81st Edition - 1/12/07

• Blatant Self-Promotion

I interviewed Golden Globe-nominated Jennifer Hudson from "Dreamgirls" and the hometown of Chicago.
click here to read

• Bears!

Finally, all the Rex Grossman talk will stop ... for a couple hours on Sunday when the Bears are actually on Soldier Field versus the Seattle Seahawks. Then, no matter what the result of the game, the Grossman talk will pick right back up again. And who am I kidding, the Grossman talk will be in full swing during the game as well.

Whether he has a good, horrible, amazing, awful, OK game -- it will be talked about to death.

It's the Bears defense that needs to show up and play. That's all that needs to happen. I believe Lovie Smith wants to win a Super Bowl. I believe he will do whatever he has to in order for Rex Grossman not to lose the game this Sunday. Run every single play, pull Grossman after the second pick, only play special teams and defense ... it doesn't matter, just win.

Perhaps the nation doesn't realize that the Bears haven't won a playoff game or HOME playoff game in a long time. That is the only thing that needs to be accomplished on Sunday no matter what Rex Grossman's ego needs.

Last playoff game the Bears won:
Jan. 1, 1995 - Wild Card Round - Chicago 35, Minnesota 18
(Thanks, Mark)

• NFL playoffs AND PICKS: One week makes all the difference

Last week, some of the games were close, but mainly from below-average play. There wasn't any great story lines, all that changes this week...

Also, last week I was 1-3. Which meant Mike D was 3-1 because he used the logic of George Costanza (he did the opposite of me). I didn't complain, though he wouldn't have made though picks without seeing mine, so he did cheat. Just wanted to be clear on that.

NFL Season Standings:
j : (25-24-4)
Mike D: (27-24-2)

NFL Playoffs:
j: 1-3
Mike D: 3-1

NFL Overall:
j: 26-27-4
Mike D: 30-25-2

Saturday - 3:30
Colts at Ravens
Peyton Manning has a chance to prove he can out think the best defense in the league. I don't think he can (because of the rest of his team).
j's pick: Ravens -3.5

Saturday - 7:00
Eagles at Saints
I just want lots of scoring ... and the Saints to win. But the Eagles are giving Philadelphia sports fans hope, and that always amuses me.
j's pick: Eagles +5

Sunday - 12:00
Seahawks at Bears
The Bears are going to win, the Bears are going to win, the Bears are going to win.
j's pick: Bears -8.5

Sunday - 3:30
Patriots at Chargers
Coach vs coach and QB vs QB -- You have to take the Patriots.
j's pick: Patriots +5

As always, look for Mike D's picks in the comments section.

• Beckham: Am I supposed to care?

An aging soccer star, David Beckham, is coming to Los Angeles. He isn't good enough to play on the elite European teams. There will be talk about how soccer is once again invading the United States, but really my only thought through this whole thing is this ... How is the world does the Galaxy have $250 million to pay him? There is no way the franchise is worth that much, so where is the money coming from? It does not make any sense.

• Stuff

*Quick movie review:
"Letters of Iwo Jima"
Clint Eastwood improves on every aspect of "Flags of our Fathers" when he made this version, focusing on the Japanese perspective of the battle of Iwo Jima. But that doesn't make it an instant classic. It's good, not great. There was an odd feeling that Eastwood was just playing to the crowd, attempting to show only Japanese soldiers who didn't want to fight or loved the United States. But the acting was fantastic and the story was interesting.
Grade: B

*Cracked did an article of the five biggest mismatches in movie fight history. Funny stuff. Click here to read

*Steve Martin is going to write a memoir, titled Born Standing Up

*Rotten Tomatoes has released their Golden Tomatoes Awards: The two best -- Casino Royale and The Queen. click here to read