I roll out my barrel of fun slowly these days.

Frequently, I give it a 10-minute hot shower, force-feed it half a pot of coffee, schedule a nap for early afternoon and then watch it fade like the Cubs in October during the fourth quarter of "Monday Night Football."

Such is my life when the candles burn low and the years stack up.

Today is my birthday, and I'll let others roll out their barrels of fun.

Instead, I'll count my blessings (one at a time, of course) and tell myself that life in the sports world is largely good. It may take a few minutes to remember why, but I'll get there.

It's not that time has been cruel.

Not long ago, an old high school classmate told me that "you haven't changed a bit."

Naturally, I was flattered. I also thought that if she's telling the truth, I had a lot of gray hair and a steadily growing waistline at a very early age.

That may also explain why I was shot down more than the Luftwaffe over London during my attempts to get a date.

More than 30 years after accepting my diploma and fleeing the stage before the administration changed its mind, I don't feel particularly old.

In fact, I agree with the suggestion that involvement in sports keeps a human being young, no matter if you're doing the exercising or watching a team of robust student-athletes compete. There's nothing like the roar of the crowd to get the 50-year-old juices flowing. It also drowns out the internal roar from the lower back pain -- and the argument between the digestive tract and last night's chili dinner.

So I'm happy to be here and proud to be born on Oct. 18. If you look at history, it's a very good day, indeed.

Here are some examples. I can't vouch for the veracity of all the items. We middle-agers have been known to fudge a bit about things, like our age.

On Oct. 18, 1016, the Danes defeated the Saxons in the Battle of Ashington. The Saxons still got to play in the BCS title game when the entire Big 12 Conference refused to vote the Danes as No. 1.

In 1210, Pope Innocent III excommunicated a German leader named Otto IV on Oct. 18. Two days later, Innocent signed Gus Frerotte to a free-agent contract.

The University of Heidelberg opened on Oct. 18, 1386. On the following Saturday, the adminstration fired an early ancestor of the Bobby Bowden family.

In 1867, the United States offically owned Alaska after buying it for $7.2 million on Oct. 18. Later that day, Sarah Palin was booed after trying to drop the first puck.

Continuing my research, I discovered that I share a birthday with several very famous people from the sports world.

Martina Navratilova was born on Oct. 18, 1956. Forrest Gregg, the Hall of Fame offensive lineman for Green Bay, pulled into the world on Oct. 18, 1933.

Keith Jackson, the best football play-by-play man of all time, was another Oct. 18 baby, along with former Major League Baseball players George Hendrick and Jerry Royster.

One name, and one name only, stood above the Oct. 18 crowd.

Mike Ditka, probably glowering all the way, entered the fray on Oct. 18, 1939.

I share a birthday with Mike Ditka. Imagine that.

We're not exactly alike. Ditka is tall and tough even at the age of 69. I'm not. Ditka won championships with the Bears and Cowboys. I refuse to watch highlight packages from any Super Bowl involving the Vikings. And Ditka is immediately recognized in any airport. I can't get a small jar of Carmax through security.

And so it goes. Nonetheless, things seem OK. There are football games today. A birthday meal is on the schedule.

So let Oct. 18 begin. Who knows? I may even stay up until 11 o'clock.

I'll bet even Mike Ditka rolls his barrel of fun into bed by then.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com