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.

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!!!!!!!!!!!

The Worst Fans in Sports

New York City? Nope.

Philadelphia? They did boo Santa Claus after all, but they don’t top the list.
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Chicago? Not even close.

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English Soccer Hooligans? ummmm, no.

Full disclosure time – Yeah, I’m a lifelong Bruin’s fan and my hostility toward the Montreal Canadien organization and fans is no secret. That, however, is not why I’m unloading today.

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You see, I’m an American. And I’ve been insulted. More to the point, my favorite song was insulted last night in Montreal’s Belle Center.

Monday evening’s game three of the Boston/Montreal series isn’t the first time my good friends from the north have booed the American National Anthem.

Today, I address those people.

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How to do it? That, is the question of the day. .

Hmmm….take the high road? Or, Option 2…..reduce myself to the level of sheer idiocy.
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Sorry Amy, sorry Mom……..but I think you can guess where this one is going. .

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do and some people are too ignorant to rise UP to another’s level of thinking. Those same people are only capable of understanding narrow points of view, and I am blessed with the ability to do both. .

Call it a gift.

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After reading a few reports from folks who were at the game, not all of the fans in attendance were howling the boo-birds during the Star Spangled Banner.

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My words are intended on the morons who were booing.

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I am ultra-patriotic, hence the striking of a nerve. I’ve been to Montreal, and Toronto, and have sung along with “O, Canada” has been played. It is a beautiful song with a 98% (my number) favorable rating for the quality of its people.

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However, and I’m talking to you jackasses who cannot differentiate sports from reality. A national anthem and subsequent flag of a country are sacred symbols.

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for free speech, which is what I’m doing right now.

You want to boo something? Boo that horrific hockey team that wears that uniform that you fawn over with that undeserved arrogant, entitled attitude of yours ----for stereotyping purposes, I call it French Canadien-itis.

I know, you’re not France, but you are linked by your language and your arrogance as a society so deal with it. You'll get the connection in a few paragraphs if you smart enough to read these words.

Men and women have fought and are fighting abroad for what that song symbolizes. You boo my national anthem and you tarnish their efforts.

That may not be the intent, but that is the result.

Do I need to bring up the World War I & II? Huh? Wanna go there? Thank you, I think I will.
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If it wasn’t for our boys, French-speaking language would be spoken in one fewer country (i.e.-France) as German would be the preferred tongue and Schnapps would be the beverage of choice.

That happens when you drop your weapons and raise your arms at the mere sight of an opposing army. If it wasn’t for the Allied Forces, you’d be German-Canadiens. How’s that sound, idiots?

And………….if it wasn’t the Germans, the cold-war juggernaut formerly known as the Soviet Union might have been knocking on the western boarder of your fine country during its run as a world power.

Boo us? How ‘bout thanking us, you ungrateful bastards?

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Found this on the internet, kudos to the folks at the “Stanley Cup of Chowder” blog.

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Truer words were never spoken.

On the ice, the Bruins are whipping Montreal’s ass. It has been a long time coming and I’m enjoying every moment.

Seeing how the Montreal fans emptied that out-house of an arena last night brings me great joy.

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As does the anticipation of Wednesday evening’s game four, otherwise known as the Montreal funeral.

I’ll be wearing black tomorrow, with a little gold trim to support the Bruins as the 100th season in Montreal Canadien history is soon to end.

Les Canadiens sont morts (The Canadiens are dead for my English speaking audience).
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Happy 100th Montreal fans, glad we could ruin it for you. I couldn't have planned it better. I hope the next 100 end up just like this one.

Hopefully, you’ll get a shred of class during that time. .

As I search for my broom to celebrate the series sweep, I’ll be humming along to the 1960’s tune from the band, Steam. It goes something like this…….

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Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, hey hey hey, au revoir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just A Few Thoughts

Couldn't stay awake for the end of the Syracuse/Connecticut game last night......sorry I missed it. It won't matter, West Virginia will beat the Orange tonight in a game that tips in a couple of hours......

