Sun Bowl -- El Paso, TX

I've been watching the 76th annual Brut Sun Bowl this afternoon pitting Oklahoma vs. Stanford.  It has been a great game so far, but one of the things that has caught my attention the most, besides the play of Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) and Toby Gehart (Stanford), is the aerial views of the Sun Bowl Stadium.  It has been built into a natural "bowl" and almost looks like it is built right inside one of the mountains there.  Pretty awesome view! See for yourself.

ESPN 30 for 30

ESPN began a great documentary series back in October entitled 30 for 30, to celebrate ESPN's 30th anniversary.  They had some of the best filmmakers in the country put together 30 film documentaries to chronicle the last 30 years of sports.  They aren't necessarily the 30 biggest stories, but 30 stories by people who are passionate about the subject and affected by it.  And 30 stories that may need to be remembered and retold for the importance they played, especially to this generation who may be unaware of them.  

I just got done watching Billy Corben's 30 for 30 doc. entitled "The U" about the University of Miami's football team from 1983-1991.  That doc. was very, very well done.  I think it really reflect how Miami's football team was on and off the field, the good and the bad.  I loved seeing Bernie Kosar in it. I do wish they would have spent a few minutes talking about the graduations rates (which in the one newspaper clip they showed was 73%).  It seemed like the film address more of the negative parts of the program, and rightly so, but even in the midst of controversy and often cockiness, I think it would have been good to show that many of these players were actually graduating from college.  

 

The Blind Side

I went to see The Blind Side a few days ago.  It met my expectations going into it and I found myself at the end of the movie ready to sit there and watch it over again.  The movie is based on the life of Michael Oher (now of the Baltimore Ravens) and the family, the Tuohys, that took in the homeless teen, and helped him to succeed.  The movie really showed the love and compassion the Tuohys showed Michael in opening up their home to him and making him part of their family.  At the end of the movie it was touching to see the actual pictures and footage from Michael's and the Tuohys's lives together, from high school, to the University of Mississippi, to the NFL Draft.  A very well done movie and an awesome job done by Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy.  I'd highly recommend seeing it.

Price is Right Games

The other evening some friends and I were out at the local coffee establishment, during which time our conversation veered toward the Price is Right.  We shared our thoughts on some favorite games and laughed at some of the funnier and in some cases shows of stupidity (you can see both evident in this clip) we remembered from the show.  The discussion got me thinking about my favorite games from the show.  I thought I would share those.  By favorite, I mean a game I would hope to view when I turned on the TV to watch the show and a game that I would be excited to play if I ever was on the show.  So without further to do, here is my top 10 favorite games along with some tidbits with each.  Feel free to chime in with your own thoughts and favorites.

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10.  Clock Game
        
This one is on the list because I think it would be the easiest game to win.  All you have to do is be quick and make big enough jumps between the numbers one guesses so you can find the correct price quickly.  

9. Range Game

When the range finder comes out the audience knows it will get a kick out of Bob saying to the contestant to be careful to stop it when they want to because once it stops it can't be started for "37 hours."   Classic!

8. One Away

I would have to say this has to be one of the more thrilling and nerve-racking games you can play.  I'd be on edge as I asked "gentlemen do I have _____  numbers right?"  Each time I'd ask I'd have to hold my breathe and feel my gut clenching in hopes of hearing that horn as I'd inch closer to winning a car.  

7. 3 Strikes

Another nailbiter for a game.  It would be a lot of fun though to be pulling those chips out of the bags in hopes of pulling the price of the car before 3 strikes come your way.

6. Dice Game

Who doesn't like big, felt dice?  As a kid the extremely large dice was always a kick and is a great supplement to the awesome prize to be one of an automobile.  

5. Punch Board

I would like to be able to just punch the punch board even if I wasn't actually playing the game.  Just would like to feel what it feels like.  One of the more memorable games and one of the first to come to mind say if you asked the question about Price is Right games in a Family Feud kind of way.

4.  Hole-in-One...or Two

Another awesome game.  Bob is quite the putter.  I don't think he'd ever miss with two shots and rarely with one.  And I am glad the legacy of "Hole-in-One...or Two" lives on during halftime of Turkey Bowl.  Here's to you Bob Barker... Here Here

3. Master Key

Not sure why I love this game so much, but I always have.  I'd always looked forward to seeing this game, although it didn't seem to get as much air time as I would have liked.  

2.  Cliff Hangers

Yodaladi, yodaladiwho ...Amazing!  See Cliff Hangers in a show and don't tell me the theme song doesn't get in your head.  Watching that little climber ascend his way to the top of the mountain is a definte highlight of any show.  Hopefully the contestants are good enough that the little guy does not plunge off the cliff. 

1.  Plinko

Everyone loves Plinko it seems.  Contestants can win a good chunk of money.  There's colorful Plinko chips and a huge Plinko board, along with the audience screaming at the contestant as to where to place the plinko chip to drop (like they can really be of help in the randomness of where the plinko chip bounces).  What's not to like.  Plinko always causes a lot of excitement in the audience because there's always a chance the chip bounces in the right direction landing in the center spot for big money.  Causes a lot of excitement for the viewers at home too.



Honorable Mentions:
10 Chances, Safe Crackers, Path Finder, Card Game




 

Ye Olde GlenOak Choral Dept. Christmas Concert

I went to GlenOak High School's annual Christmas Concert to watch my little brother perform.  It really is a highlight of the holdiay season for me.  Mr. Kiefer and Ms. Meese do a great job with all the choirs and this year was no different.  It's fun to come back and hear so many of the songs we sung as members of the various choirs.  Brings back a lot of good memories.  At the end of the concert it has been a tradition to bring back choir alumni to join Chorale in singing the Hallelujah Chorus.  As I made my way up to the stage, I was not suprised to see the familar face of Barry DeBois.  If there was one person I would place money on to be up on that stage it would be him.  Good times.  Good times.

 

Reading by the Fireplace

Just got done reading by the fireplace. It has to be one of my favorite places to read at this time of year. There is nothing like reading by the firelight as it warms me up. With the darkened room filled with only the light of the fire and that of the Christmas tree reminding me of the joyous season upon us, as Chapter 6's Christmas Album (check it out here) plays in the background. The near-quiet stillness brings a smile to my face and seems to drown out any worries. No need to worry here. No need to be consumed by the busyness of the season. No, at the fireplace I can just soak in my surroundings, the little things that make it special, that make today a day to be thankful for.



Speaking of reading, currently I'm going through Jim Dent's Resurrection: The Miracle Season that Saved Notre Dame. It is about the 1964 Notre Dame football season and how coach Ara Parseghian came in and restored ND to its championship form after many losing seasons. It kind of brings a little hope to a Notre Dame fan hoping the next coach they hire can do the same thing Ara did.


In the on deck circle (will be reading in the near future)

• Dug down Deep by Josh Harris

• Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

• The Art of Manliness by Brett and Kate McKay

Peter Gammons

Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN. He has been a wonderful writer, analyst, and ambassador for the game of baseball while working at ESPN. I'm glad I got a chance to see and listen to him in person last year at ESPN the Weekend (as seen above with Karl Ravich).


And who can forget The Peter Gammons Theme Song...