Super Mario

For the 2nd time, Mario Lemieux retired yesterday. He's been suffering from an irregular heartbeat for about 6 weeks now and realized his health was more important. He first retired after the '96-'97 season because of Hodgkin's disease. He returned in 2000 but was never able to play a full season. He saved the Penguins franchise by putting together a group that purchased the team in 1999 when it was facing bankruptcy. He is 40 years old and was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1997.

What is with the Red Sox and Theo Epstein? He quits in November but just comes back and takes over the same position? I've never heard of such a thing... Speaking of baseball, not long now before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. One thing to keep an eye on this spring - the ongoing showdown between Jeff Bagwell and the Houston Astros. Bagwell insists he is healed and can play and will play while the Astros want him to retire and are trying to file an insurance claim on him. Can the Astros seriously screw with Bags and expect their fans to not riot?

Raise your hands if you have this Big 10 basketball thing all figured out. I'll wait... yeah, I thought so. Iowa gets hammered by Michigan State by 30 points Saturday, then they beat 13th ranked Indiana by 13 last night. Is there anyone in this conference that's going to step up? I thought Illinois would for sure but Dee Brown is their whole offense and he's had some horrific games and they've lost. Wisconsin loses a couple of reserves and all of a sudden they can't beat North Dakota State at home? They need to rebound tonight against Penn State to show they are for real. This feels like a critical game for them to me.

Reason number 1 why Midwest Airlines just lost my business... they will now allow those little stupid Paris Hilton dogs to be IN THE CABIN! I swear to god if I hear yipping on my flight I will take that miniature rodent and flush it into blue heaven.

In a sure sign that American's have given up on the whole "get in shape" thing and have embraced their chubbiness, McDonald's saw a 53% earnings increase in the 4th quarter of '05. I know I'm doing my part... (no, that's not me!)

In TV news, looks like the WB and UPN are no more. Both will be shut down this fall and replaced with a single network called CW, standing for CBS and Warner Bros. It will target young and minority viewers with outstanding programming like "Jerry Springer" and "Blind Date"... Maybe CB can fill us in more since he works for the local CBS affiliate.