Football!...is done for another season

Last night’s BCS National Championship Game was the culmination of another great season of college football — and my worst sporting nightmare.

How many days until September 1, the Thursday kickoff to the 2011 college football season? Too many, and something like 2,100 MLB games to boot.

To be fair, though, the promise of baseball season — the crack of the bat, the taste of an overpriced beer on a humid night, and the oceans of ink spilled in the name of sabermetrics — is a comforting thought right about now, especially with a few fresh inches of snow on the ground. While watching a little of The Rookie over the weekend, I started getting idyllic thoughts of spring: the rebirth of verdant, chicks wearing spaghetti strap tops, and baseball. To support my inner sports fanatic after the men’s college basketball season is over, I have thought about becoming a diehard Cubs fan. At least until Labor Day.

Though sad, the end of college football marks the glorious return of my creative productivity. Tonight I start working on my novel. I wrote the prologue in August and have taken a (very long) break to bask in the wonder of collegiate pigskin. Sunday through Thursday, the two-hour block between 8 and 10 is reserved for my novel, though I will make exceptions for watching Iowa men’s basketball games and special occasions. To give myself added motivation to stay productive and finally get it written, I plan to post weekly updates with current word counts. There’s nothing like the specter of public shame to keep oneself motivated.