Winter thoughts

I feel like writing a few things, about sports, about life, about whatever.

Some pretty cool things happened this weekend in the NFL. Nothing, however, is cooler than watching (as it happened, and realizing as it happened) the Tampa Bay Buccaneers return their first ever kickoff for a touchdown. I was watching the Packer game at a bar as I usually do since living in Florida, and I saw the Bucs receive the kick, then he kicked it outside and had a decent angle. My first thought was, "I don't think that's ever happened". Literally 3 seconds after the guy crossed the goal line they splashed a graphic across the screen "First kickoff return for a touchdown in Franchise history." It was pretty neat. The first thing I did was call my dad and say "The Buccaneers just returned a kickoff for a touchdown." His response: "That's their first one ever, isn't it?" It was pretty neat, and it was the talk of the local news, talk radio, and any Bucs fan you saw.

On to other things. It got down into the 30s here in Tampa this morning. It was 39 degrees when I left for work this morning and it never got above 60. Of course I had a jacket on, but I wouldn't really say I was cold. Everyone at work, however, was all about how cold it was outside. Then on my way home I was listening to a Buccaneers radio show with Joey Galloway who is from Ohio (he went to Ohio St. I think), and he was talking about how everyone needs to relax down here, and that if Ohio (or Wisconsin) ever saw a 55 degree day in December kids would be running outside in shorts and t-shirts. Anyway, when it comes to "cold" weather, Floridians are big wimps. When I tell people that I'm from Wisconsin, they have recently been talking to me about how cold it is in Wisconsin with all that snow they are getting. Then I have to reason with them, as any true Wisconsite would say "Well, it it's snowing, it really isn't that cold out. At least it's not nearly as cold as it could be." They usually get cold just thinking about it.

Work sucks. Anyone have a lead for a job for me? In Tampa?

I never realized how much I actually would miss the winter weather until I could only watch it on the news. I always felt that weathering the cold and the snow was what I accomplished on a daily basis. That was my task for the day, getting through cold. Now, nothing. Getting through traffic is all I got, and that is not nearly as satifisfying as getting through a sub zero day.

It is neat to be able to go swimming in an outdoor pool (heated to 85 degrees) on December 16th, however.

The Packers have a chance at home field advantage. They need to win in Chicago and at home against the Lions. Neither should really be that big of deal. They just have to avoid the "shocking upset" type of game. On the other hand, the Cowboys play at Carolina and then against the Giants, who still think they are in the Playoffs. While I would still put my money on the Cowboys winning both of their remaining games, I would be more shocked to see the Packers lose one of their games than I would if the Cowboys lost one of theirs. If the Packers do indeed claim homefield advantage, I would be hard pressed to believe that Green Bay wouldn't make the Super Bowl.

----Warning: Brett Favre Gush Fest-----
I have to say, it is really a prideful moment to be able to just sit and enjoy the fact that a player I have grown up watching now owns pretty much every passing record in the books. I'm not saying this to pour it on, or to rub it in, but I feel very fortunate to have lived through the entire Brett Favre era. I do remember when Favre through his first completion to himself. I remember when Don Majkowski (I spelled that right before looking it up) came out of the game hurt and Favre's streak started. I remember when Favre hooked up with Robert Brooks for a 99 yard touchdown pass on Monday night against the Bears. And I remember all the other moments that we have all been bludgeoned to death with over the years. I know that it is very possible that Peyton Manning may very well overtake pretty much every one of Favre's records someday, but when Brett Favre retires he will retire holding on to virtually every record that the quarterback position has available to it. Without gushing over the guy, it is something this Packer fan is very proud of. I am not taking it forgranted, for I know that the Packers might go 5 or 10 years where they start 5 or 10 different quarterbacks. If this is Favre's last season, I am enjoying every minute of it that I can.