This Past Week's Top 10 Moments

1.  My Sunday night phone call with Waverly.  She's doing well at Liberty University, yet always will be positively covetous of your prayers.  So excited for her and the opportunities that she gets to experience every single day there in Virginia.  Big week ahead for her as she has three tests, but lots of campus excitement in both Convocations and school events.

2.  My niece Hunter's 9th birthday party with family Sunday evening at Pappasito's.  Family comes first.  I have two very, yet differently talented nieces.  Just like I believe for Waverly, my hope is for God to reveal to both of them His plan in their lives in the days, months and years to come.

3.  Working Saturday's Toughest 10K Kemah.  Despite the event dealing with some unanticipated traffic and timing issues, I can't tell you how much I enjoy working races with the team that Robby Sabban has put together through the years.  The Running Alliance Sport team is much like the Win Win Events team:  Lots of people who know what needs to get done and when, but keeping in mind that they're serving other runners.  And while 80% of the runners who run Robby's races aren't going to get a sniff of an age group award, the majority of them also are working their hardest to get to the finish line as fast as they can.

4.  Thanksgiving plans have been finalized!  Waverly and I will be running the Run Thru The Woods 5-Miler together.  Other than the Thanksgiving that we were in New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, either one or both of us have worked a race the last few years.  This year, we're going to partake for once and run our hometown race.  Would love to help Jay Lee and Robby as they assume the reins of the Clear Lake race that Pete Rake started via Bay Area Fit, but it will make for the start of a special day with family.

5.  Announcing Nike South and Nike Cross Regionals in October and November, respectively.  Actually this has been on my calendar since May, but firmed all of the particulars with The Woodlands boys cross country coach Juris Green the middle of last week.

6.  Announcing Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon in November.  This is also an event that has been on my calendar since the date was set by Richard and Amie James in Beaumont, but Amie and I made sure that I'll be in Port Arthur on Saturday, November 9.

7.  The Woodlands Marathon Committee meeting Tuesday night.  Always good to visit with folks that you're going to be working with in putting on the sixth largest marathon event in the state of Texas with.  It is great to be respected by the many great individuals that are on this team.

8.  Tuesday morning visit with a former race partner.  A situation placed this individual in close proximity to my work location so I made an effort to take a short break from work - and go to a neighboring building about a block away - to visit with them.  I think the biggest thing that I strive to seek in my world these days is clarity, where possible.  Seeking it - and making the actual effort - doesn't always guarantee the results you desire, but a genuine, heart-felt effort leaves no regrets.  Left feeling positive about the exchange.

9.  Kind words from an endurance sports colleague.  A third party shared with me that I was recognized by this colleague for starting something that part of the community forced me to step away from.  Even though I've continued to contribute to the community event annually in a visible, yet unknown to most way, it appears that I might even get the opportunity to once again be visible.

10.  Running races last weekend in Texas cities #88 and #89.  A half marathon in Mansfield and an 8K in Cedar Park put me two more cities closer to my 100-city goal of running a race in.  In the Metroplex, I ran OK while getting the chance to visit with friends Raul and Meghan Najera and Michael Clark before taking in a half of Ball State vs. North Texas in Denton and then traveling south for a fun, first-year 5-miler on Sunday that facilitate some communication with a friend in the area.

NCAA College Football Pick 'Em - Week 3

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If you post your picks in the Facebook comment, I'll know who you are (obviously).  If you leave your picks in the comment here, please leave your name.

This week's schedule smells worse than the Hudson River and good games on it are harder to find than WMD in Iraq.

Nonetheless, a little homework to a double-digit win week may be necessary.

