Rewind

The last 2 days have been nothing but fabulous. Yesterday, I went down to Oxford for the Battle for the Bell between Miami and Cincinnati. I played golf at Hueston Woods with a very good friend of mine. I thank him for his patience as my game is in full renovation mode right now. Gone are the low rounds of summer as I'm back to trying to figuring things out. I'm still going to get out and play a couple of times, hopefully ending the year on a good note. Then, I met up with my bro for some dinner and the game. It was good to see him and spend time with him. Miami rolled 44-16 in the game, winning the Bell for the 4th time in the last 5 years. Cincinnati is very young, especially on defense and Miami took advantage of that. Josh Betts threw for 359 yards, Brandon Murphy rushed for 120, and the defense forced 5 turnovers in a convincing victory.

Today, I got to see someone I hadn't in three loooong years. It's been awhile now, but I posted what my ideal woman would possess. Well, this woman pretty much has the entire package. She is intelligent, beautiful (inside and out), kind, and fills you up with warmth. We've been through a lot together, which has made us the best of friends. We've never been "together", but I love her more than I've loved anyone (outside my family). I don't think we'll ever end up together, because she lives out West and we seem to be on different paths, but I KNOW we'll always be there for one another. I don't have to drag feelings out of her, she lets you know how she feels. Just being with her, I am more hopeful and more optimistic about my future.It had been three years since we had last seen one another, but it didn't feel like it all. We really are like peas and carrots. I get goosebumps just thinking about her. I am so glad I was able to see her today, it made my month and is a Top 10 moment of the year.

Today is a day I wish I could live over and over again, it was beautiful. Beautiful weather and beautiful company, what more can you ask for???

Alrighty, the Amazing Race: Family Edition premiered Tuesday and it looks to be a winner. They could show the Paolo family the entire show. Constant arguing between the sons and their mom. I feel bad for the mom, she can't get two words in over her boys. The Black family was eliminated, losing time on the crossing of the Delaware River. They had 2 young boys that competed hard, which had to make it even harder to be the first ones eliminated.

In tonight's Apprentice, in another car competition, the men got cocky and lost. The women were tough, and so was their ad campaign and commercial. Meanwhile, the men had to explain everything and poor Marcus was excluded from everything. Yeah, he's a spaz, but he's smart. Although smart, project manager Chris made a dumb move in only bringing Marcus to the boardroom when Mark's ad campaign was horrific. That dumb move was enough to get him fired.

Tomorrow night is the big rivalry game between Northmont and Vandalia-Butler. Recently, it's been all Northmont as Butler football has been down the last several years, reversing the trend of when I was in high school. The rivalry is heated to say the least. After a Northmont victory, Butler's victory bell was vandalized. A couple of years later, Butler students vandalized Northmont's field, making a huge B at midfield that couldn't be removed, so the "B" was there all year.

Of course, I was big into the rivalry when I was in high school. Whenever Butler was on the schedule, I wanted the win badly. I remember dancing at midcourt after we beat them in basketball senior year. Later that year in tennis, I played a freshman, who after losing the first set badly, hit a good shot and let out a roar with a fistpump. Well, on the very next point, I hit a winner and did the same exact thing. I won the match 6-1, 6-2, so needless to say, he was quiet the rest of the match.

That's all I've got for tonight, can you believe tomorrow is the last day of September????

Monday Night College Football

Tennessee football always boasts great physical talent, but they usually lack in the mental capacity. The Vols graduate on average 1 of every 10 players and have had 13 arrested or cited in the last year. That number only counts players that are still in the program, so you can probably add another 4-5 who have left Tennessee. That lack of mental capacity was present tonight in the 1st half of their game at LSU. Turnovers, stupid penalties, and numerous mental mistakes put the Vols down 21-0. Even LSU coach Les Miles signaled that the 2nd half would yield more of the same and lead to an easy Tiger victory.

In the 2nd half, the complete opposite happened. LSU lost the mental edge, as they seemed to listen to their coach's halftime interview. Meanwhile, Tennessee rallied around their QB Rick Claussen and rallyed from behind to force the game into overtime, which they won. It's one of those games where if I went to bed at halftime, woke up the next morning and you told me Tenn. won, I wouldn't have believed you.

So here's the Top 10:
1. USC. I have to tell myself USC was actually down 13-0 in the 2nd quarter, yet still won 45-13. They can only stop themselves offensively, but they're still vulnerable defensively. Arizona St.'s passing attack will present a challenge, but they need to run the ball to have a chance. USC made Oregon one-dimensional on offense, which makes any team easier to defend.

2. Texas. Interesting road trip to Missouri Saturday. Columbia can be a tough place to play, and Mizzou QB Brad Smith can be tough. Also, will Texas be looking ahead to next week's game vs. Oklahoma????

3. Virginia Tech. It's too bad Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball wasn't 100% for their game Saturday. I think Va. Tech still would've won, but not by 51-7. This week is their rivalry game with West Virginia at Morgantown. The Hokies are on upset alert.

4. Ohio St. OSU should've won 56-6 if not for two turnovers inside the Iowa 5 and poor clock management at the end of the 1st half. OSU needs to concentrate on running the football to establish offensive rhythm and get Ted Ginn the ball in the flow of the offense. Just throw the ball to him, you don't need to run a reverse to get him loose. The Bucks get a week off before their first road trip of the year. Happy Valley awaits where Penn St. could be 5-0 if they beat Minnesota this week. First road game of the year at Happy Valley at night, uh oh.

5. Florida. Big game for the Gators at Alabama this weekend. At some point, Chris Leak will have to run the option to keep an opposing defense honest. DeShawn Wynn needs to have a big day running the ball for Florida.

6. Florida St. The Noles get a chance to start a long winning streak with Syracuse coming to town this week. Drew Weatherford started to come around in the 2nd half at Boston College. If he can get them 14-17 points, that's enough for the defense, one of the best in college football.

7. Georgia. Any game in the SEC is tough, but I was expecting more than a 23-10 margin at Mississippi St. If the Bulldogs were ANY good (MSU), this would've been a tighter game. Georgia got on top early and coasted. DJ Shockley has matured a lot in his 4 years, I was impressed with his play. The Dawgs get 2 weeks off to prepare for Tennessee.

8. Tennessee. The Vols appear in the Top 10 thanks to their 2nd half comeback in an emotionally charged Tiger Stadium. Usually, when falling behind, the Vols tend to lay down, but they didn't tonight. I don't care how naturally talented Erik Ainge is, Rick Claussen needs to start at QB because he's clearly the leader of the team. Tennessee has the best talent of any other team I've seen (other than USC). If they can mentally focus, they can still have a good year.

9. LSU. After the 1st half, I would've put the Tigers at #2. What a disappointing last 30 minutes and 30 seconds. At the end of the 1st half, DeMarcus Russell scrambles, doesn't get a 1st down, failing to stop the clock. Instead of telling his QB to spike the ball, coach Miles tries to rush the field goal team on in 15 seconds. Then, the Tigers got conservative in the 2nd half on offense, and it cost them. They have a good, fast defense and great running backs, maybe everything that has happened to them caught up with them.

10. Miami. The defense is there, and now the offense is showing signs of at least being good enough to win games. Tyrone Moss is carrying the load on the ground, and tight end Greg Olsen is one of the best at his position. The Canes can't sleep on South Florida this week, especially after their beatdown of Louisville.

On the fringe: Michigan St., California, Notre Dame, Arizona St., Alabama

Big game for the MAC tomorrow night as Toledo travels to Fresno St. The MAC hasn't had a big non-conference win this year (sorry OU, but Pittsburgh doesn't qualify). This is their last chance to do so.

Well, 1 Out of 3 Won

There were three events I was really looking forward to today. First, Da Bears and the Bengals playing at the Spaceship, the new Soldier Field. Da Bears, well, were in a giving mood to say the least. After stopping Cincy 3 and out to start the game, Justin Gage let a pass go through his hands on Da Bears' first play from scrimmage, which was then intercepted. That led to a Bengal touchdown on the very next play. Kyle Orton would be intercepted 4 more times, leading to 10 more Bengal points. When Da Bears finally created a turnover of their own, Doug Brien (yep, the same guy who choked for the Jets last year), missed a 40 yard field goal that would've kept Da Bears in it. The Bengals won 24-7 and are 3-0. Da Bears are 1-2, but still only a 1/2 game out of first in the NFC North.

Next came Big Ben and the Steelers hosting the Patriots. Despite losing the left side of their offensive line and two members of their secondary, the Pats got an Adam Vinateri field goal in the waning seconds to win 23-20. After an early 85 yard TD pass to Hines Ward, Roethlisberger struggled, running for his life from the rushing Patriot defense. While Tom Brady had all weekend to throw, Ben was forced to rush throws, almost making key mistakes. Roethlisberger hung in there and tied the game at 20 with his 2nd TD pass. In 3 games, he has 6 TD passes and 0 INTs, and despite only going 12/28, he still had a passer rating over 90 which is above average.

