"Man-Genius"....not so much

I have a bunch of stories to post, but I wanted this one to be first. I wanted to wait to hear the results of Brett's MRI on his throwing shoulder before I cast any stones.

Since Brett has a partially torn bicepital tendon, and some calcifications in his shoulder, I owe him a very sincere apology about some of the things I wrote about him in my last post.

That being said, firing Mangini was the correct decision. If Brett hurt his arm during the Bengal game which many people think, the honus was on Mangini to grow a pair and rest Favre. Brett's consecutive game started streak means absolutely nothing. Football is all about winning. Kellen Clemens can stretch the field just as well as Favre can, plus he has been in the system for three years.

Oh and by the way, if Brett was rested for a couple of games, maybe the Jet's wouldn't be sending a number one pick to the Packers because he wound up taking over 90% of the snaps this season.

2008 was just another catastrophe of a season for my beloved Jets. I am thankful it's over.

Has anyone seen my blackberry? Mike Shanhan is waiting for my call.


Ahh....the beauty of the season that never ends.

For those of us that love Brett

I digress. I need to give one of the greatest quarterbacks that the game has ever known his props.

Did the Jets get better because Brett took snaps? Yes they did. Why, because of what one of my loyal readers pointed out to me as per their comments from the previous blog. Brett was able to stretch the field. This was something that Chad couldn't do. Do I agree with the way that the Jets dispatched Chad? No way. He has been the voice and the face of he franchise without compromise since the day he came to town.

That being said, let me get into some of my intimate thoughts as to why Brett let me down.

Since the 12th week of the season, his emotions seem to have changed. He used to be enthusiastic, and seeing the last couple of outings, those feelings have diminished. I know that there is speculation as to the condition of his arm, but I still believe that there are issues that are deeper than that.

I am quite sure that Brett gave Michael Strahan the single season record of sacks by telling his offensive line to let him through. I am OK with that, but seeing his lack luster performance against his on time mentor Mike Holgrem, I believe that Brett didn't give his all against the Seahawks. I have seen Brett play in worse weather conditions than those that presented in last week's game, and sore arm or not, he looked as though he wanted Mike to win.

Brett just can't keep playing God with other people's feelings. He needs to do what he is paid to do. If he can't do that, he needs to hang up the cleats.

What could have been with the New York Bretts....

The time has come for Brett to say goodbye to the game he loves the most. I have to admit that I was the first person to cheer when I heard about the arrival of the second coming that was Brett.

Today, I am not so convinced that Brett is the savior of anything. Are the Jets a better team than they were last year? Absolutely. Are they better because of Brett? I don't think so.

OK, so why are the Jets a better team? Let's start with the offensive line. This bunch is solid from tackle to tackle.

Second, Thomas Jones is running out of his shoes. While he is approaching 30 years of age, he hits the hole between the tackles like a man possessed. Add Leon Washington, Brad Smith, and others that have occupied the backfield this year, and it is easy to see why the Jets are better.

What do the Jets do now? Draft a quality QB while the getting is good. Brett if has any class left in him will retire and quit his second grade bullshit whimpering about how much he loves the game. Call it a career and deal with the emptiness that will be his reality the first week of September of 2009.

Who should the Jet's pick? That's a great question. The Jets will have their first round pick in the 2009 draft somewhere in the early 20's (about 22). If I were in charge, I would draft Graham Harrell (Texas Tech). He is from a system that promotes a pocket passer. Sam Bradford is from the same mold, but I think Harrell will be a better choice.

What is the net net for the 2009 Jets? They will take a step back, but be better prepared for the coming years. I think the Jets will be playoff team for the better part of a decade once the transition period is over.

Call me crazy, but those are my thoughts. Good Bye Brett hello change.

Ahhh........ the beauty of another day.

Let's go bowling

It's that time again. It is Bowl season for the NCAA Division I Football. There are 34 bowls this year. No, that is not a mis-print. 68 teams out of the 119 division I football programs are going bowling. I am not going to get into individual game analysis, but here is the full lineup:

Dec. 20:

Eagle Bank Bowl: Navy vs. Wake Forest. Navy's triple option offense might be too much for the Demon Deacons defense to handle.

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. Colorado State. Here is where the Bulldog's stronger schedule pays off. The Rams are a little too soft on defense.

St. Petersburg Bowl: Memphis vs. USF: The Tigers of Memphis deserved to make it to a bowl game, but the Bulls played in Conference USA, a much stronger schedule.

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. University of Arizona. While the Wildcats are much improved over the last year, I believe that the Cougars are primed to showcase their powerful offensive attack.

Dec. 23:

R&L Carriers (Don't ask me) New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Troy: The Golden Eagles may keep the game close, but I think the Trojan's defense is a little stronger.

Dec. 23:

Poinsettia Bowl: TCU vs. Boise State: Without question one of the best non-BCMESS match ups. The Horned Frogs had themselves a 10 win season, and the Boise State Broncos are looking to cap off an un-defeated season. Flip a coin on this one.

Dec. 24:

Hawaii Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Hawaii: If QB Jimmy Clausen had a better group of receivers, I would say that this is a lock for the Fighting Irish. He doesn't so the Rainbow Warriors have a chance on their home field.

Dec. 26:

Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan: Florida Atlantic has a 6-6 season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Chippewas were a little stronger in the MAC. Congrats to the Owls for making a bowl, but I like CMU in this one.

Dec. 27:

Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia: A home game for the Tar Heels looks good on paper, but the fans loyal to the Mountaineers are tough to keep quiet. I know the Heels can win this game, the question is......do they?

Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State vs. Wisconsin: This should be a good match up, but I think that the speed of the Seminoles on both sides of the ball should prevail over the smash-mouth thinking of the Badgers hailing from the Big 10. Oh...the game is played in Orlando.

Emerald Bowl: Miami vs. California: I know this is kind of a home game for the Golden Bears, but Miami's first year head coach has this program steered in the right direction. It will be close.

Dec. 28:

Independence Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech: This is a home game for the LTU Bulldogs, and the Huskies of NIU had an average season at best.

Dec. 29:

Papajohns.com Bowl: Rutgers vs. NC State: The Scarlet Knights have had an off year under Coach Schiano, and the Wolfpack have been quite impressive on defense at times this year. What does this mean? Order a meat lover's pizza and watch the game to see who pulls this one off.

Dec. 30:

Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma St. vs. Oregon: This game will be filled with offense. If the Cowboys travel well to San Diego, they have a chance against a very good Duck team.

