Random Ramblings: It's My Blog...

... and I will blog when I want to.

Blogging: So I missed another Sunday. Well, it is my blog so I can do whatever I want to do. So I have decided that for the remainder of my BlogBlitz(tm) I will be skipping Sundays.

Reading: For my quarterly book I am reading the sequel to Mick Foley's Have a Nice Day. Yup, another wrasslin' book. Hey, I know what I like.

Writing: I have had this comic book idea pop in and out of my mind these last couple of days. I am combining that idea with another novel idea The Samaritans with it and seeing where it is going. And surprising myself, I have also scripted a few pages. I think I am going to use this idea for the upcoming ScriptFrenzy. Before I script more I am going to plot out some stuff. This idea was something my friend Joel and I developed way back in the day but we decided to go in another direction. Hopefully he doesn't mind me dusting this off and adding a coat of paint.

Planning: What to eat here in two weeks for the Superbowl. Yesterday we ate these yummy sweet pork sandwiches/salads while catching the games. Now that the stupid Pats and Giants made the Superbowl, the only important thing about the Superbowl will be the food.

Disappointing: While both games yesterday were exciting, two of my least favorite teams won. I was hoping for the Ravens and 49ers but I guess I cannot win them all. But on the other hand, I felt this way four years ago when the same teams faced each other and it turned out to be one of the greatest games ever. Oh well, there is always next year.

Reading Part II:  I have decided to read all my X-Men books from the beginning which leads me to this:

Blogging Part II:  The comic book geek inside of me is going to do a comic book blog sometime later this year. I just have to find a clever name for my blog and set it up. I am planning on blogging about each X-Men book I am reading and I am choosing 3 panels from each book to blog about. I'll be blogging about other stuff as well.

Sports, Sports and more Sports

I like sports. I especially like football and I am a huge fan of the NFL. Even though my team choked the last three games and will miss the playoffs, I can still enjoy watching other teams compete. I am already looking forward to this coming weekends slate of games. 

I respect all teams even though there are a few teams that I despise. As a Jets fan, I have to hate on the Dolphins and Patriots. As a Jazz fan I have to hate on divisional rivals. That is just part of sports. But I do respect all those organizations. 

Now when it comes to players, it gets a bit tricky. There are some players that I dislike that I still respect. Patriot QB Tom Brady is the best example. But then there are players that I just don't like and usually it is because of how they act beyond the sport. I don't think I could ever like Steelers QB Big Ben because of his actions off the field. And some players I don't like because of their attitude. One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing players that have all the talent in the world act like an idiot and the lose all that they had. That just drives me nuts.

But then there are some players that I just don't like and it has nothing to do with them.  I am talking about BYU's Jimmer and the Bronco's Tebow. It has nothing to do with their abilities, it has nothing to do with their actions off the field. In fact, these players are very classy and actually make their sport better. But for some reason I just can't get behind them.  And I know exactly who to blame. 

Rick Aaron. President of the Jimmer Fanclub. 

I don't blame Rick entirely. I blame all those local media sportscasters that are in love with Jimmer and Tebow. Seriously, there are times that if Jimmer were in the same room as Rick, Rick would end up kissing Jimmer on the mouth. It never ends and it never fails, even though Jimmer is beyond BYU, Rick keeps bringing him back to the sportscast. Even when he is doing basketball highlights that are not BYU/NBA -related he will still sneak in a Jimmer reference. "He took that shot from Jimmer range!"  That sort of comment makes me want to puke. 

The biggest reason I am not a fan of Jimmer and Tebow is because they are constantly being shoved down my throat. Don't get me wrong, I respect each athlete. I am just sick and tired of sportscasters (Rick Aaron is the worst of them) treating them like it is the Second Coming and then preaching (kissing butt) to all of us to worship at the feet of these athletes. When Jimmer and Tebow play in the Super Bowl or NBA Championship game than I think all this fuss would be warranted. Tone down your man-love!

Upon Further Review: Week Ten Picks

It is hard to believe that I have made picks for 10 weeks already. Time sure passes by quickly especially during football season. I dropped off to a pathetic 9/14 in picking games and already this week I am 0-1. Stupid Raiders, they failed me twice!

New Orleans at Atlanta:
This game could decide the division and will definitely feel like a playoff game. The Saints are struggling on the road and the Falcons are red-hot. While I do think this could go both ways and I expect both teams to come out swinging, I am going with the home team.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati:
Another game that could have major playoff implications. The under-the-radar Bengals face a true test against an angry Steelers team wanting revenge from last week. For some reason I feel that the untested and unknown Bengals will no longer be under-the-radar after this game. I just see the Steelers looking past the Bengals a bit just enough for them to get bitten. I smell an upset.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

St. Louis at Cleveland:
The Rams were so close last week and the Browns are just not improving. The Browns will keep it close but I think it will all come down to the running game which the Rams have with RB Steven Jackson.
Winner: St. Louis Rams

Buffalo at Dallas:
It will be interesting to see how the Bills react after a big loss at home. The Cowboys finally posted a good win unfortunately it was against the hapless Seahawks. But a win is a win and I think the Cowboys will continue their dominance over the Bills.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville at Indianapolis:
This is a winnable game for the Colts but I have this feeling that the Jaguars are going to cut their rookie QB loose and see what he has. The Colts are at least competitive and I think they rattle off a win here.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Denver at Kansas City:
If Miami can come into KC and put a butt-whuppin on the Chiefs, the Broncos definitely can. But I think the Chiefs will respond to an ugly loss especially against a divisional foe.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Washington at Miami:
Winning sure cures a lot of things and Miami will come out fighting. The Redskins are in some serious trouble and unfortunately the injuries will play a major factor in the game. It will be close but the Dolphins will prove they are too much for a weakened team.
Winner: Miami Dolphins

Arizona at Philadelphia:
The Eagles sure laid an egg Monday night and they are slowly playing themselves out of contention. Head Coach Andy Reid will have them prepared to play one game at a time. The Eagles just have too much talent that they could lose to the Cards.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Houston at Tampa Bay:
A lot of Texans fans are angry that experts are only grading them a "B" so far this season. They claim the running game is the best and the defense has made a huge jump from last year. Those facts are true and I agree but the Texans need to beat the teams they should beat and quit laying eggs. They should be able to beat a Tampa Bay team and to get to the next level they need to win this game. And I think they are ready.
Winner: Houston Texans

