Column: 'The Sports Trail' -- Correct use of titles important to avoid sport surprises

The college football bowl games are over, but gee, the games are still going. There's the Senior Bowl on Jan. 24 for all those college players aspiring to perspire in the professional ranks.

And of course, the NFL Final Four, called the Conference Championships this weekend. That would be Philadelphia at Arizona, and Baltimore at Pittsburgh. Uh, wait a minute,

If Pittsburgh and Philadelphia both win, why, that would mean the Super Bowl would be an in-state shootout. Holy Cow!

Then on Sunday, before a celebrating crowd of about 40,000, Florida's Tim Tebow thrilled the crowd with the announcement he would be back for his senior year. Don't you know SEC coaches were thrilled?

That means Florida football season began again on Monday. It's called the lead-up to Spring football, the "other" season in Florida.

Then there's the NFL All-Star game, held each year in Hawaii. I've been to Aloha Stadium, which would be a nice place to play a football game anytime, except summer, when it's actually hot during the day. January is perfect.

Believe me, there are several more games sandwiched in before February and Mardi Gras arrives in New Orleans, which makes it hard to keep up with our local basketball teams.

They're worth keeping up with, too. Take the Green Forest junior high girls. They won two games last week with free throws in the final seconds after gunning in some threes to close the gap.

That bunch is non-stop action, all six of them. Six? Yeah, Coach Kyle Farrar started the year with 10, but Makynna Jorgensen injured a knee, one moved, several were sick, and six took the floor against Greenland on Friday. Wonder why coaches lose their hair?

Anyway, they're not the only team that can leave you breathless or break your heart. What about the current gang of Arkansas Razorbacks, both varieties. You know, guys and gals.

Yes, Coach Tom Collen has a young, uh, (Lady) Razorback team playing hard and they're exciting to watch. Okay, we're not supposed to use the female tag any more, according to the UofA powers. They claim everyone that plays for the university is a Razorback.

You might think this is due to mighty Title 9 that requires equality in men's and women's sports. No, it's required so the UofA can market better and make more money.

Hummm. Gee, I kinda miss that Lady stuff, for all the teams. And for heavens sake, how can you have a conversation without designating the gender.

"Boy, the Razorbacks won big Sunday," one says. "Won? They got whipped bad," says another. "Uh, who you talking about?" comes the reply. "You know. The Razorbacks," says an exasperated fan. "Which Razorbacks?"

There are some traditions I would like to keep, like the Razorback basketball team, ah, mens, starting another winning streak. We all knew it wouldn't last when SEC play began.

Now the Razorbacks, the guy ones, are into the thick of it and undefeated is just a word sports writers sling around. But wait. All is not lost. Just talk about whichever Razorback team that just won and who will know the difference!