Less than 30 days until the kickoff of the 2012 College Football Season

We hope everyone is have a Jolly Good 2012 ... as the Summer XXX Olympic Games are in full gear in London this August 2012! After beginning blogging back in 2007 or so, we have taken some time off to enjoy Life, Liberty and other Pursuits of Happiness in our life.

College Basketball was interesting in the beginning of 2012. It was great to see the Creighton Bluejays win The Valley and make the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Greg McDermott's second season at the helm on the Hilltop. It was great to see a victory over Alabama in the Second Round and a tough Third Round loss at North Carolina, as well.

With all-American Doug McDermott back for his junior season in 2012-13, the Creighton Bluejays should be a Top 25 College Basketball team again. Down in Iowa City, coach Fran McCaffery should have a better brand of Iowa Basketball for 2012-13, as he enters his third season at the helm for the Hawkeyes.

The Heartland has been hot, hot and dry, dry throughout the Summer of 2012.  We hope you have all enjoyed the Dog Days of Summer 2012 style!  It hasn't been hot like this, since the Summer of 1988, when we moved back to Cedar Rapids.  Of course, weather like this year is causing some people to reflect on the dust bowl days of the 1930s ...

In less than 30 days, the 2012 College Football season will kickoff on Thursday, August 30Th.  The first game up will be a SEC showdown on ESPN with South Carolina at Vanderbilt.  There will be some outstanding games the first weekend of the 2012 season.  Plenty of questions in 2012:

• Who should be #1 preseason team in College Football in 2012?
• Did the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll get it right?
• What teams are in the hunt for the first BCS title outside the SEC, since the 2005 season?
• Wisconsin is going for three in a row in the Big Ten - who stands in the way in 2012?
• Top non-conference games of 2012?
• Hot conference races of 2012?
• 124 FBS programs for 2012 in College Football - what?
• Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and other previews into College Football for 2012 ...

We hope you find our blog fun, as we get ready to enjoy another outstanding College Football season ...

Should Chicago really be the Host of the 2016 Olympic Games?

With the corruption charges today with the Governor and his Chief of Staff, should the City of Chicago, with the corruption reputation of the City and State, be rewarded with the Olympic Games?

Fond Ties Have Grown Between Chicago and Its Corruption Fighter -The same year his office pursued corruption charges against associates of Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, a Democrat like Mr. Blagojevich, ... New York Times
Highlights of the Blagojevich Corruption Charges - Wall Street Journal Blogs
Illinois has long legacy of public corruption - MSNBC

Now, the current governor of Illinois is under investigation and a previous one is already in prison.Should Chicago be the 2016 host of the Olympic Games?

http://twitter.com/cidsports

peace

Ethical Perspectives: KCRG-TV's Local Program

Interesting show this morning... looking at that the Ethical Perspectives of this year's Olympics in Beijing, China.

peace

Speedo denied coverage for $1 Million bonus to Michael Phelps

August 25, 2008 issue of Business Insurance reports on page 23 in an article titled Speedo covers Phelps, but not with insurance for the 2008 Games.

Unlike the 2004 Olympics, when Speedo paid a premium of about $300,000 to cover its $1 million bonus. There were no takers for the 2008 Games.

The article reported it was "the happiest check that Speedo will ever write." It was clearly a wonderful 2008 Olympics fueled by the accomplishments of Michael Phelps in winning eight gold medals.

peace

The Olympic Games are in the books for Beijing 2008: USA #1

China wanted to finish higher than the USA, and certainly did winning more gold medals than any other country, but the USA finished on top with total wins:

Olympic medal count:
Total - Gold Silver Bronze
1. United States 110 - 36 38 36

2. China 100 - 51 21 28
3. Russian Fed 72 - 23 21 28
results.beijing2008.cn

I always look back to 1972 and the accomplishments of Mark Spitz. It was certainly memorable to watch Michael Phelps blast the field and surpass Spitz's accomplishments in Beijing. By the way, it's nice to hear that the women and men are both on top in basketball and the USA wins gold in men's volleyball for the first time in 20 years.

peace

So, do you have a favorite Olympic sport to watch?

Much to the disagreement or surprise to my family, swimming is my favorite Olympic sport to watch.

It certainly has been an outstanding sport to follow so far during the 29th Olympic Games being held in Beijing, China this August 2008.

Most of my family selected women's gymnastics, which based on the ages of the youngsters from China and the USA, should be classed as girl's gymnastics. With many sixteen year old gymnasts going on twelve leading the team from China, the term "women" doesn't seem appropriate for the sport, as compared to, women's sand volleyball or many other Olympic sports, for that matter.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of swimming is the fact that both Olympic and world records are on the line each heat or event. We are certainly seeing many records fall, as I type tonight.

peace

A Sports Reporter for a Generation and More...

A man you made a major impact in his industry, the field of sports and an American generation who watched from their TV sets has passed at age 86 on Saturday.

• The 1972 Olympics
• ABC's Wide World of Sports
• College Football

Sportscaster Jim McKay was one of the very best. A man who I'll always remember for his humanity and his voice...

Rest in peace... the world was better for knowing you!

peace