Tennessee at Carolina:
The Panthers are at home so they should win. You cannot count on the Titans so they probably should win. Guess I should flip a coin. It came up Cam Newton.
Winner: Carolina Panthers

Baltimore at Seattle:
Please Ravens don't lose your heads. This is a classic trap game.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Detroit at Chicago:
The Bears certainly looked good last Monday night but they faced a lazy and unmotivated Eagles defense. The Lions are coming off a bye week and once again the Lions are getting no respect. No one at ESPN picked the Lions. Now to prove that I am better than the experts at ESPN.
Winner: Detroit Lions

NY Giants at San Francisco:
Ooooo this is gonna be good. The Giants are flying high and the 49ers are playing hard and winning by pushing other teams around. I am still not convinced that the Giants are for real yet.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Sunday Night
New England at NY Jets:
I think I am going to die from excitement. Are the Pats sliding down? Can the Jets use this opportunity to take the division? I think the Jets play best when their backs are against the wall and I still think they are not getting enough credit. The Pats will be tough but I gotta go with the Jets!
Winner: New York Jets

Monday Night
Minnesota at Green Bay:
The Packers have to lose sometime right? RB Adrian Peterson could give the Packers fits but the Pack can gun it out through the air to keep up. The Packers continue to roll.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Upon Further Review: Week Nine Picks

My picks were not looking good during the second half of the first games on Sunday and I was starting to sweat. But then some teams rallied and won and I scored an impressive11/13! My best percentage record yet! This week looks to be a little more tricky.

NY Jets at Buffalo:

Everyone is so high on the Bills and they have a good reason. But the Jets have held QB Tom Brady and Phillip Rivers to very little production and I definitely see that happening to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has a bruised chest and I am positive that they Jets will throw Bills-castoff Aaron Maybin his way to get some sacks. If the Jets can slow the running game down they have an excellent shot at beating this team. I smell an upset.

Winner: New York Jets

Seattle at Dallas:

The Cowboys need this game in a big bad way. This could be a trap game and the Cowboys need to be careful. But they should be able to win easily.

Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Atlanta at Indianapolis:

You have to hand it to the Colts, they are playing hard. It would be interesting to see how the Colts team would have been with Manning. 

Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Miami at Kansas City:

If the Chiefs win this game it will be 5 straight. Let me rephrase that, WHEN the Chiefs win it will be 5 straight. The Dolphins will play hard but the Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Tampa Bay at New Orleans:

Good thing for the Saints is that they are at home. I am sure they want to win big this week so they can erase that ugly ugly loss last week. They should rebound decently against a tough Bucs team.

Winner: New Orleans Saints

San Francisco at Washington:

This is a classic trap game for the 49ers. The Redskins will play tough at home and the 49ers just need to play their type of football. It will be close but I think the 49ers will win it in the end.

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Cleveland at Houston:

Another trap game and since this is the Texans, they will probably blow it. I am really tempted to go with the Browns here and if it was in Cleveland, I would take them. But they are not so...

Winner: Houston Texans

Cincinnati at Tennessee:

Boy was I wrong about the Bengals. I think they are playing with a great nothing-to-lose attitude and it is paying off. While I think the Titans could win this, I gotta go with the hot team.

Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

Denver at Oakland:

If it was in Denver, I would pick the Broncos. It will be fun to watch QB Tim Tebow play in the Black Hole. Even though RB McFadden is out, I still think that the Raiders will run all over the Broncos. Close by half time, blow out by the end.

Winner: Oakland Raiders

NY Giants at New England:

I am not very high on the Giants and I think they are overrated. They got pushed around by the Dolphins and the Pats will be no pushovers. I would not want to face an angry Patriots team at home. I will be rooting for the Giants though.

Winner: New England Patriots

St. Louis at Arizona:

The Rams got their first unlikely win last week and I think that will give them enough energy to win again against a terrible Cardinals team. I give the Cardinals some props for almost beating a tough Ravens team but in the end they lost and that will carry on here.

Winner: St. Louis Rams

Green Bay at San Diego:

Something is wrong with QB Phillip Rivers. He just is not the same confident QB that he was last season, it seems like he is distracted. Unfortunately the World Champions are coming to town. The Packers have to lose sometime right? This will be a close one especially since it is in San Diego but I am giving the Pack the victory since they are coming off their bye week.

Winner: Green Bay Packers

Sunday Night

Baltimore at Pittsburgh:

Oh baby. I am so glad that I do not have choir practice that night. This will be an ugly smash-mouth game full of hits and blitzes and power running. Great way to end the day. The Steelers are riding high after last week and they want revenge. The Ravens came from behind to win last week so they are both coming off positive games. So who wants it more? I smell another upset.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Monday Night

Chicago at Philadelphia:

The Eagles are not out of it yet. The Bears need to win to keep up with the Packers and Lions. Something has got to give. The Bears will go all out but the game resides in the hands of QB Jay Cutler versus the Philly D. I will take the Philly D.

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Upon Further Review: Week Eight Picks

Week 8? Yikes! That means that the season is half over!

I am back down to scoring an 8/13, which is still pretty decent but I would love to have a week where I only miss a game or two. In the fifteen years that I have made picks, I have never got a perfect score. Maybe this week right?

