NFL PICKS WEEK 1

JOHN AND I ARE BACK TO PICKING EVERY GAME WITH THE POINTS THIS YEAR. HERE THEY ARE FOR WEEK ONE.


1.)PITTSBURG AT HOME -5 OVER TENNESSEE

Mike Tomlin has the Steelers focused & they are returning 21 of 22 starters. Jeff Fisher will make up for the loss of Haynesworth with a rotation, but this game promises to be a braw. Five points is a lot especially in a game dominated by defense and power. That being said, I'll the Steelers

2.)ATLANTA AT HOME -4 OVER MIAMI

Atlanta has lost veteran defensive leadership, but head coach Mike Smith has a positive track record to overcome it. I am hard pressed to think of just how the Dolphins improved in the off season. The "wildcat" is a fad and old news and can they rely on Chad Pennington to give two straight solid seasons at QB?
Matt Ryan is only getting better and the defense are either young,untalented or both in the defensive backs. I'll take the Falcons

3.)BALTIMORE AT HOME -10 OVER KANSAS CITY

It has yet to be determined if Matt Cassell will start for the Chiefs this week.It doesn't matter. In fact, it would probably be best if he sat against that Ravens defense and avoided further injury. The Ravens will run all over this team and the Chiefs offense will be on its back the spare moments its actually on the field.
I'll take the Ravens

4.)PHILADELPHIA AT CAROLINA -1 OVER CAROLINA

It pains me to recognize that this a horrible opening start for the Eagles. No effective middle linebacker, a rookie safety against a power running Panthers team and a veteran WR like Steve Smith exploiting rookie safety coverage on play action. If the Eagles can control the clock on offense and keep Donovan upright, they can win, but not in the first week. I'll take the Panthers

5.)CINCINNATI AT HOME -4 OVER DENVER

This may be an ugly high scoring affair. Who can run the ball more effectively? I simply just don't trust the Bengals with four points. I'll take the Broncos to cover

6.)MINNESOTA AT CLEVELAND -4 OVER CLEVELAND

This is a joke, right? Just four points? I know it's in Cleveland, but they've got nothing. Was Eric Mangini really creating a competetive edge by not announcing whether Quinn or Anderson is the starting QB? I'll take the Vikings to treat the Browns like a medieval monastery and annihilate them.

7.)HOUSTON TEXANS AT HOME -4.5 OVER THE JETS

This is an intriguing matchup. The Texans have the DL & the LB, but not DB's. The Jets have an OL, a running game and a rookie QB. The Texans have Andre Johnson & Steve Slaton, but can't block for QB Matt Schaub against a Jets defense that is going to be a lot more aggressive under Rex Ryan. I'll take the Jets

8.)INDIANAPOLIS AT HOME -7 OVER JACKSONVILLE

Historically, the Jags have given the Colts fits, but they can't block & I don't think can keep Garrard healthy. The Colts are getting younger. The Jags are running out of steam. I'll take the Colts

9.)NEW ORLEANS AT HOME -13 OVER DETROIT

This game can only be intriguing if the Saints historically porous defense lets the Lions run the ball and control the clock. As promising as Stafford may be at QB, the Saints should score at will on Detroit and their defense can get to Stafford as well. I'll take the Saints

10.)DALLAS AT TAMPA -5 OVER TAMPA BAY

People are down on the Bucs with some good reason. CAn the Bucs run successfully against the Cowboys defense? Five points are too many. I'll take the BUCS to cover.

11.)ARIZONA AT HOME -6.5 OVER SAN FRANCISCO.

Frank Gore is healthy and Mike Singletary will force the run. But Shaun Hill at QB? Arizona will get the ball often enough to score and unless Gore unloads on a suspect Cardinal defense, I'll take the Cardinals

12.)NEW YORK GIANTS AT HOME -6.5 OVER REDSKINS

Six and a half points in an NFC EAST game? In a game without Plaxico and no offensive playmakers on the Redskins. This game has 3-2 written all over it. I'll take the REDSKINS to cover

13.)SEATTLE AT HOME -7.5 OVER ST. LOUIS

Are the Seahawks really back? Can Steve Spagnola get better play out of his defense? I'll take the RAMS to cover

14.)GREEN BAY AT HOME -3.5 OVER CHICAGO.

