Back from Vacation

An update...simply because I'm sitting in Securities class listening to another fascinating discussion of the only case worth mentioning that ever came out on Section 11 liability, the bowling alley case. Funny how we always do this one on a Wednesday. Bowling night tonight should be fun, as we get into the stretch run before the playoffs. We are 13-2 after five weeks and should probably have the playoffs locked up tonight if not already. Then it is all a game of week to week luck.

Interestingly enough, the baseball playoffs have been going pretty much as I envisioned, with the glaring exception that the Cubs did not make win a game, let alone make it into the NLCS. The Rockies are on some kind of roll, and I think it will be interesting seeing them face a team with far superior hitting and pitching (both the Indians and the Red Sox are just better). Go with the underdog though, as the Rockies are just too hot to lose the Series.

I do not know how I still have a winning record in my game of the week picks on Southern College Sports. I'm 13-11 now which is far worse than other seasons but given how half the Top 10 teams have been losing every week, it's too unpredictable. I should have an article up later today which is one of my better ones this season. Two weeks ago I wrote an absolute monster around working on my moot court brief and seminar paper, but then last week was a short one due to vacation. I'm hoping the PSU-OSU press credential comes through later this week, but the WVU-Louisville game is still out there waiting for a response. At least I've got a press pass for Ohio University's finale against Miami (OH)...never would have guessed the team fighting for a MAC title in that game would be the RedHawks, but that's how it looks now. In any event, I'm planning on going to the next 4 Buckeye games after missing the past 3 (2 road games and Kent State due to vacation). I'd like to be confident that the Buckeyes could take care of their schedule and keep that #1 ranking they have now, but in this season it should surprise nobody that I still think we lose somewhere.

The Big Ten actually might have 8-9 bowl eligible teams for their 7 spots this year, which is a flip from the past 3 years where the Big Ten got 2 BCS bowls and only had 6-7 bowl eligible teams (leaving 1-2 bowl spots open for others). Here's guessing those conferences jumping in on the Big Ten's spots the past few years don't open up spots for teams like Northwestern and Indiana this year. There are currently an astounding seven teams at 5-2 (Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan St, Purdue) and each of them will likely join the Buckeyes as bowl eligible. Even Northwestern at 4-3 and Iowa at 3-4 are threats to get to 6 wins, so this should be an interesting back half of the Big Ten schedule. Every team left on OSU's schedule is 5-2, but the teams couldn't be more different. I have about 98% confidence the Bucks win at home against a team like Michigan State, but only about 35% confidence that we can escape Happy Valley next weekend with a win.

Wouldn't it just be great is the Buckeyes played against BC or USF for the title? It will not happen but we can dream while those teams remain undefeated behind us.

Vacation was nice, until the drive home! The cruise was so much better than three years ago, highlights being no jellyfish infesting all beaches this time, sunny skies, smooth seas, nothing boarded up in Nassau, etc. Added another HRC bear to the collection, and this one is the most different so far (bright green bird jump suit on a bear, it's interesting). It was so great to absolutely not think about law school in any meaningful way for 7 days, but it was not to last. There just is nothing better than an all-inclusive resort/casino/etc on the high seas. It would be nice to actually get some friends to go with next time, so we'll have to start bugging them to save up some money sooner rather than later.

The drive home was going well until Virginia. Virginia is 66 miles long on I-77, ending in a tunnel to West Virginia. We stopped at mile marker 56. Three hours later we'd finally moved ten miles and went through the tunnel (pushed down to one lane), and it appeared there was no reason. WTF Virginia and West Virginia? But whatever, got back at 4 AM, got awake the next day and turned in the mooot court brief on time. So that's that. Back to the grind, class is over.