I really like this dang newspaper. You know how easy it is to take something for granted when you delivered it to customers almost 30 years ago. Your hands get grimy with newsprint, a bit calloused from folding and rubber-banding your bundle before piling them all into your trusty, thick canvas bag.

Well, I read my Star-Bulletin online almost all the time. It comes out at 1 a.m., normally, and I am too much of a rat pack to want more piles of paper in my little apartment. But the boys and girls basketball Top 10 Countdown, which announces a new, ranked team one day at a time, has me hooked on picking up the deadwood version.

No matter what kind of apprehension I have about such early polls, they work well. It was the case with football. Nothing but great feedback, which shocked me since most of us media (and coaches) loathed voting without seeing enough games. And now, with the basketball polls, far too early again, I'm getting very positive feedback so far.

Oh, we're only on No. 8 in each poll, so there will be some surprises and some complaints, no question. For now, though, I'm enjoying the old practice of turning the pages of my Star-Bulletin. Fifty cents at Starbucks, but free at Subway.

I recommend the latter.

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