That's too many points in this historic rivalry. I'll take the BEARS

15.)NEW ENGLAND AT HOME -10.5 OVER BUFFALO

The Bills have no OL and no shot. I'll take the PATRIOTS to obliterate the BILLS on national television.

16.)SAN DIEGO AT OAKLAND -9 OVER OAKLAND

This is a rivalry, but a poor one of late. How bad does it get for Oakland? Richard Seymour hasn't spoken, much less appeared. I'll take the CHARGERS

NFL PREVIEW

Miami Dolphins

Everyone will be ready for the wildcat, which destined to be a fad. Tom Brady is back. Can Chad Pennington put two straight quality seasons? No

They work hard and play hard

8-8 at best

NFL PREVIEW

Kansas City Chiefs

Todd Haley has the right temperment for this job, but no talent to match.

Matt Cassell has only Dwayne Bowe, but he'll get double teamed

3-13

NFL PREVIEW

Jacksonville Jaguars

It seems that this team has lost its energy and is running on fumes. David Garrard will get killed behind a porous OL. Can Maurice Jones Drew take all the load? especially since Garrard is likely destined to get hurt?

The defense is sagging too. This team is a house of cards. Don't get buried in the debris.

Seven wins is generous at best. Very generous but maxes out there.

NFL PREVIEW

Indianapolis Colts

Jim Caldwell won't miss a beat

Bill Polian proved value AGAIN by landing Donald Brown

And then there's Peyton Manning

12-14 wins

NFL PREVIEW

Houston Texans

The Texans seem to always be about .500. They have yet to figure out how to protect their QB, which means Matt Schaub probably is destined to disappoint on your fantasy football team.

Andre Johnson, along with Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson is the best WR in football.

They have however been vindicated for selecting Mario Williams over Reggie Bush & Vince Young. Steve Slaton may make it possible to take a major step forward, but in that division and a history of mediocrity suggest otherwise.

This team has 6-8 wins written all over it.

NFL PREVIEW

Green Bay Packers

I'm sold on Aaron Rodgers. I'm just not so high on the Packers. Dom Capers is the new defensive coordinator. He has a proven track record. He's going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 woth rookie B.J. Raji anchoring at Nose Tackle.

Are the Packers linebackers good enough to work in a 3-4? Can four linebackers penetrate the Vikings league best offense line as they converge on Raji and open holes for Peterson and Taylor?

Rodgers has trhe numbers and the swagger but he has yet to demonstrate, much like Tony Romo that he can carry a team to victory under daunting conditions & against the odds.

This team might get to 10 wins, but they look more like a mediocre 8-8

NFL PREVIEW

Detroit Lions

Jim Schwartz can only move this team forward. Daunte Culpepper adds stability at QB. They have a pretty good OL. Then there's Calvin Johnson. Degree of difficulty taken into account, he might be the best WR in the NFL.

Kevin Smith is sturdy at RB & brandon Pettigrew looks promising as rookie TE. Look for Schwartz to follow Tennessee's model, of a power running game with a swarming defense.

The problem is their defense though. Not enough talent to keep teams from moving at will

Even so, I would not be surprised if they won as many as four games.

NFL PREVIEW

Denver Broncos

I like Josh McDaniels. It was reasonable he should pursue Matt Cassell. Who would've guessed that Jay Cutler would throw a tantrum.

Kyle Orton? He's capable of winning in a Chicago like team with an aggressive defense. Defense is absent in Denver, so Orton will have to make plays. Orton manages games well, but doesn't win them.

If the Broncos can keep their backfield healthy, they might keep their wretched defense off the field. Brandon Marshall doesn't help

All the controversy in DEnver is irrellevant. They weren't going to win with cutler & no defense and the same is true without him.

