Recovery has begun

Okay, so it's taken me this long to recover from the loss. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one to question the whole BCS system. I still don't understand that system. So USC, who lost to a non-ranked Oregon State, is better than UM, who lost to #1 ranked OSU by three points. USC beat the Irish in LA by 20 points and UM beat the Irish in South Bend by like 26 points. I just don't see how this system works and the fact that the PAC-10 has ranked teams that, let's face it, just really suck. Oh well. I guess the public will get what they want and if USC goes to the championship game to play OSU, I hope that OSU kicks the snot out of them (I can't believe I just said that, rooting for the Buckeyes is just sacrilegious).

On the NFL front, my beloved Saints beat the Falcons...again...in Atlanta. Woohoo. Hard to feel bad for a team that just gives up after being down for awhile. Also have to appreciate the fact that their superstar (Michael/Mike Vick for those of you not in the know) gave the finger to the crowd after they lost. And I'm not talking about the #1 symbol. What kind of person are you to insult the one group of people that provide your livelihood? A classy move by all means.

Black Friday has come and gone. Did you brave the crowds for the advertised deals? I did not, not really anyway. I ventured out around 11 a.m. It was not as crowded as expected at Best Buy where I browsed their wares. I did notice, however, that the same camera I observed last weekend for $299 was now priced at a bargin $335. Can you say holiday markup? Is this even legal? Makes me glad I didn't get up at 4 a.m. to try to snatch up that deal.

Only 27 1/2 more shopping days at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com

Countdown has begun.

In case you haven't heard, although I wonder if you haven't, the U of M/OSU showdown kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC Saturday. I really hope it's a good game. If it's a total blowout, I'll be pissed, well not if it's Michigan beating the stuffing out of OSU. Everyone is still debating over the loser's fate after this game. I am personally going to have to root for Cal to beat USC, and then USC to beat Notre Dame, West Virginia to beat Rutgers, LSU to beat Arkansas and then Arkansas to beat Florida. Think all these things will align? Me either, but it's always good to have a dream.

So Thanksgiving is next week. Turkey Day! I love turkey and all the fixins. Of course the whole Black Friday thing is a bit much. I travelled out a few years ago to brave the crowds. (Yes, I still wonder why I tried it.) I had seen the news stories of people camped out the night before, waiting in lines miles long (no exaggeration), and then fighting over the three items that were actually on sale as advertised. I personally don't need to save $5 bad enough to punch out a 70-year-old lady. Online shopping is the way to go. Most places offer free shipping if your order is over a certain amount and no lines! How fab is that?

Gobble, gobble at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.

BCS BS!

Okay, so what's going on in the Big East? First West Virginia goes down and then Louisville. When did anyone ever think that the nation would be talking about Rutgers football team and not asking, What? Who? The last couple of games have kinda shot the idea that the Big East is a contender for the BCS National Championship in the foot. This weekend shouldn't be too eventful for the NCAA. Ohio State plays Northwestern and Michigan plays Illinois. If either of these teams lose this weekend, oy. There has been a lot of debate on who should play the winner of the UM-OSU game for the national championship. I personally think that now Louisville is pretty much out of the running, it should be the loser of the UM-OSU game. Now hear me out. They are currently one and two in the rankings and as of that point they would be undefeated. If one beats two, or two beats one, should they fall below teams that already have a loss against teams that were ranked below one or two? I don't think so. It would be like a rematch for all the marbles.

Speaking of the National Championship game. It is being held in Arizona, basically the Fiesta Bowl right? So why is there another Fiesta Bowl this year? I thought it was supposed to rotate. If it's in Arizona, shouldn't the BCS Championship Game be the Fiesta Bowl? Just seems weird to me.

Also there was a piece on Fox Sports website about the Top 25 mascots. How can the Texas A&M collie be more recognizable than Mike the Tiger (LSU's mascot), the real tiger or the guy in the suit? Please like that's any contest. Personally, I think your mascot should be whatever your team name is. When Hawaii was the Rainbow Warriors they should have had a guy dressed up in the rainbow suit. You should also only get one mascot per team. The Florida gator, guy and girl, a bit of overkill. Heck, Michigan doesn't even have a mascot but everyone knows they're wolverines. They might not be able to tell you what a wolverine looks like, but they know that Michigan is it.

It's not a badger at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.

Who'da thunk it?

So for you NFL fans out there, what a crazy Sunday! The Lions beat the Falcons and the Dolphins beat the undefeated Bears. I have been one of the doubters of the Lions having even a halfway decent season. Gotta love Roy Williams and Kevin Jones. They were animals yesterday! Jon Kitna throwing over 300 yards in a game and they actually won. Go figure. For all those folks that were kissing Michael/Mike Vick's tush last week saying that he was a good pocket passer and he was a legitimate quarterback and not just a running back with a bit of an arm, I've got this to say...2 interceptions and a fumble. Not saying that he can't run and he could probably pass too, we just don't see it. If he has another good game, the commentators will be kissing his butt again, if he doesn't they'll all be saying I told you so. So fickle.

And then there were the Dolphins... Bet they weren't complaining too much about Joey's arm after 3 TDs. Of course there were the interceptions, but they won against 'da Bears. That should count for a lot!

My beloved Saints won against the Bucs...again! It was pretty sweet, but I almost had a stroke when they were up 17-0 and then let the Bucs score 14 unanswered points. Why do they do this to me? Of course, Colston was on fire, as usual, Devery Henderson got 2, count 'em, 2 touchdowns and Deuce ran one in for a TD. It was pretty sweet as they panned around Raymond James Stadium and a good percentage of the seats were empty in the fourth quarter. Chris Sims didn't look too worried on the sidelines as he watched Gradkowski and the offense implode. Now on to Pittsburgh, Cincinati (ocho cinco), Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, New York, and Carolina. Personally, I think the NFL should have given the Saints the Giants game at home as they were given that sham of a "home" game last year at Giants Stadium. Only seems fair to me.

8 down and 7 more to go at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.

Post-Halloween Report

So the kids are crashing from the sugar high known as Halloween. Maybe because I'm too old to appreciate the finer points of this holiday but I just can't get into Halloween too much anymore. You know you're old when the one thing you're looking forward to is the after-Halloween clearance of candy. Bag o' candy - 50 cents. I'm so totally there. Thankfully, my kids aren't too bad. We limited the walking to just our street and they still scored some really good candy. Should last until next year.

In other news, they opened a Bass Pro Shops down here. I totally missed out on getting an autograph from Jevon Kearse as he was here for the grand opening. Totally bummed. He's a good guy. Hope his knee is healing well. Much more of a draw than Miss Florida (she was also there for the grand opening) but maybe I would feel differently if I were a teenage boy.

Now for my rant... Does anyone watch NFL Total Access on the NFL Network? I usually like watching this show as it has Rich Eisen (Michigan Alum). Every Wednesday they have the head of NFL Officiating on to answer questions about key plays or calls during the previous weekend. This week they had a questionable call from the Monday night game. As usual, though Rich and everyone else watching could see that it was a bad call (which was challenged, replayed and yet upheld though he clearly made a "football move"), Mr. Pereira would not say that the official was wrong. I don't know why they bother having him on the show. He never says that the official made a wrong call regardless if there is "indisputable evidence" to the contrary. I say to the folks at NFL Network, keep the guy off the show. He just makes us mad.

Holding my breath and counting to ten at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.