I Will Not Be Angry Over Hall of Fame Voting, A New Year’s Resolution

Voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2013 is underway, and we'll soon learn the names of men that have been deemed worthy by the BBWAA, the omniscient arbiters and experts of character judgment, medical science, child development, and sometimes even baseball.

Each winter, the voting process provides a steady stream of self-importance and pearl-clutching from mostly middle aged and wholly pious sportswriters. Equally reliable has been the reactionary uproar from the generally more sane and clear-headed humans who'd rather not penalize Jeff Bagwell for having been born in the late 1960s and being awesome at baseball.

This year's ballot, thanks to the inclusion of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling, has elicited even more attention and horror due to the candidates’ undeniable excellence on the field and probable scumbaggery off the field. Many believe that the first quality should matter more than the other, while (sadly) more will likely argue otherwise, and much digital ink and internet bandwidth will be spent over this debate.

I will not take part in such folly. Or will try very hard, anyway. Consider these fun facts that have been cherry-picked for emphasis from historical voting results of all 110 inductees (Big Table at the end):

• Nine believed Hank Aaron did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Sixteen believed Mike Schmidt did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Twenty believed Ted Williams did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Twenty-three believed Willie Mays did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Twenty-eight believed Rickey Henderson did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Forty-five believed Frank Robinson did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Fifty-two believed Sandy Koufax did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
• Eighty-one believed Joe Morgan did not belong in the Hall of Fame.

Logic, reason and objectivity have never been the primary factors in the BBWAA’s collective decision making process. I believe in logic, reason and objectivity. Seething with wrath over voting results of a group that cares little about these qualities will only bring anger and frustration.

I will not take part in such folly.
I will not take part in such folly.
I will not take part in such folly.

Happy New Year.