While this was going on, it was the final day of the Presidents Cup. The US hadn't won a team competition since 2000 and came in tied with their International counterparts. It came down to the final two matches featuring Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco. The US had assured themselves of no worse than a tie, but needed to win one of the final 2 matches to win the Cup. Mickelson came to 18 trailing Angel Cabrera by 1, but stuffed a wedge close to have a chance to send the match to overtime. Phil made the putt, setting the stage for DiMarco and Stuart Appleby, who came to 18 tied. DiMarco hit an incredible shot from the right rough, where his ball lay next to a fairway bunker which DiMarco had to stand in when he hit the shot. Then, after Appleby missed his birdie chance, DiMarco, as he has done all week, made the clutch putt to give the US the win. Finally, the US won a professional golf competition.

So, another great sports weekend comes to an end. This week should be good though, with the Battle for the Bell Wednesday night where yours truly will be attendance rooting on my Redhawks in front of an ESPN2 audience. I also found out my Uncle and Aunt and their family will be coming in from Washington, DC for the Ohio St./Indiana game in October and have bought us tickets. So we will be heading to Bloomington, my first trip there since I was a high school junior.

Who I will be rooting for??? The Hoosiers of course. Hey, Coach Hoeppner, now the head coach at IU was the coach at Miami. I've met him and have always been a fan of his when he was at Miami. So I will be rooting on the old Miami ball coach.

On another note, Miami charged me for 4 days' worth of internet and phone, the full monthly charge. Now I know why my diploma hasn't come yet. Sometimes...... So, my diploma will be coming this week, with that, maybe a job?!?!?! You never know what life will bring.

Until tomorrow.

Just Another Saturday

I love Saturdays.

Ohio St. 31, Iowa 6. Ohio St. should've won 56-0, but two fumbles inside the Iowa 5 kept it from getting out of hand. The Buckeyes are clearly the best team in the Big 10, and they still aren't hitting on cylinders. This was their best performance of the year, yet Ted Ginn Jr. needs more touches, and Troy Smith needs to do a better job of hanging onto the ball.

Minnesota 42, Purdue 35 (2OT). Well, it appears there will be no fluke Big 10 champion. Purdue seemed to have it all lined up for them with no Ohio St. or Michigan on their schedule. But 214 yards from Laurence Moroney changed that. Purdue's defense was supposed to be their strength. The Gophers piled up 572 yards of offense. Whoops.

Wisconsin 23, Michigan 20. The Badgers beat the Wolverines for the first time since 1994. At the beginning of the year, I said Michigan and Oklahoma were overrated (both preseason top 10). Well, the Sooners are 1-2 and Michigan is now 2-2. Their offensive playcalling kills them, especially on the road. Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun is a gamer. He had 155 yards rushing to lead the Badgers. Also, I love "Jump Around" at the start of the 4th quarter. Yes, that classic House of Pain hit gets blasted over the Camp Randall Stadium PA system and the students go nuts.

Central Florida 23, Marshall 13. I wouldn't be surprised if the city of Huntington, West Virginia is up in flames after this game. The Golden Knights under coach George O'Leary (aka George O'Liar) broke the nation's longest losing streak with this win. Those poor Thundering Terd fans, just 1-2, and their lone win was a close one over 1-AA William & Mary.

Texas Tech 63, Indiana St. 7. Congrats to the Sycamores for their performance tonight. You may ask why I said this. Well, all week Tech coach Mike Leach said his team would try to score 100 points tonight against 1-AA ISU. As you can see, they didn't get there. Hey Mike Leach, PLAY SOMEBODY!!!!!!! Tech's nonconference schedule: Indiana St., Florida International, and Sam Houston St.

South Florida 45, Louisville 14. This was the shocker of the night. Da Bulls did it with misdirection plays. They scored on three trick plays. Louisville sleptwalked through this game. No matter how good you are, you can't sleepwalk through any game, especially against a team from Florida. Even South Florida, because Florida's 4th or 5th best high school players will be as good or even better as some of your top recruits.

The Top 10 will reappear Monday night after Tennessee/LSU.

The Presidents' Cup goes to Sunday tied at 11. It's nice to see the Americans playing well and with some spirit after their lackluster showing at last year's Ryder Cup. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have finally found partners, with Woods going 2-0-1 with Jim Furyk and Mickelson going 3-0-1 with Chris DiMarco.

Tomorrow's singles matches are:

Justin Leonard vs. Tim Clark. Both men are great putters. Clark is a little better at keeping the ball in play.

David Toms vs. Trevor Immelman. This match is a tossup. Toms's ailing heart vs. Immelman's rookie nerves.

Tiger Woods vs. Retief Goosen. Whoever finds the fairway more will win. Tiger's iron play and putting have been on while his driver hasn't. If Goosen can hit fairways and hit his wedges close, he'll be tough to beat.

Kenny Perry vs. Mark Hensby. These are two very streaky players. Hensby has been playing better of late, but Perry can make birdies in bunches.

Fred Couples vs. Vijay Singh. Couples started to show some signs Friday afternoon while Vijay made his first putt of 10 feet plus in 4 months. You have to like Vijay, especially the way he hits the ball. Freddie is going to need one of those rounds where he is on fire, especially with his putter.

Scott Verplank vs. Mike Weir. I was surprised Weir didn't play in Saturday's four-ball. He has found the game that won him the Masters. He's putting the ball in play and making everything on the greens. Verplank was unbeaten with Justin Leonard until Saturday afternoon. Does he have anything left for tomorrow???

Jim Furyk vs. Adam Scott. Furyk has showed his true grit, battling through a hurt rib cage to win 3 points. His putter may be the difference in the match. Scott is a great ball-striker, but is still inconsistent with the putter.

Fred Funk vs. Michael Campbell. This will be a tough match for Funk because Campbell is playing well. Campbell smoked Goosen in last week's World Match Play final and has made multiple clutch putts. Funk needs to stick to his game, fairways and greens, making an occasional bomb.

Davis Love III vs. Nick O'Hern. Love is looking to atone for his Sunday performance from 2 years ago when he could've won the Cup for the US. Instead, he chunked his chip on 18, forcing the competition to be tied. O'Hern lost his putting touch Saturday afternoon, he'll need it back to win.

Phil Mickelson vs. Angel Cabrera. Phil hasn't played great, but he hasn't played poorly either. He needs to get his putter going. Cabrera hits the ball a mile, but has been inconsistent around the greens this week. Will Cabrera be able to deal with playing in the next-to-last match???

Chris DiMarco vs. Stuart Appleby. Bulldog vs. Bulldog (well, Gator vs. Bulldog since DiMarco is a Florida grad). The intensity won't be lacking this match. DiMarco played really well Friday and Saturday, can he keep it up??? Appleby has never been able to take advantage of the big occasion (0 major wins), can he do it Sunday???

The golf, along with Da Bears trying to beat the Bungles and Big Ben in action against New England makes for a great Sunday.

Still, nothing beats the exciting and pageantry of Saturdays on campus.

It's All In The Hips

Yours truly managed to strain his left hip playing tennis today. Today was warm and windy, and I was hitting into the wind. I love hitting into the wind because I can swing away and really grind it out. Well, I swung too hard and my left hip buckled, scaring me a little bit. But after a quick stretch, it was loose enough to continue playing, where it bothered me a little bit, but not too much. Of course afterwards it's tightened up and it's hard getting up. But don't worry, this has happened so many times to me. I'll probably be ready to go for my running workout tomorrow. A little more stretching, a hot shower to get it loose tomorrow, and I'll be good to go.

Overall, this week has been good because the monotony was broken up. I got to have lunch with Earlham's newest Area Director (haha) today, which was good times. I was going to hit the links tomorrow, but rain is in the forecast, so I'll be watching golf most likely instead of playing it.

Thankfully, Hurricane Rita is no longer a Cat 5, but it is still a strong Cat 4 (140mph winds). Again, you can't help but feel for the people from the Gulf Coast. Today, most of them sat in traffic, going 1 mile per hour. 1 mile?!?!?! Some ran out of gas and had to abandon their cars because once you got on the highway, you couldn't get off. I just can't imagine. Let's hope Rita weakens a little more, but it will still make landfall as a major hurricane.

Tonight began the new season of my 2nd favorite reality show, The Apprentice. Guys vs. girls, and the guys prevailed by $11 in Task 1. Both teams had to create a fitness class at a Bally's outlet in New York. Absent-minded Marcus the inventor, somehow shut up long enough to lead his team to the win. I kind of feel for the guy though since as an inventor, he's usually stuck in his lab for long amounts of time, so he's probably rarely around people. This is his big chance to meet new people, and he's probably so excited and nervous, his talking is a release of his nervous energy. But Melissa didn't shut her trap enough, and was an easy fire for the Donald. Even though Kristi was a weak leader, it's hard to deal with someone as negative as her. Melissa thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread, "Women are jealous of me because I'm so intelligent and beautiful." Honey, you aren't that beautiful, and saying, "I can't work with women" in front of the Donald doesn't make you intelligent. Buh-bye.