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Seems as though March Madness is off to an early start this year......Can't wait for the brackets to come out, I'll anxiously await them to come out, feel great about my picks on Monday, and feel like a tool come Saturday morning when the first round is over.

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Early thoughts on the tourney
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Underrated: Watch out for Siena in the first two rounds. The Saints have been there and beat Vanderbilt last year. All five starters from last year's team are back.

Overrated : Duke........They suck and will be out by the second round.
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Welcome to Buffalo, Mr. Owens
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How happy am I that T.O. has landed in Buffalo? Glad you ask.......I'm thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis happy (picture Elastic Man's arms at full length). To be fair, the Bills were smart to give this idiot a one-year deal with hopes that he won't rip apart the locker room.....On second thought, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, guess what ? He'll do more harm than good out in Western NY.

Jay Cutler is pissed that the Broncos got a trade offer for him. Grow up........My Bruins are slumping, need the boys in the Hub to get things rolling in the next few weeks. If not for themselves, then for me.

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Marty Brodeur is set to pass Patrick Roy as the game's winningest goalie.......good for him. He's been a class act his whole career. So classy, I can't think of a bad thing to say about him and I can usually find a bad thing to say about anybody.

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Two weeks until my fantasy baseball draft, this has to be the year for Team Pugsley.......Hope Chase Utley's hip is okay........Prince Fielder is a key to my team. It doesn't help me sleep at night knowing my fortunes might rest on a guy who weighs more than I do....I've been sandbagging on my keepers the entire offseason. I can post that here 'cuz I'm not sure how many of my foes in this 20-year league read this blog.....The ones who do take a peek can't read anyway, they click the link for the pictures.......

Still stinging from that shocker on the Bachelor.......oooooops, wrong blog....

The too-soon-to-make-them-but-I'm-bored-predictions

The Oakland A's will win the AL West. Anaheim is overrated and the A's have improved themselves. While I'm at it, the Red Sox will take the AL East (that pains me), Detroit will take the Central. The wildcard will be the Chisox.

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In the NL, Arizona will hit enough to win the West, the Mets won't gag until the playoffs but will make it and the Cubbies will claim the Central. I like LA to win the wild card.

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It's early, but we'll take the Cubs over Boston in the World Series although I reserve the right to change that before opening day. It has to happen sometime, doesn't it?

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Bracket projections next week. Have to get the pen and paper ready.

My Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

I've been reasonably good, as far as you know, this year.

I have so few needs and wants in life, this list should be pretty easy to accomodate so let's focus on me for a bit.

What I want for Christmas:

- Some pride in Oakland Raider football. Being the first team in history to lose 11 games (or more) in six straight seasons hurts more than the time I got kicked in the cookies during a pickup basketball game in my late-teens and had to go to the doctor with a bruised left testicle.

.Sadly, that is a true story.

.- A Stanley Cup championship for the Boston Bruins. We can put this one on lay-a-way until June, 2009, I'm good with that. This hasn't happened since before I knew about hockey so in my view, it hasn't happened. Cheering home Raymond Bourque in the 2001 final with the Avs was okay, but not quite the real thing.

- A national championship for Tyler Hansbrough. The dude deserves it.

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-A 7-0 mark for the Big 12 in the college bowl season, it'll validate my talk thru the year that the Big 12 was far and away the best conference in college football this season.

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- More radio guys like ESPN's Colin Cowherd. The best on the radio, this guy has game. Mixing brutal honesty with great humor, his show is a can't-miss to the point where it makes you want to sit in your car on your lunch hour and listen in, which I do.

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- Spoiled athletes to respect their jobs and the opportunity afforded to them.

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- Someone to explain to me how the Yankees could sign CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and still have the intestinal fortitude to ask for increased public funds to build their version of the Taj Mahal.

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- A Brett Favre Super Bowl berth - Hey Packer brass...........I told you so!

Besides, and it pains me to say this, the long-suffering J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! fans deserve it. When a 9-7 season gives you joy, even the Jets fans should enjoy the spotlight not seen since Joe Willie White Shoes guaranteed Super Bowl III.

