Wednesday, November 30, 2005

By the Time that I Get Home to Say Goodnight


I don't think that it would do the last few days justice to submit my experience in some sort of contrived travelogue so I will just hit the highlights.

  • I finished Plan of Attack on Wednesday. A fascinating read for anyone who still has a lot of questions about the Iraq war.
  • I began Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild on Friday and finished up on the drive back on Sunday. I was not driving. I would recommend Krakauer's book to anyone who has ever wanted to wander off in the woods to disappear for awhile and has wondered where that desire comes from and if it is ever present in others.
Thanksgiving was a lot of fun and one of the first times that I have begun to discuss a lot of big questions with my extended family. It is a common axiom that religion and politics should not mix into family conversation, but during our time on the back porch on Thursday before lunch we talked about everything from Tom DeLay to Hillary Clinton, intelligent design vs. evolution, and asked the big question of: what exists outside of the universe?

I hate to say it, but I think Vince might have ruined his chances for the hardware this year. After Reggie Bush's performance for the ages against Fresno State, #10 needed a big game in a marquee matchup against a determined A&M squad, but instead he looked mediocre for the first time all season. Vince has already said he is coming back for his Senior year and I think that is a very wise call on his part. He will never lack for physical ability, but the ability to consistently perform at the highest level is something that he will hopefully develop with continued work.

I received an incredible gift last night, one that I have been destined to receive from the first day that I was born into a state as blessed as the Lone Star state. Yes, that's correct, I received an autographed copy of "It's a Jungle out There", a definitive guide to Texas High School mascots in their various shapes, sizes, and species. My favorite mascot though is still the "Wampus Cats" of Itasca.

Congratulations to Andrew Tuegel for correctly naming "Square One" by Coldplay as the source of the title for the last post.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

All You Want Is Somebody Listening to What You Say

Congratulations to Mr. David Sessions for correctly naming "Julius" by Phish as the song of the day yesterday. Faithful blog readers will note that Dave came up very close the day before only to lose a tough duel to Mr. Carlson. Live it up Dave and best wishes with the rest of the Seahawks season.

I would have to agree with Dave on the heinous nature of Adam Morrison's mustache.

I could not find a picture on Google Image Search that communicates just how awful this 'stache is, but let's just say that the only good reason that Adam is sporting it is because he lost a bet. Otherwise, someone living in Spokane should tell him that Wooderson from Dazed and Confused wants his facial hair back.

I finished Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward earlier today. With all of the continued speculation and controversy over the lack of tangible evidence of WMD in Iraq, Woodward's book has become a strong piece of investigative evidence for those on both sides of the war debate. I still have significant issues with certain phases of the Bush Administration's planning and selling of the Iraq conflict. One of the most critical parts of dealing with difficult situations is to know that everyone is on the same page. Dick Cheney's forceful pronouncement on August 26, 2002 that the Iraqi regime definitively possessed WMD was not backed up by any significant intelligence that this was indeed fact. Instead, the administration and others in the intelligence community said that this statement was speculative at best, but once such a statement is made, it is almost impossible to retract.

I do not think that the Bush Administration purposefully deceived the nation is deciding to go to war. Instead, the power of the WMD case was stressed because in a post 9/11 world, the CIA never wanted to feel as if they were ever going to be on the tail end of another series of catastrophic events. Anything that appeared on the radar of the intelligence services was deemed vital in light of the failure to effectively neutralize the potential threats that were aired before 9/11.

I may or may not have a post tomorrow. We will just have to see when I get back if I have time. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and someone go buy Adam Morrison a razor for goodness sake.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

With Your Past and Your Future Precisely Divided

Congrats to Daniel (or is it Dan?) Carlson for correctly naming "Jesus, Etc." by Wilco yesterday. Dave, you were close, but that only counts in nuclear war. I'm pretty sure that I was just setting up for a Carlson victory by choosing to draw the title from a Wilco tune, but these are the results folks.

It was a lot of fun to ride back home today with Briana and Alex. I sometimes find it hard to talk about the past with people that I grew up with simply because I wonder "Why can't we come up with anything else to talk about?" How often do we need to talk about the same events, same people, and same stories? Even in that seeming monotony and redundancy, there is comfort. Comfort in the memory that these are the events and people that have shaped me. Even though it sometimes seems like a broken-record player, it is home, and I would not trade it for anything.

