POST SUPER BOWL THOUGHTS AND OTHER NEWS

We'll get to the Super Bowl in a few, but let's first clear up a few
incidentals from the USC/TEXAS championship game.
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UH OH, TIME OUT
We are still amazed by the fact that the USC brain trust was forced to call a T/O after Texas, trailing by five, 38-33, scored to make it 39-38, with just 00:19 remaining in the game.

A successful kick makes it 40-38, which, at that point in the game, is no different than being up 39-38. The only choice is a 2-point conversion attempt to make it a 3-point game.

The USC timeout was called because they were caught off guard when Texas did not send out their kicking team for the PAT attempt.

Why in the world would these world class coaches NOT think that Texas would go for two in that situation?

Being up by two instead of one, at that point of the game, makes no sense whatsoever. Going for two was the ONLY option and the USC coaching staff, labeled as the best, was clueless.

THE RESULT:
Instead of trying to drive into FG range in the final 00:19, with a T/O in their pocket, they were forced to throw to the sideline to stop the clock in the final drive of their season.

Needing just a FG to tie and being able to throw over the middle, without fear of being tackled short of the first down marker and having the clock run out, is monumental. The USC coaches took that option away from their players.
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As for the USC decision to go for it on 4th and 2, from the USC 45 yard line, with
02:13 remaining, that was without a doubt the correct call. However, the problem with the decision was that the HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER was standing on the sideline with the coaching staff.

A first down wins the game and you advanced to this point in your two year run, because of your offense, not your defense. Asking your offense to win the game for you is exactly what you do, but you don't let your BEST offensive weapon sit out the play. Even if you have no intentions of letting him carry the ball, he is worth two yards just as a decoy.

As the saying goes, 'you dance with who brung ya.' In other words, USC spent two years winning, mainly because of their profilic offense, not their defense. With a team such as Penn State or Alabama, then you would want to punt and put the game in the hands of the dominating force of your team --- DEFENSE.

Carroll knew that his team was draggin' ass and they would have a hard time shutting down Young in a final drive. His best chance was to put the game in the hands of his best unit, pick up the two yards and end the game.
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Finally, I am sick of still listening to people say that USC was going for a THREE-PEAT in that game. Let's get this straight -- In order to THREE-PEAT the team
in question would first have to RE - PEAT.

Last time I checked, the 2003 BCS Championship trophy was sitting in Baton Rouge, LA, in the LSU trophy case.

We understand that some news agencies chose to crown USC as the 2003 Champs, but if we are going to use that criteria, USC would actually have been going for a FOUR-PEAT this past January, since some agencies also had them at the top of the pack in 2002, when Ohio State won the BCS trophy.

We either use the BCS system or we don't and using it as we do, means USC has not yet REpeated, let alone had the opportunity to THREE-peat.
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THE SUPER BOWL

After watching every single play of the SB a second time, I can objectively state that we were wrong about only one thing in our pre-game analysis.

We stated that if Seattle won the game people would say that they didn't win it, Pittsburgh lost it.

Just the opposite is true. Pittsburgh won it and it was rather obvious that they didn't really win it as much as Seattle lost it.
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Last year, even though Philly blew many first half opportunities, it was obvious that New England was the better team with the better QB and completely deserved to win the game. The Pats did not, however, deserve to cover the spread and as we all know, they didn't.

Not so this year. Even though Seattle blew many first half opportunities, it was NOT obvious, at days end, that Pittsburgh was the better team.

Quite the contrary, it was clear that the better prepared team was Seattle and the better QB was Hasselbeck.

As a matter of fact, much like last year, the actual player that had the best game
(MVP if you will) was a player from the losing team. Last year, Owens was by far the most productive player of the game and this year, Hasselbeck took those honors.

Even with that being the case, we don't feel as though Seattle deserved the S/U win, because they had three big plays that cost them the game.

1. Pitt completion to the one on 3rd and 28.
2. Pitt completion for a TD on a reverse pass.
3. A 75-yard run for a TD.

All three of those plays were a direct result of Seattle mistakes, rather that Pitt accomplishments. Sorry, but completing a 3rd and 28 pass to a receiver standing at the goal line is not the result of some finely executed offensive play.
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OH MICHAEL

We hate to lay the blame of any loss on any one player, especially in a team game, but those three plays mentioned above can be attributed to the poor play of one Seattle player --- Michael Boulware.

On the first of the three plays, Boulware dropped his coverage on Ward and the catch is made on the one-yard-line.

On the second play, Boulware did what we have harped on all year long -- He had outside contain on the Pitt right side and when the play went to the left, Boulware came crashing down the line of scrimmage and in an instant, he realized that Randle El was flying past him.

If Boulware had followed the rule that was drilled into him since Pop Warner --- When pursuing from the backside, always stay one yard deeper than the deepest back --- Mr Boulware would have had Mr El for lunch on that play.

On the third play, Boulware came flying up to fill the gap vacated by the looping DT and he went one gap wider than designed and the rest is history -- An NFL record, 75-yard run. Once again, if Boulware would have executed his assignment, Mr Parker would have been stuffed for no gain.

The actual MVP for Pittsburgh was undoubtedly Michael Boulware.
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The two controversial officiating calls and the third that was a ticky tack, BS call that never should have been made:

First, it is the Seattle TD pass that was called back for an interference call in the end zone. There was no interference that prevented anyone from even making an attempt to catch that ball, let alone actually making a catch.

Remember, the definition is: INTERFERENCE -- Interfering with the ability of an opponent to make a catch. That Pitt DB couldn't have made the catch, even if there was no Seattle player in the area.

However, our problem is not with the fact that the ref called the penalty, it is WHEN he called the penalty that is problematic.

When the alleged interference took place there was no flag. When the catch was made there was no flag. After the ball was caught and the receiver started to get to his feet, the Pitt defender started complaining and then the ref threw the flag.

If it was to be called, it has to be called when the contact and separation was made, which was obviously before the catch was made, NOT AFTER
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Seattle 1st and 10 --- Pass complete to the one-yard line with the score Pitt 14-10. Flag -- A holding call that once again was not called when it supposedly happened. The ref looked, looked, looked some more and when the ball was caught at the one -- Flag.

Aside from the timing, we can even swallow that call. Next play is a sack and the ball is back to the 35-yard line. A sweep to the left with Alexander and he is blatantly 'horse collared' by Porter and there is no call.

This isn't just us talking here. Al and Madden said the exact same thing when the play occurred. A call there is 15 yards and the obligatory, automatic first down. However, there is no call and the next play is the INT, which brings us to what was the worst of the bad calls.

Personal foul call on Hasselbeck for BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST ???
He actually made the tackle, after throwing the pick, with a great, legal play. Fifteen yards tacked on to the return was more complete BS.

Despite all that, Seattle had too many dropped passes, missed FG's, poor punting and some very poor clock management. Because of those reasons alone, we don't feel that Seattle deserved the S/U win.
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LAYING BLAME
We also have to lay part of the blame on the most egregious of all the first half culprits -- The punter, who, on three occasions in the first quarter, kicked the ball into the endzone.

With all the money these guys receive and the fact that they have ONE job to do, one would think there would be an NFL kicker somewhere that has at least heard of the
COFFIN CORNER
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Even after the bad calls, Seattle had the opportunity to move the ball. Throwing an INT is not directly the fault of any official. Granted, that play probably would not have happened if it hadn't been for the controversial, preceding penalty, but it did
happen and Hasselbeck did throw the INT, not the official.
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However, with all that being said we can hardly concede the all important wagering money to Pittsburgh.

That game was a flat out underdog money winner and we would take Seattle + 4 in each of the next 10 games between the two and feel very confident that Seattle gets the money 80 or 90% of the time and the S/U win in 50 to 70% of the games.

The right thing for all concerned, based upon the way the game unfolded, was that it would end up no worse than 21-17.

Better yet, let the 'gamble' remain in play and we should have had Seattle, despite all the earlier controversial calls, scoring a TD on their last drive to make it 21-16, with the entire wagering world having their money riding on the upcoming Seattle two-point conversion attempt. That would also have given us 'action' on the remaining of our top two prop wagers.

Final score 21-16 or 21-18.

That should have been the worst case scenario. Anything short of that just leaves a bad taste in the mouths of all concerned.
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No SB winning team has ever lost the total yardage, time of possession and the turnover battle .... N-O-N-E !!

No Super Bowl winning QB has ever had a rating of 23.

I haven't checked, but I think one would be hard pressed to even
find a losing Super Bowl QB with a rating that low.
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MVP

For the second straight year the MVP was awarded by default.

Last year, with a Phiily win, the controversial Terrell Owens was the clear cut MVP in that game. This year, with a Seattle win, Matt Hasselbeck is the clear cut winner.

Hell, I would have even considered making an offensive lineman the Super Bowl CO-MVP. That man would have been Walter Johnson, who completely dominated the biggest pre game mouth on the field, Jerry Porter.
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One last thing. Before any of your friends can even start to equate what happened to Seattle with the officials calls in the Pittsburgh / Colts game, that went against Pitt, you may want to slow them down with the following facts:

1. When the Polamalu non interception call was made, giving the ball back to Indy, Pitt was sitting on the lead, not playing from behind.

2. Despite the bad calls in that Indy /Pitt game, Pitt had that lead, maintained that lead and the outcome of the game was not affected in any way whatsoever.

3. In the Seattle / Pitt game, Seattle was playing from behind and the controversial calls against Seattle prevented them from taking the lead on each occasion. The way Ben was playing, having a wager on Pitt and asking them to play from behind --- Can you say L-O-S-E-R ?
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Bottom line: Seattle dropped too many passes and went to sleep on three plays. The 3rd and 28, completion to the one, the end around TD pass and the 75 yard run off tackle.

The officials had no hand in those plays, well, except for not calling Ben for the same thing they called Hasselbeck for -- Blocking below the waist, on that Randle El TD pass. And yes, he was outside the tackle box when he cut the player.

