It's funny how these posts are getting far fewer comments this year than last year when I was stinking up the joint.
tampa bay +8 1/2 ATLANTA
In Josh we trust.
arizona +8 MINNESOTA
The Vikings aren't good enough to give this many points to anyone.
pittsburgh -4 1/2 CINCINNATI
The Steelers are really good, they will bounce back.
new england -4 CLEVELAND
The best team in the NFL against a frisky but still below-average team. This is why I pick so many road teams. If this game were in Gillette it'd be 10, I just don't see how home-field can be worth this much.
BEST BET
new york jets -4 DETROIT
Exactly what I am looking for, a good team coming off a bad loss playing a bad team coming of a nice win.
Last week: 3-2 (4 points)
Season: 19-21 (23 points)
Best Bets: 1-0 (6-2)
Home Favorites: 2-0 (7-6)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-0)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (5-9)
Road Underdogs: 1-2 (6-6)
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Bet on the Mets and the Mob Will Be After You
Longtime Mets equipment manager Charlie Samuels was suspended by the team because of his involvement in an FBI investigation into mob-run gambling.
Samuels is accused of making illegal sports bets with mob bookies. He bet on the NFL and on horse-racing, but not baseball. He placed bets from work. He placed bets for other team employees, but not players. He's also suspected of stealing bats, balls and jerseys from the clubhouse. And in his role as associate travel director (aka assistant to the traveling secretary) he may have skimmed money off hotel bookings.
Now, here's what really happened: Samuels kept betting on the Mets to win. As we know the Mets always lose, so he lost a lot of Monday and the bookies threatened to break his knees. And as Dr. Farthing told us: "When you owe a bookie a lot of money, and he blows off one of your toes, you still owe him the money. Doesn't seem fair."
Another life ruined by the horrible Mets.
Samuels is accused of making illegal sports bets with mob bookies. He bet on the NFL and on horse-racing, but not baseball. He placed bets from work. He placed bets for other team employees, but not players. He's also suspected of stealing bats, balls and jerseys from the clubhouse. And in his role as associate travel director (aka assistant to the traveling secretary) he may have skimmed money off hotel bookings.
Now, here's what really happened: Samuels kept betting on the Mets to win. As we know the Mets always lose, so he lost a lot of Monday and the bookies threatened to break his knees. And as Dr. Farthing told us: "When you owe a bookie a lot of money, and he blows off one of your toes, you still owe him the money. Doesn't seem fair."
Another life ruined by the horrible Mets.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
The Case the Lawyers Are Talking About
In April 2009, Juliet Breitman, 4, and Jacob Kohn, 5, were racing their bicycles, under the supervision of their mothers, Dana Breitman and Rachel Kohn, on the sidewalk of a building on East 52nd Street. At some point in the race, they struck an 87-year-old woman named Claire Menagh, who was walking in front of the building and, according to the complaint, was “seriously and severely injured,” suffering a hip fracture that required surgery. She died three months later of unrelated causes. Her estate sued the children and their mothers, claiming they had acted negligently during the accident.
That's the story. Here's the ruling: the case can continue, but no ruling has been made yet as to whether the kids are guilty of negligence. Previous cases have set the precedent that a child under 4 is not capable of negligence. Since the girl was nearly 5, the judge allowed it to go forward.
Here's my take: I think children this young are capable of understanding risk. I am 100% sure that if Chase were riding his bike and someone was in the way he would know enough to stop, slow down or try to avoid that person. But then again, if someone walked out in front of him suddenly, or if he were racing and distracted, he might not.
I really don't know what to decide so I am going to punt. Here is my ruling: What is the difference if you sue a 4-year-old? She can't be held liable for monetary damages, can she? Future earnings? You wouldn't seek a criminal penalty, certainly not for this.
So the parents should be held responsible since they were "supervising." They're the ones who should have known that a bike race on a crowded Manhattan street was not a good idea.
That's the story. Here's the ruling: the case can continue, but no ruling has been made yet as to whether the kids are guilty of negligence. Previous cases have set the precedent that a child under 4 is not capable of negligence. Since the girl was nearly 5, the judge allowed it to go forward.
Here's my take: I think children this young are capable of understanding risk. I am 100% sure that if Chase were riding his bike and someone was in the way he would know enough to stop, slow down or try to avoid that person. But then again, if someone walked out in front of him suddenly, or if he were racing and distracted, he might not.
I really don't know what to decide so I am going to punt. Here is my ruling: What is the difference if you sue a 4-year-old? She can't be held liable for monetary damages, can she? Future earnings? You wouldn't seek a criminal penalty, certainly not for this.