I guess I should mention that we were able to get Coldplay tickets yesterday. Yes, they are in the upper-deck, and no, I'm not letting that bother me in any way. Without any sense of hyperbole, I am already going to declare this as the biggest concert that I have attended in my time on this planet. It was a tough call between this and the GT concert earlier this month, but I'm okay with my decision.

Quick Thoughts from the Homeland
  • It's good to sleep in your own bed.
  • Don't count out little-old Vince Young in the Heisman run just yet.
  • I miss my old waterbed.
  • Mexi-Dips and Chips is the best value meal from Taco Bueno.
  • The Natural is the best baseball movie of all-time.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Bitter Melodies Turning Your Orbit Around


I'll have more later, but here are some quick thoughts on a Monday morning

  • I think I remember one of these kids from the National Spelling Bee last year, but it could just be me.
  • I hope no one examines my yearbook photo in this much detail.
  • I know, I know. NASCAR is the U.S. sport with the highest attendance, and is supposedly the "sport of the future." With that said, I could care less.
  • Even in the midst of the game on Saturday night, I knew there was no way that Fresno State was defeating the Trojans. Even as they got all of the breaks during the game, Reggie Bush just made it look too easy.
  • I also need to take this time to congratulate Miss Shelbi Watten as the winner of the Song Lyric title contest from Monday for correctly naming "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray

Everyone, I need your attention for a very important announcement. I have just been handed a sheet that declares Mr. Patrick Vincent as the winner of yesterday's song title contest by correctly naming "Waste" by Phish. Congrats Patty. For your hard work, you get a shot of your face that only a mother could love on this blog for a day.
Guess what Mom and Dad? I didn't get into Harvard, but I did get into Harvard-Lite. Don't understand? Read more here.

I have come to recognize the large influence that my father has had on me in terms of musical taste. Even though, he might not enjoy the sounds of Phish and Wilco as much as I do, I know that a large reason that I enjoy music so much is because I know how much my Dad loves it. I remember watching him drum on the car dashboard as we would drive listening to the Steve Miller Band or the Eagles. In fact, I think he still does that.
With that said, as I read this column in the NY Times on the re-release of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run", I thought of my Dad. Not because he is a fan of "The Boss," which he is not, but because he reminded me that music can make any moment special.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

So If I'm Inside Your Head, Don't Believe What You Might Have Read

Since no one was able to correctly identify the song lyrics for yesterday's title correctly, I have used the same song for today's title. I believe in the faithful readers of this blog to discover the secret. Please don't let me down.

It is very interesting that I am reading Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack right now in the light of his revelation yesterday that about his conversation with a senior official in the Bush Administration concerning Valerie Plame.
I guess that being involved in such a landmark event like Watergate ensured that Woodward would become a member of the media with unique access to the close circles of Washington power, but at times I wonder how he is able to get so close to his sources. He is probably the most-revered print journalist in the United States, but it is often hard to believe that he is able to gather the information that he can.

I hope everyone enjoys this old-school picture that I have included of Woodward and Carl Bernstein back in their days of fighting the man and everything else that journalists fight. In five years I would not be shocked to see Jonathan Smith in such a picture, especially because I remember the beauty of Jon's once-flowing locks. Come on Jon, give the people what they need.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Don't Want to be Anything Where I Don't Know When to Stop

Well, faithful players of the Song Lyric Guessing Game, no one was able to correctly name R. Kelly's epic anthem "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" as the source of yesterday's post title. Keep your heads up though, a brighter day has come. We'll see if anyone can triumph today.

There has been a bit of an uproar over a 1985 document where Judge Samuel Alito denounced racial quotas and stated that the constitution did not protect a right to an abortion. For a moment, let us not focus on the divisive issues that such a document raises in reference to Alito's nomination. Instead, I would like to look at Alito's statement in defense of the document. In response, he stated that those sentiments were simply the views of "an advocate seeking a job."

What does that mean Sam? Are you the kind of nominee who is just going to play to the crowd in order to move up the ladder or was that really how you viewed those issues in 1985? As controversial as those issues are in contemporary American society, I would rather have someone who stated that they believed in those issues for their own reasons and did not espouse them simply because they were looking for a new job.

