All throughout the NBA playoffs, I've been amazed by how exciting the games have been, even in these early rounds. I usually don't watch the playoffs until the finals, but this year has been too compelling.

Today during school I attended the senior auction like most Uni students. I wholeheartedly support the event, but it is still beyond me how people spend so much money on things.

I assume every single person at Uni is worn out and looking forward to summer. The ceaseless barrage of work will finally come to an end after a flurry of finals. My question is, after school is out, what will I do?

To most people in the world, the Olympics are the premier sporting event. They give every nation an equal chance to win a medal and glory for their country. However, in recent years the once-pristine image of the Olympics has begun to fade.

Controversy has now become a common item at Olympic games. Topics range from steriods in champions to pollution in host cities.

I know that I and many other Uni students say that spring break is our favorite time of the year. For us, it is one week of complete freedom with no responsibilities in sight. Besides a few track practices, I won't even have to think about school.

When I walk around Uni, I see and hear students coughing and sneezing at every corner. Uni has legendary abilities of passing illnesses around. One day earlier this year it was rumored that 75 students were absent.

I believe that many sick students can be seen at Uni because they are afraid to miss school because of what they have to go through when they return.

As most members of my sophomore class can agree, and probably those from the junior class, colleges send a lot of letters. Their plan is to berate me ceaseless e-mails and letters that tell me that Ball State University really is for me.

I was wrong. I was wrong, along with about 90 percent of the sportswriters in this country, when I predicted the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl over the New York Giants. The only thing I can say in my defense is that at least I predicted a relatively close game.

Two weekends ago, my dad came home from Kokomo, Ind., with a brand new girl puppy. My dad finally decided to take the decisive step in getting a dog by actually going out and getting it.

This time of year most Fighting Illini sports fans are rejoicing at the end of football season and the beginning of basketball season.

Last night as I was studying for my Japanese I final, it dawned on me: Friday is the last day of school before break.

Before seeing "The Golden Compass" over the weekend, I was fairly excited to see one of my favorite children's books put on the big screen. However, once again I walked away disappointed from another book-gone-movie.

Around 7 p.m. Sunday, I sat down to watch the BCS selection show, hoping that Illinois would be chosen to go to a bowl game. Around 7:15 p.m. the Illinois logo jumped onto the screen, telling me that the Illini were in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years!

Over Thanksgiving break, my sister made her annual visit home from the University of Chicago. Once again, she brought home a friend who didn't want to pay for the flight back home, and therefore, I had a new roommate.

A common interaction at the Snyder house:

"JACK, STOP CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES!"

"Sorry, dad, I wasn't thinking about it."

I've been cracking my knuckles as a bad habit since the fourth grade. I'm not sure how it started, but I'm sure it was the cool thing to do at the time.