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Big Table
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Year	Name	Votes	% of Ballots	Total	Not
1999	Nolan Ryan	491	98.8%	497	6
1992	Tom Seaver	425	98.8%	430	5
2007	Cal Ripken	537	98.5%	545	8
1999	George Brett	488	98.2%	497	9
1936	Ty Cobb	222	98.2%	226	4
1982	Hank Aaron	406	97.8%	415	9
2007	Tony Gwynn	532	97.6%	545	13
1995	Mike Schmidt	444	96.5%	460	16
1989	Johnny Bench	431	96.4%	447	16
1994	Steve Carlton	436	95.6%	456	20
1936	Babe Ruth	215	95.1%	226	11
1936	Honus Wagner	215	95.1%	226	11
2009	Rickey Henderson	511	94.8%	539	28
1979	Willie Mays	409	94.7%	432	23
1989	Carl Yastrzemski	423	94.6%	447	24
1964	Luke Appling	189	94.0%	201	12
1962	Bob Feller	150	93.8%	160	10
1993	Reggie Jackson	396	93.6%	423	27
1966	Ted Williams	282	93.4%	302	20
1969	Stan Musial	317	93.2%	340	23
1990	Jim Palmer	411	92.6%	444	33
1983	Brooks Robinson	344	92.0%	374	30
2005	Wade Boggs	474	91.9%	516	42
2002	Ozzie Smith	433	91.7%	472	39
1936	Christy Mathewson	205	90.7%	226	21
1991	Rod Carew	401	90.5%	443	42
2011	Roberto Alomar	523	90.0%	581	58
1982	Frank Robinson	370	89.2%	415	45
1955	Joe DiMaggio	223	88.8%	251	28
1980	Al Kaline	340	88.3%	385	45
1974	Mickey Mantle	322	88.2%	365	43
1951	Mel Ott	197	87.2%	226	29
1947	Carl Hubbell	140	87.0%	161	21
1972	Sandy Koufax	344	86.9%	396	52
1976	Robin Roberts	337	86.9%	388	51
1967	Red Ruffing	266	86.9%	306	40
1952	Harry Heilmann	203	86.8%	234	31
1980	Duke Snider	333	86.5%	385	52
1955	Ted Lyons	217	86.5%	251	34
2012	Barry Larkin	495	86.4%	573	78
2008	Rich Gossage	466	85.8%	543	77
1939	George Sisler	235	85.8%	274	39
1987	Billy Williams	354	85.7%	413	59
1972	Yogi Berra	339	85.6%	396	57
2003	Eddie Murray	423	85.3%	496	73
2004	Paul Molitor	431	85.2%	506	75
1956	Hank Greenberg	164	85.0%	193	29
1949	Charlie Gehringer	159	85.0%	187	28
1968	Joe Medwick	240	84.8%	283	43
1984	Luis Aparicio	341	84.6%	403	62
2001	Dave Winfield	435	84.5%	515	80
1947	Frankie Frisch	136	84.5%	161	25
1981	Bob Gibson	337	84.0%	401	64
1985	Hoyt Wilhelm	331	83.8%	395	64
1977	Ernie Banks	321	83.8%	383	62
1983	Juan Marichal	313	83.7%	374	61
1936	Walter Johnson	189	83.6%	226	37
1937	Nap Lajoie	168	83.6%	201	33
1952	Paul Waner	195	83.3%	234	39
2004	Dennis Eckersley	421	83.2%	506	85
1973	Warren Spahn	316	83.2%	380	64
1984	Harmon Killebrew	335	83.1%	403	68
1954	Rabbit Maranville	209	82.9%	252	43
1988	Willie Stargell	352	82.4%	427	75
2001	Kirby Puckett	423	82.1%	515	92
1937	Tris Speaker	165	82.1%	201	36
1990	Joe Morgan	363	81.8%	444	81
1955	Dazzy Vance	205	81.7%	251	46
1998	Don Sutton	386	81.6%	473	87
1986	Willie McCovey	346	81.4%	425	79
1992	Rollie Fingers	349	81.2%	430	81
1938	Pete Alexander	212	80.9%	262	50
1997	Phil Niekro	380	80.3%	473	93
1954	Bill Dickey	202	80.2%	252	50
2011	Bert Blyleven	463	79.7%	581	118
1985	Lou Brock	315	79.7%	395	80
2000	Carlton Fisk	397	79.6%	499	102
1947	Mickey Cochrane	128	79.5%	161	33
1978	Eddie Mathews	301	79.4%	379	78
1969	Roy Campanella	270	79.4%	340	70
1953	Dizzy Dean	209	79.2%	264	55
1951	Jimmie Foxx	179	79.2%	226	47
1956	Joe Cronin	152	78.8%	193	41
1976	Bob Lemon	305	78.6%	388	83
1984	Don Drysdale	316	78.4%	403	87
1942	Rogers Hornsby	182	78.1%	233	51
2003	Gary Carter	387	78.0%	496	109
2010	Andre Dawson	420	77.9%	539	119
1974	Whitey Ford	284	77.8%	365	81
1939	Eddie Collins	213	77.7%	274	61
1955	Gabby Hartnett	195	77.7%	251	56
1948	Herb Pennock	94	77.7%	121	27
1999	Robin Yount	385	77.5%	497	112
1962	Jackie Robinson	124	77.5%	160	36
1954	Bill Terry	195	77.4%	252	57
1970	Lou Boudreau	232	77.3%	300	68
2000	Tony Perez	385	77.2%	499	114
1991	Gaylord Perry	342	77.2%	443	101
2006	Bruce Sutter	400	76.9%	520	120
1948	Pie Traynor	93	76.9%	121	28
2009	Jim Rice	412	76.4%	539	127
1947	Lefty Grove	123	76.4%	161	38
1987	Catfish Hunter	315	76.3%	413	98
2005	Ryne Sandberg	393	76.2%	516	123
1937	Cy Young	153	76.1%	201	48
1972	Early Wynn	301	76.0%	396	95
1939	Willie Keeler	207	75.5%	274	67
1991	Fergie Jenkins	334	75.4%	443	109
1975	Ralph Kiner	273	75.4%	362	89
1953	Al Simmons	199	75.4%	264	65

A Reaction to a Curious Reaction to Goodell and Polamalu

Sometime near the end of last week, I read about noted moralist and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to fine Troy Polamalu $10,000 for using a cell phone to speak to his wife in the sidelines after a concussion. I then read this reaction piece. Finally, against my personal goal of always avoiding ESPN.com’s signature troll minefield, I read through the usual spitball fights until I found a most rare gem that contains mostly coherent and complete sentences.

To wit:

sports medic
Lincoln Kennedy was talking about it on Fox Sports Radio last night and as a former player he said that the procedure is for the player to ask the trainer to call or send a text. The trainers have the contact numbers of the players wives in case there is an emergency. The league doesn't want players taking/making calls during the game because of broadcast rights (players doing in game interviews with non-NFL partners) or worse, point fixing. The NFL tends takes those things seriously.

