Kovy a Devil

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Biscotti claims that several NFL teams are struggling to make a profit, which of course will lead to a union response of asking to see the teams accounting books to determine how legitimate this stance is. I'm going to guess that the owners are not happy Biscotti opened his mouth on this one as the labour talks continue. And speaking of, the always thought provoking and occasionally infuriating Jason Whitlock says the talk of a lockout is pure madness and won't happen. "Zero chance" to use his exact words, because guys like Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder and Paul Allen will not allow it. I think he's dead on. NFL Union boss DeMaurice Smith thinks differently, and says on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most likely, a lockout is a "14". At least he's not being overly pessimistic.

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is one of three coaches that faced both Super Bowl contestants this year, and he offers his breakdown of the game here. He's definitely leaning towards the Colts.

Ilya Kovalchuk was dealt from the Atlanta Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils for forward Niclas Bergfors, defenceman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first rounder in this year's draft. He'll now take on the appearance of a 17-goal scorer but his plus/minus will go through the roof. Can't imagine New Jersey resigns him, not when he turned down $101 million over 8 years already.

The following is graphic in nature. The Wall Street Journal takes Chelsea and England captain John Terry out to the woodshed detailing years of misdeeds, leading up to the affair with former teammate and best friend Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend. Didn't figure on the Journal to have such in depth sporting coverage. If Terry were wise, and there's not much to suggest he is, he ditches the captaincy fast. The distraction to England in World Cup 2010 will be incredible.

The Pittsburgh Pistons? It could happen, if you believe the rumours coming out of Pittsburgh with a new arena on the rise. Can't imagine the NBA losing a team in Detroit, as beaten up as that market is.

Sometimes, it is best to leave the words to Fark.com: "Eighty percent of Canadians think hockey has become too violent, while 20 percent are going to high-stick your nosy ass if you ask another question. Full article, and additional stats from a recent survey are here.

Have a great day.

Coaching moves

TMZ.com thinks that Reggie Bush and a few New Orleans Saints teammates out late on South Beach is a story. These guys are from New Orleans...being out late is an expectation.

Do rival SEC coaches know something about the Dallas Cowboys that the Cowboys aren't telling everyone, including coach Wade Phillips? Some unnamed coaches are telling recruits that Urban Meyer will leave Florida to take over in Dallas sooner or later. Now, if a guy like Meyer has health issues working a far easier college schedule, doesn't he become a ticking timebomb working the far more strenuous NFL grind?

If you believe that history tends to repeat itself, then Canada has to be feeling pretty good about its gold medal chances in hockey, or as it'll lamely be referred to, "men's ice hockey". The last time Canada went top of the podium in 2002, Ken Hitchock was fired as coach of the Dallas Stars just before the Salt Lake games. And yesterday, with the games 10 days away, Hitchock was axed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Funny what a difference a hot and this year, not, Steve Mason in goal makes.

You know the Super Bowl stats machines are working overdrive when you find out that no team has ever lost to the Tampa Bay Bucs in a season and went on to win the Super Bowl. Of course, the New Orleans Saints lost to the Bucs in Week 16.

Yep, it wasn't a joke that I was throwing out there a month or three back: the Toronto Raptors did indeed have Vanilla Ice as their half time "entertainment" last night. The Raps won their 12th of 13 at home, 108-99 over the lowly New Jersey Nets.

Vegas Watch, a fantastic blog, has a breakdown of the most ridiculous Super Bowl prop bets. I think I might get down on the over/under of 1 minute and 38.5 seconds for Carrie Underwood to sing the U.S. national anthem.

Check out TNT announcers Doug Collins and Kevin Harlan absolutely ripping Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell for all the bling he's rocking courtside at a game last week, and for how much better a QB he'd be if he spent as much time working on his game as in the jewelry store. Amazing.

Good of Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter to demand a trade by taking to the airwaves of the Jim Rome Show. Nutjob.

More Miranda Kerr is a good thing for 2010.

Have a great Thursday.

All Colts, all the time

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay plans to fix the joke that is Eli Manning being the highest paid player in the NFL, and make brother Peyton the man with a record setting deal. It'll be interesting to see if Peyton chooses to leave some on the table like Tom Brady did to help the team keep and acquire other talent. It isn't like he's hurting for cash at his current rate, not to mention a ridiculous number of endorsements.

Indianapolis Colts lineman Jeff Saturday was asked at media day how he felt about the team taking the foot off the gas and not going for a perfect season and he left no confusion as to his disdain for the move that was not decided by the players or even coaches.

Here are 38 celebs weighing in with their picks for the Super Bowl, for what it is worth. Dick Vitale has the Colts, so that is one reason to look to the Saints to cover/win.

Is there anybody that is giving the New Orleans Saints a chance in the Super Bowl this Sunday? You'd think they're the worst team to ever compete for it the way they're being ignored in all-Colts-all-the-time media coverage. Starting to like the Saints more by the minute as a result, knowing that when everyone is on one side, you run - don't walk - to the other. You?

For the gamblers out there, the Colts are 12-5-1 against the number this year, while the Saints are 9-9 after opening 6-0 to start.

The Toronto Maple Leaf centres lat night were Tyler Bozek, John Mitchell, Rickard Wallin and Wayne Primeau, who have combined for all of six goals this year. Brian Burke's got loads of work to do, despite a decent start in the Dion Phaneuf run last night in a 3-0 win over New Jersey.

