Tournament Thoughts: First Round Thursday

Sickening end to Vanderbilt vs. Northwestern. Matthew Fisher-Davis will not quite join Chris Webber, due to enormity of the situation, but certainly his blatant foul with 25 seconds left and his team LEADING by 1, will go down as one of the most boneheaded moves in tournament history.

No big upsets today. You can't really consider Middle Tennessee an upset since they were favored, and Xavier was only 2-point dogs, not exactly Cinderella stuff. All the 4 seeds won their opening round games. That's the third time that's happened in the past 4 years.

My biggest regret of the first round is that Albany lost their conference final to Vermont, and I don't get to put Dallas Ennema on my all-name team.

But at least we have Bacon.

The first member of Mrs. Poop's All-Hair team is Justin Tillman from VCU.

And his teammate Jonathan Williams would be there if Mrs. Poop liked beards.

For fundamentals no one beats Florida's Canyon Barry who shoots free throws underhand, as his father Rick used to do. Oh, and Barry set the Florida record for most consecutive free throws. For the record, Rick had sons Scooter, Brent & Jon with his first wife, Canyon is from wife #3, Rick must have been about 50 when Canyon was born.

Underhanded free throws are something Florida-Gulf Coast's Demetris Morant might want to consider.



Arizona looked good, Nevada looked fun and maybe Wisconsin can give Villanova some trouble. That's it for a very chalky day 1. Let's see if more upsets await on Day 2.

Song of the Week

"Something Like This" - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

No One To Blame But Themselves

The Syracuse Orange will be watching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in 3 years (not the way Jim Boeheim wanted to spend his latter years, but that's another post for another time).
The Orange were squarely on the bubble with an 18-14 record. Working against them, 4 horrible losses (St John's, Georgetown, UConn and Boston College), a poor road record (2-11) and a miserable RPI (80-something), which would have been the worst RPI to ever get an at-large berth, breaking the record they set last year.
But working in their favor, Syracuse finished 10-8 in the top conference, won 6 games against the RPI top 50 and was a completely different team that they were in November and December.
But when you lose 14 games, and blow several chances at a statement win, or even an easy clinching win, and don't get it, you really can't blame the committee.
Every team ahead of the Orange has pros and cons when rated head-to-head.
My only issue is with what seems to me to be some inconsistency in the criteria from year-to-year. It seems like last year SU was rewarded for big wins, this year those didn't matter as much. Perhaps the committee didn't want to keep stretching their criteria for the same team, and certainly it didn't seem like last year's Final Four run mattered at all.
But at least I have the Virginia game saved on my DVR.

Daniel Was The Real Bully

I have seen "The Karate Kid" many times, and like you, I always hate sympathy for Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) because I thought he was harassed, bullied and physically assaulted by the evil Johnny (Billy Zabka).
Turns out I had incredibly misinterpreted what really went on:



And they didn't even mention that Daniel kicked Johnny in the face, in clear violation of the rules of the tournament.

If you like looking differently at movies you thought you knew, check out this trailer for the Shining.

Which is Better: New York City or Greensboro

A leader who is often surly, nasty, dismissive and vindictive towards the media. He often picks fights with the media, especially over petty issues. And he mocks anyone who questions him.

Yes, I am talking about Jim Boeheim.

After his team lost in the ACC tournament he explained why he thinks the tournament should be in held in big cities every year.



The city of Greensboro responded with a snarky tweet:

Now personally, I believe representatives for a city should behave with a little more civility, but I understand that this is the culture of our youth, especially on Twitter, and you don't get attention if you don't "clap back" or retweet.

But in Boeheim's defense, he was asked the question. And it seems like someone followed up asking specifically about Greensboro. Sure he didn't have to answer so rudely. He made fair points which would have been better received had he not doused them with jerkiness.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers, a single A affiliate of the Miami Marlins will host "Jim Boeheim (No) Value Night" on April 11.

All fans with a valid Syracuse, NY Driver's License will be given a free ticket, $20 in food and beverage vouchers, and a pre-game meet and greet with retired Hall of Fame Bat Dog, Miss Babe Ruth.

"Contrary to what Jim Boeheim thinks, Greensboro is a great place and we want to show off our city, our ballpark and our southern hospitality to our friends from Syracuse. We know that not all of them are whiners and grouches like their basketball coach," said Grasshoppers Team President and General Manager Donald Moore.

Boeheim will be honored during the "Whine of the Game" that night sponsored by Carolina Pediatrics of the Triad. "We may invite the coach to attend, although his presence will bring us no value, none," Moore continued. "I suspect he may already have plans to be at a game in New York, Washington, or Atlanta that evening and unable to come."

Song of the Week

"Lush Life" - Zara Larsson

Their Mothers Were So Proud

The good boychicks on the World Baseball Classic teams representing Israel had us all kvelling after they removed their caps for Hatikvah and put on kippot.

They also won their first 2 games, against South Korea and Taipei, making it very likely they will advance to the second round of pool play.



