While scraping snow off my car Wednesday and wondering why I ever left my Teaching Media assignment in Fort Lauderdale (whatever happened to global warming?), I came to a shocking realization – I wasn’t mad.

Yes, I was cold. But I felt no anger, which is very rare for me. And I didn’t have the urge to complain about anything, which is even rarer for me.

So everyone in the Northwestern Athletic Department can relax this week, because I’m not going to criticize you.

But I am still trying to figure out just how big you all are going to make the cheerleading and mascot squads after the campus-wide expansion effort is over.

I personally think we should focus more on quality, not quantity. What good is having multiple Willies going to do? He is just too fuzzy to intimidate anyone. We need to find some sort of wildcat – like a panther or mountain lion – spray paint it purple and let it roam around Ryan Field. Or maybe we should just return to our Fighting Methodists roots. The switch would certainly boost apparel sales.

But I digress. I promised to give the Athletic Department a break. So I figured I would list for everyone the reasons I’m in such a good mood.

n For starters, the NHL playoffs are on. There is just something infectious about playoff hockey. Then again, it could be my secret desire to have a mullet. If you have never watched hockey before, turn on a game this postseason, you will not be disappointed.

n The 2007 NFL schedule was announced Wednesday, which means football season is almost here. While I enjoy hockey and can tolerate baseball, I love football. Trust me, I celebrate everytime Ben Roethlisberger wakes up not in a hospital bed. Training camp can’t start soon enough.

n National Felons League commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones for all of next season. I admit, if I could round up $50,000 in cash I might be tempted to shower it on strippers in Las Vegas, but nobody deserves to be shot while I’m being an idiot. Also, Jones’ college teammate, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry was suspended for eight games. Nice character building West Virginia.

n NU quarterback C.J. Bach