I was spoiled rotten during the holiday season - like a fat kid finding a stocking stuffed full of candy on Christmas - with the success of my two favorite sports teams, the Cavaliers and the Dallas Cowboys. They went a combined 12-1 during the break. I think most of you know when that one loss occurred. I paid dearly for my run of 11 straight wins from the two teams when Minnesota steam-rolled Dallas on Sunday.
The only game of the 13 I did not see in person or on television was Virginia's Dec. 30 victory against UAB - its first game against a ranked team this season. Here are the games I did witness in chronological order:
Dec. 19 - Dallas 24, New Orleans 17
I was at my girlfriend's house for this one and Dallas was playing so well at first, I thought that maybe nothing should be disturbed in the game-watching environment. If you're a superstitious sports fan, you know what I mean. I was probably really annoying. The channel was never changed and I did not get up from my chair until the fourth quarter when the Saints started coming back. I actually decided it was OK - maybe even wise - to go to the bathroom then. Dallas held on to the lead, and I held my breath for the entire fourth quarter.
Dec. 21 - Virginia 68, NJIT 37
I came to this game with my girlfriend and ended up running into fellow columnist Jack Bird. In all, there were maybe 10 other people at the game, which is understandable because the Albemarle County roads were still dreadful after the big snowstorm and Virginia was playing a school that nobody probably knew existed before this season. Virginia played sluggishly at first but played great D down the stretch, holding the Highlanders to 37 points. Jack also won the game of knockout at halftime.
Dec. 23 - Virginia 80, Hampton 54
The Cavs must have shook off any rust against NJIT because this game two days later was completely different. Sylven Landesberg recorded his first career double-double and Virginia led 48-28 at the half.
Dec. 27 - Dallas 17, Washington 0
I was watching this game in Pennsylvania with some of my girlfriend's family members who, despite being Eagles fans, aren't too intense. Just like them, this game wasn't too intense - perhaps the most boring game between these storied rivals I've ever seen.
Jan. 3 - Dallas 24, Philadelphia 0
Like fellow columnist Nick Eilerson who described his visit to Cowboys Stadium in his Oct. 28 column, I was lucky enough to attend this game with some family members and attempt to take in all of Jerry World. But it was impossible as it consumes all of your senses and you're just left in awe. Everything he described about it is true, from the enormous number of TVs (which according to a tour guide are supposed to number 5,000 for next year's Super Bowl) to the huge video board that stretches from one 20-yard line to the other and so brilliantly enlarges the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. The game itself was spectacular as Dallas destroyed a bitter rival to capture the NFC East title. Additionally, I was able to pick up several Cowboy autographs the night before in the team's hotel where we were staying and for a couple hours after the game. Former Wahoos Kevin Ogletree and John Phillips were among the John Hancocks I was lucky enough to acquire.
Jan. 5 - Virginia 72, Texas-Pan Am. 53
This game was a bit of a snoozer but a 'W' nevertheless. Mike Scott scored 22 points and Virginia extended its winning streak to four games.
Jan. 9 - Virginia 70, N.C. State 62
At noon, the Cavaliers and Tony Bennett played their first ACC opponent of the season on the road and came away with a surprising win. The Wolfpack led by 10 with about 13 minutes left but the Wahoos rallied and took the lead for good with 3:53 left. Landesberg scored 23 points to help Virginia win only its third ACC opener in 15 years.
Jan. 9 - Dallas 34, Philadelphia 14
Starting at 7 p.m., Dallas began knocking around the Eagles for the third time this season and won its first playoff game since 1996. Celebrations abounded with my Cowboy-fan family members and Dallas drew major praise from the media - perhaps too much. A truly great day for me, though, with Virginia's win in its first ACC game and Dallas taking care of business in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Jan. 13 - Virginia 82, Georgia Tech 75
The Cavs shocked the ACC and defeated the taller, bigger and probably more athletic Yellow Jackets at home, moving to 2-0 in the ACC and defeating another top 25 team. I came to this game with my dad and stepmom, and they were right in the thick of the students with me. A crowd of about 9,000 sounded more like 50,000 for most of the second half - absolutely raucous and so much fun.
Jan. 16 - Virginia 75, Miami 57
Virginia stormed out to a 12-1 lead and Miami never really threatened, only trimming the lead to six in the first half and to nine in the second half. The Cavs are now 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since the 1994-95 season, when Virginia started league play 4-0.
Jan. 17 - Minnesota 34, Dallas 3
I was confident about this game, I really was. But at the same time, I had to have had it coming from the sports gods. Things were going way too well for me sports-wise and I was brought back to earth with this loss. The Vikings dominated the Cowboys in every phase of the game and earned a trip to New Orleans to face the high-powered Saints in the NFC title game this Sunday.
Jan. 18 - Virginia 69, UNC-Wilmington 67
The day after the Dallas loss, I was almost humbled again as Virginia endured a close call from the Seahawks, which came into the game with a record of 6-11 with nothing to lose. It was the classic "trap game" scenario for any favored team: playing a weaker team wedged in between tough conference games. Though the win wasn't impressive, I think the true test of a good team is winning the sloppy ones and the trap games, and the Cavs did that Monday. Virginia has now won eight straight games and hopefully the best is yet to come. Welcome back. Here's to a great semester, everybody.
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