Where are We? What's going On?

I love sports, and keeping updated on the now and giving my opinion when something happens is fun. Much easier to say when talking to my friends and family than to sit down and blog about it. In the last 2 1/2 months, I have been busy with my family as baby #3 is coming soon, #2 is crawling everywhere like the Jamaican speedster Bolt. A lot has happened since I blogged last. My Hawkeyes finished poorly by getting whooped at TCF Bank Stadium in late November, and not too soon after that, the Bears slammed Favre's melon on that same turf a month later to end his career. The Vikes roof literally collapsed on there season, and the Seahawks made the playoffs and took out the returning Super Bowl Champions. My Hawks beat Mizzou in there Bowl game, the Ducks and Tigers went at it in the National Title game, and the Packers won the Superbowl.

So now what? The NHL has made it through the All-Star break, NBA is approaching the All-Star Break, pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training, recruiting classes are in the books for college football, and the NFL has some major negotiations to get figured out.
     Oh ya, I forgot that NCAA basketball is going on. See when you live in Iowa, you have to rely on the Missouri Valley for a home state team to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Lets just say Morale in the State of Iowa has been low when it comes to NCAA hoops unless you are a UNI Panther fan. Its nice story when UNI plays well in the tourney, and the whole state supports them because they are a Missouri Valley team and I would guess most Iowa and Iowa State fans don't have any hatred towards them because they are the little guys in the state. But with that said, this state is starved for Iowa or ISU to be back into the tournament. They are the big dogs of the state, they just haven't been anywhere close to being big in the last 5 years. ISU started off strong, but have struggled in the conference, and what do you expect when your starters are playing 38 minutes a night. They will be scary good next year when 3 players who are out are in. Royce White is one of them who is a very talented player that transferred from Minnesota. White has NBA talent, and will make them much better.
Now, the Iowa Hawkeye basketball program was a good one to watch if you like going to bed at 7pm on Wednesday nights and needed a nap on Saturday or Sunday. Under coach Lickliter it was like watching paint dry and watching your grass grow. Coach McCaffery has brought some excitement back to Iowa City. No they are not doing much in the very tough Big Ten, but there is evidence of something growing. They are starting to play better, and they have beaten Indiana twice this year, beat Michigan State, and ran with the #1 team in the country Ohio State. Indiana and Michigan State are down, but Indiana was playing good basketball and beating teams prior to the Hawks coming to town. Do I expect Iowa to beat Wisconsin, no I do not, and its going to be tough the rest of the way, but the future looks bright. Besides, when was the last time you could talk about Iowa Basketball in a positive way in February?

P.S  Can somebody, anybody get Carmelo Anthony traded? Lebron called and said hey Melo, thanks for taking all the attention away from me and the Heat as you try to get to New York.