Texas Bowl: Rice vs. Western Michigan: The Owls had quite a good year notching 9 wins in Conference USA. They have a QB that will be playing on Sundays in the not too distant future. The Broncos also had a 9 win campaign this year as well while playing in the MAC. The three Rice losses came on the road to Texas, Tulsa and Vanderbilt all three are bowl teams. My edge to the Owls.

Dec. 31 Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Air Force: Look for the points to be a plenty in this game. The Falcon's 4 losses all came against bowl bound teams, the Cougars put up a ton of points this year. Use the same coin to flip for the outcome of this one as well.

Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Oregon State: I will pick the Beavers over the Panthers in this one. The Big East was a little soft this year, and the Pac 10 was pretty tough.

Music City Bowl: Boston College vs. Vanderbilt: This is the first bowl game for the Commodores in quite a while, but I think the Eagle's defense is just too tough to overcome.

Insight Bowl: Kansas vs. Minnesota: I think the Golden Gophers will be happy to be in the warm climate of Phoenix as opposed to the frigid confines of Minnesota. The Jayhawks are still quite explosive on offense, and I believe that will be the difference in this game.

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. LSU: Coach Paul Johnson was just named the NCAA coach of the year. This should be plenty of reason that the Yellow Jackets will beat the defending national champion Bayou Bengals.

Jan. 1:

Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. South Carolina: Iowa has a tough defense, and if the Gamecocks knew who the heck their starting QB was, it might make it easier to pick them over the Hawkeyes. That being said, Iowa gets the nod.

Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Nebraska: It would be bitter sweet if the Tigers could win their bowl game after losing their coach mid-season. The Cornhuskers have put together a nice 9 win season. I have to give the edge to Clemson in this one.

Capital One Bowl: Michigan St. vs. Georgia: Don't ask me why, but the Bulldogs are always well prepared for their bowl games. I think this gives them the edge over an average Spartan team.


Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech va. Cincinnati: This BCMESS game pitts the Big East Champs against the Acc Champs. Va Tech is always so good on defense, and the Bearcats are strong offensively. I will take the Hokies in this one.

Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn St.: Another BCMESS game should be quite a thriller. Joe Pa has just signed a three year extension to remain with the Nittany Lions until he becomes 85. Yes 85. The Trojans lost to the Oregon State Beavers. If not for that, they may have been in Miami instead of Pasadena.

Jan. 2:

Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech: The key to this game is whether or not the Red Raiders sulk because they were left out of the National Championship picture or they look past it and show how strong their team is on both sides of the ball. The Rebels are not too shabby themselves. This is one game I would not bet on, but I like Texas Tech.

Liberty Bowl: Kentucky vs. East Carolina: All things considered, I like the Pirates of ECU over the Wildcats.

Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Utah: The Utes were the only non-BCMESS at large selection. I hope they make it count. Boise State is licking their chops to play in a BCS game. I think the Crimson Tide will prevail and wonder about their loss to Florida all during the off season.

Jan. 3:

International Bowl: Buffalo vs. Connecticut: Another good match up. Both teams were strong within their respective conferences. Coach Turner Gil just received a contract extension from the Bulls through 2013. The Huskies of UCONN had the nation's top rusher on their side this year. I like the Huskies in a close game.


Jan. 5: Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio St.: Two teams that travel well are coming to the valley of the sun. I believe that Colt McCoy and the rest of the Longhorns will light up the scoreboard. The Buckeyes just don't seem to have enough to impress me. We shall see.

Jan. 6: GMAC Bowl: Tulsa vs. Ball State. The Cardinals were undefeated until the Buffalo Bulls beat them in the MAC Championship Game. The Golden Hurricanes are loaded on offense. This one will be fun to watch. I like Tulsa in this one.

Jan. 8: BCMESS National Championship Game: Oklahoma vs. Florida. The Gators have so much speed on both sides of the ball and the Sooners have the Heisman Trophy winner at QB. What does this all mean? You know what they say.......SPEED KILLS.

Gators are national champs. Try to avoid going to the restroom until half time or at the end of the game. You could easily miss 3 touchdowns if you don't.


Be safe and be well during this holiday season!!


Has anyone seen my eggnog?

What is fair, when it comes to justice?

I hope you will forgive me for bringing down what should be a joyous time of the year for all of us, but I need to write this post if nothing else but for it's cathartic effect it will have on me.

We will know if the skeletal remains that were found in the woods in Florida this past weekend belong to Caylee Anthony in just a couple of weeks. Caylee was a beautiful three year old girl. How anyone could do any harm to someone so young, innocent and full of life escapes me.

That being said, her mother is the prime suspect in this heinous crime. The very same person that brought Caylee into this world, took her life..... allegedly. As a Catholic, I am supposed to be forgiving, but I just can't find it in me to forgive someone that would do such a thing to a child.

The same belief that I have as a Catholic is that Caylee is now with God. All I can do is to hope and pray that Caylee has a wonderful Christmas in Heaven.

If it his her mother that killed her whether it was accidental or not, I hope she feels all of the eternal pain and suffering that hell has to offer.

So much for me being a "good Catholic".

For those of you that read this post. I beg of you to enjoy all of the time that you have with your family members this holiday season. Give each and every one of them a hug and a kiss. Let them know that you love them, even if you are on shaky grounds with them, or vice versa. All things can be overcome while we are on this earth. After all.......... this earth and this life is all we know.


To each and everyone of you Happy and Healthy Holiday Season.....and even if you don't believe...may God bless you.

Rest in Peace Caylee, and may you know nothing but happiness for the rest of time.


Ahhhh.....the beauty of life, even if it is one we do not yet know!!

Some fun with numbers

Hi All,

I just wanted to have a little fun with math today. I surely don't want this to be deemed an non-educational web log.

Here is what the now New York Yankees C.C. Sabathia will be working for this upcoming year after signing a 7 year $161 million contract. This will be fun.

Of course the obvious, he will be making $23 million a year.

The average major league starter has 35 starts per year (depending on the number of starters the team has). That equates to $657,143 per start.

A quality start is considered to be 6 plus innings so let's use that as the gauge here (anything more would be gravy). C.C. will make $109,523 per inning.

If C.C. can win 20 of his starts, that would equate to $1,150,000 per win.

If he loses the other 14 or so starts, this assuming that he has zero no-decisions that would total $1,642,857 per loss. Yes that's right, he will make more than a million and a half dollars to suck.

The average pitcher in the major leagues averages between 12-15 pitches per inning. Worst case scenario (15) his price per pitch would be $208.62 per pitch.

Man....I was born in the wrong decade.

Ahhhhh...........the beauty of a global economic downturn.

