I know the super-organized among us have had their Christmas or other holiday shopping done since Halloween, but for most Salt Lakers Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, represents the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I actually enjoy Black Friday and get a kick out of getting up early to join thousands of other bleary-eyed shoppers in search of the Great Christmas Bargain.

Most malls and discount stores will be opening before dawn Friday, and in some cases shopping starts Thursday night. Major malls in the Salt Lake area will make a party out of Black Friday, with giveaways and entertainment.

Here's a list of Black Friday events in the Salt Lake area. Happy Shopping!

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It's Real!

Real Salt Lake became unlikely U.S. Major League Soccer Cup champions last night in Seattle, beating MLS glamor squad L.A. Galaxy 5-4.

The game was tied after two overtimes and came down to a shootout. The winning goal was kicked by RSL's Robbie Russell. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando was named the game's MVP. The victory gave RSL their first ever league title, while the L.A. Galaxy have appeared in the MLS Cup finals six times and won three.

RSL barely made the playoffs with more losses than wins during the regular season. L.A. Galaxy includes the league's most famous, glamorous and highly paid player, David Beckham.

If you have time this afternoon, you can greet the team at the Salt Lake airport Terminal 1 baggage claim area at 1:30. Tomorrow there will be a celebration rally at Rio Tinto Stadium at 5:30 p.m.

Click here for an image gallery of RLS's amazing championship victory.

What's the Most Memorable Utah-BYU Rivalry Game?

A lot of fans have responded to my Utah-BYU score prediction poll, and most are predicting a big win for BYU. I'll publish the poll results on Friday, so make sure to add your vote.

The Utah-BYU football rivalry has a century-long history with a lot of exciting games, especially in the past 20 years or so. What do you think is the most memorable Utah-BYU football game? Is it "LaVell's Last Miracle"? BYU's back-to-back last-minute wins in 2006 and 2007? Utah's 1988 blowout with Scott Mitchell, the first Utah win over BYU in ten years and only the second in 20 years? Utah's 2004 and 2008 wins to clinch undefeated seasons? Vote for your favorite game below.

The University of Utah Utes crushed the San Diego State Aztecs yesterday 38-7, lessening the sting of last week's overwhelming loss to TCU. For 23 seniors on the team it was their last game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. "The TCU game left a bad taste in our mouths. We wanted to come out and finish strong for the seniors," said senior linebacker Mike Wright after the game.

However, the Utes' seniors still have to face their biggest rival, BYU, next Saturday at 3 p.m. in Provo. "The seniors now get their last regular season game at BYU, and there is not much extra motivation necessary," said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.

The BYU-Utah rivalry has all the elements of a classic college football rivalry, but with a twist. The two teams have played each other every year for 100 years, give or take (it depends on whether you count the games between the University of Utah and Brigham Young Academy). They're in-state rivals only 40 minutes driving distance apart. Both schools are huge with passionate fan bases. For the past decade at least, both schools have had extremely strong football programs, and frequently the conference championship has been decided by the rivalry game.

And then there's religion. Even though BYU has some non-Mormon fans and the Utes have even more Mormon fans, the rivalry taps into deeply-rooted divisions in Utah's culture and has come to be known at Utah's "Holy War."

I love the Utah-BYU football game, because the fans' and players' passions run so high. I hate it, too, for precisely the same reason. At all the Utah-BYU football games I've attended over the years, I've seen fans scream, curse, sob, throw things at the field and each other, throw punches, break bones and get arrested.

Can't we all just get along?

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Read College Footbal Guide Tim Hyland's list of the ten biggest college football rivalries

Utah residents can register now through Friday, Dec. 4 for a time slot to purchase tickets for individual screenings at the Sundance Film Festival to be held Jan. 21-31. Getting tickets to Sundance screenings is a little more complicated than walking up to the ticket window at your neighborhood Megaplex, but if you jump through the hoops you'll get a chance to see some innovative films and soak up some of that star-studded Sundance ambiance.

After you register online, you'll be assigned a time slot to buy tickets in person in Salt Lake City or Park City Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 9 or 10. Time slots are assigned at random, so it doesn't matter how early or late you register. You'll receive an e-mail notifying you of your time slot on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Registering doesn't guarantee you a time slot; if there are more registrants than time slots some people won't get a slot.

After you receive your time slot, start researching films that appeal to you. Sundance organizers promise to have a detailed online guide in December, and they'll also mail you a printed guide. A lot of the films at Sundance have their own websites or have already been shown and reviewed at other festivals, so by doing a little online research you can find out if the film is really something you'd be interested in. Have a few options in mind, because a lot of screenings might be sold out by the time you get your turn.

If the film you really wanted to see is sold out, you cal always try for waitlist tickets at the theater before the screening. Click here for details on the waitlist process and lots of other tips on getting Sundance tickets.

Click here to register for a time slot to buy Sundance locals single screening tickets Jan. 9 or 10 (Utah residents only)

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