Got some new wallpaper on the 'ol desktop today, shots of OHB's ankle and hamstring after the New Orleans Saints went prison style on him last Sunday.

The MLS schedule is expected to be released today at 2:30pm, says GBVH. If they were wise, they'd announce a labour agreement alongside it.

Have a great Wednesday.

The truth as victim

Anytime a Super Bowl comes around, or football talk in general, you get a lot of military or war type talk. And in war, the old saying says that the first casualty is the truth, the same has to be said of Super Bowl week as the disinformation and misinformation campaign is on hard after word leaked that Indianapolis Colt Dwight Freeney has a torn ankle ligament and is questionable, something the Colts deny. Colts wideout Reggie Wayne, as noted by Don Banks at SI.com, said on the sidelines of the Pro Bowl that even if he were on the sideline coaching his team along it would be helpful. So who's right? Seems the Colts are laying it on a little too thick for it to not have some substance to it.

This Super Bowl is the first being contested by teams from non-Major League Baseball cities in 18 years.

Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update on Tim Tebow's anti-abortion ad: "if he's running the option as a pro, you know he's going to keep it."

According to Initiative Futures Sports and Entertainment, the Champions League final topped the Super Bowl as the most watched sporting event on TV in the world for 2009, the first time that has happened. Frankly, I'd question the methodology if that is the first time as the Super Bowl is mostly a North American thing while soccer has far more global appeal. What's next, they're gonna tell us next that rock has finally eclipsed country music globally?

Michael Vick says he's still a top 10 quarterback. Presumably he means in the NFC East, or more likely, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The famed blue turf of Boise State's stadium is the site of numerous bird deaths, as they meet their demise dive bombing the turf thinking it is water. Awesome.

Ahh, Leafs Nation. Dion Phaneuf isn't a Leaf for even 48 hours and people are talking of how he should be captain. There's a reason Calgary was willing to deal him, and a reason that Steve Yzerman didn't include him on the Olympic team. He may well turn it around and become the elite player he was expected to be, but let's not get crazy and name him captain quite yet. He'll have enough weight on him just trying to meet expectations for his own career, nevermind the added weight of Toronto's media spotlight.

Have a great Tuesday.

Burke shakes up the Leafs

Manchester United rode a dominating first half, mostly on the backs of Nani and Wayne Rooney, to a no-doubt 3-1 win at Arsenal.

Brian Burke's agenda as Toronto Maple Leaf's GM was laid bare yesterday as he continued to clean house of John Ferguson's guys. One move saw Jason Blake and Vesa Toskala moved to the Anaheim Ducks for J.S. Giguere, and he should win Executive of the Year on dumping Blake alone (I am exaggerating there for effect). The big deal saw the Leafs send Ian White, Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan and the proverbial bag of pucks known as Jamal Mayers for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, and Keith Aulie. Very interesting, and right or wrong, needed. As an added bonus, Elisha Cuthbert is now a Leafs fan. Altogether now: "woooooooah sloppy seconds!" Clearly, Burke thinks coach Ron Wilson simply doesn't have the players to compete and isn't to blame, and says he's not done dealing. Scott Burnside at ESPN.com called it a panic move for the Flames. The Leafs will hope this one turns out the way their last major deal with the Flames did, when they landed Doug Gilmour. Phaneuf will need to turn things around as word is he's gone a bit Hollywood in Calgary, and he's now in the middle of a year where his once-sure-thing Olympic inclusion didn't happen, and now he's been traded.

Chelsea and England captain John Terry is some kind of guy, now that word comes out he's been getting busy with a model and mother of one. The model also happens to be the now ex-girlfriend of Manchester City's Wayne Bridge, formerly of Chelsea, and also an England teammate and alleged best friend. And if that wasn't bad enough, Terry is married with twin boys at home and proudly accepted England's "Father of the Year" award last year. Stay classy, JT.

It'll be a shame if Carl Robinson is gone from Toronto FC, but he is too much of the same player Julian De Guzman is and JDG makes more money and is Canadian, so only a matter of when. Seems TFC is looking to bring Manchester United in for a game this summer. Me likey!

If the Dallas Cowboys are going places in the 2010 NFL season, they'll have to earn it with a meatgrinder schedule that is the toughest in the NFC with only Washington (twice) and Detroit as easier games. The rest of their opponents - including Indy, New Orleans, Green Bay, Arizona, Philly and Minnesota - are a combined 129-79 (.620) this year.

It is Super Bowl week, get ready for a deluge of coverage here, there and everywhere.

Have a great Monday.

The big game of the English Premier League weekend sees Manchester United visiting London today where they'll take on Arsenal in a huge game for both sides. The winner will have second place with room to breathe, the loser will have a mountain to climb if they're to take the championship in the end. Check it out on The Score at 11am, in glorious high definition.

Terrell Owens rightly won the NFL receiver of the decade title at USA Today, and left no doubt that he thinks he'd be tops in all numbers - yes, ahead of Jerry Rice - if not for a career dealing with some substandard QB's. Not sure how you win that award by yourself, but apparently T.O. thinks he did. The rest of the all-decade by position series can be viewed here.

The less said about the Pro Bowl today, the better. We'll leave it at that.