First big free agent signing of 2008

The Mets have gone and done it. They have made the first big splash in this year's owner's meetings by signing K-Rod. What does this all mean? I am not really not sure. The Angels were more than happy to see him go.

I know that the Mets had to replace Billy Wagner who will be out all of 2009.

What do I know? The 27 year old gunslinger throws hard, he is fearless and the most important intangible about a closer......he knows there will always be tomorrow.

Time shall tell, but three years at a little over $12 million a year is a fair price.

Ahhhhh.....the beauty of a million dollar arm and a ten cent head.

Just a follow up.......

Myron Rolle did in fact win the Rhodes Scholarship he interviewed for two weeks ago. Congratulations to him as it is indeed quite an accomplishment.

The biggest challenge he has to face now is does he taker this prestigious scholarship or does he go to the NFL.

I guess I wish I had his problems.

Myron, good luck and Godspeed in your decision making process.


Ahhhhh........ the beauty of brains over the football beast.

New NFL Power Rankings

Here we are at the 3/4 pole. There has been some movement in the power rankings, let's see how your team is doing:


1) New York Giants (11-1): This team is clicking on all cylinders, and it doesn't seem like they are slowing down one bit.


2) Tennessee Titans (11-1): After a loss to the Jets, the Lions didn't stand a chance against this buzz saw.


3) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): Mike Tomlin is doing a great job, and their defense is outstanding.


4) Carolina Panthers (9-3): The Panthers have looked great at times, and other times have looked average. The showdown with the Bucs this week will show whether or not the Panthers are ready to take the division title. The one thing I know for sure about this team is that I wish I had DeAngelo Williams on my side.


5) Tampa Bay Bucs (9-3): Smoke, mirrors, a tough defense and Jeff Garcia are the reason the Bucs are where they are right now.


6) Baltimore Ravens (8-4): After losing to the Giants in a rather convincing fashion, the Ravens have rebounded with two thrashings of their own. The victims were Philly and Cincy. They still have a rough road ahead with Washington, Pitt., @ Dallas and the Jags at home. If they can win three of those games, they are in the playoffs.


7) Indianapolis Colts (8-4): While they haven't been winning pretty, they are still winning. We shall see if they can click on all offensive cylinders. They have Cincy, Detroit, @ Jax and finish up with the Titans at home. It looks like 11-5 record to me. Let's see if that gets them a playoff birth.


8) New York Jets (8-4): The latest episode of we need to beat the teams we should be able to beat reared it's ugly head last Sunday when the Jets lost to the Defensively handicapped Denver Broncos at home. The Jets are @49ers, Bills, @ Seahawks and finish up with Miami. Two west coast trips sandwiched with two divisional games. I had stated in the last power rankings that is the Jets can get to 7-4, they will make the playoffs. They did that, but they still have to take care of the 49ers and the Seahawks to make them a playoff team.


9) Dallas Cowboys (8-4): I would be rating the Cowjokes a little higher, but the last four games are brutal. They have Pitt, Giants, Ravens and Eagles. The scheduling gods have not been nice.....that's too bad.


10) Atlanta Falcons (8-4): I could have pretty much any of the five 8-4 teams in any order, but I based some of the picks on the teams remaining schedule. The Falcons have some tough games left @ New Orleans, Bucs, @ Vikings, Rams. If the Falcons do not get to the playoffs this season, their fans should keep their heads up. They have a solid defense, and Matt Ryan looks like he is the franchise QB they were hoping for.

11) New England Patriots (7-5): Forget about the fact that they have an inexperienced QB just for a moment and realize this fact. As of today, all of the Pats line backing corps is a card carrying member of AARP.

12) Miami Dolphins (7-5): The "Big Tuna" is large and in charge in South Beach. Could this be a changing of the guard in the AFC East?

13) Washington Redskins (7-5): Three of their last four games are on the road. This team is on the cusp of taking over the division. Campbell is the real deal at QB.

14) Arizona Cardinals (7-5): Curt Warner is a viable MVP candidate and three of their last four games are at home where they have played well except for the Giants game. This will be their first playoff appearance in 10 years.

15) Minnesota Vikings (7-5): Adrian Peterson is one of the best young backs in the league. The Vikes could use an early draft pick on a QB to be a force in the NFL Norris Division.

16) Denver Broncos (7-5): Worst 1st place team in the NFL. You cannot be the 29th best defense in the league and expect to do much in the playoffs. Cutler is a factor that cannot be ignored.

17) Buffalo Bills (6-6): Trent Edwards is human after all, but Dick Jauron's defense is stingy as usual. They will be good in a very short period of time.

18) New Orleans Saints (6-6): Drew Brees is going to shatter the old Dan Marino record for passing yards in a season 5,084. If Reggie Bush would learn to run between the tackles, this team would be an offensive juggernaut.

19) Chicago Bears (6-6): Someday the Bears will draft a true starting QB and the team will win again. Until then mediocrity...here we are.

20) Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1): Donovan, I love you, but to not know the rules of the game you play for a living is reprehensible.

21) Green Bay Packers (5-7): They have a chance to go 8-8 after a 13-3 season last year. New York Loves you Brett.

22) Houston Texans (5-7): Looked good on Monday night. They are just a player or two short of being a really good team.

23) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8): I had them picked to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. I guess that means I suck.

24) San Diego Chargers (4-8): A great team with great promise coming into this season. Referee Ed Hochuli is getting coal in his stocing this year for Christmas.

25) 49ers (4-8): When Coach Mike Singletary dropped his drawers in front of his team during a half time speech, it was the most offensive thing the team has done all year.

26) Cleveland Browns (4-8): Goodbye Romeo, parting is such sweet sorrow.

27) Oakland Raiders (3-9): Al Davis should fire himself. This team is bad....really bad.

28) Seattle Seahawks (2-10): It's a tough way for Mike Holmgren to go out, but those are the breaks. When a tough home team like the Seahawks suck just as bad at home, you know things are bad. Time to draft a running back and QB early in next year's draft.

29) Kansas City Chiefs (2-10): Herm is gone, Gonzalez is probably going to either retire or make enough noise to be traded. The fans in KC deserve better than this.

30) St. Louis Rams (2-10): There are three two and ten teams currently in the NFL, but the Rams suck the worst. Sorry.

31) Cincinnati Bengals (1-10-1): It really stinks when the best part of your season is a tie against a pretty good team, Philly. I know they beat Jacksonville, but it was only by two points, and it was a home game, oh....and the Jags are having a tough season as well.