Readers of this blog will be most familiar with current Met Ty Kelly and former Met Ike Davis. Staten Island's own Jason Marquis is the ace of the pitching staff.

Song of the Week

"Animal" - Miike Snow
The only thing I don't like about this song is that apparently the correct spelling of the artist's name includes two Is.

Good Thing Pat Garrity Isn't So Thin-Skinned

Rick Pitino had to be restrained from going after a fan at halftime of Louisville's game against North Carolina.



Apparently the fan said "hey Pitino, you suck." What angered Pitino so much was that the fan was an older gentleman, not a student.
How foolish of security to eject the guy, and escort him in the same direction Pitino was walking.

When I was in college Notre Dame's Pat Garrity lined up for a free throw. A hush came over the crowd. And I yelled "I fuckin hate you Garrity."
Good thing I wasn't ejected.

Cardiac Cuse

The latest in a long line of heroic last second shots for Syracuse this season came from John Gillon nailing a 3-pointer off the glass to beat Duke 78-75.



It's always exciting to beat Duke. It's always exciting to win on a last-second shot. When both happen and the game is nearly essential for your tournament hopes, then it's even better.

And the Gillon shot joins a long list of buzzer beaters and game winning shots.

Best Post-Fight Interview Ever

Derrick Lewis delivered the best post-fight interview after his fight vs Travis Browne.
Lewis seemed to be seriously hurt by a body blow in the first round, and was holding his stomach in pain. But he came back in the second and knocked out Browne, leading to this interview with Brian Stann.



"I just gotta do number 2. It's not really hurt from the kicks, I gotta booboo."
"all the training and all the sex I been getting..."

And this clip edited out Lewis bringing up some old domestic violence accusations against Browne, punctuated with "where Ronda Rousey's fine ass at?" Browne is dating Ronda Rousey.

Song of the Week

"I'll Do Anything" - Denroy Morgan
"Do do do do do, do do do do do, do do do do do, do anything"
16 straight dos, beat that with a stick.

I'd Rather Have the Donuts

A woman hits a half-court shot at a Siena Saints basketball game, as part of a promotion for Dunkin Donuts. She won a $500 DD gift card, which would last Master Bates about a week and a half.
But look what happened next.



Her boyfriend set the whole thing up, and after her miracle shot he took off the coffee cup costume and proposed to her.
Pretty good night, $500 worth of a donuts and a diamond ring.



Note: don't be a douche and vote with the mentality of I'd sell the diamond ring and get $5000 worth of donuts. So there!"

Strange Last Words

A man in Oakland, California went on a bizarre rampage, terrorizing his neighbors with a rifle, before being taken out by a police sniper.
The craziest part of his bizarre final moments, an act of vandalism on his neighbors' property.

He drew boobies on the garage door and a penis on the car hood.
Way to go out in a blaze of glory.

Here Lies Personal Responsibilty

Jane Park, 21, of the UK, had planned to sue lottery organizers claiming her life was ruined after she won a million pounds in the EuroMillions when she was only 17.
Her claim was that someone that young could not handle the money and the lottery should increase the minimum age to 18.
She wasted her fortunate on cars clothes and plastic surgery. Plastic surgery, you don't say.

Park has since dropped her suit and said it was her plan all along. She says if she had merely suggested the age increase no one would have listened, but her lawsuit gained attention, which could initiate the change and perhaps save young people in the future from making the same mistakes. And presumably, blaming those mistakes on someone else.

Song of the Week

"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye
This is for all you lovers out there.

Safety First

UCLA's big win over Oregon this week was marred by a scary incident involving a cheerleader. She fell, dragging the whole pyramid down, landed on her back and may have hit her head. Assistance came swiftly and she was carried off the court.



Only problem, the dude carrying her stepped on a bag or some kind of cloth item left carelessly by the court, and he slipped, causing her to fall for the second time.

Sophie did eventually return to the court and is doing fine.

Bill Walton's comment only makes it that much funnier.

I'm With Oakley

When Master Bates texted me to tell me that Charles Oakley had been ejected from Madison Square Garden and arrested, I thought he was messing with me. I thought Nails (who frequently tells me my favorite players have been traded, killed or photographed in bed with hookers) had put him up to it.
Unfortunately, it was another sad chapter in the sad story of the New York Knicks.

We will never know what truly happened, because there are such differing accounts, but clearly this went back a while, and rightly or wrongly security would keep an eye on Charles Oakley whenever he entered the Garden.

We don't know if Oakley was drunk, we don't know if he was abusive, we don't really know if Dolan ordered security to eject him.
We only know what we see on tape, which makes Oakley look pretty bad. He is physically assaulting the security personell and refusing to leave.

As the headline indicates, I am with Oakley on this one, but when you are in a private place, and security in charge asks you to leave, you have to leave. That's the law, and the decent thing to do.
Oakley resisted, which led to the ugly incident and his arrest.