In any event, that game was a rock solid UNDERDOG and UNDER play and anyone who is honest with themselves, after watching that game and being told those controversial calls would not be made in the replay, those people would be foolish (and broke) to not be all over --------------> SEATTLE +4 and the UNDER 47

By the way, yes, the Hasselbeck incomplete pass to Stevens was a catch and fumble and should have been called that way. The problem with that play was that the whistle blew immediately and nobody knows -- 'what would have been'.

There are some games you lose, but you know you had the correct side. This game was one of them.

Almost all the criteria used to select Pitt over Seattle, by most professional handicappers that had that side, never happened.

Anyone who wagered on Pitt could not, and I am positive, did not foresee this type of performance from the Steeler QB or the Pitt offense. If they did, they would have been on the right side --- SEATTLE
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It was nice to see one of the good guys (Bettis) end his dream season as he did, but that would have been possible with a two, three or four point win.
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FOR US TO WHINE, NOT THE COACH
Mike Holmgren proved once again why we don't like him as a coach, with his 'losers' speech to the Seattle fan base.

The public is allowed to complain about the officiating and in some cases, so are the participants of the event. The people that are not permitted to bitch are any of the coaches and/or players who contributed to the negative result.

How would the fans have reacted if the Seattle TE, Jeremy Stevens, guilty of numerous drops, came to the microphone and said the refs cost his team the game? After some stunned silence and some looks back and forth, to confirm what they had heard, they would probably have booed him off the podium.

If good ol Jeremy catches just two of those drops, Seattle converts two of their third down plays deep in Pitt territory and possibly puts points on the board. Which also brings to mind the fact that the refs did not cause the Seattle FG kicker to miss two FG's
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Holmgren, after that great (sarc) exhibition of time management at the end of the half and the game, cannot lay the blame anywhere, but at his own and his players doorsteps.

Seattle in no way deserved to win that game, but ....
Pittsburgh in no way deserved to win the money.

Fortunately for us, the UNDER was an easy and very predictable money winner and our top two prop wagers went 1- 0, as there was no 2-point conversion attempt for our prop # 2 to have action.

Having what we considered a bad day and going 2-1 is always A GOOD THING
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ON THIN ICE

Gretzky, Tocchet, Janet Jones. What a tip of the iceberg those three make.

Feds say this investigation began years ago. Let's go back to the Eric Lindros days with the Flyers in Philadelphia.

The one time underboss of the South Philly crime family, the now mprisoned, 'Skinny' Joey Merlino, was once seen sitting in the designated box seats of one Eric Lindros.
When asked how he managed to score the seats, Joey replied, "I think my man picked them up at TicketMaster."

When reporters asked Lindros, he told them he had turned his tickets over to a ticket agency and had no idea who the recipients were. Mysteriously, Eric was seen 'hanging out' with the sister of Merlino at that same time and said that was just a coincidence.

Lindros / Tocchet --- Good buds and the trail begins.
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Gretzky claims to know nothing, yet he is heard on tape with Tochett trying to devise a way of not implicating his wife. Tochett says this is all just a misunderstanding and only a football matter that has nothing to do with hockey.

Hell yea, Rick, that defense worked for Pete Rose. 'We gamble a lot, but never on the sport we know best.' Amazing !! Do these guys hear themselves talking?

These guys just don't get it. If you agree to accept the BIG BUCKS, FAME and FORTUNE
that the professional athlete is afforded, there are certain activities that you are not permitted to be a part of, under no circumstances whatsoever. Gambling on any sport is not a wise move, even if your sport permits it, as long as it is not on its own game.

These guys are asking for trouble and it will find them.
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WRONG MOVE, RICK

Tochett's lawyer has publicly denied any participation by his client. Did these guys watch the Martha Stewart trial?

Martha didn't get sent to prison for insider trading, as many believe. Martha went to the big house, because she was found to have lied to the feds and they frown upon such behavior.

With the attitude people have with gambling and the positive careers both Tochett and Gretzky have had, they would be well advised to 'fess up and save their collective butts while they can.

In a New Jersey federal court, Tocchett's chances are slim to none. Without cooperating, Rick is looking at 10 years. Rick's BEST BET is to come clean and to do so soon.
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THE ROLLLLLLLLLLLING STONES

Good to see the older guys still rockin', but c'mon -- A stocked pit full of 16 and 17-year-olds screaming for Mick as if he were a 24-year-old Elvis?

At this stage of their careers, with a combined age of 264 years, they need to be heard more often than they are seen.

Forty years of songs and we get to listen to 'SATISFACTION' for what seemed like hours.

Not very satisfying.
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TARNISHING THEIR OWN STAR

It took years and years for these two to achieve the label of GREATNESS that they both so richly deserve by both their play on the field and their every day lives off the field.

Now, with one stupid decision, they both have tarnished themselves.

JOE & TERRY ARE NO-SHOWS --- Montana says he couldn't make it to the MVP ceremonies at SB XL, because he had to attend a couple of basketball games being played by his children. Plus, in his words, "Some people need those kind of things, but I have moved on from football." Ohhhhh really? I wonder who that stunt double is wearing his NFL jersey and doing that UPS commercial.

If you're done with the NFL, Joe, and your life has actually moved on, stop using the NFL to make money from commercials.

Montana's kids will probably play 1,347 (at least) more games of one form or another; missing ONE should not be a cause for concern.

Actually, more parents should adopt a plan whereby they deliberately miss more than just one of their sons and/or daughters sports activities. You all just may be shocked with their performance, plus the kids get a valuable life lesson --
"Damn, I can actually run and throw without mom or dad being here."
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Bradshaw went in a different direction for his excuse. Terry brought his god to the forefront and challenged everyone to take their opinions to a higher being.

According to Terry, he does football 21 Sundays in a row and when his season has reached its conclusion, he has a standing date with his daughter, who does not live with him, to take her to church and a Sunday brunch.

I'm not 100% positive, but I am actually willing to wager on the fact that even a city like Detroit has worship facilities for ---- EVERY DENOMINATION.

Regardless of what bones these two have to pick with their respective organizations or the NFL, they both have an obligation to the other SB MVP's to show up for the celebration of their individual honors.

By the way, there was a third absentee that is rarely mentioned. We won't place him in the same sinking boat with Joe & Terry, because he was on a pre arranged trip to Australia. Congratulations, Jake Scott.
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2005 HEISMAN TROPHY VOTERS

On Saturday night, the 2005 Heisman Trophy was presented to Reggie Bush, of Southern California.

The media had 870 votes. All of the former Heisman winners (52) had a vote.
Those 922 votes, along with the one 'fan' vote, brought the total number of votes to 923. Bush received 784 of the possible 923 first place votes. That is a high number, but not at all surprising. However, what is not only surprising, but down right derelict, is the fact that Bush showed up on ONLY 99% of all the ballots.

Despite the fact that the ESPN crew was wondering who the ONE voter was that decided Bush was not even worthy of a second or third place vote, the actual math computes to NINE voters, if Bush did indeed receive 99% of the 923 votes and not 99.9%.

Those nine voters, aside from being labeled DOPES, should have their voting privileges permanently revoked.

In Reggie Bush we have one of those college players that come along maybe once every 15 to 20 years. Great players, such as Gayle Sayres, say the kid is a phenom and the greatest college running back they have witnessed in the past 20 years. To not even give this young man a third place vote, in a year when there were only three players invited to the ceremony, is just plain stupid.

SORRY, I'M NOT BUYIN'

SORRY, BUT I'M NOT BUYIN'

Let's get this story straight --

Michael Irvin was arrested, because the cops found a crack pipe in his car. The explanation Irvin wants you to believe is that the pipe belonged to an old friend who took a break from his rehab house to visit the Irvin house for some turkey, giblets and festivities.

For starters, I think it is safe to assume that if that story is legit the rehab house is failing the friend miserably.

Michael goes on to treat us to more fiction, by telling us that he took the pipe with him to get it out of his house, away from his children, and into the local supermarket dumpster. Poor Michael --- He was so busy with so many more important issues that he forgot the toy of the devil was stashed in his glove box.

Now, this is where the story takes a turn for the worse, for those people that think poor Mr. Irvin actually has a clue.

Irvin said, and I quote, ``I know the type of demons they have to fight and I am going to help them, because it's the only way I can keep them from getting to my family. I have to clean up my friends because they are around my boys. It's upsetting.''

Yo Mike!! Helping them is NOT the only way you can keep them from getting to your family. Poor Mike is upset that he has to clean up his friends, because they will contaminate his boys.

How about this Mike --- If they exist, try keeping your crack head friends away from your family and especially your boys. That's what normal parents do. They keep their children away from the trash. They don't bring the trash home for the boys to have some new playmates and then lament their misfortune for having to deal with such upsetting circumstances.

Judge Judy would call Irvin a dope and a liar and she would be 100% correct.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS -- WASTED

YOUR TAX DOLLARS -- WASTED
Frustrated

Congress has decided they will not pursue perjury charges against Rafael Palmeiro.

Let's see now -- A simple chronology of events shows us that Palmeiro testified in front of Congress that he had never used steroids. Months later he tested positive for steroids.

Think about this in the following terms and you too will be calling Congress a bunch of dopes.

I testify in front of Congress that I have never stolen anything in my life. Four months later I am arrested, charged and convicted of grand theft. Does this mean that I lied to Congress? Am I guilty of perjury. Does the fact that I stole something in November, mean I lied about never stealing back in June?

I think you get my drift.

To even waste our time, let alone our money, considering perjury charges against someone for something said BEFORE they did what was in question is just plain .....
S-T-U-P-I-D !!

SOMEBODY -- ANYBODY -- PLEASE GET A CLUE

WHO THE HELL IS IN CHARGE?

I am sitting here, watching the Texas evacuees heading out of town, fleeing the incoming hurricane, Ms Rita.

Four and sometimes six lanes of outgoing traffic, crawling along, over-heating, running out of gas and patience as well.

As the camera pans left, I see the other side of the median strip and its four and sometimes six inbound lanes. All lanes EMPTY.

Do any of these evacuation planners, local or state officials have a freaking clue?

My god -- Open up the INBOUND lanes for OUTGOING traffic.

