Before I dive into what these bowl games mean I have to tell you about my wife’s New Year’s resolution to travel.
Now I really don’t understand her. We’ve traveled a lot. We went to Miami to see a Super Bowl, we’ve been to her home state of Minnesota several times to see the Vikings, Minnesota and USC play football. We’ve been to Glendale, Arizona to see a football bowl game, we’ve been to Chicago and St Louis to see the Ducks, we’ve been to San Francisco to see the Dodgers on numerous occasions, and we’ve visited Guido in Nevada many times. Once we even went to Oakland for a CIF-state basketball game featuring Pacifica High School.
But you know what she said next: “ That doesn’t count! I want something romantic!”
What could be more romantic than a Rose Bowl or Dodgers-Giants? I think I finally found something. I was perusing the travel section in The Orange County Register on Sunday and I think I found something romantic.
Gayle loves teddy bears. I’ve given her hundreds over our 29 years together. I know, how can you be more romantic than that?
Anyway, I found out that a Czech travel agency has begun offering special travel packages for teddy bears.
Here’s how it works. For only $120 dollars Gayle can send her favorite stuffed animal to Prague. There, “they will be photographed in front of various tourist attractions before being sent home to friends or Facebook,” according to John Flinn.
But that’s not the end of it. For just $80 more the bear can get a massage and aromatherapy. Flinn went on to say that the packages include daily E-mail communication so the owners can see what the toys have done for that day. They then send the bear back.
Our 25th wedding anniversary is coming up this year. I can’t think of anything better than that. If you can, please e-mail me. I have until June 21.
On to the Big 10 disaster. The league was 0-5 before their last game on Tuesday (after deadline) where Ohio State was supposed to win over Arkansas. Either way, the Big 10 became the Little 10 as Florida beat Penn State, 37-24, Texas Tech beat Northwestern, 45-38, TCU edged Wisconsin, 21-19 and the state of Michigan is in hiding today.
Alabama engulfed Michigan State, 49-7 while Mississippi State did the same to Michigan, 52-14! Methinks the Big 10 better start recruiting more speed and passing quarterbacks. Of course, we’ve been saying that for years, haven’t we? The Big 10 is now 1-6 in their last seven Rose Bowls although boasting bigger linemen than the other teams.
The big game is Monday when Oregon takes on Auburn. Auburn is favored by a couple of points but Oregon will beat them by 21!
Some people say that TCU and Boise State represent the “little guys.” Both won their bowl games but they were favored in both games. But the little guys have that reputation because they play most of their games against sub-prime time teams. So does Notre Dame.
I’m not sure I agree with the president of Ohio State, Gordon Gee, who said that “We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. They have to run through a conference like the Big 10 before staking a claim.”
As it turns out, that statement will now go down as one of the worst prophecies of 2010-2011!
Another heart-warming story was that Urban Meyer’s Florida team beat Penn State, 37-24 in the Outback Bowl. Meyer, 46, quit last year but came back in a hurry. only to quit again now.
On the other side of the football is Joe Paterno, 84, who said he is coming back next season to coach Penn State.
I can’t believe Paterno’s wife can’t stand him around the house that much. Coaching at that level is grueling. I give him all the credit in the world.
Next week I’ll start paying attention to the NFL. E-mail me at Journaldon@aol.com.
