Its been a very long time but I’m so excited to finally say its time for some football!! It’s a wonderful time of year, but before every season can start I have to watch a bunch “experts” talk about which teams will do will. So in the spirit of the “experts” I decided to make my own predictions. I went through week by week and picked every game, and then figured out what everyone’s record would be. I admit that I was surprised by the outcome. There are some teams that I expected to do well but due to schedule and what not its not looking so good and I have some teams picked to do really well that I might find hard to believe. But that’s the NFL. I like my picks and I think I could be as right as anyone else. So, without further foolishness, here are my NFL predictions good for only making me look silly by the end of the season.

So there you have it. No playoffs for the Jets or Cowboys, and it will be a long season for the Browns’ fans. Next time we’ll talk about the playoffs. Happy Football!!!

I mentioned this on my facebook a week or so ago, but I’ve got more to say and being that this is just the forum here we go. I have grown extremely weary of the wall to wall coverage of Tiger Woods. I’m tired of hearing about his press conference and I’m tired of the speculation being made about his personal life. At this point I, not a golf fan, really only want to know when he’ll be returning to golf. Anything else, don’t care. I stand by my original comments that his personal life none of my business. As a matter of fact I would extend this to almost any celebrity.

Tiger Woods is a golfer. He is a very good golfer (possibly the best ever, but I neither have the credentials nor do I care enough to make that argument), and he makes a lot of money on endorsements because he is the best in the world. I’ve never really understood the idea of endorsements. If I buy Nike golf products I’m still not going to be a good golfer, and really did anyone think Tiger ever drove a Buick?

The ONLY reason this is a news story is because ESPN, TMZ and all the other outlets know they can make a buck off our voyeuristic culture that will tune in to head the latest scrap of gossip about Tiger. The depths the tabloid culture sinks to is to say the least disturbing, but it exists only because we consume it at an alarming rate.

Tiger is just the latest celebrity to find how curious we are. Here’s the top and bottom of it, He’s a golfer! If the story is not about golf then Tiger should not be in it. What Tiger did to his family was horrible but that’s just it…he did it to his family. I’m not a part of that family and he doesn’t own me any kind of explanation or access. What happens off the golf course is not my concern nor could I care about it less.

The idea that Tiger should be condemned for his actions more than anyone else is just silly. The moral outrage just startles me. Again I’ll emphasize that I think his actions were horrible and I feel for his family, but he’s not a role model. He’s never said, “be like me.” Perhaps I’d understand if he was a spokesperson for focus on the family or something, but he isn’t, he’s just a golfer. If you look up to Tiger or you allow you kids to look up to Tiger without being parent enough to give them context then you deserve the fall you got when he fell off your unrealistic pedestal.

Really my complaint is just that I can’t watch Sports Center or PTI without have to endure more about Tiger. I know football is over but can’t we find something to talk about. Sadly for Tiger if this story broke in the fall it wouldn’t be a headline for more than a couple days. It would have been buried by the land slide that is the BSC and the NFL. But because it’s a slow time in sports news we’re stuck hearing more about Tiger. Maybe I just miss football…that’s probably it!

Last week was a big moment in our family. It was a proud moment for any father. We took C to her 1^st professional sporting event. We went the Braves’ game. She seemed to know that it was a special day cause even as we walked through the parking lot she was bouncing in the stroller. As we got into the Ted (Turner Field) there are large cartoon network chacters just inside the gate and I think that convinced C that this was going to be a great place to be. Even though I prefer football, I must confess there is something very special about a baseball field that just invites you in and even a 2 year old can understand that. C was fascinated with everything. From the folding seats to the big screen to the cheering people she enjoyed to whole thing.

It was fun to review with her the finer points of the game. Like the use of the hit and run and a full count breaking ball. Of course her conceptual grasp at this point is “out”. She’s all over “out”, so I guess that’s a start. She had a hot dog, and did her 1^st tomahawk chop. I’m not sure I really sold her on cotton candy as a snack but she enjoyed tearing it off and feeding it to me, and that means more for me.

