[revrew]

"I was thinking we rename the team the Confederates. The colors are red and blue, and we put the Confederate flag on the helmet--"

"Stop. Right there. You said I'd have control over football operations, right?"

"Right."

"So, let me name the team and take care of colors and all that."

"No."

"Fine. But we can't do the whole Stars and Bars thing. You'll lose a zillion on picketers and public relations and..."

"He's right, you know," came a sly, scratchy voice from the doorway behind us.

"Mr. Graves!" said Jeffrey. "Come in and join us, won't you?"

"He's right, Jeffrey," said Graves. "You can't name the team the Confederates. It would be a P.R. disaster, undo years of work preparing your people for this day."

"Well, I won't call them the Saints; that doesn't make any sense, even in New Orleans," said Jeffrey.

"Agreed. Perhaps the name 'Rebels' would suit the team better. Your meaning would be preserved, if a bit veiled, and people here do seem to resinate with that moniker."

"I like it, Graves. But do we still get to keep the flag?"

I was beginning to wonder who was really in charge here, the insane near-billionaire, or the snake of a spin-doctor he had hired.

"We won't keep the flag," said Graves. "But that doesn't mean the fans won't. In fact, some of them will catch the meaning of 'Rebels' right away and begin waving the flag at games. It will erupt in a media bonanza. They'll talk about what the flag represents, and whether the Southern spirit is well-represented by it or by the Rebels. We can work with that. We can make the fans take ownership of your cause without knowing what they're doing."

"I like it," said Davis. "But what shall the uniforms look like?"

"Oh," I said, my words dripping with sarcastic wit, "you wouldn't want anything with BLUE on it, would you? I mean, that is the NORTH's color after all."

"You're right!" shouted Jeffrey. "No blue. No blue at all. But we can keep the red. Red for passion. Red for pride. Red for rebellion. Yes, red. And then...Kendall, you're a genious. Gray! Like the old graycoats! Our colors will be gray and...and scarlet! Gray and scarlet! And on the helmets, crossed swords from Rebel calvary. What do you think, Kendall?"

"Of what?"

"Gray and scarlet! And crossed swords. Grey and scarlet, man!"

"Gray and scarlet?"

"Yes, gray and scarlet!"

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."