Football Part I

I have to say I was disappointed with the way the Missouri Tiger football season came to an end. If you slept through the past month, Mizzou got beat by Iowa 27-24 in the Insight Bowl. Yep, that's right, the freakin Insight Bowl. I don't think quarterback Blaine Gabbert was at his best that evening, but you also have to give credit to the Hawkeyes who kept pressure on him and did a good job of covering up the Tiger's receivers.

I had to get up early the morning after the game so turned it off with the Tigers up 24-20. The first thing I did when I got up the next day was to get on the 'Net and learn that Mizzou had lost on a pass interception. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who has decided to turn pro, tried to force something that wasn't there. He said so after the game. And there are those in the St. Louis media who took potshots at Gabbert. But, I really can't be critical of him. He is a tremendous athlete with a gift and has made that pass many times in the past two years. (So Bernie Miklaz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch get off of Gabbert's back). I was sad to see Mizzou lose it's bowl game for the second year in a row, but still this team had ten wins this year. Not too shabby.

With ten wins the Tigers should have been playing in the Cotton Bowl ahead of Texas A&M. Missouri had a better record than (A&M) and destroyed the Aggies back in October 30-9 in College Station. But, the bottom line is bowl committee's are nothing more than greedy businessmen looking to line their pockets. Not only wasn't Mizzou invited to the Dallas bowl game, but A&M was invited to play prior to BCS Sunday. Is it fair? Heck no. But as long as Missouri stays in the Big 12 Conference, it will continue to get hosed in the bowl selection process. First of all the conference leadership has done a terrible job of aligning itself with all of the bowl committees. The Big 12 had two teams playing on New Year's Day this year. The Big Ten (which is a weaker conference) had five teams playing on New Year's Day. (And all five lost).

The Cotton Bowl took A&M because it would sell 25 thousand tickets. Missouri sold about 18 thousand tickets four years ago when it was there. And at about $100 a pop that meant 700 thousand dollars in revenue to the Cotton Bowl committee. Enough said.

Happy New Year

Well I suppose it's better than late never, so Happy New Year to you! You probably wonder where the heck this was five days ago. Well, working my butt off and partying some too. So, with that explained. May 2011 be your best year yet and may it bring you health, peace, happiness and hopefully prosperity!

Merry Christmas

As I write this it is about 2:30 Christmas Eve afternoon and the snow is really coming down. It is definitely going to be a White Christmas.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and that you may all know the peace of the season in the knowledge of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thoughts on the Rams

Here it is Christmas Eve and the St. Louis Rams, who won only one game last year, are leading the NFC West. Granted they are not a good team, but they are the best in a mediocre division. And like it or not the winner of the division will host a playoff game. The Rams are 6-8 and tied with Seattle. But, the Rams beat the Seahawks earlier this season and hold the tie breaker at this point. Just one game back is San Francisco.

Up next is the 49ers on Sunday afternoon at the Jones Dome. The Rams lost to the Niners earlier this season at Candlestick Park in overtime. But, the Jones Dome has a definite home field advantage. The Rams should prevail on Sunday afternoon. After the Rams game finishes the Seahawks will be playing about 3,000 miles from their home at Tampa Bay. The Rams lost in Tampa earlier this season on the final play of the game.

The Rams will then wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Seattle the first weekend of the new year. That game will have a playoff atmosphere as the winner will most likely win the division and get to host the first round wild card game on the weekend of January 8th & 9th.

I'm Still Here

I am still here...just haven't had a lot of free time lately to post on this blog. With Christmas coming things have been hectic to say the least. But, in the next few days (maybe even hours) if we can leave a party early tonight, I will get you up to speed with my thoughts on the Rams, Mizzou's Bowl Game and a few beers and TV shows I have seen. So thanks for your patience and talk to you soon.