Here we are in 2005 and it’s been raining. Raining in Wisconsin in January. Something is very wrong here.

New Year’s came and went and proved to be a long yet pretty fun weekend. Saw people we hadn’t seen in a long time and that’s always good. We’ve also figured out the key to a tolerable New Year’s is to create and maintain low expectations which will likely be met and possible exceeded. We spent little and had an unremarkable but not unpleasant time so, considering past failures, this must be a success. We might host New Year’s next year just to get out of the same ol’ same ol’ Chicago scene.

In great news, Spurs plonked Everton 5-2 on NYD to the great joy of all. That’s a boatload of points for Tottenham in the past few months, a crucial time of year, and if they can keep it up they’ll get a spot in Europe via their league placment–an unheard of feat. The dour Martin Jol is working magic and I hope he keeps it up. And for once, the no-names Spurs always buy at a cut-rate and are guaranteed to be the “next big thing” all looked great–Ziegler has impressed me each time I’ve seen him and Dean Marney looks to be the real deal after his spectacular game against Everton. It almost makes me forget that half the squad is rumored to be going to Chelsea when the transfer window opens.

In good news, the Packers finished up 10-6, splitting with the Bears and sweeping the Viqueens. That makes it eleven in a row at Chicago, a gleeful stat. The ‘Queens also have to play next Saturday in G.B. which is worrisome but it’ll be sweet if the Pack can take them down three times in one year. Besides, a closer look reveals that none of the Packers’ ten wins came against a team with a winning record. The best teams the Pack beat were the Lambs and ‘Queens who each finished at .500. Nicht gut. The same rule applies for the Packers as for New Year’s…keep expectations low. That was my mantra this season and it was fulfilled, yet it’s shocking that a team that’s not that great can finish 10-6 and third in the NFC.

In bad news, I happened to watch the Outback Bowl and good Lord, that’s why you don’t roll up a 9-2 if you’re not that good. I’m talking about the Wisconsin Badgers who flattered themselves in the regular season with their record and managed to end the Outback Bowl with a respectable score when the game really shouldn’t have been that close. Georgia owned them most of the game and their own foolish play calling nearly opened the door for Wisconsin but it was too little too late. In fairness, it would have been a grave injustice if the Badgers had somehow contrived to win in the dying moments of the game. Why is it that Wisconsin still fails to recruit a decent quarterback? It was a fun season while it lasted, at least until reality set in.