But that's only one night. As a Knicks fan who has been subjected to years of mismanagement of the team by James Dolan, if anyone has to be banned from the arena for life it should be Dolan.

What Do You Give Me For? Carson Wentz and Prince Harry

This one comes from the mind of Julian who asked why Carson Wentz was on the cover of daddy's magazine and mommy's magazine.

Song of the Week

"Let Me Explain" - Bryson Tiller

He's Got To Be the Sickest Man in America Right Now

Two years ago Dan Quinn got a front row seat to one of the worst coaching decisions in Super Bowl history when Pete Carroll elected for a pass instead of a run on the one-yard.

Here's what I wrote about that move at the time:

"That was a terrible play call, absolutely the worst. How do you not try with Marshawn Lynch there, at least on second down, if it doesn't work call time out and then consider your options? Nothing else needs to be said about it, it was a terrible move, a risk he didn't need to take. There is no argument in favor of it. Even though the Patriots would know it was coming, their odds of stopping it were low."

Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator of that team and now he can sympathize with his old boss, and if Pete Carroll had any class -- which I highly doubt -- he would have called his former employee to console him for making an even worse decision. Or maybe thank him for taking Carroll's name out of the memories of all football fans for making the biggest bonehead move at the worst possible time.

Julio Jones had just made a ridiculous sideline toe-tapping catch that would have and should have gone done as a nail in the Patriots coffin, putting the Falcons at the 22-yard-line with four minutes and 40 seconds to go.

Freeman lost a yard on first down. The clock ticked under 4 minutes, and the entire Falcons coaching staff had a simultaneous brain fart. They called for a pass. All they needed to do was run the ball twice, not fumble and kick a field goal and take a two-score lead with 3 and a half to go. You have to put their chances of being able to do that at close to 90%. Passing adds very little in terms of reward, but opens up to so much risk. Like an interception, or a sack!

Some of the blame of course goes to Ryan who needed to be aware and throw the ball away, but here's why the coaches deserve more blame: the idiots did it again. With a 53-yarder well within Matt Bryant's range, all they needed to do was hand off, get 5 yards, and feel secure. Instead, the passed again, disaster struck again and a holding penalty knocked them out of field goal range.

What happened next was amazing. Tom Brady, perhaps the best quarterback ever, led his team on two consecutive touchdown drives to win his 5th Super Bowl.

I don't dispute for a second that he is an amazing quarterback, capable of great things because of his physical gifts and his mental makeup.

I don't deny that curmudgeonly Bill Belichick is among the best coaches in NFL history.

And I can't argue that Julian Edelman's catch deserves a nickname because it belongs up there with "The Immaculate Reception" and "The Helmet Catch" as the luckiest, most improbable catches in football history.

But it's likely that none of these heroics would have been possible or relevant, if not for a completely and utterly stupid decision by the Falcons coaching staff led by Dan Quinn.

And it's not just once, this is the second time, the Patriots were gifted a chance to win a Super Bowl. They could be 3-4 in the Brady-Belichick era instead of 5-2.

The stupid coaching marred the game for me. While exciting and thrilling, the first overtime game in a Super Bowl, I can't call it a great game, because of the stupidity and ineptitude involved in it.

Greatness needs to have both teams playing great and making plays. Which is why I still favor Super Bowl XLIII, Steelers 27 Cardinals 23.

And Billy Can Climb Through the Window

The house where the Matthewses lived in Boy Meets World is for sale.

It's listed for $1.29m and it's actually is Studio City, California, not Philadelphia, which increases the value exponentially.
Unfortunately, because real life is not a television show, on the inside it looks nothing like the house were Cory and Eric grew up. Those rooms were of course sets on some lot at a TV studio.
But it would still be cool. If Billy were able to kick half a mil, and move to California, I'm sure were could get 300k JLeary.

To Storm or Not to Storm

Syracuse fans were criticized nationally for storming the court after the team's upset victory over then #6 Florida State.

The thinking goes, that yes, this year Florida State was having a better season than the Orange, but when you compare the histories of the programs, a win over Florida State should be expected.

That debate was rekindled, a little, today, when the Orange beat a top ten team at home for the second straight week, this time knocking off #9 Virginia.

This game had some added juice to it because it would have been Jim Boeheim's 1000th win had some wins not been forfeited as part of the NCAA's sanctions against the coach and the program.

I will say I agree with the old grumps that it is "beneath" Syracuse to charge the court after a win over Florida State.

But I charged the court after a big win over Georgetown, and I charged the field after Donovan McNabb's famous "throwback to Brominksi" victory over Virginia Tech. Both were indelible experiences of my college experiences and I don't blame the students one bit for wanting to have their own special memories.

Note: One of my favorite posts is about an NC State student who did the same. Please click if you don't remember the story.

Super Bowl Prop Bets

Every year I comb through the serious and the ridiculous to find prop bets to enjoy the Super Bowl more. I already picked the Patriots to win the game and cover the spread, here's my thoughts on almost everything.