Indianapolis at Tennessee:
The Colts are at least fighting hard but I like the Titans chances at home. And if the Titan's RB Chris Johnson decides to play they definitely should win this one.
Winner: Tennessee Titans

New Orleans at St. Louis:
The Saints have a chance at improving on their score total from last week in this one.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Miami at NY Giants:
If they couldn't defeat the Broncos at home, I doubt they can beat the Giants on the road. But it depends on which Eli Manning will show. Still, I agree with the Dolphin's RB Reggie Bush. They stink.
Winner: NY Giants

Minnesota at Carolina:
I am impressed with the Viking's rookie QB and I don't like the Panthers running defense. I small an upset here and I think the Vikings take advantage and hopefully for the whole game instead of just a half.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings

Arizona at Baltimore:
These picks (so far at least) are a whole lot easier to make this week. The Ravens are angry and will show it at home against an underachieving team.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Jacksonville at Houston:
Both teams got huge wins last week but I only see a letdown with the Jags. It will be a very close one and Houston will win the turnover battle.
Winner: Houston Texans

Washington at Buffalo in Toronto:
The Redskins are hurting and the Bills have never won in Canada. But these Bills are different right?
Winner: Buffalo Bills

Detroit at Denver:
The Broncos are riding the Tebow Madness Train(tm) but I think it all comes to a halt this week. The Lions need to prove that this losing steak is not a trend. Still, I think the Lions have more offensive firepower that even home-field advantage cannot take away.
Winner: Detroit Lions

New England at Pittsburgh:
Now here is a game! The Pats own the Steelers but I just don't see the New England defense holding up. I suspect that this will be a high-scoring game with the Steelers winning on a field goal.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland at San Fransisco:
Now back to an easier pick. The Browns will fight hard and maybe lead once but the 49ers are really that good this season.
Winner: San Francisco

Cincinnati at Seattle:
Seattle is a tough place to play but the Bengals are playing good ball and really have nothing to lose. I love teams that fly just under the radar.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday Night
Dallas at Philadelphia:
Both of these teams have been disappointment. I have such high hopes for each of these teams (especially when I pick them to win) and almost every time they disappoint. So I am going for the team that would disappoint me the least.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Monday Night
San Diego at Kansas City:
You have to hand it to the Chiefs for pulling off 3 wins after a 3-game losing streak. Playing at Kansas City will be tough for the Chargers who literally threw the last game away. The Chargers should play better but I see them taking the Chiefs lightly.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Upon Further Review: Week Seven Picks

I avoided packing up all my Jets stuff this week with a nice win by the Jets against the hated rival Dolphins. My Jets still have a ton of work to do but I did see some improvements last Monday. I am hoping that the offense just picks it up this week and they will need it against a high-scoring offense in the Chargers.

I scored a decent 9/13 which is one better than last week. I had some close calls and I am wagging my Finger of Shame at you Cowboys! They really should have had that game.

Seattle at Cleveland:
Both teams have been inconsistent this year. Seattle is better than I thought and Cleveland is worse than I thought. I see the fortunes being reversed here:
Winner: Cleveland Browns

Atlanta at Detroit:
The Falcons came away with a great win against the rival Panthers and they have some momentum. The Lions lost at the end and I am curious to see how this team reacts to a loss like that. Can the Lions prove that they are a good team by bouncing back? This will show us how mentally tough the Lions are. I think they win in a squeaker.
Winner: Detroit Lions


Houston at Tennessee:
Tough game to call here. The Texans need this win to end a 2-game losing streak. The Titans have nothing to lose and could really make the AFC South interesting by pulling a win out. And that is exactly what I think they will do.
Winner: Tennessee Titans

Denver at Miami:
So Miami wants to celebrate Tim Tebow and they are throwing this huge celebration. Doesn't he play for the other team? I am sure the Dolphins want to do everything they can to spoil Tim Tebow but from what I saw Monday night, I don't think the Dolphins have enough in the tank to take an emotional Tebow out. And Miami is terrible at home too.
Winner: Denver Broncos


San Diego at NY Jets:
The Jets need this game and I think they could pull off a win in New York. If the Jets defense can slow the running game, I think they have a chance. And I think the two former Chargers in Cromartie and Thomlinson will want to beat their former team.
Winner: New York Jets

Chicago at Tampa Bay:
Boy I didn't expect the Bucs to reply to a butt-whupping like that! Beating the Saints on their turf will give them major momentum and I expect them to come out firing against the Bears. The Bears and QB Jay Cutler looked fantastic against the Vikings but don't expect a repeat.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington at Carolina:
I am still not a believer in the Redskins and the Panthers are playing a lot better than anyone expected. It seems to me that the pressure to perform is on the Redskins and the Panthers are just playing loose. That is not to say that the Panthers are not being serious, I just think they are playing with no expectations. And that will be the difference in this one.
Winner: Carolina Panthers

Kansas City at Oakland:
This will be a lot closer than anyone thinks. If the Chiefs can slow down the run, they have a glimmer of hope. Sounds easy right? Yup, it's not. The Raiders will run, run, RUN on the Chiefs.
Winner: Oakland Raiders

Pittsburgh at Arizona:
It will take awhile for the Steelers to find their footing but once they do they will dominate the Cards. The Superbowl rematch will not even be close.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

St. Louis at Dallas:
The Cowboys should have had that game against the Pats. Luckily for them, the injured Rams roll into town. The Cowboys better take them seriously.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay at Minnesota:
Rookie QB Ponder will provide a small spark but the Packers are just too much for them. The Packers have to lose sometime right? Not this week.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Sunday Night
Indianapolis at New Orleans:
This Superbowl rematch will not be close either. I am sure QB Drew Brees will want to vent against the hapless Colts.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Monday Night
Baltimore at Jacksonville:
I still think that the Jags have some talent but I don't think they have enough to take out one of the top teams in the NFL in the Ravens. And I am sure the Ravens are slobbering at the bit to take on a rookie QB.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Upon Further Review: Week Five Picks

Yikes, instead of scoring higher, I scored much lower. I still got over 50% of the games with a final score of 9/16. Now I am not so confident this week with my picks.

