We’re Talking About Practice.

Doing it old school style.  I will get more organized again in 2022.

1. If Bama goes on to win this title, we are going to think back to how Auburn literally did their best to blow that rivalry game…and succeeded.  Close calls fade with time, but that close call kept Bama in the title picture.
2. We have seen two coaching exhibitions in the last week or so that surprised none of us.  Bama went up against Georgia and reminded them who Darth Vader is and that we evidently aren’t to the feel good part of Star Wars yet.  And The Hoodie went to Buffalo, attempted a total of THREE passes, and reminded the Bills who is the little brother during his tenure.
3. Good for Michigan football.  If there was a year that set up for them, it was this year at home vs. Ohio State.  I am surprised they didn’t blow the Big 10 title game, but I think Iowa figures out new ways to surprise us all year long.
4. The playoff teams were pretty cut and dry this year, and Cincy gets its wish.  Not only do they join the party, but their first game is against the Evil Empire.
5. The Duke-Gonzaga game previewed a possible Final Four game in 2022.  What an epic tease for when both of these teams gel more later in the year.
6. How times change and are cyclical.  The ACC has ONE team in the rankings in hoops.  That is not like its typical history.
7. Then, Ohio State took down Duke in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge.
8. Then, Bama beat Gonzaga to continue to confuse us.  This is a good plan by the Zags.  Instead of running the table this year, lose a few to make us forget about you.  Be that old school Zags team that surprised us.  Just kidding.  You can’t have Drew and Chet on the same floor and surprise anyone.
9. But, the correct team is now #1.  Purdue, at this stage of the season, is the best team from what I have seen.  They have coaching, shooting, experience, and size.
10. The Lincoln Riley departure hit my household harder than some, as my wife is a diehard Sooner. I think he might energize that traditionally winning school, but he was already leaving one and did it very professionally.  Why burn bridges?  Why not leave Sooner nation in a classy way?  Both schools have history, not just one of them.
11. Let’s all feel a lot better knowing his two dogs are named Boomer and Sooner.  He can’t be so cold to change the NAMES of dogs…could he…naah.
12. The legislature is trying to name the last three inches of highway 325 in the panhandle in honor of Lincoln Riley.  Brilliant.
13. Brian Kelly not only did a similar thing, but left what most people think IS the destination job in football, and then Kelly developed a southern accent in the two days he was at LSU (listen to the speech at the hoops game and say “family”).
14. The decommitments at OU add insult to injury.  At least Notre Dame pulled a coach the players even wanted.  Heck, Spencer Rattler got demoted and still entered the transfer portal.
15. The Cleveland Browns found a way to lose against the Ravens when Lamar Jackson threw four picks.
16. Sam Bradford threw his third pick in as many games against the Packers.  Aaron Rodgers has thrown three pick 6’s in his entire career.
17. I am sure Scherzer will enjoy his $130 million, but not sure if I would jump on that bandwagon quite yet.  Why leave the Dodgers when you have nicer weather and the same paycheck?
18. Of course, then MLB decided to have a lockout, so his decision looks wicked smart to get that contract locked down.
19. The Miami Heat have a perfect mixture of players, but also can’t afford to have a next man up mentality either, as each part is so important to their chemistry.  Bam Adebayo is a big loss.  He will be back for the playoffs, but their seeding and home advantage could take a hit with a midseason slump.
20. Before people start making Joe Gibbs and John Robinson comparisons about Chip Kelly going back to Oregon, let’s remember he never won anything…so not near as cool.
21. Miami got an alum, and Oregon gets a restart.  Everyone is happy.
22. Adrian Peterson might have failed on the Titans, but luckily the Seahawks picked him up to keep the dream alive we will all be 20 years older and he will still be playing.
23. The Steelers kept things interesting by beating the Ravens at home.  I have a feeling they will let me down suddenly in the final week as far as the playoffs.
24. The Broncos decided to be the underachieving version after a week of media hype for the Chiefs game.
25. I hate rankings of anything where they make me click on a number to move to the next ranked item.  Do it on one page.
26. Sadly, Medina Spirit died after a workout.  I see a day in my lifetime where we phase out horse racing.  Not saying this event is the deal breaker, but it doesn’t help the slow-moving movement.
27. UVA men’s hoops lost to JMU for the first time ever (12 times).  They couldn’t score for over 9 minutes of game time and 13 three point attempts, yet still opted to not drive the ball.  They hit their turnover average for games by halftime, and allowed many, many easy baskets in the paint.  Bennett has worked magic over the years, but this will be his best trick yet.
28. I don’t follow women’s hoops as much except that UVA-Alum Dawn Staley has the best team in the nation, but I WILL say that it is a shame for the entire sport to lose Paige Buckets for 6-8 weeks.
29. LeBron has become too everything lately.  Getting fined, suspended, and in fights.  Then, he SORT of defended his coach, Frank Vogel.  Actually, he is getting to be somewhat a complaining star.  Bottom line is that whenever things become dicey at any of his stops, either he goes or the coach does.  This is his pattern.
30. Steph Curry is 16 three’s away from breaking Ray Allen’s record.  It will be fun to see him let them fly in the first quarter to see if he can get them all in one game, but it is a record for a reason and let’s not hold our breath.
31. The Flyers firing their coach before end of year?  Deserved after 8 straight losses.  The Panthers getting rid of their OC before end of year?  Curious.  You are the Panthers.  You could ride out the year with him.
32. Aidan Hutchinson had a great year for Michigan.  But, if we are putting a defensive guy in there as a finalist, why not Bama’s Will Anderson?  He had more tackles, tackles for losses, and sacks.  If we are going to do it, let’s put the right guy in there.