Under 58 1/2
Everyone and their mother is going over in this thing but the Patriots have a pretty good defense and even more importantly, I think they know they need to keep the ball away from the Falcons, so they will try to chew up some clock and control the ball.

Matt Ryan MVP 5/2
Yeah, it's probably going to be Tom Brady. But he's basically 1 to 1. So Ryan pays 2.5x and probably is half as likely to win. It's a better price.

LeGarratte Blount First TD 8 to 1
It's always hard to pick a running back when two pass-oriented teams are on the field, but I have feeling the Patriots are going to try to run it.

Total QB sacks under 4
Neither team has a threatening pass rush and both passers like to get rid of it.

Tom Brady under 2 1/2 rushing yards
Seems drastically low, but this would have been a winner in 6 of his last 7 games. Even if he gets 4 yards, he could reverse that with two kneeldowns.

Length of first reception by Chris Hogan Over 11 1/2
He's not an underneath receiver

Julio Jones under 95 1/2 receiving yards
The Patriots try to make you beat them with someone other than your best player

And now, to the non-football

Luke Bryan will come out wearing blue jeans 1/2
No way a country star sings the National Anthem in a nice pair of dockers.

National Anthem under 1 minute 58 seconds
Luke Bryan seems like a no-nonsense kind of guy.

Lady Gaga's First Song: Edge of Glory 6/1
Internet rumors that it was going to be "Poker Face" but I don't believe anything I read on the internet.

Deflategate mentions over 1 1/2
It has to come up.

Coin toss
Heads, easy

Guest Performers during halftime show over 1/2
Isn't Lady Gaga like BFFs with Tony Bennett?

Red Gatorade Poured on winning coach 6/1
It is the best flavor, and a primary color for both teams.

Bill Belichick Loves Caroling

A lot is made of the Bill Belichick personality and his obnoxious non-answers at press conferences.
But there was one question he did answer explicitly and directly:



"Love caroling"

Weekly Picks

Well, it's been a long season, started poorly and I managed to turn it around and break a string of a few bad seasons in a row.
Now there is only one game left to select.

New England -3 Atlanta
As good as I think the Falcons are on offense, I think there is only one true way to beat the Patriots in the playoffs, and it's been said many times: get to Tom Brady with four rushers. If you commit 5, he eats you up. If you don't get enough pressure, he eats you up. I don't think the Falcons can do it. A lot is made of the Tom Brady revenge tour, but I don't buy any of it. I just think they have the better team, and the coach and the quarterback to execute better in a game like this. 7 Super Bowl appearances, 5 wins, maybe, simply amazing.

Last Week: 1-1 (0 points)
Season: 48-42 (51 points)
Best Bets: 11-8 (I forgot week 1)

Staten Island Shooting

The 52-year-old man who was killed in a double homicide in Dongan Hills has been identified by sources as Carl Clark.

Police already identified Michael Genovese, 57, of Edgewater, N.J. as the other man who was fatally shot execution-style at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at a lending business at 124 Buel Ave. Police discovered the bodies following a 911 call about gunshots.

A suspect remains at large and the investigation continues, a spokesman for the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said.

The suspect is described by police as an adult male who was possibly wearing a mask. He fled the location in gray sedan, heading east on Dongan Hills Avenue toward Hylan Boulevard, police said.

A motive has not yet been established. Police do not believe it was a robbery since nothing obvious was taken from the scene, the spokesman said. The victims were believed to have been alone in the building with the suspect at the time of the shootings.

A preliminary police investigation indicates the victims were shot in the back of their heads in a rear office. The medical examiner's office will determine exactly how many times the men were shot, police said.

The address where the men were shot is the location of Universal Merchant Funding, an organization that provides loans for small businesses. Genovese is listed the owner of the business, according to his LinkedIn profile.

When you get killed in Staten Island and your last name is Genovese, people think it's a mob hit.

Song of the Week

"Buddy Holly" - Weezer
Nails heard this song the day before Mary Tyler Moore died, and thinks he killed her.

You Can Bet On It

Tonight is the last game Brent Musburger will ever call.
Musburger is leaving ESPN on very short notice in the middle of the college basketball season.
If you are a fan of a certain age you remember Musburger for hosting the CBS NFL pregame show along with Irv Cross and Jimmy the Greek.
When he famously said "you are looking live..." as they ran through the slate of games.



In 1990, he joined ESPN and through the years did play-by-play for college football and basketball. I was never a huge fan of his, but never had much of a problem with him either. When people freaked out over him pointing out that AJ McCarron's beauty queen girlfriend is pretty, I stood with Brent.

I even sided with him in his latest controversy over his comments about Joe Mixon.



The one thing I can't figure is why would he leave ESPN so suddenly. I can only imagine that because Musburger stated he was going to move to Las Vegas to help his family with a sports handicapping business, ESPN became uncomfortable with the possibility of a real or perceived conflict of interest and asked him to leave almost immediately.

Love is Blind

You may have heard the shocking news that Richard Marx intervened in a disturbance on an airplane, helping some female flight attendants gain control of an unruly passenger.

