Opinion: Rusty Saber turns 24, reflects on topics worth ink in 2006

Those eligible for this salute share a birthday with Rusty Saber. Born in January 1983, Rusty is 24 years old.

Longtime readers know this column only takes time off during the year when my wife and I spend six weeks on Maui. This means that Rusty also gets a vacation; for the next six weeks this space will be filled by writers more skilled than I.

It has become a tradition of sorts for this time of year to report the number of times this column has appeared in SBJ since 1983: (drum roll please) 1,165. Since no other person has any reason whatsoever to have saved a clipping of each one, I alone know the exact number. You’ll have to rely on my count.

The editor of the 1996 book of selected Rusty Saber columns chose the title “McAdoo About Nothing.” Some might look back at the columns for 2006, and say “nothing” would still be a good choice.

Truth be told, this wasn’t the first time the descriptive nothing was used. The very first Rusty Saber column contained an explanation of what readers could expect in the future. A friend jokingly responded, “It sounds like you’re going to write about nothing.” I hadn’t thought about it until now, but he was years ahead of my book editor.

Nary an earth-shattering revelation can be found in a 2006 column. As in years past, column subjects spring from the eclectic bits and scraps of information residing in my head at the moment of truth, also known as my deadline.

Among the 2006 columns was one April 7 that lamented results of a poll indicating a considerable increase in American’s use of profanity. This national trait isn’t one to brag about, and I said so. The following week’s column suggested a solution: Make it politically incorrect to swear in public. I still think it would work famously.

In the June 4 column, I remembered a wise lady from my days as a doctoral student who taught me that I didn’t know everything and should never think I did. I shared this bit of wisdom with anyone who might need it.

On July 10, Rusty Saber admonished automobile drivers and passengers to use seat belts, and for motorcycle and bicycle riders to wear helmets. Such topics may not be Pulitzer material, but as advice, they’re OK.

Back on Sept. 4, results of a poll of pop culture knowledge caught my fancy. Among the farcical results was that more Americans could name at least two of Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs than the names of two Supreme Court justices; and 64 percent could name Larry, Moe and Curly as the Three Stooges, while only 42 percent could identify the three branches of American government as executive, legislative and judicial. It seemed to me that it was my patriotic duty to tweak the noses of adults knowing more about pop culture data than basic information any grammar school student should know.

The Sept. 25 column was the hardest for me to write, and the one garnering the most reader reaction. I wrote of the death of our little dog, Jackson. By their responses, I know a lot of readers take seriously the loss of a pet.

In the course of the year, this column bid farewell to Jean Parnell (July 17), the heroic Springfield lady who was the subject of the biography “Mom At War.” By mentioning her World War II efforts, homage was paid to the “Greatest Generation” who fought that war.

In the Nov. 27 issue, another final so long was bid to a friend of mine and of this newspaper, Springfield advertising executive Doug Gary.

On second thought, occasionally, just a tiny bit of “something” may have overcome the everyday “nothing.”

Upon my return from Maui, the Rusty Saber will commence to flutter toward the quarter-century mark. Wow. That sounds even longer than 25 years.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]