Another Reason Why I Really Dislike the Media

The college football season is winding down, one more game to play.. and yet the idiots that man the mike and manage the media have totally irked me.

Recently Northern Illinois University was a bowl buster.. they managed to get themselves into one of the four major bowl games.. they won that right according to the rules and yet were never treated with respect. It was declared right off the bat that Northern did not belong.. That another team should have gone in it's stead.. That Northern had a weak schedule and therefore their ranking was suspect.. I really really wanted them to win the Orange Bowl.. They didn't.. in fact they lost 31-10.. Although for the first three quarters they held their own! The media has had a hey day with this. They have slammed Northern right and left.. saying they don't belong in the bowl games.. they weren't worthy, blah blah blah

Kansas St and Oregon played just recently in the Fiesta Bowl. Both had claimed the number one spot at one time. As a matter of fact Kansas was considered the better team and Oregon didn't claim number one until Kansas fell. But when the game was on the line Oregon did their thing and trounced Kansas.. 31-18.. and yet the media didn't proclaim Kansas St as losers.. Nope haven't heard that yet..

Let's see Orange Bowl.. 21 pt difference
Fiesta Bowl... 18 pt difference
seems to me both games were a bit mismatched

And let's not even get into the Sugar Bowl where Univ of Florida lost to Louisville 33-23... Hmm no one said that Florida was a bunch of losers..

Oh yeah.. when NIU went in and during the entire game.. they kept commenting on how NIU isn't like Boise State or TCU since both of those teams were proven teams and belonged in the BCS series.. wait.. they didn't start out as proven teams.. Not too long ago they were Bowl Busters!!

I wish the sports announcers would stick to announcing the game.. not telling us how stupid er smart they are.

Ok Rant over for now1!

Who Knew that Football was Like Ice Dancing?

It's November and the College Football season is coming to an end. Right now there are three premier teams that are undefeated. The way the system is set up, one of these teams will be S.O.L... why? Because the way they determine a national championship is mind boggling. It brings to mind the former Ice Dancing System. Where basically the only way you could ever win was to be a Russian Team.. You had to wait years for your turn and even then it was almost impossible to break through. Why? Well because it was a judging system held in secret. No one really understood how and why decisions were made.

For years people, men especially, have mocked Ice Dancing.. saying it isn't really a sport because well it's judged and it's subjective. Tell me how is it different from the current system BCS system? How can they decide upon a top team when it's biased? When you can loose out as number one because you lost a game LAST year? When it depends on opinions, polls and some really sketchy computer programs that no one understands. And of course a system that does everything possible to ensure a SEC team gets in the top two? Makes me wanna scream in some man's ear.. hey buddy.. guess what? If we go by your definition.. football isn't a sport.. It's JUDGED.

"The polls themselves are an unquestioned mess. Through the years they’ve proven to be ripe with bias, confusion, groupthink and voters of weak credentials. Coaches regularly admit that media relations directors and secretaries fill out their ballots. Since no coach has the free time to watch any game not involving next week’s opponent, this may actually be a good thing.

The polls also lack a set list of criteria for voters to follow – is it more important how you win, who you beat, how you lose, where you win, etc.? It’s up to whatever each individual voter decides, which adds subjectivity to the subjectivity.

That’s where “style points” come in, which, much to Kelly’s chagrin, tends to be awarded to teams that put up big offensive numbers and sizable margins of victory."

Sound familiar? Yeah me too.. sounds an awful lot like the ice dancing rules of old.

 "figure skating was formerly judged on a 6.0 scale. This scale is sometimes called "the old scale", or "old system". Skaters were judged on "technical merit" (in the free skate), "required elements" (in the short program), and "presentation" (in both programs). The marks for each program ran from 0.0 to 6.0 and were used to determine a preference ranking, or "ordinal", separately for each judge; the judges' preferences were then combined to determine placements for each skater in each program. The placements for the two programs were then combined, with the free skate placement weighted more heavily than the short program. The lowest scoring individual (based on the sum of the weighted placements) was declared the winner."