Even more shocking, that photo was taken by his wife, Daisy Fuentes.

Richard Marx is married to Daisy Fuentes?

This is like a 1990s dream come true. Surely they were married in 1993 at MTV headquarters, right?

Nope, they got married in 2015.

He kind of looks like a woman now. She still looks great, but not this hot.

Song of the Week

"Oh Oh Oh" - Matt Corby
Apparently this dude is an Australian indie rocker but I would have believed it if you told me he grew up singing in the black churches of Georgia.

What Happens When You Combine Two Really Annoying Things

Closer by the Chainsmokers, plus the New England Patriots equals what is actually a pretty decent parody as these things go

Funny Basketball Videos

Russell Westbrook travels



Siena's coach does a phantom handshake line after Rider's coach and team don't show up



Carmelo Anthony lets Ron Baker's locker room nickname slip

Weekly Picks

Didn't get it done last week and it's getting trickier, especially to find a best bet.

NEW ENGLAND -6 pittsburgh
I've been hesitant to exuberantly back the Patriots because of Gronk's injury, but I can't seem them losing this game. It might be a close one though.

BEST BET
green bay +6 ATLANTA
This is solely based on Aaron Rodgers. I think he will bring his team to victory.

Last Week: 2-2 (1 points)
Season: 47-41 (51 points)
Best Bets: 11-7 (I forgot week 1)

Billy is Furious

I got an anxious text from Billy yesterday asking what the hell is wrong with Blake Griffin.

From Rolling Stone:
Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris have teamed to remake the 1992 basketball buddy comedy "White Men Can't Jump."

Mike and Tony on PTI had some good lines including "why would I watch this, when I could just watch that one?"

And "this is the stupidest thing Blake Griffin has ever done, including punching the equipment manager."

I wondered who would play the Rosie Perez character, Sofia Vergara?

I think it's a comment on Hollywood that they have run out of good ideas, but also about those millennials. They don't want to watch a movie from 1992. It's not even in HD.

But remember how you were in 1992? Would you have wanted to watch a movie from 1967?

Song of the Week

"Represent Me" - Next
You hear what he says at the very beginning? "Divine style in 9-7 y'all."
That 9-7 means this song was released in 1997, which is 20 years ago.
I am old, but I love this jam that you love that don't be getting no airplay.

Weekly Picks

Playoffs are tough. Last week was all home teams and favorites. This week I'm hoping for a reversal.

houston +15 1/2 NEW ENGLAND
Too many points

pittsburgh +1 KANSAS CITY
Not really sure about this game. It really seems very even.

green bay +5 DALLAS
Sometimes Aaron Rodgers just gets on a roll.

BEST BET
seattle +4 ATLANTA
Russell Wilson makes plays. Seahawks defense grabs and holds receivers.

Last Week: 1-3 (2 points)
Season: 45-39 (50 points)
Best Bets: 11-6 (I forgot week 1)

Song of the Week

"Everything I Am" - Kanye West
Remember when Kanye West actually made music that had a point, music that said something?
In this jam he talks about his own insecurities, his haters, and the glorification of violence in rap music.

"I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
But I got the facts to back this
Just last year, Chicago had over six hundred caskets
Man, killin's some wack shit
Oh, I forgot, 'cept for when niggas is rappin'
Do you know what it feel like when people is passin'?
He got changed over his chains, a block off Ashlin"

Where Have All the Boobies Gone

While so many large-breasted women at this year's Golden Globes chose to let their boobies fall by the wayside, like Jessica Biel

and Mandy Moore

We can always count on Sofia Vergara to push hers up and together. And to make a bad anal joke.

Weekly Picks

Finished with an ok week, but hoping to go 11-0 in the playoffs.

oakland +4 HOUSTON
I'm not as fearful as most people about the 3rd-string quarterback. They are a deep enough team to overcome that. Especially against the Texans and their lousy first-string quarterback.

new york giants +4 1/2 GREEN BAY
Everyone thinks the Packers are so hot right now because Aaron Rodgers said they would run the table and they did. But no team is consistently luckier than the Giants. They get every call and every break. And they're actually pretty good too, especially on defense.

miami +10 PITTSBURGH
I think the Dolphins will lose, but there is so much room in this spread for them to lose and cover.

BEST BET
SEATTLE -8 detroit
The Seahawks will turn it on when it matters. And the Lions will choke at the same time. Last Week: 2-3 (3 points) Season: 44-36 (48 points) Best Bets: 10-6 (I forgot week 1)

NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC
Raiders over Texans
Steelers over Dolphins

Steelers over Chiefs
Patriots over Raiders

Patriots over Steelers

NFC
Seahawks over Lions
Giants over Packers

Falcons over Seahawks
Giants over Cowboys

Giants over Falcons

Super Bowl
Patriots 21 Giants 16

Song of the Week

"My Way" - Calvin Harris

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

Many Celebrities and wannabes have donned the gold bikini for various reasons, but none ever rocked it like Carrie Fisher.