With the Vancouver 2010 Olympics less than two weeks away, here's a look at 25 hot Olympians to keep an eye out for. Yes, they're all female.

If you're ever in a pinch and need to chill a beer in 30 seconds, here's how to do it. You're welcome.

So if only 19 of the 53 men on the New Orleans Saints roster are home grown, why is it nobody is saying they "bought" their way to the Super Bowl?

Former NFLer Herschel Walker made his MMA debut yesterday at age 47, and emerged a winner. Said Sports Pickle: Nice win, Herschel Walker. Strikeforce will now trade you for the future Emmitt Smith, D.Woodson and R.Maryland of MMA.

Roger Federer won his 16th career major in a straight sets win over Andy Murray. Bonus points to RF for talking smack of how Great Britain hasn't produced a champion in 150,000 years, and saying his losses to the all-defence Murray were more about him losing than Murray winning. Brilliant!

Great videos here of the top 10 most outrageous sports calls.

There are three groups in the running to buy the St. Louis Rams, and one is said to be from Toronto. Interesting.

Check out these championship rings, starting with Sidney Crosby's Stanley Cup winning ring from last season.

Baseball Prospectus has run its annual projections of what each team will do and there are some interesting developments in the AL West and the NL East especially. Projected worst in the AL and second last in all of baseball? Toronto.

Have a great Sunday.

Who are you? Who, who?

I'm sure guitarist Pete Townsend of The Who, slated to play the Super Bowl halftime show next weekend, is thrilled to have a postcard (see right) being sent to parents in the Miami area to alert them of his presence. While he was never convicted, he did spend time as a registered sex offender in England for his "internet research".

Scarlett Johannson is hot for Mango? Nice.

With all the overtime rule change possibilities I've heard this week for the NFL, the only ones I like are (1) each team is guaranteed a possession and sudden death and (2) play 10 minutes of straight up football, leader at end wins. Repeat as necessary. Not at all a fan of the college system or anything that doesn't resemble normal play, nor am I a fan of the current system where the coin toss winner wins 60% of the time.

With the NFL season winding down and only one game that matters left, the sporting calendar is going into arguably the worst month or so of the year, at least until March Madness cranks up and then passes the batton to baseball. Can't wait!

Frequent reader Bukakke passed on this great Tiger Woods game. Hours of fun.

Another piece of OHB schadenfreude. This is the same station that brought this awesome call to the close of the game, in case you didn't hear it.

Bill Simmons - The Sports Guy - has a great column up this week where he ranks the most tortured franchises in sports. Congratulations, Maple Leafs fans, you rank #7! Well worth your time.

I've got a nice EPL parlay this morning of Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool that pays about 3.5 to 1. Get on over to Pinnacle Sports at the link above and get in and get your own action down.

Have a great Saturday!

Turko-douche

Classy of the NFL to send their legal team after New Orleans business people who are selling "who dat?" gear. All year it was fine but now that they're in the Super Bowl, the league wants its cut.

Won't it be a bit weird if the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl the year after Tony Dungy left as head coach, same as the Tampa Bay Bucs did the year after he left them?

Michael Farber at ESPN.com looks at the Montreal Canadiens goaltending situation and decides that given Carey Price youth, it might not be too wise to give up on him just yet, provided of course he and Jaroslav Halak don't divide the locker room. Can't disagree with that logic.

One of Tiger Woods playtoys, a former Playboy model named Loredana Jolie, says that his sex fantasies were "not normal". Jolie also said that Eldrick was into gay sex as well. Woods also sent a text message to Rachel Uchitel saying he envisioned her having sex with Derek Jeter and Bones star David Boreanaz at the same time. Well at least this isn't getting weird.

The LA Kings are a prime contender to acquire high-scoring left wing Ilya Kovalchuk from Atlanta, but they're competing with Vancouver, Boston and another Eastern team for the two-time 50-goal scorer. Rest easy Maple Leafs fans, it won't be Toronto.

Roger Federer has advanced to the finals of the Aussie Open where he'll face Andy Murray. That's 23 straight semi-final appearances for Federer in a Grand Slam, and he's been in the final of 18 of the last 19 majors. Murray has played only one set above the minimum en route to the final, and has beaten Federer 6 of 10 times. On the women's side, Serena Williams will face Justine Henin in the final.

Minnesota Vikings QB legend Fran Tarkenton, who railed against OHB moving to the purple and gold in the summer, spared no feelings when he piled on after Sunday's meltdown, calling the play "stupid" and saying that quarterbacks of lesser stature wouldn't have made such a play. He finished with this gem: "We all get hit but he is flapping around and jumping around and he is getting hit and he talks in the soft voice. I would rather it be about the team and not [OHB]. I get the idea that it is more about [OHB] than the team. A quarterback is to make his teammates better but he is not about that." For the kids of the 80's that read here: That's Incredible!

Hedo Turkoglu likely had his best game as a Toronto Raptors in last night's come from behind win in New York, but he's got a long way to go before he'll be seen as a likeable guy by this fan when he handles a post-game interview with Jack Armstrong like this. I don't think Kobe Bryant or LeBron James would act like that. Asshat.

Kurt Warner is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL today. Somehow, I suspect he'll actually mean it, even though he's still more than capable of playing despite having a #1 pick waiting behind him. Next stop, Canton.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler Eric Green forcibly sodomized a transgendered woman. I only mention this because you don't hear that very often.

