By Pam

This year for the first time in probably 25 years, I did not prepare a big Christmas feast. My wonderful husband, who loves every sport known to man that involves some type of round object, gave our family tickets to the NBA opening day Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls Christmas Day game.

My adult sons and husband were extremely excited and looking forward to it for the last several weeks. I will admit that I (not a big NBA lover – Pro Football is my thing) was not that excited about the prospect of not having our traditional Christmas and sitting through a sport that doesn’t particularly thrill me. In addition, I should probably mention that as I get older, I do not deal with change that well. I think I was actually in a bit of a funk about it and I made a few subtle attempts in the past week to wrangle my way out by suggesting that there had to be a few of his friends that would appreciate it far more than me.

Needless to say, he was not buying it and off we went to Staples Center. I have to admit (I hope he is not reading this) that he was right and I was wrong. I had an absolute wonderful and festive time. I have not attended a game at the Staples Center, which is in downtown Los Angeles, in at least five years and oh my has it changed.

The area is now referred to as L.A. Live and it is truly amazing. There are over 20 upscale places to eat in Nokia Plaza, trendy clubs such as the the Conga Room, movie theaters and ritzy hotels such as the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton and so much more. There was even an ice skating rink that was loaded with skaters even though it was a warm 75 degrees out today.

The game itself was a blast. Staples Center was rocking with Christmas songs and we were all entertained by the lovely scantily clad Laker Girls. People were dressed up in Christmas attire (several flashing reindeer antlers were noted) and ready to have a great time and cheer for the home town favorite. I even got a pair of the Laker “Thundersticks” shown in the video below and became quite proficient in annoying everyone around me. It was a close game but the Lakers blew the game at the end and let the Bulls come from behind to win it much to the delight of both my husband and sons who are avid backers of all things Chicago.

My husband also had quite an added thrill while we were at the game. His favorite, very attractive meteorologist on KTLA, Vera Jimenez,  sat in front of us and actually acknowledged him with a smile and a “Merry Christmas” when he awkwardly ( and embarrassingly to me) yelled out her name. If she only knew how he looks forward to the 10 pm news every night while thinking he fools me into believing that he really wants to know what the boring, never changing Los Angeles weather is going to be like.

I really did have a fantastic time and was reminded once again today what is important about Christmas. It doesn’t matter if you eat ham at the Christmas table or a hot dog at an NBA game as long as your are spending it with the people who you love and love you – it is all good.

By the way, I received another gift today from my husband and sons that truly made my day. I am now proud owner of an NFL team. They purchased stock for me in the Green Bay Packers. Something I have wanted since I missed out on the last sale in the 90s. Go Pack!

So now that I shared a little about my Christmas, I am wondering how yours turned out?
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Image: AP

By Jeff

Brigham Young University (BYU) is in the midst of a record breaking basketball season, ranked in the top 5 nationally with a  27-2 record. They have one of (if not the) best player in the country in Jimmy Fredette. However, the huge national debate in the college basketball world that is causing such a stir is the dismissal of their second-best player, Brandon Davies, for violating their “Honor Code”.

The agreed-upon Honor Code (by Davies and all students) prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. In addition, it bans all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings and opposite sexes from going into each others bedroom areas. Each student must also participate in regular church activity within their faith.

Brandon Davis, a sophomore at BYU admitted to having sexual relations with a female student in her room, a clear violation of the code. The school has suspended him from the team for the remainder of this year; effectively dashing their hopes of a National Title (they lost their first game without him by 20 points).

This prompts a few questions:

• Does BYU need to reconsider their strict honor code based on the times that we live in?

• Does the school deserve credit for sticking by it?

• Should they punish Mr. Davies in another way so as not to punish the entire team and school of this once in a lifetime dream?

Joe with grandson Riley at Donald Park, Mt. Horeb,WI

When I was a young kid I remember these pair of snowshoes hanging in our garage. They looked like a pair of very large badminton rackets. My brothers and sister and I would take turns strapping them on our boots and walking around in the deep Wisconsin snow. We would tire easy and most times fall head first into some deep snow bank never to be found again unless one of our older siblings would take pity on us and pull us out.  They would come off much faster than they ever went on and once again hang in the garage until the following winter when we would conveniently forget the humiliating experiences of the previous winter and try them out all over again.

Ice skating, sleigh riding, cross country skiing and snowmobiling were the popular winter sports by both adults and kids in areas of the country where downhill skiing is not available. You would never see anyone snowshoeing.

Well times have changed and snowshoeing has increasingly became more popular. One of the reasons for the jump in popularity is because of the development of modern snowshoes. The new ones are smaller, lighter, made of aluminum, and have synthetic webbing and the bindings that go on quickly. Snowshowing also gives an impressive workout and can burn as many as 500 calories per hour.

I recently was fortunate to talk to a novice snowshoer, Peggy from Wisconsin,  and ask her some questions about her experiences with this up and coming sport.

How did you get interested in Snowshoeing and how long have you been participating in this sport?

