Go blue

I think I've arrived in the ultimate of all college towns: Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'm in town for The Nonprofit's annual conference and am staying right on the University of Michigan campus, convenient to the events.

Driving through the downtown area, everything seemed to cater toward the University. Barber shops sported blue and gold signs, pubs were clearly advertising to students and other stores had banners supporting the local teams.

People have told me this is a great time of year to be in Ann Arbor and that it's a shame there isn't a football game this weekend. Supposedly, it's the type of event that rivals Mardi Gras or New Year's in Times Square. For me, it would probably be too much, especially with thousands of people in town for The Nonprofit's conference.

I AM part of the team

My flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town was taken over by big, strapping men dressed in identical uniforms, emblazoned with a "Stormers" logo. I learned from my driver that the Stormers is one of South Africa's better professional rugby teams and that they'd just lost a match this weekend.

Several of the players were giants. One literally couldn't walk down the plane's aisle without bending over. And throughout the ride, they kept getting out of their seats and visiting with each other, yelling over the seats between them.

I sort of wish I were a South African rugby fan, but I appreciated the chance to be surrounded by these guys nonetheless.