Bravo to the ASU men’s basketball team. Following on the heels of a 61-58 overtime victory over No. 9 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, the No. 17 Sun Devils defeated rival UA 53-47 in Tucson. The win, ASU’s third consecutive over the Wildcats, continued an ever-growing statement of basketball superiority over our neighbors to the south.

Unfortunately, given NCAA Tournament selection criteria, the results were more beneficial to UA, seeing as how they were handed a quality loss. After all, as we learned last year, a quality loss is way more impressive than any win.

Boo to money — specifically, the lack of it. After a week when discourse about the financial woes of our nation, state and University were entirely inescapable, we have grown to accept Biggie Smalls’ famous notion as gospel: mo’ money, mo’ problems. In the face of the ongoing cash catastrophes, we have come to realize that a return to a bartering system could work wonders. Oh, how we long for those days when tuition cost nothing but four glass beads and an ox.

Bravo to CNN’s ballsy coverage of the inauguration night. On their Web site, CNN.com, the multimedia giant opted for a headline that played directly to our college-age immaturity: “Obamas juggle inaugural balls.” We appreciated their move on two levels: On the family-friendly side, they gave credence to juggling, an oft-undervalued but still totally awesome beacon of American culture. On the not-so-family friendly side, well … ask your parents or consult your physician.

Boo to … not break. Sure, academic pursuits are important and all — after all, why would our entire staff be enrolled at a university if that weren’t the case? But, on the other hand, the importance of waking up without worries, reclining on a blanket-laden sofa, noshing on holiday goodies and rewatching old episodes of “The Office” and “Lost” is equally paramount. Thankfully, as much as it hurts to return to the swing of things, there is one bit of consoling news to take into account: In six short weeks, we’ll all be heading off for spring break.

Bravo to President George W. Bush. No, we didn’t think we would ever see that sentence in our lifetimes either. In fact, before now, we expected to see a “bravo to term limits.” Yet, regardless of anyone’s feelings on the man or his policies, the office of the president and anyone who fills it should be respected. The position requires incredible strength of mind and character, fierce patriotism and an unrivaled sense of duty — all of which have historically taken a great physical toll on the men who have worked in the Oval Office. The resolve to do the job for four years, let alone for eight, is deserving of a salute, and Bush — especially in a presidency that was redefined by the threat of global terrorism — is no less deserving.