I can't take it anymore. If I was a terrorist I would not need any weapons. Not mass destruction weapons nor minimal destruction weapons. All I need to do is start a rumor and get Anytown, USA to evacuate. The people will kill themselves, trying to follow some lame ass evacuation plan, put in place by idiots who have no idea what the word disaster means.

BS

UNNECESSARY OFFICIATING

Completely uncalled for -- These NFL officials at the Atlanta vs Philadelphia game should be silenced.

The officials should not have any bearing on any game, before it even starts.

Policing the teams, prior to the kickoff, should be the sole responsibility of the coaches, their staff and event security. Not game officials.

OUTRAGED PARENTS -- SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, BUT ...

I have now seen three interviews with eight different Alabama students. These students have been self described as somewhat close friends of the young girl who came up missing in Aruba, Natalee Holloway. One thing has become very self evident -- These may be high school seniors, but their talk, mannerisms and behavior is that of your average 16-year-old teenager.

My point: The parents of all 130 of these CHILDREN (especially the parents of the females) should be held accountable for their incredible lack of good judgment.

Here we have a resort island whose night life consists mainly of casinos/gambling, bars/alcohol, streets/drugs and men looking for sex. Just the sort of place I want to send my teenage daughter who is fresh out of high school in Smalltown, USA. Hell, the hotel the CHILDREN were housed in is a casino/bar.

The legal drinking age in Alabama and the rest of the United States is 21. This senior class decided to go to a foreign country where they could legally drink alcohol, gamble at the casinos and literally party all night with strangers. Are you a parent sending your daughter off to this disaster waiting to happen?

If these young girls were from the streets of Brooklyn, Detroit or LA they may have had a chance, but Anytown, Alabama --- Not likely.

Before you label these statements as chauvinistic, because they portray the females as the more vulnerable of the sexes, consider the following: The vast majority of the predators out there are hunting females. Your daughters are the prey. If you don't recognize that fact, you should get out of the parenting business.

Why can't these parents realize they are the ones supplying the prey for the predators? And remember -- Everyone involved in this trip is quick to point out that the six adults who accompanied these KIDS to Aruba, were not there in the capacity of chaperones. They were just along to lend assistance in case any of the youngsters ran into any problems. What a joke.

Am I surprised that a young girl has turned up missing? Hell no! I am shocked that only ONE incident of this nature occurred on such a trip.
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MISSING CAMDEN CHILDREN FOUND DEAD IN CAR TRUNK

That was the recent headline, after a father of one of the missing children made the gruesome discovery in his own backyard.

During recent TV interviews, the father is blaming the Camden City police for the three needless deaths, because they apparently never opened the trunk of the disabled car, which sat in the backyard, next door to the yard where the children were playing.

Once again, I am sorry about the loss, but another parent that needs to look in the mirror, before laying blame elsewhere.

I realize it is not the politically correct thing to do -- Blame a parent for the death of their child --- but parenthood is more than loving the children and giving them food and shelter.

There is a law in most communities that require an individual to remove the door of an abandoned refrigerator. This law was placed in the books, because a small child once found his way inside the death box and was found three days after the last of the oxygen was consumed.

The trunk of this non-registered, untagged, basically abandoned vehicle was broken in such a manner that the trunk lid would not remain in the UP/OPEN position. A tomb waiting for an occupant.

Now there will be a new law scribed in the books that makes it against yet another law, to leave the trunk lids attached to unregistered vehicles.

We have become a nation that lacks common sense and foresight. We wait for a tragedy (Jessica Lumsford / Elizabeth Smart/ Megan) and then, and it seems ONLY then, we will petition congress to make a law, which will force future generations to pay attention to the obvious.

Someone once said that being a parent is a full time job. They were correct.
That means when you are watching your child play in/by the pool you don't take just a minute to go inside to check the stove or answer the phone. The term FULL TIME does not need interpretation and it does not mean 59 minutes each hour.

Jessica Lumsford's father wasn't home when his daughter was abducted right out of her bedroom. His routine was to stay at his girl friends house all night and return to the trailer of his parents in the morning to wake up Jessica for school then change for work. His obligations passed on to his elderly parents who forgot to lock a door. There was no forced entry.

Ed Smart, father of Elizabeth --- Ed was in the habit of hiring homeless vagrants to come to his somewhat secluded mansion and do handy man jobs. He gave them access keys to his attached garage and to some of his vehicles. All the while Ed had two young daughters on the premises and became shocked and bewildered when one turned up missing. The only shock here is that both of the daughters were not abducted.

WAKE UP, PARENTS !

Somebody better be looking out for your children and that somebody better be Y-O-U !

MORE DOPES

IF AFTER 4-HOURS YOUR ERECTION HAS NOT SUBSIDED -- KEEP OFFENDING

Albany, NY (5/22/05)

The state comptrollers office found that 198 sex offenders in New York, received Medicaid reimbursed Viagra --- After they had been convicted.

Their crimes included offenses against children as young as 2-years-old.

To make matters even worse, Medicaid policies on Viagra are the same across the country.

Government-funded (your tax dollars) Viagra for pedophiles and related trash

D-O-P-E-S !!

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THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

John Couey, the scum that recently killed Jessica Lunsford, was also a convicted, registered sex offender.

He, like many of his deviate brethren, was walking around this good earth with no ankle bracelet to monitor his whereabouts. However, don't be too alarmed by the decision to allow such human waste to walk around without any monitoring device, after all, with the cost what it is, someone had to decide between a bracelet for Couey or Martha Stewart.

C'mon, admit it. Don't you feel safer knowing that Marta's whereabouts is being monitored?

Is anyone paying attention out there? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!

MOTHER'S COME AND GO, BUT ...

MOM IS FOREVER.

Every individual on planet earth has a mother, but only a select few of us were fortunate enough to have someone we could lovingly call --- MOM.

Long after they are gone we still hold them close and strive to make them proud of the way we live our lives.

Not just this particular Sun-day, but every day is a celebration to those special ladies.

Love you, Mom

TIME IS NOT ALWAYS ON YOUR SIDE

TIME --

A man died today. He is insignificant to many, unknown by most, but a piece of history to some.

The name --- Johnny Sample.

To many football fans there are three games that stand apart from the rest, as games that were to define modern day football and help establish the NFL as the dominant American sport that it is today.

In 1958, the Baltimore Colts, with such stars as Johnny Unitas, Alan Ameche, Lenny Moore, and Gino Marchetti played the New York Giants in the first ever, sudden death over time event in the NFL Championship game.

The Giants countered with such notables as Sam Huff, Frank Gifford, Andy Robustelli, Hugh McElhenney, Emlen Tunnell and the amazing Roosevelt Brown.

This championship game, which was won by the Colts, 23-17, is regarded by many as the greatest game ever played and the game that brought the NFL to a nation of TV viewers.

In 1968, the New York Jets were taking on the Oakland Raiders, in a nationally televised game, when, with 01:05 remaining in the game, the Jets had taken a 32-29 lead and NBC went to a commercial break. When the network returned the TV to its audience, the nation was presented with the made for TV premiere movie, HEIDI.
Within seconds the switchboards were flooded and the phone exchange literally crashed.

In those final 65 seconds, which only those who were in attendance witnessed, the Raiders scored 14 points and won the game 43-32.

From that Sunday forward, every network has stayed with every NFL game until its conclusion. The networks were introduced to the wrath of the fan and the 'Heidi Game' became part of NFL folklore.

Soon after Ms Heidi broke the hearts of millions, the AFC, represented by those same Joe Namath led New York Jets, defeated the Baltimore Colts, in Super Bowl III, as 18-point underdogs. This game sparked an interest in the NFL that has grown to astronomical numbers. The AFC had defeated the NFC in what many call the greatest upset in NFL history.

One common denominator in these three historical games -- Johnny Sample participated in each of them.

Johnny spent most of his adult life in West Philly and became a world class tennis player and a major community activist.

Happy Trails, Johnny. You will be remembered

BECOMING FED UP WITH THE DOPES

THE PARENTS

As sad as it was, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart qualifies for one of our DOPE awards.

The father routinely brought the homeless and vagrants back to his million dollar home to do odd jobs. He even hired quite a few of these cheap laborers to do work for extended periods of time and also invited them to use his vehicles and gave them keys to his attached garage.

Mr. Smart is a millionaire, living with a wife and two adolescent daughters. Three females of various ages --- What a perfect invite for some deranged drifter looking for an odd job, a hand out and a new female to take home.

Too bad some parents are also D-O-P-E-S.
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THE ATLANTA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Assign a 5'2", 140 pound, armed female to escort a 6+' / 240 pound, male inmate to a court room. This prisoner being the same detainee that was just found with a makeshift knife in his sock a few days prior.

The results: The guard was overpowered (wow, who would have imagined something like that happening?) and the prisoner went on a killing spree.

All those in the position of deciding and condoning such an inadequate escort detail should be fired immediately.
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DISGRACEFUL DA

John Couey's niece, Madie Secord and her boyfriend --
John Couey's step sister, and her boyfriend --

All four despicable characters should be locked up.

The pervert / pedophile / predator, known as John Couey, brought his prey, Jessica Lunsford, back to his cozy digs for a few days of torture, before burying her alive, wrapped in plastic.

The location of his playground was the trailer he shared with the above mentioned, four pieces of trash.

The police came to their location (trailer) on three separate occasions and each time these adults claimed no knowledge of the little girl or of their lovely, degenerate relative, John Couey.

What is even more amazing is that the DA with the power (and the obligation) has refused to bring charges against any of the four adults.

If any of these four would have at least admitted that Couey was living in the trailer, an innocent, little girl would probably still be alive.

Disgusting!
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A PRODUCT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

I understand that many of our youth talk with a certain slang and some are even caught up in ebonics, HOWEVER, college students who have supposedly been exposed to the language through grade school, high school and college should know how to S-P-E-A-K.

I just witnessed an interview of Auburn's Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams, after he was made a first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft.

Some of Williams' quotes are as follows:

"He do it better than I done."
" I done it ..."
"We be best of friends."
"We was ok wit it."
"We could of did better"

Mr Williams concluded his interview with the following philosophical note --

"He may have done won the war, but the battle not be over yet."