Have a great Friday, back in the morn.

Derek Jeter...sex addict?

After the New Orleans Saints punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, there are four teams who have yet to appear in the Super Bowl? Any guesses? Answer at bottom.

SportsByBrooks asks how is it that Tiger Woods can be called a sex addict because of his 15 partners, but Derek Jeter isn't. Now, I'm not here to pass judgment. Rather, I'm here to express awe at Jeter's list of 15 here. Amazing.

There have been loads of reasons why the Buffalo Bills lost four straight Super Bowls discussed over the years, but former Dallas Cowboy and three time Super Bowl Champion Darren Woodson offers up a new one: nobody partied harder than the Bills in the week leading up to the game. Way to go, Buffalo!

Does the Toronto Raptors being in fifth in the Eastern Conference say something about how they've turned around, or how weak the East is? Both? The Raps beat the Miami Heat last night 111-103 on big nights from Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, a recurring theme of late. They've got to try something they struggle with tonight: doing it on back to back nights, with a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks.

This will end badly: the NFL is going to offer the Red Zone Channel on cell phones next year. As if you needed another distraction while driving.

New England Patriot Vince Wilfork is objecting to talks he may be hit with the "franchise" tag as he enters free agency, saying it is a slap in the face. Yeah, real kick in the teeth knowing you'll be paid the average of the top five players at your position or 120% of your previous year's deal, whichever is greater.

According to Baseball Reference, Randy Winn leads active players with 1,601 games and no post-season appearance. He's 162 games from ending that run now that he's signed with the New York Yankees, officially ending Johnny Damon's days in The Bronx.

Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton both saw their season's come to an end thanks to NBA Commissioner David Stern's ruling on their gun play being a suspension for the rest of the year.

The Edmonton Oilers have won one game in the last 19, that of course by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A freaking figure skater with fur is on the cover of the Toronto Star sports section two days running. The Olympics can't end fast enough.

The Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars are the only teams who have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance.

Have a great day.

Was going to use a picture of Greg Oden that leaked out yesterday, but with a flurry of lawyer's letters flying out to those that had it out, figured it best I pull out on that one.

This piece at ProFootballTalk.com says that like the Oakland Raiders - and who wants that as a similarity? - the rot with the Buffalo Bills starts at the top and works its way down. Thanks to SS for that one.

If you're the Philadelphia Phillies and you've got a choice of Cliff Lee under control for this year at $8 million, or having Joe Blanton signed for multiple years at about the same cost, if not a little more, don't you take Lee and go for the World Series jugular with the Lee, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels as your big three? Seems a no-brainer to me. Instead, the Phillies worried about their farm system's depth after dealing for Lee last summer, and moved him to try to shore that up. Odd. Seems Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel is on the same line of thinking too.

Sports Illustrated has just raised the bar in media coverage by somehow narrowing the worst career moments of OHB to a mere 10. Check them out here.

Alyssa Milano, then Eliza Dushku, and now Karina Smirnoff? St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Brad Penny is growing a fine resume of ladies he's dated. Derek Jeter...you've been warned!

Check out this fan's reaction to the OHB's interception late in the Minnesota Vikings loss at New Orleans, as the pick happened. Hysterical stuff.

In news that should excite nobody because it is a waste of your time and money, and a sign of ignorance, Pro Line is said to be ready to offer NBA action in the coming months in Ontario. Do yourselves a favor folks, if you want to gamble on the NBA, or anything, hit the link above for Pinnacle Sports. Better odds, better options, and none of this needing to pick three games nonsense.

The T.O. Show will shoot season 2 shortly. Now, it is no shock to any regulars here that I've always been a bit of a T.O. fan, but after that year in Buffalo - not his fault, by the by, that he didn't have a QB - is he at all relevant anymore? Worry about your next contract, 81.

Andre Dawson will go into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo. Good call, baseball.

So the Oakland A's signed Ben Sheets for $10 million. Add in their earlier signing of Justin Duchsherer and they have two starters in their rotation who didn't make a single start last season. That said, good signings both I think. Love Sheets.

Tried a little something different last night, as you can see in the entry below. Let me know what you think of that idea.

Have a great Wednesday.

How the NFL could change significatly in the next five weeks

More discussion of how the NFL landscape could change in the next month and change unless a new labor deal is struck. Hard as it may seem to believe in light of what other league's have done to hurt themselves over the year's while the NFL has enjoyed labor peace and unprecedented growth, but they may go the road of the rest.

More here from the Dallas Morning News

May look to add some more time sensitive stuff as it comes available, and giving it a test run this way. Let me know what you think. Good idea, bad idea? Keep it one update daily?

The King Steals One

Finally we're getting a clearer picture of how Tiger Woods fateful day unwound months back. Seems while asleep, his wife Elin got a hold of his cell and texted Rachel Uchitel and got all the responses she needed. Memo to Tiger: never a good idea to save messages you've sent another woman telling her you love her if she isn't your wife. Just sayin'.

Speaking of details, Washingon Bullet Javaris Crittenton's plea deal over his gun incident with teammate Gilbert Arenas has to certainly end Arenas time with the Wizards, if not his NBA career. Don't imagine Commissioner David Stern has a lot of time for guys who threaten to shoot teammates in the face or blow up their car.