The Broncos needed a complete overhaul, instead of a perpetual state of denial.

That being said, they might not win more than three or four games.

NFL PREVIEW

Dallas Cowboys

Many people are writing the Cowboys odd. I'm not one of them. The Cowboys second half slide began when Felix Jones was lost for the season. He's back and Marion Barber won't get overworked.

Tony Romo needs to demonstrate real leadership, especially in critical moments, which he has yet to demonstrate.

The Cowboys are strong on the DL, but average on the OL & soft in coverage. They also play in the toughest division in football.

I think 8-8 or 9-7 is likely given the question marks

NFL PREVIEW

Cleveland Browns

Eric Mangini? The only thing he has done right is he kept trading down in the draft to get more picks. At least he knows he had to find A LOT of new faces.

Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn at QB? It doesn't matter. No one can block and Braylon Edwards dropping more passes than Bill Clinton at Hooters.

Did I mention they can't tackle either? On the bright side, you might want to consider drafting their kicker in Fantasy Football. If you can remember his name.

3-13 TOPS

NFL PREVIEW

Cincinnati Bengals

It all comes down to Carson Palmer, who is quickly becoming the Archie Manning of the 21st Century. What a waste.

Cedric Benson makes your team better? Just where did they get better. If Palmer can stay healthy for the season? 8-8 at best

NFL PREVIEW

Chicago Bears

Dusty Dvorcek just went down for the season. A real blow to the DL. Of course, the real story in Chicago is Jay Cutler. Jay Cutler has the arm, but teams need a QB with a head and Cutler looks and acts like the most famous fictional inhabitant of Sleepy Hollow. If the QB job doesn't work out, he would make a great spokesman for Tampax as well. Better yet, he could market his own Jay Cutler brand tampons. They won't stop the bleeding, but they are guaranteed to make you forget you were the first quarterback in NFL history to blow a three game lead with just three weeks to play.

But enough fun at Cutler's expense. The Bears have a fine, but not great OL and a solid back in Matt Forte. Cutler might have moaned about Denver, but they had a great offensive line and real weapons at WR. No such luck in Chicago. He won't get as much protection and not much help at WR in Chicago. If the Bears can convince him not to force plays, the Bears are dangerous. That's how Kyle Orton won & they can win if Cutler follows suit. I'm not counting on it. I'm betting the wussy will sooner rather than later start throwing guys under the bus. Like Devin Hester?

Somewhere between 7 & 9 wins. No better. Besides, I think they get the injury bug like they always do.

NFL PREVIEW

Carolina Panthers

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are likely the best backfiels tandem in the league, but that won't be enough if Steve Smith can't stay healthy.

Can the Panthers win big games with Jake Delholmme at QB? He's got the line,the running game, so yes they can.

The defense, however prodigious seems to fail at critical times in big games. Especially Julius Peppers, who never seems to dominate a game when a superstar needs to shine.

This team is inconsistent and unpredictable, which suggests false pride and a swagger more in their head than on the field.

I would say 9-7

NFL PREVIEW

Buffalo Bills

This team is abysmal. Why? Nobody can block. Trent Edwards will start but not finish behind the Maginot Line of the NFL.

Three wins at best

NFL PREVIEW

Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco looks improved from last year. Ray Rice gets the start over the slothful Willis McGahee. Derrick Mason has returned as well.

The Defense? That's predictably excellent.

The Ravens, however are still second best team in the division. They should get to 9 wins and secure a wild card.

NFL PREVIEW

Arizona Cardinals

As exhilirating as they were in the playoffs we seem to forget that this team backed its way into the playoffs in the worst division in football. They have real holes on defense that went unaddressed & they inexplicably almost let Kurt Warner be signed by the 49ers.

Fortunately, either from foolishness or loyalty, Kurt Warner stayed in Arizona and will continue to strike it up with Boldin & Fitzgerald. Fortunately, the rest of this division still stinks.

