The best time of year for all National Football League fans.

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Hope springs eternal and every team is 0-0 and tied for first place.

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Looking forward, the NFL average says five new teams make the playoffs each year so these types of predictions are usually null and void before my birthday at the end of September ---quick reminder, I do require a $100 minimum on all gifts ---as the NFL season is always quite whacky.

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With that in mind, strap on your seatbelts 'cuz here we go:

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AFC East

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1 - New England Patriots - Yeah, I thought the dynasty-that-never-would've-happened-if-referee-Ben-Coleman-didn't-have-his-head-up-his-ass (don't know what I'm talking about? see the life-changing picture to the left) was dead last year when the Ravens pounded the Pats in the playoffs. Nope...one more year left in the Pats.

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2 - Miami Dolphins - Getting better and Chad Henne looks like a player. The Fish will make the playoffs as the top wild card and nab the 5th seed in the playoffs.
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3 - New York Jets - The best team ever, just ask 'em. The J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS! are way too full of themselves and are ripe for a letdown. Oh yeah, second-year quarterbacks have a recent trend of taking a step backwards. Mark Sanchez didn't exactly light it up last year, he'll struggle again this year.

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4 -Buffalo Bills - A mess and on the clock for the 2011 draft.
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AFC North
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1 - Baltimore Ravens - Getting better as Joe Flacco comes of age. The defense is older, but still as good as any.

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2 - Cincinnati Bengals - The Ochocinco-T.O. combo just has to implode at some point. It should be fun to watch calm and quiet Marvin Lewis deal with the personalities, who should play well long enough to get Cincy to the playoffs.

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3 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Too many distractions and one too many stupid quarterbacks on the roster will keep the Steelers home for the playoffs.
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4 - Cleveland Browns - The Brownies got hot at the end of the '09 season and likely saved Eric Mangini's job. Big whoop, they still are sans talent and have no shot at getting out of the North basement.

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AFC South

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1 - Houston Texans - Yeah, the Texans are the sexy (huh-huh, I said sexy) pick this year to make the playoffs so I'll jump on board. This pick makes sense because....

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2 - Indianapolis Colts - the team that loses the Super Bowl ALWAYS misses the playoffs. Well, almost always and that is good enough for me. Peyton Manning and the boys are usually good for at least 11 wins but I'm not going to spit into the heavy wind of a constant trend. Indy'll win 9, and miss the playoffs.

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3 - Tennessee Titans - Kinda wanted to put them ahead of the Colts, but I'm still a Vince Young hater so I won't go there.

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4 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Franchise is busy packing their bags for another locale....L.A. anyone?

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AFC West
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1 - Oakland Raiders - Disclaimer #1 - I'm a Raider fan. Disclaimer #2 - The rest of this division sucks. Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston were the top two draft picks and will solidify a much-improved defense. The offense will forget Mr. Codeine and be efficient enough to win the division.
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2 - San Diego Chargers - That loud sound you heard last January when the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS! were celebrating at midfield of Qualcomm was the sound the the 'Bolts window of opportunity slamming shut. The Chargers missed their chance and need to rebuild.

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3 - Kansas City Chiefs - Still terrible, but better than the pungent smell of the team below them.
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4 - Denver Broncos - Josh McDaniels is in way over his head. Drafting Tim Tebow was a waste, trading three picks to draft a guy based on character is down-right stupid.
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NFC East
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1 - Dallas Cowboys - The thought of this team playing in the Super Bowl in the Jerruh-Dome is, in a word, nauseating. They'll win the division but will fail in the playoffs due to having the most overrated player in the NFL (see pic on left).

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2 - Philadelphia Eagles - Kevin Kolb needs a year before the Iggles can take back the Eastern crown.
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3 - Washington Redskins - I picked the 'Skins to go to the playoffs last year. I might be dumb, but I'm not stupid. 7-9 for Shanny's boys.
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4 - New York Giants - Last season's gag is still fresh. The coach is on his last legs and the QB is a weenie for a team suddenly very short on talent.
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NFC North

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1 - Green Bay Packers - Gonna go with the sexy (huh-huh, I said sexy again) in the NFC and I'm okay with that. Aaron Rodgers should have a huge season - an NFL MVP season - behind a better offensive line.
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2 - Minnesota Vikings - Just a hunch, Brett Favre won't last the season but will hang in there long enough to get the Vikes into the playoffs...if Adrian Peterson remembers how to hold on to the football.
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3 - Detroit Lions - Getting there, especially with my boy Ndamukong Suh anchoring the defense. Having Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson doesn't hurt either as the Lions are a year away from the playoffs.