Philadelphia at Buffalo:
Now this has the makings of being a high scoring game. The Bills will want to avenge their loss against the Bengals last week and the Eagles want to show that they are the NFC East leaders. One team will not get what it wants and I see a close one with the Eagles squeaking out a win in a very hostile environment.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Kansas City at Indianapolis:
You have to hand it to the Colts, they have played the last two games competitively but unfortunately they were both in losing efforts. That will begin to take its toll while the Chiefs are coming off a gutsy win. I am not a fan of the loser of a Monday Night game in winning the next week but I think the Colts have a chance against the Chiefs. It will be close but I think the Colts will win this one.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Arizona at Minnesota:
Sure we all know that the Vikings can get the lead going into the 2nd half but can they keep it for the whole game? I think they can, even though they will try their hardest to lose it.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings

Seattle at NY Giants:
The Seahawks are another team that I cannot call. I think they will be outclassed in this cross-country game but then if I say that, they will absolutely clobber the Giants. Sorry, Giants fans, I gotta go with you.
Winner: NY Giants

Tennessee at Pittsburgh:
The Titans saw the blueprint from the Texans and Ravens and I think they have enough talent and guts to win at Pittsburgh. But then, the Titans beat the Ravens who beat the Steelers. And we know how things add up in the NFL right? The math never works.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

New Orleans at Carolina:
The Panthers will make a run at it but the Saints just have way too much firepower and just enough defense to take the Panthers out.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Cincinnati at Jacksonville:
The Bengals proved that they will go down fighting and will take a few teams with them. The Jaguars unfortunately had to go with a rookie to win games. While I eventually think they will, I don't see it happening much this season. But this game will give them a taste.
Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

Oakland at Houston:
The Raiders will fight hard in honor of Al Davis. Unfortunately they are going up against a team that is loaded offensively. But then these are the Texans and they usually fold after good games. I think the Raiders shock the NFL and put a pounding on the Texans in an upset.
Winner: Oakland Raiders

Tampa Bay at San Francisco:
Both teams had good wins last week and I think this will come down to the long cross-country trip, the short week to prepare and the homefield advantage. But then these are the 49ers. Better flip a coin.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (by tails)

San Diego at Denver:
The Broncos are always tough at home but the Chargers will pull away in the 2nd half.
Winner: San Diego Chargers

NY Jets at New England:
My heart wants to pick the Jets. And I think they have what it takes to pull off a win. They did it at New England last year in the playoffs. No one is picking the Jets, just like last year. The Pats will want to avenge a loss and unfortunately I think they will. This will put the Jets in a terrible situation and the Pats will want to stick to them. I hate to do this but...
Winner: New England Patriots

I hate myself now.


Sunday Night
Green Bay at Atlanta:
The Packers have to lose sometime right? But I don't think the Falcons have an edge to them. It will start close but the Packers are just too powerful.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Monday Night
Chicago at Detroit:
The crowd will be hot and the Lions will be jacked up for this game. The Bears will try their best but the Lions will put on a show. The Lions remind me of the Saints a few seasons ago when the Saints won the Superbowl. They are finding other ways to win.
Winner: Detroit Lions

Upon Further Review: Week Four Picks

Yikes, Week 4 of the NFL means that we are a quarter way through the season! I scored another 11/16 last week (thanks to both the Broncos/Bengals for going the way I called it) but I am looking to do better this week.

Detroit at Dallas:
Sooner or later the Lions will lose and I only say that because it is extremely hard to make it through the season undefeated. But the Cowboys secondary is a little beat up and I see the Lions receivers having a monster game. The Lions are for real and this game will prove it.
Winner: Detroit Lions

Carolina at Chicago:
Carolina is a much better team than I figured and I credit the coaching staff for getting rookie QB Cam Newton ready to play. Of course they guy is extremely talented and that helps as well. But it is time to come back to Earth. The Bears defense will make a comeback this week.
Winner: Chicago Bears

Buffalo at Cincinnati:
This is a classic trap game for the Bills but for all the things I have seen and read, I don't think the Bills will be overlooking the Bengals. Beating New England will not make this team cocky, it will only instill in them a vast amount of confidence. The Bengals will give the Bills all they have but the better team will win.
Winner: Buffalo Bills

SIDENOTE: It has been a long, long time that I picked both the Bills and Lions to win during the same week. I know it is WAY early in the season but how freaking magical would a Lions/Bills Superbowl be?

Tennessee at Cleveland:
The Browns impressed me with how they won against Miami last week. Unfortunately that was against a hapless Dolphin team and I don't expect the Browns to be able to do what they did last week this week against the Titans. But the Browns are at home and I might give them another chance this week to show that they a better team.
Winner: Cleveland Browns

Minnesota at Kansas City:
I really want to pick the Chiefs here to win. The Vikings have showed me that they are a scared team. They have no heart and no desire to win. If they did, they would have won last week for sure. Personally, I think it would be easy to hold a lead. Just feed RB Adrian Peterson the ball when you have it. The Chiefs should win but the Vikings have too much talent. And I am hoping that they learned a lesson and give Adrian the ball.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings

Washington at St. Louis:
The Redskins should have beat Dallas last Monday night and it is all Deangelo Hall's fault. As long as this guy is on the Redskins, the Redskins will not progress into the playoffs. The more he runs his mouth, the more it ruins the team. I think the Redskins could beat the Rams but unless they take care of this issue, they won't be able to come together as a team.
Winner: St. Louis Rams

New Orleans at Jacksonville:
The Jaguars will fight hard but rookie QB mistakes will be too much for them to overcome. The Saints easy in this one.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh at Houston:
Oh, I hope this game is on TV. I have a feeling that Houston is going to come out big in this game. The home-field crowd, the air attack and the much-improved Houston D will have the Steelers on their back. For every good thing the Steelers accomplish, the Texans will trump them. Well, I hope so...
Winner: Houston Texans

San Francisco at Philadelphia:
The Eagles want to forget about that awful loss last week and the best way to wash that awful taste out of their mouths is to win. Luckily the 49ers are coming to town. The game will be competitive but the Eagles will want it more.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants at Arizona:
My heart says to go for the Cardinals but I think that the Giants are rolling quietly in the right direction. It will not be easy for the Giants and they may have to overcome some mistakes or bad play early for them to win.
Winner: New York Giants

Atlanta at Seattle:
We will see how much heart the Falcons have. They lost a heart breaker last week and they have to travel across the country to face a team that won unexpectedly last week. I think the Falcons have some fight to take out a weaker team.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Miami at San Diego:
The good news is that Miami is on the road. But the bad news is that they have to travel across the country and face one of the better AFC teams who are still angry losing to the Pats two weeks ago.
Winner: San Diego Chargers