I don't have a favorite yet (I was right about Kendra last season), but I do have a favorite to look at. Jennifer Murphy, Miss Oregon USA and top 10 finalist for Miss USA. Woooooowwwwwwww.

Eh, I don't really feel like talking about Survivor tonight, so sorry if I disappointed anyone out there.

Today was the 1st day of Fall, which means just 23 days remain until Midnight Madness!!!! Can you believe it, it's almost time to throw it up and start the Road to the Final Four.

Defense?!?!?!

Boise St., in a game I've looked forward to watching since the beginning of the year, waxed Bowling Green 48-20. Boise St. led 48-6 before BG scored 2 meaningless touchdowns, so the final score doesn't indicate how dominant BSU was. Bowling Green, for the last 3 years, has been one of the WORST defensive teams in the nation. I've never seen a defense run from ballcarriers. They are the worst tackling team in the nation, when they try to tackle someone. This year, they've given up an average of 45 points per game?!?!?! They gave up 31 points to Ball St., the same Ball St. that couldn't score against Iowa's 3rd team defense (lost 56-0). Tonight, the Falcons were pathetic. I'd hate to be a BG student or supporter because that performance was awwwwwwwwwful.

By the way, Craig James, the ESPN/ABC analyst who did commentary at tonight's game, is a tool. Between him trying to quote Snoop Dogg and Dave Barnett, play-by-play man, constantly referring to BG as defending MAC champs (Toledo won it last year), the broadcast was terrible.

The poor people of the Gulf coast, what a summer. Hurricane Rita is a Category 5 storm now, 175 mph winds and currently the 3rd strongest hurricane ever. It is due to hit the Texas coast late Friday/early Saturday. If there was one good thing about Katrina, the people of Texas have taken this seriously and have left for the most part. Local and state officials are actually organized in employing their evacuation plans. Supplies from FEMA are already in position, unlike the days before Katrina when the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana failed to notify the President that they would be needing supplies from FEMA.

I was at my grandparents' house today and they were listening to Rush Limbaugh. I'm not a Rush fan at all, but I did side with him on one thing. Apparently, some celebrities got together for a Katrina benefit pay-per-view concert in New York. One of the performers was Bette Midler. Rush played audio clips of her criticizing Bush, blah, blah, blah, the same song we've heard over and over.

First of all, Bette Midler is as relevant nowadays as Jesse Jackson. Second, what has she done to help??? Oh, a benefit concert, how gracious of her. Also, if it was pay-per-view, the people effected by Katrina are unlikely to see it since they can't afford it and don't have access to it. Ignorant celebrities.....

Speaking of ignorant celebrities, how about Barry Bonds' tirade yesterday??? Bonds critcized the media for continuing to question him about steroid use and criticized Congress for investigating steroid use during the tragedy of Katrina. He said they should be concentrating on Katrina, Congress that is. I am not a fan of Barry Bonds, if I haven't stated that before. I do believe he has used steroids, even though it has only been proven that he "unknowingly" took steroids. Just look at a 1990 picture of him and a picture of him today and his recent record of injuries (very similar to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa). How dare Bonds use Katrina as a way to try and get attention off of him. What has he done for the hurricane effort?!?!? Another reason I'll celebrate the end of baseball season is not having to hear Barry Bonds for a couple of months at least. How can you root for a guy who alienates everyone, has his own personal agenda, and seems to be the unfriendliest person alive??? I think Congress does have a right to investigate him. Steroid use in teenagers has increased recently, possibly caused by an increase in steroid use in major league baseball.

Another ignorant celebrity is Serena Williams, who lost her 2nd round match in China (got a bye in the 1st round) to 127th ranked Sun Tiantian in straight sets. Serena is still complaining of a hurting left knee. Well Serena, if you paid more attention to your tennis and conditioning and less attention to your fashion and whatever else you do, you would not be hurt.

By the way, Serena's ace count: 13. Donation: $1300. And that may be all the Katrina victims get because she will unlikely play until her knee is healed, which could mean the rest of the year. Simply pathetic.

As for me, nothing really new to report. Still waiting/hoping for good news.

How bout Da Bears?!?!?!

I know it was against Detroit, but still, 38 points?!?!?! It was the most lopsided win for Da Bears since 1986. Five interceptions, a 100 yard rushing day for Thomas Jones, and a touchdown pass from Kyle Orton, who didn't turn the ball over, led to the victory. Special teams even got into the act with a Bobby Wade punt return that went for a touchdown. Admittedly, the NFC North will be the 2nd worst division in football (NFC West will be the worst), but hey, Da Bears are in 1st. The Bengals come to Soldier Field next week.

It was also a good day for Wilson Hall's very own Ben Roethlisberger. 14/22, 254 yards and 2 TDs, with a bruised bone in his right knee. After two games, he has more TD passes than Peyton Manning, who would've thought? We'll really see how Ben is doing next week vs. New England.

And congratulations to Jason Gore for winning the 84 Lumber Classic. Just 3 months ago, he and his family had everything stolen from their car, which had no air conditioning. Now, he just earned $792,000 for his victory. Commenting about his summer, Gore said, "It's amazing where a little perseverance and grit and maybe a little ignorance can take you."

I like that quote. Gore is why nothing beats the human drama of sports. Someone comes out of nowhere, gets an opportunity and takes full advantage of it.

Well, another week brings another week of wishing and hoping and thinking and praying. Kind of like the Ani DiFranco song, but hoping for the job, not a woman (not yet, taking one thing at a time, although I wouldn't be upset if it happened out of order). What's most difficult about this whole process is not being able to control your own destiny. You can put out a good resume, interview well, and still come up short. In these situations, I prefer having it all on my shoulders, and I've been able to produce.

Whether it be the game-winning shot, winning the big tennis match, getting the grades on finals that I needed to get a good GPA, when it's all on the line, I like my chances. That's when I'm at my best. A lot is on the line here, but it's out of my hands. I'd feel better if it was.

Tomorrow might be a good day to run the trails, it's been awhile since I've had an exhilarating run like that.

Here's to College Football

Ready, set, go.

Miami 27, Kent St. 10. 2 touchdown passes for Josh Betts and 172 yards rushing from Brandon Hunter get the Redhawks their first win of the year. The defensive effort was much better, despite giving up 338 yards passing. The Hawks still need to put 60 minutes of good football together, but the 4 game losing streak is over. Next up is the Battle for the Victory Bell against Cincinnati, the 5th oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains. BRING BACK THE BELL!!!!!!!!

Ohio St. 27, San Diego St. 6. I'm glad I wasn't in Columbus when the Aztecs scored on an 80 yard TD pass to start the game. OSU didn't get things going until the 2nd quarter with Troy Smith's running being the difference. The Bucks get by the "sandwich" game as Iowa is up next in the Horseshoe.

Another note concerning this game: Being on ABC and finishing early, I was looking forward to watching the end of Miami/Clemson (it had gone to overtime). But, since I live in Ohio, I had to watch postgame Buckeye comments?!?!?! Miami/Clemson goes to triple overtime, and I'm looking at AJ Hawk's long hair (get a haircut AJ).

Michigan St. 44, Notre Dame 41 (ot). If you can achieve offensive balance, Notre Dame is still below average defending the pass. Drew Stanton threw for over 300 yards and gave the Irish problems with his mobility. Still, the Irish had this one, if not for their first 2 possessions of the 2nd half (interception return for TD, fumble at the goal line that led to another TD). Brady Quinn threw for 485 yards and 5 TDs, leading the Irish back from 21 down.

Louisville 63, Oregon St. 27. This was my upset special because I wasn't impressed with Louisville's play in the 2nd half at Kentucky. That play continued early as the Beavers went up 10-0. Then, the switch was flipped and Louisville got rolling. Brian Brohm at quarterback is very good, and he's only a sophomore. Michael Bush is a load at tailback, and the Cardinals have other great backs and receivers. Plus, the defense can run, and although undersized, are physical. The Cards might crack my top 10.

Some other quickies:
I won 4 out of 6 today that I picked, much better than last week. Wins were: Miami, Florida St., Florida, and UCLA. Losses were: Notre Dame, Oregon St.

Vanderbilt is 3-0 for the first time since the 1950s. They hung on to beat Ole Miss 31-23. Indiana is also 3-0 after beating Kentucky. Congrats to former Miami and now current Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner for his good start.

And what about those Pitt Panthers?!?!?! When he was hired, Dave Wannstedt was talking national championship. Well, after botching 2 field goal attempts that could've beaten Nebraska, Pitt is 0-3. Am I surprised?!?!? No, because Dave Wannstedt's middle name is M-E-D-I-O-C-R-I-T-Y.

Now for the Top 10:
1. USC. Currently up 28-10 in the 2nd quarter vs. Arkansas and I see no reason why they will lose tonight. Scary good on offense, but have given up some yards to Arkansas. They will be on upset alert at Oregon next week. Autzen Stadium is loud and Oregon can score points.

2. Texas. No problems with Rice tonight. Oklahoma and Texas A&M are their biggest challenges left, although next week's road trip to Missouri won't be easy.

