The lead story on the 11 o'clock news last night was punctuated by shots of shoppers whose tents were lined up around the corner of the shopping center. Prospective bargain hunters wearing multiple layers of winter clothing spoke to the camera about the great deals they hoped to get when the store opened at 4am.

Watching this spectacle, it occurred to me the story should have been carried in the sports section of the broadcast. Each shopper interviewed sounded a lot like your average NASCAR, NFL or MLB superstar. Each talked about how he or she hoped the personal sacrifice would pay off, how it was all worth it. Many spoke about the "game" itself. The game, you see, was where it's at. They came to play the game.

In my neighborhood, and probably in yours too, small local retailers are getting into the game. They're opening their doors early on Black Friday and offering unheard of bargains for a brief few hours to whatever shoppers they can lure from the big-box outlets. They're the minor leagues.

It's the shopping season, after all. How's your training been coming along?