Out of this RUT?

I wasn't a pessimist until I went to college.

There were plenty of great things that happened in my life up until that point. I had a loving family and plenty of security. The New York Giants had given me two Super Bowl titles and even the Yankees had a bright spot in Don Mattingly, whose Hall of Fame pathway was derailed by back ailments. And no, I don't think he should be in the Hall.....but he was still my favorite player as a child.

But it was college that really brought me to my low point. Announcing games for the Rutgers radio station, I got to experience one of the most woeful four-year stretches anyone has witnessed in their collegiate career (and I'm not even going to touch 7 seasons without an NCAA for the men or women in hoops). Four losing football seasons....a 11-32-1 record. A winless senior year with two close games. There's nothing more exciting than traveling to West Virginia for a 48-0 wipeout and explaining how your summer vacation went as part of the second-half color commentary.

"Hmmm....I think I could start for this team."

OK...I don't want to get carried away here. I am only 5-foot-6 (in heels).

On Saturday, Rutgers football took a step in the right direction. By beating North Carolina 21-16 on the road, the Scarlet Knights posted their best win in at least a dozen years (maybe a 1994 17-12 toppling of West Virginia at home). In the past, they would have fumbled late or allowed the opposition to notch a game-tying or winning score in the fourth quarter. Not on Saturday. Rutgers managed to hold on and topple an ACC squad. For once, I can speak proudly of my alma mater. No more black cloud over the program. No more failing to convert a 4th an inches....no more 15 yard penalty for excessive celebration due to a Scarlet Knight horse on the field.....no more injuries wiping out an entire roster (is it possible to have an entire secondary decimated by "burners"?). I can tell people I proudly went to Rutgers!

(That is until they lose to Illinois next week)

Reader Alert: The following contains sentimental material!!!!! Read at your own risk!

AGASSI RETIRES

I just wanted to pay homage to one of the best tennis players I ever watched. As a kid, I wanted to be Andre Agassi. I bought his shoes.....I wanted to have his hair but my grandmother wouldn't have a Jewish boy with a mullet....or she called it a "shvife" (or something that sounded like that). It's ok....because 18 years later I think I finally DO have his hair.

When I saw him battle for victories in the first two rounds of the U.S. Open this year, it was almost like I was looking back at my childhood. My father used to take me to play tennis with him and his college tennis club every Sunday at a local indoor racquet club. I wasn't very good but he always did what he could to give me some time on the court. Wearing my flourescent green Agassi shoes, I would try to emulate my idol with a potent two-handed backhand that would make ALL the ladies go wild.

(Did I mention I hit about 30 balls on the next court, pissing off the women who were trying to play doubles? Oh they definitely went "wild")

Now, his career is finished and I couldn't help but understand how Agassi felt yesterday. There aren't many players left that my father, who passed away four years ago, knew who currently play on the tennis circuit. Now that Agassi is gone, you can cross another one off the list. I still have my love for the game and have Agassi to thank for being a joy to watch on the court. I wish him the best in retirement.

Not to get all sappy.....so I'll throw in a little joke to get your ready for football season....

There was a Packers fan with a really crappy seat at Lambeau.

Looking with his binoculars, he spotted an empty seat on the 50-yard line. Thinking to himself "what a waste" he made his way down to the empty seat.

When he arrived at the seat, he asked the man sitting next to it, "Is this seat taken?"

The man replied, "This was my wife's seat. She passed away. She was a big Packers fan."

The other man replied, "I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. May I ask why you didn't give the ticket to a friend or a relative?"

The man replied, "They're all at the funeral."