28th Edition - 10/13/06

• My Mets

Mets 2, Cardinals 0 (Mets lead series 1-0)
Carlos Beltran blasted a 440 foot homer and Tom Glavine continued to pitch like it was 1999. Actually, he was 14-11 with the Braves in '99, but you get the reference. My "name of the game" Jose Reyes went 0-4. But the Mets do currently lead in stolen bases 1-0 (which I predicted was going to be a key stat, and so far, I'm wrong since the Mets scored their runs on the HR).

Game 2. Tonight. 7:05 on Fox.
Carpenter vs. Maine.
Clearly the Cards have the pitching advantage tonight, since La Russa has moved him up a start. Though it should be noted, at home Carpenter sports a 1.81 ERA, and on the road a 4.70 ERA. Hopefully the New York crowd will get a typical Carpenter start.
Name of the Game: Beltran has found his playoff groove, I shall ride that train.

• MLB: The Others

A's lead the series 2-0 over the Tigers.
Rich Harden takes on Kenny Rogers. If you watch the pregame, the term "must win" win be used about 25 times. So we've got that to look forward to.

• The Worst Story Ever (Why I Hate People)

The complete story is here. As Mark Downs was escorted out of a court room he told reporters, "I didn't do nothing."
Well, that's not true, and thankfully he's going to jail for it.
Downs was a little league coach and told one of his 8-year-old players to intentionally throw at an autistic kid so he couldn't play.
There are moments where I wish adults had to take many, many hours of classes in order to teach, coach, and most importantly pro-create and parent. But then I realize our government would have to oversee something like that, and I realize we're stuck with idiots doing idiotic things, which brings me back to my original point -- I hate people.

• The Picks

Dough is not rolling in, but it's pretty close.
Season Stats
j NCAA: 10-4-1
billy z NCAA: 9-4-2
j NFL: 9-4-2
mike d NFL: 8-6-2

NCAA
N. Illinois (-3) over W. Michigan
Iowa St (+19.5) over Oklahoma
Michigan (-6) over Penn State

NFL
Bengals (-5.5) over Buccaneers
Texas (+13) over Cowboys
Eagles (-3) over Saints

Look for billy z and mike d with their picks and amusing commentary later today in the comments section.

• Stuff

I didn't see any of the flicks coming out this weekend ahead of time.
Hear's the buzz -
"Grudge 2" is not scary.
"The Queen" will get nominations and everyone enjoys it, but it's a drama about an old woman.
"Man of the Year" looks SO bland. Not one thing in the trailer has made me laugh, so why would I want to see it?

If you've been curious about Roger Ebert, here is an article about his recovery and here is a link to his first review in months, "The Queen."

Is this funny? click here - these two guys just got a one year deal from NBC. I've only watched this one clip, but supposedly if you watch more, you'll laugh. So far, I'm 0-1.

Oh. My. God. SNL is awful. This Saturday night they are showing the repeat of Dane Cook hosting. Please keep in mind it originally aired TWO WEEKS AGO! It's best if I just end this post now before I say something I will regret.

27th Edition - 10/12/06

• MLB

When a New York Yankee pitcher (Corey Lidle) accidentally flies a plane into a Manhattan building, it kind of puts a damper on things ...

Here is the full story, Lidle and his flight instructor died in the crash.

I spoke with my NY source and he confirmed that people were hysterical with panic and immediately thoughts went to a terrorist attack. He was also thankful that the Mets vs. Cards game was a rainout because going to the game would have been "sober."

Speaking of the Mets, if you had tickets to Game One, you're now going to Friday's game (which is Game Two). Original Game Two tickets are now for Game One, which is today with the same pitching match-up of Jeff Weaver vs. Tom Glavine.
Name of the Game: Still Jose Reyes.

Tigers 8, A's 5 (Tigers lead series 2-0)
Frank Thomas had a chance with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. He flew out to center. I don't care who wins this series but I wanted Thomas to hit that grand slam. Nothing in baseball is more exciting (except a no-hitter) than a walk-off grand slam.