Quick Thoughts on a Wednesday Morning
  • After disliking Joaquin Phoenix so much when he played Commodus in Gladiator, I want him to get killed in every movie that I see him in now. In other words, things don't look good for Johnny Cash this weekend.
  • This all-time NCAA Basketball tournament on espn.com is simply brilliant.
  • We need to bring this guy in for pledging next year.
  • Maybe if Coach K quit making American Express commercials, Duke would win a few more titles.
  • Because of the above statement, I am already bracing for the wrath of Cody Blair.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Never Knowing I'd Be Singing this Song Someday

Jerry Jones needs to hire me as the official Dallas Cowboys good luck charm quickly. Apparently, before I began watching the game last night the Cowboys could only muster 7 measly points, but from the moment I waltzed through the apartment door, the 'Boys could do no wrong.

I think that might have been the most excited I have been about a pro football game in quite a while. I don't know if I want to jump on the Barry Switzer Memorial the "Cowboys are headed to the NFC Championship Game" Bandwagon, but I'm at least walking to the edge of the road.

In the past two days, Jarhead and The Tipping Point have both come in the mail. It's too bad I'm about 40% of the way through Plan of Attack. It's a good read, but it is always difficult to keep reading just one book when you know that there are other great ones on your shelf.

Here is a very insightful article from the NY Times Magazine about the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia series. Unlike most work that I have seen on Lewis, it does not do him any favors, but instead seeks to paint a stark picture of a man who might have written children's literature simply because he wished to escape his own reality, but isn't that part of what each writer of fiction does to some extent? We all have problems and issues with the way this world works and runs, and the pen or keyboard allows us to set things as we would wish them to be. This may be labeled as escapism, but that might just be one of the most blessed parts of the human mental capacity.

Monday, November 14, 2005

All Because of You

Andrew Tuegel is the winner of today's contest by correctly naming "All Because of You" from U2's latest album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Andrew wins the opportunity to help me get Coldplay tickets for the concert in Dallas on Feb.26th, thereby making me the best boyfriend of alltime in Heather's eyes. No pressure, Andy, no pressure at all.

Everything was Ugly but Your Beautiful Face

As the semester winds down, there are usually those weekends where you could probably go out of town and never do that homework or project or you could simply stay in town, miss out on a little fun, but not force yourself into any all-nighters. I chose the latter option this past weekend and I am quite thankful for it.

I did attend my first-ever ACU women's volleyball match on Friday night followed up the Conference Championship game on Saturday night. I have never had any sort of talent on the volleyball court, but I was glad that gave my talent share to some of the girls on our team. The ACU team is now headed for the Regional tournament, and if they win that the next stop will be Nationals. I posted some photos from the match and other events on Saturday night here. Look under the ACU Senior Year Album.

On Saturday morning, there was a little trip to the Insanity for Humanity house. You can find photo documentation under the "We Believe in Gamma Sigma Phi" Album.
Here are some of my favorites:


Yesterday, I ran across this fascinating look at the past, present, and future of Google on the Washington Post website. Some of the portions of Vise's article about Google's work in the compilation of the first global directory for cell-phones and with the Human Genome project are truly groundbreaking, but I wince at as I read other portions.

As I read about Google serving 3-meals a day simply so that their employees will spend more time at work, wireless access on chartered buses so that their employees will not miss any time in commute, along with on-site dry-cleaning services, I am honestly thankful that I do not want to pursue a work environment that seeks to draw me in at all times. There are many things that I want to consume my life, and I am pretty sure that work is not #1 on the list.

You Can Make Me Perfect Again


I'll have more later, but some quick thoughts on this Monday Morning
  • Vince Young is going to win the Heisman with big showings in College Station and the Big 12 Title game. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart simply have to share too much of the spotlight, not to mention the play of LenDale White.
  • I may get mocked for this, but the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack is downright enjoyable.
  • The ACU women's 2nd Straight Volleyball Conference Championship on Saturday was the greatest ACU sports moment that I have been a part of and I was not nearly as excited as Garrett in the above photo.
  • I am probably starting to annoy people with how many pictures I have been taking lately.
  • I am not going to be deterred by the above conjecture.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Ransom Notes Keep Falling Out Your Mouth