3. LSU. The Tigers get a week off before Tennessee comes into town.

4. Virginia Tech. Little problem with Ohio U. 3 TDs for Marcus Vick. Georgia Tech comes to Blacksburg next week, which should be a competitive game.

5. Ohio St. Yes, there are teams undefeated below them, but I don't think Florida, Florida St., or Georgia could beat them (and this is coming from a Buckeye hater). Their defense gave up one big play and that was it. San Diego St. did nothing offensively. The offense will improve as Troy Smith settles in.

6. Florida. Tonight, I watched a totally different Gator team tonight. Focused and disciplined, two things they lacked under Ron Zook. They were balanced offensively, although they kept Tennessee in the game with their troubles of getting into the end zone. I think they'll win the SEC East.

7. Georgia. Not sure how good the Dawgs are. They took it to Boise St., but struggled with a South Carolina team that got beat up at home by Alabama. We won't find out for another 3 weeks when they play Tennessee.

8. Florida St. In the 2nd half, Drew Weatherford started to show some signs of life. He got some confidence throwing the ball, and his big receivers started to catch some balls. Their defense is opportunistic, although lucky the Boston College quarterback got hurt, killing the Eagle momentum.

9. The U. Kyle Wright was solid, and beating Clemson in Death Valley is a feat in and of itself. The defense and the skill people are talented. The same with FSU, if Wright can keep improving, The U will be tough. The ACC might be the strongest conference in the land.

10. Louisville. They looked like a Top 10 team today. Too bad they won't get a chance to prove it until bowl season. They have North Carolina and their Big East (or Big Least) games left.

Tennessee will make it back possibly into the top 10, if they settle on a quarterback to get their passing game going. Their athleticism on defense will keep them in games.

Don't count on Michigan making it back or Notre Dame. It will be interesting to see how the Irish play at Washington next week before back-to-back games with Purdue and USC. Michigan is ok, but nothing special. They'll contend to win the Big 10 still, but they're not as talented as Ohio St.

And from last night, my Northmont T-Bolts bounced back by beating Sidney 41-7 to go to 3-1. Next up is Trotwooooood.

In a non-football related note, my boy Jason Gore leads the 84 Lumber Classic in Pennsylvania by 2 going into tomorrow's final round. I told you to look out for him.

Tomorrow, it's Da Bears vs. Detroit. Maybe Da Bears will get into double-figures.

Here's to College Football

Ready, set, go.

Miami 27, Kent St. 10. 2 touchdown passes for Josh Betts and 172 yards rushing from Brandon Hunter get the Redhawks their first win of the year. The defensive effort was much better, despite giving up 338 yards passing. The Hawks still need to put 60 minutes of good football together, but the 4 game losing streak is over. Next up is the Battle for the Victory Bell against Cincinnati, the 5th oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains. BRING BACK THE BELL!!!!!!!!

Ohio St. 27, San Diego St. 6. I'm glad I wasn't in Columbus when the Aztecs scored on an 80 yard TD pass to start the game. OSU didn't get things going until the 2nd quarter with Troy Smith's running being the difference. The Bucks get by the "sandwich" game as Iowa is up next in the Horseshoe.

Another note concerning this game: Being on ABC and finishing early, I was looking forward to watching the end of Miami/Clemson (it had gone to overtime). But, since I live in Ohio, I had to watch postgame Buckeye comments?!?!?! Miami/Clemson goes to triple overtime, and I'm looking at AJ Hawk's long hair (get a haircut AJ).

Michigan St. 44, Notre Dame 41 (ot). If you can achieve offensive balance, Notre Dame is still below average defending the pass. Drew Stanton threw for over 300 yards and gave the Irish problems with his mobility. Still, the Irish had this one, if not for their first 2 possessions of the 2nd half (interception return for TD, fumble at the goal line that led to another TD). Brady Quinn threw for 485 yards and 5 TDs, leading the Irish back from 21 down.

Louisville 63, Oregon St. 27. This was my upset special because I wasn't impressed with Louisville's play in the 2nd half at Kentucky. That play continued early as the Beavers went up 10-0. Then, the switch was flipped and Louisville got rolling. Brian Brohm at quarterback is very good, and he's only a sophomore. Michael Bush is a load at tailback, and the Cardinals have other great backs and receivers. Plus, the defense can run, and although undersized, are physical. The Cards might crack my top 10.

Some other quickies:
I won 4 out of 6 today that I picked, much better than last week. Wins were: Miami, Florida St., Florida, and UCLA. Losses were: Notre Dame, Oregon St.

Vanderbilt is 3-0 for the first time since the 1950s. They hung on to beat Ole Miss 31-23. Indiana is also 3-0 after beating Kentucky. Congrats to former Miami and now current Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner for his good start.

And what about those Pitt Panthers?!?!?! When he was hired, Dave Wannstedt was talking national championship. Well, after botching 2 field goal attempts that could've beaten Nebraska, Pitt is 0-3. Am I surprised?!?!? No, because Dave Wannstedt's middle name is M-E-D-I-O-C-R-I-T-Y.

Now for the Top 10:
1. USC. Currently up 28-10 in the 2nd quarter vs. Arkansas and I see no reason why they will lose tonight. Scary good on offense, but have given up some yards to Arkansas. They will be on upset alert at Oregon next week. Autzen Stadium is loud and Oregon can score points.

2. Texas. No problems with Rice tonight. Oklahoma and Texas A&M are their biggest challenges left, although next week's road trip to Missouri won't be easy.

3. LSU. The Tigers get a week off before Tennessee comes into town.

4. Virginia Tech. Little problem with Ohio U. 3 TDs for Marcus Vick. Georgia Tech comes to Blacksburg next week, which should be a competitive game.

5. Ohio St. Yes, there are teams undefeated below them, but I don't think Florida, Florida St., or Georgia could beat them (and this is coming from a Buckeye hater). Their defense gave up one big play and that was it. San Diego St. did nothing offensively. The offense will improve as Troy Smith settles in.

6. Florida. Tonight, I watched a totally different Gator team tonight. Focused and disciplined, two things they lacked under Ron Zook. They were balanced offensively, although they kept Tennessee in the game with their troubles of getting into the end zone. I think they'll win the SEC East.

7. Georgia. Not sure how good the Dawgs are. They took it to Boise St., but struggled with a South Carolina team that got beat up at home by Alabama. We won't find out for another 3 weeks when they play Tennessee.

8. Florida St. In the 2nd half, Drew Weatherford started to show some signs of life. He got some confidence throwing the ball, and his big receivers started to catch some balls. Their defense is opportunistic, although lucky the Boston College quarterback got hurt, killing the Eagle momentum.

9. The U. Kyle Wright was solid, and beating Clemson in Death Valley is a feat in and of itself. The defense and the skill people are talented. The same with FSU, if Wright can keep improving, The U will be tough. The ACC might be the strongest conference in the land.

10. Louisville. They looked like a Top 10 team today. Too bad they won't get a chance to prove it until bowl season. They have North Carolina and their Big East (or Big Least) games left.

Tennessee will make it back possibly into the top 10, if they settle on a quarterback to get their passing game going. Their athleticism on defense will keep them in games.

Don't count on Michigan making it back or Notre Dame. It will be interesting to see how the Irish play at Washington next week before back-to-back games with Purdue and USC. Michigan is ok, but nothing special. They'll contend to win the Big 10 still, but they're not as talented as Ohio St.

And from last night, my Northmont T-Bolts bounced back by beating Sidney 41-7 to go to 3-1. Next up is Trotwooooood.

In a non-football related note, my boy Jason Gore leads the 84 Lumber Classic in Pennsylvania by 2 going into tomorrow's final round. I told you to look out for him.

Tomorrow, it's Da Bears vs. Detroit. Maybe Da Bears will get into double-figures.

Porter Spears-Federline

Britney Spears gave birth to a baby boy. Say a prayer for this boy's health and his parents. May they somehow be able to be good parents.

I really don't have a big topic to discuss tonight (still gathering info on global warming), so I'll answer some random questions:

Favorite foods: lasagna, chicken catchatori(sp), cheeseburgers, philly cheese steak sandwiches, chocolate cake, cookies n cream ice cream

Been toilet papering: no, and never got toilet papered

Love someone so much it made you cry: yes, but not telling who haha

Croutons or bacon bits: croutons

Favorite restaurant: Wulliver's, Hagerstown, IN

Favorite fast food restaurant: Rally's, Big Buford Hamburgers mmmmmmmm

How many times did I fail my driver's test: I failed maneuverability once. I didn't just hit the cone, I ran it over. I am the WORST parker in the world. I can't parallel park to save my life. If I try, it takes forever.

Which store would I max out my credit card at: Nike or Brooks Brothers

Toothpaste: Crest

What name brand do I wear the most: Nike and Polo

How do I vent my anger: Either internally or when I work out. If I see you while I'm running, I'll say hi, but otherwise, I get all of the negative energy out when I run/work out.

Lucky number: 7

Do I look like mom or dad: Dad.