[Mr. Shin’s ESPN Handle]
I realize what the procedure states. The problem with the NFL, and especially the current Goodell regime, is the persistent refusal to apply a nuanced enforcement of its rules. A situation in which the player was merely assuring his concerned wife about his safety should not warrant a $10,000 fine. Few rules are clearly black and white (a guy stepping out of bounce, a made field goal, for instance) and a silly rule like this should have been reviewed and fine revoked once the NFL gathered the facts.

sports medic
The rule isn't silly. If the players don't make calls from the field then the commissioner doesn't have to spend time investigating what each call is about. Having the trainer call let's the player's wife know he is OK. When I was in Iraq, we didn't call family members when they got shot or hurt by IED's. There was a notification system for family members and we let it work. The family members didn't get their panties in a wad about it.

[MSEH]
My point is that while the letter of the rule states "thou shalt not use a cell phone on the sidelines", the spirit of the rule is to prevent cheating and other activities that you've mentioned. For an extraordinary circumstance like this, the NFL has plenty of manpower to make two phone calls: "Hi Troy, what was the call about?" followed by "Sir, he was just telling his wife he's okay"

As for your war analogy, battles in Iraq aren't broadcast live on national television. The family members would surely have, as you described, gotten their panties in a wad had they watched the soldiers get shot or hurt by IEDs.

Goodell's predictable knee-jerk reaction has already been widely criticized by several other folks. I am more curious about the reaction of Mr. sports medic and his ilk. Forget sports medic’s thinly veiled attempt to play military experience as the moral trump card in a mostly unrelated context. Why would someone that presumably has no personal connection with the NFL or its Draconian commissioner throw a blanket support to a literal enforcement of a bureaucratic code over a most petty offense? How does a rule that seeks to address a risk that is both monopolistic (lest Jesus weep that a player breaks broadcast exclusivity embargo) and paranoid (only the dimmest of fools would risk their livelihood and engage in such direct, public communication with gamblers) not be interpreted with even the faintest shade of gray? And at the risk of practicing amateur psychoanalysis, does military experience often lead to fervent obedience to authority, even one that exerts no real influence to or hold domain over the average fan? I am at once confused, disillusioned and, most of all, curious.

Timeless. Elegant. Southpaw. Athletic.

May Josh Outman pitch for ten thousand years.

This Video Will Make You Punch Your Unborn Son in Uncontrolled Excitement

In anticipation of tomorrow's Winter Classic and the imminent Gregorian Calendar Year-End Cutoff Celebration, I present you folks this montage.

Commence batshit madness in three, two, one....NOW:

Week 15

An abbreviated version of the Week 15 picks in the league where they play...for pay...

San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers - Chargers keep pressure on Chiefs with a win here. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Kansas City Chiefs @ St. Louis Rams - Chiefs win a low scoring affair. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins - Miami guts one out over a game Bills team. Pick: MIAMI

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals - Cleveland keeps playing tough and Cincinnati finds more ways to blow it. Pick: CLEVELAND

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts - I should know better than to keep picking against Peyton Manning; however, I just think that Jags are the more complete team right now. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans - I think the Titans have quit on Jeff Fisher, who will be dismissed at the end of the year because Titans owner Bud Adams prefers Vince Young. Texans showed heart coming back against Baltimore last week, and will do so here. Pick: HOUSTON

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys - Is it me or do good coaches forget how to coach once Daniel Snyder hires them to coach the Redskins? Cowboys continue to play well for Jason Garrett. Pick: DALLAS

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants - "Let's go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!" Giants defense will follow the great Lawrence Taylor's advice as they'll continue to bottle up Michael Vick. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers - Who cares? Pick: ARIZONA

Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Bucs beat inferior competition, and while the Lions are building a solid core, they appear to be inferior to the Bucs. Pick: TAMPA BAY

New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens - This should be a great game between a couple of heavyweights. I'll take the Saints in a close one. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks - Seattle better be rooting hard for Kansas City to knock off St. Louis because there is no way Atlanta leaves without a win. Pick: ATLANTA

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers - Troy Polamalu is out for the Steelers, but the Jets and their fans are reeling after 2 straight losses. Better hope for help in other games, Jets fans, because the Steelers are taking this one. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders - Tim Tebow is not the second coming of Jesus and he's not the second coming of John Elway. Pick: OAKLAND

Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots - If Aaron Rodgers isn't playing, the Packers have no shot at beating the Pats. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

Monday

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings @ University of Minnesota - Bulls...Bulls...Bulls...Bears...Bears...Bears...Ditka...Polish sausage...Ditka...Bears...Bears...Bears...Bears.... Pick: CHICAGO

Week 14 Review

One more thing on the Jets. Throughout this season, until the last two weeks, the Jets, Rex Ryan, and Mark Sanchez have been receiving more than their fair share of laurels and the Giants, Tom Coughlin, and Eli Manning have been receiving the darts. First, I think it's ridiculous that if a team wins a few games in a row, they are suddenly the best team in the game, the coach is a genius, and the quarterback is the next great thing; meanwhile, if a team loses a couple games, they suck, the coach has to be fired, and the quarterback should be benched. That said, I'm still shocked that anyone could suggest that Rex Ryan is better than Tom Coughlin or Mark Sanchez is better than Eli Manning; I do understand, though I disagree with, the argument that the Jets are better than the Giants, however.