Ladies and gentlemen, as I was composing this post, I received a comment on this morning's post that correctly identifying the song lyrics as being derived from Imogen Heap's song "Hide and Seek." The winner is Mr. Heath Huston. There are some who might decry this as nepotism since Heath is my little brother, but I can assure that the contest is always conducted under very strict ethical standards. Better luck tomorrow everyone and congratulations to Heath.
Some people may make fun of Demetrius for hanging around ACU for awhile, but he has nothing on this guy. Just think about this for a second. He started college back when O.J. was driving around with A.C. Cowlings on the freeways of L.A., the Houston Rockets won their first NBA Championship, and it was still socially acceptable to enjoy the music of Ace of Base. Don't get me wrong. I love ACU and I would not mind coming back here one day, but it would definitely be in a different capacity than as a student. I am going to say that if I am still enrolled as an undergrad at ACU 8 years from now, any of you reading this have permission to kill me, if my parents do not do it first. With that said, enjoy your Friday afternoon.

The Dust Has Only Just Begun to Fall, Crop Circles in the Carpet


One of the great traditions on this blog was the world-famous "Guess the Song Title that supplied the lyrics for the title of Today's post and win a prize." This tradition might also be known as GTSTTSTLFTTOTPAWAP if you enjoy acronyms. Guess what? I'm bringing the contest back to the forefront of your minds. If you are able to guess the song correctly, you will receive a fawning blurb in this space and my adoration, at least for a day. This is probably the second best game in the world closely behind David Letterman's "Will it Float?"

When referencing Letterman, I always feel that it is necessary to add that he was the weatherman that my Dad watched growing up in Indiana. Maybe that is because my Dad always mentioned that to me when we were watching "The Late Show." The world will never know.

I will be back with more later.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

She's Been Crying, I've Been Thinking, I Am the Rain King

Ladies and gentlemen, you can find photo documentation of the night of Gamma Sig Golfing that took place yesterday at Play Faire Park in Abilene here. You might be able to notice in this photo that JGay is looking at me, with a slightly annoyed countenance I might add, while I take a picture of the excursion.
He commented on the recent interest that I have taken in the world of photography. He asked if David Leeson had inspired me and I quickly laughed and responded that he did in fact. If a camera has the ability to capture some of the essence of a moment in time, and if you are able to be somewhere very far away from me, yet still grasp some of that moment, I want to bring it to you.
If I never hear the name Terrell Owens again I will be happy. In my mind, he has become like Voldemort in the Harry Potter series who is only referred to as "He Who Shall Not be Named." If I am accosted by any Potter lovers that I have written the above phrase incorrectly, I will correct my mistake, then make fun of you behind your back. The above name will be standard operating procedure in this space, and any violators will have their comments deleted for all of eternity. God always forgives. I only do sometimes.

I hope all of you enjoy this humorous take on what have been less than humorous events.

Quick Thursday Thoughts
  • Riding a bike is always more fun than driving a car. Unless it is below freezing. Then it is close.
  • I actually enjoy "Quite Frankly" with Stephen A. Smith.
  • Mark Cuban should buy the Rangers from Tom Hicks and a new haircut.
  • Chuck Klosterman is becoming our generation's Jack Kerouac. Or at least Generation X's.
Happy November 10th!

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

And My Affection, Well It Comes and Goes

Please read David Batstone's article from the latest issue of Sojourner's online newsletter "Sojo Mail." I have written before (check the February 11th post) about my problems with U.S. policies relating to torture, and I cannot believe that the White House is persisting in their struggle to incorporate novel ways of torture against enemy combatants.
When someone like John McCain, who has personal scars (both literal and figurative) from torture experienced as a P.O.W. in Vietnam, comes out in favor of the cessation of policies advocating torture, that should be a strong sign where the policy decision should fall. We'll see where this goes , but right now it is not looking good.

In other news, a valiant group of Gamma Sigs rode their bicycles to Buns over Texas for dinner last night. You can find full photo documentation here. I would like to share some of my favorite shots with you in this space though. I hope you enjoy:
A man ready for flight on a bicycle.


Ready to ride off into the Sunset

I made some book purchases on Amazon.com yesterday, and those were:
Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Round Here We all Look the Same

If anyone was wondering how the games went last night, the Mayor's expression in the following photo should pretty much sums it up.
Let's just say that beating galaxy does not feel half as good as losing to them feels bad. I guess that's the way it is with rivalry games.

