Saturday Away From The Fray: October 2012 Edition

How did we get to the Ottawa Farms?

When we last left the story (meanwhile back at the ranch), our hero was walking the earth at his alma mater, dialing up Jefferson Airplane on the Cosmo's jukebox on Friday.

Syracuse later wrapped up a "good enough" 14-13 win over Pitt. It wasn't a thing of beauty, but at 1-0 in the Big East, the Orange control their own destiny for a BCS bid...As does Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, and Temple. It's early yet.

The margin was a point after, and upon conclusion of the national TV broadcast I made sure to get a pint after (or two) at Faegan's Pub. Unfortunately it wasn't flip night, a tradition like no other.

So after a handful of hours sleep and a couple of flights home, I scooped up the kids. Despite my exhaustion I wanted to make sure it wasn't an all-day video game-fest, so we headed to the farm. I probably don't strike anyone as the farm type, but I lived in Nebraska and west Michigan for some years so I've incorporated it into my autumn persona.

After various energy-burning activities we hopped on the hay ride, which dropped us at the corn maze. I reminded the kids of the rules: don't pick the corn, no running, and stay together. They abided, and I captured my new favorite photo.

It reminded me of Dr. Seuss's Oh The Places You'll Go. There was big brother leading little sister through the labyrinth and you can make so many analogies. And they're in lockstep, right down to the flinging of their arms. I can't tell if she's modeling, mocking, or it's just genetics.

The corn maze is of course about the journey and not the destination, although we spent a little too much time wandering and missed the pig races. Someone told me they put lipstick on them - oh that was another race, never mind.

We grabbed some pumpkins to go and went home for dinner, pumpkin decoration and video games. The kids went to bed in time for me to catch the surreal Texas A&M comeback at Ole Miss, and West Virginia's validating win at Texas. Did Georgia play today?

It was a long and perfect day. There aren't that many of them so I just had to share it.

Backtime Walkabout: Syracuse

They say you can't go home again, but if you could you might ask yourself, "How did I live here for 10 months of my life?" This drab crash pad at the corner of Euclid & Livingston was home for my senior year at Syracuse (1990-91). The alma mater has changed, but still remains much the same.

It isn't a social trip so a lot of reminiscing got left on the cutting room floor. I did have time to offer a tour of our production facilities to some grad students and their professor. That's either paying it forward or creating future competition.

We hit the legendary Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for an outstanding dinner last night. If a couple of guys in our traveling party knew who owned the establishment, a walkout would've been staged. So it'll be our secret.

Breakfast this morning was at my favorite all-time campus hangout, Cosmo's. While much on Marshall Street has transformed around it, Cosmo's remains the old-school diner it's been since 1959.

An omelet, toast, juice and coffee was still under $7, but there were additional "expenses." An extra quarter - to be exact.

Classic tunes too. I went with Don't Fear The Reaper, Sultans Of Swing, and then selected N1 to finish off the set.

I went next door to Manny's to pick up some gear for the kids, and some socks (which I forgot to pack). Syracuse hosts Pitt tonight in their last-ever Big East football opener, as they head to the ACC next season.

Well...At Least The Yankees Won

I'll get to the spin in a minute.

When you're stuck in a hotel room in Syracuse, New York, and your team is fighting for the division title on the last day of the season, you make sure you're in front of the TV. So that was the plan, watch the Yankees on TV and stream the debate so I could monitor the proceedings.

The problem was the Yankees were on ESPN, which was blacked out in Syracuse since local cable gets YES Network, but not in my hotel. So I ducked out with a friend for the first few innings to Tully's Good Times.

So I made it back to the room by 9 PM, put the Yankees/Red Sox on WatchESPN on my laptop, and the Presidential debate on the big screen - which only magnified its contents.

Mr. Romney won the debate. He took the fight to the President and the moderator, and his worst moments were no less than net equal. Whether Romney's arguments matched up with anything he proposed prior is another matter. He looked presidential, and as Backtime penned two days ago:

"The issues are crucial and the important men will be at their lofty podiums, and Jim Lehrer will be there to be a PBS above-it-all bastion of journalistic integrity, but don't be fooled. This is all PR. And only one of the two candidates can relate to the public."

The President folded his PR advantage. He wasn't relating to the public, he was Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead. But now the spin part.

First, is the Right more happy that Romney kicked Obama's ass - or are they troubled by Romney's defense of regulation, reaffirmation of his own Massachusetts health care plan, and praise of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, while claiming he would not cut education? Romney Etch-A-Sketched all night and Obama didn't call him on it.

Second, was the Team Obama plan to have Romney talk himself to death to continue to compile soundbites to counter all the policies he's planted on the trail? That would be rope-a-dope, and that might have been part of the plan. But to borrow a wonderful baseball philosophy, it wasn't just one sacrifice bunt to move a runner over, it was many. And each is a missed opportunity for a big inning and the chance to get on the scoreboard.

Third is pure spin, and as far as I could tell it's my own theory. A week ago, the GOP presidential race looked lost and there was real talk of that massive pool of SuperPAC money going to Republican senate and congressional candidates.

Now it's a race again, and while not dead by any stretch, probabilities point to Romney losing. So all that Big Money is back in the Big Race, and not siphoned out to the state and district races. So Romney's debate win may actually help Dem congressional and senate candidates.

I've heard all sorts of post-mortem commentary, comparing this debate to Bush-Kerry 1. The President stood stiff while a seasoned politician framed the debate. The challenger pulled even in the polls, but the President pulled out a close election.

And a close election is what the media wants. Blowouts are bad for business. More papers will be sold, and more TV newshours with garner ratings points.

The first Obama/Romney debate will go down in history. But will it be a turning point, or merely a plot point in the 2102 story?