Second Thoughts: The real thing trumps computer dating


Knucklehead of the Week

What kind of idiot packs a loaded handgun in their luggage and heads to the airport? Step right up, Andre Smith. The Bengals’ massive right tackle recorded the team’s first off-season arrest when he was busted Thursday after a gun was discovered in his carry-on in Atlanta. TSA agents were shocked right out of their zombie-like slumber. Amazing stat: 100 guns were found in passengers’ luggage last year at the ATL airport.

I’m taking the kids to Flyin’ to the Hoop today. The prep basketball buffet at Trent Arena is one of my favorite events of the year, right there with Oktoberfest and a night out at Geez. Flyin’ officials tend to swallow their whistles and let the kids play. The players dunk in warm-ups. And the big one: Coaches don’t micromanage every second of the games.

Dating sure has changed since I was in college. I've burned too many brain cells trying to figure out what Notre Dame linebacker Mantei Te'o was doing "dating" a "girl" he had never met in, what, three years? Back in the day, you knocked on a girl's door, shook her dad's hand and went to a movie, preferably at the drive-in. Now you tweet, text or Instagram. So much for people skills.

I’m still not convinced Te’o didn’t know what was up, but I do know the moral of this story: tell the truth. And one more thing: date people, not computers. I know South Bend isn’t South Beach, but Te’o could’ve found someone who would’ve shared a milkshake with him.

Today is Championship Sunday in the NFL. I don't care who survives the NFC rumble between arrogant Jim Harbaugh (49ers) and the biggest bandwagon city in America (Atlanta). I'll probably pull for the Patriots in the AFC for one reason: I DO NOT want to see the Ravens' Ray Lewis dance at the Super Bowl.

UD has lost four of six and is 0-3 in the Atlantic 10. Dead last. The Flyer Faithful did catch a break this weekend because Team Turnover isn't playing. Up this week are two must-win home games against Fordham and Duquesne. Wonder if Kevin Dillard will stop pouting.

I caught a couple episodes of Pete Rose's new reality TV show. Not real cerebral, but entertaining. My favorite part is watching Pete try to introduce baseball to his whiny future stepson, who would rather play video games than breathe. Good luck with that, Hit King.

Juwan Staten is back in West Virginia's lineup after sitting out a loss to Kansas State last week. The former UD malcontent apparently was locking horns with Bob Huggins, who said: "He's going to get on the same page with me or he's not going to play anymore."

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