This amazes the hell out of me. Aside from the freaking language, he even had the war / battle philosophy ass backwards.

Your tax dollars at work in our educational system. The University of Auburn should be ashamed and punished by the NCAA. His high school, Etowah High, in Alabama, should also share the shame.

I'm sitting here bitching and Williams just became a multi millionaire --
Only in America.

NOBODY IS IMMUNE

Not even the Catholic Church is immune from being labeled by us as IDIOTS.

Serving mass at the funeral services for Pope John Paul, was none other than Cardinal Law, from the much maligned Boston diocese. From the millions of priests, bishops and cardinals serving the church, those given such power decided to let this pathetic soul have the honors.

In case you have forgotten, or never knew, this man called Law, was the individual who knowingly relocated the Boston pedophile priests to various parishes around the country, without informing the people at these new locations that the men he was sending to them were known pedophiles. If your child was molested by one of these relocated pedophile priests you would be clamoring for the righteous Cardinal Law to be thrown in prison along with his pedophile brethren. After all, his actions, non-actions and silence contributed to the molestation of hundreds of children.

With that being said, remember, it is not Law that we are labeling as a DOPE, it is the Catholic Church for choosing this criminal to conduct the services for one of the greatest men of the past century --- PJP.

THOU SHALL NOT GAMBLE ON BASEBALL -- NEITHER FOR NOR AGAINST

PETE NEVER BET AGAINST HIS OWN TEAM --- OH REALLY?

I have finally had enough of the Pete Rose fans telling everyone that Pete's gambling had no negative effects on the Reds, nor did his wagering change the outcome of any games, because he never bet against his own team.

If you are of that same opinion, I offer you the following -- SECOND OPINION.

Gambling with an illegal bookie, as Rose has admittedly done during his coaching career, has certain rules and regulations. For instance, one may wager on games without the necessity of having to actually put up any money.
The entire illegal bookmaking process operates on the credit system. Also, it is understood, in most cases, that the week runs from Monday through Sunday, with everyone settling the previous weeks debts on a Wednesday or Thursday.

With that understood, let's place ourselves in the shoes of Pete Rose for a week and see how we can let our team lose while at the same time trying to win some money by betting on them.

We -- The Cincy Reds -- are starting a four game series against the Mets, on Thursday night. We just concluded a three game series with the Pirates, and we lost all three games. Pete, wagering $10,000.00 on his Reds in the first game, then $20,000.00 on each of the next two games, finds himself down (juice included) $55,000.00.

Remember, this is all on paper. We are betting on credit. Payoff doesn't occur until next Wednesday or Thursday.

So, here I am, down 55 big ones and my fifth starter is taking the mound tonight in the first game vs the Mets. What's the best way to get even? Pete contemplates his plan of attack and decides his best bet, if you will, is to bet it all on the second game, Friday night, when his ace is taking the mound. To further ensure our 'get even' win, let's rest a position starter or two, so we have an even better chance of a Friday night victory.

Here we are, seven innings complete and we are holding a 3-2 lead in the first game. This is the game in which we have no action.

In the bullpen, I have the premier closer in all of baseball, however, if I bring him to finish up the last two innings of this game, which would virtually guarantee us getting this win, good old Pete realizes he may need this stud fresh and ready to close out the $55,000.00 game, on Friday night.

Four hits and three runs later, Pete's Reds give up their 3-2 lead and lose the first of the four game series by a 5-3 count.

Now, do you still believe Pete Rose didn't cost his team any victories, just because he supposedly always bet on his team to win?

Don't for a second think that Rose didn't think this way. Every degenerate gambler, which Rose is (according to him -- was), thinks this way. Hell, nearly every gambler, degenerate or not, thinks this way. It's the nature of the beast, to always look for a sure fire way out of a gambling debt. Pete was in control and probably cost his team as many wins by betting on them as his managing won for them.

What people didn't notice is that Pete cost his team games which were played before the games which he was betting on them to win.

Bottom line: If you are in a managerial or head coach position, betting on your team to win, does cost your team victories. You may not be wagering against your team, however, at times, you will sacrifice wins on the field to help ensure victories in the games you do wager.

NOT SO COOL HAND LUTE

It was a runaway blowout and then the not so cool hand Lute, pulled the plug on the high flying act of his charges.


Leading by 15, with just four minutes remaining, it was going to be an upset of the nation's #1 team and the #1 seed, by Lute Olson's Arizona Wildcats.


Similar to the unbearable to watch, prevent defense in football, Arizona was ordered into the slow down, prevent offense. It appeared that Illinois had no answer for the surging Wildcats and their dominating inside game down the stretch. Arizona had outscored the Illini in the paint by a count of 34 -13, when Lute said, "Stop!"

The next day sportswriters wrote that the Wildcats choked down the stretch. Broadcasters broadcasted that the Wildcats choked down the stretch.

They should all be taken to task, because most of them witnessed the reins being pulled in by the head coach and not the act of a team that was choking.


Coaches lay in bed at night and dream of having their team come down the stretch of a game in complete command and in that much sought after -- zone.


This Arizona team was in such a position and in a zone like only West Virginia's early first half performance against Louisville could duplicate.

After stuffing yet another Illinois attempt at one end of the court, sitting on a 15-point lead and bringing the ball up court to continue their inside dominance and push their lead to a seemingly insurmountable 17 big points, off the bench leaps Olson with his hands raised in front of his chest, commanding and demanding his troops to STOP, slow it down and use the clock.


He may as well have pulled all those players off the court and inserted a completely fresh five. At that moment in time, Olson awoke himself from his own dream and the nightmare began. The players didn't choke, the not so cool handed Lute choked.


The coach went brain dead and all of a sudden decided to play not to lose, rather than playing to win, for those last four minutes, which must have seemed like four hours to the players, who looked dazed and confused for each and every one of those remaining 240 seconds.


Arizona fans around the country were screaming for Lute to let the kids play and get back to the attack offense that ran that Illini defense into the hardwood for the first 16 minutes of the second half.


It wasn't going to happen. Lute was steadfast in his, 'run the clock down', philosophy. Fortunately for Olson, there wasn't 10 more seconds on the clock. If there had been additional time, Arizona would have been defeated in regulation. As it was, it seemed that dear old coach had it planned out perfectly --- Hold the ball for every possible moment, force up a last second shot as the time clock expired and if all goes well, they shouldn't be able to outscore us by anymore than 15 points down the stretch. The coach was right on target. Illinois didn't outscore his team by more than 15, they outscored them by exactly 15 and on to OT we went.


Never was that old axiom, "Live by the sword, die by the sword', more self evident than in the final 13 seconds of that OT period.


Finding his team down by six, with only a couple of minutes remaining in the first OT period and maybe in their college season, Lute let his men loose and they cut that lead to ONE point with only :13 seconds separating Arizona from a trip to the Final Four. After a time-out that should never have been called, Olson sent his players back on the court and reverted to his idiotic, final four minute philosophy -- Run the clock down and get off a late shot.


Un-freaking-believable!! It didn't work for the final four minutes of regulation, what in the world made him believe it would work at this point of the game, with his entire season on the line?


With :0:08 of a second on that time bomb of a clock, the Arizona player was forced to throw up a desperation brick from beyond the arc and the fighting Illini found themselves packing for St Louis and a spot in the Final Four, despite the fact that it was more Lute Olson than their own fighting that had them realizing their dream.


On the other end of the court, Coach Olson was in a press conference making the following statement, "We had our chances." Ya think so, Lute? Amazing!!


Some comebacks are monumental and others are agonizing, in the time they consume. This Illinois comeback was neither. This comeback was simply Lute Olson awakening from that dream and presenting Illinois with a multimillion dollar gift. Arizona fans must be thinking, what if? What if their coach would have remained asleep for just those last four minutes of regulation.


On this March Saturday, in Chicago, the better team did not win the game, the team without the better coach lost the game.


Ps. Thank the basketball gods that Arizona covered the +5 point spread, otherwise we would really lay into Lute.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CHANGING HANDS ----

--- RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES


Today, in what was virtually an insignificant basketball game, between the University of Maryland and Texas Christian University (TCU), the nation witnessed millions of dollars change hands in mere seconds.


The reason the game was basically insignificant is because it is part of the annual NIT tournament's march to Madison Square Garden, for their version of the Final Four. Meanwhile, later in the day, the so called real teams take the court to decide who gets to play in the Final Four of the tournament that counts --- The NCAA.

Setting the stage for the swapping of millions, was the fact that the first NCAA game wasn't scheduled to start until 4:40pm. This NIT teaser game was set to tip off at 12 noon, with no other wagering events taking place.

That being the case, bookmakers nationwide (legal & illegal) along with offshore shops all over, took in millions of dollars from the anxious bettors who just couldn't wait for 4:40pm.

THE SWITCH

With two minutes and change remaining, Maryland, the 11-point favorite, was clinging to a one point lead. The game had been this close form the start, so TCU backers were marking down their collective W's and counting their earned money in anticipation of the NCAA games later in the day. They were going to be playing with house money.

Then it all began to unravel. Within seconds the lead went to 78-70 and investors around the country were moving towards the edge of their chairs. Maryland backers were alive with renewed enthusiasm after cursing the Terps the entire game, because the double digit favorite had never been this close to covering the almighty pointspread. In the other TV rooms around the country, the TCU faithful were also edging to the front of their chairs, but their apprehension was being brought on by disgust. What in the name of the basketball gods was going on? With W's already penciled in, these investors were begging Maryland to just dribble out the clock and for their Horned Frogs to just play hands off and lose 78-70. It was not meant to be.

At first, it looked as though Maryland was on the TCU bettors side, as they fouled a TCU player and the score was 78-72 and now the collective WHEWWWWWW's, could be heard around the country.

The problem now, however, was that TCU once again had visions of an actual win, since it was now just a two possession game. A quick foul and Maryland took an 80-72 lead, as the clock ticked down --- Not nearly fast enough for the TCU backers and way too fast for the Maryland faithful who were still clinging to hopes of a money winning ending.

