Tri-State Hoops Preview

Michigan State returns everybody, including Kalin Lucas. Purdue returns everybody, including E'Twaun Moore. The Hoosiers loaded up. Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois are all ranked. Louisville's returning backcourt has been to multiple Elite Eights. Calipari has brought the swagger back to Kentucky. As far as mid-majors, Butler is primed for a big season. Dayton, Xavier and Notre Dame are also hoping to be dancing. Note to Syracuse, Duke, Kansas or any other teams outside 150 miles that are Final Four-bound: there's still a good chance of hotel vacancy.

LXiX

69 has always been a special number for me. Not only is the § symbol a slight deviance from 69, it's also the shape of our (spiral) galaxy. It represents duelness, liquidated Karma, and the zodiac sign for Cancer. Some say its a symbol of Yin&Yang. Billy Madison lolz when Miss Veronica Vaughn asks the class to "turn to page 69", but I wont get into that. Apostle St. Peter, whom I was named after and was also the first Pope, died in 69 AD. Then there's The Summer of '69. Room temperature? 69°. When I was in 6th grade, REM's song "Star-69" was on the radio. There are 6.9 billion people on Earth. I was born at Community North off Interstate 69. I attended Skiles Test Elementary which is located precisely 1 block north of Indianapolis' address grid: 69 Block North, 69 Block East. Odd, right?

Using Google Maps, I put markers on all major landmarks of my life and then noticed a strong northeastern pattern. I mapped a straight line (called "Life Path") from Bloomington to the exact middle of this conglomerate of landmarks and discovered that I'm going to hell. Well, at least Purgatory, which is (wait for it...) 69 miles from Bloomington!

** Points of interest directly under this imaginary line: Indiana University, Victory Field, State Capitol building, Benjamin Harrison's Home, MLK Memorial Park, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Castleton Mall, Allisonville Rd, River Glen CC, Connor Prairie and Noblesville's Retail District (Hare Chevrolet & Kahlo Jeep) at SR-37/32/38. 

Tanker Explosion at I-69 Exit 0

ESO Discovers New Planets

The European Southern Observatory has announced the discovery of hundreds of exoplanets in our galaxy. The Geneva Convention created the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, or HARPS, a mega-telescope located in Chile. The radial velocity method detects small 'wiggles' by stars, which give clues to existence of exoplanets' gravity. Dozens of these planets are known to exist in multiplanet systems and are over 5x larger than our Earth.

2012 - The End of Times?

At 11:11am on December 21, 2012 our planet will be another 13 Bak'tuns older (or 69k moons*), which you may have heard is the END of the WORLD. Actually it's just the end of the Mayan calender; the last 'birthday' was 3114 BC. Click those links to discover how exact Mayans were with star alignment and physical cycles...

But the most significant fact is that for the first time in 26,000 years (a Great Year) our Sun will pass through the galactic equator of the Milky Way, meaning a great source of energy could be disrupted.

Perhaps a solar flare will simply wipe out all our satellites? Maybe earthquakes, volcanic eruption, giant meteors and tidal flooding? (notice the black Prez... lame duck?)

If you think that's scary, try this on for size: a reverse in magnetic poles - that hasn't happened in 740,000 years (and we're overdue by 240,000 years) Your compass will point South instead of North? Check.

 Cataclysmicly devastating events? Check. Laws of physics will vanish? Well, we won't know until then (our magnets will get weaker gradually), but I'm hoping we pass through a Black Hole and we finally get new neighbors, because Mars is so annoying!

*Fun Fact: a moon cycle is a Tun-Uc, a 28-day cycle that breaks the moon into 4 phases that we call a "week". Booyah!

NFL Defenses Power Rankings

1. Baltimore - Ed Reed and Ray Lewis... need I say more?
2. NYJ - new DC Mike Pettine (former Ravens LB Coach) allowing only 9 ppg
3. NYG - has recorded only 3 sacks so far, but plenty of playmakers and championship experience
4. Philly - league-leading 9 takeaways and 10 sacks; lots of points given up but they have DeSean Jackson returning punts
5. Minnesota - Jared Allen & Co are hitting on all cylinders (ground-breaking journalism!)
6. Pittsburgh - DPoY Harrison & Co are missing Troy Polamalu's drive-stopping ability
7. Denver - under 6 ppg allowed thus far, albeit vs JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn
8. Chicago - Brian Urlacher out for the season, but they've rallied and will not break
9. Indy - the #1 DE combo and loads of talent in the secondary, but major weakness at LB
10. Tennessee - 71 points allowed in just 3 games has the divisional favorite winless thus far