The Cardinals will likely repeat last years' record of 9-7. That will be enough to win the division.

NFL PREVIEW

Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have never posted back to back winning seasons in franchise history. That's about to change. Ten years from now we will look back and realize that Matt Ryan is the best QB of his generation.

The defense is younger and be tested, but the addition of future Hall of Fame Tight End, Tony Gonzalez will add untold options on offense. Look for Jerrious Norwood to spell Turner more so he's not worn out in January. Roddy White has emerged as an elite receiver and an effective ground game will consume enough time rest a younger defense.

The Falcons should win ten games and are capable of going 12-4. They win the NFC South anyway

Ted Kennedy

As we are all aware by now, Massachussetts Senator Edward Kennedy has passed away at the age of 77. The coverage of his passing has been respectful to the point of nauseating. It is certain that politically he was a forced to be reconciled with and that he made fast friends with political opponents.

Senator Kennedy has been profiled as a champion of the "little guy" and a force for bipartisanship. I am not inclined to ascribe the state of American political discourse to him alone. Senator Kennedy did however contribute to the coarsening of political discourse, along with many others. His speech on the floor of the Senate opposing Robert Bork was an abomination. While one is free to judge the former Judge's legal opinion, Senator Kennedy took it further. He brutally assassinated Judge Bork's character by asserting that he would force women to have back alley abortions and would resegregate America. He was wrong in these statements and he knew it.

As for his championing the "little guy". At the risk of being insensitive, would a little guy have gotten away with no jail time if they had driven into a river,left the scene and left someone to drown? To be brief, as we know, Ted Kennedy drove his care into the Chappaquiddick River, fled the scene as Mary Jo Kopechne drowned inside the car. He did not report it to the authorities until ten hours later.

It is not my place or anyone else's to judge him in his passing, but we as a society are responsible for seeing that justice is served in the living world. There is no doubt that the family name and influence kept him out of jail and in the Senate. His sentence? Two months, suspended sentence. And he kept his day job.
If a "little guy" not named Kennedy had done the same? Well, I think we all know.

I sincerely hope that Ted Kennedy like all of us found peace and redemption and can rest peacefully for eternity. Principally he lived in service of his fellow man. His legacy would be far the more impressive if he had insisted that justice be served for the tragic demise of Ms. Kopechne.

Ted Kennedy should have gone to jail for manslaughter and been expelled from the Senate. We would've been deprived of forty more years in the Senate, but the Republic he loved and justice would have been better served for his absence.

Plaxico Burress

Recently, former New York Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty and agreed to serve two years in jail. This, is for possession of a gun without a license in New York City. He was wounded in the leg when it went off accidently. No one else was hurt.

Two years? Two years for a man with no criminal record? Two years for a man with no history of violence? Two years for an incident as foolish as it was resulted in no injury?

Lost in this matter is the fact that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tainted any potential jury pool by publicly declaring Burress's guilt and demanding the book be thrown at him.

In a system that provides the accused of a jury by his peers, Mayor Bloomberg deprived the accused of reasonable due process. Given Mayor Bloomberg's public statements, could Mr. Burress have been assured of an impartial jury of his peers? In my view, the answer is clearly no.

Mayor Bloomberg got his high profile pound of flesh in his endless quest to reinvent the Bill of Rights to conform to his nanny like desires. Copping a guilty plea shows that the system works, but demonstrates that justice may be intimidated by political charlatans bent on a society that conforms to his conventions.

AMERICAN ARROGANCE?????

In recent weeks, we have witnessed President Obama and his critics express their view of the United States' role in the world. Conservative critics of the President dubbed his trip to the G20 as the "Apology Tour". They were equally outraged by his shaking hands with tin pot Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. Let's take a moment to review the President's foreign policy initiatives and his public statements.

First, he has handled North Korea correctly. He has not appeased. Secondly, his actions in the hemisphere seem to suggest a willingness to get past the like of Mr. Chavez and speak to the people of Venezuela too. It seems the same view is held towards Cuba. Whether you agree with this perspective or not, it is a dramatic departure and can be altered if the President deems that these efforts are not matched in turn.

