I show you how to do this, son

I generally find weekly columns to be, uhm, unenlightening. I don't think that has much to do with the talent, it's just a really demanding thing to have to be interesting, in a set way, 52 times a year. You're going to fail. But this piece by Hendrik Hertzberg--who doesn't write every week--shows why he's king. The set-up is marvelous--Hertzberg recounts, in specific detail, how the Mormon Church helped push Prop 8. Then he goes through all the arguments over who's to blame. But instead of leaving it there, he circles back to the Mormon Church and gives us this incredible symbolism:

A couple of days before the California vote, the San Francisco Chronicle's John Wildermuth noticed a "No on Prop 8" sign on a front lawn. The lawn and the sign belonged to Steve Young, the football Hall of Famer and former 49er quarterback, and his wife, Barb. Steve Young is a graduate of Brigham Young University, which is named for his great-great-great-grandfather. The Youngs still belong to the Mormon Church. "We believe all families matter and we do not believe in discrimination," Barb Young said. "Therefore, our family will vote against Prop 8." It wasn't enough this time. But the time is coming.

I swear that ending was written to be quoted on this blog. Damn I hated Steve Young. Now, that hate was born out of great respect for his skills, and the toughness he exhibited throughout his career. Still, one of the greatest moments of my life was watching the Cowboys in 93 and 94 drive a stake through his heart, thus avenging "The Catch." But still, this is bigger than football. I can't believe I just wrote that.

This article available online at:

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2008/11/i-show-you-how-to-do-this-son/6335/