A number of years ago it seemed we were talking weekly about the inability of NFL officials to get calls right. A week didnt go by without some controversy. After a couple of seemingly quiet years here we go again. Just like the Major League baseball umpires seem to be struggling getting calls right...NFL officials have been blowing calls with alacrity this season. And having replay only helps a little since so many calls that should be overturned are not...and calls that should be upheld are overturned. What the hell is going on? Certainly the availability of High-Def tvs and super slo mo have given fans the ability to see what should be the right call. But the refs have the technology too and still get calls wrong after looking at the tape. Case in point...Sunday night. Packer fans should feel fortunate that both blown calls went in their favor. And they caused a 14 point swing and what probably would have been a Viking victory. The NFL apologized to Brad Childress this weeks saying Visante Shiancoes apprant td catch should have been upheld and called good. Al Michaels knew the rule change that allowed the point of the ball to touch the ground and called  it good as soon as he saw the replay. Also Andrew Quarless did not complete the "process" in his TD catch that was called good. Childress blames himself for not challenging that one. One thing you notice when you look at some of these officiating crews is that for every Ed Hochuli sporting a pair guns...there are a bunch of guys sporting beer guts that would make Abe Gibron proud. It's hard enough to keep up with world class athletes when  youre 30 and in shape...it's a whole nother story when you're 55 and coming from your weekly accounting job.

The NBA regular season begins tonight and we get our first look at the Miami Heat. Lebron, Dwanye Wade and Chris Bosh now have to go out and earn it. The Lakers play Houston ast the Rockets welcome back Yao Ming who missed all of last season. The Bucks begin tomorrow night in new Orleans. They also wrapped up Brandon jennings for another year exercising their club option. Sports Illustrated has picked the Bucks to win the Central Division thsi year.

First Round High School Football Matchups Today

Wausau West at Appleton North

Wisconsin Rapids at Chippewa falls

EC Memorial at Stevens Point

Marshfield at La Crosse Logan

Merrill at Antigo

Mosinee at Appleton Xaiver

Northland Pines at Waupaca

G-E-T at Nekoosa

Ladysmith at Colby

Stratford at Poynette

Auburndale at {Pardeeville

Flambeau at Thorp

Athens at Edgar

I/S at Wild Rose

Markesan at Pacelli

Wausau Newman at Suring

Rapids Assumption at Cambria-Friesland

Greenwood/Granton at Cochrane-Fountain City

Volleyball Sectionals

Wausau East vs Merrill  (at Antigo)

Tomahawk vs Altoona (at Medford)

Neillsville vs EC Regis  (at Melrose-Mindoro)

Auburndale vs Athens  (at Abbotsford)

Pacelli vs Oostburg  (at Howards Grove)

Prentice vs Northwood  (at Northwood)

Tigerton vs Valley Christian  (at Almond-Bancroft)

Songs of the Day  (from my I-pod)

Got My Mind Set On You-George Harrison (1987) the last number one in America by a former Beatle was this re-make of a 1962 song.

Got My Own Thing Now-Squirrel Nut Zippers (1996) from the fabulous "Hot" lp which was a part of swing revival of the lat 90's. I dare you not to tap your feet during this one.