You know, I’m glad the Blazer’s in good shape because I have put more highway miles on it than a politician in a campaign year.

But hey, it’s traveling to see some of the best basketball in the area. I’ve one state champion in the AISA, hopefully, I’ll have two or three in AHSAA.

Can I have ‘Overreaction Tango’ for $300, Alex?

Okay, sportsfans, last week I touched on something that has been eating at me. Norway led the medal count and the Americans are stinking up the place.

I’ve been doing some thinking in my many trips to and fro basketball tournaments.

Sportsfans, think about it: the Europeans should be successful at the Winter Olympics.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not a lack of national pride or me wishing I was a Canadian or anything like that.

It’s just basically the fact that teams should succeed in an environment that they are accustomed to.

Think of the winter weather and the Alps as homefield advantage. I mean, when was the last time that an American had to ski across a plain to get to a neighbor’s house?

Yeah, we can’t – because we don’t have that much snow.

Nor do we really have a need to. Just an example of a continent with too much time on their hands.

The Winter Olympics were invented as a way for the Europeans to compete with the Americans because we embarrassed them during the Summer games in everything except long distance running and rhythmic gymnastics.

When we go over to Turino, it’s only fair that the Italians, Swedes, Norwegians and Germans kick our butts. Think about it. They have the Alps in their back yard and all we have is Teluride, which his half synthetic powder. Can’t beat the real thing.

Sportsfans, don’t lose faith in our nation’s athletic abilities.

Just chalk this one up to the field being leveled and look forward to the 2008 games in Beijing. That’s when we’ll shine. We’ll shine in everything but rhythmic gymnastics, whatever that is.

I’ll take ‘The Long and Lonely Road’ for $500, Alex.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You know, it’s amazing how all of a sudden two of the MLB’s biggest sluggers have gone the way of the dodo bird.

Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa have both dropped off the face of the earth.

And, oh, do I hate it. For those of you believing that, my beachside condo is still for sale in Omaha. I’m taking $300 or best offer for it.

Bonds has said that he’s done after this season and Sosa is being ousted, basically. He has one offer on the table – a $500,000 salary for one season with no guarantee to play with the Washington Nationals.

He played in Baltimore last season for $17 million. But hey, I guess it’s better to go out their own way than to go out the League’s way when they tested positive for steroids.

Excuse me – when their trainers slipped up and allowed them to test positive for steroids.

Oh well. After Barry retires maybe his head will shrink back down to normal instead of looking like an overgrown potato sitting on his neck.

Hey, Alex, can I have ‘Yes, Drill Sergeant!’ for $800?

Daily Triple-Double!

That’s right, sportsfans: this is a double-whammy. I would like to send congratulations and applause in the direction of Lowndes Academy and Marion Military and all my other AISA teams that made it to the state tournament.

It was a great week of basketball.

For some, it didn’t turn out the way they wanted, but hey – most of the teams are young and are going to be back next season.

To Dr. Michelle Ivey and her Lady Tigers, congratulations on winning the first state team championship in school history.

You guys played one heck of a game!

Had it not been for the little guy draining six straight freebies, then you guys could have pulled it out. But that’s okay.

No love lost for the season that you all had. It was fun watching you and I expect you guys and girls to be back at Huntingdon winning state titles next fall.

It’s that simple.

Griffin Pritchard is the sports editor of the Selma Times-Journal. His column appears every Wednesday. He can be reached by phone at 875-2110 or via email at .