• NBA: Da Bulls

The preseason has started and the Bulls beat the Wizards 87-86. Ben Wallace's first free throw with the Bulls was an airball and he finsihed 1-6 from the line. Looks like I'm in for a long season of being insanely nervous at the end of close games.

• Stuff

I thought I had something else to talk about, but I can't remember. Perhaps that's because it is 30 degrees in Chicago this morning and I am now realizing I'll be unhappy for the next six months. Or perhaps it's because I need to get ready for my interview with this girl.

26th Edition - 10/11/06

• Bears, Bears, Bears: Slow Down

Wow, hype is a dangerous thing. I feel like it will already be considered a terrible season if we don't go undefeated and if we lose in the Super Bowl. Everybody needs to just SLOW DOWN and repeat this sports cliche after me, "ONE GAME AT A TIME!"

I mean, next thing you know, someone will make a t-shirt which has all the Bears opponents on it, and come with a orange Sharpie, so after every victory, you can check off that team on the way to a 16-0 season.
Yup, that idea already exists. sixteenstraight.com --- And because Chicago is so fat, it's only available in XL, 2XL and a small for kids.

• My Mets

Game One.
Tonight at 7:19 p.m. on FOX.
Jeff Weaver vs. Tom Glavine.

Game Two, Thursday, Suppan vs. Maine.
Game Three, Saturday, Trachsel vs. Carpenter.

Mets are winning tonight. They are also taking the series in six games. Chris Carpenter will prove a little too tough on the Mets, and he'll win when he pitches on Saturday. Mainly because you can't steal bases against him. Base-running will be a key to the series, and to prove it, I'll keep track of stolen bases.
Tonight's Name of the Game: Jose Reyes, I can't say base-running will be the key and NOT pick him. By the way, out of the five "name's of the game" that I picked, three hit home runs and one pitched six scoreless innings. Yes, I am gloating.

• MLB: The others

Tigers 5, A's 1 (Tigers lead series 1-0)
Game Two, Tonight.
Verlander vs. Loaiza.
The Tigers couldn't handle Barry Zito ... through eight at-bats. Then they figured him out and sent him packing in the 3rd inning. Zito gave up all five earned runs and the A's were 2-20 with runners on base.

• NBA: There's no whining in basketball

NBA officials are telling teams there will be a zero-tolerance policy toward complaining about fouls post-whistle. Players can expect a quick technical if they curse, throw their hands up or act overly annoyed. I love this decision. I hope football can adopt this for guys that motion they just made a first down when their team is losing by 21 points.
Rasheed Wallace immediately began complaining when he heard he couldn't complain.

"It just means I must be doing something right," Wallace said. "Any time they change the rules of the game for one specific player, you must be doing something right."

Nope Rasheed, it just means everyone is annoyed you have to complain about everything.

• Stuff

Do you like Stephen Colbert? Sorry, that's not going to be good enough. You'll need to love him in order to get through this massive story. Click here to read.

25th Edition - 10/10/06

• MNF: Wake me when it's over

The Broncos handed the Ravens their first loss of the season, and the Ravens accepted in graciously. 13-3, another snooze fest. At least there was sleet. Good thing the Bears are heading to MNF next week against the Cardinals.

The Undefeateds: Colts, Bears
The Defeateds: Titans, Raiders, Lions, Buccaneers

• MLB: Torre sticks

It appears Lou Pinnela has not been contacted by the Yankees. George Steinbrenner knows what he will do, but hasn't officially announced it. Reports are now saying Joe Torre will continue to manage the Yankees.

My Mets
Looks like Tom Glavine will pitch Game One against Jeff Weaver and the Cardinals on Wednesday night. Cliff Floyd is still bothered by an injury to his left foot. The Mets are unsure about the rest of their pitching rotations and whether Floyd will miss any time.
Look for Daryl Strawberry to throw out the first pitch on Wednesday. I'm sure there are a million jokes I should be able to come up with right now, but I have a cold and I'm just not in the mood.

