Anatomy of a Bad Sports Weekend

On Saturday night, at about 11 p.m., as Peyton Manning was sacked on a 3rd and 2 deep in Colts' territory, the fog began to lift ... it was not looking good for Indy. Hunter Smith had struggled punting all night, and even with a decent punt, the Chargers were probably going to be just yards from the game-tying field goal.

8,000 Indy defensive penalties later, the Colts lost in OT, 23-17, to San Diego. They bowed out to a team that somehow overcame Ed Hochuli's early-season hatchet-job and managed to claw its way into the playoffs as a division winner at 8-8.

Just like that, the nine-game winning streak and Manning's MVP season was done.

I should have seen it coming. Like a freight train. But I didn't.

Instead, as the Chargers celebrated their victory, I muttered the 10 words I would come to regret just 24 hours later...

"At least we have a Carolina basketball game tomorrow night."

You all know what happened next. Boston College handed the top-ranked, undefeated Heels their first loss of the season and did so in convincing fashion. The Eagles whooped us on our home court, and it was never really in doubt. They deserved the victory.

Before Carolina lost to BC, I had already sworn off the NFL Network, which is a staple in our house. I just couldn't bear to watch any more highlights of that Sproules guy running all over the Indy D.

Now, with UNC losing, I couldn't even turn on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN News... they were running highlights and news flashes of the game every few minutes.

I was in sports television purgatory. And then everyone else chimed in ...

... text messages to my iPhone "alerting" me that mighty UNC had lost to lowly BC
... red-lettered headlines on all the local news Web sites and ESPN.com
... headlines and feature after feature about the game in the N&O

And then, the ultimate insult piled on to the already painful injury.

I received no less than 4 "condolences" on my team's demise at work today. Mind you, they were all from N.C. State and Duke fans.

I am starting to get over it now -- both losses. At least I can watch the pointless Fiesta Bowl and not have to see looping footage of the Indy and UNC games.

Besides... there's always Carolina women's soccer.