The Fever lost :(

The good news of the day is that I caught up on some sleep. I don't feel very refreshed from it, but I guess it's better than not having slept. I'll take it. Also, my buddy stopped by to help me look at my sports cards. We still have no idea what they're worth, but at least he has a better idea of what I have. That goes for both of us, actually, since I hadn't looked at them in forever. The next step is determining their value (any help would be much appreciated!!!). I'll be looking around online to see if there's any free place (I've just been lazy about searching) that can help. If push comes to shove, I guess I can go to a card shop and see what's offered there.

The bad news is that the Fever lost, so our ("our," even in defeat) season is now over. It's disappointing, but I'm still proud of the gals. We were just too inconsistent and gave up too many rebounds. Not being able to hit a shot down the stretch didn't help, nor did some less-than-stellar officiating. If we hit a couple more shots and/or stop them a few more times, then the whistles wouldn't matter as much. Live and learn, watch out for us next year!

It'll be interesting what we do in the offseason. Especially after re-signing a bunch of players already recently, I doubt we'll make any major moves. The only can't-miss college prospect I can think of is Maya Moore from UConn (oh, how it hurts to type that), and unless we make a huge deal, we're not getting her. I'm not sure if (veteran Aussie PG) Tully Bevilaqua is coming back, but I think it's more likely that she gives it one more year. That's not a done deal, though. Whatever happens, I'll be there to cheer them on next summer!

So now it's Phoenix and Seattle out west, and Atlanta and New York in the east. I don't like NY or Phoenix, so I guess I'm rooting for Atlanta over Seattle in the Finals. Seattle's won before, plus a successful team in the ATL would be good. I do hope for good TV ratings the rest of the way, whoever wins. The WNBA needs support, the players deserve it (most of them, anyway), and the more popular the league is, the healthier it is, and the better it is for the Fever.

There's the Colts preseason game tomorrow. I hear that the starters won't play. I'll tune in, just because it's football. Hopefully those who do play represent themselves well as they fight for roster spots and playing time. Maybe a guy will stick out and make an impact. Because of a college football game, the Bellator fights will be tape-delayed on Fox Sports. I was under the impression that wouldn't happen anymore, but whatever. I'll just have to avoid the results for a few hours. I'm not sure who else is on the card, but the main event is interesting: Joe Soto (champ) vs. Joe Warren for the 145 pound title. Soto won Bellator's the first tournament for that weight class, and Warren the second one earn the title shot. I've heard good things about Soto, but haven't seen him fight, yet. He was a college roommate of Jon "Bones" Jones, and actually got him into MMA. Warren is a world class wrestler and a tough dude, so it'll be a good scrap.

And Notre Dame kicks off the season on Saturday against Purdue! I'm really excited for that! I like what I've seen and heard from Coach Kelly so far, and I think we have a decent team returning from last year. It'll be interesting to see how the adjustments to/by new coaching regime work out. I think Purdue will be a good test, too. I really wish I could be there to catch the game in person. I haven't been back to campus in so long.

Whoa, I just realized that it's been since the fall of 2002. I've been too sick and broke to make the boring trip up US 31 since. I've heard and read and seen pictures of how much the campus has changed with new buildings and everything. I can't believe it was 13 years ago that my parents dropped me off at my dorm, the great Sorin College (GO OTTERS!!!). Wow...was it really that long ago? I still miss sitting on the porch swings people watching, avoiding the sprinklers at night (even when it was already raining), watching the sunset while walking to the dining hall, the excitement of football Saturdays. I don't miss early classes, homework, not being able to do homework because my eyes hurt, those damn bells every 15 minutes from the Basilica (which is right next to Sorin for non-Domers), alumni barging into my room while I was getting dressed on football Saturdays showing their kids and grandkids where they lived as undergrads, parietals (opposite sex out of non-public dorm space after midnight on weekdays, 2AM weekends), or underclassmen who can't hold their liquor. I miss being around people, being around smart people, walking around the lakes, cheering at the games (and not just football for me), working the late shift at the Huddle Mart, having more of a future to look forward to. I don't miss getting hit in the nuts every time I did the push-ups after an ND score, but I do miss being in that situation ;).

Thanks to the Fever for a good summer, my only consistent out-of-the-house distraction! We'll get'em next year! And I'll do my best to hook more people into coming out and support you like you deserve! Now it's time for football season, so GO COLTS! And, more importantly, GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!

Proud Fever Fanatic, Colts fan (even when they sucked!), and ND Alum,
-B :)