

Here’s a plus for our guests: After getting belted on the scoreboard of BURGER Stadium, they can grab the unparalleled barbecue and talk about better use next time of cover two.

Injury foreign?

One of the American boys was quoted in the Austin American-Statesman—on July 4th, when else?—that, in effect, he’d do anything for his country. It wasn’t “Give me Liberty or Give me Death,” but it was B-plus for a journalistic answer.

Sometimes you hear, when injury leads a conversation, “Oh, you can get hurt crossing the street.” Right, I just saw a headline that read, “6’3, 240-pound tight end stumbles near Main and Elm, tears his ACL, will not be able to cross a street for six months.”

Suspense ends

The U.S. got past Sweden 27-6 in the opening round, then Austria if you forgot because you’re more concerned with who caused the Cruise-Holmes split. Canada, which does have something called the Canadian Football League you know, and Darrell Royal coached the Edmonton Eskimos in 1953, surprised their hosts in the finals 23-17.

How about re-thinking what was mentioned several paragraphs ago? Why not a barbecue cook-off? Only the food has to sweat. Friendly exchanges all around, and, like 7-on-7, no tackling the cooks.

I’m curious as to how much controversy there was among Panamanians over the BCS?