Late in a game. Your team is winning. You throw an ill advised pass. It is intercepted and goes back for points, costing your team the game. OHB's playoff life for the better part of a decade in a nutshell? Nope, Dwayne Wade's behind the back pass getting picked by LeBron James last night. Sure seems familiar though, don't it? Story and hilites here.

No word if the NFL is contacting CFL players to fill roster spots for the Pro Bowl.

Pete Townsend of The Who revealed the band will be doing a medley of Baba O'Riley, Pinball Wizard, Tommy, Who Are You, and Won't Get Fooled Again at the Super Bowl's halftime show. What? No new stuff? Stunner.

LA Dodger Matt Kemp's ex-girlfriend took out a restraining order against Kemp because he was violent and abusive towards her. He's now dating Rihanna who of course, was badly beaten by her ex Chris Brown. Well at least that isn't weird.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, recent Stanley Cup winners if you forgot, had to take an advance on their revenue sharing money and from its local TV deal to help it meet last season's final payroll. And to think Gary Bettman approved that ownership group easily. Sun Belt hockey was such a great idea.

Check out Bourbon Street in New Orleans errupt Sunday night when the Saints won in overtime. Amazing.

Saints Video: Bourbon Street

Down goes OHB!

Doesn't the world just seem like a better place today, now that you know you're free of any possibility of a OHB felating for the Super Bowl? OHB did what he does in the playoffs, and for the third straight time to end a season, his last pass in a playoff game was an interception that cost his team dearly. Love it. 31-28 New Orleans Saints. The Vikings fumbled the ball six times, losing three, and OHB threw a pair of INT's in a game the Vikes should have had. Said first and best by frequent poster and daily reader Bukakke: "There were probably Haitian survivors still trapped under rubble that let out muffled cheers when Brett threw against the grain in the waning seconds."

The Indianapolis Colts rallied back from a 17-6 deficit to beat the New York Jets 30-17 and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. The Jets were looking great until Shonn Green went out with an injury. They're going to be a load in the coming years.

If you're wondering, the Super Bowl line is Indy as high as 5.5 in some books, with an over/under of 56. Should be a great game.

Word is that TV ratings for the Toronto Maple Leafs are significantly up, leading some TV types to wonder about their accuracy given the team's performance. Don't they get it? Some people hate the Leafs so much they love watching them get embarrassed.

Add a 42-year-old British mother of two named Emma Rotherham to the list of Tiger Woods side dishes.

Leg-endary Nuts girls. NSFW, you've been warned.

Have a great Monday.

Championship Sunday

Had the majority of today's RM drafted up on the Blackberry, until my boy got a hold of it and figured out how to delete messages both in my inbox and drafted. Awesome. Memo to self: use the locking feature.

The Super Bowl contestants will be determined today, if you were unawares. Up first is an AFC battle that will see the New York Jets visit the Indianapolis Colts. You may have heard a time or million this week that these two played in late December and the Colts famously yanked their starters with an undefeated season and a lead on the go. High stakes to say the least, with the Jets out to prove it was no fluke and the Colts out to prove their motivation - getting to the Super Bowl - was valid. The Jets defence has been incredible for most of the year, and Mark "Dirty" Sanchez has done just enough on offence to keep defences honest and not try to only stuff a strong running game. But we are talking Peyton Manning and Manning at home here, and that will be too much to overcome, especially if the referee's are hell bent on easing the path for the Colts, like they seemed to be last week when they hosted Baltimore. If the Colts get out to a lead here, can't imagine Sanchez passing their way back into it. I've got Colts winning 34-13 here.

For the NFC Championship, you'd think that the Minnesota Vikings were the only team playing the way the media has been slurping OHB and the Vikes. Yet, it is the New Orleans Saints who enter the game as 3.5 point favs, are at home with what will be a rocking crowd, own the best record in the 2009 season, and have who I think was this year's MVP at QB in Drew Brees. The one concern I have is the Saints pass protection, and we saw how the Saints can struggle when pressed by a pass rush when they lost to Dallas in Week 15, and even more saw what the Vikes can bring in their destruction of Dallas last week. But we've also seen that the Vikes aren't nearly as potent on the road this year, and for that, I'm thinking the Saints are 30-21 winners, with OHB throwing at least one brains-blowing-out pick. Warning: prepare for a fawning broadcast crew. Avoid eating before or during this one as it may be vomit inducing.

Hands up, who had Henrik Sedin leading the NHL in scoring ever, much less in late January?

Only one English Premier League game yesterday as a result of some FA Cup action, but Wayne Rooney went off for four goals as United moved temporarily into first place with a 4-0 pounding of Hull City.

Jessica Biel stripping. Just because.

Not sure what took so long, but the media finally got around to determining who the MLB Playoff MVP was for 2009 and it was one Alex Rodriguez.

Guessing Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is pretty desperate for cash. Why else would you sell the Texas Rangers, their stadium lease and 153 acres of property for a mere $570 million? What will he sell the Dallas Stars for if they come up then? $50? Maybe he'll give Jim Balsillie a shout and coax $200 million out of him? I'm sure the North American sporting elite has to love that he and George Gillette are selling big name properties here - Gillette of course unloaded the Montreal Canadiens in their 100th year - in favor of a soccer team.

