Alfred the Great

In over a millennia of English kings, only one ever earned the nickname “the Great:” Alfred. He was a great warrior who repelled a Danish invasion. He was a merciful man. Instead of killing prisoners out of hand, he gave them the option of converting to Christianity. A scholar, he spent a great deal of his money setting up schools. However, a millennium after his death, that’s not what he is remembered for.

Once, during a defeat, he sought retreat at a farmer’s home. The farmer’s wife let him in and allowed him to sit by the fire, telling him to watch the cakes cooking on the fire. His mind wandered as he thought of his countrymen suffering. He caught hell from the farmer’s wife for letting the cakes burn. I’ve always thought it would be a great sketch to have John Cleese portray Alfred the Great from the Great Beyond grousing, “I preserved the country, set up schools, showed enemies mercy, but you burn one cake…”

In some ways, this reminds me of my old friend, Woody Hayes. Woody was a great scholar, educator, Naval officer and one of the greatest football coaches ever. Unfortunately, every time he screwed up, he tended to do it on national television. I suspect that Woody Hayes, at this moment, is commiserating with his partner in big, well-publicized mistakes, Alfred the Great.