THE GREATER GOOD

When Cassius Clay/Ali fought Joe Frazier (well I guess he was by then called Muhammed Ali), it was an event.  From the Thriller in Manila to other bouts, it was always great theatre.

Today marks a first for me.  Our son's alma mater plays our daughter's alma mater in a big football game.  My dilemma: whom to root for.

Scott did his graduate work at Washington University; Courtney got her Master's from the University of San Diego.  So there's no tie-breaker there.

I lived in Illinois for most of my life, but I was a Saluki though I was a U of I fan.  Ten years ago we moved to the home of Arizona State.  I rooted for them even before our daughter attended.  You're starting to see the pattern.

My wife tells me I should adapt the old Illinois cheer--I-L-L///I-N-I-- to I-L-L///ASU.  Maybe that makes sense. I haven't consulted our son, but Courtney tells me since I lived first in Illinois and Scott went to  college there before she attended ASU, that I should support Illinois in the first half.  And since I now live in Arizona and she went to ASU later, that I should root for Arizona State in the second half.

If I agree to that, then I'd have to favor Illinois in any and all overtimes, just to be fair.

Don't know what I'll do yet.  Probably just root for whatever offense is on the field.  I just hope I still get the Big 10 Network.