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4 - Chicago Bears - Gonna be hard to win games with Jeff George...er, Jay Cutler as your quarterback. Mike Martz will do something to the offense, what it'll be is what I'm not sure of. Last place.

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NFC South
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1 - Atlanta Falcons - Someone new always seems to win the division. QB Matt Ryan enters

his third year and should have a breakout season. A return to form by RB

Michael Turner will put the Falcons over the top in the divison.
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2 - New Orleans Saints - Still partying in N'Awlins to be sure. The Saints will make the playoffs, but won't be able to duplicate last season's magic, including 26 interceptions by the defense.
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3 - Carolina Panthers - These guys are like your next door neighbor that you can't remember their name and know very little about them. Being average will do that to you and this team is average.....and quite dull.

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4 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Will resemble the '09 train wreck. A switch back to the old orange unis might spice things up a bit in what'll be an otherwise dreary season in West Florida.
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NFC West

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1 - San Franscisco 49ers - Like the bretheren from the Bay Area, the niners should win the

division simply because everyone else is terrible. QB Alex Smith sucks, but RB

Frank Gore is a stud. Coach Mike Singletary is a great coach and has instilled his personality with his club.
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2 - Arizona Cardinals - Derek Anderson? Huh? Gotta be kidding. There is a reason Cleveland got let him go. WR Larry Fitzgerald is still a monster, but .500 would be a miracle.

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3 - Seattle Seahawks - Shocker that Pete Carroll left USC and the Trojan program got sacked. Timing is everything in life, I guess. Going to the Great Northwest won't to Carroll any favors in proving that he is a viable NFL coach.
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4 - St. Louis Rams - Poor Sam Bradford. Actually, show some pity to the Ram faithful as the team drafted a QB who rarely took snaps from under center in college. Rarely does that pedigree work out.
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Wildcard Playoffs

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AFC - Houston over Cincinnati

Oakland over Miami

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NFC - New Orleans over Dallas

Minnesota over San Francisco

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Divisional Playoffs

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AFC - Baltimore over Oakland

New England over Houston

NFC - Green Bay over New Orleans

Atlanta over Minnesota

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Conference Championship Games

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Baltimore vs. New England - Like what the Ravens have done in giving Flacco some weapons. The defense will slip a bit, but the offense should be very potent with Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmanzadeh new to the WR corps.

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In a result similar to the 2009 Divisional round, Ravens 27, Pats 10.

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Atlanta vs. Green Bay

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On the frozen tundra, Atlanta pulls the upset behind the running of Turner and the smoothly accurate passing of Matt Ryan.

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A satisfying win for the team that has yet to win a Super Bowl.

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Atlanta 21, Green Bay 20

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Super Bowl 45 (I'm done with the Roman numeral thing)

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In a battle of third-year quarterbacks, we'll go with Ryan and the Falcons to claim Super Bowl title #1 for the Peach State.

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In a tight struggle with the Ravens, Ryan is the difference and the MVP in this one.

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Atlanta 23, Baltimore 13

Tradin' Paint on a Saturday Night

We gave the World Cup a go a few weeks ago - it feels like six months ago as that thing just won't end - and figure it is time to pony up and catch a NASCAR race.
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I have no clue why NASCAR is so popular, perhaps some insight tonight will help me out here a little bit..

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In an effort to fit it, I've googled a pre-race checklist for fans around the globe before they drop the starting flag (I'll admit, I don't know the color of the starting flag and don't care enought to look it up) in approximately 70 minutes.

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Let's have a glance at the checklist for tonight's big race, the Lifelock.com 400 from Joliet, Illinois....Lifelock.com 400? Wow, sponsorship must be a bit scarce.

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1 - Wash hands in motor oil to create greasy-fingernailed look. Check.

2 - Personal grooming - I showered today...but didn't shave. It'll have to be enough.Who knew?

