the sunday post-wrap party shout-outs!

a "well, we looked like garbage, didn't we?!!" shout-out to the usc turnover margin. the team that led the country in turnover margin over the past 3 seasons gave up 4 yesterday in their 33-31 loss to oregon state. try as they might to tie it up with a 2-point conversion at the end of the 4th quarter (despite being down 33-10 midway through the 3rd quarter!!!) the trojans deserved the blocked pass. the good news coming out of a game i had a feeling would be tough: usc's offense seemed to wake up and realize (again) that maybe, with the most talented quarterbacks in the country, we should be passing first. chauncey washington should be forced to carry a football around campus this week to work on protecting it. booty's 405 yds and steve smith (he'll need an initial when he plays in the nfl next year. someone needs to find his middle name...) catching (nearly) everything made me feel better about the next several weeks, when, not only can usc stay in the hunt with wins over notre dame (knocking them out of the bcs!) and oregon and cal (to win the pac-10), but now maybe they won't play with the monkey on their back that is the alumni associations around the country holding their breaths every saturday. just play boys!

in other football-related shout-outs, a big WHOOPIEWHOOPIEWHOOPIE!!! shout-out to the wv mountaineers in prep for their big louisville game. that undefeated #3 position is theirs for the taking. remember the name: steve slayton, listed in the mountaineer websites as "superback".

a shout-out-ala-"sports guy" UIC scale of 9.5 for espn filming mike ditka reading a children's story to little kids. a nice way to enjoy my cuppa while soaking up all the upcoming nfl info. we need more unintentional comedy on television, whether it's a stupid commercial or a talking idiot, i love awkward moments on tv. or youtube (which i watch more frequently). best of the week: the dave letterman interview of bill o'reilly. if democrats and independent-thinking individuals don't shake up congress in two tuesdays, i think i'm going to brush off my australian citizenship application.

a happy halloween shout-out to everyone's inner child! while shopping for groceries yesterday (and hopefully filling the cupboards for the next three weeks when i LEAVE FOR HAWAI'I!!!) i had the best moment when i found the hershey's mini-pack. you know: hersheys, special dark, mr.goodbar, and krackle). always my favorite score at halloween. i bought two bags and have no intention of sharing with the neighborhood kiddies. that's what good-and-plentys are for!

hugs, kisses and happy central standard time (did you re-set your clock?) to everyone!