As far as the rest of the week 14 goes...

Most importantly, my picks went 9-5 and with 2 games remaining for the week my streak of 3 straight weeks of 12-4 will be broken. So far, I've lost with the Jets, Packers, Broncos, Seahawks, and Browns and I have the Giants and Ravens as my winners tonight.

Once Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game in the first half against the Lions the writing was on the wall that the Packers were in trouble. It's tough for any team to succeed without their #1 starting quarterback, and the Packers are no different. Without Rodgers, who is questionable for next week with a concussion, the Packers playoff chances take a severe hit. The Lions are going to be good in the next couple seasons if Matthew Stafford could stay on the field because their defense looks like it is going to be a very good one.

The Giants-Vikings game was postponed until tonight, but the video of the roof caving in at the Metrodome was awesome. Watching the snow fall through the roof and crash unto the field reminded me of the scene in Ghostbusters when the molten Stay Puft Marshmallow Man rains down on the roof and street below.

Week 14 Review - Jets

The snow that postponed the Giants-Vikings game and moved it to Detroit tonight apparently grounded the New York Jets as well. For the second week in a row the Jets offense didn't show up and nobody was running around pretending to be an airplane, although Santonio Holmes had a chance to. Trailing 10-0 with just under 5 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter and the Jets deep in Miami territory Holmes dropped a ball that even Luis Castillo would have caught. The Jets were forced to settle for a field goal to make it 10-3 and the offense lost any momentum it was building.

While the defense kept them in the game, the offense looked anemic. The running tandem of LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Green gained 66 yards on 27 carries. Prior to their week 7 bye, Tomlinson had only 1 game in which he averaged less than 4 yards per carry and made GM Mike Tannenbaum look smart for picking him up off the scrap heap from San Diego. However, since that time, Tomlinson has averaged under 4 yards per carry in each game except once and had only 2.6 yards per carry yesterday against Miami. Maybe Chargers GM AJ Smith knew what he was doing when he didn't resign the aging Tomlinson after all.

Mark Sanchez was completely ineffective for the second week in a row. While he did drop a perfectly thrown ball into Holmes' hands that should have been caught for a touchdown, for most of the afternoon Sanchez looked like a young quarterback. Sanchez was 17-44 for 216 yards, an interception, and 4 fumbles, 1 of which was lost. Sure, Sanchez should have had a touchdown pass to Holmes, but he easily could have been intercepted 3 or 4 times as well. After not throwing an interception in the first 5 games of the season, Sanchez has now thrown an interception in 8 straight games, an alarming trend that needs correcting. As bad as Sanchez has looked in the last two weeks, he has also shown a lot of cojones in clutch situations in his young career and it would seem that the Jets do have a quarterback they'll be able to count on for a long time.

Perhaps the worst part of yesterday's game was when Dolphins CB Nolan Carroll was tripped by the Jets strength and conditioning coach, Sal Alosi, along the sideline during a punt late in the 3rd quarter. As Rex Ryan said in the preseason on Hard Knocks there is a difference between having fun and acting like a jackass. Right now the Jets are acting like a bunch of jackasses and this display by Alosi further illustrates that.

After losing 2 straight and falling to 9-4 with trips to Pittsburgh and Chicago looming the Jets have reached a crisis point. I still think that the Jets are one of the 4 best teams in the AFC and I expect them to be playing at New England or Pittsburgh in the 2nd week of the playoffs, but right now they sure look like the same old Jets...

