Scattershots: Learning wrestling, Letters from Iwo Jima, and fascination with Anna Nicole.

I played four sports in high school, but wrestling was not one of them. Our school didn't offer it, and each year at this time, I feel like I missed out. State wrestling in Iowa is amazing, and a much deserved source of pride. Unlike baseball, basketball, football and track (my sports), wrestling is constant tension and relentless action. Even the best can lose with one mistake. I've also really come to appreciate the cerebral strategy that makes it like a physical chess match...

In an effort to learn more about wrestling, I'm reading the critically acclaimed "Four Days to Glory". It follows two Iowa wrestlers in 2005 as they try to join the giants of the sport as four-time champions. It is a great book. Highly recommended whether you know a lot about the sport, or you're like me, trying to broaden your knowledge. Author Mark Kreidler writes that Iowa is known internationally for just two things: corn and wrestling...

Does anyone really wonder if Roger Clemens is coming back? Come on. This has about as much suspense as Brett Favre's annual dance. Of course Clemens is coming back. He'll skip spring training, the first half of the season, and then make about $15 million dollars to pitch in 20 or so games, and he's probably worth it. I just wish Clemens were more sincere. The guy retired several times and kept the expensive gifts when he returned. He's still great, and he can't walk away. Just be forthright...

Saw "Letters from Iwo Jima". Brilliant but depressing. Not easy to watch. I enjoyed Clint Eastwood's companion film, "Flags of our Fathers", more, but I'm not sure it was better. It's just not fun, nor should it be, watching people "honorably" blow themselves up for two hours. A- for quality, B- for the experience.

"Friday Night Lights" is showing signs of life. Ratings are building, thanks to many of you who are starting to watch. On good nights, this show is stunning. On off nights, it's still better than 95% of anything on TV. I try not to let the 25 year old "teenagers" bother me too much. It's a great improvement over John Travolta and Olivia Newton John in "Grease", but why can't shows at least find "kids" who are 19, 20, 21? At least Julie is 18...

What's going on with Izzie on "Grey's Anatomy". Could they make her any more of a thoughtless, inconsiderate dingbat? At least she's not standing in front of the hospital for 12 hours anymore...

Did you watch the NBA All-Star game? I tried, but it's gotten ridiculous. No need for the slam dunk contest as long as this is on. Has it always been this bad? Or am I getting like my father; looking back at the good old days? I remember enjoying the NBA's show...

NBC broadcasts the Match Play Championship and what happens? Tiger and Phil lose. Now that's just bad luck...

No more Britney Spears jokes from us. This woman obviously needs some help...

I still can't believe the around-the-clock fascination with Anna Nicole Smith's death. I understand that many people relate to all of her trials and tribulations (yo-yo dieting, bad marriages, trouble with children, the desire for more money, addictions, cosmetic surgery, etc), but it's still a little scary when the death of a person famous primarily for being famous receives more cable network coverage than all the fallen American soldiers combined...

Former Governor Vilsack dropped out of the Presidential race faster than expected. Makes me a little sad. It was probably our only chance to have a former SoundOFF co-host in the White House. Then again, Ronald Reagan did Iowa games with Jim Zabel...

Keep the feedback coming. I enjoy your thoughts.
Keith

Scattershots: ISU tickets, NASCAR cheating, and the perfect Valentine's present.

Have you ever heard Keno Davis on the radio? He sounds so much like his father, Doctor Tom, that it freaks me out. I listened to him for 10 minutes on KXNO's Cotlar & Company this morning before I realized it was son, not dad. I'm not overselling this; you have to hear it...

Iowa State announces it's more than halfway past last year's record total for football season tickets. That's definitely positive, especially with 1,200 new customers. Another way to look at it, ISU still has nearly 30,000 empty seats for the Iowa - Iowa State game. More work ahead...

What an embarrassing week for NASCAR. If you're not cheating, you're not trying. As Harry Hogge said to Cole Trickle in "Days of Thunder", "There's nothing stock about a stock car, Cole." Amen. If NASCAR officials really want to stop the cheating, they need to suspend the drivers, not just the crew chiefs. For goodness sakes, Jimmy Johnson won the Daytona 500 without his chief last year...

Shawn Terrell reported an excellent piece on "No Pass, No Play" this week. It showed all sides of the argument and sparked much discussion around the station. The thing I noticed is---and it's not surprising---people come at this from their own backgrounds. Those who grew up in homes where education was stressed and good grades were a must, cannot understand how it's too much to ask that high school athletes pass all classes. Those who didn't, better understand how an "F" happens. In an ideal world, you'd go case-by-case, but there's no way to make that work, not that I can see. The most negative system quirk to me is that many kids are like I was, so into sports, they'll avoid challenging classes so there's little chance to fail...