3- Tin of Skoal and accompanying red party cup to spit in. Check.

4- Soiled John Deere cap, frontwards. Check.

5 - White tank top undergarment, or "wife beater" is on and ready to go. Will put appropriate stain on shirt later tonight. Check

6 - As I possess all of my teeth, I had to blacken out one tooth to meet requirement #6.

7 - Hone skills on southern drawl. ---Git 'er done!; Ya'll; Dam gummit!; Sheeeet!...Check.

8 - Beer. Check.

9 - Beer gut. Check.

10 - Official merchandise of favorite driver - Don't have a favorite driver so this isn't possible. I root for the 24 car as everyone, for some reason, seems to take a disliking to Jeff Gordon. For purposes of irritating as many people as possible, we'll go with the 24 car.

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I'm ready and I'm focused. 400 miles of thrilling action. Here we go:

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6:30 p.m. - I'll skip pre-game show. I have a life.

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7:40 p.m. - Where's the action, i thought we had a 7:30 start time. Think I'll watch some baseball while we wait.

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8:07 p.m. - We are 37 laps in and I have a headache. It's either my chewin' tobaccuh or i tied my bandana on too tightly. Something's gotta give here.

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8:17 p.m. - 11 baseball games on TV and Roy Halladay and Gavin Floyd are throwing peas for the Team Pugsley Baseball Club.

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8:18 p.m. - Note to self - They replay all crashes on Sportscenter tomorrow morning, like 28 times.

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8:20 p.m. - There is a Tums 00 car...wish I had some, watching this is nauseating.

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8:23 p.m. - More left turns

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8:32 p.m. - Look kids ! Big Ben, Parliament.

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8:37 p.m. - Random thought....what happens if a driver has to take a whiz? I can't drive down the street to get ice cream without having to go, much less drive 400 or 500 miles.

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8:45 p.m. - Cincinnati's Travis Wood is perfect thru 7 against the Phils...back to the race.

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8:48 p.m. - McMurray challenges for the lead against Johnson. ACTION! I think i might have wet myself....wait....wait....wait........nope, all clear in my world.

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9:02 p.m. - And around, and around, and around they go. On a good note, the baseball games are getting tighter in the later innings.

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9:05 - Wood is perfect thru 8, Reds and Phils tied 0-0.

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9:06 - Welcome to the Oakland Coliseum for the A's and Angels. Sheets and Kazmir. Go A's.

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9:12 p.m. - Am getting the feeling that, by the time this agony ends, I'll have invested three or four hours of my life that I'll never get back.

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9:13 p.m. - Have decided that NASCAR is a lot like the NBA, I can catch the last five laps and basically see the whole race.

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9:18 p.m. - Wood is heading to the 9th with a perfect game, with the score 0-0. Dude has the biggest zit on his left cheek that I've ever seen on TV.

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9:19 p.m. - Carlos Ruiz doubles off Wood to break up the perfecto. Can't help but wonder if the pimple threw off his equilibrium before serving one up to Ruiz.

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9:20 p.m. - Am thinking that, with that type of insight, maybe i should blog about baseball.

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9:32 p.m. - Checked in on the race, but TNT was in commercial. No update here at this time. I will take credit for at the bare minimum...checking in on the race.

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9:37 p.m. - #'s 7 and 21 crash a bit, very minor. almost deflating.

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9:52 p.m. - off the phone with my bride, who is out of town this weekend...Looks like 2-4 Gordon has the lead. MY MAN! ''''git 'er done""""".....maybe a reason to keep the race on the favorite channel list...for now.

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10:02 p.m. - Raj Davis goes deep for the A's...granny style. Kelly Green & Gold leads the Angels 8-0 in the third.

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10:08 p.m. - The Tums car has taken the lead. I'm still nauseated from this attempt to make this sport exciting. Sorry.

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10:09 p.m. - 50 laps to go, which is 51 too many.

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10:22 p.m. - Tums guy still leads...Gordon fourth with around 20 miles left....Side note: I've gone to the bathroom six times during this race....Kudos to the drivers with more restraint than myself.

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10:32 p.m. - Tums double-zero is the hero tonight with the win (yes, it finally ended) at Joliet. Glad I was able to track it..my life may never be the same.

