Happy New Year!

Picture Perfect
They did it! The New England Patriots finished the season 16-0 for the first time in the history of the National Football League, much to the disappointment of Don Shula and his ’72 squad. Sorry, Miami Dolphins – 25 years later champagne is poppin’ in Foxborough. Of course, that perfect season means nothing if the Pats don’t win it all. Can they continue their momentum? In true Belichick form, ALL the Pats proclaim that perfect season was last year and they’re back to 0-0 this year on their quest to go 3-0. We’ll be watching....

Collins Callin’ the Shots as Redskins make the Postseason
36-year old Todd Collins helped the Washington Redskins to four straight wins at the end of the seasons to help the team nab a spot in the playoffs, including a 27- 6 drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys (aka “Spawn of the Devil”). And Jessica Simpson didn’t even need to be there! Plus, Fenella won her bet that they’d make the playoffs and gets dessert out of it – YAY!

Things Todd Collins is older than:
-Us
-30-year aged Balsamic Vinegar from Zingerman’s
-The widespread use of cellular phones
-Everyone on the Washington Redskins squad except #67 Ethan Albright, who is about six months older

The ‘Skins will be playing the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field, also known as the loudest place in the world. Washington could save some money by playing at home in the middle of Love nightclub, which is just as loud. This is a rematch of the 2005 playoffs, which the Redskins lost 20-10. But they have momentum and the spirit of Sean Taylor on their side….Can they upset the ‘hawks and keep it going, or revert back to their underachieving ways? Fenella hopes it’s the former, ‘cause she has another bet going that they make the NFC Championship!

Stop and Smell the Roses
Congratulations to Fenella’s beloved USC Trojans as they manhandled the Illinois Fighting Illini on New Year’s Day, 49-17. That Stanford game seems so long ago. See how awesome the Trojans can be when everyone’s healthy?!?! The future still looks bright for the Cardinal & Gold with freshman Joe McKnight showing flashes of Reggie Bush. The Rose Bowl has been such a success for the Trojans the last few years, maybe it isn’t such a bad thing if they move there….Then again, maybe not.
In other bowl news, Kansas (whose BCS appearance was questionable) stunned many when they beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl (excuse me, the FedEx Orange Bowl), 24-21. The swan song that is Lloyd Carr’s career at Michigan ended with a bang, with the Wolverines defeating Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the University of Florida Gators in the Capitol One Bowl 41-35. Capitol One Bowl? Seriously?! What kind of name is that? Colt Brennan and his Hawaii Warriors couldn’t maintain a perfect season with a crushing loss to UGA.
The Big Game takes place on Monday when LSU takes on Ohio State, who is hoping for a non-repeat of last year’s upset loss to Florida.

Just Like When They Were Kids
Hockey outside didn’t bother the Pittsburgh Penguins or Buffalo Sabres, but it sure did get to Bob Costas. The New Year’s day spectacle was a Winter Wonderland, snowy and cold. Pittsburgh won in a shootout 2-1, but what the National Hockey League won for that day was the eyes of mainstream America for the first time since the NHL’s television contracts were slashed into practical oblivion (and no, Versus is NOT a real network).

New Year's Resolutions
Follow Andrea's New Year's Resolution in her new culinary blog: Adventures in Foodism.