TCU brings up the ball and the TCU fans were praying that they didn't toss up the wasted 3- ball and the player obliged, as he drove the lane, but he missed the lay-up that would have cut the lead back to six.

A quick TCU foul and the lead was now 82-72, with just seconds remaining.
Remember, the 11 point spread had never been reached throughout the game and 10 was the largest lead of the game.

TCU rushes up court and goes in for a lay-up and Maryland does the unthinkable as they commit the foul. The TCU player hits one of the two and it is now an 82-73 game. Looks as though the worse case scenario for TCU backers is a pointspread tie. For Maryland backers, they could only hope for such a final, because they long ago figured they were money losers.

Another quick foul and Maryland goes to the line and makes ONE of the two and TCU is going to take home the money no matter what happens.

Maryland backers sat back in their chairs and grumbled, F*&*^*G C*&^$#*R.
It's going to be a 10 point, 83-73 win for Maryland, but a cash bonanza for all those who took TCU +11.

Mere seconds on the clock and TCU rushes up court and misses a lay-up. That's it. Game, set and match ------ Not so quick my friend. With eight seconds on the clock, TCU inexplicably fouls the Maryland player on the obligatory inbound pass. Eight seconds and Maryland goes to the free throw line where they increase their lead to 85-73.

As millions of dollars were changing hands, TCU made matters even worse for their money supporters, as they took the final inbound pass and, do you believe it, dribbled out the final eight seconds, instead of going for a three pointer or an uncontested, money winning lay up.

The moral of the story is twofold.

{1} Never, ever mark down a W until the game is actually over. One cannot change a W to an L. Writing down L's before the game is over is allowed, since L's can be changed to W's.

{2} Sometimes living in the ATS (Against The Spread) world sucks just as bad as living in the REAL world. Well, it does if you are part of the group of TCU backers trying to change your W to an L.

As we post these results, the West Virginia / Louisville game has just reached its conclusion. I hope everyone that wagered and lost with TCU, all had their money on West Virginia +8.5 over the Cardinal.

With just seconds remaining in OT and leading by eight points, 93-85, as favorites of -8.5, the Louisville player had a break away to end the game, in what was appearing to be a spread beating slam. Off the rim. No basket. W VA covers.

Millions of dollars swing the other way.

Is it any wonder the number of Americans dying from heart attacks is not twice as high as they purport it to be?

THE SUPER BOWL -- IN RETROSPECT

Well, it has been nearly two months, so there has been plenty of time to hear all the excuses attributed to the losers and the accolades bestowed upon the winners and, in some cases, vice versa.

Let's begin by acknowledging the fact that the rejoicing in New England was tempered by the fact that their beloved Pats failed to cover the seven point spread. In the City of Brotherly Love, the Eagle fans were not as devastated as other losing fans have been, because their team, despite the loss on the field, brought home the money, as they lost by less than that magical number 7.

I could go on and on and break down the entire game, but let's not make this an interpretation of the good book.

Every New England fan, along with the team itself, booming with confidence with the opening kick off, had to be feeling a tremendous sense of relief going into the locker room at the half, with the scored tied at 7-7.

On the other side of the field, the Eagles, along with their fans around the country, had to be feeling a tremendous sense of frustration, that Philly didn't put up 17, 14 or at least 10 points on the board.

With that being said, lets look at the four plays that spelled D-O-O-M for the Eagles.

{1} McNabb, first and goal, from the eight, with four minutes remaining in the very first quarter -- Sacked for 16 BIG yards.

{2} McNabb, second and goal, from the 24, after the lame attempt to avoid the big sack, throws an INT at the three.

{3} McNabb, first and 10, at the NE 36, down 24-14, with 8:35 remaining in the game, throws and INT at the NE 24.

{4} McNabb, first and 10, at his own three yard line, with :46 seconds remaining and no times outs remaining, drops back into his own endzone, rolls to his left a few yards and throws OVER THE MIDDLE to Westbrook at the FOUR yard line for a ONE yard gain. A full :24 seconds run off the clock, before the next, by that time, useless play.

Kids playing Pop Warner ball know that you NEVER throw short over the middle in that situation -- NEVER !!

To me, those four plays summed up the Eagles loss, because as bad as their defense played, they were in a tie ball game at the start of the fourth quarter, at 14-14, and with 1:48 remaining, they were down three points and attempting an onside kick.

The biggest controversy with the game day announcers, the sports writers all over the country and the throngs of quizzical Philly fans, was why no hurry-up offense, when the Eagles took possession with 5:40 remaining and down 24-14.

In my opinion, Andy Reid would have used each and every one of those 340 seconds to make it a three point game. Why do I say this? Let's look at what happened after Philly finally put up the first seven points of the game.

In five of their next six possessions, the Pats accumulated 278 yards of offense and put 24 points on the board. One of the five drives resulted in an unassisted fumble at the Philly 13 yard line and another resulted in a field goal, as New England drove to the Eagle two yard line and used up clock and, in the true sense of the word, settled for a safe field goal.

What Andy saw was that the Pat offense chewed up his defense for nearly 300 yards of offense, took nearly 20 minutes off the clock and, in actuality, should have put 35 points on the board. That would have made it a 35-14 game, with those 340 seconds remaining.

The Philly coach saw his defense get beat down at every turn, from the drive after the Eagles first scored until the end of the game. Philly had lost control of the New England offense and Reid knew he was fortunate to have only given up 24 points and have himself in a position, at that point in the game, to only lose by three.

Bottom line: As dominating as they have been for the past four years, the Pats have won three Super Bowls by three points each and were an onside kick away from probably being tied at 24, in their latest triumph.

On the other side of the ball, Philly lost a Super Bowl by three points and could have just as easily lost by 14, 17 or 21, despite the fact that they should have had and could have had 10, 14 or 17 on the board in the first half.

What it all meant to us is that the parity, long sought after by the NFL hierarchy, is pretty much dead in the water. After all, New England has played in and won three of the last four AFC Championship games and Super Bowls, while Philly will be looking for a spot in their fifth straight NFC Championship game this year.

Personally, I have had enough of both teams, especially when one of the QB's throws ONE yard over the MIDDLE with :46 seconds remaining in a game, knowing that he cannot call a time out. Hell, I remember seeing Elway, Namath, Stabler, Young, Montana and Marino all drive their teams those 90+ yards for game winning TD's, not to mention the numerous times they put them in field goal range for the tie or the win. Not once in my memory do I recall any of them at any time throwing ONE yard over the middle. Not once!

I'm ready for new blood

A DOPE? A FRAUD? PROBABLY BOTH

Two hours into the Congressional hearing on steroid use and the first to step into the DOPE/FRAUD category has come forward.


(Bear in mind that these individuals have high priced attorneys and/or advisors)


To answer any question, let alone nearly every question, with the same idiotic phrase is completely absurd and totally idiotic.


McGwire: "I'm not here to discuss the past." "I'm not here to discuss the past." "I'm not here to discuss the past."


Yo, Mark. Buy yourself a freaking clue. The past is exactly what a congressional hearing is all about. The past is critical when determining ways and means to correct the future. To think otherwise is just plain ignorance.


Imagine the 911 congressional hearings having to listen to such a stupid comment.


Talking about the past is exactly what has to be done if one wishes to investigate and make corrections for the future.


The committee should have dismissed McGwire and asked him to just leave the building.


McGwire says that speaking of the past and denying or confirming steroid use will not change the future or the past. Well, sorry about that, but it would change the past. McGwire's admission would force baseball to remove his name from the record book. That is changing the past and that change should be made.


To top it all off and confirm his place among the dopes of the world, McGwire says he would be a great spokesman for the game in their effort to ban steroids.
What planet is this man from?


The second fraud/dope is the beloved Curt Schilling. When asked his feeling about installing a drug law that would ban first time steroid users for two years, Curt said he believes the current policy is very adequate, because it is doing its job, in that it is and will continue to REDUCE the number of players that will be using steroids.


Another DOPE that needs a clue. The objective is not to REDUCE the use of steroids, the goal is to ELIMINATE steroid use completely and instantly.


By the way, when asked if he has every been aware of ANY player EVER using steroids. Curt said, "Not to my knowledge."


I wonder if he keeps a ceramic version of the three little apes covering their eyes, ears and mouth.


From listening to the so called testimony of these individual baseball players, current and past, it appears that there was only ONE steroid user these past 10 or 15 years. That one person seems to have been Jose Canseco. Funny -- It seems as though he is the only one that has been telling the truth.


McGwire, Bonds and others have stolen the game of baseball from us. They have raped, pillaged and plundered the record book and I, as a fan, want the books restored.


Baseball was completely aware of steroid use, but the home run derby, put on by McGwire and Sosa, gave rise to the complete rebirth of the game of baseball.
Baseball needed the steroid users and they turned their heads, because it meant M-O-N-E-Y and that, regrettably, will always be the bottom line.


AS far as I am concerned, Ruth, Maris and Aaron hold the records and will still hold the records after the current fraud, Barry Bonds, puts up his 2005 numbers.


My only wish is that every pitcher Bonds faces walks him intentionally in each and every at-bat, regardless of the inning or situation.


McGwire's bio reads as follows: McGwire, Mark (1963-...), was one of the greatest home-run hitters in baseball history. He set a major league home-run record when he hit 70 home runs during the 1998 baseball season. McGwire broke the record of 61 home runs that Roger Maris of the New York Yankees had set in 1961. His record was broken in 2001 by Barry Bonds, who hit 73 home runs.

============================================

What a joke -- Cheating is wrong, but cheating and allowing your name to take the place of the legends of the game just seems dirty and disgusting aside from being wrong.


By the way, let's not buy into the caring nature of Congress in this matter. If these supposed staunch supporters of our troubled youth really did care about your child, they would have banned the beer commercials that show up on your TV between plays, during college football and basketball games. Another joke and another group of frauds. The difference in teenage deaths attributed to steroids is minuscule when compared to alcohol related deaths. They are both drugs and they are both illegal ---Underage drinking is against the law, in case you forgot.