World Cuppin' Saturday

Home on a rainy Saturday morning with my bride off on her day. Amid some housework, think I'll take in a soccer game while I prep for our evening together tonight.

Who knows, maybe I'm wrong about this "sport". The rest of the globe seems excited, let's give it a go. Maybe, just maybe, I'm on the wrong side of an opinion, which would be a first..

What a week in sports, the greatest trophy in the world (pictured on right), is awarded to the Chicago Blackhawks after a 49-year wait while the non-football playing world competes for the golden paper weight (pictured on left).
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Shouldn't the World Cup trophy be shaped like a foot? Makes sense to me.
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9:55 a.m. - Here come Argentina and Nigeria out of the tunnel! I'm on the edge of my seat as these two foes take the pitch. Wow....Ali-Frazier, Brady-Manning, Hulk-Hogan vs. Ric Flair...I haven't been this stoked since watching the 1988 "friendly" between the Ivory Coast and Honduras.
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10:00 a.m. - Underway in Johannesburg. The pace is slow and methodical. Shocker.

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10:02 a.m. - Nigeria #19 gets a good look and boots one from about 20 yards! Wow, he missed the goal by 20 feet, wide right. He could kick for Florida State.

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10:06 a.m. - GOOOOOOOAALLLLL..#6 on Argentina......Didn't see it, i decided to mop the kitchen floor. DAMN! 1-nil for the Cali Cartel....or is that Columbia?

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10:14 a.m. - Nigeria #15 is down and injured...I THINK HE'S BEEN SHOT! Oh, the humanity. Aren't there any police in Johannesburg?

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10:18 a.m. - Whew....#15 looks OK, running like the wind. And here I was nervously worried about his family, watching at home. Miraculous recovery? I'm wondering what meds the docs may have given him? Hmmmm.........Roids? Do they test for that in this sport? Amazing recuperative powers by #15.
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10:27 a.m. - Have made the bed, total productivity out of me today!

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10:32 a.m. - What is that damn humming noise in Ellis Park Stadium? Sounds like mosquitos to me. Business at the "Off" warehouse in Johannesburg must be booming. That, or there is going to be a serious malaria outbreak.
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Reason #8,491 that I'm glad I'm in America and not there.

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10:45 a.m. - Done with my bathroom break, relieved to find out that neither squad busted out the 2-minute offense in the closing moments of the first half. No Joe Montana, Kenny Stabler, or Tom Brady on the pitch today in South Africa.

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10:56 a.m. - What a first half!
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I swept and mopped the kitchen, 3 bedrooms and the front door area with only vaccuming to go on my self-appointed "to-do" list. This soccer thing is a great source of motivation for me. Maybe the boys in blue and green will ramp it up in half #2 and go no-huddle to open things up a bit.
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Given that there are 29 days of this riveting tourney until the finals, I'm thinking I'll have time to build an addition on the house if I keep watching.
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11:25 a.m. - Just woke from my nap, felt like two hours but was really 29 minutes. Anyone know how to remove drool stains from couch pillows? I'll hear about that one.
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11;32 a.m. - They keep yelling the name "Messy", can't be talking about my house. Nope, not today.

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11:33 a.m. - In the 75th minute, wondering when Nigeria will pull the goalkeeper for an extra attacker. Only 15 minutes left, not including injury time, whatever the hell that is.
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11:34 a.m. - Oh! Yellow card on Nigeria - no idea what that means. Question, as i think aloud...if they pull out a green card during soccer games on U.S. soil, does that cause panic?

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At least in Arizona.
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11:52 a.m. - Final in Johannesburg: Argentina 1, Nigeria nil.
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Can't say I didn't give it a shot 'cuz I did. I came into this thing not liking the sport and that hasn't changed. Perhaps if the rest of the world would hear of a game called "football", this world cup thing would go away.

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It is different that basketball, where you can tune in for the last two minutes of a game to see how it ends. In soccer, it is a slow, painstaking, brutally boring exhibition that lasts roughly 120 minutes.

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Meaning, this is two hours of my life that I'll never get back. After all, I'm never wrong.

Wanna Play? Just a Few Que$tion$ For You and Your Momma

This story is starting to die down so someone has to keep it alive.

