Odds and Ends

After a long winter's nap, or Christmas Break as we call it in the teaching profession, I have a few things I would like to share.

• The Dallas Cowboys are the worst team in the playoffs, besides the overrated New York Jets, who very well could beat the New England Patriots by the way. Their defense gives up too many big plays and blitzes way too much. Their offense is inconsistent at best and lacks a solid running game, a must for success in the NFL. It all went wrong when they drafted Julius Jones BEFORE Stephen Jackson a couple of years ago, and they signed the biggest parasite in the league and gave him $25 million to drop touchdown after touchdown. Nice move Jerry, what a class act.
• November Rain by Guns and Roses might be one of the best rock epics ever. It's lyrics tell an interesting story, the music is never boring or redundant, and it has an outstanding guitar riff in the middle of the song. Plus, it was a great video. Whatever happened to Axel Rose?
• The worst thing in the world is when your small child is sick. There's nothing you can do and they couldn't tell you even if there was something you could do about it. What's worse than that is when your kid is sick on Christmas Day.
• Is there any vacation spot that beats Myrtle Beach? Ten years ago I would've said that any vacation spot is better than Myrtle Beach, but, just like a lot of other things, that has since changed. There's just something in the air down there, maybe it's just nostalgia, but there's definitely something that keeps me coming back. The bad thing is everyone else has discovered whatever it is too and they're starting to ruin it.
• It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
• Kansas City at Indianapolis: The vaunted Colts run defense does just enough and Peyton, the greatest player in the game today, puts the team on his back and carries them to the next round. Peyton makes a statement in this one. He's tired of the "he can't win the big one talk" so he comes out firing and embarrasses the Chiefs shaky defense in front of the home crowd.
• New York Jets at New England: The Pats win in a squeaker. Mangini is impressive but Pennington is pitiful and Tom Brady might be the second best player in the game (LT has to be in the conversation) and the best coach in the game is without a question, Bill Belichick. I want to wear a hoody on the sidelines, I just don't have the balls. BTW, the Pats have the number one defense in the NFL.
• New York Giants at Philadelphia: The toughest game to pick in this blogger's opinion. You have several story lines, Tiki's last go 'round, the resurgent and streaking Eagles. In the end Philadelphia is a tough place to play anytime of year let alone in January and the Giants have struggled since week 7. The playoffs is not the time to try to get it together and besides, no one on the team really cares enough to send Tiki out a winner. Eagles offense keeps mistakes to a minimum and Eli coughs it up a couple of times, maybe Tiki too.
• Dallas Cowboys at Seattle: I realize I just said "the playoffs is not the time to try to get it together," but the Cowboys are for real. The defense will get it together and T.O. for all his faults is a player and wants to win. The Big Tuna puts the rest of the league on notice, Dallas wins in a walk in front of a stunned 12th man. Romo puts it back together like he did on Thanksgiving and Marion Barber has 100+ and takes over as the primary running back because Julius Jones SUCKS.