Andy Fales' story on the Iowa Stars showed the AHL franchise is succeeding in Des Moines more than you might think from seeing video of all the empty seats. As the Stars point out, you can take their average crowd at Wells Fargo Arena and easily fill 95KGGO Arena where the Bucs play. However, it also shows how crowds create atmosphere. The Bucs play in a lovable old dump of a building, but it's electric on game night, while the Stars play in a beautiful state-of-the-art building that's too vast for actual crowds of two to five thousand. It's like the difference watching a funny movie on DVD vs. catching it in a sold out theater. Both are enjoyable, but the energy of the crowd makes for a more memorable experience. Having said that, I've always enjoyed Stars games, and the hockey is top notch. The organization appears to be learning about the market as it goes, just as you'd expect and hope. When in doubt, look to the I-Cubs. That's the way to do it...

Illinois is retiring Chief Illiniwek. It's time...

I thought Tom Vilsack did fine on the Tonight Show. May have tried a little too hard to be funny, tough to pull off when you're following Jim Carrey. On the plus side, Vilsack raised his national profile considerably, and made a positive impression, but did he come off as Presidential?...

Raise your hand if you thought Iowa would have the best chance of making the NCAA tournament? My hand is on the keyboard...

"Friday Night Lights" just keeps getting better. If you're not on board yet, please join. The recent two-parter on subtle racism was fantastic. The coach, his wife, and daughter are the most realistic family on television...

I got a fantastic Valentine's present: "The Departed". Sure it's brutal, bloody and full of more F-bombs than a Chris Rock concert, but I love it! Thanks Jenny...

Scattershots: Super Bowl, K-Fed. Laugh Attack.

To these eyes, the MVP of Super Bowl XLI was Bob Sanders. The former Hawkeye induced a fumble, interception, and snot bubble. He sets the aggressive, reckless tone for the entire Colts defense. Sanders did the same thing at Iowa. I'll never forget watching Penn State players walk to the halftime locker-room looking like they'd prefer to just get on the bus. Sanders and company had hit the Nittany Lions so hard, so often, they wanted to quit. That's what's been missing at Iowa the past two seasons...

I like the way Rex Grossman handled himself off the field all season. He seems like a stand-up guy, but he was awful in the big game. Rex has his moments, but the Bears and Grossman may need a divorce. I'm not sure anyone can handle the heat headed his way now...

My Super Bowl theory worked again. The team with the best quarterback usually wins. Think about it; look it up. There are exceptions, but not many. Even Dan Marino's Dolphins lost to the better quarterback...

I'm happy for Peyton. I know he polarizes people, but I like the guy. His commercials are surprisingly funny. CUT THAT MEAT...

I'm happy for Dallas Clark. I've known Dallas for nearly ten years and he's the kind of guy who makes you proud to call Iowa home. No wonder he's the pride of Livermore...

When my dad heard Prince was performing at halftime, he said, "that little guy gives me the creeps." Maybe, but that little guy can flat out rock. Prince was good in Miami, even with that head scarf borrowed from Beyonce. "Purple Rain" is one of the all-time classics...

Commercials were okay, but the best moment was Letterman's bit with Oprah. Solid gold...

GoDaddy.com it's time to just go...

K-Fed, your 15 minutes were up 14 minutes ago...

I am proud of Erin Kiernan, and it has nothing to do with her special reports last week, though I was proud of that too. This is more personal, but it has to come from her. It's all good...

If you want to see a grown man lose control of his ability to stop laughing, check out this week's "I think" on the whotv.com sports video page. I was like a kid in church who knows he desperately needs to stop laughing, but that just makes it worse. Giggles gone wild. Andy Fales started it off camera, while I was on camera, and I couldn't put it out of my head. I really felt terrible when I left work because I just couldn't get it together. However, among the e-mails and calls I received from people who couldn't stop laughing because I couldn't stop laughing was one from Aggie. Here's what she wrote:

Keith.....My husband was tragically killed recently and until last night's show I don't think I have REALLY laughed since he was killed. My husband and I always watched Sound Off on Sunday nights together and I am still watching........ alone....... after his death. Just can't kick the habit! Thanks for providing the laughs last night...........It felt so good!!!!!!!
Aggie

That's one of the most humbling things I've ever read. It's heartbreaking and happy at the same time. I'm thrilled we could bring a smile to Aggie's face. It makes my embarrassment worth it. Thanks for writing, Aggie. You made my day...

Thanks for reading.
Keith