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Sure, Miami General Manager Jeff Ireland was a hair over the line when he asked the newest Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft interview.

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Okay, slightly over the line, for most people.

Not me.

Folks, we're talking the National Football League here, not an accounting temp position. We're talking the Big Boy league for some even bigger Big Boy bucks.

You have to know what you're buying. How deep are the skeletons in the family closet? It matters. Were they trying to draw a response to see how he'd handle it?

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For that amount of cabbage, there are no boundries.

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For $20 million bucks, you can ask me anything you want. Nothing to hide here. Don't worry about my feelings, you can't ask anything that a big, fat signing bonus won't cure.

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My childhood? Ask away. Those allegations concerning the 2 chickens and the cow? Just allegations. Convicted? No, never convicted (Winger, John).....That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

When do I get paid? That is the appropriate response.

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Remember, the NFL is a tough business. As I've said before, if you can't hack it, go play soccer.

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More NFL draft

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Haven't been this happy with Mr. Davis and the braintrust in years. Rolando McClain was the guy I wanted and we got 'em. Add Jason Campbell to the mix as my quarterback and I'm downright giddy.

Any quarterback who weighs more than I do shouldn't be a QB. He should be a lineman. JaMarcus, don't let the door hit your lazy ass on they way out.

Tim Tebow? You serious? That pick outdoes makes the Darrius Heyward-Bey pick look like pure genius (not that you asked, but DH-B is gonna have a big year this year.

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I couldn't have scripted it better. Timmy Rah-Rah goes to Denver and to seal Josh McDaniels' fate in that craphole.

Uhhhhhhh.............BUST!

Six Down......10 To Go

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I'd be remiss if I didn't say I'm enjoying the Bruin's ride through the playoffs.

Happy to see Marc "Vamp" Savard back in the lineup and I needed a reason to mention Tuuuuuuuuukka Rask in this spot for the first time.

Keep it going boys.

D-Bag of the Year nominees - We started with Gilbert Arenas, moved to the brat Lane Kiffin, added Ben Roethlisberger and now are staring at Barber, Tiki, and Carcillo, Dan in our search for the D-Bag of the Year in sports.

Mr. Selfish Tiki Barber was linked to a 23-year old associate while his wife was home pregnant with twins. I'd say I'm surprised but this guy always was a me-first tool.

I hate the Giants, always will, but was happy they won the Super Bowl the year after Tiki let slip his retirement intentions a month into the season in an attempt to give himself a farewell tour.

To get a farewell sendoff, people have to care about you first, idiot.

A special shoutout to NBC ridding my television set of Mr. Barber.

Carcillo, Dan - this tool should be in an exhibit in the Philly Zoo in a cage marked "Dickhead". I'm all for rough stuff on the ice, but Carcillo is a joke. Here's hoping my boy Looch rips his head off before the Bruins excuse the Flyers from the playoffs.

Is it fitting to end the blog that began with Dez Bryant by wishing Momma's everywhere a happy Mother's Day?
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It wasn't the plan, but neither is most of what I do.

MLB Preview, Final Four notes with some Tigger, D-Mac and Big Ben

Hold on to your seats kids, I'm rooting for Puke U. this Saturday against West Virginia.
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Yup, go Puke.

With the Heels in the NIT and my brackets ruined on the tourney's third day, I'm reduced to cheering for the best story (see Bulldogs, Butler U.).
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Oh the irony....big, bad Puke against the little guy for the title. Remember, the gym at Butler was the one used in the iconic "Hoosiers" film, scene of the greatest upset ever on the big screen and the same court with the foul line that is the same distance as our court back in Hickory.

