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I didn’t see a whole lot of movies in 2009, but the one I did see was well worth it. Don’t sleep on “The Blind Side.” It’s one of those movies that brings you up and down, but in positive ways. It goes down on my list as favorite movies ever.

Last night, I was excited to hear Sandra Bullock win the Best Actress in 2009 at the Oscars. Her performance in The Blind Side was a home run. She played the one Mom that everyone wants: very accommodating, not annoying, classy, smart and hot. Michael Oher got a special treat with her. We all want the parents that will spoil you for your good deeds. That’s what she did. The cast and setting in The Blind Side was superb. Yeah, the actually football was a bit cheesy. But there;s no denying the acting, besides a woman coaching a football team (he he). Now that I’ve seen Bullock play a role in a sports movie, I know she has it in her for the future. Bullock seems to still be in her prime although it seems like she’s been around forever! She also played a great role in my other 2009 favorite, “The Proposal.” She can change it up.

I remember telling myself that the movie was so good that I would go see it a 2nd time. I didn’t end up doing so, but that’s okay. As crazy as it sounds, the movie is still playing at the Hilltop Mall in Kearney. Maybe I will see it a 2nd time after-all. This movie inspired me. I got teary eyed at times, especially the restaurant scene where Oher saw his brother. I think I enjoyed it so much because it was sports related.

It’s getting closer, and already the Field of 65 will be revealed next Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. It’s funny to even think about associating a down economy in our country in the month of March. We all throw tons of money in pools in hope to be the one coming out on top. I won’t lie, but whenever I fill out my bracket(s), I tend to think I’m nailing the picks left and right. In just one game your whole field could be wiped clean. But that’s the joy of this little game we do. Maybe this will be my magic year.

Right now, the big talk is on the No. 1 seeds. We should all be able to agree that Syracuse is the Top Overall seed. After that, Kansas and Kentucky are in good position to snag one as well. But the fourth No. 1 seed is where it gets interesting. And I’m signaling Duke. Coach K, Kyle Singler, and Jon Scheyer is enough to explain why.

On a side note, with these four, I feel that Kentucky is the most vulnerable to lose first. Sometimes youth gets exposed in the tournament, and they’re very young with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. If the tournament is all about matchups like people say, then it’s to the Wildcats strength. But I tend to think of maturity first and that’s their pitfall.

I’ve been missing for awhile now on my site. Kind of classless considering I am a Journalism student, right?!? But today I decided to return with a quick, fast blog post.

Not to take anything away from basketball season right now, but my eyes are on the upcoming baseball season. This is that time of year again when we get excited for some classic baseball. Living in Nebraska, you’d be surprised at all the baseball fans you will find. Different people love their different teams. I know guys that have a huge passion for the Yankees, Mets, Rockies, Cubs, Cardinals and Dodgers. There’s a ton of variety to say the least. But that’s the joy of baseball. We’re all so widespread. We love our teams.

I’ll come back and post a Division and World Series projection this month. But I just want to hit on this quick, and that’s the Yankees. Is their any team better than them in baseball? Simply put: no. So as we begin March and get into April with Opening Day, all this talk on the Bronx Bombers is going to get a little overboard. Defending champions earn their respect. Yeah, they piss us off. They tend to make you want to throw a rock at your plasma TV. But they’re just that good this year. So as we sit here 7 months away from October, I’m calling the Yankees already for back-to-back champs. It’s certainly early, but this is just how I feel.

Big news in the baseball world today is the New York Mets signing Jason Bay to a big-time deal, 4-years at $66 million. I like the signing for the Mets. They desperately need a left fielder to roam ever since Moises Alou left. And they got themselves a big name. But I don’t like the move for Bay. He’s coming out of career years in Boston, where he hit 45 homers in his 200 games. I know for a fact these numbers won’t carry over.

Baseball today isn’t about power hitters like it was in the Summer of 1998. Bay can surely slug for the fences, but he won’t in Citi Field. It destroyed David Wright and now I expect it to take a toll on Bay. It’s not a hitters park, it’s a pitchers park. It’s just a gigantic field. Wright goes from 33 homers in 2008 to 10 homers in 2009. That’s a big drop. Bay’s going to have to become a better hitter now, and become more relaxed and play the ball where he can. If he hit .267 in 2009, I expect that to get worse in 2010. It’s an interesting move considering Bay is only 31 and in the prime of his career.

Anybody considered the low media attention the Colts and Saints are getting after 14 weeks? They’re UNDEFEATED, yet it doesn’t seem that way. I’ve got a theory as to why.

Sports in the United States come down to two cities, New York and Los Angeles. If you reside here, we’ll you’re part of the craziness. I think I’ve heard more this year on Mark Sanchez’s up and down’s and his bum knee injury than I have on Drew Brees’s magical numbers. Bottom line is, these media outlets are bottom feeders. They’re the hamster on the wheel that never stops. They’re pipe out any story they can just to be a story.

Week after week two years back, the Patriots we’re undefeated and getting the glory. I count them in Boston, which is another huge city. So that explains their attention. Being undefeated is a big deal. Imagine if they win out and meet up in the Super Bowl. Biggest game EVER?

I don’t think either of these two teams win out, and maybe the Colts lose tonight against Jacksonville. But let’s give some attention to them. Winning isn’t supposed to be easy in the NFL, every game is to be tough. This is unheard of play.

I’m looking forward to the Heisman ceremony tomorrow night on ESPN. I can honestly say I’ve never gotten psyched for this before. But that’s what happens when somebody is in it that kept you glued to the TV all year, and that would be Ndamukong Suh.

What a year it’s been for the big fella. Does he win it tomorrow night? Probably not. I personally think that if he blocks the last-second field goal in the Big XII Championship game, then he does. You need a Heisman moment, and that would have been his. I won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t. It’s the fact that he made it there, on center stage, as a defensive player. That’s just unheard of.

He’s undoubtedly the best interior lineman I’ve seen play at Nebraska. He runs through people.

Since Heisman’s are a beauty contest, Mark Ingram of Alabama will win. He had his moments on the best defense in the country with Florida last Saturday. Suh will get second followed by Toby Garhart, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow.

Want an easy laugh? I got a kick out of this photo shopped image of Tiger Woods floating around today . The joy of the Internet can add a new dimension to how we view things. Now I don’t support Tiger for what he did. And I wish him good luck towards reaching back to his wife. All athletes cheat, but who would have guessed Tiger? The most cleanest of clean guys it seemed out there? How he’s so focused on the golf course now after these stories have stirred up is unbelievable. And how he easily swept these girls under the rug for so long and not having his wife find out. But in the end, this is bad timing. The Holidays are a time for gathering and he’d be lucky to get a sniff at his family this month.

If you asked me whether Mark Mangino was safe at Kansas, I’d say no. We’ve seen it in the past, any coach that answers questions about their future sees the writing on the wall. It happened here to Frank Solich. It happened to Bill Callahan. It’s been talked about for awhile now between Bobby Bowden, Charlie Weis and just this weekend with Mangino. You’re just not safe, and if Mangino thinks he can defend himself and his football program by going on radio stations and in newspapers, he’s wrong. The damage is done.

I credit Mangino for what he’s done since going to Kansas in 2002. He’s taken them from being down under. But six straight losses, anger management problems, and soon no bowl game will account to being fired. It would be scary to be a week-to-week coach. But winning is what cures. They’re not winning now, and won’t win anytime soon once recruits jump ship and a guy like Dezmon Briscoe declares early for the NFL Draft.