Okay so I had my topic all decided until today when something kept getting at me and I finally just had let it out. The baseball pitchers work out three days a week and usually they run well past five o'clock, which is when dinner starts. And for the past couple weeks I'll show up for dinner around six and to my dismay the kitchen staff have already started cleaning the tables and the food seems long and gone. And for your information the SUB's dinner is officially scheduled to end at 6:45. So by the time that I get there I get the glorious honor to choose between mash potatoes and gravy, tater tots, rolls, salad, and only one of the main courses that was served that day. My question is why when you guys are still suppose to be open are you guys unwilling to cook or heat up more food for people. It's like I am forced with an ultimatum between working out longer or cutting back my workout just to be able to get to the SUB before they shut down early. I remember this last Monday I went like usual after my workout and just like clockwork I had the options between green peas, tater tots, mash potatoes, and they had bean tacos, but apparently they ran out of tortillas and so I was left with just beans. I mean I can understand on why heating up some more tortillas may be painful and take a considerably amount of time, but come on now let's be real. Am I expecting this to change? Absolutely not, all i'm trying to do is get through these next couple of weeks before I go back home.

Baseball

The Howard Hawks baseball team has compiled a 31-5 record so far through the season. Of course there is not going to be any perfect season like last year or set any winning streaks, but what this team has done over the last couple weeks is moved to 16-0 in conference games and a top five team in the nation. The Hawks have been led with their terrific pitching staff that is led with ace Burch Smith who is 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA. Following Burch up is the other starters Josh Ezernack, Tyler King, and Carter Hahn who have a combined for an 18-3 record to go with a 3.30 ERA. But it doesn't stop at pitching, the hawks are also one of the top teams in hitting as well. Some notable batting averages are Nathan Burn(.437), Chase Durham (.405), Joe Leftridge (.492), and Landon Steinhagen (.439). The Hawks have three series left with home games, against New Mexico, Midland, Clarendon, and Frank Phillips, before the regional tournament begins.

National Champions!!!

The Howard Hawks captured their first men's basketball NJCAA national championship last week in Hutchinson, Kansas. Their championship came with a 85-80 OT win over Three Rivers CC and overcame many struggles to bring back the title to Big Spring. During the tournament the Hawks set a record for the fewest turnovers overall with less than seven a game. The men flew by the first two rounds with double-digit victories in both, but ran into trouble in the semifinals against College of Eastern Utah. After finding themselves down 16 points with just four minutes left in the game the Hawks turned it around and topped the comeback with a 68-64 win to advance to the finals. The Hawks were down once again 65-55 with five minutes left when they once again turned their game up one more notch.Despite the Hawks shooting a dismal 25% from the field that game they got the game tied and to go into overtime, and only to win the national championship by five points 85-80. Jae Crowder was named to the all-tournament team and Josh Watkins was named to tournament MVP while averaging 19.8 ppg during the tourney.

Champions

On Tuesday the men's basketball team captured their second straight Region V championship with a 76-66 victory over rivals Midland College. The Hawks rolled through their first two games with wins against Southwestern Christian College 82-71, and a victory over Collin College 86-68. The Hawks will now travel to play in the national tournament in Kansas starting next week. I will follow with schedules to be announced.

Rick Perry wins again. Today Kay Bailey Hutchison conceded the GOP over to current Governor Rick Perry. Perry is Texas' longest-serving governor, since he took over for George W. Bush in 2000, and will now face former Houston Mayor Bill White. The republicans have held the governorship since George W. Bush took over in 1995 with his victory over Democrat Ann Richards.

Also the men's basketball team has their region V tournament this weekend in Lubbock, so be sure to check the schedule and go out and support our top ranked men's basketball team!

The Hawks are rolling after their 57-53 win over the Midland Chaps last night. With the win the Hawks are now tied for first place in conference with Midland and has three remaining games left before the Region V tournament.

So the men's basketball team has steadily rolled to one of the top teams in the nation, and on Monday they will be put to the test when they take on the also top ranked Midland Chaps. The Hawks have only lost one conference game so far, to midland, and look to take back the tie for first place with a win against them this Monday night at home. They are currently 22-2 and have won 18 of their last 19 games, so everyone come out Monday night and every following game for that matter and support your Howard Hawks.