What's a girl gotta do to get a playoff?

An Amazing Performance

The Ohio State Marching Band is one of the best in the country and has been for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately many of you who watch football are not aware of this. The talent that it takes to put on show after show, game after game and to know that even at a bowl game you will probably be usurped and never will be appreciated by the general public.. and yet they continue to put on shows like this..

Did You Catch That Game?

As I may have stated a time or two.. I LOVE College football and yesterday to be enjoying the game..

Three undefeated teams went crashing, loosing any chance of a national championship. Penn state and University of Illinois played an historical game during an October Snow.. and that wasn't the historical part. Joe Paterno has won 409 college games.. WOW!! Can you imagine how long he must have been coaching and in the same position.. The man is 84 years old. In this age of ageism and quick turnovers it is amazing that Joe Paterno is even still working, let alone being appreciated! And now he shows us all just why.. He has a job that he loves.. he has people who admire and respect him, he is truly one lucky man..

At the end of the day was the best game of all. Stanford, at the top of the leader board safely ensconced at number 4 in the national rankings had until last night been undefeated... Along comes USC, a team that has been nationally ranked over and over and over again. Although, Stanford has beaten them the past couple of years.. This year USC was out for blood, in their last year of sanctions they had nothing to loose. No chance at the PAC 12 championship let alone the National Championship. This Game WAS their national championship! And they came to win...

Taking off to an early lead.. and honestly as late as teh early 4th quarter I was sure Stanford was TOAST.. but then Luck was with Stanford. I know people are getting tired of that statement.. But Andrew Luck showed the world just what he was made of. Can we say number 1 draft choice? Tying the game with seconds, yes that's right seconds to go.. Stanford went on to beat USC in triple overtime!!

What an amazing game!! Let me tell you if you love football and missed this game.. you missed a great game..

That's Just the Way it Was

Do you ever hear the phrase "That's just the way it was" and want to respond yeah, but it doesn't make it right?

As a student of history, I firmly comprehend that the way things were was not always perceived as bad. That what we would find as totally abhorrent behavior was pretty much considered the norm. I can even accept that it was and how we as a culture benefited from it. When one is generations removed, the cold clinical acceptance is easy.

But when something happened in your lifetime, when something happened was just the way it was... back when you can remember it seems to change all the dynamics. At least it does for me. I recently read an article about  Darrell Brown an amazing man who managed to live with dignity and grace and remain true his convictions in the worst of circumstances.

Darrell Brown was the first African-American man who attempted to play for the Univ of Arkansas. This story sent me into tears.. rolling down my face. I am fortunate that I was raised by a woman who never recognized racism.. I never understood it and can honestly say that it has never played a part in the choices or friends I have had in my life.

I can say this as a white woman who has never had to face racism in any way shape or form. I can say and mean that the color of your skin means nothing to me. BUT.. I also understand that I was never blocked from something because of the color of my skin, never refused admittance, never watched my parents denigrated or insulted.. never saw my parents defeated, never watched my brothers refused or turned away.. So yes, while I can honestly say I am color blind I do understand that there are those who aren't. That almost can't be.. That is why this article affected me so very much. Darrell Brown rose above so much and became an amazing man.. Someone I would love to meet. Someone I would wish my children could emulate.

I watched the Univ of AR/Auburn game hoping against hope that ESPN would show this amazing half time acknowledgement.. They didn't. Shame on you ESPN!!

It's Football Season!!

It's my favorite time of the year!! I love football!! While I am not crazy about Pro Ball.. I love watching college ball. There is just something so cool about these young men playing the game because they love it! At this point it is about talent, skill and love of the game! Oh sure some are already jaded and feel entitled but there are so many more who just play...

I can easily spend an entire Saturday watching games and my Saturday night isn't complete without watching College Football Final on ESPN.. I am so bad I have 6 teams I watch on yahoo.. so they can just pop those scores up!!

