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Turn Out The Lights

    For those of us who are a little older, we have lost another familiar friend. Don Meredith, former Dallas Cowboy and Monday Night Football commentator, has died. In a world where people in the public eye go to great lengths to construct a plastic persona, Dandy Don was fun, natural and very cool. He made Howard Cosell more fun and I really believe the two men were like the biblical verse, Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the countenance of his friend. In a word, they were good for each other.
    Who else would have had the nerve to sing ' Turn out the lights, the party's over' on national TV when the game was decided every week? Only Don Meredith. Don was one of that rare breed who dared to be different. Even the media atmosphere could not roll him and stamp him and sale him on a plastic tray. I recall how Elvis was ridiculed for his clothes and hair in high school. Yes, he was ridiculed for his music for many years as well. Those who dare to be different can be counted on the fingers of one hand in any generation. Don Meredith was a fun guy, a good player and commentator. On a personal level, I liked him because he dared to be a Southerner and gloried in it, rather than be ashamed. Adios, Don Meredith.
   CE Wills
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