Happy New Year

The Risk family quietly rang in the New Year and so far, it hasn't seemed to be anything to celebrate.

After ringing in 2009, we all headed out to Baltimore to watch the Penn State Nittany Lions take on the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl. It was not a pretty sight. Although the Nittany Lions made the final score look like they had really put up an effort, the score did not do the game justice. Unfortunately for Penn State, the secondary missed the flight to Pasadena and the Trojans decimated the Lions throughout the game. It's hard to say that there's always next year when the team is losing several starting seniors. At least Joe Pa's back for three more years.

The football gods continued to frown upon the Risk family two days later as the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated from the playoffs in San Diego. Like the Nittany Lions secondary, the Colt defense missed the flight to California. Peyton was able to keep the Colts in the game, but even the offense faltered late in the game. We knew it was pretty much over when San Diego won the coin toss in OT, and shortly thereafter the game was done. Maybe the football gods were sparing this household a Colts-Steelers rematch like they had in the playoffs a couple of years ago. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Colts in the offseason. Coach Dungy is expected to make a decision on his retirement, and I wouldn't be surprised if Marvin Harrison retired as well. If the Colts can address their defense issues, there is always next year.

At least we can look at the bright side, with this type of start to the year, things can only get better.