Jennifer Aniston in an episode of Friends:

Kim Kardashian of course:

Kristen Bell:

Olivia Munn:

Weekly Picks

So we finally had a stinker. Not unexpected. Though I am still in shock the Chargers blew that game. Now comes the tough part Week 17 when you have no idea how hard teams are going to play. And there are very few teams that are actually playing for something. There are only 14 teams still alive for the 12 spots and the ExpensiveCornPrices need a miracle. Division titles and home field are in play though.

I really have no idea so let's go with this:

MIAMI +9 1/2 new england

INDIANAPOLIS -4 jacksonville

buffalo -3 1/2 NEW YORK JETS

MINNESOTA -6 1/2 chicago

BEST BET
DENVER -1 1/2 oakland

Last Week: 1-4 (0 points)
Season: 42-33 (45 points)
Best Bets: 9-6 (I forgot week 1)

Armed Robber Thwarted By Dildos

Two female employees at a sex shop fended off an armed robber by throwing dildos at him.

Song of the Week

"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" - Wham!

I know some people prefer the edgier, solo George Michael, but I love the youthful, poppy version. It was a more innocent time for all of us, and particularly George who was only 20 when this song sent him to stardom.

Hope

Carrie Fisher died at the age of 60 after suffering a massive heart attack on a plane.

She will be best remembered for playing Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movies and reprising that role in "The Force Awakens."

Two enduring images, as a hologram in "A New Hope"



and wearing a gold bikini in "Return of the Jedi"

If You Don't Stand For Something, You'll Fall for Anything

The University of Minnesota football team was willing to forfeit the Holiday Bowl in a protest designed to protect 10 of their teammates who were suspended following a sexual assault.
Thankfully new athletic director Mark Coyle (who left Syracuse after only 11 months to take this job) talked sense into them.
The other 75 players were going to give up something they'd worked long and hard for, in order to protect rapists?

According to the police report, the victim was very drunk before she left her apartment to attend a party. There were parties in several apartments and she ended up in one with Carlton Djam and a player who turned out to be a high school recruit. They began having sex with her simultaneously. And throughout what she describes as an hour to 90 minute ordeal, several players had oral and vaginal sex with her.

She said she tried to get them to stop, tried to push, tried to wrap herself in the blanket, but felt unable to move.

Here's the part of the police report that includes her recollection of the incident:

Now the players all deny this, saying that it was consensual and she was "down with it," it being fucked by 15% of the football team.

The police couldn't press charges in part because she was an unwilling (seemed very nervous and concerned about reporting) and unreliable (she was wasted) witness. And also because there were videos of her get Eiffel Towered by the first two guys and the police report says she looks willing and not incapacitated, she was on her knees and elbows engaging, not lying on her back, prone.

Most likely this girl was wasted beyond belief, started flirting with one guy, got talked into a 3some and felt unable to leave when Carlton Djam called his friends and told them about the slut they had who was ripe for a gang bang.

Maybe the players thought they could get away with it because she didn't actively protest, and maybe for those 10 guys it was hard to resist when the little head told the big head what to do.

But thank God the other 75 got talked out of their horrible idea to go down with the ship and their 10 rapist teammates.

Please Disperse

I know people died in this fire at a fireworks market in Mexico



but I can't help but laugh because the video reminds me so much of this scene from "The Naked Gun."

Weekly Picks

Another good week, another won best bet. Lots of close games though. And I almost forgot that all the games were Saturday this week.

miami +4 1/2 BUFFFALO
Dolphins are a better team, even with Matt Moore.

tampa bay +3 1/2 NEW ORLEANS
Similar story here though, this does seem like a game a team that needs it willcould lose to a team that doesn't.

LOS ANGELES -5 san francisco
Bad teams don't often win on the road. Plus they already beat the Rams this year.

KANSAS CITY -3 denver
Denver's offense has been incredibly weak and the Chiefs lost last week.

BEST BET
san diego -4 CLEVELAND
Sorry Browns fans, it's not going to happen.

Last Week: 3-2 (4 points)
Season: 41-29 (45 points)
Best Bets: 9-5 (I forgot week 1)

If At First You Don't Get Punished, Trip, Trip Again

Grayson Allen vaulted himself into second place on the most-hated Duke players list (no one will ever top Christian Laettner) by trip Elon's Steven Santa Ana.
What's worse, Allen threw a fit on the bench after being pulled from the game, seemingly acted as if his trip/kick to the back of the knee was warranted because Santa had grabbed his arm.

He also didn't seem to remember that this is the third time in his brief career that he has done something like this.
After the first two, Allen received nothing more than a reprimand from the conference and some excuses from his coach, which I objected to.
Now arrogant Coach K is once again behaving indignantly, saying that the discipline is between him and the player.
Infractions need to be met with consequences or they become habits. That is what has happened here and I think will continue to happen, as I would be shocked if Allen was suspended for more than 3 games, because Duke's 4th game from now is against a good Florida State team, and the game after that is against an even better Louisville squad.
Note: the reaction that Allen is getting has nothing to do with his color. He's an asshole, a jerk, a dirty player and if color plays a role at all it's because people perceive that a black player engaged in similar misbehavior would have punished far more severely, a long time ago.

