Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I’m really looking forward to a New Year.

• 
  The last day of the NFL was very exciting. Of course for me being a Vikings fan, they are in the playoffs. First time in a long time. For the Eagles fan, the improbable happened. They needed 3 things to happen…and they did. The stories of the Falcons & the Cardinals are both great. Who would have thought the Chargers had a shot at the playoffs? But, they got hot at the right time. The Colts finished the season 9-0 and are the hottest team entering the playoffs. My prediction – the Colts go all the way. They will be playing Carolina in the big one. I think Carolina ultimately gets by the Giants.
• 
  I’m finally going to face the fact that the Big Ten is not all that tough. It’s hard for me to say it. But after watching Florida State completely dismantle Wisconsin, I’m going to accept it. The Big Ten is now 0-2 in bowl games. Northwestern gave Missouri fits last night, but still lost. I’m not sold on any other Big 10 team winning a game now.
  My heart says the Buckeyes will beat the Longhorns. My head tells me to believe the Las Vegas line – Texas by 9.5. I will root hard – but I believe Texas will prevail. I hope I’m wrong. Sometimes I love to be wrong.
• 
  At least the Big 10 is making waves in basketball. Just a couple of years ago the conference was blasted in the media for being a second tier major conference. Now, they are the 2nd highest RPI conference (behind the ACC of course). They are ahead of the Big East (who thought that would happen), the SEC (take that SEC lovers), the Big 12 (Kansas, Missouri, Texas) and the Pac 10.
• 
  I think the Big 10 basketball season is going to be a blast. It’s wide open. I honestly don’t think Ohio State will be in the mix. I’m picking them to finish 3rd or 4th. Michigan State, Purdue & Wisconsin will battle it out for the top. michigan, Minnesota, OSU & Illinois are in the 2nd tier.
• 
  I’m glad Anthony Crater is gone from the OSU bball team. After 10 games as a freshman he made the decision that he wasn’t playing enough. Let me say that again – after 10 games, the 1st games of his college career, he decided he wasn’t playing enough. That’s absurd. The expectations of incoming freshmen & their parents & aau coaches can be ridiculous. It’s better to cut them lose. They can be a cancer behind the scenes.
• 
  Brett Favre is done. His team collapsed, he was less than stellar, his coach got fired, his shoulder is an issue & he looks tired. It’s time. You’re a legend – walk away.
• 
  The Yankees spending spree is irresponsible. I know – they have the money. But they are also using public bonds to fund the stadium. All these people in this world hurting like they are – and they have to read about these crazy sums of money being paid to baseball players. Every day I am losing more interest in baseball. I don’t have a solution, but I fully expect this to be a year in which sports start to struggle economically.
• 
  This is the time for New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve failed so many times at these. I’ve decided to make it very simple for this year – I’m going to try to Live a little more, Laugh a little more & Love a little more this year. That’s it. It might sound a little soft, but it works for me. Hopefully I can succeed.

3 Days Before Christmas

• Guys - it's December 22, time to finally get out & get it done.
• I had a friend provide me with his random thought - "when did Jr. High start being called Middle School?" - I have no idea when it started. But I find it odd that the Jr. High that I attended now is called Willard Middle School.
• I have an honest question - is it ok for a person my age to have a Facebook? My kids say no. But I have several friends that have one & they say it's a great way to stay in touch. I'm on the fence on this one.
• The Big 10 has a tough road in the Bowl games. I will be rooting as hard as ever for all of them - truthfully it makes it easy for me given michigan is not playing a bowl game. - still can't get over the hilarity of that.
• Take a look at some of these matchups - if the Big 10 represents, they can certainly regain some national reputation. If they don't, the Big 10 will continue to be ridiculed in the media.
• Florida State is favored by 4.5 over Wisconsin
• Missouri is favored by 12.5 over Northwestern
• Kansas is favored by 10 over Minnesota
• Georgia is favored by 7.5 over Michigan State
• USC is favored by 9.5 over Penn State
• Texas is favored by 9.5 over Ohio State
• The only favored Big 10 team is Iowa - a 3.5 point fav over South Carolina.
• I predict the Big 10 will go 4-3 - winners will be Wisconsin, Mich St, Iowa & the Buckeyes
• Fantasy Football is wrapping up. I've come to realize that fantasy football is all about weeks 14-17. The other weeks only matter in that you don't want to be the worst team & not make the playoffs. The winner in one of my leagues was 6-7 in the regular season. But, his players scored in the only weeks that matter. So much of this is luck - with the weather (especially since many teams are playing in cold, snowy & icy conditions in these weeks), injuries and matchups (whoever plays the Lions or Chiefs). It's not always about the best players - it's about the weather, injuries & matchups in weeks 14-17.
• Have you ever noticed the padding (or lackthereof) on NFL players - especially the DBs & WRs. They wear only shoulder pads & a helmet. Why - one reason - SPEED. They need to be as fast a possible. Equipment only slows them down. Learned that one from the book "The Dark Side of the Game" by Tim Green. This book has great insight on the game from a former player's perspective.
• The NBA is being ruled by three teams - Lakers, Celtics & Cavs. They all have one common denominator. They all have stars, yes. But that's not the difference. There are many stars in the NBA. The difference - they all have stars THAT ACTUALLY PLAY DEFENSE. Garnett, Kobe & LeBron are consistently on the All-NBA defensive team. That's why they win.
• What was the attendance at the Bengals & Browns game yesterday? 500? Those stands were empty. I know it was cold - more on that later - but it's an embarrassment to Ohio pro football that these teams aren't better. Ohio has the Pro Football Hall of Fame & is the home to so many successful coaches at the pro & college levels - and we are the embarrassment of the NFL. This needs to change. Both of these programs need to clean some house & get it going.
• The basketball Big 10 teams have certainly not embarrased the conference. There are 5 teams in the top 25 and all teams but Indiana have lost 3 or fewer games. Moreover, many of the teams have high quality wins (michigan beat UCLA & Duke, Purdue beat Davidson, Mich State beat Texas, OSU beat Notre Dame and Minnesota beat Louisville to name a few). This conference is wide open. Should be fun to watch.
• What is up with this weather? - I woke up to 3 degrees today with a wind that bit my bones. Spring is just around the corner, right?
• Merry Christmas to all. I hope each of you enjoy your family & friends.