Vacation's over

Took a week of vacation over Christmas, but am back in the office. Thought I'd share a few sports thoughts.

1. Love the fact that there are no Dallas Cowboys or New England Patriots in the NFL playoffs. Was stunned to learn that Dallas hasn't won a playoff game in 11 years. Unbelievable. New England is the first 11-win team not to make the postseason. The Pats had an easy schedule this season, which no one seemed to want to point out.

2. My initial feeling is that hiring Paul Rhoads as head football coach was a good thing for Iowa State. He's worked his way up through the ranks and appears to actually want to be in Ames. That's a step forward. Can't pass up the fact, though, that Rhoads was an assistant under Dan McCarney, whom was unceremoniously fired a couple of years ago.

3. Had a colleague write a column the other day saying he felt Drake and Northern Iowa would be factors in the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball race. Then the Bulldogs and Panthers go out and lose their first MVC games Sunday. UNI lost at home to Indiana State, believed to be the worst team in the league. Oops.

4. The Midwest League's Beloit Snappers have Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire and GM Bill Smith speaking at their annual winter banquet in January. Tickets are $25. The Cedar Rapids Kernels, meanwhile, are charging $45 (on banquet night) to listen to Jim Abbott. What's a better deal?

5. Sincere congratulations to the Kernels for winning the John Johnson Award, presented by Minor League Baseball to the organization of the year. The Kernels played a big role in helping this community overcome last June's flooding, and for that they have my utmost respect.