Are you the romantic type: I think it'd be fair to say that I am.

When did I have my 1st crush: 1st grade.

Blondes or brunettes: Definitely brunettes, especially long, curly hair (Keri Russell-type hair). But straight brown hair would definitely work also haha.

Shoe size: 13, yet I'm only 6' tall, I should be 6'3" or so with that shoe size

One of my bad qualities: I can be too accommodating for people, not leaving enough time for myself. It's not a bad thing, but not good time management.

Would I ever bungee jump: No. Skydive, maybe. Bungee jump, no.

Worst fear: Swimming in deep water.

Moons or stars: stars

Coke or Pepsi: Cherry Coke

Last person I couldn't take my eyes off of: The girl walking her dog in the neighborhood last night hehe (bad, very bad, but what a cutie)

Age when I received my first kiss: 19

Favorite childhood memory: Being the ball boy for my dad's football team and the Sunday visits to my Grandparents' house.

Do I believe in love at first sight: yes

Best compliment I've ever received: Honestly, any compliment I receive I treasure. No one is better than the other.

Longest relationship: a little more than 10 months

Greatest strength: Mental toughness/competitive spirit

Perfect pizza: Vegeterian

Who would I want to be tied to for 24 hours: Lance Armstrong

Celebrity crush: Keri Russell, Katie Holmes, Jessica Biel (current top 3)

If I could go back to one point in time, where would I go: Fall semester 2002, I would've changed a couple of things.

If I could change anything about myself, what would I change: My metabolism. I'd make it quicker so I wouldn't have to worry so much about what I eat. (By the way, current weight is still at 203, I've fluctuated between 200-205 the last month, which I'm content with)

What do you want your friends to think about when they think of you: That I'm always there for them and I truly care about them and would do anything for them.

Most I've eaten in one setting: I've eaten a foot-long, full pound cheeseburger. It was huge.

If I could go back and change one day, what would it be: September 11th

Hidden talents: I think karaoke/being in the spotlight would fall into this category. I can perform under the pressure haha.

Meanest thing anyone ever did to me: In 5th grade, someone pushed me off of a tower-like structure. I bumped my head and broke my arm. Needed stitches.

Nicest thing anyone has ever done: Michelle baking a cake for my birthday was special, especially after trying once before, so she actually made 2. The Junior Scholars staff (of girls) that sang to me, that was great. The multiple presents one of my exes got me for the apartment. And of course, anything my family has done, especially mental and emotional support.

How was I 5 years ago: Excited to be at Miami, but shy, worried I wouldn't find my place. Not much of a vocal leader, and very conservative. Ask the people who went to high school with me, they can't believe some of the things I've done in college.

Obviously, there were many more questions on this survey I looked at. Some I couldn't think of an answer for. It's interesting to think about certain things that you never think about.

Tomorrow, Northmont looks to get back on the winning track, hosting Sidney (1-2). Sidney hasn't had much of a football team recently, even when I was in high school. Basketball, although they haven't done as well the last couple of years, was a strong point when I played. They used to be the high school version of Grinnell College, the school that plays no defense, shoots as many 3s as possible and plays up-tempo. Sidney would play some defense though, but they jacked up 3s left and right. They won our league my senior year.

Anyway, that's it. I hope you enjoyed the randomness.

Digging In

Well, it's been awhile since I've had the chance to update (thanks Verizon). I will try and get to everything tonight; we'll see how it goes.

The big news is that Ernst & Young has decided to go with someone else. I learned of this last night and was extrememly disappointed. But I've gotten over it and am looking forward to the next opportunity. I have no ill feelings with E&Y, they are a class organization. And I'm not second-guessing anything I did during the process. I made it to the final cut, I did alright. I gave it the best shot I had with them and it just so happened someone was better and more qualified for the job, so congratulations to them. If that's how you get beat, that's the way to do it.

So one good opportunity is gone, but one still remains. But now having just one instead of two does start triggering some thoughts. If I get the 2nd No, where do I go from there??? If that happens, I'm forced to "Go Back to Start" if you will. I've still been applying on-line, but that hasn't yielded a lot. So that brings up a couple of things I might have to consider. After all, things happen for a reason, and if I were meant to get one of these two jobs, maybe this is a signal to travel a different road. For instance, if this doesn't work out, do I go back and get my PHD??? I would have to decide this very quickly since I'd have to take the GRE, get recommendations, and so on. But I really don't want to do this right now. If I did, I'd be in grad school somewhere right now. However, when push comes to shove, maybe this is the way to go.

The other question I'd have to ask this: Is this the sign to forget economics and go after my dream job, which is (surprise, surprise): sports journalism. I did Mini-Sportscenters when I was 4. I used to read the Sports section out loud when I got home from elementary school as if I were on Sportscenter. This is what I wanted to do until I realized if I wasn't a former college/pro athlete, I didn't have much of a chance. But I still let it cross my mind. I bring this up because there happens to be an opening for a Weekend Sports Anchor at one of the Dayton stations. I know I could do the job, despite not having real journalism experience. But, I have all of the basics covered:

Public speaking: Hey, I've defended a Master's thesis among other things, reading sports highlights, no problem.

Writing: Collegehoopsnet.com, HawkHeads newsletter, and all of my school writing, check.

Sports knowledge: I'd test my knowledge against anyone's (except baseball haha).

The only thing I'd be lacking in would be the technical stuff, reading the teleprompter, matching script with the highlights, etc. But with practice, I know I'd be good. And, what have I got to lose?!?!?! So, I think I'll be applying for this. Hey, you never know......

Alright, a lot to catch up on in the sportsworld:

Central Michigan 38, Miami 37. Uh oh. Josh Betts threw for 395 yards, and Brandon Murphy rushed for 98, but it wasn't good enough because Kent Smith threw for 300+ and ran for close to 100 yards himself. As I watched the game, the lack of emotion Miami showed was very apparent. For example, Miami safety Joey Card intercepted a pass, making a tough catch. There was NO excitement or emotion shown by ANY of his teammates. That's scary, especially when every game in the MAC is crucial. Now, Miami must win the rest of their league games to guarantee a spot in the MAC Championship. Personally, I just hope we can get a win at Kent St. to end the 4-game losing streak.

Texas 25, Ohio St. 22. Living smack dab in the middle of Buckeye country here, it feels like someone died. That's what happens when Ohio St. loses. The Bucks had their chances, specifically tight end Ryan Hamby dropping a pass in the end zone that would've put OSU up 26-16. But OSU let Texas hang around, and Vince Young played a monster 4th quarter, making up for his 2 turnovers. Young impressed me with his toughness and improved passing.

Notre Dame 17, Michigan 10. Oh, those Irish have everyone talking. Have you seen any other school go from unranked to 10th in 2 weeks?!?!?! Let's see how they handle being the favorite at home vs. Michigan St., who has beaten them 6 of the last 8 years, including the last 4 meetings in South Bend. ND didn't win this game as much as Michigan lost it with their Red Zone incompetence. 2 red zone turnovers won't get it done.

Alright, here's the top 10:
1. USC. Arkansas might play them tough for a half Saturday.
2. Texas. I'm convinced for now, until they play Oklahoma. They should take the Sooners behind the woodshed, but OU still has the psychological edge going for them, which sometimes is all you need in a rivalry game.
3. LSU. What a great win. 28 points in the 4th quarter, 14 coming on special teams. Arizona St. is a good team, and for LSU to have to open their season in Tempe with everything that's happened shows great togetherness.
4. Virginia Tech. I'm slowly becoming a Marcus Vick fan. Yes they played Duke this week, but he showed great focus and executed. That can be tough to do against a weak opponent after a short week.
5. Ohio St. The Bucks should've won Saturday night. They should not lose again. Their defense played great the last 3 quarters after a slow start. Now that Troy Smith is the starter, they should develop some offensive continuity.
6. Florida. They've taken care of business, we'll find out how good they are this week.
7. Tennessee. So much talent, but do they have the mental toughness??? Tennessee vs. Florida, Saturday night, should be a dandy.
8. Georgia. I think South Carolina surprised them with how good they are. But the Dawgs held tough. The role of sleeper in the SEC East might serve them well.
9. Notre Dame. Who else am I going to put here?!?!?! I don't think they're a top-level team, yet. You've gotta like their balance on offense and the way they pursue the ball defensively.
10. Florida St. They might not be here for long. The Noles go to Boston College this weekend, and BC is tough at home.

In front of a disappointing crowd of 8,000 (ok, still big, but I thought it would be bigger), Centerville showed why they are Centerville by somehow beating the more talented Northmont Thunderbolts 20-7. Centerville forced 6 turnovers, allowing the Elks to take the early lead. Centerville football is the equivalent to Temple basketball in their heyday. Trailing Centerville 14-0 is like being down 35-0 to anyone else. Centerville doesn't throw the ball, they stick to the triple option. What also makes Centerville good is their mental toughness. They believe they are better than you, and they play like it. No one intimidates them. They don't look impressive physically, but they hate to lose. This is where Northmont couldn't matchup.