New England at Oakland:
Even though it really ticked me off, I was really impressed with the Raiders and how they ran against a tough Jets D. When it came down to it, the Raiders got what they needed out of the running game, out of QB Jason Campbell and also that young defense. The Raiders will have a much tougher time containing QB Tom Brady but they will be able to keep up in scoring. I think the Raiders are for real too. The Raiders score another major upset.
Winner: Oakland Raiders

Denver at Green Bay:
The Packers have to lose one some time right? But not against this team and not at home.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

SUNDAY NIGHT:
New York Jets at Baltimore:
I cannot wait for this game. The Ravens exploded offensively last week but they won't be able to do that to the Jets. The Jets D will be back to avenge their loss last week. Now I am sure that this is not going to surprise anyone but I am going with the Jets in an upset. The Ravens beat them last year at New York and the Jets are going to return the favor and beat the Ravens at Baltimore. Should be a fun game!
Winner: New York Jets

MONDAY NIGHT:
Indianapolis at Tampa Bay:
I didn't think the Colts would be able to hang with the Steelers last week and I was happy to be disappointed. But I think the Colts extended themselves far last week, both emotionally and physically. And on the road against an up-and-coming team? I am looking forward to watching QB Josh Freeman play.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Upon Further Review: Week 3 Picks

I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I scored a point higher than last week, scoring an 11/16. But the bad news is that I have two trouble-causing teams that refuse to go the way I want them to go. Usually I have one team throughout the season that causes me fits but it looks like I may have two of them. Bengals and Broncos are officially on my black list.

Now on to the Week 3 picks!

Houston at New Orleans:
New Orleans is pretty tough at home and have just enough defense to slow the Texans down.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

NY Giants at Philadelphia:
If QB Vick plays the Giants have no chance. If Vick doesn't play the Giants have a slim chance. I was impressed by the Eagles backup QB Mike Kafka (he should start over Vince Young for sure) and I like the chances of the Eagles winning this game easily.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Jacksonville at Carolina:
QB Cam Newton is proving that he has what it takes to compete in the NFL. And Cam will also notch his first win of the season against a reeling Jags team. It will be close but the Panthers will easily take the 2nd half.
Winner: Carolina Panthers

New England at Buffalo:
I really like the Bills chances here. I think they have an offense that will give the Pats fits. And I think that Buffalo has the momentum here. But that does not solve the Brady/Bellichek problem. Somehow the Pats will find the way to win this game.
Winner: New England Patriots

Miami at Cleveland:
Good thing for the Dolphins is that they are on the road and not playing at home. They will come in and play hard but will not take the Browns seriously. The Dolphins are struggling on defense and the Browns could run all over them.
Winner: Cleveland Browns

San Francisco at Cincinnati:
I like the Bengals chances here but they failed me last week. The 49ers should win and when they should win they usually don't. Do I have to pick this game? So what will it be Bengals?
Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Denver at Tennessee:
The Broncos are much like the Bengals to me. They both are orange and they both fail me when I call games. So what do I do now? I think the Titans will edge out the Broncos but only barely. And where is Million Dollar Man Chris Johnson? You gonna be like this all season Broncos?
Winner: Tennessee Titans

Baltimore at St. Louis:
If the Rams didn't make stupid mistakes Monday night, they could have beaten the Giants. If the Ravens play like they did last week the Rams could sneak away with a win. But the Ravens won't, an angry Ray Lewis will make sure that a repeat of last week will not happen again.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

NY Jets at Oakland:
I was impressed with the Raiders last week that is until they melted down in the 4th quarter. The Jets are playing across country and that will hurt them. If the Raiders won last week I would totally pick them against the Jets here. But I think the Jets can win in a squeaker.
Winner: New York Jets

Kansas City at San Diego:
I feel bad for the Chiefs. I still think they can be pretty competitive, it will be interesting to see how this team reacts to all the negative stuff that has happened to the team.
Winner: San Diego Chargers

Arizona at Seattle:
I love that each NFL season is so unpredictable. Who would have thought that last year's NFC West Champion could be the worst team in the NFL? But then on the other hand, they only won 7 games last year. Seattle is a tough place to play but it is not hard enough for the Cards to overcome.
Winner: Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta at Tampa Bay:
Both teams got impressive wins last week and this game looks to be a very good one. I know it is early in the season but this game will have playoff implications. Atlanta looks to be the better team here but I am thinking that the Bucs win in a small upset.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Green Bay at Chicago:
The Packers have to lose at least one game during the season right? And this could be it facing a tough Bears team in enemy territory. But I just don't see the Packers losing. While it would not surprise me to see the Bears win in Chicago, I am still sticking with the World Champions.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

SUNDAY NIGHT:
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis:
I really thought that the Colts could bounce back a bit without QB Peyton Manning but I was wrong. The Colts will fight hard but are hopelessly outmatched against the Steelers. This was the easiest game to pick all season.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

MONDAY NIGHT:
Washington at Dallas:
Now this looks like it could be quite an entertaining game. I am still not a believer in the Redskins but they could prove doubters me wrong. If this was at Washington I would take them but I think Dallas got some momentum last week which will carry to this game at home. It will be close.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Football Fever!

I think I have finally succumbed to Football Fever. It has taken awhile for this to have finally take over. I think the hot weather has had something to do with it since Football Fever needs cooler, fall-like temperatures to thrive.

The weather is still pretty warm for this time of year so you would think that I could fight off this yearly sickness. But yesterday I finally found a copy of Athlon's Pro Football Annual (I have bought this magazine every year for the last thirteen years) and I bought the newest Madden game. I sold Madden 11 online with a couple of other games and CDs I was no longer needing and got enough to mostly cover the price of the game. I think I will have to only pay one dollar when it is all settled. Combine that with my two Fantasy Football leagues (one drafted last Sunday) and I gave in.

I love those Athlon magazines. I still re-read the old ones. 

With all this football activity, I knew that I HAVE to blog about it. The writing/blogging bug is itching bad! I looked at last year's blog and that only worsened my condition. I was going to start today by giving my NFC predictions but my old Upon Further Review banner was looking old. So I created a brand new one that I am about 80 percent satisfied with.

When I get back from Park City (Huzzah! Platis Family Reunion!) I will post my NFC and AFC predictions (in separate blogs) when I get back.

