Saturday

Wow. This has been one of those, "Where'd the time go?" weeks. My New Year's was extremely uneventful, and judging from the lack of comments, there were no outrageous stories from the peanut gallery.

Since this is the new year, it wouldn't be right if there weren't a few resolutions to shoot for (or break). I researched the blog for last year's list and found it in the entry for January 13th. Among the goals were Mt. Rose (done), the Turkey Trot (done), TOMRV and RAGBRAI (done in part, as planned), read 15 books (not quite fully done), more photography (definitely done), and efficiency at work (probably not done as well as needed).

So for 2009, here is a short list of to-do's:

1. The Galibier (a historical Tour climb near Briancon, France).
2. TOMRV, the Turkey Trot, and one other organized bike ride.
3. Attain Fiduciary Analyst designation for work.
4. Re-do all yard edging and front landscaping at my house.
5. Do C-town for a Cubs game, and TC for a Twins game.
6. Celebrate graduation in IC with 4.

Another little 60th birthday party last night at Biaggi's. A couple who had not been able to attend the party at my house joined up and the staff managed to find a little ice cream dessert to share. Pretty neat. With the trip to Scottsdale next week, I will have managed to stretch out the birthday celebration into the three week range. Suite!

I haven't watched much of any of the bowl games. I like the fact that several of the winners have been underdogs. With 34 bowl games, played out in the month after the last regular season game, the old argument that a playoff system would keep the "student-athletes" away from class too much is absurd. And who cares if Directional State U wins the Mineke car Care Bowl? And the schools going to these lower-tier bowl games can't possibly come out ahead financially.

If you had a sixteen team playoff, eight teams (the losers) would play only one additional game, just like now. Four others, the second round losers, would have only that second extra game. So you end up with only four teams that have considerable extra playing time. They figured out the money for the basketball tournament. Surely they could do the same here.

My biggest problem with a playoff system is that it puts me on the same side of the fence as many of the hack sports writers/talk-show-hosts, and the Big O.

Here's another prediction for 2009: there will be numerous pull-outs of corporate sponsorships in golf, NASCAR, tennis and various other sports and sports-related events as the economy adjusts to the new reality. Banks and other financial entities will be hung out to dry if they sponsor a tournament, and then won't re-write mortgages. Detroit will be running backwards to keep TARP money. And political grandstanding on these issues will keep the spotlight on any company or executive who doesn't toe the line on frugality.

2 and I are headed over to Augie tonight for the conference opener. Like with the D-1 schools, the conference season begins the real Road to the Final Four.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

BCOT