My favorite television show is probably HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.” If you have never seen it, watch it. It is hilarious. It’s about a fake band from New Zealand living in New York City. They aren’t supposed to be a very good band (although I think their songs are hilarious) but that’s the joke. Anyway, they have a wonderful song called “Business Time” and while this probably was more of an explanation than you needed, that’s why we’re here this week. It’s business time.

Our first order of business, the football playoffs. I say this every year (and I realize I’ve been here a while now so you might be getting sick of hearing it) but the football playoffs are my favorite time of year (at least work-wise). I have been very fortunate that every year save one (2006) one of the local three has made a deep run into the playoffs. I’m not so sure about this year. If Hendrickson gets a good draw I think they can get as far as they did last year. Kenny Williams is certainly a force and he has some good talent around him. However, the last two weeks have left my faith in the Hawks a bit shaken.

Pflugerville certainly has a great coach and good talent, but the Panthers look to me like a team built for next year. Don’t believe me? Think about this, almost every skill player on their offense will be back next year and that includes Storm Woods who still hasn’t returned from the injury he suffered in the third game of the season.

On to volleyball. The season is over and it is a shame. All three local teams had good years. I thought Hendrickson and Pflugerville were capable of going further in the playoffs, but perhaps their programs need time to get there. Looking at the brackets it quickly became apparent to me the Hawks and Panthers weren’t going to get too far without pulling a huge upset. If they had both won both of their games last week they would have faced Lake Travis and Westlake this past Tuesday and those certainly would have been tough wins to pull off. All in all I think it was a good year.

I honestly enjoyed watching Haley Outon play the game as much as I have ever liked watching anyone play volleyball. I am amazed she was talented enough to dominate what is essentially her second sport. Needless to say, I look forward to softball season.

One final bit of business. At every entrance to my neighborhood there are signs advertising a chili cookoff and street dance downtown Saturday. While I in no way harbor any sort of illusions about my level of celebrity I do kind of wonder why it is no one asked yours truly to judge this chili cookoff? Ever since I saw “Stand By Me” and they had those ‘local celebrity’ judges for the pie eating contest, I have dreamed of being asked to judge some sort of local contest and gee whiz, you’d think I’d get my chance – right? It’s not like we have local celebrities coming out of the woodwork around here. In fact, I’m not sure I know of any – which brings me back to my point. What about me?

Oh well, I have learned to live with the fact this will not happen this year, but if in the future you need something judged, keep me in mind. I work cheap (or, you know, for free) and I’m pretty sure that your contest will be better for it.