BEVERLY HILLS (MI) — Last Sunday was one of those days as a fan when you wake up and say to yourself:

“This could be a really great sports day…or not.”

Unfortunately, as we now know it was most assuredly the latter. After turning back Iowa and a stubborn Monmouth squad, Flyer Fans thought that UD was ready to face our neighbors to the south for the first time in three years, but we were sadly mistaken. Someone recycled the old “Separated at Birth” thread on the UD Pride MB, but this game just didn’t have the emotional buildup or all-around hate exhibited back when the Muskies were on a home and home basis with the Red and Blue. And it was, for all intents, over almost as soon as it began as the Flyers could never really compete on the floor with the New Big Easters.

You knew it was gonna be a rough afternoon when even Archie Miller did not think his charges were anywhere near ready to do battle with X, as outlined in the prescient Pickin’ Splinters piece written on the off-day :

http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=46984

Pickin’ Splinters also provides this AdvoCare Invitational wrap-up highlighting the dominance of X and the steadiness of Scoochie Smith, who outperformed tournament MVP Justin Robinson of Monmouth in terms of player efficiency rating:

http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=47057

Speaking of the Scoochinator, he still has the #1 nickname in all of college hoops, according to Reid Forgave of Fox Sports:

http://daytonflyers.blog.daytondailynews.com/2015/12/02/daytons-scoochie-no-1-again-in-name-game/

Scoochie and Charles Cooke take you on a guided tour of the newly renovated Donoher Center:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkr-6evWjxw&feature=youtu.be

With the exception of VCU, all of the A-10 teams who played in exempt tournaments were .500 or better, according to Rush the Court:

http://rushthecourt.net/2015/12/01/checking-in-on-the-atlantic-10-64/

My Sunday Sports Day wasn’t over with the 29 point blowout of the Flyers in Orlando. I had a chance to double down and hopefully experience the thrill of victory watching one of my other favorite squads compete. That night the undefeated New England Patriots traveled to Denver to face the always tough Broncos. Unlike the Flyers, the Pats competed until the bitter end, despite being without their two top receivers and their best running back as well as losing TE Rob Gronkowski in the process. They kicked a FG with no time remaining to send it into OT but eventually fell into the ranks of the defeated.

One thing that the Flyers and Pats did share on Sunday was being subjected to some absolutely horrendous officiating. The frequent whistles didn’t really determine UD’s fate but it sure made what was already a hard game to watch even more difficult. Conversely, the zebras had everything to do with New England’s downfall. In the second half, it seemed like every big play that the Pats executed was called back and every failure on the part of the Broncos was rewarded with a yellow flag.

Don’t believe me?

The regional cover of Sports Illustrated provides photographic proof of one penalty that wasn’t called. Pats DL Dominique Easley wasn’t just held, he was strangled in what ended up being a Denver TD pass:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/12/01/denver-broncos-brock-osweiler-sports-illustrated-cover

Before he was carted off the field, Gronk was flagged for two offensive pass interference penalties vs. the Broncos, giving him a total of six OPI calls on the season.

That’s more OPI calls than 29 teams in the NFL!

Let’s go to the video:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2015/12/02/film-review-rob-gronkowski-being-targeted-unfairly-for-offensive-pass-interference/BlSbT5u4Ps3z9WRqgqUwYM/story.html?story_hp

Sometime after midnight Monday morning I pondered the proceedings and reminded myself that in both cases:

It was only one game

And even more importantly in the grand scheme of things:

It is only a game

The reality of the situation is that whether the Flyers or Pats win or lose has no real impact on my health, wealth or well-being.

I was able to put these two contests into their proper context only two days later when something happened to the only team of mine that really, truly matters:

My Home Team

Tuesday was the first day that surgical residents can be invited by hospitals to interview for one year Fellowships in their chosen specialties. The Younger Dr. Swampette nervously awaited to see to which Orthopaedic Surgery programs she would be traveling. By the end of the day, she had received thirteen invitations, including The Cleveland Clinic, Duke and USC. She still has to successfully interview, but you can’t get a Fellowship without one.

That’s a W in my book.

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
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