Week 3 Schedule

NATIONAL TOP 5 (AP/USA)
(Sat.) - #16 UCLA at #23 Nebraska - NEBRASKA
(Sat.) - #21 Notre Dame at Purdue - NOTRE DAME
(Sat.) - #7 Louisville at Kentucky - LOUISVILLE
(Sat.) - #20 Wisconsin at Arizona State - WISCONSIN
(Sat.) - #19 Washington at Illinois - WASHINGTON

TEXAS TOP 5
(Sat.) - #1 Alabama at #6 Texas A&M - ALABAMA
(Sat.) - #25 Mississippi at Texas - TEXAS
(Sat.) - Kansas at Rice - KANSAS
(Sat.) - Ball State at North Texas - BALL STATE
(Sat.) - Texas-El Paso at New Mexico State - UTEP

JON'S TOP 5
(Sat.) - Morgan State at Liberty - LIBERTY
(Sat.) - Central Florida at Penn State - PENN STATE
(Sat.) - Mississippi State at Auburn - AUBURN
(Sat.) - Vanderbilt at #13 South Carolina - SOUTH CAROLINA
(Sat.) - Boston College at USC - USC

Week 2 Recap

I followed up an 11-4 week with a 12-3 effort (that included Texas and Florida laying eggs), but Rick Cook slammed home a 14-1 showing.

Holy "Geaux" Tigers!

WEEK 2 STANDINGS
Rick Cook (14-1 - only missed South Carolina/Georgia)
Jon Walk (11-4)

CUMULATIVE STANDINGS
Rick Cook (14-1; Wk. 2)
Ed Parker (8-2; Wk. 2 - No Jon's Top 5 picks)
Jon Walk (23-7)
Anonymous Yahoo User (11-4; Wk. 1)
Don Womble (8-7; Wk. 1)

NATIONAL TOP 5 (AP/USA)
(Sat.) - #13/#14 Notre Dame at #17 Michigan - MICHIGAN (Win - Michigan, 41-30)
(Sat.) - #6 South Carolina at #11/#12 Georgia - SOUTH CAROLINA (Loss - Georgia, 41-30)
(Sat.) - #12/#9 Florida at --/#24 Miami (Fla.) - FLORIDA (Loss - Miami, Fla., 21-16)
(Sat.) - #2/#3 Oregon at Virginia - OREGON (Win - Oregon, 59-10)
(Sat.) - Hawaii at Oregon State - HAWAII (Loss - Oregon State, 33-14)

TEXAS TOP 5
(Sat.) - Sam Houston State at #7 Texas A&M - TEXAS A&M (Win - Texas A&M, 65-28)
(Sat.) - #15/#16 Texas at BYU - TEXAS (Loss - BYU, 40-21)
(Sat.) - Montana State at SMU - SMU (Win - SMU, 31-30)
(Sat.) - Houston at Temple - HOUSTON (Win - Houston, 22-13)
(Sat.) - Prairie View A&M at Texas State - TEXAS STATE (Win - Texas State, 28-3)

JON'S TOP 5
(Sat.) - Eastern Michigan at Penn State - PENN STATE (Win - Penn State, 45-7)
(Sat.) - Monmouth at Liberty - LIBERTY (Win - Liberty, 45-15)
(Sat.) - Syracuse at #19/#20 Northwestern - NORTHWESTERN (Win - Northwestern, 48-27)
(Fri.) - Wake Forest at Boston College - BOSTON COLLEGE (Win - Boston College, 24-10)
(Sat.) - Duke at Memphis - DUKE (Win - Duke, 28-14)

NFL Pick 'Em - Week 2

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If you post your picks in the Facebook comment, I'll know who you are (obviously).  If you leave your picks in the comment here, please leave your name.

Biggest game of the upcoming week?  Denver at the New York Giants.  Manning vs. Manning.  Another win here for Peyton.

Some games that could go the other way?  Tennessee over Houston, Seattle over San Francisco and Miami over Indianapolis.  That is, if my picks are right.

