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

Worst Idea Ever

The Mets had two reliable left handed relievers last year in Hisanori Takahashi and Pedro Feliciano; however, after Feliciano declined the team's offer of salary arbitration, it appears that neither will be with the club in 2011; per the terms of his contract, the Mets lost the right to sign Takahashi before 2011 if a deal was not in place by October 31. So, what is a team that needs lefties in the bullpen to do? Well, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News seems to think he has a solution, and, it's not one that most fans are going to like...Make Oliver Perez the team's lefty reliever in 2011. Yes, that Oliver Perez.

Why does Martino think the Mets should do this? I'll tell you why. Perez will make $12 million this year, which is guaranteed, so they may as well get something for him. After struggling early, Perez has pitched very well recently in the Mexican winter league. Lefties hit only hit .215 against him last year. Ollie's not really lazy, and despite knowing the team wouldn't be using him, he still worked his butt off in the bullpen. There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano in the Mets' farm system. And, if Perez does struggle in spring training, they can release him before the season anyway.

Alright, let's go through these reasons 1 by 1.

If he struggles in spring training, they can release him anyway. Spring training is a time to give players a chance, I agree; however, haven't we seen enough from Ollie to know what he is? But, if the team wants to use the Grapefruit League to give him a chance, I can't go too crazy because those games don't count anyway.

Lefties only hit .215 against Perez. This point is actually fairly solid, and if Perez could duplicate this result over and over again during the course of the year, I'd be willing to, perhaps, let him try being the lefty specialist. However, when has Ollie actually showed any consistency that would give you any reason to trust him, especially in a big spot. I mean, do you really want Ollie on the mound in a tight game in Citizens Bank Park with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley up and the tying and/or go ahead runs on base? I definitely don't.

Ollie is not lazy. Look, I can't dispute this one at all because I'm not around the team ever. If Perez works as hard as everyone says, then I have to take their word for it.

There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano, so why not use Ollie? Again, I don't trust Perez, and I don't want him facing Howard and Utley in the scenario I described above. I'd be fine with letting a prospect cut his teeth at the major league level and learn what it takes to get big league hitters out, and, who knows, maybe the Mets will catch lightning in a bottle.

Ollie is now pitching very well in the Mexican League. I must have missed something, since when did getting hitters out in the Mexican League equate with success at the Major League level? Kei Igawa set the franchise record for victories for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre AAA franchise, yet the Yankees have him buried in AAA with no intention of calling him up.

Perez will make the $12 million anyway, so they should get something for him. No. In the 2 prior years of his 3 year deal, which expires, thankfully, after this year, he has not given any indication that he is going to give them any production this year either. Some guys can't pitch in New York, and Oliver Perez appears to be one of them. In this case, the best course for the team would be addition by subtraction. Let Perez go finish out his career playing in a city where they don't care and won't be bothered by the fact that Perez is a godawful pitcher.

So, how would I fill the voids left by Feliciano and Takahashi? I would give some of the young lefties in the team's farm system a chance because, as I said earlier, they may catch lightning in a bottle. I would also explore the scrap heap for lefty relievers--maybe Jesse Orosco can still pitch--because relievers are up and down from year to year anyway. I definitely would not fill the voids with an even bigger void, however.

Week 12 Review

After the Giants lost to the Eagles last week in Philadelphia the playoff picture was starting to look rather bleak. However, a week later the Giants are right back in the thick of the playoff race. The Giants beat the Jaguars 24-20 to up their record to 7-4; Philadelphia dropped back into a tie with the Giants after losing in Chicago to the Bears; Baltimore set Tampa Bay back to 7-4; and the Falcons knocked off Green Bay to put the Packers at 7-4. New Orleans (8-3) is the #5 seed this week, while the Giants are even with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Green Bay; keep in mind that the Giants and Eagles are also fighting for the NFC East crown.

As far as the game goes, the Giants looked terrible in the first half against the Jaguars and they made David Garrard look more like Michael Vick than Michael Vick did last week against Philadelphia. However, in the second half the defense stepped up their effort and created enough turnovers and sacks to win the game. Eli Manning and the depleted offense were good enough to win and, really, that's all that matters. They face a tough division rival in the Washington Redskins next week as they try to get to 8-4.

The Jets, meanwhile, did a great job of putting the Bengals away on Thanksgiving night. The first half was a bit of a struggle, but in the second half they did what a good team is supposed to do and put the game away. The same thing can be said for the New England Patriots, and now the hype can begin for the game next Monday night that will go a long way in deciding the AFC East.

As for my picks, I followed up a 12-4 record last week with an 11-4 this week, and I still have San Francisco over Arizona tonight to finish the week; the season ledger stands at 107-68. I have to admit, however, I'm hoping that Arizona wins tonight so that one of my friends can win the pool that we're in. I figure I can sacrifice 1 win in the interest of a friend winning some money.

Rutgers Football

Rutgers Football

For 5 straight seasons the Rutgers football team had qualified to go to a bowl game under head coach Greg Schiano; however, after yesterday's 40-13 loss to Louisville at Rutgers Stadium, that streak has come to an end. Rutgers, (4-7, 1-5 Big East) will finish the season at West Virginia. During the run of 5 straight bowl appearances Rutgers was 4-1 and had won the last 4 years. Under Schiano the Scarlet Knights have gone from a perennial laughing stock to a team that has cracked the top 10 in the national polls. It remains to be seen whether this year's disappointing record will be a temporary set back or a regression back to being a doormat. As an alum, I am hoping it's the former.