32) Detroit Lions (0-12) Again I ask which of their 4 remaining games are they going to win? They might get lucky, and the other team's bus breaks down on the way to the game.

What does this all mean? I don't know, but the playoffs should be a lot of fun this year.....Ahem....for those that make them that is.

Ahhhh....the beauty of organized chaos.

Myron is a Rolle model

For the first time in a long time, the NCAA has taken their collective heads out of their butts and have allowed something truly special to take place.

Myron Rolle a defensive back from Florida State University, is a candidate for the Rhode's Scholarship at Oxford University in England this year. Why does this seem so special? Well you see, the interviews for this once in a lifetime opportunity are this Saturday, the same day that FSU has a game at Maryland.

The NCAA is allowing Mr. Rolle to go to the interview and fly on a charter flight afterwards so that he may play in the game in College Park Maryland. Usually the NCAA would not allow special treatment, but Myron's case is a special one.

Not only is Myron an outstanding defensive back for the Seminoles, but he has a 3.75 GPA and his major is pre-med.

When I heard about this, I felt compelled to write about Mr. Rolle's amazing accomplishments. He is hopeful that he will have a career in the NFL following which, he wants to practice medicine. That's right, a football star wants to be a Doctor. By the way, their are only 32 of the 80 spots for this scholarship that are given to American's each year.

I hope that the young fans of college football hear about this story and realize that no dream is impossible. Don't be afraid to dream and succeed. Our dreams are the only thing some people have in life, and if you give them up what's left?

Good luck Myron, forget about the game, I know you will do well with that. I mean in the interview. Not that I am wishing myself bad luck, but if I ever need a doctor, I hope that they have the same heart and intensity that you do.

Ahh.......the beauty of opening up and saying ahhhh

End of an error

Those are the last bad words I will say about one of the most controversial owners in MLB history.

Today the MLB owners agreed unanimously to allow the control of the New York Yankees to be taken over by George Steinbrenner's son Hal. What does this all mean? Time will tell. I am hopeful that Hal will look to build his franchise from within, and not spend a fortune on a yearly basis to win.

My biggest gripe with George was that his ability to spend would someday ruin the game of baseball. Baseball isn't about who can afford the best talent, it is about putting nine players on the field that can play as a team (please see the Tampa Rays). With too many egos running wild in the clubhouse, it is tough to play a 162 game season with any kind of consistency.

I know that George's health has been declining these past few years, and I hope he is alive the next time the Yankees win a championship, but I do hope they win it the correct way.

Here's a nugget for Yankee's fans. During George's tenure as owner which began in 1973, the Spankees won 6 of their 25 world championships. Not bad, not bad at all.

Take care George and thanks for the memories.

Ahhhh, the beauty of change.

NFL Confernece Power Rankings

Hello all. I wanted to write about the strength of schedules from all NFL conferences based on their opponents winning percentage from last year just to see how all of the current contenders are doing.

Here is a list as to the current power ratings by division:

AFC North: Toughest schedule based on last years opponents win loss record

Current leader: Steelers at 7-3

AFC South:

Current leader Titans at 10-0. Very impressive to say the least.

NFC North:

Current leader a tie between Da' Bears and the Packers each at 5-5

NFC East:

Current leader New York Football Giants at 9-1

NFC West:

Current leader Arizona Cardinals at 7-3

NFC South:

Current leader: Carolina Panthers at 8-2

AFC East:

Current leader New York Jets at 7-3

AFC West:

Current leader Denver Broncos at 6-4

What does this all mean? We shall see, but based on the numbers, the two teams in the Super Bowl should be......drum roll please.......

Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants

This would be a great game, but I am keeping an open mind for the Panthers and the Jets.

Ahhh....the beauty of the battles of the gridiron.

The BCS has one too many letters......

There is something that is so cathartic about watching a college football game. These young players are either playing to have a chance to make large money in the NFL or they are playing for the pure love of the game.

What could be the one thing that screws this perfect environment up? An imperfect system that determines which two schools play for the national championship.

I have a resolution to this mess that is fairly simple, as a matter of fact, I have two different submissions to my local newspaper (at the time) that states how we can put an end to the debacle that is the BCS.

Conference champions from the "Big 6" power conferences have an automatic bid to the playoffs. On top of that, the two best at large teams have the last two spots. What does that mean? The following conferences will be represented every year in the playoffs.

Big East, ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 10. There is a caveat with this scenario. The Pac 10 and the Big 10 have to grow up and have a conference championship game. The other two at large spots could be taken up by any other non BCS conference teams that are undefeated. At this point it would be Utah and Boise State that take these last two spots.

Rankings with regard to strength of schedule could factor into the seeding of the playoff teams. That is as far as a computer should come into the decision making process. The sites of the national championship game should change every year, as it currently does so that everyone around the country can have a chance to see a championship game.

If the playoffs were to start today, the teams in the tournament would be as follows:
Big 12 (Texas Tech/Missouri winner), Sec (Alabama/Florida winner), ACC (Wake Forest/Virginia Tech winner), Big East (Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner), Big 10 (Michigan St,/Penn St. winner), Pac 10 (Oregon State/USC winner), Boise State and Utah. Who gets left out? Ball State, currently ranked 14 in the country, but a really bad strength of schedule. Other potential obstacles? Notre Dame, Navy, Army and Western Kentucky do not currently have conference affiliations, they are independents. They too need to grow up and join a conference.

Please be advised that all of the games in parenthesis are conference championship games. They of course have to happen before final seedings would be determined.

If you have trouble following my suggestion, go ahead and go to http://www.rivlas.com/ and see what the current components are to the computer ranking system that accounts for 1/3 of the final BCS rankings. This will seem like a piece of cake.

Oh, just one last thing. The bowl system as it stands today would not be affected by this system. They can still have these games for the also-rans just like they do today.

Ahhh............ the beauty of all of the BCS computers hard drives crashing at the same time.

A time for change has come.

I know I know, this is a sports blog, but as I have stated earlier we can speak about whatever we want........so too bad.

I was impressed by the acceptance speech that President Elect Obama gave tonight. The coming days and months will determine whether we as a nation made the correct decision. This is not a question with regard to race, religion or any other pre-determined criteria, it is truly about the right person.

This country has may obstacles to face as one. I am hopeful that discretion will be the better part of valor, and that we can make it through these tough times and exalt in the good times when they are bestowed upon us.

We have been through so much crap recently, and I believe that as a whole we are a great country. The one and only thing I can ask for is that every time we may be hit in the mouth by some unforeseen foe that we smile in our opponents face and say is that all you've got?

