Banter Bites

Forget The Comeback Kid … Let’s Talk Comeback Teams

You don’t have to be a fan of sports to be a fan of sports stories.

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: It’s no secret that we see things differently, including major sports events; and while Red, although not a huge sports fan, prefers to focus on the athletes, while Black’s “range of interest” extends from the impact of politics to the effect of corporate sponsorship, there’s something about great comeback stories.


Like how the Cincinnati Bengals, perhaps the last team anyone thought would be in this year’s Super Bowl, are playing against the Los Angeles Rams in their home stadium. In Hollywood. Where dreams are made. Now, whether tomorrow’s Super Bowl will be a dream come true for the Bengals or an awakening from a dream to a different reality, there’s no getting around that it’s a great story.

As were the AFC and NFC finals games which were all about comebacks as both Super Bowl teams came from behind to win their conference titles. Not to mention, the Divisional Playoffs were all nail-biters, with each game decided on the final play. (Black’s not a football fan, but she does love statistics and odds.)

And then, since we’re in the midst of the Winter Olympics (we’ll ignore how much the Olympic Games have changed since we were kids), we’ll never forget a story so incredible that it became a movie – the 1980 U.S. men’s ice hockey team, the ultimate underdog, came from behind to beat the formidable Russians in the semi-finals and then took the gold against Finland.

What better proof for all of us that we should never give up because it’s not over until it’s over. Although, if you ask Red her favorite sports “comeback” story, it would be a vivid memory of Black that she told in A Way With Words … And Hockey Players?

When the news is challenging or life’s stressful, there’s something comforting about Girl Scout cookies. Always has been, which is why we’re rerunning this post from several years ago.

Girl Scouts, though, are about so much more than cookies, as year-round girls learn important life skills, gain confidence, and discover leadership skills. But buying cookies is such a sweet way (sorry, we couldn’t resist) to support the organization. Red’s favorite is the classic shortbread (now known as Trefoils), and Black buys a large assortment and gives them all away.

But hurry! Cookie season ends on March 23.

P.S. - If S’mores and Toast-Yay! are your favorites … make sure you stock up as this is the last year they’ll be available.

Let's play word association. If we say, "Girl Scouts," what's the first word that comes to mind? Ok, what's the second word?

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: When Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout meeting – hoping to create an organization that redefined what was possible for girls everywhere – there was no way for her to know the difference it would make in the lives of millions of girls and their communities.

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Today’s turbulent times for Jews may overshadow the celebration of the Jewish New Year, one of the holiest of the Jewish holidays. Yet, ironically, we feel it should strengthen its significance, as the holiday is a time for reflection on the past and hope for the future.

If you think today’s politics are ugly … let’s talk about a man who named himself “dictator for life” of the Roman empire, and is then assassinated by a group of senators, including his best friend. (However, there’s a “pretty” part – Cleopatra was his mistress.) Food trivia and leadership lessons aside, the fact July is named after him is the perfect excuse to rerun one of Red’s favorite Banter Bites

Quick! If someone says "Julius Caesar," what comes to mind?

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Almost everyone has heard of Julius Caesar, but how many of us really know much about him, or at least that's what Red starts to wonder when she receives the usual flippant, but still accurate, reply from her sister, after feeling very proud that she knew that July was named after the famous Roman.

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