Week 14 Picks

My apologies for the lack of updates to the blog over the past week and a half. I've missed an awful lot in such a short period of time, including the escalation of the arms race in the American League East; the Red Sox have acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford and the Yankees are going after Cliff Lee as hard as they can. The Jets got embarrassed in New England, but if you ask me, and you haven't, they'll still have a huge say in who wins the AFC. The Giants remain tied with the Eagles in the NFC East and still remain in a tight race for their division and an NFC wild card spot. My football picks went 12-4 for the third straight week to bring the season record to 120-72, but, alas, not good enough to win the pool. So, we move onward and hopefully upward as I give you the picks for week 14 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Indianapolis Colts (6-6) @ Tennessee Titans (5-7) - Both teams come into this one looking to jumpstart their seasons for one final push at the AFC South title and a spot in the playoffs. The Titans come in losers of 5 in a row and a loss tonight to the Colts pretty much buries them for the season. The Colts, losers of 3 in a row, sit 1 game back of division leading Jacksonville and are in desperate need of a victory tonight. Peyton Manning has thrown 11 interceptions in the last 3 games for Indianapolis as teams can sit back and flood the passing lanes on a Colts offense that cannot run the ball and lacks some very important pass catchers. It's hard to feel confident about either team in this one, but I'll trust that a very prideful Peyton Manning shows up and leads the Colts to victory and keeps them alive in the AFC South. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS

Sunday

New England Patriots (10-2) @ Chicago Bears (9-3) - After the Pats blew out the Jets on Monday night it looks like the Patriots are the new "best team in the NFL" contest. However, after beating the Jets, are the Patriots ready to take on another one of the better teams in the NFL? If they had anyone else at coach and quarterback, I would look for a letdown, but it's hard to see Belichick or Brady allowing that to happen here. The Bears are usually able to generate an excellent pass rush, but that ability is going to be tested against an offensive line that has kept Tom Brady upright and his jersey clean all year. I also think that Jay Cutler is certainly capable of turning the ball over a few times, perhaps even to Devin McCourty, the rookie CB from Rutgers. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

Cleveland Browns (5-7) @ Buffalo Bills (2-10) - A matchup featuring two teams that have not given up despite their sub-.500 records. The Browns have somehow found a way to get victory away from the jaws of defeat while the Bills have stolen defeat from the jaws of victory. I would expect this one to be an even game, and the Browns close out the victory behind RB Peyton Hillis. Pick: CLEVELAND

Cincinnati Bengals (2-10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) - What a disappointment the Bengals have been this season, especially Carson Palmer, who continues to turn the ball over way too much. And you may not like him, but Terrell Owens has been very productive this year, so you can't blame him for this team's terrible performance. As for this one against the Steelers, who won a hard fought battle with Baltimore last week, I think the Bengals will show up and play the Steelers tough, perhaps in the neighborhood of 17-14 or 20-17, but Palmer will make a critical turnover in the 4th quarter to give the Steelers another victory. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Oakland Raiders (6-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) - The Raiders came up with a big effort last week in San Diego against the Chargers to level their record at 6-6, and while they most likely will miss the playoffs, there is reason to be optimistic about the Raiders going forward. This week they face another daunting challenge, traveling across the country to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lead the AFC South. It would not be a shock if the Raiders won this one, but I think the combination of traveling across the country and facing a Jacksonville team that senses an opportunity to win the division will be too much for the Raiders; Oakland is 2-4 on the road and the Jaguars are 4-2 at home. The running backs on both sides should have a big say in how this one ends up. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) @ Washington Redskins (5-7) - The Bucs have to be smarting after last week's loss against Atlanta at home. Leading in the 4th quarter, the Bucs could not close the Falcons out and, as a result, now sit 1 game out of the playoffs with 4 to play. Washington could have helped the Bucs out last week, but they didn't even show up against the Giants in New York. As far as this one goes, I'm sticking with the trend that has held true all season: the Bucs don't lose against teams that are worse than they are...they also don't beat the teams that are better either. Pick: TAMPA BAY

Green Bay Packers (8-4) @ Detroit Lions (2-10) - The Lions continue to play hard, which you have to respect, but it is not translating into victories. Unfortunately, for the Lions, I don't see them getting a victory here either. The Lions nearly pulled off a miracle comeback in the first meeting between these two up at Lambeau Field, and I would expect the Lions to make the Packers sweat a bit here too; however, I think Green Bay is one of the better teams in the NFC and they should come away with the win. Aaron Rodgers is the real deal at quarterback and the Packers defense is one of the best in the league. Pick: GREEN BAY