Week 2 Schedule

(Thu.) - New York Jets at New England - NEW ENGLAND
(Sun.) - St. Louis at Atlanta - ATLANTA
(Sun.) - San Diego at Philadelphia - PHILADELPHIA
(Sun.) - Dallas at Kansas City - DALLAS
(Sun.) - Miami at Indianapolis - INDIANAPOLIS
(Sun.) - Tennessee at Houston - HOUSTON
(Sun.) - Washington at Green Bay - GREEN BAY
(Sun.) - Cleveland at Baltimore - BALTIMORE
(Sun.) - Carolina at Buffalo - BUFFALO
(Sun.) - Minnesota at Chicago - CHICAGO
(Sun.) - New Orleans at Tampa Bay - NEW ORLEANS
(Sun.) - Detroit at Arizona - DETROIT
(Sun.) - Jacksonville at Oakland - OAKLAND
(Sun.) - Denver at New York Giants - DENVER
(Sun.) - San Francisco at Seattle - SAN FRANCISCO
(Mon.) - Pittsburgh at Cincinnati - CINCINNATI

Week 1 Recap

Three played last week, including myself, and we all went 10-6.  And I needed both wins on Monday night to make it there.

STANDINGS
Rick Cook (10-6)
Matt Shoemaker (10-6)
Jon Walk (10-6)

(Thu.) - Baltimore at Denver - DENVER (Win - Denver, 49-27)
(Sun.) - Tennessee at Pittsburgh - PITTSBURGH (Loss - Tennessee, 16-9)
(Sun.) - New England at Buffalo - NEW ENGLAND (Win - New England, 23-21)
(Sun.) - Atlanta at New Orleans - ATLANTA (Loss - New Orleans, 23-17)
(Sun.) - Tampa Bay at New York Jets - TAMPA BAY (Loss - New York Jets, 18-17)
(Sun.) - Kansas City at Jacksonville - JACKSONVILLE (Loss - Kansas City, 28-2)
(Sun.) - Seattle at Carolina - SEATTLE (Win - Seattle, 12-7)
(Sun.) - Miami at Cleveland - MIAMI (Win - Miami, 23-10)
(Sun.) - Minnesota at Detroit - MINNESOTA (Loss - Detroit, 34-24)
(Sun.) - Oakland at Indianapolis - INDIANAPOLIS (Win - Indianapolis, 21-17)
(Sun.) - Cincinnati at Chicago - CHICAGO (Win - Chicago, 24-21)
(Sun.) - Arizona at St. Louis - ST. LOUIS (Win - St. Louis, 27-24)
(Sun.) - Green Bay at San Francisco - SAN FRANCISCO (Win - San Francisco, 34-28)
(Sun.) - New York Giants at Dallas - NEW YORK GIANTS (Loss - Dallas, 36-31)
(Mon.) - Philadelphia at Washington - PHILADELPHIA (Win - Philadelphia, 33-27)
(Mon.) - Houston at San Diego - HOUSTON (Win - Houston, 31-28)

Enjoy!

NFL Pick 'Em - Week 1

First game is Thursday night and, of course, we have a full schedule.

Here's who I think is going to win ...  What about you?

(Thu.) - Baltimore at Denver - DENVER
(Sun.) - Tennessee at Pittsburgh - PITTSBURGH
(Sun.) - New England at Buffalo - NEW ENGLAND
(Sun.) - Atlanta at New Orlenas - ATLANTA
(Sun.) - Tampa Bay at New York Jets - TAMPA BAY
(Sun.) - Kansas City at Jacksonville - JACKSONVILLE
(Sun.) - Seattle at Carolina - SEATTLE
(Sun.) - Miami at Cleveland - MIAMI
(Sun.) - Minnesota at Detroit - MINNESOTA
(Sun.) - Oakland at Indianapolis - INDIANAPOLIS
(Sun.) - Cincinnati at Chicago - CHICAGO
(Sun.) - Arizona at St. Louis - ST. LOUIS
(Sun.) - Green Bay at San Francisco - SAN FRANCISCO
(Sun.) - New York Giants at Dallas - NEW YORK GIANTS
(Mon.) - Philadelphia at Washington - PHILADELPHIA
(Mon.) - Houston at San Diego - HOUSTON

There might be a reach or two here, but isn't that what it's all about?

Enjoy!

NCAA College Football Pick 'Em - Week 2

Jump in and play at any time!

If you post your picks in the Facebook comment, I'll know who you are (obviously).  If you leave your picks in the comment here, please leave your name.