Random Ramblings: Finally!

Happy: Are you ready for some football? This will be an interesting week for the NFL. The NFL is back as the players and owners have agreed to a new 10-year deal. And now teams will have to compress 5-months of business into a week or so. News will be flying fast and I couldn't be more happy.

Laughing: Patriots owner Robert Craft said something pretty funny during the news conference announcing the new NFL deal.

"I believe you're going to see a very great NFL over the next decade and I hope we gave a little lesson to the people in Washington because the debt crisis is a lot easier to fix than this deal was." 

Excited: This will be the final blog of the week as I am taking off to Girl's Camp early tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to spending time with my wife and these wonderful girls. At least it will be quite entertaining. Kristy put me in charge of taking pictures and I have no problem doing that. My only rule is no duckfaces. I hate that look. It is not cute, it makes you look plain stupid.

Sad, Worried and Confused: I have a situation drama that I am observing and it really gives me the heebie-jeebies. I can't blog much about it here because I certainly don't want to offend and with recent events, I have learned that I should keep my nose (and mouth) out of family matters, except for my immediate family. But I cannot stop thinking about it. Personally, I think they are making a big mistake, and one that could potentially be extremely drastic and that is what worries me. I get the reason why they are doing this, I desire the same thing. I get why they are helping someone, I want to help people as well. The big deal is not what they are doing but how they are doing it. The big mistake in my opinion is that they are being too casual.

*DISCLAIMER*

I am now on my soapbox.

You can skip this tirade if you desire. Just scroll down to the Monty Python picture.

It seems lately that Church leaders have warned us to be careful how casual we are in our relationships with others. We have been asked in our Stake (the local area) to assist each other in making sure everyone is being taken care of. My local ward has been asked to help visit (what we call home teaching) other members in other wards. But our leaders have stressed to be careful in these relationships. We should love them and treat them as we would our own family but we are to be careful in our casual this relationship should be. This casualness could lead down a road that will end up in a lot of pain and heartache. Being casual in some things can lead to other things becoming casual and so forth. And this is what I am seeing. I am seeing something that at first was good but now it has become casual. Too casual in my opinion.

Let's take me for instance. I am friends with the Young Women here in our neighborhood. I like being around them and I want to help them when I can. That's not bad right? Nothing wrong to see here. But what if I become to casual with them? What if I start to go out of my way to see them? Is that bad? I don't think it is bad initially. But what if it gets to the point where they come over and visit me? And what if they come and see me when Kristy is not around?

Do you see where I am going with this now? It started off all good and well but things are getting a bit too casual. It is not like I would do anything but it would be easier now that they are coming over alone than it would be if I only saw them in appropriate situations. This is why being casual could lead to problems. Why put yourself in that type of situation?

And this is the sort of situation I am seeing now. Now I know that I don't know all the details and I am not in the same situation. But I can't help feeling this way. It really frightens me where this could go. And unfortunately I wouldn't be able to help them once they are gone.

Boy that was depressing. 

And now for something completely different. 

I was going through some pictures and I found this one of my dad and sister and it reminded me of another picture.

I guess I do look a lot like my dad.

C'Mon NFL!

One of my favorite things to do around my birthday is to go and buy the annual Athlon Football Preview issue. I spend hours pouring through that issue as it recaps the previous season and covers all the news and predicts what will happen the next season. 

Well, that issue is MIA. 

Because of the lockout, that issue is not coming out and it looks like training camps (one of my favorite things to follow) may be canceled. Roger Goodell, the players and the owners really need to sit down and work out a deal because I want my football back! The first Sunday games are scheduled for September 11th, the ten year anniversary of that horrible day. Football was one of the things that helped heal this nation. I know it was a great relief to be ordinary and watch football just barely after the attacks. 

Make this work guys!

Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout with Taylor Lautner from Taylor Lautner

I would totally watch this! But I would rather have the NFL come back. I would be willing to watch the Twilight movies every weekend to have the NFL back. I would be willing...  ...well, you don't want to know what I would be willing to do to have the NFL come back. 

I'm Back!

First of all, I appreciate all the comments of support. I don't want to stop blogging, I just have lost the motivation for doing so. My cousin Josh gave me a lot of ideas to blog about and that got my mind going and hopefully that will get me going.

Jaimee mentioned that she was surprised that I didn't blog about the Superbowl. I was going to but I forgot to take pictures of the event so I decided it was not worth the effort. But now looking back, I wish I did so here it is a few days late and a few dollars short.

Superbowl Sunday was a lot of fun though. It was a long day, I was out and about doing Church-related assignments all up until the game. My mom came over for the festivities and we made a whole lot of food. Kristy made her famous stuffed mushrooms, we had a sweet shredded beef in the crock pot for sandwiches, I had some boneless buffalo chicken strips and we had an ice cream bar and eclairs for desert. That and a ton of other candy (Bottlecaps!) and soda. Yeah, I was stuffed and I am sure I have gained some weight. But hey, it is the Superbowl!

The game was great. The halftime show...  ...not that great. I am not that familiar with the Black Eyed Peas but I came away unimpressed. The lights and special effects were pretty good but the music was just not that. I really think AC/DC or Paul Rodgers + Queen would be awesome halftime shows. Can you imagine everyone in the stadium doing We Will Rock You? The commercials were pretty good, Pepsi Max was the worst offender. I guess crotch shots and sex will help you sell Pepsi. The game though was amazing. I am a Green Bay Packer fan, they are my 2nd favorite team behind the Jets. I was a little worried when all the injuries for the Packers began to pile up but I was glad that a former USU Aggie made some key plays in place for injured Charles Woodson.

When I became a Packer fan there was hardly any merchandise out there. Remember that this was before the Internet. My Aunt Julie found this sweatshirt out in Colorado and sent it to my Mom so she could give it to me. Thanks Julie!

I am happy for Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. I have to admit that I was not a fan of the Packers when they let Brett Favre go and I stopped rooting for them while he was with the Jets.

This is a real authentic Cheesehead. My mom's friend Julie Shipley took a trip to Wisconsin and my mom asked her to buy one for me for Christmas. So Julie did and she came home on the plane with this Cheesehead on her lap. Thanks Julie!

