My friend John Hope Franklin died this morning at the age of 94. He was many things -- a great historian, a great scholar, a great activist, and a great North Carolinian, to name a few. I could spend a day blogging about John Hope's life (I lack the stature to provide a fitting eulogy), but I think it is more fitting to use his own words to describe this great man:

"I want to be out there on the firing line, helping, directing or doing something to try to make this a better world, a better place to live."

Those are inspirational words, the kind of words that we should all hope to live by.

His biography and memorial website, both courtesy of Duke University.

Outside of football, I don't pay much attention to Alabama. But, my morning newsfeed captured this story on Jefferson County (which includes Birmingham) and it's municipal debt woes. It may sound familiar...