Random Observations

Good afternoon from Saskatchewan, er, rather Philadelphia. With yet another huge snowstorm looming over the region and the day off from work that will come with it tomorrow, I am preparing a huge post for tomorrow. However, to whet your appetites, I wanted to post a few observations lacking any real analytical value from the week that was.

- Super Bowl - I didn't think the ads were spectacular this year, and neither was the game. While everyone is gushing over New Orleans and how the city deserved this (what about that whack job who made the sign that said something to the effect of "Now it's like Katrina didn't happen"?? There is a line you just don't cross... sports can alleviate a lot of frustrations and mend old wounds, but that city will NEVER be the same and the Saints winning the Super Bowl certainly didn't reverse time and hold those levees in place), I can't help but hate the Saints. In my opinion, the Saints are right up there with the '06 Steelers as the worst Super Bowl championship team in years. If they play that game 10 times, I'm willing to bet the Colts win 8.

- Villanova - While many were upset over Nova's loss to #8 G'Town, I think it was a good loss. G'Town was unconscious from the floor, going 56% for the game, 53% from 3 point territory. They were also a staggering 39-50 from the charity stripe. 50 FREE THROWS!!! Read that again. 50!! Anytime you give a team 39 uncontested points, you know it's going to be a rough go. Georgetown's hot shooting was anything but contagious as Nova was a pedestrian 46% from the field and a paltry 32% from beyond the arc. Add in the miscellaneous factors, on the road in the middle of a historic snowstorm, the on again off again waffling by administrators as to whether or not to even play the game, the rough nature of the game (the refs had almost no control over this one, the Big East has MAJOR officiating issues) and the 103-90 outcome was almost impressive. With their big win over #5 West Virginia last night, Nova showed they can shake off a loss, albeit a good one.

- Just a few days away from pitchers and catchers!! The Phils, if healthy, have a top 3 rotation this season. It's still waayyy to far away though, but thinking about baseball does help to combat these winter blues.

- On the local music scene, 93.3 announced their lineup for the annual MMRbeque and it will be headlined by Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains. I'm definitely taking advantage of the chance to see Scott Weiland live, as time is always ticking when it comes to that guy.

- Penn State Basketball hasn't gotten much press here, but that is because they absolutely suck. Note to Buie, their top-50 recruit and Talor Battle's brother.... GET OUT NOW! Do not waste your college career there like your brother did/is. It is a basketball wasteland up there in State College and PSU is not firing DeChellis any time soon. I mean, the guy only works at the biggest school in a state that features 2 bona fide basketball hotbeds, Philly and Pittsburgh, as well as some of the best small town basketball traditions in the nation (i.e. Williamsport High, Erie Cathedral Prep, Reading High, Lancaster McCaskey). He did win the NIT, though..... LMAO.... Penn State Basketball is an absolute joke. ZERO NCAA tournament appearances in six years with Big Ed at the helm, that's six years too long of a head coaching career for that guy at PSU.

And with that rant, I'm going to call it a night. At some point tomorrow I hope to post another in-depth look at the college basketball landscape, and with the added free time I'll have tomorrow, I might even cite statistics... exciting, I know.