The lack of challenging games continues into week 2 of the NCAA college football season.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan and South Carolina vs. Georgia headline this week's dance card.

Florida at Miami (Fla.) used to be a marquee matchup any time the two teams played, but the battle for recruiting is the hottest here.

The rest?  I simply tried to pick the games that would produce the closest result either by knowledge or from looking at the point spread.  Enjoy!

Week 2 Schedule

NATIONAL TOP 5 (AP/USA)
(Sat.) - #13/#14 Notre Dame at #17 Michigan - MICHIGAN
(Sat.) - #6 South Carolina at #11/#12 Georgia - SOUTH CAROLINA
(Sat.) - #12/#9 Florida at --/#24 Miami (Fla.) - FLORIDA
(Sat.) - #2/#3 Oregon at Virginia - OREGON
(Sat.) - Hawaii at Oregon State - HAWAII

TEXAS TOP 5
(Sat.) - Sam Houston State at #7 Texas A&M - TEXAS A&M
(Sat.) - #15/#16 Texas at BYU - TEXAS
(Sat.) - Montana State at SMU - SMU (Don't be surprised if Montana State gives the Ponies a game)
(Sat.) - Houston at Temple - HOUSTON
(Sat.) - Prairie View A&M at Texas State - TEXAS STATE

JON'S TOP 5
(Sat.) - Eastern Michigan at Penn State - PENN STATE
(Sat.) - Monmouth at Liberty - LIBERTY  (Monmouth lost to FCS #2 Montana State on the road.)
(Sat.) - Syracuse at #19/#20 Northwestern - NORTHWESTERN  (Media Bowl)
(Fri.) - Wake Forest at Boston College - BOSTON COLLEGE
(Sat.) - Duke at Memphis - DUKE

Week 1 Recap

Went 11-3 going into Monday night's game between Florida State and Pittsburgh.  Missed two games - Clemson vs. Georgia and BYU vs. Virginia - by a total of six points.  My two reaches, I thought, paid off.  They were UTSA over New Mexico and Northern Illinois over Iowa.  New Mexico has been horrible as of later and UTSA's coach is former Miami (Fla.) head man Larry Coker and Northern Illinois has a Heisman candidate in Jordan Lynch and played in the Orange Bowl.  Iowa is always up for an upset.

STANDINGS
Jon Walk - (12-3)
Anonymous Yahoo User - (11-4)
Don Womble - (8-7)

NATIONAL TOP 5
(Sat.) - #5 Georgia at #8 Clemson - GEORGIA (Loss - Clemson, 38-35)
(Sat.) - #12 LSU at #20 TCU - LSU (Win - LSU, 37-27)
(Sat.) - #19 Boise State at Washington - BOISE STATE (Loss - Washington, 38-6)
(Mon.) - #11 Florida State at Pittsburgh - FLORIDA STATE (Win - Florida State, 41-13)
(Sat.) - Mississippi State at #13 Oklahoma State - OKLAHOMA STATE (Win - OSU, 21-3)

TEXAS TOP 5
(Fri.) - Texas Tech at SMU - TEXAS TECH (Win - Texas Tech, 41-23)
(Sat.) - Rice at #7 Texas A&M - TEXAS A&M (Win - A&M, 52-31)
(Sat.) - Idaho at North Texas - NORTH TEXAS (Win - North Texas, 40-6)
(Sat.) - UTSA at New Mexico - UTSA (Win - UTSA, 21-13)
(Sat.) - New Mexico State at #15 Texas - TEXAS (Win - Texas, 56-7)

JON'S TOP 5
(Thu.) - Liberty at Kent State - KENT STATE (Win - Kent State, 17-10)
(Sat.) - Penn State at Syracuse - PENN STATE (Win - Penn State, 23-17)
(Sat.) - Houston Baptist at Sam Houston State - SHSU (Win - SHSU, 74-0)
(Sat.) - Northern Illinois at Iowa - NORTHERN ILLINOIS (Win - Northern Illinois, 30-27)
(Sat.) - BYU at Virginia - BYU (Loss - Virginia, 19-16)