One thing that Moneyball can't account for: a player deciding that he wants to enter the priesthood. One of the Oakland A's top prospects Grant Desme has decided he's not for a career in sports, and is devoting himself to the priesthood. Kind of extreme, no?

Here are the Top 10 Hottest MILF's in sports. Didn't know Amanda Beard had a kid, but she's a great choice at #1.

Richard Griffin at the Toronto Star interviewed legendary baseball eccentric Bill "Spaceman" Lee about the subject of steroid use and Lee hits the syringe on the head in saying players weren't cheating if there was no rule against it. Great read, as is Lee's bio if you ever get a chance to pick it up.

For more thoughts on today's games, check out Cleveland Frowns picks. This guy is perfect for the playoffs so far. Why did I only hear of this now, oh Gambling Gods?

Have a great day, Geaux Saints!!

RM returns tomorrow with a mega edition.

Jets curse themselves?

If you believe in karma, then the New York Jets could be in a world of trouble having produced and set this ad to the right live on their website.

There are 24 players from the Indianapolis Colts, NY Jets, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints on the Pro Bowl rosters as they currently stand, so safe to say a nothing game is being devalued more as players from two of those teams will be committed to the Super Bowl which is now after the Pro Bowl. Just kill it, NFL. Out of its misery. After all, Tom Brady pulled out due to injuries for the AFC, the first alternate Ben Roethlesberger declined, and that led to an invite to Phillip Rivers who passed and now Vince Young is starting. Now, young came on strong but I don't think "Pro Bowl" for a guy who had all of 10 TD's and played only 10 games.

Something for those that get too wound up about when guys get into the Hall of Fame, or not getting in the first time they're eligible: Joe DiMaggio finished 8th in voting his first year of eligibility, and was declined. In fact, he didn't get in until his third year. Crazy, but true.

Air Canada lost the Stanley Cup earlier in the week. Lord Stanley's Mug was to travel from New Jersey to Vancouver for a charity event, and instead ended up in Toronto. This marked the first time in 43 years that the Stanley Cup has come to Toronto, when not being returned directly to the Hall of Fame.

John Clayton at ESPN.com takes a peak at the top quarterbacks of all-time. He's got the Old Has Been poised to leap to number four ahead of John Elway if he manages a second Super Bowl win this year. Plainly, no. Sure the Old Has Been has a million records, and his longevity is surely impressive, but he's hardly been a playoff stalwart over the years, not to the extent Elway was. He also has him ranked ahead of Tom Brady (#7) and Peyton Manning (#8), which blows my mind.

Matt Stairs, who some call "Fatt" Stairs, is looking to continue his big league career at age 41, and shed 31 pounds with Nutrisystem and playing senior hockey this winter. Impressive. What, you thought I'd suggest he was on the Pudge Rodriguez diet?

SI.com grades all 30 NBA squads at the mid point of the season. Surprisingly, the Toronto Raptors check in with a B. I'd have given them a D. You know, to show that they've finally got some "D".

Is there a hockey player who is loving life in Los Angeles more than Jarrett Stoll? After dumping Rachel Hunter practically at the alter, he's now hooked up with Melrose Place hottie Katie Cassidy. Pics here.

Tiana Enhorning, a second year Kinesiology student at Western, made Sports Illustrated's Cheerleader of the Week.

Finally today, check out the Top 20 WWE/WWF divas over the year's. Stacey Keibler only at #8? Come on!

Have a great Friday.

Chan Gailey: Sexually Abused?

Poor Chan Gailey, even the closed caption folks are cracking on him as the new Buffalo Bills hire, as you can see in the picture at right.

In the most horrifying news since the earthquakes in Haiti, there is talk that Venus Williams went "Commando" at the Australian Open. Some scary hints in that direction for your viewing displeasure here.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is interviewing head coaching candidates even though Tom Cable has yet to be fired. As long as you're staying classy there, Al. Candidates included Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh. Word is Davis laughed at the suggestion he looked into Chan Gailey a few days ago, declaring "like anybody would want him". Some of that is less true than the rest.

Scary fact about Felix Hernandez 5-year $78 million deal with Seattle: when it concludes, he'll only be 28. If he reaches his potential, you've gotta figure he's gonna hit $25-$30 million a year, no?

If you're the superstitious kind, the Indianapolis Colts have choked in even numbered year's at home as big favs before: 2006 vs. Pittsburgh, 2008 vs. San Diego. In both, they were nearly double digit favs.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is returning to health and the ring after a bout with diverticulitis, a condition that involves the weakening of the colon walls and, in extreme cases, can lead to the actual perforation of the colon. In what may or may not be related information, the Mayo Clinic has a publication on said condition that posits that typically when it afflicts someone younger than 65, it usually involves use of steroids. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'. Lesnar took a crack at the Canadian medical system as he was in Canada when his health really turned for the worse. Guess he didn't realize when he went back to the same hospital where he originally was diagnosed with mono he was going back to a place that misdiagnosed him. Well played, Brock.

Dave Perkins at the Toronto Star ran a great piece on how a certain Minnesota Vikings quarterback isn't nearly as universally loved as he is often made out to be by a fawning media. A wave of the proverbial hand to Mr. Perkins, who has to be reading yours truly regularly. Thanks to ROTR for that piece. Wait, ROTR...are you Dave Perkins?

