Cougs Pluck Ducks in the Pit

I've been so distracted by work that I haven't really been following the Pac 10 hoops as closely as I would like, but clearly the WSU Cougars are this year's most interesting story -- only two losses through January 30, both on the road to perennial powerhouses UCLA and Arizona, then a tough week at home with three consecutive losses to Cal, Stanford (14) and again to the number 5 Bruins...they've dropped down into the 20's in the polls, but are now apparently back on a winning streak again. And last night another big milestone: they went down to Eugene and beat the Ducks on Mac Court for the first time in 13 years!

Unfortunately, I missed seeing the game...which perhaps was a good thing, given the currently delicate state of my hoop-health. But once again, congratulations to the Cougs. I'm really starting to look forward to seeing them play in the tournament next month....

Sixty Minutes from Perfection

And I guess the sad truth is that the Patriots were anything but close to perfect Sunday, which is why there are so many disappointed Patriot Fans with terrible hangovers on Monday morning. And maybe it really was the Giants' great defense that made Number 12 look like a Tom Brady-impersonater for so much of the game. But in my mind it all really boils down to two possessions: the Giants first and the Giants last -- in the first they converted several key third-down situation, ate up most of the first quarter doing so, and came away with first blood.

Patriots answered with a touchdown of their own on the first play of the second quarter, and then it was ugliness incarnate for the next 30 minutes of game time, with an aging pretty boy Petty thrown in half-way through for entertainment purposes only. But the fourth quarter was some of the most fun and exciting football I've ever seen anywhere -- and even though it broke my heart, Eli Manning's Houdini-like escape from the paws of the rampaging Patriot defensive line combined with David Tyree's magnificent one-handed off-the-back-of-the-helmet catch was one of the most amazing highlight reel plays ever.

Yet it shouldn't have mattered. I was SO certain Asante Samuel had that pass picked; while as a one-time defensive back myself, watching Plaxico Burress humiliate Ellis Hobbs on the corner fade for the Giant's final TD left me shaking my head in astonishment. I bet after that play Coach Belechick would have given just about anything for another chance at a 48 yard field goal.

Anyway, it's all history now...and (with the exception of that amazing escape and catch) the one thing I'll probably remember best is the Budweiser ad about the Dalmation and the Clydesdale. Maybe next year Hank....

Parker in Winter