God bless the United States of America and all of those that reside within it's borders.

NFL Mid Term Report Cards

When I was in college, I always hated getting my mid-term grades because I was either going to apply myself and get straight A's or say screw it and drink my face off. Considering I was an athlete in college, which one do you think I chose.


Luckily for me, all I had to do was remain eligible, unfortunately for some NFL players, the season/glass is only half empty.


1. Titans: Great defense, above average running game, and Kerry Collins is doing exactly what Roethlisberger did in his championship campaign, "Just don't cost us the game".


2: Giants: I can't see any let down from these guys at all. It looks as though Eli has figured out how to be a championship QB. The thorough beat down of the Cowboys is just the latest chapter in how the NFC was won.


3. Redskins: We have to see how they will perform over the second half of the season, but first year coach Jim Zorn has been pushing all the right buttons.


4. Panthers: I could have flipped the Panthers and the Redskins, there numbers are very similar. The one thing I know for sure is that Delhomme is back and looks good, and the defense likes to kick ass and take names. Oakland, Detroit and Atlanta are their next three games.... I wish I were a Panther.


5. Bucs: Between Garcia and the defense, the Bucs are in every game they play. What more could you ask from your guys?


6. Steelers: If this team had not been ravaged with injuries, they would be higher in the rankings for sure. To their credit, they are ranked this high. Next three games, Washington, Indy and San Diego. This could be the three games that sends them to the playoffs. Check that, one down two to go. If Roethlisberger's injury keeps him out, at least they have a competent back up. Unlike the hapless Cowboys.


7. Patriots: It won't be long before we can count these guys out of the playoff race. But as of right now, I have to rank them where I think they should be ranked. I wonder if the NFL will test for Geritol someday. The defense would all be suspended.


8. Cowboys: It almost hurt me to watch this game yesterday as much as it hurt the Cowjokes to play in it. They were manhandled, and then some, oh, and their starting QB was re-placed by a Jet QB has-been.


9. Bills: This is a very good team on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. They have run into a rough patch as of late. New England, Cleveland and Kansas City should make them healthy over the next three weeks.


10. Falcons: At 5-3, this team is overachieving thanks to a heady first year QB. Matt Ryan has been very good. The team's defense has been above average. New Orleans, Denver and Carolina are the next three games for them. If they can win two of them, they have a very outside shot at the playoffs. PLAYOFFS....DID I SAY PLAYOFFS?


11. Cardinals: They are in first place in the less than adequate NFC West, but 1st is still 1st. They are staring 10-6 right in the eyes. If they can get to that mark, they will win their division.


12. Jets: This team is 5-3, and I had previously mentioned that if in week 12 the Jets are 7-4 they will make the playoffs. I believe that to still be true.


13. Bears: The Bears survived a scare from the Lions today. It is my belief that if Rex Grossman is to be the QB for any extended amount of time, the team could be in trouble.


14. Ravens: I know the defense is getting up there in age, but they may just have one last playoff run in them.


15. Eagles: Will the real team please stand up? This team has potential. If the stay healthy, they can do damage for sure. I wish they had a little more depth at running back, but that is not a me problem.


16. Packers: A 4-4 record in the post Favre era. not bad, we will see how long this will last. I hope the Packers do not have to put a stop payment on Aaron Rodgers' new signing bonus check.


17. Broncos: What the heck is going on in the mile high city? 4-4 after eight weeks? Cleveland, Atlanta and Oakland over the next three weeks could keep them in the playoff hunt.


18. Colts: 4-4 record for one of the most prolific offenses ever known to man? Something smells fishy.


19. Vikings: If the Viking could play any kind of defense, they would have a chance to compete for the division title. Peterson is the real deal at RB.


20. Saints: I thought by this time, the Saints would be in a good position to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they have not been consistent enough on either side of the ball to make this a reality.



21. Dolphins: So far so good for the porcelain prince. He has stayed healthy, and the "wildcat" formation is working for them. Too bad the Super Bowl is not played on a sand lot.


22. Browns: Romeo.... Romeo, where for art thou Romeo. There may not be a team that is more poorly coached than the Browns.....oh wait....there is the Raiders.


23. Texans: With Schaub hurt for the next 2-4 weeks, I am not sure that the Texans can handle the upcoming schedule without needing to sign another QB. Oh, the games are Baltimore, Indy and Cleveland.


24. Jaguars: I am shocked at the Jags record thus far. I had them going to the Super Bowl. They do not seem to have that same swagger as they used to.


25. Chargers: The Chargers have just not been able to get on any kind of a roll since the early season bad calls by Ed Hochuli and other horrible refs.


26. Seahawks: What a shame for coach Holmgren. The guys over at Pike Place Fish Market are making more catches than his wide receivers.


27. Raiders: I thought about using much harsher words than the ones I am about to use, but I just said screw it. This team, ownership and organization just absolutely suck. If they were horses, they would be shot.


28. Rams: This team scares absolutely no one. Haslett seems pissed ever since his new contract has been nixed thanks to the Rooney rule. It is another year in last place for the Rams.


29. 49ers: See ya Mike Nolan. I told you to keep your suit pressed.


30. Chiefs: This team sucks, and I am not sure how much of it is due to Herm Edwards.


31. Bengals: Congrats to them on their first win. Philly, Pitt and Baltimore are their next three games. Please pay up your health insurance premiums.


32. Lions: I know that the Lions played well today. Many props to them but here are the next eight games. Jax, @Carolina, Bucs, Titans, Vikings, @Colts, Saints and Packers. Please tell me which one of these they are going to win.

We are at the half way mark of what has been a great season so far. The next update will be at the three quarter pole. We should have a better indication as to how the playoffs are going to shape up by then....or maybe not.

Has anyone seen my Bratwurst?????

Maple bats = major problems

I went to an Arizona Fall League game this past week, and I have to say that all of the talk of the dangers of the new maple bats that current and future major league players are using these days are a disaster waiting to happen.

I know that MLB is asking all bat manufacturing companies to have a quality assurance team look into ways to stop the bats from breaking so easily and if they do break, try to make the bats so that they do not become splintered wooden projectiles.

The last bat I counted that broke with some kind of problem to either a player or spectator was 11. That's correct 11 times a bat was shattered and either became a hazard to a player or a fan. This is completely unacceptable.

There was one instance where a player was jammed with an inside fastball that ate him up, he tried to swing anyway, and his bat was sawed in half, one part of the bat stayed in the players hand, the other half went into the stands. Thank goodness that on one was sitting in the chair that the bat struck. It made a resounding noise that was heard throughout the ball park. If a fan was sitting there, they could have been killed. That's right killed.