Liquid Kids

I recently came across this comic, which used to run in The Daily Targum, the Rutgers school newspaper. It was easily the best part of the paper and it was the first thing I would read when getting the paper. It's been quite a while, however, since I've had the pleasure of being able to read the Liquid Kids, but I recently found a link to it. I now give to you the Liquid Kids...

Week 12 Picks

Thanksgiving week, in my opinion, is one of the best weeks in the season for an NFL fan. You get to watch 3 games on Thanksgiving Day, 3 more on Sunday, and 1 on Monday. Although, now that I think about it, the Monday night game this week is brutal and you won't miss anything if you skip it.

And now for the picks for week 12 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thanksgiving Day

New England Patriots (8-2) @ Detroit Lions (2-8) - The Thanksgiving Day games kick off where they always do as the Lions will host the Patriots. Now, I have been on the Lions bandwagon this year and really think they are moving in the right direction, but I just don't see how they're going to beat the Patriots. Ndamukong Suh has been very good on Detroit's defensive line this year, but New England's offensive line has been great all year in protecting Tom Brady. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

New Orleans Saints (7-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-7) - Since Jason Garrett took over as head coach, the Cowboys are 2-0. Early in the season the Saints were playing with a Super Bowl hangover, but they have started to regain last year's form in recent weeks. I think the Saints will go marching into Dallas and come out with a victory to keep the pressure on Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Cincinnati Bengals (2-8) @ New York Jets (8-2) - The Jets defense has been showing some chinks in the armor this season. The way they talked going in you would have thought that they were the '85 Bears or the 2000 Ravens, but they don't rank with either of those teams. Those teams did not blow leads and allow inferior teams to come back from 16 down in the 4th quarter. Statistically they are a good defense, but they are not a great defense. However, the defense does not need to be great against these Bengals. If, somehow, the Jets do find themselves in trouble, they can turn to their young quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and rightly so. Pick: NEW YORK JETS

Sunday

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) @ New York Giants (6-4) - The Giants defense played very well last week against Michael Vick and the Eagles, but Eli Manning and the offense gave the game away and the Giants now find themselves in perilous position in the NFC. I'm surprised to see the Jaguars atop the AFC South, especially considering that they're -50 in net scoring. I think the Giants defense will be the difference here and the senseless calls for Tom Coughlin's head can be silenced for at least a week. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) @ Buffalo Bills (2-8) - I know the Bills have won a couple games in a row and they have played tough most of the year, but they're taking a real step up in class in this one. The Steelers are one of the elite teams in the league and they showed it last week when they whacked the Raiders around. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Tennessee Titans (5-5) @ Houston Texans (4-6) - How much more can the Texans take? They lose on a Hail Mary to the Jaguars in week 10, and then last week they lose in the final seconds to the Jets after coming back from 16 down in the 4th quarter. So much for the Texans making their first playoff appearance. While the Texans have lost 4 in a row, the Titans haven't been much better, they've lost 3 in a row. Pick: HOUSTON

Minnesota Vikings (3-7) @ Washington Redskins (5-5) - 3 weeks ago the disappointing Cowboys (not that I'm disappointed with the Cowboys being 3-7, but you get the idea) fired their coach and have since won 2 in a row. This week the Vikings fired their coach, Brad Childress, and hope to have the same results. Unfortunately, they did not address the turnover machine that they have at quarterback. Pick: WASHINGTON

Philadelphia Eagles (7-3) @ Chicago Bears (7-3) - The Bears have an elite defense and they probably went to school on a lot of the things the Giants did last week in containing Michael Vick. The Bears defense is also very good at creating turnovers, but Vick has only turned it over once while he's been at the helm this season. Unfortunately, for the Bears, their quarterback throws a lot of interceptions, which is not a good sign against an Eagles defense that is also good at forcing turnovers. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Green Bay Packers (7-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-2) - One of the marquee matchups of the weekend. Not only is it a marquee matchup between two elite NFC teams, but also a marquee matchup between two of the elite young quarterbacks in the game. Atlanta's Matt Ryan never loses at home, and the Falcons are 5-0 at home this season. Pick: ATLANTA

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (7-3) - The Bucs are great against inferior competition. Unfortunately, for the Bucs, the Ravens are not inferior competition. When the Bucs play a team with a winning record they usually don't fare to well. Pick: BALTIMORE

Carolina Panthers (1-9) @ Cleveland Browns (3-7) - This is probably Carolina's last chance of the season to get a victory, so they might be more game than usual for this one. However, they're still really bad. Cleveland has played tough and inspired football all year (what, you thought they would play tough and inspired basketball?) and they seem to have found a quarterback in Colt McCoy. Pick: CLEVELAND

Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-5) - The division leaders of the two worst divisions in the league match up. Seattle is 3-1 at home and the Chiefs are 1-4 on the road, but I still think the Chiefs are the better team. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Miami Dolphins (5-5) @ Oakland Raiders (5-5) - Something's gotta give here: Miami is 4-1 on the road and Oakland is 4-1 at home. What gives is that Miami is playing without either of its top 2 quarterbacks and the Raiders have won 4 of 6 after a dreadful 1-3 start. Pick: OAKLAND

St. Louis Rams (4-6) @ Denver Broncos (3-7) - St. Louis has not won a road game all year (0-4) and going into the thin air at Mile High Stadium will make it that much tougher for St. Louis to get a win here. It's not that I have much faith in Denver, I just have less faith in St. Louis on the road in a traditionally tough place to win on the road. Pick: DENVER