(I'm very lucky and blessed to have such good Julies' in my life!)

But as a true Packer fan, I will forgive and forget and support the Pack. I became a Packers fan back in the late 80's. And it was one player that sealed the deal for me. He was #84, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe (older brother of Shannon Sharpe). That guy was truly talented and was looking like he was going to become a receiver like Jerry Rice. And then came Brett Favre. And then came Reggie White. And thus a Packer fan was born!

Ah the wonders of eBay and the Internet. I got an old Sharpe jersey and I found his rookie card from a street dealer in New York.

Since then I have followed the Pack and a few years later I was cheering them in the Superbowl. Since I didn't want to be counted as a bandwagon fan, I became a fan of the Jets.

Upon Further Review: Superbowl!

I cannot wait for tomorrow.

This season certainly has gone by rather quickly. It seems just like it was last month when I started this column. And that was a full EIGHT weeks before the NFL season even got under way!

I originally picked the New York Jets to win the Superbowl over the Vikings. So close and yet so far!

While I am still saddened over my Jets loss to the Steelers two weeks ago, I am comforted to know that my 2nd favorite team in the NFL is playing in the big game. And not only will I be in for a good game, I have a ton of Mountain Dew and lots of snacks and goodies to take me through the pregame, game and postgame!

Pittsburgh vs Green Bay:
This should be a great game. It could go either way, it could be all defensive or we could have an offensive explosion. The biggest key to the game will be if the Steelers can slow down the Packers fast and explosive offense. I do believe that the Packers defense can match up with the Steelers offense but I am unsure how the Steelers can control the Packers offense. If the Steelers can stop the run, I think they have a good chance and I think the Packers know that. So watch for the Packers to use the pass to setup the run. It will be close and the Steelers will take an early lead but in the 3rd quarter the Packers will take the lead for good.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

And I am pretty excited to watch the trailer for the new Captain America film. Yeah, I am still a geek.

Upon Further Review: Conference Championships

You know I would have never thought that the New York Jets would go to the AFC Championship 2 years in a row! And this year has been amazing, who would have thought that the Jets could beat the Colts and Pats on the road to the AFC Championship?

Oh yeah.... ME!

Having your team in the playoffs is bittersweet. I am proud that my team has made it to the AFC Championship but I don't know if I can handle it physically. I am not a casual fan of the football, I am pretty hardcore. I love the game and I will support any team that just plays good. I will support any team that makes a good coaching move (just like I am glad that the Broncos hired John Fox as their new head coach, I really admire that guy) I just like watching football. It doesn't matter who is playing in the NFL, I will watch it and enjoy it.

But the playoffs are different. It is personal and I take it personal. I live and die by each down and with each yard. After last Sundays win against the Pats, I was euphoric all week. But the closer we get to Sunday, that sinking dreadful feeling is returning. Now I have to gird up my loins and go through three hours of emotion. I don't think I can take it.

But I cannot wait...

Green Bay at Chicago:
Oh boy... another divisional game and emotions will be riding extra high for this one. The Packers have just steamrolled into the playoffs and the Bears have the best special teams squad in the NFL. Something will have to give (and hopefully it isn't my heart!) and however makes the first mistake will be out. While I am now a believer in the Bears, I don't think they are going to the final round.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

New York Jets at Pittsburgh:
Now this is football. Cold weather, mean defenses, pounding the ball. Both teams are physical, both teams have great defenses, both teams are well coached, both teams like to run. The biggest key for the Jets is controlling Pittsburgh's large QB and the Steelers will need to be able to stall the Jet's potent pass rush. Points will be rare in this one and I foresee the Jets scoring on defense which will be the difference.
Winner: New York Jets

And I will be one happy pappy! The Jets and Packers are my two favorite teams and I will have the ultimate  Green Superbowl! History will be made as two 6th place teams win all road games to the Superbowl.

Boo Hoo Brady!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I know I have a ton of words after watching last night's Jets win over the hated Pats. Don't get me wrong, I respect the Pats and I respect Brady. But I was so proud watching him throw that first pick and get sacked hard 5 times.

I am still on a euphoric high. It is still a dream. Funny thing is that when the Jets scored that last touchdown with about two minutes in the game I got a call from a friend of mine. Last weekend he and his wife were in a terrible sledding accident (he broke his leg horribly) and I have been to the hospital to administer a blessing and have been taking care of some of their needs. Well, he called me in tremendous pain and said that he needed help right then for a blessing. So I hopped off my couch and ran to get my shoes when he said in his sick voice "I am only kidding. Congrats on the win." Funny guy...

Upon Further Review: Divisional Playoffs

This weekend's Divisional games are definitely divisional since the Ravens/Steelers and Jets/Patriots have already played twice this season. I find that these games are the most entertaining of the playoffs. You have teams that get on a roll and get hot and then you also find which teams are really impostors and have had a little luck with the rolling of the dice. Each game should be quite entertaining and I am definitely looking forward to them. I have a ton of Mountain Dew all ready to go!

Baltimore at Pittsburgh:
Each team that played on the road is the one that won and that may just continue here. The Ravens finally found their offense last week and they will keep the Steelers busy. The Steelers home field is not as intimidating as it has been the last few years and the Ravens have already won there once before. This will be a tough slug fest with the Ravens winning late.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay at Atlanta:
Unlike the earlier game, this will be all offensive and it will come down to whoever stops the other team first. The Packers are the hottest team in the playoffs. I like this match up for the Packers and if QB Aaron Rodgers gets on a roll, the Packers will be hard to stop. But the Falcons running game should have the Packers worried. The Packers will make the first stop.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Seattle at Chicago:
This all depends on which Jay Cutler shows up. The Seahawks have nothing to lose and they are feeling mighty after slaying the Superbowl Champions. This will be a tougher game than the Bears like and it will come down to special teams.
Winner: Chicago Bears

New York Jets at New England:
Man is this getting ugly. The Jets are putting their money where their mouth is and it will be interesting to see if they can play it out. I have a feeling that this go around, the Jets are a little more humbled (as much as they can be with Rex Ryan) and they will not lose like they did last time. And for the last couple of years when the Pats come to the playoffs for the big games they lose. I am calling an upset here, I gotta go with my Jets!
Winner: New York Jets

Upon Further Review: Wildcard Weekend!