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-The Dallas Cowboys to miss the playoffs.

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- Terrell Owens to keep talking. It'll help with the above point and continue to make Jerry Jones look like a tool for enabling self-egrandising stars who put themselves over their teams.

- A BCS Playoff. It help rid the world of whiners like Texas coach Mack Brown, who seems to think he can still politic his way into the BCS title game.
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Dude.....stop pointing to the head-to-head issue with Oklahoma. Texas Tech has the same record, in the same division, as you and the Sooners. That is what is called a 3-way tie and the Red Raiders beat you. 'Nuff said. Now, get ready for Ohio State as I'm taking the Longhorns high on my list in my college footbal bowl pool.

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-Finally.......the obligatory peace on earth and goodwill to most of mankind and all that stuff.

There you go Santa......not toooooo unreasonable, don't ya think? Let's see if we can get to work and make these things happen.

After all, I deserve it.

The Rantings of a Madman

Lets see...the Raiders won this week. So did Nebraska.

Hockey is underway, the Broncos lost last night, the Cowboys are a mess, it's World Series time, and I have a three-day weekend.

Yes, life is good.

Time to get a few things off my chest.................

Why is it that the media buries Al Davis for being out of touch all the time but Jerry Jones is just NOW starting to take some heat for wrecking the Dallas Cowboys?

Seriously, that team is a mess. The way Jones hogs the spotlight makes Mr. Davis look saintly. Don't believe me? You don't see Al Davis mugging for microphones and cameras, ever - unless he is firing a coach for being a liar and a phony.

Jones has no regard for his coaches, which takes away the authority of those in "charge". Wade Phillips is a puppet, the players know who is in charge.

It is the reason Bill Parcells is in Miami, trust me. Jerrah forced Terrell Owens on Parcells and the Big Tuna took his ball and went home. It is a circus in Big D, and that act historically isn't conducive to winning the in NFL.

Write it down, T.O. is ready to explode, he'll cause more than a ripple sometime very soon. Pacman Jones is, well, Pacman Jones. Dallas was the perfect fit for him.

Jones has created a very talented group that acts like they've won a bunch of Super Bowls together. Truth is, the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996. At this rate, they won't qualify for the playoffs this year, let alone win a postseason game.

World Series Prediction

Not going to go too in depth with the analysis here.

This should be the best World Series that nobody is going to watch in quite sometime. I'm a baseball fanatic so I'll be riveted to the Series.

The young Cinderella Rays against the powerful Phillies. It isn't' Manny and Joe Torre against the Red Sox, but as the Stones once sang....."You can't always get what you want."

I have no ax to grind with either club. A win for either club will make a nice story, and I'm a sucker for those.

I'm rooting for the Phillies for the lone reason that a win will do more for the moral of the sports-crazy Philadelphia sports fan. The Tampa fans probably would be over a loss in a matter of hours.

That is what I'd like to see happen. But it won't.

Tampa in six. James Shields will be the MVP






Upset Alert - Colt McCoy will win the Heisman Trophy. He's been the best player this year in a season filled with great quarterbacks.

However, the Longhorns will bite it this week at home against Oklahoma State. I picked the Cowboys over Missouri two weeks ago on my CollegeFootballNews.com blog - they changed my pick on me.

This time, its documented.....Oklahoma State 34, Texas 31.


Time to Drop the Puck

Please, please, please.........Let the Bruins win the Stanley Cup!

I've waited a lifetime. Forget everything else, I DESERVE IT.

The B's have lots of young talent up front and are as deep on the top three lines as they've ever been. The defensive corps is young and getting better and captained by massive Zdeno Chara.

The goaltending is good enough and Claude Julien is capable of guiding the team to the top.

Truth be told, this is probably the year that Sidney Crosby and the Penguins begin their mini-dynasty.

Anybody but Montreal.

The NBA starts next week. I don't care. Call me when the playoffs start, maybe I'll take a look at it then.

'Til next time