New Year's Day notes

We watched the Rose Parade, a tradition. We know someone, a champion twirler in high school, who marched in it her senior year, early '70s. "You don't want to follow the horses," she said ... Texas A&M lays an egg in the Cotton Bowl after Chron columnist Richard Justice opined how Franchione is returning the program to glory days ... Speaking of Justice, is it just me or is he and NFL writer John McLain more informative, interesting & entertaining on Sportsradio610 than they are in print? ... Speaking of radio, newly crowned ESPNradio790-$100K-per-year kingpin Charlie Pallilo said Cal would whup Tx Tech in the Holiday Bowl, proving once again that those of you who wager on these contests should not listen to "experts" no matter how overpaid they may be ... The pride of the Robert E. Lee High School Ganders in Baytown, Drew Tate, is playing well against LSU in the Capital One Bowl, where he's showing it was wise to rethink his early commitment to Texas A&M and go to Corn Country, where he was voted to the All Big 10 Team as a sophomore ... Larry McMurtry has a new novel out that sounds sure to be coming to a silver screen near you (see review in today's NY Times) ...