Snowshoeing has gotten quite popular around Madison WI, and I thought it looked like a fun way to get some exercise during the winter. I bought my husband Joe and I both a pair for Christmas. Once we got started we were both hooked. It’s wonderful to hike into places you normally only get to see during the warm months. It’s a great way to relieve stress and just clear your mind.

Did you need any special conditioning or training to get in shape for this?

We do a lot of biking during the summer, does that count as “conditioning”? I think if you can walk you should be able to snowshoe. You can make it as easy or as strenuous as is comfortable for you.

How expensive is the equipment? Tell us a little bit about the snowshoes. Is it difficult to walk in them?

Peggy on the trails at Donald Park, Mt. Horeb, WI.

There is a wide range of prices, so it’s best to talk to someone at the sporting goods store so that you get what’s right for you. We also researched on the internet. You can spend less than $100.00 or more than $300.00. We paid around $200.00 a pair. We also purchased poles which aren’t a requirement but really help you stay balanced. It doesn’t take long to get your stride and to feel comfortable on snowshoes. One thing I think is important to consider are the bindings. The easier to strap on the better, you don’t want to spend a lot of time with your gloves off fiddling with a lot of straps and buckles.

What type of snow and weather is ideal to make this a good experience?

When we started doing this we had 4 to 5 inches of snow on the ground, recently we got 16 inches of snow. I must say the deeper snow made for a bigger workout. The bottom of the snowshoe has a cleat that digs into the snow called a crampon. It prevents sliding on hard pack snow and on slopes so you can snowshoe in any condition.

How do you dress for this so that you are warm but still have the freedom to move?

We like to dress in layers which is usually the best way to deal with cold weather sports. You don’t want to over dress because you can get too warm if you’re moving quickly or climbing hills. Best to check the weather before heading out.

Is there special techniques needed for different types of snow or conditions?

I’m sure there are techniques we may not be aware of, we are still novices.

Joe on the trails at Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville, WI. Twin Valley Lake can be seen frozen over in the background.

Where do you go to find the best trails.

We are lucky to have numerous places to go in Wisconsin. We have gone to wildlife refuges, county parks, state parks, and our friends private property. They were all beautiful but if the snow is really deep I prefer to follow a trail that someone else has blazed, it makes walking easier. The snow shoes help to keep you above the snow, but if the snow is really deep you can sink a bit and you end up lifting snow on top of your shoes which tires you quicker.

Who all participates in this sport – family, friends?
We have several friends that enjoy snowshoeing. We usually prefer going alone as our chances for seeing wildlife are better if you can be somewhat quiet. We have seen deer, wild turkeys and a ring necked pheasant. Last weekend I borrowed a pair of snowshoes for our 7 year old grandson, he had a great time. So he will probably be getting snowshoes for Christmas this year.

Are there any risks to this or have you ever gotten lost?

I guess there are risks to everything. My second time out I tripped over a rock that was hidden under the snow, luckily I had a soft landing. Joe has a handheld GPS that has an electronic compass, and topographic maps while that certainly isn’t necessary he gets a lot of enjoyment out of that device. I like it because it also tells us how far we’ve walked and how long we’ve walked.

Any plans to broaden your horizons and say go to Alaska and try this out?

We would love to try this in another state. When we retire in a couple years we are thinking of getting some type of RV and traveling to Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. The nice part about snowshoes is they don’t take up much room.

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Imperfect Women would like to take this opportunity to thank Peggy and Joe for taking the time to give us a little more insight into this sport that is attracting people of all ages who are strapping on their snowshoes and getting out there for exercise, the scenery, or just a love of the outdoors. We also would like to point out that winter sports are nothing new to this family. They are the uncle and aunt of a young man we previously featured in this Imperfect Women interview: The Iowa “Alps” – Adventures In Silo Climbing.

By Stu

LeBron James told a CNN reporter that “race is a factor in the backlash against him since The Decision.”

So LeBron and his supporting cast believe racist people had something to do with his fan popularity dropping so much since he decided to leave Cleveland?  I find this deplorable.

For years he had Cleveland fans (white and black) living and dying with every step he took on the court. No one was more popular in the NBA than he was.  The country bought tons of his merchandise. He was the toast of the town. He made millions of dollars. When he wanted to leave Cleveland cities all across the country put on media days to lure him in. Fans begged for him to come to their team and make them a champion.

He decided to leave Cleveland and go to Miami. I am not sure if he took the cowards way out or he took the most immature way to handle business. The owner of the Cleveland Cavs stated how hurt he was for himself and the city and he also saw the value of his team take a nose dive. He paid millions to LeBron and made him a very rich man. LeBron showed absolutely no respect for him or the fans by not letting them know one way or another if he was coming back.  ”Just wait for my ESPN show to find out.”

So the fans are angry, the owner is angry, and many fans around the country are angry with him, his Q rating is way down and he thinks it’s because he is black.

What do you think?

Want to talk about your favorite team or talk smack about your hated rivals? College or the pros – here is your spot to talk football.

Looks like we might already have a little something to discuss in that a few IW mods have a vested interest in today’s Green Bay/Philadelphia match-up!