The more things change....

...the more they stay the same, apparently. It's a week before Christmas and as you stare at the foot of snow on the ground, you're thinking, wait, I thought Summer of Herbie was done months ago? Well, SOH transcends the passing of the seasons and other cosmic forces...it transcends all.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Week 16 of the NFL season brings vital matchups in the world of RAFFLE, none more so than the long-awaited rematch of the HCC Colonels and the Pontaluna Pumpkin Stringers. If you remember, back in week 6, the Colonels pulled out a defining victory over the Stringers, 89-76. A huge game by Tony Romo, a monster performance by Thomas Jones (since traded to the Stringers), and a cameo by the Vikings D led the way for Herbie. Strong performances by the Eagles D, Jamal Lewis and kicker Mason Crosby were not enough on the Pontaluna sideline.

The outcome would not prove to be prophetic, however, as the teams found themselves going in opposite directions.

After the victory, which propelled the Colonels into first place - the latest an HCC team has ever led the division - five consecutive losses followed, with their All-American boy and star QB Tony Romo on the sidelines with an injury. A few questionable personnel moves, aimed at kickstarting the team, sent Jones and WR Isaac Bruce packing. However, unlike past HCC teams, which may have folded, this year's version has persevered and won 4 straight, leaving them at 8-7 and currently holding the 2nd place playoff spot in the Scissors division.

The Stringers, on the other hand, have been red-hot, winning 8 of 9 matchups since that fateful day. In the process, Pontaluna has clinched the division championship, and currently sits as the #1 overall seed, if the playoffs were to begin today. Their once shaky roster has been boldened by strong trades and free agent pickups, and the coaching staff has done a masterful job of rotating starting positions among key players.

So here we are...some familiar faces, some new, but a familiar fate - #1 v. #2, with nothing less than the Colonel's playoff lives hanging in the balance. Can they put together a winning game plan and pull off another upset? Or will the Pontaluna Big Red Machine continue to roll right into January? Let's get ready for some (fantasy) football!

First big matchup looms for Colonels, Stringers

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Ravenna, MI - It's hard to say that a game might be a must-win this early in the season. But for the Herbie Community College Walkin' Colonels, they don't get much bigger than this one.

After an up-and-down start, the Colonels have won two games in a row in convincing fashion against pre-season contenders Sturgis and Salt Lake City, and that has many in the know thinking that this may finally be the Colonels' year to break through into the upper echelon of the RAFFLE.

In order to do that, they'll have be able to get victories against teams like the Pontaluna Pumpkin Stringers. Pontaluna and HCC are currently tied for first in the Scissors Division at 3-2, and stand at 4th and 5th, respectively, in the latest league-wide power rankings.

"The past two weeks have been great," says the Colonels' head coach, general manager, and team president. "But quite honestly, we knew we were capable of winning those types of games. At the beginning of the year, we set our sites on beating the top teams and qualifying for the playoffs. Anything less will be a disappointment to this organization."

With Tony Romo and Terrell Owens leading the way, and the recent addition of Le'Ron McClain, the Colonels are fifth in the league in scoring. However, critics point to another stat - the Colonels sport the league's lowest points against total - for their fortuitous start.

"The Colonels are much improved this year and we're looking forward to a great matchup this Sunday," says Pumpkin Stringers head coach and CEO S. Kot. "One of the advantages that we will draw upon is that we've been in the playoffs and we have that big game experience, whereas they haven't been in that situation too often in recent years."

The Stringers look for QB Jason Campbell to stay hot with a favorable matchup against St. Louis, and the recent acquisition of RB Steve Slaton has given the team a boost as well.

Most around the league expect a high-scoring, but close, game, and the guru is no exception. As of Saturday morning - the Colonels were favored, by a score of 107-106. It doesn't get much better than that.

Epilogue

Well, as promised, I took a bunch of pictures while we were up north for the race. Turns out that even on an overcast day, Torch Lake is still one on the most beautiful places on Earth. Without further ado...


View my photos

Thirsty Thursday

Short & Sweet today....

-In the midst of an 18-6 beat down at the hands of the absent Bottoms Up, who pre-bowled out of their minds, yours truly threw a 228 game. Six in a row after a split in the 2nd frame. PTP

-I have not yet heard the new Kings of Leon album, but I'm pretty excited. KOL

-If you haven't registered to do vote yet, do so ASAP!!! The deadline is fast approaching - do your duty and let your voice be heard.
State of Michigan Secretary of State

Appendix B

The Boyne Mt. half marathon was a smashing success! Mostly because I ran the 5K. My lovely wife and her talented and determined friends ran the 'full' half-marathon and fought the hills, the clouds and a 5:50 AM wakeup call to finish even better than projected. Five of the seven lovely ladies pictured finished in the top 10 in the womens' field.

As for me, well, I finished. It was, at the same time, refreshing and maddening to run a race and not particularly care about a specific time or place. Also the 9:15 AM start time (as opposed to 8:00 for the women) helped. The first mile was pleasant, on a flat road, and I even chatted with a few other runners. The second mile began with a strong sense that I felt good enough to run faster, and that's when the Catholic guilt kicked in. And the hills. Turns out that when they hold a race at a mountain, you must encounter at least part of said mountain during the race. The brevity of the event, however, dictated that the 3rd mile would be downhill. Ahh...much better. Until I once again felt the need to kick into high gear (wait, it wasn't high gear...medium gear? Un-slow gear?) for the final half mile. Just enough to cramp up a bit. Just right, I guess. What fun is a road race without the pain? Luckily for me, Herbie is in good shape and I think I'm out of reasons to skip working out this fall.

So, as we drove away and the rain started to fall again, it didn't feel like summer any more. So maybe this is the end of the road, maybe this is truly the culmination of the Summer of Herbie. It started out so simply, so innocently, just another 28-year-old man trying to pretend he was 21 again and racing his wife. And it ended so justly, with me battling Jane's mom for 37th place in the 2008 Boyne 2 Boyne 5K.

I edged her out. Just barely.

The runners pre-13.1 miles



The runners post-13.1 miles



10 minutes later, at the bar

Resisting the urge...

To say something positive or get excited...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3606294

Got a nice little Tuesday planned...

Gonna go to Olive Garden, shopping at Sears for a dishwasher, maybe Bed Bath and Beyond, I don't know....I don't know if we'll have enough time.

For the 'life just really isn't fair' link of the day, I thought about posting my fantasy football score, but decided upon this instead...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122151799460638921.html

Also I've been getting a lot of comments that yesterday was the autumnal equinox and the summer is over...actually that's a lie, as far as I can tell I only have 2 readers. But rest assured, the Summer of Herbie will continue. We will not go down without a fight!

Next up, Boyne Mountain half-marathon (for my lovely wife) and a leisurely 5K (for yours truly). Let's just say that I'm charging an extra set of batteries for the camera and I plan on posting the best damn photo essay that the SOH has ever seen.