Another week gone by, and some surprises to mark this week's events on the "This Week In History" column for posterity.  Interestingly, this week's Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down also contains a surprise of its own.  So, unlike the events in Congress this week, let's get down to business.

Thumbs Down:

Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican-UT) gained national attention when he gave a standing-room only press conference dealing with solutions to this current economic crisis, how to solve the hunger problem in America, energy issues, and security issues with North Korea and terrorists. 

Ha, just kidding; he should have been doing that.  Instead, he used his platform of power to criticize the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) of college football and the way it determines the national champion of that sport.  I'll bet that all the Americans without jobs, food, homes, or health care are right behind him on this issue...with pitchforks, hopefully.  It's gratifying to know that the Republicans can gripe about nothing getting done in Congress, well, unless you count blaming Democrats, worrying about including "In God We Trust" on everything including underwear labels, and amateur sports.  I will call Orrin Hatch a complete moron for doing this, but only because I don't know if there's enough documented proof for me to promote him to full moron.

Now, the BCS system, much like all sports, is subjected to criticism in nearly every aspect.  From scheduling, the playing of the game, managing the game, and its outcome, pundits and fans like to opine and complain about every possible aspect of the sport rather than use it as the diversion and source of enjoyment that defines sports.

As a member of the Senate Joint Committee on Antitrust Issues (as well as Taxation, Intelligence, Aging, and serving on the Finance Committee), he claimed that the BCS uses its influence of power to, um, violate the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.  I couldn't believe this when I read it.  Here is the transcript.  I would recommend that the reader not eat or drink any items, or be around any easily thrown objects.  If need be, put a towel under your jaw to soak up any froth you may spit at your screen.

The University of Utah (who went undefeated and won the Sugar Bowl) and the Mountain West Conference begged and pleaded with college football to express their outrage at this arrangement, even though the other Division-I football conferences and Notre Dame signed agreements with the BCS as a way to determine the Bowl arrangements. 

So, how did the Mountain West Conference and Utah rectify this injustice?  A day after they brought national attention to this issue about the evils of the BCS, the Mountain West blowhards SIGNED A BCS AGREEMENT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL GAMES! 
Nice going, guys.  Does anyone at the college level understand anything about TV ratings?  How many Americans will watch Bowling Green and UTEP?  Hell, even the Giants-Angels World Series a few years back generated low ratings.  Low ratings for America's Pastime AND the World Series? 

From the steroid hearings to the latest debacle, shouldn't Congress stay out of sports?  Will all contentious sports issues need to be resolved by the Supreme Court?  I can joke about it now, but I wouldn't be surprised if I see a 5-4 ruling involving a close play at the plate in a June 1967 game between the Cubs and Cardinals.

What is even worse, rather than focus on illegal or unethical activities perpetrated by college athletic departments or coaching staffs in the pursuit of the lucrative contracts, recruiting methods, and desire for fame and glory, the onus of this discussion focuses on the slight the University of Utah received.  Wah, eh, wahhhh!  There are bigger problems in the world than college football.  It would behoove the University of Utah (and other facilities of higher education) to educate their student and student-athlete populations about these problems and how to rectify them.  Provided that these student-athletes stay on campus for four years (that means no early entry in the NBA, NFL Draft, or go to prison).

" I should know all about issues related to money and the benefits lost to those who don't participate.  After all,
I have earned millions through pharmaceutical company contributions."


Thumbs Down Rating:

Considering the frivolous nature of this joke, Hatch's criticism that the BCS is corrupting its position of power (sounds like a certain Senator from Utah), and that fact that the Mountain West Conference signed a BCS agreement a day later, this earns a stadium full of thumbs and toes down.  Preferably a stadium whose student and staff population symbolizes honorable values.  Unfortunately, the service academies of the Air Force, Naval Academy, and West Point are the only ones that would meet the mission statement of the NCAA.

Thumbs Down:

Loud chewers.  Is it possible for people to eat a bag of crunchy snacks without sounding like a kennel full of Labrador retrievers?  This is why I dislike flying so much.  Not only am I a captive audience, but I tend to get on the flight taking all the loud chewers and all the people from around the world still suffering from cholera at the same time.  There is a professional category in the food industry that requires people to eat and drink from area restaurants.  These people are loud eaters, but it is because the extra amounts of air in the mouth and nasal passages can alter the taste of food and drink.  However, these people are food critics in high-end restaurants and fine dining facilities.  The same level of food connoisseur doesn't need to be implemented when eating a bag of Doritos.

Thumbs Down Rating:

Despite its irritable quality, this only earns two thumbs down.  Play some music, wear industrial strength ear protection, anything to get rid of the sounds.


Thumbs Up:

User comments.  We've been fortunate to have reader comments and responses to the Thumbs Up/Down.  Some have been on the positive side, and others on the thumbs down side.  Keep up the viewpoints and comments! 

Thumbs Up Rating:

Two thumbs and two toes up.

Thumbs Up: 

To some, the year 1893 was a forgettable time.  Grover Cleveland won his second term as President (the only time a person served two non-consecutive terms), the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the Indian Head Penny.  What else happened in that year?  Pabst Blue Ribbon won an award for its great taste.  PBR is so proud of it (and hasn't won any other award since) that the saga of that win is still put on their cans.  And, PBR is cheap and tasty.

If you're fortunate enough to live in a state with can and bottle deposit, the value of
the cans in this six pack should be enough to pay for itself.

Thumbs Up Rating: 

Two thumbs up, one beer down.  Some may shy away and disdain this brew, but I approve of this beverage.  Have enough of these puppies and those loud eaters mentioned above won't seem as bothersome.