I hope you like sports

  


Although Stacey and I have been aware of this for a while, today it was officially announced that NIU and Iowa will open up the 2007 season at Soldier Field. With me being an NIU alumni and Stacey an Iowa alumni, we're both really looking forward to the game (She's a total diehard!) As some of you know, my other favorite college team is Florida, and they played Iowa in the Outback Bowl this past January. That was the first taste of the collegiate rivalry between the two of us, and this one promises to be even more fun since both of our schools are involved. (I have to admit, though, that Stacey really got into the bowl game, partly because she hates Florida... I don't think she has much animosity for NIU, so things might be a little less heated this time around.)

Iowa and NIU also play this season, on October 28 in Iowa City. Tickets for that game are going to be a bitch to come by, so we might not end up going. We're definitely headed to Chicago next season, however. Assuming I don't go to a Bears game this season, that will be my first trip to the new Soldier Field. Yeah, it may look like a spaceship, but I'm excited to experience the new digs. (Although I can't say that I've really experienced it until I've seen a Bears game there.)

In other news, Carlos Zambrano almost threw a no-hitter tonight. I was following it on my computer through 7 innings, then I tuned into ESPN for the 8th, figuring they'd have bonus coverage in anticipation of a no-no. Sadly, after retiring the first batter of the inning and walking the second, Carlos gave up a hit to Preston Wilson. Oh well, we Cubs fans aren't in any position to complain about a win, much less an 8-0 throttling of a division rival.

While we're on the subject of baseball—and Carlos Zambrano's gem—I have a wonderful story of how I finally caught a (small) break in one of my fantasy baseball leagues. I can't recall why I did this, but I benched Lance Berkman in favor of Trot Nixon, and I'm glad that I did! Berkman's Astros got only one hit against the Cubs, and he wasn't the one who collected it. Nixon, on the other hand, went 2-for-2 with 3 runs and 2 walks. I've had my struggles in that particular league, but I (inadvertently) had a nice night, for a change.

Oh, and here's a new weekly feature: the fantasy sports update! I'm in two leagues for baseball: HATE THE YANKS '06, which is run by Stacey's dad; and Jack Bauer's Agents, run by my friend Tim. (For those who are interested, there are 14 teams in the former, of which 6 make the playoffs; and there are 6 teams in the latter, all of which make the playoffs.) Here are how my teams are doing after last week's matchups:

HATE THE YANKS '06
Bricks and Ivy: 59-61-6, 9th place, 20.5 games behind the first-place team and 4 games out of a playoff spot

Jack Bauer's Agents
Soulpatch's Cubs Mug: 70-40-16, 1st place, 9 games ahead

Speaking of fantasy sports, if you're interested in joining my fantasy football league, send me an e-mail and I'll forward you the sign-up info. I know the football season seems like a long time away, but it will be here before you know it. ;-)

I'm writing this as I do my laundry in the basement of the hotel. The machines are, of course, coin-operated. I had a bunch of quarters from when I went to the laundromat in the shady part of town a few weeks ago, but I needed another dollar's worth. Of course there isn't a coin machine here, so I went up to the front desk to break my dollar bill. Wouldn't you know it that there weren't any quarters in the two registers there! (Of course, I'd be surprised if there's any change in those machines at all, seeing as it's a hotel and not a fast food restaurant.) Thankfully, the lady at the desk graciously exchanged four quarters from her purse for my bill, so it all worked out in the end. At home I have a big bag of change with probably $60 or more worth of quarters, so I'll be digging into that while I'm back home.

On that fantastic note, I'm off like a smelly sock... or something. Catch you all later!

-Mark

Currently reading: Deception Point, by Dan Brown