I'm back baby!
For those few of you who might have actually noticed I've been gone, I've been on vacation in the Chicagoland area, spending Christmas with the in-laws. I spent most of the time in a relative sports cocoon, but I have a few observations to share.
1) Chicago is unfreakingbelievably cold. When I wrote my Dec. 4 article about Sean Dockery escaping the mean streets of South Chicago, I should have included a section on how he survived the weather as well.
2) Look, I think Reggie White was probably the greatest defensive lineman who ever played the game, but why the uproar about not granting him a waiver into the Hall of Fame? If the NFL didn't grant a waiver to former Chiefs great Derrick Thomas after he died in a car accident, then it must do the same for White, in order to maintain credibility and consistency. I know Roberto Clemente was given such a waiver, but I've got to believe the manner of his death - in a plane crash, on a relief trip for Central American earthquake victims - had something to do with it. I just don't see the harm in having White come up for a vote five years after his retirement, like every other NFL HOF candidate.
3) I know only you recruiting geeks will care about this right now, but Duke's landing of Texas high school DL Vince Oghobaase last week is a pretty big deal. Oghobaase was rated by some as one of the five best defensive tackle prospects in the country. He chose Duke over offers from Miami, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Folks, that just doesn't happen too often for the Blue Devils. Giddy Duke football fans - yes, there are a few out there - are calling this the Johnny Dawkins commitment for Ted Roof. That might be a bit extreme - I don't see 3 national titles in Duke's football future - but Oghobaase's decision certainly sends a signal that Roof knows what he's doing, and that the Blue Devils' push to become competitive in the ACC isn't just a pipe dream.
4) Don't you hate it when reality screws up fantasy? Specifically, don't you hate it when the real world of the NFL and the end of the regular season destroys your fantasy football team's chances? Not if you're me. My fantasy team - co-owned with Jeff Carlton - got a nice boost this week when our opponent's QB - one Donovan McNabb - took a siesta for the rest of the Rams game after one measly drive. Fortunately, our team is loaded with guys like Trent Green - who doesn't need to rest because his team has no shot at the playoffs, and Torry Holt - who can't rest, because his team needs every win it can get to make the playoffs.
Our team, by the way, the Van Buren Boys, is now tied for first in our league after a 0-3 start to the season. It's really sad how much this means to me, by the way.