Song of the Week

"Santa Claus is a Black Man" - Akim & Teddy Vann
Dumbest Christmas song ever.

Weekly Picks

The hot streak continues. Pretty sure that is 6 straight best bets.

miami -3 NEW YORK JETS
Backup quarterback theory which states that often the impact of losing your starting QB is overrated.

green bay -5 1/2 CHICAGO
The Pack are back and they won't be deterred by the cold.

HOUSTON -4 jacksonville
This seems like a really small number of points to give to a lousy team on the road.

pittsburgh -3 CINCINNATI
I think the Steelers will win.

BEST BET
oakland -2 1/2 SAN DIEGO
I still think we are underestimating the Raiders.

Last Week: 3-2 (4 points)
Season: 38-27 (41 points)
Best Bets: 8-5 (I forgot week 1)

One More Craig Sager Fact

When Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth, Sager was on the field (in trench coat) trying to get an interview.

The World Just Got Less Colorful

Craig Sager dies at the age of 65 after a long battle with leukemia.

Song of the Week

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" - Pentatonix
Always enjoy their work, and Christmas is one time when it is ok to do covers.

Weekly Picks

Got 4 points again. Another best bet. Not really sure what's going on, but I like it.

pittsburgh -2 1/2 BUFFALO
Not really sure why, I just think this is the kind of game the Steelers win.

baltimore +6 1/2 NEW ENGLAND
I am not going to get rich picking against the Patriots at home, but I really think their offense will struggle without Gronk. Struggle being a relative term of course.

cincinnati -5 1/2 CLEVELAND
RGIII is not the answer.

SAN FRANCISCO -3 new york jets
The 49ers were so putrid last week, even bad teams don't play that badly every week.

BEST BET
CAROLINA pick'em san diego
Again, the Panthers were embarrassed last week. They will rebound.

Last Week: 3-2 (4 points)
Season: 35-25 (37 points)
Best Bets: 7-5 (I forgot week 1)

Song of the Week

"Cranes in the Sky" - Solange
Better song than her sister has had in the last 5 years.

What Would You Do If a Kangaroo Had Your Dog in a Headlock?

A hunter in Australia saw that a kangaroo had a headlock on one of his dogs.



I totally agree with doing whatever you can to protect your pets, but I really don't think it was absolutely necessary for him to strike the kangaroo, at least not at that point. He clearly startled the 'roo who relinquished the hold. The man could have waited and seen what happened next before punching the kangaroo, more for his own safety more than his opponent's.

Good thing he wasn't facing Killer Willard.

Weekly Picks

My worst week in the past month, only 4 points, too bad one game was a push. And there are a lot of games I like this week, which is surely a bad sign.

denver -3 1/2 JACKSONVILLE
When you have a defense that good you don't need a quarterback.

los angeles +13 1/2 NEW ENGLAND
The Patriots aren't the same without the Gronk.

new york giants +6 PITTSBURGH
This is a lot of points to give to a team as good (and lucky) as the Giants.

SEATTLE -7 1/2 carolina
The Seahawks will bounce back.

BEST BET
OAKLAND -3 buffalo
I know the Bills have improved but the Raiders will win at home. Hopefully by more than three this time.

Last Week: 3-2 (4 points)
Season: 32-23 (33 points)
Best Bets: 6-5 (I forgot week 1)

Song of the Week

"24K Magic" - Bruno Mars
I know, I can't believe it either. But I really like this song and think the cat has real talent.

Viva La Potencia

The Mets resigned Yoenis Cespedes for 4-years and $110M.
It's a slight overpay for a guy who is like a 3.5 - 4 WAR player, but not so outrageous when you factor in other things such as the Mets really needed him, he's one guy who has proven he can hit in CitiField and most importantly, they got him on a 4 year deal through his age 34 season.
I like the deal and I am happy with it but it means the Mets absolutely positively get rid of Bruce or Granderson or both.
Trading Bruce would bring back very little, meaning they would take a big hit on a trade that netted almost nothing.
Keeping Bruce and getting rid of Granderson would be high ceiling, if Bruce can rebound after two dreadful months in New York, but his age may make Granderson a little harder to deal.
I wouldn't mind getting rid of both and giving Conforto, Lagares and Nimmo more time to develop.
But they absolutely cannot saddle this great young pitching staff with an outfield of Granderson, Cespedes and Bruce, which would be historically bad defensively.

Weekly Picks

The hot streak continues for another week. 14-1 in the past 3 weeks.


new york giants -7 CLEVELAND
I don't see how the Giants aren't bigger favorites.

los angeles +7 NEW ORLEANS
They blew a game in excruciating fashion last week, but they have a pretty good defense that should keep them in this one.