San Diego Chargers (5-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-4) - The Chargers are making yet another second half surge toward the post-season and Phillip Rivers deserves to be mentioned in the talk for league MVP. The Colts, despite all their injuries, are still in the hunt because of their own MVP candidate, Peyton Manning. In the recent past the Colts have not fared well against the Chargers, and, given the directions both teams are going in, I think the Chargers narrowly escape Indianapolis with a victory and will continue to put pressure on Kansas City. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Monday

San Francisco 49ers (3-7) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-7) - Both teams are bad, but Arizona is worse. Pick: SAN FRANCISCO and 44 points.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wake Me Up When It's Over

Does anyone really think that Derek Jeter is not going to sign with the New York Yankees? Ignore all of the sniping back and forth in the media between the two sides, it's just an attempt by both to get fan and media support behind them so that the other side will hopefully cave. Judging by what I've heard on WFAN and read in the papers most of the sentiment seems to be that Jeter is just another greedy ballplayer and he should be happy to take the deal that's offered to him.

I agree that an offer of $45 million over 3 years to play shortstop is a stupid amount of money, but I don't begrudge Jeter for a second for trying to get as much money as he possibly can. If I was in Jeter's position, I would be trying to get every last cent I could as well. And so would you. And don't think for a second that the Yankees aren't trying to get every last cent they can as well. They will try to sign Jeter for as little as possible--again, I know $45 million is not little by most standards--and I don't begrudge them for doing so either. Don't think for a second that the Yankees are some benevolent organization. They charge obscene amounts of money at the concession stands and gouge you for every cent they possibly can. They got $1.2 billion from New York City to build the new Yankee Stadium. As far as I'm concerned, both sides are dealing in Monopoly money. Money that you and I can only dream of making one day.

Now, I admit that I hate the Yankees and Jeter. I root for both to fail miserably each and every game, and I doubt that it would be enough for me if the Yankees went 0-162 and Jeter had an average of .000 for the season. However, my point in this post is that I don't blame either side for trying to get the best deal they possibly can. If you're a Yankee fan, what are you worried about? Are you honestly worried that if they sign Jeter for $20 million over 4 years they won't be able to sign Cliff Lee? If so, you're stupid. The Yankees could have a payroll of $300 million and they'd barely notice a hit to their bottom line. And if they let Jeter walk, who are they going to sign? Edgar Renteria? Orlando Cabrera? Please. Within the next month or two there will be a press conference at Yankee Stadium announcing that the Yankees and Derek Jeter have reached an agreement. The terms of the deal? Who cares.

Mets Hire Terry Collins

The search for the next manager of the Mets is over. Terry Collins will be named the next skipper of the team at a press conference at Citi Field on Tuesday. Collins beat out the other finalists for the job, Bob Melvin, Chip Hale, and Wally Backman. Collins last managed in the major leagues in 1999 when he managed the Anaheim Angels--not the California Angels, nor the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, not even the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Planet Earth.

I will admit that this hire does not excite me. I was hoping for Bobby Valentine or Wally Backman. Valentine never got to interview for the job, which is disappointing, but I understand that he and GM Sandy Alderson may not have been able to work together. Backman has won most everywhere he's managed in the minor leagues, and he does have a fiery personality, something that many fans, including me, believe is necessary for this team. However, he does not have big league experience, which I suppose is something that Alderson was looking for. According to most reports though, Collins does have a fiery personality, and, most importantly, he is a favorite of one of Alderson's lieutenants, Paul DePodesta.

If Sandy Alderson believes that Terry Collins is the right man to manage the team, then I am going to support it. As Bill Parcells once said, "If you're going to let me make the dinner, then you better let me buy the groceries." So, if you have faith that Alderson is the right man to turn the Mets around, then you have to have faith that he is making the right choice on who the manager should be.

"Can't anybody here play this game?" That's the question manager Casey Stengel asked about the Mets in their early days. Stengel had won 5 World Series in a row with the Yankees in the early 1950s, but with the expansion Mets, Stengel's best win total was 53 and the team finished dead last in the National League all 4 years the ol' perfessor was at the helm. Terry Collins may be wondering the same thing when he breaks camp with the team next spring; surely, Jerry Manuel must have had similar thoughts as well. So, now that Alderson has decided on a manager, it's time for him to start working on the rest of the "groceries" that are going to make the Mets a winning team again. No manager, not Terry Collins, not Bobby Valentine, not Wally Backman, not Jerry Manuel, nor Joe Torre, is going to be successful with the lineup the Mets have put on the field the past couple seasons. It's now time for the brain trust in the front office to start earning their paycheck.

For those of you who think that this is a poor hire, just remember that most people thought the Yankees hiring Joe Torre was a mistake as well. I'm not saying that the Mets will enjoy the same success under Collins that the Yankees had under Torre, just that we should not rush to conclusions. Then again, Collins could be the next Art Howe...

Week 11 Review

It was not a good day to be a Manning. In Foxborough, Peyton Manning threw three interceptions, including a game clinching pick in the final minute with the Colts in range to attempt a tying field goal. For the second year in a row the Colts were trying to rally back from a 31-14 deficit, but this year the comeback fell short. In Philadelphia, Eli Manning threw three interceptions and made a critical fumble in the game's final minutes and the Giants down by 7. With 2:51 remaining in the 4th quarter and the Giants facing 4th and 6, Manning ran for a first down to keep the drive alive, but instead of sliding feet first, which would have ended the play, he dove to get an extra yard or two and lost control of the ball, which the Eagles recovered. Philadelphia added a field goal on the ensuing drive, but Manning's fumble, in essence, ended the game. Both the Giants and Colts fell to 6-4 with 6 games remaining.