New York Giants (8-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-7) - Last week the pressure was on the Giants to keep pace with the Eagles, who had won earlier in the week; this week the Giants can put that pressure on the Eagles, who play Sunday night. There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not Brett Favre will start, but I don't buy for a second that he won't be starting. He is agonizingly close to 300 consecutive starts and, let's face it, he didn't come out of retirement to hold a clipboard. So, while I think he will start, I also think he will be running for his life as the Giant pass rush chases him down all afternoon. The Giants are also starting to get healthy as WRs Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks and LT David Diehl are all practicing, and OLs Shaun O'Hara and Shawn Andrews could be back next week. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Atlanta Falcons (10-2) @ Carolina Panthers (1-11) - Talk about a real chance to fatten up and get the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs; the Falcons get to face the lowly Panthers twice in the season's last 4 weeks. In addition to facing the Panthers this week in Carolina, the Falcons will play at Seattle in week 15, home against New Orleans in week 16, and finish at home against Carolina in week 17. And while the Saints are nipping at the Falcons' heels, their last 4 are a bit tougher. In addition to the Falcons in week 16, they have the Rams this week, then go to Baltimore, and they finish at home against Tampa Bay. But, as for this game, I'm taking the Falcons. Pick: ATLANTA

St. Louis Rams (6-6) @ New Orleans Saints (9-3) - On its face, this one looks like an easy one for the Saints; however, I would urge you to have more respect for Steve Spagnuolo's Rams. They may not have the fire power to equal the Saints, but they are a hard-nosed team that will play tough defensively. However, that just means I don't think that the Rams will get blown out. This one is at New Orleans, a traditionally tough place to play, and the Saints are getting healthy in the backfield as well. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Seattle Seahawks (6-6) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-8) - Talk about an awful division, the NFC West is so bad that even the 3-9 Cardinals are still technically in the playoff hunt, as are the 49ers, who seemed to be everybody's preseason pick. Now, as bad as this division is, I still like the idea that a division winner gets to host a playoff game against a wild card, even if the wild card has a better record. I don't want to hear this nonsense that it's not fair to the team that won more games to have to go on the road to play an inferior team in the playoffs. Silencio! Any team that wins its division deserves to host a playoff game. If home field means so much to you, then you should have won your own division. Now quit crying, and go play on the road! I have not heard the Saints do any of this crying, but I have heard it from others elsewhere, and I suspect as the season draws to a close we will hear it more, especially if the NFC West winner has a sub-.500 record. Pick: SEATTLE

Miami Dolphins (6-6) @ New York Jets (9-3) - The Jets were embarrassed by the Patriots on Monday night and now they look to take it out on the Dolphins. It's not going to be that easy. Miami is a much better team on the road, although that usually doesn't translate for Miami late in the season when they come north. But, they have a secret weapon on their side! That's right, the New York Giants, who will let the Dolphins practice in their facility prior to the game so the Dolphins can get acclimated to the conditions. However, while the Dolphins will use the Giants facility, they will be practicing in the Giants' practice bubble, and, last I had heard, the new Giants Stadium does not have a dome. So, how this will aid the Dolphins and why it's such a big deal is beyond me. After getting punched in the mouth...repeatedly, the Jets are hitting the panic button just a bit. Rex Ryan has said he'll take the ball first if the Jets win the coin toss instead of letting his defense go out and set the tone early. And, for the first time in Ryan's tenure, the Jets have been relatively quiet in the media. The Jets were certainly humbled by Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the rest of the New England Patriots last week, but they should still be able to beat Miami this week. The Jets defense shuts down the run very effectively, the Dolphins are not a big time passing team, and Mark Sanchez and the offense were playing very well until last week. If the Dolphins do knock off the Jets, then it's time to...PANIC!!!!!!!! Pick: NEW YORK JETS

Denver Broncos (3-9) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-9) - The Broncos are hoping that what worked for the Cowboys and Vikings will work for them. After firing their head coaches the Cowboys and Vikings both won the next week. Well, the Broncos fired Josh McDaniels this week, and they'll look to get interim coach Eric Studesville his first win as head coach. I picked Denver, but I have little conviction about this pick. More importantly, regardless of who coaches the Broncos next year, they will be paying 3 coaches next season. They still owe Mike Shanahan, who now coaches in Washington, the recently deposed McDaniels, and McDaniels' replacement. While I have no idea who Denver will target, it will be interesting to see if they go for a cheaper, lesser known commodity, or if they go after a coach with a proven track record, like Brian Billick, Jon Gruden, et al. Pick: DENVER