ODDS AND ENDS:

1. Want to see if you have been to any of the top-ranked bars worldwide?  Here is the 2021 list:  https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-best-bars-2021/index.html
2. I might be the worst person to do a puzzle that has ever lived.
3. If you go to Postino’s in the Highlands for weekend brunch, get the cantaloupe appetizer and the meatball shakshouka.
4. And if you don’t go that way in the Highlands, go the other way.  Ohana is the other brunch masterpiece.
5. I witnessed a wedding proposal in a local Christmas tree place, and that has to be the dumbest idea I have heard of.
6. My wife needs to stop making me do the rap for Roxanne by UTFO on party nights.
7. I should have just been inspired by Two and a Half Men and become a jingle writer.
8. The 4oz filet at Guard and Grace is the best steak I have had in Denver.  Not a cheap place and only for special occasions for us normal people, but worth it if you want good steak.
9. Swimming really is the best workout.  I had some soreness from boxing and lifting and knee soreness, am simply doing 50 laps a day religiously, and everything pain-wise has gone away.  I will go back to boxing and lifting in 2022, but nice to rest up the joints with no-impact workouts for a bit.
10. Wendy or Hailey will most likely win The Voice, but I will be rooting for Paris.  No idea how Joshua didn’t make the Finals.
11. You is the creepiest, most awesome show.
12. Ted Lasso is still the best though.  My wife just got me a Ted Lasso “practice” shirt.  Yes, Ted quotes Allen Iverson in one of the episodes.  Epic.
13. Shark Tank is the best show to watch billionaires turn down ideas that you should have thought of.
14. Mark Cuban just bought Mustang, TX.  When asked why he bought the small town with a post office and strip club for about $4 million, he just said because his buddy needed to sell it.  Must be nice to have $4 million in mattress money.
15. Dexter New Blood is so good thus far.  Very rare when you are rooting FOR the killer.
16. Jovie just finished the second level of dog training.  Given that she is a teenager, now she knows the commands, but chooses when to listen to them.  We also had a birthday party for her, which means I am in love with my wife (considering I spent a lot of time making fun of those birthday-dog people way back when).
17. My wife’s family scheduled their family reunion in Vegas for February.  Spending the Super Bowl and Valentines Day in Vegas I am sure wasn’t the plan. 
18. Speaking of Vegas, Adele joins the long list of artists content with making fans come to THEM with a residency at Caesars.
19. We wear masks in Denver indoors again.  This thing is never going away, is it?
20. We went to the Elf musical Friday night.  Worth going to if you are down with shows at the very personal Arvada Center.

Off to work.  Talk to you next time.