“Go ahead. Make my day.”

Oh, that catch phrase that was made so popular 10 years ago by none other than that wrinkled, old, tough guy, Clint Eastwood. Everyone knows who he is. He’s become a household name as an actor, director and politician.

But nothing makes my day more than the thought of Thanksgiving break and skiing the powdery runs in Vail, Colo. Oh yes, I’ll be in the Rocky Mountain state over Turkey Day.

Another thing that really makes my day is the great possibility of Dan McCarney’s Cyclones notching a fourth win on their belts this weekend against Missouri.

After going winless last season under the “inspirational” leadership of football mastermind Jim Walden, nothing could have made my year more than the firing of that kook.

All this talk of Clint Eastwood makes me think of a great movie, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and how that concept certainly applies to athletics.

*THE GOOD

Certainly the first thing that comes to mind is Troy Davis reaching the 2,000-yard plateau — a mark only the greats in the game of football have been able to accomplish. Marcus Allen is one of those greats and just like Eastwood, is old, but he’s still good — damn good and so are the Chiefs (insert tomahawk chop). Best record in the NFL with 9-1.

Running right behind Troy in my thoughts of who’s good at ISU is the volleyball team. The three extremely talented seniors are leading their team to an NCAA bid. Watch for ’em in the Big Eight Tourney and in postseason play. Also, five players made academic all-Big Eight teams. Jackie Nunez’s squad is definitely a class act.

We can’t forget the wrestlers at ISU when discussing strong points of athletics. Bono, Mountsier, Tate, Nurre, Hinson, Weldon and Dagge demonstrated at the Cyclone Open over the weekend the kind of powerhouse ISU is going to be this year by all making the finals, some even had to wrestle against each other, and solidifying their preseason rankings with their strong showings.

*THE BAD

I have to admit the bad was the score in the Kansas State game over the weekend. One touchdown is better than none, but 49-7 is pretty tough to swallow.

Another bad was 177-pounder Matt Mulvihill’s broken ankle at the Cyclone Open. He’ll be out six to eight weeks, which is pretty disappointing considering he had a good shot at making some waves this year.

Also, the volleyball team lost a critical match to conference rival Colorado over the weekend in five long games. This could affect their seeding in the conference tourney, which could affect their chances for a bid to the NCAAs. The team should pull out two decisive wins over Kansas and Missouri, but will have to work hard for the ticket to dance in December.

*THE UGLY

Remember Doug Skartvedt? He was the extraordinarily good football player from Iowa State who almost made it in the pros despite being from an ordinary team two years ago.

His little brother, Jim, was supposed to be even better than he was. He is only a junior in high school from Hubbard, Iowa — 40 miles away from Ames and was getting recruited by many Big Eight teams.

He was just in an ugly car crash on a gravel road outside of Hubbard in which he broke 73 bones in his body and crushed his left foot. They say he’ll play again — I hope so. The kid was good.

Makes you reconsider a lot of things in your life and makes you realize that sports aren’t everything. Life is good, bad and ugly and officially recognizing that could really make your day.