If anyone was wondering what Heath Shuler was doing after his stint in the NFL with the Redskins and the Saints, here is your answer. I'm not sure if he will join the ranks of J.C. Watts, Steve Largent, Jim Bunning, Bill Bradley, and other athletes who have become Congressmen, but I sure hope that Washington is easier on him the second time around.

It seems as though I have people tell me everyday that I look tired. I'm not really sure how this could be since I get the usual 7-8 hours of sleep a night and I have been eating right, but perhaps my face shows something that my mind is not aware of. I know that it will intensify next semester, but right now I feel as though I am caught in between.

There is my current reality, but I know that I will experience major changes of scenery next May and part of me wants to go right now and part wants to stay. The challenge is to remain awake each day to see what God has to show me for that day and to wake up the next day to see again.

Monday, November 7, 2005

Man, It's a Miracle That She's Not Livin' Up in a Tree

Big News: Last night I opened up a Webshots account. You can find a link to my pictures here. I think hearing David Leeson speak piqued my photography interest. Last night, I went to Best Buy to purchase a new memory card so that I would be able to store more than the standard 18 photos on my camera's memory. Look for new photos on Webshots every so often and some of those photos should begin to appear in this place.

Here's some of my best work from Watermelons this year:
In other news, tonight GSP has the opportunity to accomplish a rare feat: dual championships in Rec. and Champ. League football. A victory in either game tonight would be sweet, but the Champ. League final tonight features a matchup between the Gamma Sigs and the mini "evil empire." It should be a lot of fun.

Recently in Public Administration we have been watching a video on the trial of Adolf Eichmann. Dr. Dillman is using the film to demonstrate the dilemma that arises in organizations when people who do wrong claim immunity on the grounds that they were just following orders from their superiors. I was very surprised as we watched the video to see the level of the spectacle that took place in the courtroom including: witnesses suffering strokes on the stand, and the defendant seated in a bullet-proof enclosure to guard against vigilante justice since the trial took place in Jerusalem.

For anyone who was alive during the Eichmann trial: what was the world atmosphere and opinion regarding the trial? Does Saddam Hussein's current trial match the level of tension that was created during Eichmann's trial? These are just some questions that I have.

Sunday, November 6, 2005

If It Keeps on Rainin', Levee's Going to Break


Last night I had the privilege of hearing David Leeson speak. It was fascinating to hear him speak about the factors and desires that drive him to use something such as photography and video to make some sort of difference in this world of ours.

In particular, I was struck by his view of the costs/benefits of his career. He said that he has come to a point where he realizes that all of the pain and fear that has taken place in his life, including missing birthdays of his children, constant travel into dangerous places, and a divorce, is worthwhile if God has been glorified through his work. Such a statement is not made by someone who possesses a lucky-rabbit foot's type of faith. That is the type of faith that views the world in a different manner and it is the type of faith that aspire towards.

I chose to draw the title for today's post from Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks" due to its use during one of Leeson's photo montages last night. One of the defining characteristics of someone who is truly gifted is their ability to create that same desire for excellence in others. After looking at a spectrum of photos last night, I wanted to immediately take my digital camera and begin to capture life as it takes place all around me.

Thursday, November 3, 2005

You're Trying My Patience, Try Pink Carnations


It is a common axiom that "all is fair in love, war, and politics," but this just seems to be a bit below the proverbial belt.

I realize that I have not been providing updates of my current reading in quite some time, but I can no longer write without talking about my current project. For the past week, I have been reading Dr. Armand Nicholi, Jr.'s "The Question of God." The book is intended to operate as a fictional dialogue between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis due to their positions in the 20th Century as the strongest proponents of the worldviews of materialism and spirituality respectively.


I will wait until the I finish the book to offer my final opinion/recommendation, but at this point I would like to make an observation on the work of Nicholi. The book is intended to operate as a dialogue between two great thinkers without external interference from the author, but one of the most difficult things to do when writing is to remain entirely neutral, especially on a topic as momentous as the development of one's personal worldview.
In my opinion, Nicholi allows his standing as an acknowledged believer to slant his views and personal observations towards the writings of Lewis, but I also find myself slanting the same way because of my own personal beliefs. It might be an unreasonable expectation to ask a writer or author to compose strictly neutral prose and perhaps we should not desire that at all. Part of the beauty of writing is seeing each person's beliefs and personality intertwine themselves through each word and phrase that appears.

