I AM READY

After what seems like months of focusing on war, disease, and all the other ills of the world, finally it is time for a diversion. My fantasy draft is today. Of course the best thing about the draft is that it is a sure sign that we are a short time away from the return of football. For at least a few hours every week I can focus on real problems like who I am starting at quarterback and who is on bye this week.

Of course these are not the real problems of life, but you can not underestimate the value of being able to pretend they are if only for a few moments each week. This is the true value of sports, an opportunity to escape into a world where scoring a touchdown is the most pressing issue. I enjoy watching the TV for three hours straight without mention of terrorism, or decaying infrastructure, or mine collapses.

The draft is also a day to get together with old friends I don't see much anymore. To remember just for a few hours the days when we all gathered on Sundays together to eat, drink, and watch football. Before the days of mortgages, kids and careers. To tell the same old lame jokes and laugh just as hard and for just a brief moment feel like the person you were the first time it was funny.

So break out the chips, the football mags, and the player stickers because football is finally back. I am taking Stephen Jackson second in what I hope will be the BEST....DRAFT.....EVER..... I hope not to have to scream NOOOOOOO! today too often if the player I wanted disappears just before it is my turn to pick. I hope my players leave their helmets on all season, but however it goes I am just glad we are back to the time of year where there is a lot of football left to play.

BO KNOWS by the time I hit 35 in February there will be two little McCabe boys. That is why the correct answer is always "I don't care as long as they are healthy" because trust me when you have put into print that you are hoping your little boy was a girl you feel a little bit of guilt when it turns out not to be true. But once I get past that I will be looking forward to dragging my boys to ball games for the next 15-20 years.

BO KNOWS I have mentioned before my love of stand-up comedy. With that being said I must warn you not to watch the new HBO special from Bob Saget. Trust me it is an hour of your life you will wish you could get back.