This year, I am following USC (DUH), Oregon, Stanford, Wyoming, Boise State and Northern Illinois. I would follow Western Illinois as well but it plays football in 2A so yahoo doesn't offer it.. But that's ok, it's still fun.. A good day is when most of the teams win.. a GREAT day is when all of them do.. Of course it is hard since WY and Boise State play in the same division (fyi, I love Boise state but Blond Girl is thinking about going to WY so I have to cheer for them) and of course the USC, Oregon and Stanford are all in the PAC 12..

I also love the rare games that actually show the marching bands.. I remember when I was a kid and USC and Ohio State were in the Rose Bowl and my Dad.. THE HUGE SPORTS FAN... was just as excited about the bands. He said these were two of the best Marching Bands in the country and the half time show should be spectacular! What a great thing.. I was taught early on the importance of the players not on the football team. I am sure, he would have acknowledged the cheerleaders as well if they had evolved to the same level they have today. I guess I was lucky, I was raised by a man who honestly had a love of the game..

It's Nice to Know

Less than a week into the new regime, so much has happened and yet so much remains the same. I am not talking about the policies that still need to be addressed, I am not talking about our waffling economy, our status as a warring nation and our ludicrous health care system. Although those are things that need to be addressed.

No what I am speaking of is the mindset of our elected officials... Lets see, I mentioned above that our economy is waffling, or health care needed overhauling, and wars that need to be addressed.. and what do our amazing wondrous astounding elected officials propose as a bill? Whether or not the BCS should have a playoff for national champion in football.How incredibly insane is that? House Vote

Don't get me wrong I am actually a proponent of the BCS having a playoff series.. I firmly believe USC would have been in that game. BUT for the House to take it upon themselves to bring it to a vote is ridiculous. For a myriad of reasons:

1. They have many more important and essential issues to address. This is just a waste of our valuable time. Of course the representatives from Texas and Utah obviously come from states with no economy, health care or terror issues.. global warming has been solved and all of their constituents are gainfully employed.

2. Of course the fact that these people are so upset about something that they agreed to is also a factor. The rules as they are currently stated say this is how it will be done, they played and benefited by those rules now they must accept that they weren't the best but such is life.

3. Yes President Obama did mention in an interview that he thought there should be a playoff in place but note.. he isn't making that one of his priorities right now... maybe instead of useless posturing they should follow his example.

In the end my opinion doesn't matter and we all know in Texas football is god.. but still I would appreciate them not wasting the time of my elected officials on something that they have nothing to do with.. Of course I am sure they will feel justified in their actions.. so go ahead vote yourself another cost of living raise... I am sure it will be spent wisely on something important.. and be grateful that I am not saying what I feel they would consider important.

Whoo Hoo it's Bowl Season

I love bowl season, I adore bowl season one could almost say I live for bowl season... Not that I think it is an accurate way to claim a National Champion but the games are so much fun. To watch some of the best that college has to offer play the game, they still maintain some of that love of the game.. Some are actually playing because they like it. The rules are more defined and it is just better sport.

I could go on and on about who what where when and why... but so far...

TCU won the poinsettia bowl........ great team, awesome defense and amazing speed

Notre Dame won the Hawaii bowl... now that just plain surprised me Notre Dame has been in what the genteel would call a slump.. those of us of less pristine character would say well.. they suck... I was surprised that they even got into a bowl and that they won? oh well, it just goes to show, I don't know everything.

Fla Atlantic beat Central Michigan in a nail biter in the Motor City bowl.. a good game although having family and friends going through MAC schools I always route for the MAC team.

Tomorrows games prove to be just as fun.. West Virginia? always good for a great game.. Wisconsin against Florida State? oh that should be fun go badgers

and of course Cal against Miami... whoo hoo go BEARS!!!

Sundays game?... oh go Northern of course (another MAC team) and we know folks who will be marching in the band.. I may even know a cheerleader hmmm, I am going to have to find out..

There will be more to come.. and for those of you keeping tabs I am not anti Florida, I am routing for them to win the big one.. go Gators... (but that is for another blog)