Rain, Not Sleet
Emergency mode should be reserved for....well....emergencies
The weather forecast called for "wintery precipitation" last night and today. While I don't mind schools remaining on the side of caution by delaying schools in the area, others have taken it too far. Most of the people in my office are "working from home" today, I guess so that they would avoid the weather. I came in earlier than usual today and when I got into my vehicle, I noticed that the "wintery precipitation" falling from the sky was in fact, rain. Just rain. Plus, the temperature was holding steady at 36 degrees, which my remedial understanding of science tells me is actually ABOVE freezing.
What I have learned from this is that people are just looking for any reason to shirk their responsibilities.
6 Reasons I Like College Football Over the NFL
Homogeneity is not for me
After this weekend's conference championship game, I could not help but notice my general lack of interest. I did not care, at all, about the NFL games. My NFL interests waxes and wanes throughout each season, typically due to the success of either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Carolina Panthers. However, during this season my valleys outnumbered my peaks by a large margin. Most Sunday afternoons were spent doing something other than watching the NFL. Even on the occasions when the NFL games were on my television, my interest was fleeting at best.
I have always preferred the college game over the professional game, but I could never really pinpoint the exact reasons. Let me see if I can list a few candidates:
1. Homogeneity. The NFL is a league of copycats. Every formation looks the same from team to team. When one team has success, the next season every other team attempts the same system, no matter how mundane. Which brings me to....
2. Innovation. When was the last time you saw something innovative in the NFL? The West Coast Offense? Zone Blitz Defense? Yawn. In college football, its not uncommon to implement an entirely new system because of a new player or coach.
3. Players over System. While some college dynasties could plug in a new player at each system every year and still have success, I would argue that success brings more talented players to your system. In the NFL, a team will pick players that fit the system instead of general athletes. Not being able to figure out how to use a player on an NFL team is a failure of the player not the coach or system, where the exact opposite is true in college football.
4. Every game means something. Last game of the season in the NFL means that the star players sit out to rest up for the playoffs. Last game of the season for a college team means you better beat your rival or the coach loses his job.
5. Success over least failures. College teams go out and win games, while NFL teams tend to be content to make fewer failures to win. In the NFL, teams settle with taking one fewer mistake than the other team and hold on for victory. Take some chances, throw the ball down field. While your team might win, it makes it boring to watch.
6. Players are too good in the NFL. When everyone is special.....no one is special. The room for error is way too small for me. NFL teams most be as meticulous as a surgeon to have success. Not my idea of excitement though.
Hotlanta
Fantastic weekend
We took our first trip with both kids this past weekend. All four of us headed down to Atlanta to visit with some friends. While there, we attended the Georgia Aquarium which was magnificent. It had an incredible collection of animals, and not just marine life. MG enjoyed seeing all the fish and animals, however she did not enjoy having freedom (outside the stroller) then having it ripped away (placed back into the stroller). Luckily she would eventually bounce back if she had more fish to see.
I also had an opportunity to attend the NHL SuperSkills portion of the NHL All Star Weekend. Our friends had some connections with Phillips Arena and were able to score some fantastic seats in the lower level. When that many great players are assembled at one location the entertainment level increases dramatically. It was quite an experience. I hope the All Star weekend comes to Raleigh in the near future.
Things I Learned This Weekend:
-Photography + Night = Bad Pictures
-Glass makes it difficult to focus especially when flashes are prohibited
-Great seats can be offset by all activities taking place on the opposite side of the ice
-Evgeni Malkin's practice moves on the sideline were better than most of fancy shootout attempts
-Bull Sharks are huge
-It pays off to drive at night with two kids in the car.
Angels & Demons
