New Year's resolution?

It's not because it is going to be 2009. It isn't about the new semester, either. 

Nonetheless, there are two new(ish) things I want to do when I get home Friday: Read and write.

It is said to be a great writer, one must be a great reader. I'm hoping to try to get there being an OK reader.

Hopefully, however, if I read great pieces I'll be able to call it even.

To start, let's follow one, actually two, great writers.

In the film "Gonzo: The Life and Works of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," it is said F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby" captured Thompson's interest by showing the haves and have nots.  

If it's good enough for a doctor, who am I to say no?

I know I have this book because I bought in high school, but without any interest in reading or writing at the time I started, but never finished. However, I do remember enjoying what I read so maybe I can pick up where I left off. 

Next on the list comes a series of articles I picked up around Halloween (which reminds me - Happy Holidays/Hanukah/Christmas/New Year). While in Kansas City for the ACP convention, a professor held a session on literary journalism and finished it with a number of articles by writers including Ernest Hemmingway and Mark Twain and Jack London's coverage of the 1908 San Francisco earthquake. 

The list had 10 articles on there so that should be done fairly quickly. To continue my conquest of my miniscule literary world, I go back to my roots, to what actually sparked my interest in writing and journalism: poker. 

At home I have the biography of Stu Ungar, who may have been the greatest cardplayer to ever live. He ruined his life, however, with the fast pace and drug culture of Vegas during the 1970s. 

Hopefully, I will finish this by Jan. 15, but if I don't I have a lifetime ahead of me. Maybe before the end of it I will read about the man who inspired this quest, and blog: Dr. Thompson.

bAbel.

 

Over worked.

I already wrote an essay today. I'll blog tomorrow.

Probably.

bAbel.

Big sports day sets for bigger ones tomorrow.

Today was huge for a sports fan.

The day began in Berkeley at noon where Cal running back Jahvid Best ran for nearly 100 yards and set the Pac-10 single season rushing record before the biggest college game so far this season - the SEC Championship game.

This de facto national championship semifinal pitted the two best teams in what is arguably the best conference in the country (although the Big 12 may beg to differ). No. 1 Crimson Tide and the Gators played a great game, with Florida taking the game 31-20 and in all likelihood a spot in the BCS Championship spot.

What may have been an interesting match with BCS confusion if Oklahoma lost to Mizzou for the Big 12 (hey, they're back) Championship.

The Sooners, the most explosive offense in the country became the highest scoring team in NCAA history in the 62-21 mauling of the Tigers.

Tonight's two games in the south set the stage for a Heisman showdown in 2009. If all the chips fall as they are expected, 2008 Heisman winner Tim Tebow will lead his Gators against Sam Bradford, who is looking to replace Tebow as college football's best player this year, and Oklahoma for the 2008-09 BCS title at the (formerly) OB.

After the booze wore off, it was time to start drinking again where the real party was at this weekend, in Vegas.

In what was considered to be the match to revive boxing, which has been on the mat and hit 8 in the 10 count against MMA's dominance of combat sports, the favorite son, Oscar "Golden Boy" De La Hoya, went up against Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao.

PacMan established himself early in the match striking often and with lighting speed against the 30-something DLH, who struggled to respond in landing anything worth mentioning of his own.

After taking all eight rounds, PacMan met DLH at the center of the ring after the old man surrendered from his corner between the eighth and ninth rounds.

The upset sparked question: Does Pretty Boy Floyd Money Mayweather come out of retirement and MMA and WWE cameos to go punch-for-punch with the newly belted?

Regardless of who you root for - FLA/Bama, Texas/Tech/Okla., or DLH/PacMac - today's games were instant classics. So will the contests they set up, allegedly.

bAbel.

Ehh . . .

I made this a long time ago, never updated it. In fact, as you can see, this is my first post. Maybe I will do a better job with it in the future . . .

bAbel.