While the Manning brothers fell short in their comeback attempts, Mark Sanchez and the Jets succeeded in their own effort. The Jets led the Texans 23-7 in the 4th quarter before the Jet defense collapsed for the 2nd week in a row. A field goal made the score 23-10 before Shonn Green's fumble at midfield led to a quick touchdown for the Texans. Joel Dreesen's 43 yard touchdown reception from Matt Schaub on the first play after Green's fumble turned the momentum in favor of the Texans. Then with 2:18 to go Arian Foster's 1 yard touchdown run put the Texans in front 24-23, which they added to on a field goal by Neil Rackers with 55 seconds to go. Sanchez and the offense took over at their own 28 with 49 seconds to go. 49 seconds was plenty of time though as Sanchez marched the offense 72 yards on 5 plays for the winning score. With 10 seconds to go Sanchez and Santonio Holmes hooked up for the game winning score for the second week in a row and the Jets won the game 30-27 to improve to 8-2, tied with New England for 1st in the AFC East.

As good as the Jets have been in pulling out these last second wins, the Jets cannot like what they've seen from the defense. For the second week in a row they allowed an inferior team to drive down on them to either tie or go ahead late in the game. Last week it was Colt McCoy leading the Browns to the tying score that sent the game to overtime, and this week it was Schaub and the Texans scoring 20 straight 4th quarter points. Elite defenses put teams away when the game is on the line, they don't let teams back in the game, and that's exactly what the Jet defense did here. You can say that they shut the Texans down for 3 quarters, which is nice, but the game is 4 quarters, and the defense leaked like a sieve in the 4th quarter. If they want to win the AFC this year, they better start clamping down because the rest of the AFC's elite are too good to play such soft defense when it matters most.

As for my picks, it was a good week, but not good enough. I am 11-4, 95-64 for the year, with a pick of San Diego over Denver tonight. There was potential for a big week, but the Bengals blew a 21 point lead to Buffalo, and Cleveland and Tennessee lost close games. I also lost with the Giants, but there is no need to discuss that one anymore.

Mets Issues

Mets GM Sandy Alderson has been on the job for about 3 weeks now and is still undergoing an extensive search for the team's new manager. The prospects have been narrowed down to 4, Bob Melvin, Chip Hale, Terry Collins, and Wally Backman, and Alderson hopes to name a manager by Thanksgiving. While I do think that Alderson should be given the opportunity to hire the guy he is most comfortable with, I am disappointed that Bobby Valentine was not even considered. But, like I said, Alderson deserves to hire his guy, and if Valentine isn't it, then so be it. Besides, there are more important issues.

What are those more important issues? How about making sure that Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo aren't on the 2011 Mets...under any circumstances. Alderson can hire whoever he wants to be the team's manager, but if he wants to win over the fans immediately, he'll get rid of Perez and Castillo. It makes absolutely no sense to have either one of those two on the team, or in the organization, next season. Perez can't get an out without walking 6 and giving up 10 runs (OK, that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea) and Castillo no longer has the speed and the ability to get on base that made him so effective earlier in his career (and I don't even hold that botched pop-up against him, that could happen to anybody, unfortunately).

So, Mr. Alderson, hire whoever you want to manage the team, but PLEASE get rid of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, even if it means buying out their contracts and getting nothing in return.

Week 11 Picks

I apologize that it's been nearly a week since my last post, but my abysmal performance last week sent me into a deep depression. However, my doctor has told me that there is a cure for this kind of depression: winning. So, with that in mind, after a 6-8 mark last week that left me 84-60 for the year, we go to the picks for week number 11...in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Chicago Bears (6-3) @ Miami Dolphins (5-4) - 25 years ago these two met on a Monday night in Miami with the undefeated Bears threatening to join the 1973 Dolphins as the only undefeated teams in league history. That night Dan Marino and company derailed the Bears undefeated dreams; however, Chicago did defeat New England 46-10 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls of all-time. This one, however, is not nearly as compelling. The Bears are 6-3, but they have struggled since their 3-0 start; the Dolphins, meanwhile, are without their 1st and 2nd string quarterbacks. Even though the Bears have an issue at quarterback as well, specifically, Jay Cutler's propensity to turn the ball over, I think Miami's QB issues are more alarming. Pick: CHICAGO

Sunday

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) @ Carolina Panthers (1-8) - If the Ravens are as good as I think they are, they'll have little trouble dispatching the Panthers, who just might be the worst team in the league. Pick: BALTIMORE

Houston Texans (4-5) @ New York Jets (7-2) - Three weeks ago this looked like it could be a pivotal matchup in deciding seeding in the AFC playoffs. Now, after losing 3 in a row, the Texans need the W just to stay in the hunt to make the playoffs. The Texans defense is one of the worst in the league, which is good news for a Jets offense that needs a boost. Pick: NEW YORK JETS