The All-American Basketball Conference is looking to start up this summer with a dozen teams across the U.S. Rules? Players must be (1) U.S. born and (2) white. Coverage on Fox has to be coming, no? This is not a joke or something coming from the Sports Pickle folks. Real deal.

Want to see what happens when you put a box of wine into a microwave? This is amazing.

You too can have your very own Jersey Shore nickname. Mine came up T-Bone and I have to say, I very much approve. The series ends tonight and I don't know what I'm going to do without The Situation, Vinny and Pauly D in my life.

Manchester United's Gary Neville clearly didn't like former teammate Carlos Tevez scoring against United in Carling Cup play a couple days ago. When Tevez mimicked a talking hand to celebrate his goal, hinting he was letting his game do the talking, Neville, warming up on the sidelines, flipped him the bird. Neville could be in trouble and face suspension and if the powers that be are looking to do United any favors, it will be permanent. Retire, you bumb!

If you are looking to catch any of ESPN's 30 for 30 episodes, they're all available here, starting with "The U" on the University of Miami.

There aren't enough Rex Ryan's in the coaching world, at least not on this side of the pond. This is great stuff.

Chan's The Man

The Buffalo Bills made it official and announced Chan Gailey as their next coach. Needless to say, Bills Fan is not impressed. Gailey may end up proving everyone wrong but after a few uninspired choices in the past, you'd think the Bills might try a different approach. And how do they not interview Brian Billick when he was practically advertising his interest in a sea of guys who didn't have interest? What, his resumé including a Super Bowl was too good for them? More likely, he wouldn't work for peanuts. Marty Schottenheimer also badly wanted the job, and while not a playoff commodity, he has repeatedly turned team's around, but Wilson nixed that idea. Mike Florio tells Bills Fan they could've done a lot worse than Gailey.

From the Lunch Bag Letdown Dept.: an article in yesterday's Toronto Star on Ana Ivanovic winning at the Aussie Open, coupled with a picture of Justine Henin.

Peter King at SI.com says it'll be an "upset" if there isn't a work stoppage in the 2011 NFL season and ProFootballTalk says a deal in the short term would give the owners what they want - a claw back on salaries and make up for what they've given up in the current deal - as the players would have to cave. Can't imagine that an 11th hour deal is much better, though surely the owners don't want to lose a season. I can't see Jerry Jones in Dallas risking hosting a Super Bowl that year, can you? Jones is one of the power brokers for the "have" side of ownership.

The same guy that told me how great he thinks fighting in hockey is with bare hands also told me he thinks MMA is essentially barbaric. Uh-huh.

After seven weeks with the public spotlight glaring down on him, Tiger Woods should be thanking NBC for the current Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien fiasco for pushing him into the background. For the record, Jay Leno is not funny, and if you like him, you're a loser.

The Seattle Mariners continued a productive off-season by inking King Felix Hernandez to a five-year $78 million deal. Hey, aren't they a "small" market team?

MacGruber, the movie. Enough said.

I find it hard to imagine that people take All-Star games seriously, especially when you see that in the NBA, Allen Iverson and worse, Tracy McGrady, are about to be voted in as starters. Pathetic. Fan voting sucks.

We are barely into 2010 and AskMen.com is already giving us the Top 99 Most Desirable Women for 2010. Definitely hard (that's what she said!) pressed to pick anyone over the #1 they've got in place.

Check out the dumbest, funniest quotes in sports. Or at least one take on that. Awesome stuff. Suppose none of these should surprise in the mental wasteland that is sports.

Get ready to buy some new gear, Liverpool fans. The Reds are moving from Carlsberg to Standard Chartered Bank, giving them the largest income from any shirt sponsor in the English Premier League at 4 years and £80m.

Have a great Wednesday.

39 shots?

Says Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun via Twitter: "The NBA, MLB and NFL all gave 1 mill to Haiti. The NHL only gave 100,000. The reason - they already donated to the disaster in Phoenix." Awesome stuff. Love Simmons.

In ESPN The Magazine, an article on the NHL's concussion issue says that hockey players are five times more likely to suffer a concussion than an NFLer. What is the NHL's policy on returning to a game after a head injury again? Oh, nevermind.

For all the big names mentioned as potential head coaches of the Buffalo Bills, that the rumor is they're going to hire Chan Gailey is pretty underwhelming, to say the least. Most won't remember Gailey, but he was the in-over-his-head coach that once had the Dallas Cowboys job. Decent offensive co-ordinator, but hardly a guy that will inspire the best and brightest to head to Western New York. Typical Bills. Go for the cheap hire rather than the powerhouse hire. This ought to sell almost no tickets.

A producer at the CBC was suspended for criticizing Don Cherry on his Twitter account. Absolutely ridiculous that they'll take up for a xenophobe - among other "phobes" - and dinosaur who is living on the public teet.

Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis took 39 shots in the Warriors 114-97 win over the Chicago Bulls yesterday. Guess when Ellis was hitting shots like these last week in New York in practice, he's going to feel pretty good about his stroke. Seriously, be sure to check the video out.

15 hotties in NFL jersey's, some which will be familiar to you. Kendra Wilkinson first? Don't think so.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig is of the opinion that the steroid era is dead and buried at this point thanks to several revelations of guys who used, and some testing that has nailed guys at the highest levels and profiles. Except for one thing, as pointed out by Roy Johnson at ESPN.com: Selig hasn't come clean with the owners knowledge of the use of performance enhancing drugs. Helluva point, Roy.