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) @ San Diego Chargers (6-6) - The Kansas City Chiefs can thank the Oakland Raiders for potentially winning the AFC West for them. Last week the Chargers attempt to make another late season run at the AFC West took a major hit when the Chargers lost at home to the Raiders. Instead of being 7-5, 1 game back, and a chance to draw even this week, the Chargers, 6-6 and 2 games back, face a must win game this week against the Chiefs. If Kansas City wins, they will have a 3 game lead with 3 to play and the division all but locked up. In order to win, though, they're most likely going to have to do so without QB Matt Cassel, who underwent an appendectomy this week and is most likely out. The Chargers, meanwhile, will have their elite QB, Phillip Rivers, at the controls and I would expect San Diego to get back on track and win this week and win out to keep the pressure on Kansas City. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-8) - After sleepwalking through much of the season and getting their coach fired, the Cowboys now appear to be playing up to their talent level. They have won 3 of 4 under interim coach Jason Garrett, and, let's be honest, if it weren't for Roy Williams' fumble late against New Orleans, it would be 4 of 4. They beat a 1 dimensional Indianapolis team last week, forcing Peyton Manning into 4 interceptions. This week they will face a much tougher challenge in Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. I would expect this one to be another high scoring affair like the Cowboys-Colts game was last week (38-35, OT), as the Eagles' defense just does not seem to be as good under Sean McDermott as it was under the deceased Jim Johnson. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Monday

Baltimore Ravens (8-4) @ Houston Texans (5-7) - The Ravens were hard luck losers against the Steelers last Sunday night, but I would expect them to bounce back in a big way against the Texans this week. Houston lost a tough one to Philadelphia, but they will be facing one of the best defenses in the NFL this week and Matt Schaub and the offense will have a much tougher time moving the ball this week. Conversely, Joe Flacco and his Ravens offense should put up more than the 10 points they put on the Steelers on a very weak Houston defense. Pick: BALTIMORE and 41 points.

Pearl Harbor Day

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

My apologies for not getting this speech posted earlier today. Video and audio of the speech can be heard here. As we all should know, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States of America into what became World War II, which the allied forces of the United States, England, and Russia would win; however, victory was not without the cost of millions of lives.

Week 13 Picks

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, but now it's time for the stretch run in the NFL season. It's hard to believe, but there are only 5 weeks to go in the season, which also means there are only 5 opportunities left to win the weekly football pool. Last week, for the 2nd week in a row, I went 12-4 to run the season's record to 108-68; however, it was still not good enough. And now the picks for week number 13 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Houston Texans (5-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) - The Texans ended their 4 game losing streak last week when they shut out the Tennessee Titans and in doing so they stayed alive, unbelievably, in the AFC South race, as Jacksonville and Indianapolis both lost. Houston is fortunate that WR Andre Johnson will not miss tonight's game after getting into a fight with Tennesse DB Cortland Finnegan. However, even with Johnson in the lineup, I don't think that Houston is good enough to go into Philadelphia and get a victory against an Eagles team smarting after a loss to Chicago last week. I'd expect Michael Vick and the birds to put up a big number on the Texans defense, which, despite the shutout last week, is not very good. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Sunday

Buffalo Bills (2-9) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-7) - The Bills literally let a chance to knock off Pittsburgh and get a third straight win slide through their fingertips last week as Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass to Stevie Johnson fell harmlessly into the Pittsburgh endzone in overtime. I know I've said it a lot about Buffalo, and Detroit for that matter, that they are not as bad as their record indicates; however, they're still 2-9. The Vikings continued this season's latest trend, getting a W for an interim coach in his first game as they beat Washington for coach Leslie Frazier's first win. Now, will they be able to duplicate that "success" against the Bills this week? I think so. I think playing in the dome helps, as does having a reliable rushing attack. Pick: MINNESOTA

Cleveland Browns (4-7) @ Miami Dolphins (6-5) - Big effort by the Dolphins last week to go into Oakland and come out with a victory. Cleveland also won last week, albeit in very unimpressive fashion. They were ahead of the Panthers 21-7 midway through the 2nd quarter and at that point you figured the Panthers would just mail it in. But, give the Panthers credit, they came all the way back, even taking the lead 23-21, only to fall 24-23 as their last second field goal attempt hit the upright and was no good. As for this week, with Chad Henne back at QB for the Dolphins and Colt McCoy still out for the Browns, I'll take Miami, even if they are at home. Pick: MIAMI