The end of the NFL season sure snuck up on me. In fact I totally forgot about it. I didn't blog my picks for the final week of the regular season. I have blogged about the NFL for 33 weeks straight and I forgot about the last week! 

I am so embarrassed....

Oh well. At least I remembered Wildcard Weekend! 

New Orleans at Seattle:
History was made, the Seattle Seahawks made the playoffs without a winning record. History could be made again. But it won't. Seattle will be tough to play especially at home but the Saints want to prove to everyone that they are still the Superbowl Champions.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

New York Jets at Indianapolis:
I don't think the Jets figured in facing the Colts so early in the playoffs. But if you are to slay a monster, you might as well do it right in the beginning. The Colts will be a handful but I think the Jets can be just as much as an issue for the Colts. The Jets loaded up in the offseason to be able to take care of the Colts in the playoffs. These are not your daddy's Colts.
Winner: New York Jets

Baltimore at Kansas City:
Oh boy. This could be quite the slugfest. You have to give Coach Haley props for making the Chiefs contenders so quickly. I do think that the Ravens have more talent but with the young Chiefs team playing at home, they certainly will not be pushovers. This will be a tight one but the Ravens will win the game... ...barely.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay at Philadelphia:
This could be quite the entertaining shootout. The Eagles should have won that final game against Dallas and I believe that will ultimately hurt them. The Packers are soaring and have all the confidence to go to Philly and put a hurt on the Eagles.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

So history will be made. The road teams for all four games will come away the winner. At least I hope so.

Upon Further Review: Week 16

How about them Jets?  I am ashamed with myself that I didn't pick them and football karma struck again! There were some pretty good games last week and I am sure that everything is hyped up again this week as the playoffs begin in just a few weeks. Which teams will show some gumption and secure a playoff spot? I didn't do too bad last week, if I would have picked the Jets it would have been better. But I did score 10/16 which isn't so bad.

Dallas at Arizona:
The Cards disappointed me to the level of the 49ers. Meaning I will never pick the Cardinals and the 49ers again this season.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

New England at Buffalo:
I don't think the Bills will allow the Patriots to push them around and it will be a much closer game than the Pats will want. But it is the Pats and it is Tom Brady.
Winner: New England Patriots

NY Jets at Chicago:
The Jets play better away from New York and I am still not convinced that the Bears are championship material. I should pick the Bears since karma will strike and the Jets will win. But I don't want to tempt karma twice.
Winner: New York Jets

Baltimore at Cleveland:
The Ravens need to be careful not to look past the Browns this week. This is a classic trap game but I don't smell an upset here.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Tennessee at Kansas City:
The Chiefs can secure a playoff spot and division crown if they win this game and the Raiders and Chargers lose. This is another trap game that the Chiefs need to be careful not to drop. But I am not smelling an upset here either and the Chiefs are super at home.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco at St. Louis:
Hmmmm... 49ers?
Winner: St. Louis Rams

Detroit at Miami:
The Lions won a close game last week and the Dolphins laid an egg. Miami has been horrible at home and the Lions finally broke their woeful road losing record. I like the way this is trending.
Winner: Detriot Lions

Washington at Jacksonville:
I really hate the way Washington has treated QB Donovan McNabb. And I really like the way the Jaguars have been playing this season.
Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis at Oakland:
Ooo this could be a bad game for the Colts. The Raiders like to run and they certainly can and they are playing a very soft Colt defense. But this is Peyton Manning with playoffs on the line. But this is at Oakland, a rough place to get a win. I really want to call an upset here.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Houston at Denver:
The last time I took the Broncos they lost. But the last time I took the Texans, they lost. How about I don't pick this game?
Winner: Denver Broncos (Merry Christmas Case Family!)

San Diego at Cincinnati:
The Bengals actually won a game! I don't think that streak will continue here. But if the weather is bad, that could spell doom for the Chargers. Still....
Winner: San Diego Chargers

NY Giants at Green Bay:
The Packers really showed me something last week against the Pats. The Giants folded faster than Superman on laundry day. I think the Packers will come out of their loss better than the G-Men.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Seattle at Tampa Bay:
Good teams rebound from tough losses and I am curious to see how the Bucs react from being humbled by the Lions.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minnesota at Philadelphia:
Philly is on a roll and the Vikings are on a free fall. And they chose this game as the Sunday Night Flex?
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Monday Night
New Orleans at Atlanta:
The Saints need this game badly and the Falcons can put the Superbowl Champion out to pasture. Now this will be a good game and it will be nice for the Falcons get some national exposure. I am smelling that upset...
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Football Family Rivalry

Nothing like sports to stir up a wide variety of emotions. My family is into sports and I was very happy to hear that Kristy's little brother Steven liked football. At least I had someone in the family that I could talk football with even though he was only thirteen at the time.

I have to hand it to Steve. He is a Detroit Lions fan. I thought I had problems and issues being a Jets fan. At least I had another fan to commiserate with. I was used to losing (when I married into the family, my team was coming off a 1-15 season) and Steven's team had the great Barry Sanders.

And then one Sunday afternoon, things changed for both of us forever.

I was down in West Jordan staying over with Kristy just a week or so before we were married. I had to go to church with the family since their Bishop wanted to speak to me. After a quick visit, I ran back to Kristy's house to catch the last week of the NFL season. Steven's Lions were facing my New York Jets with the playoffs riding on the line. Win and you are in, lose and you go home.

During church I took the opportunity to pass this note to Steven:

And he of course sent me one back.

Ever since that day, I have carried these notes with me. We drew those notes back on Sunday, December 20th, 1997. Unfortunately the Lions intercepted the ball in the end zone and the Jets went on to lose that game. Barry Sanders ran for over 2,000 yards in a season that game. So Steven won that round.

But then I present this:

I may have the legacy of Rich Kotite with the Jets (only one season) but Steven has had to endure this man for eight long, sufferable years.

This blog is dedicated to my great brother-in-law Steve. He is a TRUE Lions fan.