What If…

For years I have literally despised Big Ten football, mainly taking my aim on Ohio State. In my deploration rankings Ohio State falls only behind Louisiana Tech which I would never pull for at anything ever. Year in and year out I have been tortured by my disdain for Ohio State. Week in and week out I watch them hoping that they would lose. It has killed me that they could be so mediocre yet always be ranked so highly. They have forced me to be, at times, a Michigan fan because the thought of the Bucks winning and advancing to a national championship game is about the same to me as an undefeated Sunbelt team (pick one, if you can) playing for the BCS Title. Again this year they begin as the darling of the Big Ten with a rather high national ranking and so it begins again.

But a moment can change everything. This week I was listening to 104.5 the Zone morning show when I heard an interesting stat. Evidently the last time Ohio State beat a team from the SEC in a football contest was about the same time the Mark Antony and Octavian Caesar were battling for control of Rome…but seriously over 20 years ago.

Like a ray from the heavens a moment of epiphany hit. I have been looking at this all wrong. Why do I despise them so? Today, I am willing to admit this error. I have been carrying stress for no reason. For me the goal is for LSU to lift the crystal football but I am also very content when another SEC school wins the title. So, maybe the surest way for the Tigers or another SEC brother to win it all is for Ohio State to advance. Maybe Ohio State is really a gift from the football gods; maybe Ohio State is the Diane Sawyer to our Katie Couric…the Tiffany to our Debbie Gibson. But a gift not received is no gift at all. It is a torment.

So, I have decided to receive the gift. I will be for Ohio State this year. I want them to roll through their cream puff schedule big egos in hand so that right after Christmas in early January after they have had their 6 week sabbatical, I will receive a final holiday gift – another BCS title because LSU or another SEC foe will be lined up across the field from them. Now that’s a plan. I feel no stress or bitterness at all now. I am entering the 2010/11 season with no malice in my heart, except for LA Tech which is a whole other issue.

Here is my pledge: As college football kickoff again today, I shed the hatred, the baggage, the tension and with all my heart this year I will shout: GEAUX Buckeyes! And in January, I will be grateful for them as I am sure they will hold true to form and serve us up yet another title.

I’ll be posting pics all evening on my twitter feed.

http://twitter.com/williamguice

Soccer fan or not, this is refreshing…Thank you Nani.
You game my son and I something to talk about beyond the beauty of your game.

(emphasis mine…picking up mid article)

The 23-year-old has protested his innocence over the tackle and he has apologised for possibly costing United all three points at Villa Park.

“After half-time, I spoke with the coach and he was unhappy with me,” Nani told The Sun.

“That is normal, as tackles like that are not permitted in the Premier League. I accept my responsibility for my actions, though they were not premeditated. I insist that my objective was to play the ball and not the foot of Petrov.

“The incident happened in the middle of the pitch and I don’t think I merited being sent off. I am not a violent footballer. My career is in this sport.

“I wanted to recover the ball and I saw the chance to stop Petrov.

“Now I am sorry, because I have damaged the performance of my team. I am convinced that had we finished with 11 men we would have won.

Read the whole article from Sky Sports here.