Once again, it's back to the bottom line --- M-O-N-E-Y.

OPEN YOUR EYES CHANEY SUPPORTERS

OPEN YOUR EYES --- THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

For days now, I have listened to sports writers, radio personalities, Temple supporters, former athletes and current athletes all say the same thing --- Plenty of coaches do what Chaney did. Plenty of coaches send in players for the purpose of giving hard fouls, preventing the easy lay ups, and setting some hard picks. It is just part of the game. Stop blaming Chaney.

For the life of me, I can't understand how these people are unable to see the difference. What Chaney did wasn't even remotely the same as what those coaches were attempting to accomplish.

I would venture to say that 98% of those type of instructions come from coaches who give those orders in hopes that, if followed correctly, the results of following their instructions will improve the chances of their respective teams on the way to obtaining their collective goals -- Victory.

John Chaney's instructions were given to improve HIS chances of obtaining HIS goal and HIS goal in HIS words -- "Send a message"

It was obvious that Chaney lost all perspective of the game and his priority, obviously, was no longer victory for his team.

Chaney was pleased with the way the game was being played out from that point on, because his designated 'goon' was carrying out his instructions perfectly. What Chaney seemed to lose sight of was the fact that HIS team was only down by six points, before the thug tactice began. It was quite apparent that falling further behind on the scoreboard, after the hard fouls began, was of no consequence to Coach Chaney. Of course that is understandable, since the coach was achieving HIS goal and HIS goal was NOT victory.

THE GOSPEL TO ACCORDING TO JOHN (CHANEY)

JOHN 3:16

"By the hand of thee shall we all be free."

John Chaney (Prosecutor): "The defendant did in fact use the term 'goon' and he did insert said 'goon' into the game for the express purpose of SENDING A MESSAGE."

John Chaney (Defense attorney): " My client should be, and will be, responsible for all of his actions and behavior."

John Chaney (Defendant): "I have to offer my apology. My activities were reprehensible. I hope people will accept that."
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** Character witnesses:

A-10 commissioner, Linda Bruno: "John has had two punishable offenses in all these years. I don't think that's a bad track record. He's not normally like that (ahem). It won't happen again."

Former Temple player, Marc Jackson: "This happens every day in the NBA. Coach just has the guts to say it like it is. He has a method of teaching that is great; he doesn't just teach basketball, he teaches life."
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John Chaney (Jury): We have found John Chaney guilty of reprehensible behavior."

John Chaney (Judge): "Having been found guilty, I sentence Coach Chaney to a one game suspension."

John Chaney (The accused and convicted coach): "Whewwww. I am glad that ordeal is over. Now we all just need to move forward."

==========================================
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We wonder if a two-game suspension would have been the appropriate punishment the righteous John Chaney would have self imposed, if the St. Joe player his GOON sent banging to the hardwood, as part of Chaney's life lesson of how to 'get even', had snapped a disc in his spine and in mere seconds became a paraplegic for life.

If a person of authority instructs a subordinate to do bodily harm to another individual as part of some pre meditated revenge, that authority figure is just as guilty as the 'enforcer' and would be prosecuted for a crime --- If it happened on the streets and not in the gym.

The wonderful life teachings --- According to John.

Ps. Attention Linda Bruno --- That first punishable offense was a threat to take another persons life. I believe his exact words were, "I'll kill you.", as he attempted to get his hands on Coach Callipari.

Chaney's second offense was to 'hire' someone (Nehemiah Ingram) to do the bodily harm he wished to inflict upon an adversary.

I hope none of my kids are on the court or in the vicinity of John Chaney, when he carries out offense number three.

For whatever the reason(s) may be, Coach Chaney is one very angry and bitter man and should at least be required to attend some anger management classes or private therapy, before someone ends up seriously hurt.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT HOCKEY WAS OVER --- ALONG COMES JOHN

With the recent announcement that the NHL was folding up their tent for an indefinite period of time, along comes Temple basketball coach, John Chaney.

During a Tuesday night (2/22/05) game against Big 5, city rival, St. Joe, Chaney threw a fit about the play of the Hawks and the officiating. So upset was the mentally disturbed Chaney, that he inserted a seldom used sub as his designated goon -- Goon being Chaney's descriptive word. The instructions to the bench player, which were later disclosed by Cheney at a post game press conference, were to, "send a message."

His own private Dave Schultz (Philadelphia Flyers - Broadstreet Bully fame) committed his total allotment of fouls in about four minutes of play. The fouls consisted of four borderline flagrant fouls and a technical. One of the designated goons so called messages, delivered at the request/demand of Coach Chaney, was to shove St. Joe player, John Bryant, to the hardwood, after Bryant threw down a dunk against Chaney's defense. Bryant left the game and never returned.

At the press conference, Chaney, yelling, screaming and berating everyone, said that this has just been a preview of what he will do in the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament --- Unless he gets his way, of course.

This is a teacher of our youth setting yet another fine example ---> If things aren't going your way, kick somebody's ass.

As some of you may recall, this is the same John Chaney that flew off the podium at a post game news conference, after playing U Mass, and attacked their coach, John Callipari. The volatile coach actually threatened to kill Callipari and it was all captured by the ever-present TV cameras.

We realize that Chaney is a Temple University icon, but enough is enough and in the case of John Cheney, enough happened years ago.

Happy trails, John.

IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED -- BONDS IS A DOPE !!

In an interview, held earlier today, Barry Bonds condemned the media, because they actually had the nerve to delve into his (and his fellow athletes) personal life.

Bonds equates what the reporters do to him as the same thing as if they invaded the privacy of an office desk jockey, who is quietly going about his/her life. Since the reporters don't do that, they should feel honored and privileged that Mr. Barry has allowed them to be in his presence. What a joke.

Yo, Barry. Get a freaking clue !!

First of all, you are a public figure, not an office clerk. Secondly, you are paid with the money generated from the fans and you are on the verge of breaking records held by our heroes. We are not only entitled to answers, we demand them.

Bonds went on to tell the reporters that the fans have embraced him more than ever before and they all love him. Hello? Who the hell have you been talking to, Barry?

Barry went on to state that those reporters who were asking about him having an asterisk next to his name in the record books, should have asterisks next to their names as well, since all the stories they have written were not always correct.

I believe it is safe to say that Mr. Bonds has lost the complete grasp of reality.

With that final analogy, Barry has opened the door and stepped right in to that wonderful room of D-O-P-E-S.

I can only hope that every pitcher he faces this year walks his ass.

JIM THORPE & MICHAEL JORDAN ?? GET A CLUE !!

I actually heard a sports writer, on ESPN's Sunday morning telecast of the 'SPORTS REPORTERS', refer to Michael Vick as not only the NFL's answer to Michael Jordan, but also the equivalent of the remarkable JIM THORPE.

He made this comparison while predicting that Vick would run all over the Eagle defense en route to taking his Falcons to the Super Bowl.

Now, predicting an Atlanta win is one thing, and comparing Vick to Jordan --- I can even live with that. After all, Vick does bring excitement to the game. However, comparing Vick to Thorpe? I mailed the 'reporter' two bucks, so he can buy himself a freaking clue.

Vick isn't even in the top 10 of NFL QB's, let alone worthy of THORPE comparison.

MORE SCHOOL GO --- MORE DUMB COME

You would think that the loss suffered by the Indianapolis Colts, at the hands of the New England Patriots, would have triggered the call for the wrecking ball.

The giant, metal sphere (along with 10,000 lbs of TNT) should not just be swinging in Indy, but in Minnesota, Atlanta, St Louis, Detroit and New Orleans, as well. All the NFL cities that house these 'domed dopes'.

All these supposed, intelligent business people, buy an NFL team and tell their fans that the main goal of the organization is to win the Super Bowl. They sit you in climate controlled buildings and sell you beer and hot dogs for $5.00 each and garner all of your loyal support, because they have once again suckered everyone into thinking they will not only get to and win the Super Bowl, but they will kick all asses along the way.

What a joke. The fans of those above mentioned cities should demand that these organizations tear the roofs off those domes, before one more game is played in those confined sanctuaries.

The facts are facts, and the facts concerning 'domed' teams are available for public consumption and they are alarming, to say the least.

No NFL team that plays their home games indoors has ever won a Super Bowl if they had to play outdoors during the playoffs, in order to get to the Big Dance.

Do these 'domed dopes' need any more evidence than the fiasco they were forced to bear witness to in Foxboro, on Sunday, January 23?

A team, labeled by many as the best offensive team in the NFL in decades, produced exactly three points ... as in NO touchdowns. This, from the QB who set an all time record for TD passes, at 49 for the season.

Has anyone ever mentioned to the collective brain trusts of these 'domed' teams, that such teams have only won nine of the 37 outdoor playoff games in which they have performed? Do any of them ever scratch their heads and wonder ------- Why?

Has anyone ever brought it the attention of the Minnesota Viking front office, that their beloved football team, despite winning at Green Bay in the Wild Card round this year, has only won two of their last 22 outdoor games?

Somebody wake the hell up !! If your team plays their home games under a roof, and they do not secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs, your chances of seeing that team EVER reach their supposed ultimate goal are literally impossible.

For eight games of every year you will be guaranteed the perfect environment for eating your dogs and drinking your beer. However, that perfect environment is obviously the absolute worst environment to get your team ready to even make a respectable appearance in an outdoor playoff game in January, let alone win the damn game.

Maybe these people just need a calendar and an NFL schedule, so they can actually see that the playoffs are played in January, EVERY freaking year.

Fans in those 'domed' cities should be marching in protest, carrying signs that read, 'TEAR OFF THE DAMN ROOF'.

Ps. There have been eight NFC 'dome' teams that have played outdoors in the NFC Championship game. Atlanta, playing at Philly this coming Sunday, will be the ninth such team. What else Atlanta will be is the NINTH STRAIGHT 'DOMED' LOSER, since the previous eight all lost.

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

Dear President Bush:

I want this letter to be as non partisan as possible. My political persuasion should be of no consequence, as it is not germane to the subject matter of my mail.

I have two points I would like to discuss and I appreciate you taking the time.

