It's good to be back — no, really

I would NEVER make it on TV.

Almost exactly a year ago, I stopped doing something I had done, somewhat consistently, for four and a half years.

I cut sports blogging from my life.

Why? Well, for one, I was busy — it's amazing how much time and energy a full-time job consumes. But, also, my posts felt uncreative, even unoriginal, and I didn't feel like I was writing anything that millions — OK ... hundreds — of others weren't typing at the same damn moment.

So I gave it up. Just like Brett Favre. Tired of all the hits, bruises and interceptions (read: stolen posts) from a long career in the sports blogosphere (seriously: what's the average shelf life of a sports blog? Nine months? Makes an NFL career seem long). 

But just like, ahem, No. 4, I couldn't stay away for long. 

The final straw in my decision to re-enter this crazy, teeming world full of horrible, ignorant couch potatoes came Tuesday night as I was lying in bed with a 101.7-degree fever, consuming liquids at the rate Kobayashi swallows hot dogs. 

I was watching the final 7 minutes of the Kentucky-Mississippi State game, and as fun as it was to watch the Wildcats' squad of future draft picks turn a seven-point deficit into a lead without breaking a sweat, it was equally frustrating watching Renardo Sidney, um, play basketball.

I couldn't find a picture of him not trying. Amazing feat.

I cannot stand watching Sidney.

The kid's story of indolence and insubordination has been well-documented, so look it up if you don't know it. I'll just say that against Kentucky, all 81 inches and 250 pounds of Sidney refused to take a step toward offensive rebounds opportunities, made no attempt to move his feet on defense, and when called for an obvious foul, threw his hands up in the air as if he'd been blamed for America's deficit.

Of course, there was no mention of this storyline on ESPN, because Kentucky had made another great comeback for a road win. But to me, Sidney's inability to play with heart, to give his all, and to not complain was the most compelling — and disturbing — part of those 20 minutes of television.

These little observations are what I'll write about here. 

I'll also write about my favorite teams, because I'll be honest — with that full-time job, an exercise regimen needed to train for my 100K hike in April (see last year's video), and a dormant dating life — equal to that of Tinker in Friday Night Lights (it's my favorite show, so I will occasionally make references here) — I'd like to activate, I don't have time to follow everything that's going on in the world of sports. But I do watch every Michigan basketball game. And I do read up on the Tigers every day. Because I care. Because when they do well, I'm happier. That's the fan side of me.

The objective fan side of me.

As a sports writer since my junior year of high school, I've always been able to bridge that gap between objectivity and fandom. That's what influenced the name for this blog. While I love what the Wolverines have done this season under John Beilein, I'm first in line to question Beilein's seemingly strict stance on players with two fouls sitting for the remainder of the first half. 

That almost cost Michigan the game Tuesday, which ended up another overtime victory over Big Dance-less Northwestern. 

I will call out my teams. Objectivity first. Fandom second. That's how it'll happen in this space.

So, yes, I am back. But a new me. 

The posts will be shorter. I won't try to write columns pretending I'm Thomas Boswell anymore. I won't attempt to pop culture you to death like Bill Simmons, because I don't know 90 percent of the references he makes! 

But I will, and this is a promise, bring you unique perspectives on all kinds of sports stories from big to small, from DC to Michigan, some that I witnessed and many that I watched.

Now jump back on the bandwagon (or not)!