Back to reality, 28 bowl games later

When people ask me what I did over vacation, I hesitate to tell them. I don't want people to know what I do when I have free time because I feel their opinions of me would change dramatically. I have a problem, and I think the only way to fix it is just to come out and say it. \nSo, what did I do over break? I watched all 28 bowl games. \nHi, my name is Ryan, and I'm a football addict. Please help me!\nIf "football-aholism" were a recognized disorder, I would have fallen off the wagon more times than Robert Downey Jr. \nSo to exercise the demons that haunt me with this terrible affliction, I have to give my impressions of the best and worst of the 2004-2005 bowl season.\nBest Game: Rose Bowl. The thrilling back-and-forth game between Michigan and Texas was an instant classic. Watching Vince Young run in, around and through the Michigan defense for 192 yards and four touchdowns was simply incredible. And it ended in a fitting manner for a shootout like this; the last team to have the ball won the game, as senior kicker Dusty Mangum split the uprights from 37 yards out to give Texas the 38-37 victory.\nWorst Game: Music City Bowl. Minnesota beat Alabama 20-16 in this snooze-fest, which featured Minnesota running the ball 72 times. My real problem with this game was that no one whom Indiana beat should even be in a bowl game, much less win one.\nWorst Bowl Name: Continental Tire Bowl. OK, this is getting ridiculous. Now the sponsor is the entire name of the bowl. I mean, come on, guys, at least be a little more creative. This naming stuff really has gotten out of hand because who knows where it will stop. I know some day soon I'm going to hear an ESPN announcer say, "Welcome back to the Cialis Bowl, brought to you by Bud Light. With Bud Light and Cialis, you always know you're in for an interesting evening." \nBest Bowl City: New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and (oddly enough) the New Orleans Bowl. Enough said.\nWorst Bowl City: San Jose, Calif., for the Silicon Valley Classic. Trust me on this one. I've been to San Jose, and frankly I think the players would have rather been in school.\nMost Disappointing Team: The California Golden Bears. Everyone thought Cal would dominate Texas Tech at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Cal looked like anything but a top five team as the Red Raiders blew them out 45-31 in a game that was not as close as the score indicates. Sonny Cumbie, Tech's senior quarterback, threw for 520 yards and 3 touchdowns and made the BCS look smart for putting Texas in the Rose Bowl ahead of Cal. \nMost Disappointing Game: Orange Bowl. The University of Southern California trounced Oklahoma 55-19 in a game everyone thought would be a much closer match up. The national championship and "game of the century" wasn't even the best competition at Pro Players Stadium that night. That honor went to Kelly Clarkson and Ashlee Simpson vying for who could have a worse halftime performance. It was a tight contest most of the way, but in the end Simpson was the clear winner. I don't think I can truly call what she was doing singing; it was more like what I imagine a dying rooster would sound like. But she has acid-reflux disorder, so I should probably go easy on her, right?\nWow, it feels a lot better now that I've gotten that off my chest. I feel like I can go a few days without watching football. I think I can beat this addiction. After all, they say the hardest step is admitting you have a problem.