Even though the Braves lost it was a great evening. We weren’t really watching the game. The real show was in the seat next to us. Every cheer got C excited and she really enjoyed dancing to the mid inning music. And toward the later innings she curled up in my arms and we watch the Braves attempt a comeback as we snuggled in the upper deck. Who needs World Series tickets when you can go to a meaningless mid May game with a two year old.

Just like both the men’s and women’s national championship games the breakfast bracket final wasn’t all that close. After extending the voting for you late comers, it’s over! It’s all over! After many votes, several upsets and a couple really close matches, Captain Crunch has emerged as the King of Breakfast! That’s right the good Cap’n is the risen up from the 4 seed to beat out both varieties of Cheerios, Pebbles, a resilient Frosted Flakes and all other challengers. Is Captain Crunch the best cereal ever? Well that’s for the historians to decide, but whether they’re the best or not, today they are Champions.

Congrats Cap’n!

So this it what it all comes down to. The brackets have thinned it down to the final two. Will it be the Captain who has blown out all his competition? Or will the surprising other member of the Cheerio family. Honey Nut has made it further than most expected but now they look to finish it off with the title “King of Breakfast.”

As always you can vote by emailing godiseverywhere@joncoder.com or by commenting below. By the way, just as a ps, I completely thought I had posted this a while back. I guess I just saved it. Alas, soon I’ll get that new Dell that actually does the work for me. That’ll be sweet.

 The King of Breakfast Final

9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles
    4. Captain Crunch                 4. Captain Crunch              ______________

3. Lucky Charms                   7. Honey Nut Cheerios
    7. Honey Nut Cheerios

We’re almost home. There are only four cereals remaining. The #1 seed fell at the hands of the pebble twin and the Captain pulled the narrowest of wins over Tony the Tiger.  I like the Cap to finish this thing out, but both Lucky Charms and Cheerios, of the honey nut variety, have shown they can put up the numbers needed to win the whole glass of milk.  I will post these winners and the Championship match up on Friday.

For those of you with NCAA brackets good luck this weekend. I hope you all finish strong. Actually that’s not true. I hope you finish strong if you have Michigan St, Memphis, Pitt and UNC in your final four. If you have something else I hope you fall on your face, and you see your brackets crumble like cheap packing peanuts. It’s not pretty and I’m not proud of it be that’s how it is around bracket time.

Thanks again to everyone who voted in first two rounds, and you can vote for the final four by either posting a comment or emailing godiseveywhere@joncoder.com.

Round 3 The Final Four

1. Cheerios
    9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles               9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles

4. Captain Crunch                      4. Captain Crunch             ____________
    5. Frosted Flakes

6. Frosted Mini Wheat
    3. Lucky Charms                      3. Lucky Charms                 ____________

7. Honey Nut Cheerios              7. Huney Nut Cheerios
   15. Cinn Toast Crunch

Well, my real NCAA bracket is still strong. I got 12 of the sweet 16 correct and all four of my final four are still in it. I can’t say the same for my breakfast bracket. I was stunned when my #2 Fruit Loops fell to Cinnamon Toast crunch. I was told Toucan Sam was inconsolable when he heard the news. Otherwise, it was a fairly uneventful 1^st round. Pebbles got the nod over Raisin Bran and Apple Jacks was within a couple of votes of pulling the major upset.

In round 2 I expect a few upsets. I think Pebbles will give Cheerios all it wants and more. Coming out of the first round the two hottest competitors are Captain Crunch and Frosted Flakes.  Both whom won their matches by taking over 95% of the votes. I expect this one to be very close and the winner could be the favorite to take it all. I guess that’s up to you the reader. I’ll post the winners and final four matchups on Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone who voted in round one, and you can vote for round 2 by either posting a comment or emailing godiseveywhere@joncoder.com.