Arizona Cardinals (3-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) - After getting out to a 5-2 start the Chiefs need to come out with a big effort this week because Oakland has caught them for the division lead and San Diego is looming 1 game behind. Both teams are 1-4 on the road this year; however, unfortunately, for the Cardinals, the Chiefs are 4-0 at home and this one is in Kansas City. Neither team is playing well going into this one, Arizona has lost 4 in a row and Kansas City 2 straight, including an embarrassing loss in Denver last week, but I think Kansas City will be able to hold the Cardinal offense in check just enough. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Washington Redskins (4-5) @ Tennessee Titans (5-4) - I don't understand the Redskins. One week Donovan McNabb is not good enough to quarterback the team in the final 2 minutes, and the next week he's getting a 5 year/$40M guaranteed contract extension. I mean, if I'm McNabb, I sign that deal in a heartbeat, but why would Washington be in such a rush to get this deal done? Even though he is the same age as Tom Brady, 33, and a year younger than Peyton Manning, it's not like he's playing at an MVP level, as Brady and Manning are. I thought Mike Shanahan was supposed to come in and bring order and respect to the Redskins. Randy Moss was completely ineffective for the Titans in his debut with the team last week in Miami. Both teams are inconsistent, which explains their near .500 records, but Tennessee is 3-0 against the NFC East and they're at home. Pick: TENNESSEE

Buffalo Bills (1-8) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-7) - The Bills finally got a win last week when they beat the Lions, the last team to go winless for the season. While they both have terrible records, they both have been competitive in most of their games. I'm going to take the Bengals here because they're at home and because of the possibility that Buffalo might relax a bit this week after getting that win and avoiding an 0-16 campaign. Pick: CINCINNATI

Oakland Raiders (5-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) - Where did the Raiders come from? At 2-5 it looked like it would be another miserable year for them, but they have won 3 in a row and now sit tied with Kansas City for the division lead. They'll test their mettle this week though when they go to Pittsburgh. Keep in mind, though, that since Ben Roethlisberger came back the Steelers are only 3-2, and they did get whacked around last week by the Patriots in prime time. Oakland is a team on the rise, but they do take a step up in class this week. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Cleveland Browns (3-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) - The Jaguars won on a Hail Mary against the Texans last week and the Browns had a crushing defeat to the Jets with 16 seconds to go in OT. Cleveland has been a tough out all year and Colt McCoy looks like he may be another one of those good young QBs. Jacksonville has won 2 in a row, but that was against a lifeless Dallas team and a Houston team that gives up 30 points a game. Cleveland is going to be a much tougher test for the Jags. Pick: CLEVELAND

Detroit Lions (2-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-7) - The Cowboys showed a lot of life against the Giants last week in their debut under interim coach Jason Garrett, and Dez Bryant continues to impress in his rookie year. This game is an opportunity for both teams to get a victory before they both take a step up in class when they host games on Thanksgiving Day. I'll take the Cowboys here because they may have caught a spark under the new coach. Pick: DALLAS

Green Bay Packers (6-3) @ Minnesota Vikings (3-6) - Last week's loss in Chicago most likely ended the season for the Vikings. At 3-6 with about 5 teams to leap frog their playoff hopes are all but gone. The Packers, meanwhile, are coming off their bye week and have an opportunity to really solidify themselves as one of the NFC's elite teams. The Vikings are still a talented team, but I think in the end Brett Favre will throw an interception that costs his team the game. Pick: GREEN BAY

Seattle Seahawks (5-4) @ New Orleans Saints (6-3) - The Seahawks may be 5-4, but outside of their own division they are 2-3. The Saints look like they may be starting to hit their stride, except for their week 7 loss to Cleveland, and they'll have an excellent opportunity to get to 8-3 in the span of 5 days. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Atlanta Falcons (7-2) @ St. Louis Rams (4-5) - St. Louis appears to be improving under coach Steve Spagnuolo and they are very tough to beat at home, 4-1, but they have not beaten a team as good as Atlanta; nor have they played a team as good as Atlanta. Atlanta has had a couple of instances in which they've stubbed their toe, but they're still an elite team, and they further proved that when they rallied for a last minute victory over Baltimore last Thursday night. Pick: ATLANTA

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-6) - Give them credit, the 49ers really are fighting hard to get back into the race to win the NFC West after a terrible 1-6 start. They're only 2 games out and they still have 4 division games to play, including 1 with first place Seattle. However, Tampa Bay has shown ability all year to beat the weaker teams on their schedule, and San Francisco looks like they are set up for Tampa Bay to knock down; Tampa Bay's only losses have been to Pittsburgh (6-3), New Orleans (6-3), and Atlanta (6-3). Pick: TAMPA BAY

Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (7-2) - For about the 7th year in a row these two teams will meet in the regular season. Unfortunately, the Colts come in undermanned after the injury bug has bit them hard. The Patriots are coming off an impressive win in Pittsburgh and may be primed to make a serious run at the AFC championship in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. However, there is a certain 6'5", 230 pound quarterback with a laser rocket arm that stands in their way, and as long as he's on the field the Colts have a chance. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

New York Giants (6-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) - The winner of this one walks away with the lead in the NFC East. The Giants were embarrassed last week at home against Dallas and the Eagles put up 59 on the Redskins. This one will hinge on the the ability of the Giants defense to get a consistent pass rush AND to also keep Michael Vick from running loose. The Giants may have looked terrible against the Cowboys last week, but they still have one of the league's leading rushers, Ahmad Bradshaw, a receiving corps that can play with anybody, and an elite QB in Eli Manning. It will be close, and I may be going with my heart on this one, I admit, but I like the Giants here. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Monday

San Diego Chargers (4-5) @ Denver Broncos (3-6) - Denver has been on both ends of two of the league's biggest blowouts so far this year; they were smacked around by the Raiders a month ago, 59-14, and they beat up on the Chiefs last week 49-29. San Diego, meanwhile, seems poised to go on yet another late season run--I'll admit, I thought that they were done, but I may have spoken too soon. I will take Phillip Rivers and company in this one. Pick: SAN DIEGO and 54 points for the tiebreaker.