11. Green Bay
12. Seattle
13. New England
14. San Diego
15. Miami
16. San Fran
17. Dallas
18. Carolina
19. Cincy
20. New Orleans
21. Buffalo
22. ATL
23. Oakland
24. Arizona
25. Tampa Bay
26. Washington
27. Jacksonville
28. Detroit
29. Houston
30. St Louis
31. Kansas City
32. Cleveland

NFL Week 3 odds

Games I'm staying away from:

Cleveland +13½ @ Baltimore

Chicago -2½ @ Seattle

Atlanta +4 @ New England

Games I'm taking but don't love:

Dallas -9½ vs Carolina

San Francisco +7 @ Minnesota

NY Jets -3 vs Tennessee

Houston -4 vs Jacksonville

Green Bay -7 @ St Louis

Games I like a lot:

NY Giants -7 @ Tampa Bay

Detroit +6½ vs Washington

New Orleans -6 @ Buffalo

Pittsburgh -4½ @ Cincinnati

Oakland +1½ vs Denver

Games with lines unannounced:

Indianapolis @ Arizona

Miami @ San Diego

Kansas City @ Philadelphia

Autumnal Equinox

Charlie Weis gets to keep his job another week as Notre Dame barely escaped consecutive last-minute meltdowns from an inferior BigTen Michigan team. The Irish head to Purdue this Saturday after the (1-2) Boilers recently lost to Northern Illinois of the MAC.

The football Hoosiers are still undefeated after rolling over Akron in the 2nd half, 38-21. This is the 3rd time in 5 years IU has started 3-0. Should they beat Michigan Saturday, it would mark the first 4-0 start since 1990. But IU hasn't won at the Big House since 1967 (our last Rose Bowl) and has just a lone victory in the past 31 meetings with the Wolverines.

The Colts return to Miami's LandShark Stadium for the first time since winning SB XLi. Peyton Manning and the Colts will hopefully be back in February for SB XLiV, possibly en route to winning a 4th MVP and solidifying himself as the greatest ever. Since 1999, the Colts have the most regular-season wins (115, the Patriots have 111) and they also have the best win percentage on Monday Nights (.750 in 12 games). After tonight's game, they have another primetime matchup on Sunday on NBC vs the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner just set an NFL record with the best completion percentage (92.3%) in a single game. Rookie CBs Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will likely have their hands full with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

Colts claim rookie LB Cody Glenn off waivers

Colts claimed rookie LB Cody Gleen off waivers (via Redskins) and released 4-yr veteran S Matt Giordano. This could be good news regarding the injury status of Bob Sanders, who was recently taken off the PUP list. Either the Colts are confident that #21 will be healthy enough to play, or they really like Cody Glenn. They apparently didn't covet him enough to draft him with either of their two 4th round picks, one of which was used on defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, whom did not make the final 53-man roster.

Cody Glenn actually entered college as RB, but eventually won the starting weak-side linebacker position for Nebraska last year. Although he has very little experience on defense, he has played both OLB and ILB spots. Glenn has prototypical size for a Colts linebacker (basically a slightly bulky safety) at 6' 0", 244 lbs, and he ran a respectable 4.67 40-yard dash at his pro day workout.

Once Ed Johnson's one-week suspension has been served, the Colts will have to release another player. My guess is they'll release backup K Shane Andrus or one of the two backup QBs, Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painter.

Speaking of suspension, Cody was held out of 2 games last year for "violating team rules" which was rumored to be him selling his game-issued tix, but ESPN has reported that was false.

Update #1: Colts just claimed S Aaron Francisco from the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals

Update #2: Colts just waived Cody Glenn. Awesome.

Update #3: Cody Glenn placed on practice squad. Riveting, I know!

Top10 Health Care Reform notes

1. The constitution-loving US citizens are worried Obama's health care proposals will lead to a government takeover of health care, so worried that they're not only exercising their First Amendment rights at Town Hall meetings, but also their Second Amendment rights. Here's what being proposed:

2. Single-payer: Under a single-payer system, the financing system relies on one "payer" -- which could be a government-run agency -- to fund all health care costs billed by doctors, hospitals and other health professionals.

3. Public option: A public option is a government-funded, government-run health care option, similar to Medicare. Under the plan, people would pay premiums 10 to 20 percent less than private insurance.

4. Private insurance: Private insurance is coverage offered by a company other than the government.

5. Co-op: Nonprofit health cooperatives are being proposed as an option to compete with the private sector and as an alternative to a government-sponsored public health insurance option. Co-ops are owned and governed by the same people they insure.

