So while I was on vacation, Gary Pinkel attained rock star status.

OK, maybe not rock star status, but he’s a least moved up a tier since I last blogged. In his latest chance to play muse, Pinkel will throw out the first pitch of the St. Louis Cardinals opening day game. The hope by the Cardinals organization is that Pinkel, whose touch turns everything to gold these days, will indeed rescue a season that might not have started yet, but is already heading downhill.

I’ve got two words for Pinkel: Mark Mallory.

In other news…

ESPN just released its ratings for the 2007 season of College Gameday. No. 4 Missouri vs. No. 2 Kansas at Arrowhead was the most-viewed pregame EVER, averaging 2,034,000 households. The previous high of 1,913,000 households set on Nov. 18, 2006 when No. 2 Michigan met No. 1 Ohio State.