Round 2 The Eatable 8

1. Cheerios
   16. Apple Jacks                 1. Cheerios

8. Raisin Bran                  9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles       ____________
    9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles

4. Captain Crunch
   13. Coco Puffs                  4. Captain Crunch              ____________

5. Frosted Flakes             5. Frosted Flakes
   12. Rice Crispy

6.  Frosted Mini Wheat
   11. Smacks                      6. Frosted Mini Wheat

3. Lucky Charms              3. Lucky Charms               _____________
   14. Kix

7. Honey Nut Cheerios
   10. Trix                           7. Honey Nut Cherrios        _____________

2. Fruit Loops                  15. Cinn Toast Crunch 
   15. Cinnamon Toast Crunch

So after yesterday’s post I got to thinking about my comment on a cereal bracket, and so today we’re going to setup my sweet 16 breakfast bracket.  I have talked with several folks today and I think we’ve put together a solid list.  (Just for full disclosure’s sake, earlier today I noticed on ESPN’s site that one of their radio personalities apparently made a similar cereal bracket comment.  I guess there will have to be room for two breakfast brackets)

Round 1 The Sweet 16

1. Cheerios
16. Apple Jacks

8. Raisin Bran
9. Coco/Fruity Pebbles

4. Captain Crunch
13. Coco Puffs

5. Frosted Flakes
12. Rice Crispy

6.  Frosted Mini Wheat
11. Smacks

3. Lucky Charms
14. Kix

7. Honey Nut Cheerios
10. Trix

2. Fruit Loops
15. Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Here’s the breakdown as I see it.  Cheerios gets the 1 seed cause let’s face it Cheerios is good any way you cut it.  They’re healthy, tasty, and the perfect children’s snack.  In the 8/9 you’ve got a contrast in styles.  There is healthy Raisin Bran verse the Flintstone powered pebbles.  I’ll take the two scoops please.  Next, you may be kuku for Coco Puffs but the Captain will have him walk the plank.  And in the classic 5/12 faceoff Tony the tiger will take on Snap, Crackle, Mitch and Pop.  On the surface Frosted Flakes seems to be the favorite, but don’t sleep on the world’s most talkative cereal.  The Crispys are not only a strong cereal, but when added to marshmallows they become one of the best snacks of all time.  In the bottom half of the bracket the only tight match seems to be the 6/11.  Smacks, whether it is the honey or sugar verity will have a hard time topping the sweet and healthy mini wheat.  Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops should each move on easily, and finally Trix, being only for kids, will take on the second verity Cheerios on this list.  It’s not just the power of Cheerios but also it boasts the depth of both honey and nuts.

So there you have it.  There’s your first round and we’ll see who moves on.  Feel free to comment or e-mail your votes on the first round. 

Today is a day that our culture has designated acceptable to miss or duck out of work.  In fact missing work for the beginning of March Madness is almost a noble act.  I saw on ESPN.com where the President took time to fill in his bracket so who am I to argue with the leader of the free world (I think I have decided to steer away from political content at this time).  I however will not be missing work to watch any games.  Not out of a deep sense of commitment to my job, or some misguided idea that “it’s only a game,” will I be at work, but rather I am less than a huge college basketball fan.  As a matter of fact, I will likely watch very few NCAA tournament games.  I consider myself something of a sportscenter fan when it comes to most sports outside of football.  Why watch a two or three hour game when ESPN will happily distil it down to the essential 90 sec highlight, and I can mark my bracket and move on.

And yes I did fill in my bracket.  For anyone curious to see here it is.  I have North Carolina winning the whole thing, but even as I type this it sounds as though one of their best players is out with an injury.  I guess there goes my bracket.  I heard on the radio today that 3 billion dollars goes into tournament office pools every year.  That’s billion with a “B” all over school names on lines.

 I think it’s the brackets.  Brackets make everything much more interesting.  If I put breakfast cereals on a bracket people would jump to break down the match ups and give their learned outlook on matter at hand.  But alas I digress.  I’ll save the breakfast food faceoff for another day.

So, we’ll see how I do, and there will be no billions wagered on this bracket, but here’s a scary thought, in the president’s tourney pool do you think the winner gets to pass his/her legislation of choice? Just a thought.