Game One
Tigers vs. A's
Robertson vs. Zito
Tonight at 7:00 on FOX.

• Stuff

Wow, two more shows have been added to my TV line-up. I tried to fight off "Friday Night Lights." It couldn't be done, the show is too good. Unless I forget to add it to the Season Pass tonight, then I could be in trouble.

"30 Rock" delivers. Mainly because of Alec Baldwin at this point. It's probably just carry-over from his performance in "The Departed."

So here is watch the Tivo list looks like
1. Lost
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Studio 60 from the Sunset Strip
4. The Office
5. My Name is Earl
6. Friday Night Lights
7. 30 Rock
8. Saturday Night Live

"Scrubs" will be there when it returns. "Heroes" and "The Nine" will be done on Netflix if they continue to look good.

24th Edition - 10/9/06

• MLB: The Final Four

The Mets made it look easy. Then again, so did the A's, Tigers and Cardinals. No series went to 5 games.
The Cardinals were facing the greatest collapse in the history of baseball, but once they got into the playoffs, they remembered how it was done. A suicide squeeze (love the play and the name) gave the Cardinals a four-run cushion and a 6-2 victory over the Padres.
The Tigers finished the season 19-31, and gave away the central division on the last day of the regular season. But they took out the Yankees in just four games.

The bottom line is, just get to the playoffs. You never know what can happen.

Looking ahead, the Mets will be tangling with the Cardinals. Carpenter pitched in last night's game against the Padres, so he won't be available for Game 1, which hopefully leads the Mets into the driver's seat.

By the way, rumor is that Joe Torre will be fired from the Yankees, and Lou Piniella will be his replacement. Even if Torre is available, I want Joe Girardi to manage the Cubs.

• NFL: Where the Bears would be ranked No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Poll

If you watch football, you were smacked over the head with Terrell Owens commentary, before, during and after the Cowboys vs. Eagles game. And none of it was that interesting or enlightening. The game however turned out to be great. The Eagles defense blitzed almost every play, just killing Bledsoe. And then he threw a INT in the closing seconds which was returned for the TD.
Bledsoe and Favre are at the same stage in their career--making too many bad decisions. The difference is, Favre is hurting a bad team, Bledsoe is killing a potential Super Bowl contender.

The Bears stepped all over the Bills 41-7, with the Bills TD coming in the final minutes of the game after Cedric Benson fumbled on the Bears 20-yard-line. So keep in mind, even though the Bears have outscore opponents 156-36 this season, they have been shutout 7-0 the last 3:00.

The Best
QB
Donovan McNabb: 354 yards, 2TD
Damon Huard: 288 yards, 2TD
RB
Frank Gore: 134 yards
Duece McAllister: 123 yards, 1TD
WR
Hank Baskett: 112 yards, 1TD
Joey Galloway: 110 yards, 1TD

• The Land of Make Believe (a recap of fantasy)

*If the Baltimore Ravens beat the Denver Broncos, I win my office pool for the week.
*I am currently in the lead of my College Pick'em tournament, where we pick all Top 25 games on Saturday.
1. Chuck Long's Arm (me): 65
2. Taste It (mike d): 63
There are 12 total teams
*I won my fantasy football game mainly because Antonio Gates out-dueled Willy Parker last night. Season record 3-2.

• The Picks: Revisited

NCAA
j : 3-0 (Season 10-4-1)
billy z: 2-1 (Season 9-4-2)

NFL
j: 1-1-1 (Season 9-4-2)
mike d: 0-1-2 (Season 7-6-2)

• Stuff

SNL
It just was not good. My fiance kept turning to me saying, "Why don't they just pay one guy to figure out how to end skits. That would be his only job." Couldn't agree more.
Funny SNL's for 2006/07: 0-2 (Dane Cook; Jaime Pressly)

Movies
"The Departed" was number one at the box office. (good job folks)
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning," which was terrible, made $19 million. (bad job folks)