College Football is all Up-Ons!

2) For some reason, our local cable provider has decided not to show Iowa games on TV this year -- the first time this has been the case in the eight years I've lived in Omaha. A source tells me that they grew tired of fielding complaints from Nebraska fans irate over having to pay as much as $29.99 to get Husker games on Pay-Per-View, when Iowa games were available for free on basic cable. With Husker games still Pay-Per-View, it was easier to just not show Iowa anymore.

Look, its not my fault that the Big 12 has a crummy TV deal and not all of their games are on TV. While the Big 10 negotiated a deal with ESPN Plus to produce every single game not televised by ABC or ESPN/2, the Big 12 went with Fox Sports Net. They produce one, sometimes two games a week. ABC picks up one. Everyone else is radio-only. The last three years, Fox has begun producing a webcast of some of the other games, which our cable company picks up and sells on Pay-Per-View.

Weak.

That's the tipping point, for me. I spent my monthly bonus check today on the ESPN GamePlan package, which promises to "Deliver up to 150 games directly to my television!" and show me "games not otherwise available in my area!". Like Iowa games, now. I've debated it for years, because ABC always shows regional games at 2:30, and we always get the Big 12 game here. Who cares about Texas-Texas A&M when I could be watching Michigan-Wisconsin? Exactly. But I could never justify the $100 cost when Iowa was available on cable. With that no longer true, well, I had no choice.

The unfortunate by-product is that every time Iowa isn't on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC -- which, admittedly, could be just 4 times -- guess who's hosting the party? Oh well.

3) There's an office pool for the Nebraska game tomorrow, one of those sheets with squares all over it. You pay for boxes, put your name in them, and then the Honcho in charge puts numbers across the top and side of the chart. So you end up with each box having a score -- one team along the side, one across the top. Someone wins at the end of each quarter.

But not me. Guess what my scores are?

Nebraska 9, Maine 4

Nebraska 8, Maine 2

You bet. If I frickin' win with either of those oddball scores, I'll drive The Colorado to Vegas and spend the rest of the weekend making lots of money, as it will clearly be my Lucky Time.

4) Its a "Wear Red" day today at the office. I made a special trip to Council Bluffs last night (which set me back $7 just in gas, with prices being what they are) to get a new Iowa shirt. Wound up with the Authentique (that's how the tag spelled it, don't ask me) Nike sideline gear shirt. $55.

That's ridiculous for a shirt, isn't it? $55? Good lord.

Oh well, its just money.

Come to think of it, that's probably what the guy who paid $9000 for tickets to a game with a 40-point spread thought.

And this shirt employs something Nike calls "Dri-Fit" technology. As if clothing could employ technology. Its fibers, buttons and stitched logos. But apparently this "technology" allows the wearer to sweat profusely and stay moderately dry, at least the shirt. Great. I know I sweat profusely every day sitting at my computer in this air-conditioned office. That's worth $55? Apparently. I bought it.

Of course, I also want to buy one of these, so clearly I'm not the best judge of good uses of one's finances:

The Aprila DiTech scooter. A bargain at just $3000. Has a CC49 engine, meaning you don't need a motorcycle license to operate it. Top speed of 50 mph. And 120 miles per gallon. The cool SpiderMan paint job is awesome too. But that 120 miles per gallon is looking pretty good right about now. Stay tuned.

You bet.