If you can leave your home at 5:09 for a 5:30 Downtown event and arrive to take your seat on time, that can mean only one thing...CSU basketball! The Vikings could only dress nine, as two guys were declared ineligible on academics. Might not be permanent, but we'll see.

But the band of 9 (well, only 8 played) won! Yes, they beat Detroit, 63-61. Typical CSU game where they jump out to a huge lead, this time by 18 points, only to see that get cut to 2 in the second half. It helped that they hit 11 three-pointers. The key was they never relinquished the lead, even though they were perilously close to doing so, and they did not have many turnovers. I think the Devil is richer today, because Bahaad Russell, who had scored only 23 points in his career, had 21 for CSU today. A 10% shooter on threes, he had 5 of 9 today.

On a personal note, I think I may get a balloon hat at one of these Saturday games.

Meal of Links

If it hadn't been so cloudy lately, we might have seen this comet. Apparently, the brightest one in a while.

I couldn't believe it when they found those two kidnapped boys in Missouri. And the one had been gone for 4 years. That's so incredible, though you have to wonder about his state of mind.

The Comics Curmudgeon always makes me laugh. Unlike the actual comics themselves. BTW, Mary Worth is going to Vietnam.

Exercise Yard

Last week, I had a pretty good week picking the NFL Playoffs, so let's see what happens this week.

I thought the Ravens would beat the Colts. Doh!

Eagles/Saints

Should be entertaining, but the Saints are pretty good on both sides of the ball. I think the Jeff Garcia bandwagon stops here.

Bears/Seahawks

You cannot bet the Seahawks on the road. Not even against Rex Grossman. Bears roll.

Patriots/Chargers

Take the Pats with the points. They may not win, as San Diego is the better team here. But with Belichick on one side and Marty on the other (and I love Marty), it's going New England's way.

Visitor

36 Down: Author of the memoir "One Soldier's Story" (7 letters) Answer: Bob Dole