A year ago, this past Thanksgiving, you took a trip to Iraq and surprised the troops. I remember hearing so many of the political pundits stating that it was a 'grandstanding' act on your part and done strictly for political purposes, since an election was on the horizon.

I debated many of those people regarding your motives. I pointed out that you seemed to be a very caring individual, with regard to your personal life and I further supported my point of contention by assuring those pundits that you would return to Iraq, AFTER you were reelected.

Certainly, not for my sake, but for all those men and women who are in your command, please make a return trip to Iraq, now that there can be no question of political motivation. Please.

My second point of discussion is your Presidential Inauguration.
I realize that the bulk of the money required to put on such a gala event is coming from the private sector, but something is terribly wrong with your participation at this point in time.

If and when this email reaches you, the event will have passed, but just stop and think of the respect and honor you would have received if you had given all that money to the surviving family members of those brave men and women that gave their lives, so we could have the opportunity to even have a Presidential Inauguration.

The legacy you would have written for yourself would have been the high point that every President hereafter would strive to attain.

Imagine the complete respect you would have received from both parties, had you gone through the inauguration process, hopped on a jet and sped off to Iraq, to be with the troops that you command, rather than attending a gala affair, while those troops are engaged in war.

Imagine yourself being the father of a son or daughter that had just been killed in Iraq, and then turning on the TV and watching the Commander in Chief, dancing and partying while you lament the death of your loved one.

If I were you and I was just now reading this letter, I would tell my advisors they are being reassigned to new positions, because they caused you to miss an opportunity of a lifetime.

Sir, please do not think my intent is to spread guilt or demean any of your decisions and/or your actions. I just don't understand why you didn't take advantage of such an opportunity. I am especially disappointed since you already had the experience and the proud moment of an Inaugural Ball.

I have no doubt that if you would have turned up on the TV stations, standing in Iraq, with the men you command, instead of at some gala affair where laughter and rejoicing filled the room, you would have brought tears to not only the families who have lost loved ones, but to most of us Americans who have no personal contacts with any of those brave soldiers.

Some things are just right and others are just wrong. If I was a soldier in Iraq and I was unfortunate enough to have to witness the great celebration on the local TV hookup, I would be completely demoralized to see my Commander in Chief celebrating anything before he celebrates the end of this war.

Such a gesture would have left no doubts in the minds of people from either side of the aisle that divides this country, as to what your priorities are and just how much those brave men and women mean to you.

I wish you and your family the very best with all your future decisions.

Sincerely,
AB
(South Jersey / South Florida)

SHAUN's RUSHING TITLE

Shaun Alexander, of the Seattle Seahawks, fell one yard short of tying Curtis Martin (Jets) for the NFL rushing title.

With Seattle at the one yard line and beating Atlanta by one point, Coach Holmgeren opted to let the ball remain in his QB's hand and plunge into the line for the one yard TD.

Alexander's reaction after the game --- "Holmgren stabbed me in the back."

Where do I begin -- First of all, there was 4:32 remaining in the game and the instructions were given (documented) to hand the ball off to Shaun for every play, when the Hawks got the ball back, even if they got it back with three seconds on the clock.

The people Alexander should be upset with are: 1. Himself 2. The defense.

The play before the one yard QB plunge, Alexander carried the ball and was tackled at the 1-yard-line. HE fell short of the record, NOT Mike Holmgren.

Two weeks earlier, in NY, playing the Jets, Alexander fumbled at the Jet 1-yard-line, as HE was about to pick up that ONE yard and score a TD. The ONE yard that would have tied him for the record was in HIS hands, not the hands of Mike Holmgren.

Maybe Shaun should be screaming at his defense that allowed Atlanta to use up the remainder of the clock to get their final TD.

Maybe Shaun should be screaming at his defense which stopped the Atlanta 2-point conversion, as the Falcons attempted to tie the game and send it into over-time.
After all, Shaun's only shot at the title, at that point , was an OT game.

Of course, an OT game would mean that his T-E-A-M would possibly go from NFC West Division Champs to --- NOT Champs --- with a loss in OT.

That would have been OK though, because then Shaun wouldn't feel as though he was being stabbed in the back.

By the way, there were no monetary incentives in his contract, so don't think it was a directive from management to keep Shaun from HIS goal. He did not get screwed out of $2 or $3 million dollars.

I know one thing and I am 99.9% positive of this fact -- If Alexander picked up TWO more yards and won the rushing title, Curtis Martin (the winner) wouldn't have bitched about Herm Edwards not running him more in their game against the Rams, earlier in the day, he would have said one thing ..... "Congratulations, Shaun."

THE BARRY BONDS SOLUTION

Much has been said, on the many sports talk shows around the country, about what to do with Bonds, now that he has admitted (according to him -- unknowingly) taking
steroids.

Many people have the usual suggestion -- The almighty asterisk.

Everyone considers it a given that Bonds will surpass Ruth and then Aaron as the all-time home run king. Well, our solution to the Bonds steroid dilemma will have none of that fake record breaking taking place with our solution and our solution to the problem is simple --

The answer, as the song states -- IT'S IN HIS NAME.

The letters BB are not only Barry's initials, they are the symbol for Base on Balls.

WALK HIM! Walk him early and walk him often. Walk him in the first and walk him in the ninth. Walk him every freaking time he comes to the plate. I don't care if the bases are loaded --- WALK HIM !!

My way, Ruth and Aaron are safe and no need for the dreaded asterisk.

The signs around the stadiums should read: BBB = BASE on BALLS for BARRY

THE TRILOGY -- PART 2

Part three, of our three episode drama, takes place this Sunday, in Cleveland, Ohio, at 1pm ET, as the high-flying Pittsburgh Steelers come to town to take on the lowly Browns
==============================================
TRILOGY

\Tril"o*gy\, n. [Gr. trilogi`a; pref. tri- (see Tri-) + lo`gos speech, discourse: cf. F. trilogie.] A series of three dramas which, although each of them is in one sense complete, have a close mutual relation, and form one historical and poetical picture.
==================================================
POETIC INDEED

PLAY AGAINST ROAD FAVORITES THAT ARE COMING OFF A DOUBLE DIGIT S/U HOME WIN, DURING
THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON. (21- 6 L3 yrs -- 78%) (2- 0 in '04)
(Ironically -- One of those two losses was Cleveland at home over Philly)

PLAY ON: CLEVELAND over PITT
========================================
The trilogy was written back on October 28, and it plays out as follows
--------------------------------------
October 28, 2004

With fatidic clarity we see the following scenario unfolding

WEEK 8: PITT at H takes out undefeated NE
WEEK 9: PITT at H takes out undefeated Philly
WEEK 10: PITT on R gets taken out by Cleveland
==============================================
Parts one and two --- A Done Deal
-------------------------------------------------------
Let's make Shakespeare proud, Cleveland, as the Steelers revel all week long in their fame & glory and come to town with their 'capes' blowing in the wind
=================================================

DATELINE 2024 -- THE NFL

USA TODAY
NOVEMBER 8, 2024

MONTANA BISONS SHOOT FOR HISTORY
BUTTE, MT

The 'Boys of Butte' will attempt to be the first team in NFL history to win a game after defeating two undefeated teams, on back-to-back weekends, after game # 6 of the season.

This venture in futility began two decades ago when the Steelers of Pittsburgh, defeated the Los Angeles Eagles, formerly of Philadelphia, by a score of 27- 3.

The Eagles traveled to Pittsburgh, and became victim # 2, as Pitt had dismantled the previously undefeated New England Patriots, the previous Sunday.

The Steelers, understandably exuberant after becoming the first team in NFL history to accomplish this amazing fete, were asked to leave the friendly confines of the house Teresa built and travel to Cleveland, Ohio, to take on the lowly 3- 5 Browns.

That Cleveland team was fresh off a loss in front of a national TV audience, to a revenge motivated team that previously played on the field where the Newport Ravens once proudly called home -- Baltimore, MD.

It was an ESPN, Sunday night affair, which is still memorable, because of the record setting interception return of 105 yards, which occurred in the waning seconds of the game, as Cleveland was about to tie the game 20-20. That record remains intact 20 years later.

Baltimore was a six point favorite in that game and the record setting interception return had Cleveland supporters throwing their remotes through their TV screens. An overtime game seemed inevitable and that would have guaranteed them a win or a push.
It wasn't to be, as the final score was 27-13.

The Browns had opened their season by shutting down the then Baltimore Ravens, 20- 3, on opening day of that 2004 NFL season.

As luck would have it, the schedule maker appeared to have an issue with the Browns, as they were now being asked to deal with, not only a team that defeated them just a month earlier, but the hottest team in the NFL -- The Pittsburgh Steelers.

The headlines around the country, when speaking of that Pittsburgh team, read like a Superman comic book --

THE MAN OF STEEL
BEST ON THE PLANET
THIS KID CAN'T LOSE
IT'S GREAT TO BE KING
------------------------------------------------------
You all know the shocking results of that game, which was the very first attempt by one of the 11 member fraternity of teams, asked to do this seemingly impossible task of winning a game after knocking off the final two undefeated NFL teams, on
back-to back weekends.

This week, twenty years later to the day, the seemingly invincible Bisons, who are starting a rookie QB, fresh from his National Championship winning season with the Richmond Spiders, will be in a similar situation as that old Steeler team found themselves in, back on Nov 7, '04.

The Mighty Bisons will be on the road, against a losing team (South Dakota Outlaws), starting a rookie QB who has won 19 straight games, dating back to his days as a 'Spider' and playing just their second road game in seven long weeks.

Can the Bisons complete this seemingly ‘Impossible Mission’? We think not and we'll look for the same score as that first attempt, back in ‘04, when the Browns took
out the mighty men of steel 23 - 19.
------------------------------------------------------------------
-- THE PICK --

We actually remember an NFL system we used back on that eventful November day, back in 2004. We remember it because we use it every season.

Here is how it plays out --- If you were to play against any NFL road favorite, that was outrushing their opponents by 40 or more yards/game and they just finished outrushing their last opponent by 100 or more yards, your money winning spread record would be an amazing 108 - 18 ATS the previous 30 years.

