Thought #1

In hopes of giving the World Cup a legitimate shot at I've had soccer locked in on my TV almost all day Saturday. Now the games themselves aren't horrible to watch, no the easiest thing so far, but not horrible. So far it has been a good experience, however I do wonder if I'm more at risk for a surprise bee attack now since I can't seem to get that constant buzzing out of my head.

One thing I haven't been able to enjoy thus far though is watching the soccer analysts. It's like going to an art show and being forced to stand beside art guy while you look at a painting of a boat. As you look at it dude starts in on how it's an expressionist's interpretation of the industrial revolution with traces of pacifism and a hint of the Italian Renaissance. Then he looks at you and says, "what do you see?" You say, "umm, a boat."

That's how I feel watching these guys describe the ins and outs of each soccer match. They're going on and on meanwhile I just see kicking, entertaining and very athletic kicking. Occasionally a head gets in there, but mostly just kicking.

Thought #2

This weekend the Big 12 looks to be having a blowout going out of business sale. The Big Ten picked up Nebraska, the Pac 10 grabbed Colorado, and looks to be attempting to pluck a few more teams including the two big products in Texas and Oklahoma. The sale will most likely continue after that, possibly landing Kansas, Kansas St. and Missouri in the Mountain West.

Now with all these other conferences buying new stuff, changing their looks, and upgrading what they have, you have to wonder if the SEC guys are looking around and starting to have a little of that neighborhood jealousy going on. You know, the guy next door gets a new ride, suddenly yours doesn't look so good. Your buddy gets a new grill and even though you haven't grilled out since you were in college you suddenly feel the need to charcoal it up. It's the typical neighbor envy, it's not a good thing, the Bible even warns against it, but it happens.

Now its very likely the SEC will fall right into this temptation. Will it be Texas A&M they will try and grab or might they start picking school from the nearby ACC? Possibly Florida St. and Miami to solidify the Florida market or maybe a Ga. Tech and Clemson to try and sell a couple of in state rivalries? Either way it seems almost impossible to imagine the SEC sitting by and doing nothing while their neighbors are upgrading their toys.

Thought #3

Is it possible that a team with no wins can still have a championship? According the Associated Press it is. The AP has decided that USC would retain it's national title for the 04-05 season despite having to vacate all games won in which Reggie Bush played, which includes the 2005 Orange Bowl victory.

Now the BCS has yet to make an official decision regarding the title, but is it possible the Trojans will be made to give up winning the championship game, but not give up the championship? How do you do that? How do you display the trophy for the game you didn't win?

This is like the day when your dad was letting you win at one-on-one in the drive way. You couldn't celebrate that anymore because you realized if your old man had been playing by the rules and not let you double dribble your way for wide open lay ups there would be no way you would have won.

Even if they do get to keep the hardware from that season, every time they look at it they will have to think; if Reggie's mom doesn't get that house, we don't win that. If we had played by the rules, this trophy would be in a room at Auburn right now.