And, Da Bears lost 9-7 to the Redskins. Kyle Orton was 15/28 for 141 yards, 1 INT, and 1 fumble in his debut. Honestly, that's as good as Chad Hutchinson or any other Bears quarterback of the last 10 years would've done. The defense is going to have to make some plays to help get Da Bears some wins.

Finally, Roger Federer defeated Andre Agassi in 4 sets to win the US Open. Agassi gave it all he had, and for 3 the better part of the first 3 sets, he outplayed Federer. Agassi beautifully kept Federer off balance with a variety of angles, mixing up the pace on his serves and groundstrokes. Agassi had a 4-2 lead in the 3rd set, looking like he would take control of the match. At this moment, Federer found his game, specifically his backhand which he had struggled with up til this point. When Federer finds that extra gear, no one can beat him, not even Agassi at his very best. Federer got back on serve, then ran away with the 3rd set tiebreak. Demoralized, Agassi had nothing left in the 4th set, allowing Federer to roll the rest of the way. But to win 3 straight 5-set matches, then push Federer more than anyone expected, speaks volumes of the greatness of Agassi. He didn't win it like Pete Sampras did, but he played just about as well as Pete did in that 2002 Open. Great job Andre!!!!

On a non-sports note, I've watched some of the John Roberts confirmation hearings. Personally, I think Roberts has done a great job. Some have criticized him for not revealing how he would rule on certain cases if they came before the Supreme Court. I don't think he has to. He's a judge, not a politician. Also, if you're selected for jury duty, and have some knowledge about the case or some prejudice that would affect the way you voted, you would be thrown out. The politicians on the Judiciary Committee are upset, I think, they can't find anything dirty on this guy. Plus, Roberts is SOOOO much more of an intellectual than these committee members, I love it when he puts them in their place.

Well, I'm sure I'll think of something I forgot for tomorrow night (if my internet cooperates). I think I'll treat myself to a little Moose Tracks ice cream.

Song of the Night: Aerosmith, "Angel".

No Stopping the A-Train

Around 11pm or so last night, I was about to start writing about how Andre Agassi needed to retire from tennis. He was trailing James Blake by 2 sets and a break, which in tennis terms means, it's over. Agassi looked old while Blake was hitting him off the court on every shot it seemed. But an hour into the match, Agassi found his legs and his game, turning the tide on Blake. He came back to win the 3rd and 4th sets, and the majority of the 20,000 that remained now cheered furiously for Agassi, hoping the old man could work his magic one more time.

After looking dead on his feet during the 3rd and 4th sets, Blake raised his level of play and broke Agassi's serve halfway through the 5th set. He served for the match at 5-4 and won the first point with a big forehand, seemingly in control. Agassi had fought valiantly to get back in the match, but it looked as if he just didn't have enough. Andre wouldn't have any of it, showing why he is the greatest returner of serve of all-time, blasting 2 winners and breaking back to continue the match. Fittingly, the match went to the deciding 5th-set tiebreaker, and once again, Blake jumped on Agassi, taking a 3-0 lead. Agassi came from behind once again, taking a 6-5 lead after another big forehand return. Blake didn't succumb to the Agassi onslaught, hitting a big forehand of his own to tie it at 6. But Agassi, who works out furiously to stay in shape to compete with the young guns, won a long rally with a backhand. Then, one more big forehand return gave the tiebreak (8-6) and the match to Agassi.

3 hours the match took, ending at 1:15am. The end of the match was showed again tonight, and I still found myself on the edge of my seat, remembering why I love tennis so much. Blake has nothing to be ashamed of, he had a great run, and was able to raise his game in the 5th set despite Agassi seizing the momentum and the support of the crowd. If he keeps improving and playing with confidence, he'll win a major someday. I would even say he has more potential than Andy Roddick because he wants it more and has more than 1 consistent weapon.

Agassi now plays fellow American Robby Ginepri in Saturday's semifinals, so he gets an extra day of rest, which he needs after playing back-to-back 5-setters. Ginepri has played 3 straight 5-setters, so will youth prevail, or will Agassi be able to continue his run. This is by far the best Ginepri has ever played, but Agassi will be the overwhelming favorite. Also, this could be his best chance to win one more major, as if he were to beat Ginepri, he would play the survivor of Federer/Hewitt, which could be a long match. The final is played on Sunday, so whoever can win the easiest Saturday has the advantage, and despite Agassi's superior fitness level, at 35, he can ill afford another long match.

I haven't decided if this is the best US Open match I've ever seen. I remember Jimmy Connors' run to the semifinals in 1989. There was Sampras/Corretja in 1996, when Sampras came back to win in 5 sets while puking on court. And of course, the 2001 quarterfinal encounter between Agassi and Sampras, which Sampras won in 4 sets, all of them ending in tiebreakers. But it definitely ranks up there.

The ladies' semifinals are tomorrow afternoon. Sharapova/Clijsters has the potential for greatness. Both can hit the ball hard, and both want it badly. Clijsters is in superior condition, as shown by her domination of Venus in the 3rd set, but can she hold up under the pressure, which has prevented her from winning a major. The other semifinal is Mary Pierce/Elena Dementieva, which could be ugly. Both can hit the ball, but Pierce is slow and deliberate while Dementieva can't serve basically. While Agassi/Blake was the best match of the tourney, Davenport/Dementieva that came before could've been the worst.

Also tomorrow is the beginning of the Solheim Cup, the ladies' version of the Ryder Cup. It is being played at Crooked Stick in Carmel, IN, just outside of Indianapolis where John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship. Watching some of the opening ceremony, it seems both teams get it. There are going to be 35,000 vocal fans there each day, mostly pro-American. It will be competitive, but all in good fun. The ladies, both sides, don't mind the raucous, but respective crowds. The ladies are able to go after each others' throats during the match, but hug afterwards. The American men need to learn this balance so maybe one day they can win one of these team events.

And of course, it's a big football weekend. I'll preview the college games tomorrow night after I return from one of the biggest high school games in the state and certainly the biggest in the Dayton area this weekend, Northmont vs. Centerville. Northmont has the pass-happy offense, Centerville has the rugged running game. Centerville can't stop the pass, Northmont has trouble stopping the run. Northmont should probably win this game, but one can never underestimate Centerville. The Elks and their fans are too proud to go down easily. It should be a great battle tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it. There will at least be 10,000 tomorrow night, probably more, at the game, so we will be getting there early.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Ophelia may not be headed out to sea after all. The Category 1 Hurricane looks like it's headed for the east coast of Florida. If I were on the Gulf Coast, I'd be holding my breath for the next couple of months until hurricane season ends altogether. It's only about halfway through hurricane season and we're already at "O", amazing.

And good ol' Richard Hatch, winner of the 1st Survivor, was officially indicted for tax evasion. He failed to pay taxes on his Survivor winnings of all things (yeah, you win a contest on national TV where everyone sees you, and you think you can get away with of all things this???, what a MORON). Originally, he was going to plead guilty, but he withdrew his plea, thinking CBS was supposed to pay his taxes. What was he smoking when he came up with this idea??? He's also accused of misusing money from a non-profit camp he set up. I guess Richard doesn't understand the meaning of non-profit. Anyway, if he's found guilty on all charges, he could face up to 75 years in prison. Richard, piece of advice: Don't show your a** in prison.

Good night, god bless.

It's All Your Fault

The city of New Orleans is now only 60% under water (compared to 80%), all of the necessary supplies and manpower are in place, and even the price of oil went down sending the Dow Jones skywards. Naturally, the focus of Hurricane Katrina has shifted to the nature of the response of federal officials and why it was so slow. But, not all the blame should be placed on the President and FEMA. State and local officials are equally, if not mroe responsible for the slow influx of relief. That's not to say there were problems at the federal level, because there were. In my opinion, FEMA should not be part of the Department of Homeland Security, it should be its own entity as before. Also, President Bush has cut the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers, which would've included possible work on the New Orleans levee system.

But, the ball was dropped at the local and state level, specifically by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. Here's why. First, the evacuation plans for a hurricane only considered the possibility of a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph hitting the area with no flooding. Talk about going halfway with something. The written plans called for the evacuation of 300,000 people, including the use of school buses to transport the poor out of the area. A year ago, as Hurricane Ivan approached, New Orleans ordered an evacuation but did not use city or school buses to help people evacuate. Should we be surprised that those school buses are currently under water. In 1998, during a threat by Hurricane George, 14,000 people were sent to the Superdome. Even back then, there was widespread theft and vandalism due to inadequate security.

The federal government does not have the authority to intervene in a state emergency without the request of a governor. President Bush declared an emergency on Saturday; Governor Blanco did not request federal aid until late Sunday/early Monday, which means plans couldn't be set into motion until Tuesday, which wouldn't allow aid to arrive until Wednesday.

