BYU in top 25 Coaches Poll

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex

BYU is ranked 24th in the nation according to the coaches across the country who participate in the poll. Shockingly, Notre Dame is ranked 23rd. They have a weak schedule this year and are only there because of their bowl win over Hawaii and their history. Hopefully the Cougars can have a good showing in Dallas against Bradford and the Sooners.

40 for 40

Interesting article by Pat Forde about laying off 80 of the 120 FBS D-1 college football teams and turning the sport into a Premier League like soccer system where you can fall out and earn your way into the big boys table.

Conversation with an Apostle

A friend of mine sent me a link to a conversation with Elder and Sister Bednar about their calling, how they met, and things they have learned. It is a very candid setting and a very interesting perspective from a member of the 12.

http://feeds.lds.org/LDSConversations

Freakonomics Tidbit

From the Freakonomics blog:

The average job-seeker takes 12 weeks to find work. TIME profiles one laid-off software architect who used social networks including Facebook and Twitter to land a job in just 11 days. Will the recovery favor the internet-savvy in other fields as well? (Or: maybe this guy was just a super employee who, if he hadn't been wasting his time tweeting, would have found a job in 10 days?)

Why we are addicted to food

Saw this article in the New York Times.

Very interesting way of looking at how the brain connects with food.

Batting Glove

So ESPN The Magazine had Hunter Pence (Baseball player for the Houston Astros--never heard of him before I read the article) do a two-week chronicling of his life as a major league player. I thought this pie chart was interesting:

So basically, baseball players "work" about 60 hours a week. That does not include traveling but a lot of other people who work travel as well. But seriously, they work about as much as any other hard working American. If I ever hear a professional athlete complain about how the travel is hard and it is difficult to deal with the media, I, um, I don't know what I would do but COME ON! You get paid to play a game--you hopefully love--and you get paid more money in your short career that any other average person would make in their lifetime--including interest.

My favorite part of the article was this:

"When I was a kid my dad would buy me only one batting glove, to save money. Sometimes it was a golf glove because those cost less. So now I like the feel of the bat in my right hand. On cold days I've tried wearing two gloves, but it just doesn't feel right. I'll stick with the one glove. It sure worked during these two weeks."

My dad did the same exact thing. Now as an adult I'm like, REALLY! We had to save $5 so I had to be "the kid" with only one glove. Were we really that poor or was it just my dad being like: "He doesn't need two gloves, it is not going to help either way." I know one thing is for sure, having one glove in little league definitely did not help me make it to the pros. Apparently it worked out for Hunter Pence.

My first post

Well, here I am blogging world. I have followed my good friend Matthew Hamilton in making my own blog. His blog is geared toward interesting tidbits he comes across throughout the course of the day. I am not sure what mine will entail but I can tell you that sports will be featured quite frequently. I thought it fitting to start it off with a business/sports story that involves my future employer.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=652383&sec=england&&cc=5901

Manchester United used to be sponsored by AIG--the infamous insurance company that was a part of the collapse of our economy--and will now be sponsored by my future company--AON.









On a side note, I am stoked to see the Lakers back in the NBA Finals and think they will win in 6 games against the Orlando Magic.