It turns out, no one played last night. So I stayed in the office for an extra couple hours. Outstanding.

Instead, I got extra dosage of my off-daily commitment to watching Fox Soccer Channel. The European game is truly where it's at. Whereas, the American pro league and our national team lack creative, vibrant players and brilliant technical skill and field positioning, the European pro leagues do everything right. Soccer played the right way, as they play it, is beautiful. And there are commercial breaks for 45 straight game minutes each half. I can hardly watch basketball and football, anymore, solely because of the commercials. If you've got the digital cable package, check it out - Fox Soccer Channel (250). They've got the English and Italian leagues mainly - the best in the world. The Fox Soccer Report has updates on all the leagues in the world, however. It is truly a way to stay connected. High school soccer players - you've been apprised!

In prep hoops tonight, I like the Wichita Heights at Kapaun matchup - for both boys and girls. Heights' guards versus Kapaun's guards. Believe it or not, sophomore Kapaun guard Dyllon Knox tempts me to put Kapaun guards on par with Heights'. Knox is just as strong, athletic and quick as Heights point guard Terry Webb, though his outside shot may not compare. And Shane Torgler, Kapaun's senior leader, is a fighter at the guard position. I really like this game. I saw Kapaun for a half against Wichita Southeast. They hung for quite a while; with discipline (minimal turnovers, good outside shooting), Kapaun could be a nice squad.

On the girls' side, we'll get to see Kapaun's Darice Fountaine go up against the two-time champs. Damian Smithhisler has a very nice program at Kapaun, but who can contend with Heights' firepower. I will say Heights lacks size, but it may not matter. Kip Pulliam is intent on running and gunning more than ever this year.

For comments on other area games, see my blog from yesterday.

And what's going on with the forum? And why no comments on the blog? I just posted a new poll question on the Central Kansas Web site: Would Bishop Carroll wrestling's record-chasing dual-match win streak hold against Goddard? These are the top two programs in the area - from different classes. It'd be a great matchup, wouldn't it? I'd go, probably over any basketball game the area could offer (except maybe East-Southeast).