Just Wow!

What an amazing past couple of weeks! It has just been amazing on the sports scene.

--First Daytona 500 postponed by rain. After racing started, some spectacular crashes.

--Incredible KU-MU game at Allen Field House.

--Double OT win by UVM in the AmEast semis, after horrible, terrible loss to Binghamton. (Binghamton's only win all year.)

--New Orleans Saints "defensive bounty" scandal

--Spring training started for baseball

--Grandview advanced to state playoffs, but did lose in the second game.

More to come, including UVM playing in their 5th AmEast championship, Big 12 and NCAA tourneys, baseball spring continues, and more.

I know it is part of bread and circuses, and counts for little in the big picture, but it is a little bit of fun dropped into the midst of our confusing, annoying and unpredictable world.

Random Sports Thoughts for a Saturday Night

Maybe I'm cruising for a fall, but I feel a good game by the Kansas City Chiefs coming on tomorrow. I think we will beat Arizona soundly.

The Giants and Eagles play Sunday night. Giants need a comeback win after that egg they laid in Dallas.

Missouri now has a sliver of a chance to win the Big 12 north title, but would need help from Colorado.

With Mizzou having something to play for, there is little chance of a Kansas upset at Arrowhead next Saturday.

Kansas State needs defense! Does Bill Snyder have any hair left after this afternoon's loss?

LSU played defense when it counted and my second favorite college Tigers, ranked 5th in the nation, escaped Mississippi.

Boise State deserves a shot at the big dogs--last game a 51-0 whipping of Fresno State. Boise State gained over 500 yards in offense against just 125 for Fresno.

MidAmerica Nazarene University won their first round NAIA game with a comeback from 14 down. Congrats to the Pioneers!

Basketball so does not interest me as yet, although I am intrigued by some of the match ups in the early college tournaments.

Hot stove starting to heat up in baseball--no surprises yet however. Zack Greinke is still a Royal.

That's all for now. Have a great NFL Sunday!

True Confession: I Am Rooting For Michael Vick to Do Well

I spent four years in the Philly metro area going to school and during that time, the city's professional sports teams wormed their way into this New Yorker's heart. I still have to this day a soft spot for the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers. Part of that may have been that all were winners at that time in the late '70s and early '80s but the teams also had some winning players as well, players who played hard and embodied the spirit of Philadelphia. In the NFC East, always my second choice; if the Giants can't win, please let it be the Eagles.

Now, if you follow the NFL, you know that the Eagles lost their starting QB to a concussion this year and inserted Michael Vick in the game. He has continued to play and even now with the starter, Kevin Kolb ready to go, has remained the starting QB for the Eagles. He has received acclaim for his play--he has regained the speed that made him such a threat in the back field, has been more disciplined in the passing game and has shown leadership both on and off the field.

And I am glad for him.

He served his time. He lost his fortune. He lost respect. He is trying to regain his footing in his life. He has done everything asked of him and it has appeared to be genuine. So let him excel and show the gifts that God gave him for the football field. I hold no grudge against him. I don't want to holler "Dog killer" at him or stop rooting for the Eagles.

Yes, it's me The Observer, who blogs about Wayside Waifs on a regular basis and couldn't leave a kitten out in the rain, rooting for Michael Vick.

You know, there is a weird sort of bright side to all this. Would we, meaning the general public, know anything about this underworld of dog fighting if it wasn't for this public figure, Michael Vick, getting swept up in the criminal investigation like he did. Now we know. We know more than we want to know. But we know, and now we watch, we donate, we adopt and we care.

So here's a sweet ending: A redeemed human being, who gets to do the thing he loves the most--play football--and is an improved and better person. Dogs get more protection from abuse due to increased public awareness and donations to causes that help prevent, detect and prosecute dog fighting and care for the abused dogs left behind. A double WIN in my eyes.

Photos: Michael Vick X2 from Philly.com and an English Bull Terrier at the 2010 Pet Expo by The Observer.

Must...Keep...Sports...In...Perspective...

Which headline is bigger? Don't answer that! (Today's Kansas City Star)

Hey Sportsfans!

You may note that all the widgets are gone. One of them got corrupted and was not allowing the net surfer to come and visit us at You're Looking Live... People were getting redirected, and it was ugly. I was afraid of something nasty that might get in your and my computer. So, for now, all widgets are gone. The site works now.

I'll miss that random sports card widget. Maybe later we can get it back on, but for now, no widgets!

The Pause Before the Storm

Percolating. That's how I would describe the sports scene right now. You've got baseball in spring training. You've got football combines, free agency, club releases and more coaching moves in the NFL, with the draft coming in April. You've got college basketball winding down regular season play, with the conference play offs and Selection Sunday coming. Every day there's a small bit of news about something. For example, two teams, San Diego and Philadelphia, cut ties with long time very productive running backs. Spring training has daily reports: from Zack Greinke's teeth to Mike Aviles' elbow to first Cactus League game next week. Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri are all perking along, with Missouri now making a strong case to get into the NCAA Tournament. Vermont hockey may miss the playoffs for the first time since Hockey East was organized, but Vermont hoopsters both male and female are in the thick of the America East races. So rest up now, because between now and April, more then the weather will be warming up!

I Thought It Was Cool Looking; I Didn't Realize It Was So Hard to Read

Hey, sports fans. After reading the responses of the audience of a very popular blogger who switched from a template with a black background to one with a white background, and tossing the question out there myself, I decided to change the look of this here blog. It is true that this is not so hard on the eyes, although it definitely lacks that sleek cool black look. There's a font change too, and I changed some colors. So we'll see how we like it.

Oh, No!!

Back in September, I fearlessly predicted that the New Orleans Saints, with their explosive offense and improving defense would be Super Bowl winners this year. When I wandered into the library I saw with dismay this cover on the current Sports Illustrated. Cursed again!

But then I went to their online version and I saw this pic of Ryan Howard as the cover photo. I wish it was A-Rod or someone from the Yanks instead--drat, cursed again!
I don't know if this a regional variation--those of us outside NY and Philly got Reggie Bush flying through the air and they got Ryan Howard. Another variation is subscriber vs. new stand. Either way, we will have to watch for the impact of the infamous SI cover curse.

Yes. Another Sports Blog

Sports was taking over. So it's time to exile sports to a second blog. I did not come to this decision lightly. First, would I have enough time to maintain two decent blogs? Second, would there be enough material? But truly sports is never lacking for story lines. My goodness, there's enough today for a bunch of entries. And as far as time is concerned? Sports is more opinion than fact based. I can do sports entries quick, like the quick hitter yesterday on the Chiefs. Besides, the photos are compelling. Didn't Todd Haley look like he was about to cry?

So here is the South Kansas City Observer Sports Division. Welcome!