So the parents should be held responsible since they were "supervising." They're the ones who should have known that a bike race on a crowded Manhattan street was not a good idea.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
The NFL is Poop - Week 8
I Guess the Big Story This Week Involves the Redskins
I didn't blame Mike Shanahan when he embarrassed Albert Haynesworth in the preseason and I don't blame him for embarrassing Donovan McNabb now. The Redskins were winning that game by 5 points with 4 1/2 minutes left and they had the ball. No way can you lose a game in that situation. But Donovan threw a horrible interception. Brining in Rex Grossman was probably hasty, but McNabb has shown no ability to string together a drive in clutch situations. He couldn't do it against Houston or Indianapolis. I feel strongly McNabb will be the starter after the bye against the Eagles. But in half a season I have learned why Eagles fans complained about him for 11 years.
How Bout Them Cowboys
Jerry Jones has to fire Wade Phillips. It's obvious the team has quit on him. Yes, Tony Romo is hurt, but they were bad with him too. And nothing makes me happier.
You Ain't So Bad
All the talk this year so far has been centered around how the 5 best teams in the league are in the AFC. Until the Steelers and Jets got thumped by NFC teams, the Saints and the Packers. I still think the AFC is a much stronger conference, but at least now we think it's competitive.
What a Dick
Randy Moss just got kicked off his second team in a month. Moss just can't keep his mouth shut. People like Moss, and Terrell Owens, think "keeping it real" means saying exactly what you think about everything at the exact moment you think it. Moss criticized Brad Childress's play-calling, said he love Belichick then said of the catering provided by the team "who ordered this crap? I wouldn't feed this to my dog." That did it. He's now looking for a new team, and no doubt he'll find one. I've heard the Rams mentioned, but I think that would be a big mistake to saddle Sam Bradford with that.
Josh Freeman is Good
I really like the Tampa Bay combination of Josh Freeman, LaGarrette Blount and Mike Williams. I think they are the foundation for a good team for many years, in addition to the strong defense they are building. Unlike McNabb, Freeman continues to make plays late in games to give his team the win. Freeman has six fourth-quarter comebacks in 16 career starts. "It's like he almost did that on purpose," coach Raheem Morris said. "He is throwing games to get another fourth-quarter comeback." Blount had one of the best runs I've ever seen to seal the game, combing a spin move and a hurdle to get the Bucs out of bad field position and prevent the Cardinals from getting the ball back.
This Could Be the Start of Something Big
Every year I fall in love with the Chargers. Every year they start slowly. Every year I give up on them. Every year they launch a huge comeback and win almost all the rest of their games. If that's to happen again, the win over the Titans was a good first step. Philip Rivers has been playing great, if the rest of the team (especially the special teams) joins him they will win the division again.
I didn't blame Mike Shanahan when he embarrassed Albert Haynesworth in the preseason and I don't blame him for embarrassing Donovan McNabb now. The Redskins were winning that game by 5 points with 4 1/2 minutes left and they had the ball. No way can you lose a game in that situation. But Donovan threw a horrible interception. Brining in Rex Grossman was probably hasty, but McNabb has shown no ability to string together a drive in clutch situations. He couldn't do it against Houston or Indianapolis. I feel strongly McNabb will be the starter after the bye against the Eagles. But in half a season I have learned why Eagles fans complained about him for 11 years.
How Bout Them Cowboys
Jerry Jones has to fire Wade Phillips. It's obvious the team has quit on him. Yes, Tony Romo is hurt, but they were bad with him too. And nothing makes me happier.
You Ain't So Bad
All the talk this year so far has been centered around how the 5 best teams in the league are in the AFC. Until the Steelers and Jets got thumped by NFC teams, the Saints and the Packers. I still think the AFC is a much stronger conference, but at least now we think it's competitive.
What a Dick
Randy Moss just got kicked off his second team in a month. Moss just can't keep his mouth shut. People like Moss, and Terrell Owens, think "keeping it real" means saying exactly what you think about everything at the exact moment you think it. Moss criticized Brad Childress's play-calling, said he love Belichick then said of the catering provided by the team "who ordered this crap? I wouldn't feed this to my dog." That did it. He's now looking for a new team, and no doubt he'll find one. I've heard the Rams mentioned, but I think that would be a big mistake to saddle Sam Bradford with that.
