Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "The City" where the current air-temperature is 66°, the same as the water-temperature @ the Grand haven State Park. Alas, my yak and the Covidiots and mask-holes seem to have precluded my swimming in the "Big lake" for yet another year. 

At any rate, there are also two alerts in effect until 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. 

First, a Beach Hazard Statement has been continued for Allegan, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties, with high-waves and strong currents. Second, the NWS has extended the Small Craft Advisory from St. Joseph to GH. Windspeeds from 15 - 25 knots may produce waves from three to six feet in height, which is why there is that Beach Hazard Statement still in effect and why small boats should stay in port.

Speaking of warnings and alerts, I should have listened to my own inner-voice and not watched any of that fiasco that was supposed to be an NFL game between the 1 - 2 Bears and the 2 - 1 Browns. Rookie Bears' QB Justin Fields threw for 68 yards, but with nine sacks, he only netted only one yard in his first NFL start. That last happened in the NFL in 2009. With only 47 yards of total offense on 42 plays, it is going to be a long season in Chicago.

Speaking of long seasons, the Lions struggled to be competitive in their game versus the Ravens, but a late rally by the Ravens was a "Gut Punch" to the Lions, who lost the game, 17 - 19, to go 0 - 3 on this young season. It gets worse next Sunday, when the Lions travel to Chicago to "Play" the Bears in yet another game of minor-league football @ 1:00 p.m.

In other athletic news, the 4 - 0 Wolverines of MI defeated the 3 - 1 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers, 20 - 13 last Saturday. While it was a win for the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh's squad should do better than just escaping with a six-point win. The Wolverines are @ Camp Randall Stadium in WI next Saturday @ 12:00 p.m. to play the 1 - 2 Badgers of WI who fell to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame last Saturday, 13 - 41. 

The 4 - 0 Spartans of MSU also struggled to contain their opposition, the 2 - 3 Cornhuskers of Nebraska, escaping with a 23 - 20 victory last Saturday night. The Spartans have to play better to be considered a contender in both the Big 10 and the college bowl standings. The Spartans welcome the 1 - 2 Hilltoppers of Kentucky to "The Woodshed" in East Lansing, MI next Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. game. 

The 2 - 2 Huskies of NIU soundly defeated the 1 - 3 Black Bears of Maine, 41 - 14. The Huskies' next opponent in Dekalb, IL, will be the 2 - 1 Eagles of Eastern MI next Saturday @ 2:30 p.m. 

In baseball news, my beloved Red Sox were swept by the Yankees over the weekend, as they fell to the Yankees last night, 3 - 6. The Sox are now second in the AL Wild Card race, one game behind the Yankees. The Sox are off until tomorrow when LHP Chris Sale, 5 - 0 makes his next start @ 8:15 p.m. EDT.

The Tigers seem to have a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel that is not a train, but they still fell to the Royals, 1 - 2 yesterday. The Tigers are home today @ 1:10 p.m. to face that other team from Chicago, who clinched the AL Central Championship yesterday. 

The Cubs are done at home this year, as they dropped another game to the visiting 87 - 69 Cardinals, 2 - 4. The Cardinals are finishing the season strong, but they could not overtake the Brewers who won the NL Central Championship. "Wait Til Next Year" is not the operative phrase for the woeful Cubs next year either, as they finish the season with all road games, three games in Pittsburgh and three games in St. Louis. The Cubs are also off until Tuesday night's game in Pittsburgh @ 6:35 p.m. EDT. The Cubs have some hope in their young pitchers for next season, but the overall picture looks bleak. 

I finished a novel yesterday and Mary made progress on her Halloween cross-stitch project. She utilized her time yesterday afternoon more productively than I did, stitching and listening to her own novel. Today, I have an afternoon P/T appointment for my yak and Ginger has an afternoon grooming appointment. That should be enough. Ciao.