Not a Hall of Famer

16 esteemed members of the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee will soon vote on whether to induct 12 members up for consideration from the expansion era (1973 to present). As with the standard method of voting, a candidate must garner 75% of the vote in order to receive nomination into the Hall of Fame. One of those names on the Veterans Committee ballot this year is the late Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner; other notables up for consideration this year are Yankees player and manager Billy Martin and former Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) executive Marvin Miller.

Steinbrenner bought the Yankees from CBS for $10 million and in April 2010 they were worth $1.6 billion according to Forbes magazine; Steinbrenner died in July. Under his ownership, the Yankees won 7 World Series championships and 11 American League pennants. Aside from the championships, Steinbrenner also oversaw the creation of a team owned television network to broadcast the team’s games, something now considered vital to all teams. Steinbrenner’s lasting legacy to the team and its fans will be the new Yankee Stadium. In his later years, while the Yankees were winning 4 World Series in 5 years and going to the playoffs pretty much every year, Steinbrenner was lionized by many as a great owner and one with tremendous vision. Steinbrenner also displayed a commitment to the community by often lending a helping hand to those less fortunate, albeit without much fanfare from the media. In addition, perhaps one of the biggest reasons that Steinbrenner grew in popularity with the fans is his portrayal by Larry David on Seinfeld.

So, under Steinbrenner, the Yankees won a lot, made a lot of money, formed their own TV network, and built anew stadium. However, he was also suspended from baseball twice and he was one of the most tempestuous owners in the game. In Steinbrenner’s first 23 seasons he changed managers 20 times, including hiring and firing Billy Martin 5 times; in his last 14 years with the team Steinbrenner employed only 2 managers, Joe Torre and the current manager, Joe Girardi. In fact, if Steinbrenner had not been suspended in 1990 (more on that later), the Yankees likely would not have enjoyed the success of the late 1990s and 2000s. While he was suspended, the club, under the direction of GM Gene Michael, held on to players like Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera. The impatient Steinbrenner would have likely ordered the young players to be moved in exchange for high priced veterans. He very likely would have made more deals like the Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps trade made all the more famous by David’s Steinbrenner.

Many also say that Steinbrenner’s free spending on free agents is one of the biggest reasons for creating a disparity between the haves and have nots in Major League Baseball. However, while the Yankees did outspend all of their opponents most years, the concept of the rich teams using the poor teams as mere farm teams is hardly new. For years, even before free agency, teams like the Yankees would raid the poorer clubs, like the St. Louis Browns, of their talented young players in exchange for money. Hell, they famously acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox for $120,000 in 1919.

Steinbrenner often feuded with his high priced free agents, including Reggie Jackson; Dave Winfield, who he called “Mr. May;” and Hideki Irabu, the Japanese import he called a “fat toad.” His feud with Dave Winfield led to Steinbrenner’s second suspension from the game in 1990. Steinbrenner had paid gambler Howie Spira $40,000 to dig up dirt on Winfield, who had sued the Yankees for failing to contribute $300,000 to his foundation, a stipulation in Winfield’s contract. He was first suspended by Major League baseball in 1974 for making illegal campaign contributions to the campaign to re-elect Richard Nixon and subsequently for obstructing justice. For this offense, Steinbrenner narrowly avoided spending time in jail.

So, we have enough background on George Steinbrenner, but is he worthy of election to the Hall of Fame?

There are few owners in the Hall of Fame, and, honestly, Steinbrenner does compare favorably with them. Charles Comiskey, owner of the Chicago White Sox, gained notoriety as both a player and owner. As a player he is widely credited with being the 1^st first baseman to play away from the bag; meanwhile, as an owner, he was instrumental in forming the American League. Comiskey is probably most famous for the thriftiness that led 8 members of the 1919 White Sox to throw the World Series. Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pirates in the early 1900s, was instrumental in the creation of the World Series. Bill Veeck was a famous pioneering owner in coming up with promotional events to draw in fans. Among Veeck’s most famous attractions were using midget Eddie Gaedel as a pinch hitter and Disco Demolition Night. Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to the West Coast and opened up new markets to Major League Baseball. Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey rebuilt Fenway Park and imported expensive players.

In comparison with these other Hall of Fame owners, how does Steinbrenner compare? Steinbrenner has more World Series championships and pennants than any of them. However, does an owner really deserve credit for winning a World Series, and should that be instrumental in his Hall of Fame candidacy? Despite the fact that the owner accepts the trophy from the commissioner at the end of the World Series, he does not actually make any on-field contribution. I don’t think writing checks is enough for entry into the Hall of Fame.

Next, he has turned the Yankees into the most valuable sports franchise in the world. Again, does his ability to turn a profit make him qualified to be in the baseball Hall of Fame? I doubt it. I think that qualification for the Hall of Fame should be reserved for either on field accomplishment. Off field accomplishments can be enough to be elected, but being able to turn a profit is not one of those accomplishments.

This brings us to the last of Steinbrenner’s major accomplishments, the creation of a team owned regional television network and the new Yankee Stadium. Are these enough for an owner to gain entry into baseball’s most exclusive club? In comparison to the other owners in the Hall of Fame, Steinbrenner is most akin to O’Malley.

