League Championship Predictions

Well, this past week I was 50% right on my playoff predictions with Philly and Pittsburgh being right on top of it all. I predicted the Overall, I am 5-3 on NFL playoff predictions. This week I pick Philly and Pittsburgh again over Arizona and Baltimore. At the beginning of the season I predicted Dallas vs. Pittsburgh for the Super Bowl. Because of that I didn't pick my NFC contender until after Dallas was eliminated. As I told Brenda last week, I see an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl with the Steelers winning it all. I would love to see Arizona field their first ever Super Bowl team, but I think their wins have more to do with their competition than their resilience. Baltimore supposedly has no weaknesses, and they do have an advantage of losing two very close games against Pittsburgh this season (statistics point to 0-2 teams who rematch in the playoffs generally win), but I'm still picking da' Stillahs! The one major advantage that Pittsburgh does have is the homefield with a very likely chance of horrendous cold weather with all sorts of precipitation.

Now that Philly officially won, I have read a few headlines of how everyone seems to be picking them to beat Arizona now. This makes me sad, because Arizona and Philly's greatest asset in the playoffs is the role of the underdog. This makes me very concerned as I would like to be 2-0 in the championship round this week (was 5-0 in BCS bowl game predictions). If McNabb and Reid don't choke, they will take it all. That being said, the Cardinals are much more hungry than the Eagles.

I think the Ravens are going to be flat against Pittsburgh. They can handle the weather, but can the handle the crazy wind and messy field? I am voting no. As much as I like Ed Reed & Co., I think the Steelers are actually more hungry. This has been that special, "magic-like" season all year. I think Steeler-magic will pull at least one more out of the hat.

If I do happen to be wrong with a prediction, I hope it is with the Philly game. Pittsburgh makes a good storyline with either opponent - against Philly, an instate rematch; against Zona, the guy many who thought deserved the Steeler job vs. the guy who got it.

Baltimore wins and it's like... um... the Ravens won... just like they did in 2000.... woo hoo (sarcasm)!

Moving Takes Up Too Much Energy

Man, are we exhausted. Packing boxes and crates to move a few miles north (20-ish) just to unload them again. It completely saps our strength and energy. Of course it doesn't help that we are just now recovering from cold and fever symptoms.

Not counting our initial move to our first place together, Brenda and I will have completed our sixth move in six years of marriage. That is just exhausting. Before Scottdale, we had moved five times in just under five years of marriage. This will also be Marideth's third move before turning three.

Moving is something I have done all of my life. When I turn 30 next month, I will have moved a total of 21 times! That is every 1.4 years of my life. To have a good move, it takes up a good month (usually more) of planning/packing, which means 1 3/4 of my life has been spent moving. That's a whole lot!

I live in an area where people don't move that often. I think I might be overestimating on one couple who have been married 15-ish years and each of them have only lived in 5 different places each, tops. The guy turns 40 this year but has moved 1/4 of the times I have. Crazy, eh?

Of course, we hope that we will be at our next place for a little while. At least a year, contract wise. It would be nice to be there for the long haul, but I have learned that many times over that my plans have to be constantly checked with the one whom I worship. Whether we live in the town of Jeannette for 1 year, 10+ years, or anywhere in between, we look to enjoy the community of which we become a part.

The BCS Controversy

Florida - National Champion by beating OU
Texas - Won Fiesta Bowl by beating Ohio State University
Utah - Won Sugar Bowl by beating Alabama
USC - Won Rose Bowl by beating Penn State

Florida barely beat an unmotivated OU team that had its only other loss at a neutral site in Texas. Florida lost to a team that is now ranked because they beat Florida.

Texas barely bean a motivated OSU team who was healthy for the first time all season in dramatic 4th quarter comeback fashion. OSU had lost to USC and Penn State. Texas lost an away game against a top rival in the last second.

Utah beat every team they played, including an Alabama team that's only loss was to Florida. The difference is that Utah steamrolled Alabama while Florida won in the same way they beat OU, unimpressively.

USC also impressively beat a solid, if unspectacular, Penn State team. USC lost to a horrible team.

Based on these statements above, it is obvious to me, and probably no one else, that Utah and Texas should have played for the National Championship. But since I'm a biased Texas fan, I would have been happy for the game to have been Utah-USC fan.

Thus the controversy.

Back from Vacation

Well, we got back into town yesterday morning about 2am. We were mostly useless as we were recovering from both lots of air travel, a lost cell phone, and being sick. We are still recovering from the air travel and being sick, but I have my cell phone. Apparently, I left it in Dallas at the airport and had it Fed-Ex'd to me. By the way, I strongly recommend Fed Ex for losing cell phone and need it quickly emergencies.

It was good to spend time with family, but it is even better to be home. We have the unique situation that we will be moving into our new house next week. Finishing all of the last minute preparations is stressful, but at least we did a lot of packing before we left.

I don't have a lot to say right now. But I am going to try and stay in the habit of blogging at least once a day.

Blessings on you.