Daniel Dawkins

The irony is that Ferguson knew how to adapt. He’d seen off rivals, internal dissent, ownership struggles, oligarchs and the rise of a new media age. But Ferguson got his final, biggest, decision wrong. Not that it was a decision made rashly or for the wrong reasons, but for the wrong era. And doomed to fail for a reason even Ferguson, *especially* Ferguson, must’ve feared: there is only one Alex Ferguson. A vote for Moyes was Sir Alex’s last great statement of principle.

“Fight and you may die. Run and you will live…at least a while. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!” 797 years later, Manchester United lose 2-0 to Olympiacos in a game berated by pundits as the club’s ‘worst Champions League performance ever’.

Dan honorably served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972 and was stationed in Germany. He is survived by one son, one stepdaughter, and her children, two sisters, one brother and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. A gathering of remembrance will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with the family meeting with friends from 6-8 p.m. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com.