O’Malley opened up a whole new market to Major League Baseball by moving out to the California; although, baseball had been in California for quite some time. The Pacific Coast League, which had teams throughout California, had been a AAA level league since 1903. Likewise, Steinbrenner ended his television pact with the MSG network and set up the YES network to broadcast Yankees games in 2002. So, while Steinbrenner did found his own television network in 2002, it was not as if fans had previously not been able to view their favorite team. In fact, now fans were forced to pay a premium in order to see the Yankees by making sure that their television package carried the YES network. So, while O’Malley brought Major League Baseball to California and the western United States, Steinbrenner forced cable companies and their subscribers to pay more money to carry the YES network if fans wanted to see Yankees games. Even more like O’Malley, Steinbrenner often threatened to move the Yankees from the Bronx if the city of New York did not give him money to either make improvements to the old Yankee Stadium or to build the new Yankee Stadium. Having learned their lesson from 50 years prior when O’Malley took the Dodgers west, the city granted the Yankees hundreds of millions of dollars in tax-exempt and taxable bonds.

The YES network and the new Yankee Stadium have given the Yankees incredible revenue streams, which they can use to bring in free agent talent, both home grown and newly acquired. However, if it weren’t for Marvin Miller, the MLBPA’s longtime executive director, free agency in Major League Baseball would not exist. Miller’s innovations to the game include the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between owners and players, including arbitration in the CBA in 1970, free agency, and eliminating the reserve clause, which had previously bound players to their teams for the duration of their careers. Without Miller’s contributions to the game, Steinbrenner would not have been free to pursue free agents like Catfish Hunter, Dave Winfield, or Alex Rodriguez. In 1992, Red Barber, the Hall of Fame broadcaster, said that Miller was one of the 3 most important men in baseball history, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. However, Miller is not in the Hall of Fame.

So, are George Steinbrenner’s accomplishments, 7 World Series championships and a new baseball empire, enough to get him into the baseball Hall of Fame? Are his two suspensions and his further dividing the haves and have nots enough to keep him out? Obviously, it will be up to the voters on the Veterans Committee to decide; however, if you want my opinion, he does not belong in the Hall of Fame. Surely, if there were a business hall of fame, he would be in. However, why does he deserve to be enshrined with baseball’s most hallowed heroes for writing checks to the players who did the winning? If his greatest accomplishment is creating a television network, then is he really worthy of such an honor? It’s not like the Yankees were not on television before YES went on the air. As I heard on WFAN Tuesday night while listening to Steve Somers, George Steinbrenner did less for the Yankees and Major League Baseball than either Major League Baseball or the Yankees did for George Steinbrenner.

Veteran's Day

Throughout American history millions of brave men and women have risked their lives to protect the freedoms and the way of life that all of us value so dearly. So, to all of those veterans who have selflessly put our great country first, I would like to extend my gratitude for their service. May God bless you and may God continue to bless America.

Thank you

Week 10 Picks

To combat teams from resting their starters late in the season the NFL changed the way it scheduled games this year by stacking divisional games in the second half. As a result, while a few teams have played 3 or 4 division games, teams like the Giants and the Eagles have only played 1 divisional game through the season's first 9 weeks. That all changes this week as the schedule features 8 division games and Thursday Night Football begins in earnest.


Last week my picks were 10-3 and I improved to 78-52 on the season; however, it still was not good enough to take the top spot in my weekly pool. That said, I've been ordered to get it right! And so, with the NFL schedule heating up as the temperatures get colder, I give you the picks for week number 10 in the league where they play...............for pay...


Thursday


Baltimore Ravens (6-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (6-2) - Week 10 opens with a bang as two of the NFL's best will meet in the Georgia Dome. Not only does this game feature two of the elite teams in the NFL, it's also a match up of two of the top young quarterbacks in the league: Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Atlanta's Matt Ryan. To me this is a pick'em game and, judging by Atlanta only being favored by 1, the bookmakers think the same; in fact, they probably think Baltimore is 2 points better because the home team usually gets 3 points just for being at home. While Atlanta has a slight edge offensively, Baltimore possesses a slight edge defensively, and without a doubt, the best defensive players on the field play for the Ravens in the form of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. However, the turnover margin favors Atlanta, +7 to Baltimore's +1, and Atlanta's point differential is 6 points better than the Ravens as well. Pick: ATLANTA


Sunday


Tennessee Titans (5-3) @ Miami Dolphins (4-4) - In a year when it's probably going to take at least 10 wins to get an AFC Wild Card berth, neither team can afford to fall back even further. Things don't shape up well for the Dolphins in terms of the home/road records in this one either; Miami is 0-3 at home, Tennessee is 3-1 on the road--I know, I know, you Dolphin fans out there will tell me that they should be 5-3, and 1-2 at home, because of that call at the end of the Pittsburgh game. Tennessee will have to adjust for the loss of WR Kenny Britt, but they hope newly acquired WR Randy Moss will ease that adjustment; however, this will be Moss' third team this season, so his attitude and desire will be closely scrutinized. Tennessee's defense is going to make it very tough on Miami to score points; I also don't like the fact that Miami is -7 in turnovers, and Tennessee is +6. Pick: TENNESSEE


New York Jets (6-2) @ Cleveland Browns (3-5) - When the 2010 schedule came out there were 2 revenge games on the schedule for Jets fans: week 5 against their former QB, Brett Favre, and the Vikings and week 10 against their former coach, Eric Mangini, and the Browns. They beat Favre in week 5, and now will go for the sweep in week 10. However, the Browns are not going to be a pushover and if the Jets decide to overlook the Browns, they won't just be in a close game, they might also get blown out as the Saints and Patriots did against these Browns. Now, I am going to pick the Jets because I think they're the better team, but, like last week, don't be shocked if this one is still in doubt late in the 4th quarter. Cleveland has been very competitive this year (3 of their losses are by 7 or less) and the Jets have been inconsistent and prone to taking penalties. But, I think the Jets defense will be the difference here. Pick: NEW YORK JETS


Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) @ Indianapolis Colts (5-3) - The Colts suffered a tough loss in Philadelphia last week. They not only lost the game, but WR Austin Collie was knocked out of the game and was listed as questionable when this post was written on Wednesday. Terrell Owens has been anything but a malcontent so far this year for the Bengals, in fact, he's the leading WR in the NFL through the first 9 weeks. Now, while I think that this one will be close, I think that having Peyton Manning on their side will be enough of an edge for the Colts to pull out a victory. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS


Houston Texans (4-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) - This could be a de facto playoff game. The loser would sit at 4-5 and hold last place in the AFC South and would have to leap frog possibly 5 teams just to get into the playoffs. After starting out 3-1, the Texans are on life support. They are 1-3 in their last 4 games and have given up an average of 31 points in those 4 games. While the Jaguars did put 35 up on the Cowboys 2 weeks ago, they have had problems scoring points, and so something has to give in this one. Even if it is the Texans defense that gives in this one, I still think their offense is good enough to score on a Jaguars defense that may be as bad as their own. Pick: HOUSTON


Minnesota Vikings (3-5) @ Chicago Bears (5-3) - The Bears opened with a surprising 3-0 start, but since the Giants beat them up in week 4 they have lost 3 of their last 5. Except for their loss to the Giants and the win the following week against Carolina, each game for the Bears has been decided by 7 points or less. On the other side, the Vikings have been a team in turmoil virtually all season, and that has not ceased into week 10. I think that this game will be decided by the two defenses and both quarterbacks will throw at least 2 interceptions each. Pick: MINNESOTA


Carolina Panthers (1-7) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) - Now, last week when they went into Atlanta to play the Falcons, I told you, courtesy of SI's Peter King, that the teams the Bucs beat had a combined record of 12-24 and the teams they lost to were a combined 10-5. So, a week after facing a very good team in their division, the Bucs get to play the very worst team in their division. Pick: TAMPA BAY


Detroit Lions (2-6) @ Buffalo Bills (0-8) - Give these two teams credit, despite their poor records they have not given up and they have really made their opponents earn their victories. Buffalo has lost 3 straight by 3 points or less, and the game before that they blew a big first half lead against the Jaguars; and the Lions gave away a victory last week against the Jets. However, that ability to find a way to lose is the reason that these two have the records they do. I thought that the Bills had a great chance to get a win last week against the Bears, but I don't think their chances are as good against the Lions. Pick: DETROIT


Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) @ Denver Broncos (2-6) - The Chiefs travel to the Mile High City a week after a hard luck loss to the Raiders in Oakland. About the only thing going for Denver this week is that Kansas City is 1-3 on the road; however, Denver is only 1-3 at home, so that advantage may not be that great anyway. Denver has been outscored by 69 points this year and is -4 in turnovers, and Kansas City is +38 and +6. During their 4 game losing streak the Broncos have not been competitive enough to make them a live dog here; 2 losses by 8 or less and 2 blowouts. Since it's a division game and the Chiefs aren't a high scoring team it may be somewhat close, but I like Kansas City here. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Dallas Cowboys (1-7) @ New York Giants (6-2) - The Giants are a 14 point favorite against a Dallas team that was once a favorite to be in the Super Bowl. There is really little reason to pick the Cowboys here. Their starting quarterback, Tony Romo, was knocked out for the season by these Giants a few weeks ago; they're -9 in turnovers; and they've been outscored by 71 points on the year. The one thing that has to concern you is that after firing coach Wade Phillips this week, the Cowboys might come out motivated to show that they are not going to just roll over for their opponents the rest of the year. However, even if the Cowboys do come out with a strong effort, I wouldn't expect the Giants to take a division opponent lightly. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Seattle Seahawks (4-4) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-5) - The Seahawks have been shell shocked the previous 2 weeks and this week they go on the road to play Arizona. Seattle will also be without its starting quarterback. I think the Cardinals get a slight edge here because they're at home, but it really is an even game. The bookies seem to agree with me as Arizona is a 3 point favorite. Pick: ARIZONA

St. Louis Rams (4-4) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-6) - If Arizona were to beat Seattle and San Francisco beats St. Louis, the 49ers, unbelievably, would be within 1 game of first place after starting the year 0-5. The Rams don't travel well, 0-3 on the road, and the 49ers are 2-2 at home, and those 2 losses were by a combined 6 points. I'll take the 49ers here. Pick: SAN FRANCISCO

New England Patriots (6-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) - Another match up of teams tied for the best record in the NFL. The Patriots were badly beaten by the Browns last week and it gets no easier this week as they play the Steelers. The Steelers have played like one of the NFL's best all year and they've lost 2 games by a total of 13 points, and the 2 teams that beat them are a combined 12-5. Now, this is not a situation like the Bucs faced last week because the Steelers have also beaten good teams as well. They've beaten Atlanta, Miami, Tennessee, and Tampa Bay, all of whom are at .500 or above. The Pats have a couple of quality wins (Miami and Baltimore), but they did lose to Cleveland last week too. I think the Steelers have a slight edge here; they are better in net points and turnover margin. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Monday

Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) @ Washington Redskins (4-4) - The Eagles beat the Colts last week in Michael Vick's return from injury; the Washington Redskins come back from a much needed bye week. The Redskins beat Philadelphia 17-12 in week 4, and have been competitive in most of their games. However, the Eagles are a better team, and they'll have their eyes on avenging that week 4 loss. Pick: PHILADELPHIA and 49 points