As a sports fan, one of the greatest hurdles to the job is the need to rise at an early hour.  It sort of goes hand-in-hand with retiring early.  But when games get underway in the 7:00 hour, a 9:00 bed-time often means missing the second half action.  There are ways around that – just stay up and be tired, DVR and watch the remainder in the morning while getting ready, watch a highlight package the next day, whatever.  It all works out in the end, but rarely as spectacularly as it did for last night’s BCS National Championship game. 

I can’t stand Alabama, despise Nick Saban, but I respect the heck out of ‘em both.  And I’d like to say, “Thank you.”  Thank you Alabama for putting such a hurtin’ on Notre Dame that no doubt existed in my brain that going to bed at halftime would produce surprise at the morning-after outcome. 

The highlights came immediately, and repeatedly, like the instructions on the side of a shampoo bottle (that I learned this morning few apparently follow) – lather, rinse, repeat - the greatest of which may have been AJ McCarron’s pageant winning girlfriend, Katherine Webb.  Smokeshow alert in 3…2…1…

But don’t be too hard on old Ogle McGawkerson, Brent Musburger.  Katherine Webb is Miss Alabama 2012.  When you’re a pageant chick, you’re pretty OK with folks eyeing you.  And c'mon now, fellas...you weren't thinking it?  You were probably thikin' something far worse, but you just don't want to admit it to your chick.  "Yeah, she's OK, I guess.  I mean, if you're into that."