MLB has got to put a stop to this. They need to be proactive instead of reactive. It took the NHL a fatality of a young girl at a Columbus Blue Jacket's game to expand the screens around the ice in the "shot zone" for the problem to be corrected. There are many top round draft choices that play in this league, but as far as a parent is concerned, their child may be their only draft choice, and neither ignorance nor indifference is a plausible excuse for ignoring this major problem. To MLB....... fix the problem and fix it now!!!!

Ahhhhh.....the beauty of Oak

It's time for a re-cap

Hello all, I have missed you this past week, but my dad came into town, and I wanted to make sure he had some fun while he was here. That being said here is where I stand.

The World Series: Bud Selig made the right call to suspend the 5th game after Tampa Bay scored their second run. Why? Because if the World Championship had been decided due to a rain shortened game, it would have been a worse decision than the All Star Game tie debacle. Congrats to the Phillies as much as it hurts me to say that, they looked very good.

The Breeder's Cup: I really don't care too much about horse racing, but the good news for the colts is that they are going to be put out to stud. It has to be tough to eat hay and get laid all day.

Nascar: Jimmie Johnson is going to win his third Nextel cup series in a row. Where is the parity in stock car racing? Is Johnson now to be mentioned in the same breath as Petty, Foyt and Andretti as one of the greatest drivers that ever lived? We shall see.

I am not going to give my NFL power rankings until after this Sunday. I want all teams to have at least eight decisions before I rank them. The match up of the week as far as I am concerned is the Cowboys against the New York football Giants. ( Giants win by two TD's).

College Football: It was great to see Penn State beat Ohio State. The thing that sucks is that computers still have a major say in what is going on with regard to rankings. This is a shambles, but I will get into that at a later date.

I think that covers it. The one last guess I would like to make this week is that Texas Tech will beat Texas by a field goal. This should be a great game if you look at the numbers. The other two big match ups are Penn St. @ Iowa and Georgia @Florida. I can't wait for this weekend.


Light up the grills and hold on for the thrills........

Has anyone seen my jello shot??????

A True Maverick

Webster defines a Maverick as a lone or orphaned calf or cow. It also has a secondary definition of someone that is independent. I am fairly certain that Trevor Wikre is a Maverick in every sense of the word.

Trevor is an offensive lineman at my Alma Mater, Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO. It seems as though Trevor sustained an injury on one of his pinkies during a practice, and he was told that he was going to require season-ending surgery. Once he heard that, what do you think the Senior lineman that measures in at 6'3", 280lbs. said? Screw that, cut it off. That's right, instead of letting his last season of organized football go down the drain, he made the sacrifice, and had half of the finger removed.

Of course this story conjures up memories of the time that Ronnie Lott, the Hall of Fame Safety also has a portion of his pinkie removed because there was no way that he was going to miss the playoffs.

That being said, Ronnie was getting paid million of dollars to play, and what is Trevor getting for his efforts and sacrifice? Satisfaction. That's right satisfaction. Knowing that he will have a chance to play in the playoffs for his college and his teammates is all that Trevor needs.

If that isn't a Maverick, I don't know what is. GO MAVS!!!!!!!!!

The Diamondbacks of 2009

It's very easy t o see why Diamondback's Manger Bob Melvin has 25 guys on his roster that want to play for him.

I had the pleasure to speak with the D-Back's skipper yesterday, and I have to say that if I were still playing, I would want him to be my boss. He is honest, humble and quite engaging. If you have something to say, he actually listens which is quite an impressive character trait considering that there are some managers in MLB that think because you are a writer, you must not have ever played the game.

That being said, I thank Bob Melvin for his time and candor. I will not relay to you the things that we discussed, but I will tell you what I think the D-Back's roster should look like in '09 for them to win the division.

Starting Lineup by position:

1st Base; Connor Jackson: Connor had an excellent season. He showed that he not only has a great eye at the plate, but that he has the ability to hit .300 every year.

2nd base; Orlando Hudson: I am well aware that O-Dog is a free agent this year, but a second basemen that can hit .300 and win a gold glove at his position deserves at least another three years at about $9 million per year. Pay him, and keep a strong leader in the clubhouse that the young players on this squad need to be successful.

Shortstop; Stephen Drew: Stephen had an All-Star campaign and he has many more ahead of him. He is as solid as it gets at his position.

3rd Base; Mark Reynolds: If you look up raw talent in the dictionary, you will find his picture. I think that the D-Backs may have rushed him into the bigs, but they had no choice. He just oozes power with his swing. I want him to cut down on his swing with two strikes. If he does that, he will probably hit 35 HRS and have 125 RBI's per year for quite a while.

Left Field; Eric Byrnes: If his hammy's did not give him such problems this year, the fate of the team may have been different. All I can say is that when he dresses up for a game, he is always at 100% effort.

Center Field; Chris Young: CY is without question one of the next big superstars at his position. He has great speed, he has a good knowledge of how to run the outfield and he has the power and speed to be a perennial 30/30 guy.

Right Field; Justin Upton: Man, is this kid talented. He has speed, a cannon of an arm and the ability to hit the ball out of the park to all fields. He needs to work on being a better defensive outfielder, and I believe that will come in time. He will not be 22 until August of 2009.

Catcher; Chris Snyder: He had the mother of all injuries last year, but he nutted up.....Ahem...sorry Chris, and played his balls.....Ahem...sorry again Chris... off. He has shown signs of great power, he calls a great game, and his pitching staff love him. He has a chance to be an All Star some day.

Starting Pitchers:

Brandon Webb: Best ace in the NL

Dan Haren: Best pitcher that is not the ace in the NL

Max Scherzer: 23 year old phenom that has a fastball in the upper 90's and a change up that when is kept low in the strike zone is un-hittable. If he develops a major league breaking ball, and learns to pace himself for the long and tough MLB season, he will be 1AA in the starting staff.

Doug Davis: If he stays 4th in the rotation, he will win 15 games.

Randy Johnson: Per my calculation, Randy should have 302 wins right now. He had the misfortune of way too many no decisions this past year. If the " Big Unit" is your 5th starter, look out rest of the NL.

Bullpen:

Edgar Gonzalez: I am not sure how much longer Edgar would be willing to come out of the pen, but if he is willing, the team just got that much stronger. He would be a number 3 starter anywhere else in the majors.

Yusmeiro Petit: He and Edgar can both be bonafied starters elsewhere, but with them both here, the NL West is the D-Backs for the taking. Keep in mind that The Big Unit's decision effects both of them equally.

