By Nick Carrabine
Ncarrabine@News-Herald.com

Well, that was awkward.

Ever see someone at the movie theater, grocery store or restaurant that you haven’t seen for a while?

Maybe you haven’t talked to that person in some time because you didn’t exactly end on great terms?

Ex co-worker? Old girlfriend? Former two-time MVP who ripped the heart out of an entire region of a state and angered 75 percent of the country?

Imagine Mo Williams’ surprise when his plane landed five hours late at Hopkins Airport in Cleveland and bumped into — guess who — everyone’s favorite backstabber, LeBron James.

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The most wonderful time of the year is upon us: college football season.

Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline, left, celebrates
his touchdown with Brian Robiskie as Michigan safety
Stevie Brown (3) walks off the end zone during the
second quarter of an NCAA college football game
Nov. 22, 2008, in Columbus. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Having grown up outside Columbus, I love me some Ohio State football (something many of my fellow Ohio University alumni hate about me). In the last 10 years or so, I have gotten really into college football in general. I like it much more than pro. I'm not sure why -- something about the equal possession overtime and the fact that almost anything can stop the clock and draw out as much playing time as possible. And, of course, watching such a great team could help anyone like a sport (especially when that football team around here doesn't play so well).

For the past couple of years, I have been in a college football pick'em with my friends on Yahoo. Last year I finished 3/14 in the regular season. The year before I finished 5/14 in the regular season and 1/16 in the bowl pick'em (and in the 96th percentile on Yahoo). I'm looking forward to competing against 10 of my friends this year to see if I can hold my own, picking weekly against the spread. I often take an early lead and hold on for a few weeks, before either forgetting to make picks before early games or totally underestimating a team I don't have much interest in.

Last season, I also did a pick'em with some co-workers, including Sports Editor Mark Podolski (who, I think, thought I was full of you-know-what when I was talking up my college football knowledge). I ended up third of four in a close competition, so I'm really looking forward to exacting my revenge this year. I might have started drooling this evening when he asked if I was ready to do pick'em again.

So for the next few days, I will mull over the 20 games I need to pick for my Yahoo group and prep for the Ohio State's first game of the season against Marshall at 7:30 Thursday. Yes, I'm going to be watching the Buckeyes instead of the Browns (though some logistics need to be worked out with the boyfriend, who can't imagine not seeing a Browns game even though it is preseason).

I'll keep you updated every week here on the progress in my pick'em groups, and you'll be sure to know if the Buckeyes break my heart.

O-H!


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

By Nick Carrabine
NCarrabine@News-Herald.com

In the past two weeks, the Cleveland Browns have entered training camp with a starting quarterback who threw 18 interceptions in 11 games last season, the Indians future franchise player had season ending surgery and the Cavaliers signed Joey Graham as their starting small forward.

If this isn’t the best summer in Cleveland sports history, I don’t know what is.

It’s official, all three Cleveland teams are borderline irrelevant again.

However with the right moves, a bit of patience and a stroke of luck, all three teams can be contenders again within the next two to three years.

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