Ya gotta wonder why they don't spread these things out. Why do the folks who set up super big sports weekends do this? Why put everything into two days of "incredibly important sports events" we all have to think and talk about for a week and spend all weekend watching?

Ohio State vs. Michigan … Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh … the final Chase race. All will be on TV Saturday and Sunday. How are we to get any work done when we have to spend all of our time getting ready to watch, and then watching, sports … and then taking a nap?

What do they expect, that we should miss any of the pre- or post- shows associated with the three events? How are we expected to tear ourselves away from the TV to rake leaves, put up storm windows or clear flower beds if we have to stay inside watching sports all weekend?

On the other hand, ain't it great? Back-to-Back afternoons of "important" sports events to watch. Not to mention, for Hopewell-Loudon fans, a Friday night of high school football playoff action.

It's interesting how society focuses on these events. Of course, the Ohio State-Michigan game on Saturday attracts the widest interest. It's extra special this year because of the fact that the perennial rivals are ranked first and second in the competition to qualify for the National Title Game this winter.

All around the country, companies suspend dress codes, friends plan parties, Buckeye/Wolverine jokes circulate around the Internet…all to take part in the excitement of a couple of hours of watching college kids play a game.

On Sunday, the interest in the Browns/Steelers game is less widespread. It's more limited to the markets served by Cleveland and Pittsburgh, though fans of each team are just as rabid as those of OSU and UM.

Here in Seneca County, there is added interest due to the involvement of Cleveland's Charlie Frye and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, who each grew up along U.S. 224, just as most of us have done and now are in the spotlight as leaders of their respective teams. Not to mention Nate Washington of Toledo, who played his college football at Tiffin University and now is a

significant part of the Steelers as a wide receiver.

Then, there's NASCAR's final race of the season, with five drivers having a mathematical chance of winning the season championship. Nationwide it seems that fan interest is less intense because of the larger number of participants. Fans root for one of 43 drivers, instead of rooting for one of two.

But, because of NASCAR's masterful marketing tactics, fans all around the country will be watching. But it won't lead to any suspended office dress codes.

Anyone who drives in this area, especially those who drive at night, knows that this time of year presents a significant hazard … deer.

State Farm Insurance released a study last Tuesday that says that the number of vehicle/deer crashes around the U.S. this year is almost six percent higher than last year. The figures include elk and moose, which are less of a problem around here.

A story on CNNMoney.com says that cars or trucks collide with large cloven hoof wild animals one and a half million times each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

These crashes cause about 150 deaths and $1.1 billion dollars in damage each year. The months of October through December are the most dangerous, both because boy deer are chasing girl deer and because their natural cover, cornfields, are being harvested.

State Farm says that its policy holders were involved in more than ten thousand more such collisions this year than last year and the average property damage expenses that resulted went up by $300.

The company's advice? Use your high beams as much as possible, be aware of "Deer Crossing" signs (How do the deer read the signs?) and remember that deer travel in groups.

If one crosses the road in front of you, there could well be more.

State Farm says that those deer whistles on your front bumper are useless.

Ohio ranks fourth in the country in the number of collisions, topped by Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois.

Perhaps the deer hunting season needs to be expanded. Bambi has a dark