Chad Qualls: He was named closer for the team after Brandon Lyon showed that he was not cut out for the job since Jose Valverde left for the Astros. I have no problem with this choice. Everything Chad throws is hard. We just have to see if he can really be trusted for 65-70 appearances per year.

John Rauch: Yes I know he got lit up during the second half of the season, but I believe that he can be a major contributor next year. He also seems like a good clubhouse guy.

Wil Ledezma: Good left handed hitter specialist. Slaten needs to shape up or ship out.

Juan Cruz: Strong arm and he chews up innings. I wish the rest of his teammates would stop stealing his meal money so he can put on a few extra pounds.

Reserves: This without question is where GM Josh Byrnes is going to have to earn his money.

Chris Burke: Great experienced player, but a .186 batting average is just not going to cut it.

Augie Ojeda: A no-brainer, I love him as a player, and he will do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Miguel Montero: A nice second choice at catcher. I wish he could put up better offensive numbers, but when he catches, he is in the number eight slot. No harm, no foul.

Adam Dunn: He is listed as a reserve because at $10-$14 million, there is no way the D-Backs are going to resign him.

Jeff Salazar: Great off the bench guy that can provide occasional power. He is a keeper.

Chad Tracy: He showed signs of greatness this year, maybe it would be best for him if e cold land with a team that could use his skills on a daily basis.

Jamie D'Antona: This kid can hit with the best of them, the trouble is, the team has no place to put him. He should be a keeper, we shall see.

Alex Romero: Yet another prospect that can hit with some power, and is not afraid to make the tough plays in the outfield.

Biggest concerns: This team does not have a bonafied leader in the clubhouse. There is so much good raw talent, if they don't win the division next year, it will be a surprise.

Variables: Does the "Unit" return to get 300 wins? Do the D-backs package some young major league ready talent to get a seasoned veteran?

We shall see what happens during the off season, but I think this good core of young talented players could be the Rays of 2009.


Ahhhhh.....the beauty of the hot stove.

The Cow-Pokes are Cow-"Jokes"

Not only did the Dallas Cowboys lose to a much better team on Sunday,they also lost their starting quarterback for the next four weeks.

Dallas was outplayed on both sides of the ball as well as on special teams. That being said, they still had a chance to win the game. I will give them credit for that.

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt almost gave the game away with his god awful timeout call trying to "ice" the Cowboy's placekicker (Polk) after his team blocked the FG try. The timeout gave the "Jokes" another crack at a 51 yd attempt. The kick was retried, and made, sending the game into overtime. During that OT when Tony "Romeo" broke the pinkie finger on his throwing hand. The Cardinals held the "Jokes" on defense, and blocked the ensuing punt and returned it for a game winning touchdown.

We shall see how Brad Johnson handles the offense for the next month. Luckily for the Cowboys, their upcoming schedule is not that imposing. They have the Rams next week, then the Bucs at home, then they are at the NY football Giants. After that the bye week follows next. Romeo's next game should be against the Redskins in the Nation's Capitol. From what I can see, the Cowboy's would be lucky to get to 10 wins. That being said, the playoffs may be out of reach.

Let's see how TO handles a new QB as well. He is on pace to catch 65 balls, which would be the second lowest total of his career. He caught 60 balls one year with the 49ers. It's a good thing he signed that big contract extension last year. Boo hoo, the petulant TO will not have his baby sitting QB throwing to him for a month. Let the side show begin.

Ahhh...the beauty of turmoil in Big "D"

Sorry I have been away......

Hello all, I have been away for the past week. I will be posting tomorrow. I have some fun things to talk about. Thanks for being patient. Talk to you soon.

The Mets of '09

There goes another 5 years off of my life, but who really cares. The biggest problems that face the Mets of next year in a new ballpark are quit compelling.

The bullpen is bullshit.

The starting lineup should be OK

The closer role needs to be filled.

Reserves need to be addressed immediately if not sooner.

Here are my proposals:

1st Base: Give Delgado his team option for 2009 and go from there. I honestly believe he had a problem with his swing, and he found the fix by himself. Pay him.

2nd Base: Luis Castillo is signed for the next few years, Hopefully he can actually show up and play 125 games next year.

3rd Base: David Wright. 'Nough Said.

SS: Jose Reyes. Please see David Wright.

Right Field: Ryan Church deserves a shot. The concussions were not his fault, except that he is a hard nosed player. I'll take those any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Center Field: Carlos Beltran. I would like to see 30 HR's and 130 RBI's from him next year.

Left Field: Endy Chavez. I just can't help but remember that catch. One of the greatest off all time. Oh... and he comes to the field ready to play every day.

Catcher: Brian Schneider. Solid defensive catcher. Ability to knock in some runs. I love this guy as a player. Good clubhouse guy as well.

Starters:

Johan Santana. Even without much support this year he may deserve a vote or two for 2008 Cy Young Award.

John Maine. Good pitcher. Solid command. I hope he can stay healthy.

Mike Pelfrey. Showed good poise and composure during the second half of the season. You can see why he was a #1 pick.

Oliver Perez: He showed up in a big way after only 3 days rest against the Marlins. In the number 4 spot how much trouble could he get in?

Pedro Martinez: There is nothing more powerful than a pitcher that feels he has left a few quality starts on the diamond. Just ask Randy Johnson. I know he has one more solid year left in him.

Relievers: Ouch. This is without a doubt the softest part of the roster. Let's see if I can't figure something out.

Heilman: See ya!!.... just like so many of your pitches that you made this year. Bye bye Captain Chaos.

Luis Ayala: After his brilliant performance as a closer after Wagner went down, I want him with me.

Jonathon Niese: This kid has some great stuff. Start him off in the pen then work him into the rotation.

Juan Cruz: If the Diamondbacks are stupid enough to let him go, pick him up and walk away. He has an explosive arm, and can chew up innings like a weed whacker.

Kyle Farnsworth: He is only 33 and still throws in the mid to upper 90's. Get him in here and do it now.

Ryan Dempster: Please see Cub's success. If they do not sign him, the Mets should.

I know that there are a few good arms in the organization that can do a better job than those that have come before them. The farm system cannot really be that bad...can they?

Reserves:

Adam Dunn: He wants $10mil per year, offer him $8 and see what happens. 40 HR's and 100RBI's cannot go un-noticed. If Delgado doesn't work out, Adam will.

Craig Cousell. He is a solid pro off of the bench. If I owned a team, I would sign him first.