OAKLAND -3 carolina
This isn't last year.

BALTIMORE -4 cincinnati
I know the Ravens aren't that good but the Bengals are in a spiral.

BEST BET
tennessee -5 CHICAGO
The Titans can put points on the board. The Bears can't.

Last Week: 5-0 (6 points)
Season: 29-21 (29 points)
Best Bets: 5-5 (I forgot week 1)

Song of the Week

"Make Me Yours" - Bettye Swan

3000 Words

Khabib Nurmagomedov lends Joe Rogan his hat during the post-fight interview at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden.

The Yale-Harvard game was delayed by naked Yale students participating in the Saybrook Strip.

Syracuse defeats Dartmouth in the NCAA men's soccer tournament on a typical, snowy November day in Syracuse.

Weekly Picks

This thing of quickly hammering out the picks without thinking has been working out. But the descriptions are back, let's hope the streak continues.

INDIANAPOLIS -2 1/2 tennessee
The Titans destroyed the Packers last week. I always look for bad teams coming off a win to revert to form.

MINNESOTA -2 1/2 arizona
How does a team go from being so good to so bad so fast?

DALLAS -7 1/2 baltimore
If Dallas really is the best team in the NFL they need to follow up last week's big win with a dominant performance over the weak Ravens.

new england -11 1/2 SAN FRANCISCO
If any team adheres to my bounceback theory it's the Patriots. When they lose they come back with a vengeance. They're playing a horrible team. This one could be ugly.

BEST BET
miami -2 LOS ANGELES
My only concern is that I think backup quarterbacks are constantly underestimated. But I think the Rams are bad anyway, and that Dolphins have been frisky lately.

Last Week: 4-1 (5 points)
Season: 24-21 (23 points)
Best Bets: 4-5 (I forgot week 1)

Funny Baby Videos

This would be Julian and Lincoln:



This would be Mama Poop and Linclon:

The Most Dickish Thing I've Ever Done (But It Was Hilarious)

I recently went to Atlantic City for the PokerStars Festival, a series of tournaments meant to promote poker now that PokerStars offers online play in my home state.
Because Resorts, which partners with PokerStars, doesn't have a poker room, the tournaments were held in a ballroom. As I walked through the tables I saw some well-known players sitting amongst regular folks aka amateurs.
I also recognized a friend of mine, Andy, and on his direct right was Barry Greenstein, peacefully reading news articles on his iPad.
I noticed Andy, whom I had never met in person, only online, was wearing a tank top that said "If you're offended, I'll help you pack" and had a big American flag in the middle.

Turns out two other friends (I use the term loosely) paid him $100 each to wear the shirt the entire day. As I was being told this story, I was inches from Barry Greenstein who looked up at me, and then I said:

"Barry, they're paying him $200 to wear this shirt. How much are they paying you to wear that sweater?"

Luckily it was well-received and when I saw him sitting alone later (he remained at his table during a break) I went over and apologized and we had a good laugh. He took it very well. And then we briefly talked about politics. He couldn't have been nicer. And I couldn't have been more dickish.

Song of the Week

"You & Me" - Skrux

Weekly Picks

Perfect 6, first time in a long time.

denver +3 NEW ORLEANS
san francisco +13 1/2 ARIZONA
PITTSBURGH -2 1/2 dallas
seattle +7 1/2 NEW ENGLAND

BEST BET
TAMPA BAY +2 1/2 chicago

Last Week: 5-0 (6 points)
Season: 20-20 (18 points)
Best Bets: 3-5 (I forgot week 1)

Song of the Week

"All Time Low" - Jon Bellion

Election Predictions

Popular Vote
Hillary Clinton: 49%
Donald Trump: 43%
Gary Johnson: 5%
Jill Stein: 3%


Electoral Votes
Hillary Clinton: 334
Donald Trump: 204

This is How Trump Wins

The town of Fair Lawn is an uproar over a lawsuit filed by the ACLU (the A stands for American) against the town's school district over policies it says discriminate against children of undocumented immigrants.

According to the complaint, Fair Lawn school district policy requires that parents provide a driver's license and automobile registration when registering their child for enrollment in the district. The group called these requirements "an impermissible and discriminatory registration hurdle" for children of undocumented immigrants, because a person without a Social Security number or valid immigration status is unable to obtain such documentation.

I'm sure the majority of you reading this are die-hard Hillary Clinton supporters who despise Donald Trump and have written all Trump supporters off as racist and xenophobic. But it's issues like these that resonate with people.

Weekly picks

Will clean this post up later

dallas -7.5 CLEVELAND

MIAMI -3.5 new york jets

jacksonville +8.5 KANSAS CITY

buffalo +7.5 SEATTLE

Song of the Week

"Broccoli" - Big Baby D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty
I'm not saying I like this song. But I'm also not saying I don't. But anytime I Shazam the same song twice, it automatically becomes Song of the Week.
Also, I am glad the video provided a couple of out of work strippers with an honest day's pay.