Josh Freeman is Good
I really like the Tampa Bay combination of Josh Freeman, LaGarrette Blount and Mike Williams. I think they are the foundation for a good team for many years, in addition to the strong defense they are building. Unlike McNabb, Freeman continues to make plays late in games to give his team the win. Freeman has six fourth-quarter comebacks in 16 career starts. "It's like he almost did that on purpose," coach Raheem Morris said. "He is throwing games to get another fourth-quarter comeback." Blount had one of the best runs I've ever seen to seal the game, combing a spin move and a hurdle to get the Bucs out of bad field position and prevent the Cardinals from getting the ball back.
This Could Be the Start of Something Big
Every year I fall in love with the Chargers. Every year they start slowly. Every year I give up on them. Every year they launch a huge comeback and win almost all the rest of their games. If that's to happen again, the win over the Titans was a good first step. Philip Rivers has been playing great, if the rest of the team (especially the special teams) joins him they will win the division again.
Song of the Week
"All I Want is You" - Miguel f/ J. Cole
The thing I like about this song is very subtle. I like the stilted way he sings, pausing every few words so as not to overwhelm the music.
The thing I like about this song is very subtle. I like the stilted way he sings, pausing every few words so as not to overwhelm the music.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Tear Down the Playground
An old saw referencing our increasingly reactive culture says that every time a kid falls a playground is closed. I didn't think this was literally true, but I suppose it is.
"Elementary school playgrounds in one West Virginia county are losing their swing sets.
Swings are being removed from Cabell County schools in southern West Virginia in part because of lawsuits over injuries.
Cabell County schools safety manager Tim Stewart said Wednesday that a lot of parents are accusing him of being un-American, but he says the cost of maintaining a safe surface is too expensive.
Stewart says a lawsuit in the past year involved a youngster who broke his arm jumping off a swing like Superman. It was settled for $20,000.
Other equipment such as monkey bars will remain. Stewart says the schools are able to maintain the proper protection underneath them."
It's only a matter of time until the monkey bars go too. And eventually our kids will play in foam rubber rooms where no one ever gets hurt and no one is good or bad. And when that day comes kids in China will kick our kids' asses.
"Elementary school playgrounds in one West Virginia county are losing their swing sets.
Swings are being removed from Cabell County schools in southern West Virginia in part because of lawsuits over injuries.
Cabell County schools safety manager Tim Stewart said Wednesday that a lot of parents are accusing him of being un-American, but he says the cost of maintaining a safe surface is too expensive.
Stewart says a lawsuit in the past year involved a youngster who broke his arm jumping off a swing like Superman. It was settled for $20,000.
Other equipment such as monkey bars will remain. Stewart says the schools are able to maintain the proper protection underneath them."
It's only a matter of time until the monkey bars go too. And eventually our kids will play in foam rubber rooms where no one ever gets hurt and no one is good or bad. And when that day comes kids in China will kick our kids' asses.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Weekly Picks
Still nailing those best bets at a pretty good rate so I have a respectable score despite a sub-.500 record.
denver +1 1/2 SAN FRANCISCO
Nowhere to go but up for the Broncos.
miami +2 CINCINNATI
The Dolphins are a better team. And they are 3-0 on the road.
tennessee +3 SAN DIEGO
I admit I was wrong about the Chargers. When will the oddsmakers admit the same thing?
INDIANAPOLIS -5 1/2 houston
The Texans aren't going to be the Colts twice this year.
BEST BET
NEW ENGLAND -5 minnesota
Brett Favre is done. I firmly expect to see Tarvaris Jackson in this game.
Last week: 3-2 (4 point)
Season: 16-19 (19 points)
Best Bets: 1-0 (5-2)
Home Favorites: 2-1 (5-6)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-0)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (5-9)
Road Underdogs: 1-1 (5-4)
denver +1 1/2 SAN FRANCISCO
Nowhere to go but up for the Broncos.
miami +2 CINCINNATI
The Dolphins are a better team. And they are 3-0 on the road.
tennessee +3 SAN DIEGO
I admit I was wrong about the Chargers. When will the oddsmakers admit the same thing?
INDIANAPOLIS -5 1/2 houston
The Texans aren't going to be the Colts twice this year.
BEST BET
NEW ENGLAND -5 minnesota
Brett Favre is done. I firmly expect to see Tarvaris Jackson in this game.
Last week: 3-2 (4 point)
Season: 16-19 (19 points)
Best Bets: 1-0 (5-2)
Home Favorites: 2-1 (5-6)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-0)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (5-9)
Road Underdogs: 1-1 (5-4)
Brian Wilson Went to Londonderry High School
And like all Londonderry High School graduates I know, he keeps a guy in a leather mask around the apartment. Wilson calls his "The Machine."
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