Kevin Millar: Loose clubhouse and a will to win. Oh....he also has a World Series Ring.

Damion Easley: Solid pro, has occasional power. He can and will play anywhere.

Gustavo Molina: He is a good catcher. I don't have much more than that to say.

The other two spots should be fairly easy to fill. If the Mets stick with me, they can have a great first campaign at CitiField.

Only 153 days till pitcher and catchers report......... I love this game.

1st Quarter 2008 NFL Power Rankings.

Hello all, we are at the close of the first quarter of the 2008 NFL Season, and I wanted to list the power rankings as I see them right now. I will only be updating these rankings on a quarterly basis. I hope you enjoy.

1. Tennessee Titans: Don't ask me how, but the Titans are not only winning, they are crushing their opponents.

2. Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards is not only a smart QB, he has a very nice NFL arm. Their team defense is not all that bad either.

3. New York Giants: There is no question in my mind that Eli has total control of this team, and that's exactly what Giant's fans want. He is ready for this tough division. 11 wins is almost a good bet.

4. Dallas Cowboys: I am sure that after the next four games the 'Boys will plummet. T.O. has obviously never heard of the term politically correct. If Narcissus were still alive, he would have some serious competition. THERE IS NO "I" IN TEAM. A light schedule may get them into the playoffs, but Jerry Jones will have 25 million reasons to dump his sorry ass before too long.

5. Tampa Bay Bucs: Even with Brian Griese as their starter, they look really, really good.

6. Denver Broncos: Jay Cutler is a stud with a cannon of an arm. The rest of the Bronco's schedule does not look too imposing. We shall see how smart Shanahan really is.

7. Carolina Panthers: As of right now, they are running and passing on all cylinders.

8. Washington Redskins: Campbell looks good, Portis looks good. The defense looks good. Let's see what happens from here.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: Injuries will determine how well this team does. As of right now, they look good.

10. San Diego Chargers: The Chargers defense has been compromised with the loss of Merriman, but Rivers and LT look just fine.

11. Baltimore Ravens: My Aunt Millie could be at quarterback, and this very strong defensive team would still win the game.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers: I love Mike Tomlin as a coach, he brings fire and passion to every game. So far so good for the men from the 'Burgh, let's see if this can continue.

13. Chicago Bears: Is Orton a championship quarterback, I'm not sure, but I thought the same thing about Trent Dilfer.

14. New Orleans Saints: This team intrigues me, but let's see if they can get the job done over the long haul.

15. Green Bay Packers: Let's hope the injury to Aaron Rodgers is not serious. If it is, good night Irene.

16. Atlanta Falcons: Lucky for the Falcons Ryan is a smart quarterback. He might just make a few games interesting this year if he has the time to pass the ball.

17. Phoenix Cardinals: I have high hopes for this team this season. Buffalo, Dallas and Carolina are their next three games. Make or break time.

18. New York Jets: The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Jets. Favre is a bit sore, and they can soak up the team chemistry that was created this weekend after a tough Monday Night loss. The next three games for the Jets are very winnable, they have to hold serve to make a difference in the AFC.

19. San Francisco 49ers: Please don't ask me how they have two wins. The next three games are against New England, Philly and the Giants. Thank God I am not the team's trainer.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: I thought they would be better than 2-2 at this point, but that's why they play the games.

21. New England Patriots: They are right on schedule for a 7-9 season. That's only if they can win the games they are supposed to.

22. Miami Dolphins: This is a bad football team, let's see if Chad can endure the pain.

23. Seattle Seahawks: This is one team I expect to rise in the ratings over the course of the season. Has anyone seen Shaun Alexander???

24. Minnesota Vikings: Between Peterson and the defense, I think the Vikes will make a run in the not too distant future.

25. Indianapolis Colts: Their current record is the only reason they are so low....for now.

26. Oakland Raiders: With so many early first round draft choices they have had over the past several years, they should be a juggernaut. But then there is Al Davis. "A commitment waiting to happen".

27. Cleveland Browns: A question to Coach Crennel, could your team be any worse with Brady Quinn? I doubt it.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Coach Edwards, what ever you do, do not look at the upcoming schedule for your team. It's like watching the drill before the dentist puts it in your mouth. Yes...it's that bad.

29. Cincinnati Bengals: Coach Lewis, take the advice I just gave to Coach Edwards. You have nothing in your arsenal that can touch what is in front of you with regard to schedule. If I were you, I would not send a Christmas card to the Commissioner's Office this year.

30. Houston Texans: This is another team that I expect to rise in the coming weeks. They are a well coached young team. It's a matter of time before success will come your way.

31. Detroit Lions: Now that Matt Millen is gone, I hope the Ford family can bring in someone that actually knows how to run a football team. Too much talent to suck this badly.

32. St. Louis Rams: I just don't know what else to say but, man this team blows: Trent Green over Marc Bulger as your starting QB. Does he even know what day it is? Is he even allowed to eat whole foods yet?

There you have it. The first quarter of the season is over. The next quarter should be a lot of fun.

Has anyone seen my beer?

Someone has made a special request

It seems as though there are a couple of disgruntled readers out there. They are angry with me for spending so much time picking on the failures of financial institutions this past week. That being said I will address some of the stories that he/she wants discussed.

USC losing in Corvallis: I would write about this, but it is the 3rd time the Trojans have lost there, so I did not feel it worth my time to write about. I am also a little sick of the pollsters just giving the number 1 ranking to USC because they are USC. Last time I checked Georgia started the season at #1 and has yet to lose a ball game.

The NY METS: There is no story as of yet here either. There are still three games left in the season, there is a major storm beating the crap out of the east coast, and it may be a while before the Mets can actually play their games. The Met's bullpen is absolutely awful, and it is led by Captain Chaos himself Aaron Heilman. Perhaps an extras day off will help the tired arms, we shall see.

The Yankees are out of the playoffs: Who cares. I can't stand the Yankees. While I hold their history as a team in the highest regard, I believe as long as the Steinbrenner family has control, all things will stay the same, and they will continue to buy themselves championships.

As a sidebar, I promised that if you want to say something, you shall be heard. I also said at the start of my blog that you can expect nothing but passion with regard to my writing and responses to any comments made.

I have published all of the comments made about my previous story, but to Mr. Anonymous (pussy). The term (CE Blows) was a play on the word CEO's. If you had at least as much intelligence as a handball, you would have figured that out.

One thing I can't control are the morons that post a comment. I do however appreciate you taking the time to read my blog.

Oh....and to Mr. Anonymous (pussy), the one that called me a "stupid fuck" do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Take care and be well.