New Year’s Day 2023 occurred on a Sunday. This fact meant a couple of things.
First, the National Football League flexed its billion dollar muscles and, along with the television networks, collectively pressed the pause button on any NYD traditions that might ordinarily occur.
- Tournament of Roses Parade? Good news! You now have an additional day to build your floats and you can also sleep in following your New Year’s Eve festivities because the Parade doesn’t step off until 8 a.m. PT on January 2.
- Tournament of Roses Bolw Game? Again, let’er rip on NYE, you’ve got an extra day in SoCal before any teams take the field Monday afternoon.
- Sugar Bowl Game? Yeah, about that. You’re going to play at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Eve as opposed to your typical 7:30 p.m. CT New Year’s Day time slot. Why you ask? Hey, the four-letter network (ESPN) has a Monday Night Football tradition to worry about.
Second, the federal government recognizes Monday, January 2, as the day to observe the January 1 Federal Holiday. That means no banking, no mail, and, for many a day off.
Which is good for me (though, full disclosure, the school district I work in is off this entire week:-) because I’ll be able to do what I’ve done the majority of my 50-plus years on the planet.
When the aforementioned Tournament of Roses Parade steps off around 11 a.m. my time, I’ll have the television on to marvel at the creativity of the float builders, see what ordinarily is a gorgeous early California morning (overcast and a chance of rain this year, though), and generally feel wistful about one day being there to take it all in in person.
And, later this afternoon, the same scene will play out as the football game prepares to kick off. I have zero rooting interest in either Penn State University or the University of Utah, though my buddy Rudy lives in State College, PA, and I did spend 36 hours in Salt Lake City last month, but I’ll have the television on to catch a glimpse of the pageantry that is the “Granddaddy of them All.” Unfortunately, the best part for this midwestern fella may not come to pass as the sun is likely to be hard to find so the iconic sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains may not be part of the equation. That said, I’ll still look on longingly that hopefully one day I’ll be able to take in this scenery in person.
Happy New Year, er, January 2 everyone!
Bowl Bonanza Pool Update
With five games remaining, I trail my friend Jud, 21-17, in our annual bowl pool. (Read about it here.) Some questionable play calling by Ohio State Coach Ryan Day down the stretch and the missed Buckeyes’ 50-yard field goal as the clock expired prevented it from being a more manageable 20-18 margin. C’est la vie.