Shocker in Beantown (suburb)

Yep, that's Ray Lewis hanging in effigy in a Pittsburgh back-yard.  No word if the dog used him as a fire hydrant.

I really, really cannot say I even gave the New York Jets a 1% chance of winning yesterday in New England.  Not with Tom Brady et al's home record over the years, not with the Jets poking the Patriots all week with their smack talk, not when the Patriots had their way with them just 6 weeks ago in a 45-3 beatdown. But credit in particular to the Jets secondary, who stuck to the Pats receivers for long periods and gave Brady nothing to throw to all day and the Jets won 28-21.  I have a feeling that's their Super Bowl, however, and the Green Bay Packers are now the likely winners.  The Jets will travel to Pittsburgh next Sunday, where they are 3.5 point underdogs.  Patriot Deion Branch, who before he dropped a key fourth down pass late in the game taunted the Jets bench after an earlier catch, called the Jets classless, and refused to shake hands with certain players post-game, as did a few of his teammates.

On the NFC side, the Chicago Bears were easy 35-24 winners over Seattle in a game nowhere near as close as that score suggests, and will host Green Bay next Sunday in the early game.  Somehow, the Packers have opened as 3.5 point favs.  Don't get me wrong, I think the Packers win, but how are the Bears home dogs like that?

Not sure if it is a sign of the apocalypse, but there have been thousands of dead birds in Arkansas, and this weekend, another 53 won't be making it back to their respective homes in Baltimore or Seattle, and 53 more perished in Atlanta.

Credit to the Jets through, if they're going to go the distance, they will and may have to navigate some pretty impressive quarterbacks in Peyton Manning (fading, though he may be), Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and potentially Aaron Rodgers.

After the Jets win, Bart Scott channeled his inner WWE Superstar with this promo. 

And speaking of the WWE, if you're wondering where Randy "Macho Man" Savage is these days, turns out, everywhere. Amazing site.

I have to ask: why couldn't Fireman Ed have been in the Twin Towers?

The 2008 0-16 Detroit Lions lost seven games by at least 15 points. The Seattle Seahawks were a late run yesterday from losing their tenth.
Manchester United and Tottenham played to an entertaining scoreless draw - yes, it is possible, people - in London yesterday that sees the Reds through.  Spurs dominated the first and last 20 minutes, the latter aided by a weak red card call on Rafael.  Nemanja Vidic was an absolute rock in the back for the leaders. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp figures there's no chance that United stays undefeated for the year if they couldn't do it a couple year's back when they had Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the lineup.  The way they defend, I wouldn't put it past them.

Christal Bosh whined after an opponent had the audacity to go to the ground after a loose ball, which resulted in Christal getting a boo-boo.  Wince Carturd thinks this guy is embarrassing with the whining.  Bosh says you shouldn't dive at loose balls around players legs.  One, I'm pretty sure that would be the only ball around Bosh' legs.  Two, I don't recall a time - ever - where there has been a loose ball on an NBA floor without a guy around it.  Shut your mouth, Christal.

So Christina Aguilera is singing the U.S. anthem at the Super Bowl. Two things. One, is the game still slated to start on time?  She might delay the start 20 minutes with a less-than-faithful rendition. Two, what year is this?  Xtina to open, Black Eyed Peas at the half? 

I finally figured out why Ben Roethlesberger wears a visor: because mace stings.

One thing I won't be doing on January 28th: watching this lame NHL draft for the all-star game. Get Dr. Kevorkian, stat.

Things got testy in Los Angeles last night as the "visiting" Clippers downed the "home" Lakers.  With 5.7 seconds on the clock, four players were ejected.