Still, I'm destined for aggravation this year, Puke over Michigan State in the final.
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Donovan McNabb to the Raiders? I'm all over that one. JaMarcus Russell is one of the biggest busts of all time and, quite frankly, blows. I don't care about his roster bonus due in May, I don't have to write the check. Mr. Davis does.
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San Diego is done and rebuilding behind a QB still in puberty, Denver sucks and Kansas City will need to drop down to the Arena Football League to have a chance at a playoff berth.
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Heard Tigger has another presser coming on Monday.
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Here's a question for him..........Who cares?
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While you owe me nothing, either spill your guts and play some golf OR keep your pie-hole shut and play some golf.
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I'm not interested in another press conference where you say nothing, so I won't waste my time and, lets be very clear - my opinion is the only one that matters here. HA!
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BREAKING NEWS - Ben Roethlisberger has thrown his hat in the ring in the D-Bag of the Year voting, along with Gilbert Arenas and Lane Kiffin.
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Dude, heed this free advice......there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a love machine - yep, hehe - but do it right way. Seriously.
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Opening day in Major League Baseball is just a scant few hours away. After drafting the best team in fantasy baseball history, I'm all over the season this year---post season picks at bottom.
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AL East - The only thing I hate more than the Yankee TV announcers are the Yankee radio announcers so I won't pick them.....Still haven't forgiven the Red Sox for beating my A's in the 1975 playoffs when I was 10 so I hope they suck...Last I checked, Toronto is in another country and I'm still pissed that the skirt-wearing, purse-carrying Sidney Crosby scored the OT winner in the Olympics so they are out of the pool...Balitmore is building a nice, young team but they have no chance.
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I'll take Tampa Bay to win the East. Boston takes the Wild Card as the Yankees get old, fast.
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AL Central - Don't really care enough to waste time ripping these teams....Getting Jake Peavy will turn out to be the best move of the season. As long as he stays healthy, Peavy will be the difference in the Central for the ChiSox as they outlast Minnesota and Detroit.
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AL West - Los Angeles "Don't call me Anaheim" lost a ton of talent and replaced it with nothing....Seattle added Milton Bradley so you know they have no clue and Texas has never found a balance of offense and pitching.

No bias here.....the A's surprise the West with their pitching staff and win the West.
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NL East - Have to like Florida's chances now that the MLB brass and player's union have leaned of them to part with some of their revenue-sharing cabbage....Washington is building but are still far away...Atlanta will go full bore for Bobby Cox in his last year and the New York Mess are awful.
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With Roy Halladay in tow, the Phitin' Phils win another division title, Atlanta qualifies for another playoff berth before another playoff failure.
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NL Central - They need more teams in this division.....Pittsburgh? No....Houston? No...Milwaukee? Not bad, but not enough pitching to win the division....Would root hard for the Cubbies to break the 358-year hex but don't see it happening...Cincinnati might be the sleeper team in baseball but this isn't the year.
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St. Louis has the best player in baseball in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday will recover from the fly ball to the cookies in the playoffs and have a huge season in helping the Cards - and my fantasy team.
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NL West - One Dodger owner wants $1 million a MONTH alimony from the other owner. That isn't even funny. Get a job like the rest of us....San Diego has no cash flow and even less talent....San Fran hung in there last year with little talent. They won't do it again....Can't figure out the D-Backs, they should be better but aren't.
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The thinking here is the Rockies will put it all together this year and claim the West.
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Playoff Predictions
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AL First Round - Tampa Bay over Oakland and Chicago over Boston.
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NL First Round - Philadelphia over Colorado, St. Louis over Atlanta.
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AL Champion - Tampa Bay Rays
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NL Champion - St. Louis Cardinals
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World Series Champion - Tampa Bay Rays in six over St. Louis.
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AL MVP - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
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NL MVP - Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
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AL Cy Young - Jake Peavy
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NL Cy Young - Roy Halladay
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Most importantly.............Tri State Baseball Champ - Team Pugsley 2010

Open Letter To Our Good Neighbors Up North

Before delving into my Olympic (jingoistic) spirit, let me get a few things out of the way:

Disclaimer #1 - The next time I get labeled an "Ugly American", won't be the first time. And, no, I don't mean my appearance.

I give thanks every day that I was born an American and to a country that allows me to live my life as I see it and where I can spew my opinions in a forum such as this.
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I do, however, and always have, have a soft spot in my heart for our good friends to the north, the Canadian people.

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Disclaimer #2 - I don't mean the French Canadians in the note above, my feud with them will never cease. Ever.

Anyway, the Canucks are very good natured, caring, and giving people. The beer is top notch and "Oh Canada" is one of the best national anthems going.

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The story of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, who skated to a bronze medal days after her mother's untimely death at the Games, is the feel-good story of these Olympics for me.
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Even the panhandlers in Toronto apologized for bothering me as I nudged by them with my shoulder in the summer of 1994. Sorry 'bout that, I didn't have any spare Monopoly money to spare during my weekend jaunt.