It also didn't help that officials couldn't communicate with the outside world or with each other that matter. BellSouth's generators lost power due to the flooding, because they weren't put in positions to avoid flooding. In New Orleans, communication problems were caused by the different radio systems New Orleans and its three surrounding parishes used. So while they used a radio system with the same frequency, they were all on different channels. If you've ever seen the movie Smokey and the Bandit, this reminds you of a scene in the beginning:

Snowman: "Now you know those smokeys (cops) got them CBs in their cars now."
Bandit: "I know, I haven't figured that out yet."
Snowman: "I've got an idea. When I say go to Channel 21, forget it, we ain't going to 21, we're going to channel 19. And when I say go to Channel 6, forget it, we're going to channel 3. And when I say go to Channel 2, forget it, we're going to Channel 1. That way, we'll confuse everybody!!!!"

Unfortunately for New Orleans authorities, they were confused.

Lastly, the New Orleans evacuation plan says, "If an evacuation order is issued without the mechanisms needed to disseminate the information to the affected persons, then we face the possibility of having large numbers of people either stranded and left to the mercy of a storm, or left in an area impacted by toxic materials." Well, guess what Mayor and Governor. Since you devised a plan that only takes into effect a Category 3 storm that only has a .5% chance of breaching the levee system and flooding the city, and on top of that you fail to follow the plan, that's what happened. So quit your crying to the federal government and hold yourselves accountable and FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!!

Thanks to the Wall St. Journal for providing some of the information.

One other point, I can not take more than 5 minutes at a time of CNN's Wolf Blitzer. By the tone of his voice, you would think something's always wrong, there's always a sense of urgency. If someone just simply dropped a piece of paper, he could turn it into the next global crisis. "Dropped Paper: The Aftermath". Hey Wolf, calm down buddy, take a glass half-full approach.

Well, Lance Armstrong may be unretired very soon. He told the Austin-American Statesman that he's thinking about coming back to ride in next year's Tour. He says that would be the best response to the French newspaper story of a couple of years ago. Lance, I'm on your side, but DON'T COME BACK!!!! You'll be 34 next year, which is 40 in football years. You've won 7 Tours, you don't need to prove anything else to anybody. Let the French remain frustrated that they can't tear you down. Spend time with your kids and on cancer research. Honestly, I don't think he would win next year if he rode. Even though he won pretty comfortably this year, he was only able to come up with a couple of great individual performances, mainly relying on his team. As many times as he's defied the odds, winning an 8th Tour might be tougher than his fight against cancer.

Notre Dame wins one football game, and suddenly you hear, "They'll win 8-9 games. They're back. Wake up the echoes!!!" Hold on people. First of all, they started similarly under Tyrone Willingham; now look where he's at. Second, they beat the Pittsburgh Panthers, not the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh was ranked 23rd nationally, not 2nd, and they had lost 15 of their previous 16 meetings vs. Notre Dame. So Pittsburgh isn't exactly Michigan, who ironically ND plays Saturday haha. As I've said, I love Charlie Weis, but the moronic ND boosters need to stay realistic and realize it's going to take some time. Beating Pittsburgh is a start back to respectibility, not to the national championship.

By the way, Miami made the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. Granted, it's Steve Burke trying to tackle Ted Ginn Jr., but as they say, any press is good press!!!

In the US Open, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the men's quarterfinals. Maria Sharapova won a tough 3-set match to advance to the women's semifinals, awaiting the winner of the Kim Clijsters-Venus Williams match still going on. Clijsters is the daughter of a Belgian soccer player, so she's a great athlete. But sometimes when on the run and trying to reach shots, she does the splits. And this happens multiple times during the match!!! Everytime I see it, I have to cringe and yell.

Well, I'm going to settle in for the end of Clijsters/Venus, they might be going 3 sets, so a late night for me.

Happy Labor Day

The holiday weekend ended with the big clash between The U (Miami(FL)) and Free Shoes University (Florida St.). In a very ugly game, FSU prevailed 10-7, beating The U for the first time since 1999. In an ironic twist of events, it was The U struggling with their kicking game, having a punt blocked, missing 2 field goals, and suffering a bad snap on a 3rd which would have tied the game late. The U finally gets a taste of what FSU has had to go through in the last 15 years of this series.

So after the 1st weekend, here's my Top 10:
1. USC. They may not be as good on defense, but they have weapons all over the field on offense.

2. Ohio St. I seriously think the Bucks may have the defense to stop USC. Plus they have weapons of their own on offense. The key to their season is their offensive line and how well they play. They should beat Texas.

3. Texas. We'll see if they're for real this week in Columbus. Can Vince Young throw the ball under pressure. The Ohio St. defense is similar to and may be better than the Oklahoma defense he faced last year.

4. Michigan. They may be overrated here. We'll find out against Notre Dame Saturday. Chad Henne got off to a good start Saturday.

5. Virginia Tech. Marcus Vick showed some flashes, and VT has a solid running game. They gave up some yards passing, but they shut down the Wolfpack in the 2nd half.

6. LSU. They didn't play this past week, but they have the most returning talent of anyone in the SEC. It will be interesting how they come out Saturday night now that the game vs. Arizona St. will be played in Tempe and not in Baton Rouge.

7. Tennessee. Only beating UAB 17-10 isn't a good way to start. This team seems more undisciplined than normal.

8. Florida. For 1 week, the hybrid works in Gainesville. Wyoming is a solid team that will contend for the Mountain West, so a good win for the Gators.

9. Iowa. Yes, it was against Ball St., but 49 points in a half is pretty good against anyone.

10. Florida St. Good running game and good on defense. Special teams, despite a missed field goal, look to be solid. If they can get anything from the quarterback position, they'll contend for the ACC.

In US Open action, Lindsay Davenport, Andre Agassi, and James Blake all advanced to the quarterfinals. Agassi needed 5 sets and Blake needed 4, setting up a quarterfinal matchup between them Wednesday night that should be electric. It's going to be tough rooting against Blake because of what he's had to go through to make it back playing tennis. Last year 25-year-old Blake suffered a neck injury after slipping and hitting a net post during a practice session in Rome. That kept him from competing on court for at least two months.

In that summer he contracted Zoster, a condition that affected his vision and hearing and caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. And if the loss of his senses weren't enough, Blake also lost his father who died in July. Blake started the year ranked in the 200s, but has gotten his ranking back up to 49 after his strong summer, which includes a win at the Pilot Pen just last week. Blake is the type of feel-good story sports needs.

In New Orleans, there's more good news to report. The pumps are working, which means the water level is starting to recede. Also, one of the levees has been repaired, so no more water is coming into the city. It will still be months before the city is servicable, but this is a start.

Also, other countries such as: Australia ($10 mil), France, Germany, China, , Cuba (yes Cuba), Taiwan, and Sri Lanka (still coming back from the tsunami yet still donated $25,000) among others have donated money and/or resources to assist the relief effort.

After falling to 4th on the Denver Bronco Wide Receiver Depth Chart, Jerry Rice called it quits after playing 20 years of professional football. Rice didn't go to a name college (Mississippi Valley St.) and wasn't the fastest or the strongest, but he worked the hardest. His offseason workout program is legendary. He is the greatest receiver of all time, holding the records that matter. Arguably, he may be the greatest football player of all time. Too bad he wasn't able to retire as a 49er, because that's what I'll remember him as.

Lance Armstong and Sheryl Crow are now engaged to be married.

Well, another week brings on another week of waiting. I would be lying to say I'm not anxious, but I think I'm handling this as well as can be expected. Now that the summer vacation period is over, I do think things will progress a little quicker now. As I've said, if I get an offer, great; if not, this wasn't meant to be the time for it to happen. I've been grateful to keep receiving positive news in the process, but I think one has to be ready to hear negative news as well because it could happen. So I'm not too high or too low, enjoying the break from everything, appreciating the little things.

Catch ya tomorrow.

Back On Campus

Well, I was privileged to be among the 104,000+ at Ohio Stadium for the 1st Saturday of college football. And no one does it better than Ohio State I must say. Even rooting for the other team, you can't help but feel some chills when the OSU marching band marches down the ramp to begin the pre-game festivities. And to see 4 Script Ohios since it was Alumni Band Day, that was pretty neat today. I must say I was treated very well by OSU fans all day long, so I am appreciative of that.

As for the game, it was all Scarlet and Gray. As I pointed out, the key to the game would be the line of scrimmage, especially OSU's offensive line vs. Miami's defensive line. Well, OSU's offensive line convincingly won that battle, giving Justin Zwick time to throw the ball to anyone he wanted to (4 different OSU receivers had at least 5 catches). Meanwhile, Miami's offense struggled to sustain anything offensively, failing to contain the blitzing OSU linebackers. When he had time to throw, Josh Betts showed improved decision-making skills, except for one, which was the play of the game. Lucky to be down 13-0 just before halftime, Betts tried to throw one out in the right flat off his back foot, which usually spells trouble. Trouble was in the form of Donte Whitner, who returned it for a TD, putting OSU up 20-0, virtually putting the game out of reach.

