It is going to be Packers vs. Steelers

Yesterday's Conference Championship games were virtual clones.  The winner raced out to a first half lead and looked like they'd have the game easily put away, only to take their foot off the gas in the second half and make the game a lot more interesting than it looked to be in the opening half.  21-14 win for the Green Bay Packers, and a 24-19 win for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Now we've got two weeks to listen to Ben Roethlesberger redemption stories, of which I'd start with "Big Ben is as clutch as his defence attorneys" or "Big Ben sneaks those balls in when you least expect it," and stories of Aaron Rodgers finally getting Brett Favre's legend off his back.  The Super Bowl line has opened at -2 and an over/under of 45.

He may not get much right otherwise, but Sports Illustrated's Peter King's pre-season prediction was Pittsburgh over Green Bay in the Super Bowl.

I get the feeling Steve Simmons at the Toronto Sun isn't liking the Toronto Blue Jays chances this year.  And I quote: "Here is the Blue Jays starting lineup, or so we think: Catcher: J.P. Arencibia, A rookie just learning; First base: Adam Lind,  Terrible defensively coming off terrible offensive year; Second base: Aaron Hill, Coming off an awful offensive and defensive season; Third Base: To be determined; Shortstop: Yunel Escobar, a terrific player when interested; Left Field: Travis Snider, Still don't know what he is; Centre Field: Rajai Davis, A slap-hitter and below-average fielder; Right field: Jose Batista, The one sure thing in the Jays lineup, although don't count on 50 homers again; Designated hitter: Mike Napoli, Hits home runs or strike outs. Never at the same time. 

Ray Lewis and Roy Williams (the Cincinnati Bengals version) have been linked to a product that contains HGH, with Williams openly admitting he uses it.  Problem is it is only detectable by blood test.

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler left the game yesterday with a knee injury, and is already being glossed "Jay Quittler" amid a debate where he ranks on the biggest wuss-outs.  Also, a bunch of former and current players crushed him for not gutting it out.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer, who is about the only guy that doesn't know he's finished, is demanding to be traded or he'll shut it down.  Good thing for him there are the Washington Redskins, always looking for past it talents.

New Toronto Mayor Rob Ford wants to put the full court press on the NFL to bring a team to Toronto, and guarantees that if he's successful bringing a team in, Toronto will host the Super Bowl within four years.  Uh-huh.  Good luck with all that, RF.  Says Ford: "the NFL cannot ignore the fourth largest market in North America."  Well, they've ignored Los Angeles for a decade now, haven't they?  Love that he essentially smacks the Argos and the CFL, saying Toronto can't be world class without the NFL.  Missing from Ford's talk: who is going to own a billion dollar (plus) franchise, and how he figures the federal government will be so willing to drop a billion on a stadium that would get used 8 times a year.

Bukakke uncovered the secret world of the "McGangbang" last week, and has not been heard from since.  This off-the-board sando at McDonald's is a McChicken stuck between a double cheeseburger, and weighs in at a mere 800 calories.  Check out pics here.  More off-the-board items here, though none with as cool a name.

With the signings of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, the Tampa Bay Rays have been installed as the favorites by Vegas to win the 2004 World Series.

As meth lab pictures go, this one is tops.

Red astroturf?  That's what a Texas high school has dropped as a playing surface. Makes Oregon's new basketball court - trees, if you look closely - seem far less distracting.

Crazy vid sent my way by GBVH last week from the Aussie Open, in which there was a dead spot on the court.  This has to be seen to be believed.