Then You Drop a Couple of Hits, Look How They Wave to You


I will have longer post later, but I wanted to write something before Chapel/Lunch. In an interesting coincidence with Russ Guild's appearance in Sports Illustrated this week, there is an article on the Washington Post site about the rise of foreigners in the formerly exclusively Japanese sport of sumo-wrestling.





Quick Thoughts on a Thursday Morning
  • Jimmy Chitwood from "Hoosiers" had the best jump-shot of any character in a basketball movie.
  • The conversations between Prince Charles and President Bush are probably a lot less exciting than they would have been if Bill Clinton were still President. Make of that what you will.
  • Starbucks Frappucinos should care a "Highly Addictive" warning label from the Surgeon General.
  • If someone is ever 30 minutes late for a class, they should probably just avoid class altogether.
  • When I keep describing the main actors in "Jarhead" to people I keep saying, "You know the October Sky guy, the creepy dad in American Beauty, and..............Jaime Foxx." Trust me, some of the humor is lost to the internet medium.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

When I Come Back Like Jordan Wearin' the 4-5

I've been doing some thinking about the Alito nomination and since this is my best avenue to espouse those thoughts, here you go.

Yes, President Bush nominated someone who is an acknowledged conservative jurist. This is not a large surprise. When a Democratic President has the opportunity to appoint a justice to the SCOTUS, he will almost certainly appoint someone with liberal leanings. This is the expected course of action. Part of a president's platform and agenda is the nomination of judges whose judicial philosophy they ideologically support.
If senators begin to expect the president to nominate jurists without known judicial philosophies or leanings, we will enter into an environment full of "stealth candidates" who are nominated simply because of their ability to avoid ideological labels. The next Democratic President should enjoy the same opportunity to appoint a justice who has a known liberal judicial philosophy just as a Republican President should be able to nominate a conservative justice.

Justices who desire to serve on the SCOTUS should not be cautious about forming overarching judicial philosophies or ideologies simply so that they can become more favorable candidates for appointment.

Also, some of the people whom I have heard urging that President Bush should have nominated a more moderate Justice in order to fill Justice O'Connor's "moderate" voice on the Court should ask themselves a question: Should judges be nominated to the Supreme Court simply to fill ideological slots? In response to that question I would answer that they should not. The ebb and flow of political leadership should be able to create its own mark on the landscape of the SCOTUS (Yes, I know. That's the 3rd time I've used that acronym. I like it and I will keep using it. Now, you can go on with your reading.)

After my post yesterday about Theo's exit in Boston, I would like to include the Sports Guy's take on the situation. I especially agree with one of his closing statements that Theo might have just entered his "dream job" and achieved too much success too quickly. After leading Red Sox nation to the Promised Land so early on, he might have wondered why that golden feeling only lasted for so long and when he woke up after a while he wondered what was next. Only Theo knows and he might or might not be talking. We will just have to see.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

I'll Get All My Papers and Smile at the Sky


I'm not sure how many times in the past 24 hours that I have heard news outlets attempting to be creative by always including the appellation "Scalito" when talking about Samuel Alito, but I think Ann Althouse does a good job of separating what might just be an attempt at a clever nickname from actual comparisons in judicial philosophy to current Justice Antonin Scalia.




Perhaps the 'Horns are simply making this a habit against OSU, but for a little while on Saturday night, I was fairly nervous about their chances. It always does help when you have a player of Vince Young's ability to lead the comeback, but let's hope this is not a habit that appears again versus a team of the caliber of the Trojans.

Austin has already volunteered to take Theo's job in Beantown, but I'll put my name at #2 on the list. It is hard to believe that he is already leaving after such a short stint with the Red Sox, but if there is any management position in American sports with more scrutiny from the surrounding public I would like to talk about it.

The Boston sports media is notoriously pessimistic and downtrodden, and this is with a World Series title and three Super Bowl Championships in the past 5 years. Just because I feel like making a prognostication, I see Theo going to the Dodgers to take over for Paul DePodesta, but maybe that is just me.