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) @ Tennessee Titans (5-6) - The Titans were embarrassing last week against Houston, getting shut out 20-0; meanwhile, the Jags could not hold onto a double digit lead over the Giants and fell back to the pack in the AFC South, a division no team seems to want to win. I think after blowing that lead to New York last week, the Jags come out on top this week, but it won't be by much. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Denver Broncos (3-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) - If the Chiefs aren't motivated to get revenge in this one after Denver blew them out a few weeks ago in Denver, then San Diego is going to have no problem winning this division. I don't think that Denver is very good, first of all, and while Kansas City is 2-2 over their last 4, I still think that home field advantage and being the superior team overall is enough to get the job done. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Washington Redskins (5-6) @ New York Giants (7-4) - The Giants got a huge boost last week with their come from behind victory over Jacksonville, and losses by Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and, most importantly, Philadelphia, which gives the Giants two roads to the playoffs (division championship or wild card). I have not seen the Redskins yet this season, but they do have Donovan McNabb at QB, and he seems to have some of his better games against the Giants. However, I think he may be running for his life during much of the game with the way the Giants pass rush is able to terrorize quarterbacks. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Chicago Bears (8-3) @ Detroit Lions (2-9) - The Lions had the Bears dead to rights in week 1 when Calvin Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the game's waning moments, but then he lost control of the ball as he was going to celebrate and the pass was ruled incomplete, and the Lions lost. The Lions have been one of those teams that have fought hard all year and I really think they could be pretty good in the next few years; I mean, did you see the game that Ndamukong Suh played on Thanksgiving Day? I still think the Bears will win, but the Lions would be smart to go take a look at what the Giants defensive line did to the Bears offensive line and replicate that. Pick: CHICAGO

San Francisco 49ers (4-7) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4) - Oddly enough, both teams are a game out of 1st place in their respective divisions, but that's where the similarities end. San Francisco has picked up the pace a bit after their horrendous start, but Green Bay's defense is first in the league in points against, so I think it will be a struggle for the niners to find the endzone in this one. On the other side of the ball, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who has become an elite QB in the league and has also made the Packer backers forget about #4. Pick: GREEN BAY

Atlanta Falcons (9-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4) - Both teams faced tough tests in their games last week. The Falcons won at home against Green Bay on a last second field goal after the Packers had tied it up in the final minutes; it was very similar to their victory over Baltimore a few weeks ago. The Bucs went north to Baltimore and fell 17-10. Again, the Bucs can beat the teams with sub-.500 records, but, while they have had a good year, against the good teams they can't get the job done. Pick: ATLANTA

New Orleans Saints (8-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-9) - After blowing a 17-0 lead to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Saints can thank DB Malcolm Jenkins for their 30-27 victory. Jenkins ripped the ball from Roy Williams as Williams was racing toward the New Orleans endzone, recovered the ball, and then Drew Brees led the Saints down the field for the winning score. In the Thanksgiving nightcap, the Bengals showed up for the first half, and then fell asleep in the second half, losing 26-10. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Oakland Raiders (5-6) @ San Diego Chargers (6-5) - After all the feel good stories about the Raiders resurgence a few weeks ago, the story can now be on the Chargers, who are making yet another second half run at a division championship. Phillip Rivers is playing like a serious MVP candidate. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Dallas Cowboys (3-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-5) - Peyton Manning and the Colts did not look sharp last Sunday night against the Chargers, and Manning, like his younger brother, has turned the ball over a lot. However, he's still one of the best players in the league, if not the best, and the Colts are at home. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS

St. Louis Rams (5-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-8) - The Rams got a well earned victory in Mile High last week, and the Cardinals got blown out on Monday night. The Cardinals play terrible defense, the Rams have an average defense and a very good young quarterback. Pick: ST. LOUIS

Carolina Panthers (1-10) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-6) - This one's in Seattle so I'll take the Seahawks. Pick: SEATTLE

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-3) - The first of two titanic matchups to end Week 13, and hopefully at least one of these games lives up to the hype. In this one you have a young elite quarterback on both sides going up against one of the league's top defenses, and both defenses are ferocious. This is going to be one of those low-scoring, tight defensive battles that comes down to the last few minutes. I am going with Baltimore in this one, mainly because they're home, but there is no clear favorite in this one at all. Pick: BALTIMORE

Monday

New York Jets (9-2) @ New England Patriots (9-2) - Again, another rivalry game. The Jets are going to Foxborough looking to prove that they are as good as their record says they are. Now, when you win 9 and lose 2, you're pretty damn good, and I think that Rex Ryan and co. deserve all the respect in the world. However, will their defense be able to get to Tom Brady? All year long the Pats offensive line has kept Brady well protected and, as a result, the Pats offense has clicked. In fact, I think that in this matchup it's the two offenses that have the advantage over the opposing defense. While the Patriot defense has improved, there is no question that Mark Sanchez is feeling comfortable with the offense and can make the big plays when they need it most. Pick: NEW ENGLAND and 48 points for the tie breaker