6. Mandated coverage: Some lawmakers have proposed mandated coverage, which would require all Americans to get a minimum amount of insurance. The mandate could be enforced with a tax penalty.

7. Blue Dog coalition: The Blue Dog coalition is a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats in the House. The Blue Dogs insist that health care reform should preserve patient choice and maintain competition in the marketplace without adding to the national deficit. They'll play a critical role in getting a bill through the House.

8. eRecords: President Obama wants to computerize all records within 5 years as a way to increase quality of health care and decrease costs. Under his plan to modernize health care, all health records would be standardized and electronic.

9. rescission: Health care rescission is the process by which insurers cancel coverage, often after finding that a person omitted pertinent information on his or her application. Some companies have been accused of improperly rescinding policies as a way to avoid paying for expensive treatments.

10. end-of-life counseling: The current version of the House bill contains a provision for end-of-life counseling for Medicare beneficiaries who want it, as long as that individual has not had an end-of-life care or "advance care planning" consultation within the last 5 years.

Bonus: Medicare and Medicaid are public health options. Medicare is a government-sponsored program for people 65 years or older. Medicaid is a health care program for low income individuals and families.

Top10 NFL fanbases

1. Washington Redskins - the most loyal and patient fans of any NFL franchise (327 consecutive sellouts) still sport the traditional (and now un-PC) feathers & facepaint, dresses, and pigmasks... even at opposing stadiums

2. Pittsburgh Steelers - They've got the 2nd longest streak of sellouts (308), plus generations of champions with just 3 head coaches in 40 years = six-year waiting list for season tickets

3. Dallas Cowboys - America's Team has (just) 154 consecutive sellouts but their fans are located worldwide. You'd have a hard time finding one that hated you, even in their new billion dollar home.

4. Indianapolis Colts - Within the Dome, the fans were so loud they were accused of piping in sound to disrupt the opponents. While the new Stadium can't offer that anymore, Indy still provides jealousy from others, at least until they aren't winning 12+ games every year

5. Green Bay Packers - They oughta be ranked higher, however they handled that Brett Favre situation poorly, and then took frustration out on Aaron Rodgers.

6. Kansas City Chiefs - The Green Bay of the AFC, their fans are the loudest and they play outdoors

7. Cleveland Browns - Losing the team in '95 hurt the Browns Backers substantially, but they still can be seen at some remote bar in just about every American city on a Sunday afternoon

8. New England Patriots - ranked this low due to lack of loyalty, creativity and national presence

9. Philadelphia Eagles - Nobody gets on their own players as much as these guys do, often to a fault. Maybe the biggest base among non-transplant cities (sorry Miami, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, etc)

10. Chicago Bears - These faux-blue-collarians are fair weather and delusional

Honorable mention: Oakland Raiders - more of a Sunday morning Halloween party than anything, but they still HATE like none other

Top10 TV channels

Yes, I'm ranking my favorite television channels... don't judge me.

Comedy (30 Rock, Conan, The Office, SNL, Notre Dame football) and Drama (Friday Night Lights, Southland, Heroes, Olympics) plus TV's #1 slot: Sunday Night Football

True Blood, Hung, Entourage, Bill Maher, 6' Under, The Wire, Curb, Flight of the Conchords, Eastbound & Down... stellar lineup and the commercials are absent.

Daily Show, Colbert Report, South Park, and Tosh.0 put this channel tops among basic cable. The late-night (often uncensored) stand-ups are DVR gold

Cops, Speeders, awesome car chases and a slew of titles that begin with "Most Shocking/Extreme/Horrifying" have me a fan of reality TV. (Not reality, actuality!)

NOVA and Nature alone put PBS in the top five (although American Experience and random nudity are bonuses) and oh, guess what, NO COMMERCIAL BREAKS

Not only does it stream live stats, it's mildly entertaining, uber-political, tech savvy, scientific, and often internationally newsworthy

Simpsons, 24, Family Guy, Cops, American Idol (I only watch the auditions), NFC Football, Nascar, MLB

Lost, AFV, Scrubs, Jimmy Kimmel, College Football, Bowl games, NBA and golf. (and I hear Dancing With The Stars and Greys Anatomy are pretty entertaining too)

Colts, How I Met Your Mother, 2½ Men, CSI, Price is Right, golf, and March Madness

NBA Playoffs, Law & Order, CSI, and Braveheart re-runs, because thats more believable drama than whatever ESPN, MTV or E! puts out. (Exceptions: live sports, Run's House and The Soup)