TVSquad

Where would we be without the hallowed television Christmas special? We would be engaged in enthralling conversations with relatives who like to give the backstory about the gall bladder operation pictures they still carry in their wallet. We would be playing defense against every breakable item in the house while the neighbor's kids get enough sugar in their systems to power the Space Shuttle. We would not only have to muster the courage to taste Grandma's homemade rum and Kahula fruitcake, but also to pretend that we like it without our stomach turning inside out, crawling up our esophagus and out of our mouth.

Even if those scenarios will be true for you on Dec. 25, I offer you my pity as my Christmas gift. Plus, you still would rather spend it listening to ol' Uncle Hernia Scar than watching one of these holiday hams.

As a youngster of the greatest decade of all decades, the 1980's, I remember watching a game show where contestants played about a minute or two of the hottest video games of the time (Frogger, Pac-Man, Global Thermonuclear War) for cash and prizes. After watching the players performing quite badly on these games I though to myself  'Gee, video game competitions on television will never work.'

Apparently, the hormones racing through my teenage body hindered my opinion-making skills, because they are returning to television, and soon. Major League Gaming has announced an agreement with USA Network to air seven one-hour episodes during the holiday season. The episodes will cover MLG tournaments across the country, the playoffs in Chicago and the Las Vegas championships to be held in November.

I guess I need to start  honing my Pong skills.