At the time, in 2004, when the mighty Steelers were traveling to Cleveland, the system was 36- 6 ATS for the previous 10 years (28-14 S/U) and 12- 0 the previous three years, including 3- 0 that current season.

I remember one of those three wins had occurred just a couple of weeks earlier, as the Broncos of Denver, traveled to Cincinnati, to take on the lowly Bengals, as a six point road favorite. Fresh off their blowout win over their arch enemy, the Oakland Raiders, 31- 3, Denver got blasted 23-10.
----------------------- ------------------------
-- OUR FINAL SCORE PREDICTION --

We'll look for the same final score as that Cleveland over Pittsburgh result was, 20 years earlier, to the day.

Montana Bisons 19 -- South Dakota Outlaws 23
================================================

SPANK THIS --- DOPE!

TWO DOPES and A WIMP

DOPE # 1: Keyshawn Johnson, wide receiver of the Jets, no wait, the Bucs, ooops, sorry, I meant the Cowboys.

While the spanking of Pam Oliver, may be a fantasy of his, announcing it to the public, in an attempt to demean her work, is being an ignorant DOPE !

DOPE # 2: Warren Sapp, defensive tackle/end for the Oakland raiders.
On Sunday, the vociferous Sapp, frustrated by his inability to do anything positive, proceeded to blast his head coach on the sideline.
Isn't it odd that the only players we see exhibiting this ostentatious display of vulgarity are the ones who are consistently underperforming and getting whipped by their opponent?

WIMP of the WEEK: Mike Tice, the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
After watching his team get smacked in the mouth and whimper their way off to the locker room, their main man had this to say to the press, "Thank God the Giants are not on our schedule for next year."

Can you imagine John Lynch, Brian Urlacher, Jack Del Rio, Bill Parcells or any other self respecting athlete, thanking God that he doesn't have to get smacked around again by a non cooperative adversary -- The NY Giants.

Is it any wonder the Vikes folded in the first quarter, after the Giants got physical with them? The teams take on the personality of their coach and as tough as he may have been as a player, Mike Tice is a mental WIMP.

He should be blasting his team and chomping at the bit for a return engagement with the Giants.

SUPERMAN LOST HIS CAPE

SUPERMAN HAD HIS CAPE RIPPED OFF

Is Terrell Owens actually Lex Luther, the notorious Superman adversary?

On Sunday, TO, the wide receiver for the Eagles, scored the eventual winning TD in the Philly 15-10 win over Ray Lewis, aka Superman, and the Baltimore Ravens. For his TD celebration, Owens opted to mock Lewis’ famous, stadium entry dance. Ray’s response was to question TO, “Just play football. Don’t be a coward until you make just ONE play.”

Yo Ray -- That ONE play was the game winning TD, and more importantly, how can you possibly enter the stadium ever again and do that dance?

TO ripped off your cape, tore the S right off your chest and spit on them both.

We may end up thanking TO for his audacity in tearing down one of the NFL’s icons --- Maybe now ESPN will mike-up someone other than Ray-Ray whenever the Ravens find another prime time slot.
==========================================================================
HAS IT COME TO THIS?

Speaking of Terrell Owens and his imitation Ray Lewis dance --- Did anyone notice the latest poll on NFL.com?

They offered the fans a variety of plays to choose from for the honor of being rated as the best play of the weekend. The plays ranged from Michael Vick, running for 44 yards, Plaxico Burris, catching a TD pass in his victory over the Pats, Buffalo’s McGee, returning a punt for a TD and last and by far the least, was TO’s end zone dance.

The results: You guessed it -- Vick 14% -- McGee 8% -- Burris 19% -- Owens 59%.

FIFTY NINE FREAKIN’ percent voted for a DANCE as the best play of the day. It is the World Wrestling Federation mentality and it is just plain stupid and actually degrading to such players as Butkus, Nitschke, Lambert and even to Vick, Burress and McGeee.

Our problem is NOT with the players that do the dancing. Like some of them say, “If you don’t want to see me dance, keep me out of the end zone.” Our problem is with the idiotic fans that actually think the dancing is the best play of any football weekend.
==========================================================================
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

This past weekend, Dana College sophomore Tom Lensch, set an all-division, all time record by throwing 101 passes. He completed 56 of them for a school record 507 yards. Lensch had three TD passes and three interceptions and also carried the ball nine times.

The amazing part of this story is that his team LOST the game 60-35 !!

By the way, the current NCAA record is still held by one of the hottest NFL QB’s in the league today -- Drew Brees of the San Diego Chargers. Brees threw the ball 83 times in a 1998 game against Wisconsin.

THE PROPHET

With fatidic clarity we see the following scenario unfolding --

WEEK 8: PITT at home takes out undefeated NE
WEEK 9: PITT at home takes out undefeated Philly
WEEK 10: PITT on the road gets taken out by Cleveland

As most of you know, we have a penchant for NOT stepping in front of a team on any kind of streak. By doing so, one can only win ONE wager, but lose many.

You are also well aware of the fact that we don't usually wager on NFL dogs in hopes they will cover the spread in a S/U losing effort. If we select a dog in the NFL it is because we firmly believe they will win the game S/U.

With all that being said, we still want the 3 points which are currently being offered to Pitt at home vs the Pats.

PITT +3 over NE

Pitt has waited for this shot for 112 weeks Two full seasons and eight long weeks

As some of you may remember, the last time Pitt faced NE was back on Week 1, of the 2002 season on MNF. They got smacked down in that back-to-back
(two different season) rematch, 14-30.

The were playing that game as -2.5 pt faves and with MAJOR revenge for a humiliating, playoff eliminating, Super Bowl denying, season crushing, home defeat as a DD HF, 17-24. We shall see if patience indeed is a virtue.
----------- ------------ ---------- ----------------
PITT: 18-4 vs T's passing for 7+ yds/attempt
PITT: 17-4 vs T's winning 75+ % of their G's
PITT: has covered 80% of their HG's L12 yrs off 4+ S/U W's
PITT: 12-0 S/U if they completed 73+ % of their passes LG

NE will be making just their second road trip since Sept 19, six long weeks ago. They are also coming off three straight home games.

NE: 3-3 S/U after a div HW
NE: 3-6 S/U on R if total is 42.5 to 49 (1-4 if 42.5 to 45)

Play against any NFL RF (NE) if they are coming off a S/U HW and their opp this week (Pitt) is coming off a S/U W as a dog.
(36-12 L10 yrs) (75%) (31-17 S/U
==========================================

WHEN S/U WINNERS & ATS WINNERS = MONEY LOSERS

Years and years ago, we began preaching the merits of ignoring the spread when wagering on NFL games.

You can click on past articles (Pointspread Fallacy) and see plenty of money making examples why we are advocates of such a practice.

This concept does not have the same merits when placing wagers on college football, basically, by the very nature of the final point differentials in college ball as compared to pro ball.

In recent years, we have seen more and more handicappers use this S/U (straight up) method in their cravings for ATS (Against The Spread) winners, but even more so, they use these amazing numbers to sensationalize and sell.

The problem with all of this is that for the purpose of sensationalism, which helps sell their services, some of these college S/U and ATS winners do NOT equal winning wagers.

How is that possible, you ask. Well, we are glad you are asking that question.

Knowing when to apply these amazing 80% and 90% numbers to the various teams is the art of proper handicapping. Wagering blindly, based upon a stat that is 44- 2 ATS, can be a money losing proposition, unless one knows when these numbers actually apply.

Consider the following example:

This past (9/20/04) Monday night, the Eagles entertained the Vikings. Many people bet the game based upon the three point spread, however, as usual, we told people to forget the spread for the following reasons:

1. Minny was 1-16 S/U their last 17 games played on grass.
2. Minny was 5-44 ATS in their last 49 S/U losses.
3. Philly was 11-1 ATS their last12 S/U wins & 36-4 ATS their prior 40 S/U wins.

With those high percentage numbers in hand, it seemed fairly certain that if Philly were to win the game on the field (S/U) there would be little doubt, based upon history, that they would also cover the spread and win the money.
Final score: Eagles 27 Vikings 16

Now, let’s switch our attention to the Rutgers vs Kent State game, which was played this past weekend also.

The most popular stat thrown around by some of the biggest name sports handicapping services in the country, was the fact that Rutgers was a near perfect 19-0-1 ATS in their previous 20 S/U wins.

With that number tattooed on their brain, bettors all over the country ran to the window with hands full of green, figuring there is no way that Rutgers would not win this game S/U over Kent --- Especially when one takes into consideration that Rutgers would be playing at home and they were also coming off a most embarrassing home loss to Div 1-AA, University of New Hampshire --- and when they win S/U we know they always get the money .... Or do they?

As things turned out, the ‘players’ were all correct and Rutgers did indeed win the game S/U on the field. The problem was --- Rutgers won the game 29-21, falling short of the 12 point spread and costing their backers those 'hands full of cash'.

Why was it foolish to wager on Rutgers, based solely upon that 19-0-1 ATS stat and why was it dead wrong for sports services to use such a number to entice their players with that sort of sensationalism for this particular game?

The answer: In those 20 games in question, in which Rutgers won the games S/U and got the money in all but that one ‘push’, they were the underdog in all but five of those games. Translation: If you win the game S/U as a dog, obviously you win ATS and get the money. What we need to know, in the case of teams such as Rutgers, when they are installed as favorites, is what their ATS record is when they win the game S/U as a favorite and/or what their ATS record is when they LOSE the game S/U as dogs. That would be a better indicator to help us wager on such teams, because, as a dog, we want to know if they fail to cover the number in their losses, or if they have a tendency to play within the number when installed as that dog.

This works conversely as well. Telling me that Team A, which is a favorite in the majority of their games, has an ATS record of 4-35, in their last 39 S/U losses, does not really impress me, because when they lose S/U, in most cases, they automatically fail to cover the spread, because they were the favorites in the majority of those games.

Bottom line --- Not all S/U & ATS winners equal money winning wagers.
The time for thinking is before you wager, not after.