You see, I'm not mean spirited when it comes to Canada. Our neighbors from the north are kinda like the kid in the neighborhood who would do anything to hang with pack.

Need a dollar with no intent on repayment? No problem. Need a beer and don't feel like getting up? Just ask the kid who is just glad to be in the room.

.Real quiet, never causes a stir.........reminds me of Canada. Eh?

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. (EST), my goodwill and diplomacy will take a back seat to good 'ole American pride baby.........Big Brother U.S.A, Stars & Stripes, Apple Pie, you get where I'm going.

We'll be hoping the Canadian hockey players gag under the intense pressure of their country.

Yup..............Big Brother vs. Little Brother.

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Don Cherry? Luv ya dude but I'm hoping Grapes is a bit sour around 6 p.m. Sunday evening and for millions of Little Brothers to be drowning their sorrows in their Molson Canadiens while Big Brother celebrates all night long.

.We'll cheer for Sidney Crosby to become Bill Buckner, for Roberto Luongo to cave under the pressure of his homestanding fans.

For Ryan Miller, I'll go back to disliking you once you are back in Buffalo, but give me one more all-time effort and I'll boo you slightly less when you are playing my Bruins.

You can do it, you are an American. We're better than everyone, just ask me.

Eh?

A Few Random Thoughts During My Day Of Leisure

The day's work is done, the feet are up and my cup is filled with a nice cold beverage. Life is good---but could be better if the Bruins could find some offense 'cuz I don't like what I'm seeing on the tube right now. (More on that later).

A few days ago, I expertly predicted the running attack and top notch defense of the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets! would carry Coach Ryan's to their first Super Bowl bid since 1969. Uh, I'm waffling on that now with kickoff a mere 25 hours away.

As hot as the Jets have been, I can't pick a rookie QB over Peyton Manning. Colts 24-19 in a thriller.

Down in 'Nawlins...........this should be a great game as the good folks get an early start to the Mardi Gras celebration.

The Minny D-line is the best in football and they'll have to be as the secondary could be in for a long day against Drew Brees.
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The crowd will be off-the-charts insane as the 'Aints clinch a Super Bowl berth, 38-27.

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Early candidate for D-Bag of the Year: see Arenas, Gilbert.

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Reason #8,678 that I haven't followed the NBA in a decade.
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To quote George Costanza........Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorence on this thing, because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing is frowned upon... you know, cause I've worked in a lot of offices, and I tell you, people do that all the time."

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Back to the Bruins......yes, Phil Kessel wasn't big on playing defense and his dedication to the team game sucked, but he could light the lamp. The B's got two top draft choices for him from Toronto and I am patiently waiting for the Bruin brass to deal those picks for a sniper (Ilya Kovalchuck???) or the postseason run will be brief, if they qualify.
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Almost time for pitchers and catchers.....NASCAR is getting ready to rev up the engines for another 82-week season. I like the NBA more than NASCAR, soccer too....I know, I've written that in the past. I thought I'd do it again in case anyone forgot (Mike P., Jim).

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Tom Cable is still the coach of the Raiders, for now. I'm checking the internet thrice hourly to see if the madman-who-used-to-be-a-genius has made a move. When you are on the receiving end of a joke by the Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix, you know you are in trouble....I'm loyal to a fault, but the last 7 years have been hell as a Raider fan. ...Any chances JaMarcus Russell and Darius Heyward-Bey are practicing their overthrows and drops right now? Hmmm............

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I say we keep the Cable guy but hire an offensive coordinator. Let someone else call the plays. Sad thing is, I don't get a vote, although I deserve one.....Ray Guy got snubbed in the Hall of Famve vote showing the complete stupidity of those involved in the selection process.
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Guy was the best punter in the history of the league. For the naysayers, ever heard of the importance of field position? This guy wasn't an afterthought on the roster, he was a weapon.
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Runner Up for Early Candidate for D-Bag of the Year: see Kiffin, Lane.
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Yeah, that tool will help SC ward off the NCAA vultures with his understanding of rules compliance. Hey, Rocky Top......TOLD YA SO!!!!!!!!!!!