Wolverines!

Photo by Mark Harrison, The Seattle Times

My high school alma mater won its fourth consecutive, and ninth in the last eleven years, state football championship tonight, 35-16 over the Irish of O'Dea.

Congratulations to all the kids on the field, all the kids in the stands and all us kids at heart watching from afar.

Congratulations especially to a remarkable class of seniors who have won a state championship in every year they've been at Bellevue. It's an achievement that rewards years of work and dedication to one another and their school. I hope they'll indulge an aging alumnus in grabbing just a ray or two of reflected glory.

One down...

...or up, I suppose, as Bellevue wins in Kennewick and comes back to meet O'Dea in the 3-A championship game next week. Go Wolverines!

The Huskies are starting strong, but the Apple Cup has offered too many surprises over the years to get comfortable early in the game. 14-0 at the end of the first is worth a WOOF!, though.

Ready or not...

...it's football time! This afternoon my beloved Bellevue High School Wolverines will face off with Kamiakan for the right to face O'Dea in the state 3-A championship game next week, and before the final whistle blows in that one, the University of Washington Huskies will take on the Washington State Cougars in the annual Apple Cup. Just doesn't get much better than that.

The Wolverines have been state champs eight out of the last ten years, but championships never get old, and given the struggles of the Huskies and Hawks in recent years, have been the bright spot of many a football season here at Upper Left World Headquarters.

With six wins under their belt going into the Apple Cup, the Dawgs are already bowl eligible, while today's game is the Coug's bowl game this year. Also at stake may be the fate of Wazzu head coach Paul Wulff. That sets up a bit of a mental conflict, as I'd hate to see the outcome cost Wulff his job, but the team's got nowhere to go this year and a win might cement a better bowl berth for the Huskies, so Go Dawgs!

I'll be monitoring all the action from the perfect tavern. Come on down if you're nearby and looking for a good seat for the game.

If you're looking for a bright spot...

in the local football firmament, feel free to celebrate my fantasy football team's commanding victory today. Go Hibernians!

Which is an admittedly flimsy pretext for the opportunity to remind you that our 8th Blogiversary Begathon is underway. The wolf isn't actually at the door this time, but he's circling the yard and sniffing the air. If you can chip in for a little wolf repellent it would be appreciated more than I can express.

Here's the PayPal link.

Thanks.

Me too…

…too. Neil Sinhababu, on the immanent NFL lockout...

There's causes that I'll get more excited about, like the situation of ordinary union people in Wisconsin, but I hope the players win.

There's a core group of dedicated union busters among the NFL owners. Sure, there's an element of millionaires vs. billionaires that makes it hard to worry about beyond the implications for my fantasy league, but at its heart it's just labor vs. capital with a very high, and hard earned, wage scale.

The Player's Union has made concessions, stands ready to bargain and wants to work. They deserve our support.

One more time...

Let's Go Green Bay!

Oh well...

...at least I can root against the Steelers with more enthusiasm than I could have rooted against the Jets.

Let's go, Green Bay!

One done...

Congrats to the Packers. Now, let's go Jets!

Let's Go Green Bay!

I'm pulling for a Packers-Jets Superbowl. The Lombardi era Pack was my team as a kid and they've tugged at my football heart a bit every since. Football's always a better game when the Pack is back.

On the AFC side, I haven't cared much about the Jets since the Broadway Joe days, but I'll never forgive the Steelers for Super Bowl XL.

Of course, both games will be on all three screens at the perfect tavern, so if you're nearby, drop in and watch some football with me. Mention the blog and you just might win a prize...

Oh well...

...29 days to pitchers and catchers.

Go Mariners!

It's 1737 miles to Chicago…

...we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses (because our future's so bright.)

Nothin' left to say but..

How 'bout them Packers!?!

Though I suppose Bears fans are just as happy, and maybe a bit more confident, than I am right now.

But Yay Packers! and Go Hawks!

I think it's time to say...

...how 'bout them Hawks!?!

May I say...

...how 'bout them Hawks!


Record, schmecord. We're goin' to the playoffs, baby!

Heh™.

Goldy goes there...

Michael Vick’s fourth-quarter performance was so amazing, even my dog is becoming a reluctant fan.

You can take the boy out of Philly, but you can't take the Iggles out of the boy, I guess.

Big game today.

Saints 35, Colts 31.

Given my track record, of course, posting that prediction probably makes the game a lock for the Colts.

I'll be watching (and cooking) at the perfect tavern. C'mon down if you're nearby.

Maybe?

Probably.

AP - Maybe the award should be renamed Most Valuable Peyton.

Manning got me to, but not through, the finals of my fantasy league this year. I wish him better luck in real life. In an era of noteworthy quarterbacks, he's a marvel.

From the "Reason for the season" file.

As a Real American™, I've been monitoring the New Year's Day bowl games, and there have been some good ones so far. Northwestern put a real scare into Auburn in an overtime contest, but why, I'm forced to wonder, are two unranked teams playing on this college football day of days?

Congratulations are due to Bobby Bowden, whose Florida State Seminoles came through with a farewell win for their retiring head coach. Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions came through for their grand old man, too, but Joe Pa doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

And now the quandry. Come bowl season, I'm typically a loyal son of the PAC 10, and that's particularly true come Rose Bowl time. But the Ducks? I'm supposed to root for the Ducks? That's a stretch.

On the other hand, they're playing Ohio State. If it could only be Michigan.

Ducks or Bucks? What to do?

Quack, I guess. Bring on the Sugar Bowl.

One more time for them Dawgs.

Cal's a tough way to finish a tough season. I'm hoping - it's the friendly confines, after all, and the team's pretty healthy - but not too hopeful. Woof anyway, though. Go get one, guys.

Oh me of little faith.

WASHINGTON 42, Cal 10

Wolverines!

My HS alma mater's football team heads to the Tacoma Dome to play for it's 7th State Championship in ten years tonight. Given the fortunes of the Hawks and Dawgs this year, it's nice to have the Wolverines to fall back on. And it's live on the teevee so I can lead the cheers at the perfect tavern. C'mon down and join in if you can.




Bellevue 23, Liberty 17

Way to go, Wolverines. 7 championships in the first decade of the century is an amazing achievement. Coach Butch Gondaroff is becoming a prep legend, and those kids just played their hearts out. As far as I know, there's only one NCAA Division I recruit on the team this year. Most of the seniors on the field were playing their last game of organized football, and they went out and created a great memory for themselves. Gotta love it.