Break down the walls and let the dogs run free

Today in my history class we were discussing Cuba and the period of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how it could of been avoided by doing certain things. Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it we were talking about Guantanamo Bay, and how things are changing very rapidly in Cuba. Let me ask y'all a hypothetical question? Let's say a man had killed your brother, sister, or any type of family member, and was then sent to federal prison for life for murder. But then for one reason or another the man was released back into the public eye, back into the same lives of the family where he had previously killed someone. How would the family feel about that? To have the thought that the man that has killed a family member is just out there roaming around somewhere is frightening. Well this is exactly what is happening to the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay Prison (Gitmo) in Cuba. The original purpose was to hold anyone suspected of terrorism or other Islamic terrorist organizations, and since they are still considered enemies rather than prisoners of war the Geneva Code does not necessarily apply to them. The Geneva Code basically is a bunch of international rules on how you should and should not treat prisoners of war. So before Obama even step foot into the Oval Office he said that he would put an executive order to have Gitmo closed as soon as possible, and also said that it failed to successfully and swiftly prosecute terrorists. So whats one good thing that will transcribe from the closing of Gitmo? Well I guess now the pompous human right activists can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that our "reputation" as a nation now can finally start moving from one as unfair and discriminating to fair and just. And now they are even talking about having the trails for the men behind the 9/11 terror attack in New York City. This is completely absurd and I feel that they have snapped the screw head off on this one. First they decide to close Gitmo, then they decide to hold the trials in NYC and finally the trails are planned to be held just as if it was any other person like you or me. But I guess I should of seen this coming along although I just never thought that he would be able to get it done so effortlessly and without any obstacles in his path.

With the NFL Pro Bowl coming up this Sunday, yes it really is tomorrow, there have been many mixed reactions with it being being moved a week before the Super Bowl rather than it a week after the Super Bowl. Some people think it will give more attention to it because usually after the Super Bowl all the attention tends to die away for the off season. On the other hand most people, including most NFL players, would rather wait and have the Pro Bowl after the Super Bowl. For one reason, right now the players that have been elected to the Pro Bowl that are also playing in the Super Bowl are required to show up for it in Florida. Also why play in Florida when you could have it in Hawaii, like every year? I'd vote to see the Pro Bowl be played after the Super Bowl that we fans can watch the best players go straight up against each other.

Ok, so has anyone seen the new Taco Bell diet plan that they have put together for people trying to lose weight? I mean come on I know people are making their new year resolutions and all, but would any practical person actually believe that you would lose weight by eating food. And moreover for all we know it could of been taken out of pig trough, and thrown inside a tortilla or taco and doused with days old vegtables in order to make a very attractive appearance of something that could be edible.

Meanwhile, school is back in session now and baseball season is around the corner. The season should be very entertaining, with everyone aiming at the target on our backs because of last year. We start off playing our first series down in San Antonio on Jan. 30. Oh ya, and, if anyone made any unque or uncommon new years resolution then leave me a comment.

All led up to this

Four years later and Texas is back to where the magic happened, yes the game where Vince Young single-handed led the Longhorns to victory over the USC Trojans. Texas was said to have no shot against the dual-tandom of Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, and it appears to be happening again this year. Texas comes into the game ranked third in the country in scoring offense at 40.69 ppg, with Boise State at number one at 44.15 ppg and Boise State was able to put over 315 yards of total offense on a defense that usually gives up 233 ypg, which led the nation entering the game. So if the Broncos were able to put that up against what many were calling the best denfense in the nation beside Alabama, then there is certainly hope that Texas will have the chance to do thesame thing as well. I believe that special teams and turnovers will eventually be the deciding factor in detirmining the champion. Texas has got back their kick returning specialist D.J. Monroe who averages over 35 yards on every kickoff return, which is secondin the nation. Oh yea, lets, umm, not forget about that guy Jordan Shipley either who has cearly already proved that he can make huge plays not just at wide reciever but also returning punts too. And as for Hunter Lawrence, well I think his performance and clutchness in the Big 12 Championship speaks for itself.

Prediction: Texas 27 Alabama 21