The final was 34-14 OSU, thanks to 2 late Miami TDs against the 2nd and 3rd team OSU defense. So far (with Miami/Florida St. still to play), I would rank OSU #2 in the nation behind USC. Michigan and Tennessee were not nearly as impressive as the Bucks. OSU should beat Texas if they play like they did against Miami. Texas QB Vince Young, a great runner, still is an unproven passer. If OSU forces him to throw and Young isn't efficient, OSU will win by at least 2 touchdowns. OSU is a very good football team. I think Miami has a good team also, they just ran into a buzzsaw. When a team with as much talent as OSU plays a perfect game, there's not much you can do. The Hawks host Central Michigan next week, which should be competitive, but I see a Miami victory. I see Miami beating Cincinnati, making them 3-1 going to Northern Illinois.

Also, I'd be more disappointed if I were a Bowling Green supporter. How do you score 42 points and lose?!?!?! The BG defense, returning 9 starters, supposed to be much improved, gave up 56 points to Wisconsin, a team not known for scoring a lot of points, and isn't supposed to finish higher than 6th in the Big 10. If Wisconsin was able to score 56, how many will Boise St., Miami, and Toledo score on them???
Omar Jacobs threw for 458 yards and 5 TDs, but all for naught.

Another team I was impressed with I must say was Notre Dame. I felt like I was watching the New England Patriots offense, especially in the 1st half when the Irish scored 35. It's been awhile since the Irish scored 35 in a half. This will give them a lot of confidence going to Michigan next week. Charlie Weis is a great game-planner, Michigan better be ready for him.

Anyway, the first part of my Columbus trip was excellent. Thank you to the fine people of the Dealership for letting me stay the night. We went out in the Arena District, and a good time was had by all. It's been awhile since I've been out late, so I got a little tired. I hope I'm not that old. Anyway, I think I'd enjoy living in Columbus if I ever were offered a job there.

I must apologize to those who I tried to meet up with Friday/Saturday. The weekend took on a different identity every couple of hours and logistics got screwed up, so I'm sorry about that. Hopefully, next time things will go smoother.

One of the highlights from Friday was running into Danny Brywczynski. I played basketball with Danny in high school and hadn't seen him since. Danny helped turn around the Northmont bball program with his tenacious play and leadership. He was the leader of our team, a great ballhandler, and a clutch shooter. He went onto play at Wittenberg, a Division III powerhouse, though to his own admission Fri. night, fell a little short in the NCAA Tourney, losing in the 2nd round despite being ranked 2nd nationally. I have a lot of respect for Danny, he's a hard worker and he's merited all of the successes he's enjoyed. And he's also a good friend, so it was good to see him.

Labor Day weekend also brings the Round of 16 of the US Open. Notable matches from the weekend have been James Blake's upset of #2 Rafael Nadal and Venus beating Serena in straight sets. The other seeds have made it through basically, which should make for an exciting 2nd week.

What makes the US Open the most exciting of the 4 majors are: it has the best field of all 4 majors, it's played on the most competitive surface (medium-speed hard courts), and the night matches. Night tennis matches are similar to night football games. The crowd gets a chance to "prepare", making them more vocal, giving the players more energy to perform. Night matches are played at the Australian Open, but nighttime at Melbourne doesn't compare to nighttime in New York (no offense Melbourne). The raucous atmosphere brings emotions out of players you've never seen before. A good example was tonight's 5-set match between Paradorn Srichipan and Davide Sanguinetti. It only lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes, with Sanguinetti winning in the 5th set tiebreaker, the longest a match can go at the US Open. You know the action is good when both players acknowledge one another during the match and smile, knowing they are a part of something special. That brings the crowd to its feet, giving the players enough of an adrenaline boost to finish the match. That's what makes tennis so special. It's able to tap into that human element that makes the professionals real people, fighting the other person as well as themselves to get the most out of their body and talent.

Speaking of Venus and Serena, they have disappointed me once again. Just as I was coming around Venus and her rededication to the sport, she said something I couldn't believe. Venus didn't know about the Hurricane until Thursday because "She doesn't watch the news." You could have found out without watching the news. You have got to be kidding me?!?!?! This is just a prime example of how athletes and other famous people get caught up in their own little world and don't care about what's going on around them.

Then, Serena announced she would donate $100 for every ace she would hit during the US Open and for the rest of the year. At first, it seems like a nice gesture, but when you think about it, Serena doesn't hit many aces (I think she had between 10-15 for a donation of $1,000-$1,500), she's out of shape which makes it more unlikely she'll hit a bunch of aces, and she's showed to be more disinterested in tennis, which makes it possible she won't play in anymore tournaments the rest of the year!!!! Meanwhile, the Manning brothers took a day to fly down and help out in New Orleans, John McEnroe donated $25,000 of his own money, and Lance Armstrong donated $500,000. I donated $24, and I'm not making any money currently and don't have much to begin with. The Williams sisters just don't get it.

One alma mater did come up with a big win this weekend. Northmont took it to LaSalle in their house 42-7. LaSalle isn't on the same level as Elder, Moeller, and St. Xavier, but they're still a Top 10 team in Cincinnati. This should've been closer, so for the Bolts to win as big as they did is impressive. This sets up an early showdown with Centerville, who also got a big win in Cincinnati by beating Princeton. Northmont and Centerville are big rivals, but haven't played in football for a long time (I can't even tell you when right now). As of now, I will be there, as will many others. The crowd of 9,500 for the CJ game could be small compared to the number that will turn out this Friday.

Well, I've hope you've had a great weekend. Please don't drink and drive.

Dancing in September

Earth, Wind, and Fire couldn't have said it better, especially since September 1st was the beginning of college football. There weren't any blockbuster games, but it's hard to beat the pageantry of college football. The big attraction of the night was Steve Spurrier's return as head coach of South Carolina. The Gamecocks got off to a typical Spurrier-led team start, fast. Before I was settled in it was 14-0. But after the quick start, Central Florida played Carolina even, and if they were able to capitalize in the red zone, they had a chance to steal this one. It goes down as a 24-15 victory for the Gamecocks, and for one night, South Carolina fans can dream of a national championship under the Old Ball Coach. That dream will come to a crashing end next week when they play Georgia.

While football was a nice distraction for a couple of hours, it's hard not to think about the suffering going on in Louisiana and Mississippi. Supplies are having a hard time making it into New Orleans specifically, where some people haven't eaten or drank since Sunday. Lawlessness rules, as the refugees demand help immediately. Help is coming, in a big way, but since these people have no radio/TV, they have no way of knowing. Now they have turned to violence, which is only making the relief effort worse. How are you supposed to be rescued if you're shooting at the rescue helicopter??? A hospital couldn't continue its evacuation because of someone shooting at the helicopter. The pictures on television look more like Somalia, where the refugees look more like a rebel army.

There was another news story about the slow federal response. Part of the holdup is that Congress is gone on vacation and can't approve the $10 billion relief bill that the President has created. If you want to complain about people going on vacation, complain about Congress, both parties. While the President continues to work on vacation, all these people do are campaign and raise money. Every 3 months it seems like I hear, "Congress is taking their holiday recess," or something to that effect. If you want to gripe at someone, gripe at Congress. They should've been back Monday/Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the seeds continue to roll at the US Open. Andre Agassi is through to the 3rd round, defeating 6'10" giant Ivo Karlovic in straight sets. And Gilles Muller, who beat Andy Roddick, was sent home by Robby Ginepri rather easily, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. Where's your mojo Andy? You certainly need some injected into your weak backhand.

Well, I head to Columbus tomorrow afternoon, where I will meet up with friends for the night. Then, it's gametime Saturday. I think we matchup well with the Bucks, our starters vs. their starters is pretty close. But, what usually is the difference is the depth of talent the bigger schools have. I've seen it first-hand. Miami, or another "mid-major" will play tough for 3 quarters, but run out of gas in the 4th. Unfortunately, that's what I see Saturday.

I think Josh Betts will play well, and the defense will contain Ted Ginn. But our undermanned defensive line will tire late in the game, allowing the Bucks to control the clock with their running game.

My Heart says: Miami 24, Ohio St. 16.

My Head says: Ohio St. 21, Miami 17.

I don't think this will be a blowout (give me one team Jim Tressel has blown out?) A blowout for Ohio St. is winning by 17-20 points. Miami is too good to get blown out, unless they turn the ball over like they did at Michigan last year. I don't think that will happen because of the experience the offense has, especially Betts and the offensive line.

I will cheer my heart out for my Redhawks and hope they can prove me wrong. I will be with my brother in the South end zone up high, which unfortunately are the best of seats. But I haven't been to the Shoe in 10 years, so I'm looking forward to the atmosphere, Skull Session, and hopefully 100,000 or so quiet Buckeye fans, until halftime when they're behind and they boo their own team off the field haha. One can only hope.

If you will be in town/at the game and would like to meet up, please let me know. Your best bet will probably be Skull Session at St. John Arena, which starts at 10am.

Love and Honor to Miami, our college old and grand.
Proudly we shall ever hail thee, over all the land, fight, fight, fight!!!!
Alma mater now we praise thee, sing joyfully this lay.
Love and Honor to Miami, forever and a day!!!!