OK, so Colts/Bears is the matchup I actually picked. Sure, it woulda been nice for New Orleans to go. I and all of America certainly wanted it. But the Bears just had it all going for them yesterday. They were at home in the snow and Sexy Rexy didn't turn it over 37 times. It's hard to beat the Bears when those things happen. Let me also say that the Colts/Pats game yesterday was by far the most exciting game of the playoffs so far, trumping last week's Pats/Chargers game. This one's going straight to ESPN Classic.
One thing I can't get over: Why is everyone declaring that Peyton Manning has whacked the monkey off his back? That his critics can now shove their feet in their mouths? He hasn't done anything yet! The Colts still have one more game to go before people can begin to say "I guess he can win the big one." Dan Marino made it to Superbowl XIX, but ran into Joe Montana and the 49ers and were promptly whooped. Making the Superbowl never stopped people from bashing Marino, why would it stop them from ripping Peyton? If Manning doesn't win in two weeks, he's in danger of finishing his career ringless, getting a job on some NFL postgame show, and having Boomer Esiason rip him a new asshole on the air like he did to Marino.
The Lakers need to stop losing to anus-of-the-league teams like Charlotte and Memphis. This used to happen a lot when the Lakers were winning championships. The excuse then was it's hard to motivate yourself to play hard against a team you know is crap. That excuse worked back then. It doesn't now. When you're not that good, motivation should never be an excuse for anything (unless of course you're tanking on purpose in hopes of Oden/Durant like the Celts and Sixers are). The last I checked, all these Lakers have done is be owned by Tim Thomas in the playoffs last year. The last I checked, the team still consisted of Kobe and a bunch of mediocre to bad players. Sure, they're 11 games over .500, but until they win a playoff series, they have no business using the same excuses as the Shaq/Kobe teams of earlier in the decade. Suck it up, bitches.
Supposedly, Matt Kemp had a strong finish to the Dominican Winter League by driving in 9 runs in his final 17 games. Great, he got some hits off some guys who'll be picking cotton in a couple weeks. I think I'll wet my pants.
Also supposedly, the Dodgers are in serious negotiations to bring Rudy Seanez back to the team. I have no comment on this matter. But I will if they actually sign the fucker.
A couple thoughts:
1) These first four hours of 24 have been the greatest period of television ever produced. I have never felt more of an intense sense of shock and bewilderment than after the ending of the fourth episode. Excellent work to everyone involved.
2) In case you haven't heard, the Dodgers are turning the entire right field pavilion into an all-you-can-eat buffet next season. For $40 you can have unlimited Dodger Dogs, pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and anything else you can stuff your fat face with. Just another terrible idea approved by the McCourts. As if America wasn't fat enough, as if people in the right field pavilion weren't rowdy enough, now food fights and waistlines will quintuple.
3) Conference championship weekend in the NFL. Pats vs. Colts, Saints vs. Bears. My picks:
Colts 30, Pats 17
Saints 20, Bears 16
Superbowl XLI:
Saints 24, Colts 20
OK. So this probably won't happen. But it's nice to think, right? New Orleans deserves it.
4) A couple fiascoes occurred at this year's Golden Globes. First off, Grey's Anatomy beat 24 for best TV drama. Grey's is good, but definitely not better than 24 by any means. Unacceptable. Secondly, Dreamgirls beat Little Miss Sunshine for best musical/comedy. LMS was the best comedy I'd seen all year. Yes, better than Borat. I just don't see how Dreamgirls is better than either of those two. But whatever. This is why Golden Globes are forgotten about like the week-old cheeseburger in the back of the fridge. They don't matter because the Hollywood Foreign Press is stupid.
5) Stomp the Yard is #1 at the box office. All's right with the world.
I hope everyone had themselves some happy holidays! Now that we're back to the drudgery of real life, here's some things I noticed while I was on vacation:
The Barry Zito deal was utterly retarded. The Giants panicked when Schmidt left, and blew the richest contract in pitching history on a guy who hasn't been at Cy Young level for the last 4 years. Now they've devoted 60% of their payroll to two guys named Barry.
Chris Bosh is letting his hair grow a bit, and he's looking more and more like Snoop Dogg every day.
The Clippers still suck, and it's all MDS's fault.
UCLA just lost to Oregon, but we're still the best team in the nation. Still, I fully expect the East-coast-biased Associated press to vote in UNC to the #1 spot next week. Even though we both have only one loss and we only lost by 2 points. I hate the press.
Roy is making a move to try to win Pam back while Jim is preoccupied with Karen. None of my friends seem to care about this. They think Jim should stick with Karen because she is hotter than Pam. But Pam is Pam! Jim needs to stop being a fool right away and school Roy in basketball again.
The Colts' defense held LJ to 32 yards on 13 carries. In other news, Earth has shifted orbit and is headed directly for the Sun.
I HAVE to go to a Warriors game before Mike Dunleavy Jr. gets traded! I can't afford to miss the opportunity! I smell another triple single.
Kwame Brown is hurt.
Nobody cares.
The Rose Parade this year was actually very nice. George Lucas was the Grand Marshall, so there was Star Wars stuff everywhere. I still refuse to go next year. Just too early. Just too cold. Just too much traffic.
Don't ever eat at the Sizzler.
There are only 86 days left until opening day.
24 and Heroes are both on Monday nights at 9 PM. I don't have tivo. I don't know what I'm going to do.
Classes start Monday. I am fucked.