The world is filled with bad people and bad actions, but I didn't realize a guy simply chanting "J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!" was arrest worthy like it was Sunday in San Diego. Pathetic.

Mangold!

Pretty obvious why I went with that as the picture of the day, no? If not, check out #74's name and the title above.

What a beatdown in Minnesota yesterday. The Dallas offensive line was as stout as Haitian architecture and it is a wonder Tony Romo is able to walk after that pounding. After three solid but ultimately wasted drives for the Cowboys to open the game, it was all Vikes the rest of the way and a 34-3 final. Personal hell for this hater of #4. Here's hoping the New Orleans Saints save the day next weekend.

Jim Nantzzzzz, Phil Simmszzzzz, Mark Sanchezzzzz and Phillip Riverszzzzz conspired for a very dull game in San Diego for the most part, though the end result that saw the New York Jets win 17-14 is sure a stunner, until you remember that it is the San Diego Chargers and playoff flameouts are synonymous with them. Pretty sure that LaDanian Tomlinson's days as a Bolt are done and he'll have to take his Electric Glide elsewhere.

Norv Turner and Wade Phillips, as losers of the games yesterday, will go on to coach the Pro Bowl on January 31st. What are the odds both are unemployed by then? Pretty fair chance, no?

Both championship games next weekend will be played in domes. Lame.

The AHL all-star "Classic" goes the next two nights on TSN. Two? As if all-star games weren't joke enough, two nights for a minor league all-star game? What's the MVP get, best seat on the bus for his team the rest of the year?

If you haven't seen this goal from the East Coast Hockey League, prepare to see the best goal you'll see this year, if not ever. Pure artistry on the ice.

I don't "believe" that the "Believe" Olympic ads are overexposed, I know it. Enough already. And how many people do you figure blew by the front page of the Toronto Star's Sports section this morning with figure skating and snow boarding getting the entire page?

Did I read right, a 22-point win for the Toronto Raptors over the Dallas Mavericks? Can't be true, can it? Bad day for Dallas in multiple sports.

Have a great Monday.

Light up the Old Has Been!

Ignoring that Dallas historically owns Old Has Been (9-2 against him in his career), and that the Old Has Been typically fades come playoff time, I still think Dallas has too much for the Vikes to handle. D-Ware and the rest ought to hammer a soft protection on the Old Has Been and drive his immobile self into the turf at will. Best stat though? Dallas hasn't given up 100 yards rushing to anyone this year, and if they can keep that pace, and the corners keep locking down like they have, then they'll have a field day here. Cowboys, and big. I suspect it comes in right around 46 with a 30-17 score, which could set into motion a permanent retirement by the Old Has Been.

Love the Bolts. I think the Jets had a good dose of luck to make the playoffs, and then rode a great matchup to a Wild Card win, despite their great D and rushing game. The Bolts are playing as well as anyone right now, both sides of the ball, and if they can force Sanchez to have to make a play or three, they'll capitalize on his mistake prone ways. Rivers and his receivers will need to have a good day, but they've had a lot of good days the last two months and change. I think the Jets have exceeded their expectations. 2 road games in a row is tough and this is not a good match-up for their rookie QB. If the Chargers get out front early, this one will get ugly. Chargers 36-14.

The New Orleans Saints put to rest the idea that they were flatlining in a total beatdown of the Arizona Cardinals. Reggie Bush had perhaps his best game as a pro, and Drew Brees was his typically impressive self. How awesome was that hit on Kurt Warner? In the end, a 45-14 win for the Saints, who will host the NFC Championship game next Sunday against the Dallas/Minnesota winner.

The Indianapolis Colts took care of the bumbling Baltimore Ravens with ease yesterday, and had a little help from the referee's who would make a call for Indy but not call the same thing for Baltimore. That interception by Ed Reed called off for roughing the passer when Peyton Manning was barely touched, and certainly not excessively late, was a joke. It was a 20-3 Colts win.

The Sports Pickle has a great piece on how the WWE is going to investigate the long-term effect of concussions on its referee's, a move applauded by referee Mike Chioda who was knocked out 450 times last year alone. Sports Pickle rules.

If the NFL saw fit to keep anything that could be remotely controversial off the Super Bowl after the Janet Jackson nipple shield a few year's back, what are they going to do if it ends up being an Indianapolis and Minnesota final? Seriously, is there anyone that could stomach the verbal felatio of both teams QB's?

What do the three worst teams in the NHL have in common? All are coached by either a current or a former Toronto Maple Leafs coach. No, seriously. Paul Maurice has coached the Carolina Hurricanes to 35 points, Edmonton has 37 points under Pat Quinn, and the Leafs sit at 41 under Ron Wilson.

If someone like Terrell Owens went mental on a teammate the way Peyton Manning does on Jeff Saturday here in this video, he'd be crucified. But St. Peyton gets a pass because He's Just Such A Competitor.

Another day of Premier League action saw Chelsea hammer Sunderland 7-2 while Manchester United kept pace with a 3-0 win over Burnley. Up at 11am today on The Score are lowly Bolton taking on Arsenal. Should get ugly for the Wanderers.