His attitude towards Cuba and Venezuela is acceptable as a short term objective as long as he does not undermine political support in the region. If he is to find common ground with Mr. Chavez, then the President must insist that he stop supporting FARC rebels that are trying to overthrow the democratically elected government of Colombia. Mr Chavez is supporting these rebels in concert with his allies in Ecuador,Nicaragua and Bolivia. Sadly, President Obama has weakened Colombia's position by opposing a free trade agreement.

Of all the foreign policy matters, the issue of Iran is paramount. The mullahs in Iran deny one Holocaust as a justification to renew genocide on an epic scale, on their terms. You cannot placate those who would embrace destruction. The President has conceded that Iran not be required to swear off pursuing nuclear technology as a precondition of negotiations. The minds of the mullahs see this compromise as weakness and it clearly emboldens their apocalyptic objectives.

The President, while in Europe was condemned by some for suggesting that we as a country have been "arrogant" and sometimes "derisive". The President also said that Europe was wrong to blame everything on the United States. This was conveniently overlooked by his critics. The Presidents' statement clearly sought to reinvent an historic relationship that he believes to have been broken. This is clearly a debateable view, but not unworthy of expression.

It is quite evident that many Europeans and of course President Obama in turn believe we are or have behaved arrogantly. Is this a correct perspective? I believe it is, but in a context conveniently overlooked and in need of exposure.

How did we, the United States of America come to occupy our present station in time as a global superpower? Prior to the Second World War, as we were trying to escape a Great Depression, much of the world was either in a state or progressively moving into war.
The American people embraced isolation. We believed as tragic as war is, it was none of our business. After all, as immigrants from every corner of the globe, didn't we come here to escape the brutal devastation of imperial societies? We embraced peace through the pursuit of freedom and liberty tempered by a respect for civil law.

As a matter of history, we as a nation have been roundly criticized for wanting to trade with every nation, but remain neutral in their wars. How then did such a nation with such a view become a global superpower? Was it arrogance? No. Was it a callous disregard for human life in foreign conflicts? No. Americans, contrary to what many would have you believe, understood the consequences of fighting a war in Europe and Asia. Both continents were dominated historically by oppressive monarchs suppressing their citizens. Additionally, Europe extended its suppression to Africa and Asia by violently pursuing colonial imperial expansionism, disguised as trade. Americans saw through it and recognized the trap.

One of the great fallacies of history is that European democracies ignored the objectives of Adolph Hitler because they did not believe he wanted war, given the horror of the Great War. It is often ignored but must be pointed out that Hitler was able pursue his path of destruction because his neighbors viewed the Nazis as a bulwark against Soviet expansion under Joseph Stalin. The result was to appease.

American "arrogance" was conceived amidst the echo of appeasement. Were we being arrogant when France did nothing to oppose the occupation of the Rhineland? Were we being arrogant when Hitler annexed Austria and Europe dithered? Were we arrogant when Europe did not oppose Mussollini when he invaded Albania,Greece and Ethiopia? Were we arrogant when Europe turned a deaf ear to the urgent pleas of Haille Sellassie's appeal at the League of Nations? Were we arrogant as no one stood up to Japan's literal rape of China? Were we arrogant as Chamberlain bartered the lives of millions in the Sudetanland to declare "peace in our time"? Was it our arrogance that saw Europe in flames at the hands of Fascists due to their naive indifference? No, no to all of it

If this sounds somewhat bitter, well that's because I feel bitter when there is talk of "arrogance". The subtext of our arrogance, perceived or otherwise is a latent but profound bitterness. We ought to feel bitter that we got dragged into a war we did not want. We wanted no part of a world in flames, but found ourselves awoken one Sunday morning by a world insistent upon our participation.

We met that challenge with a courage and tenacity unmatched in modern times. When the war was over, we were compelled to stay. Why? Because Stalin's Russia, having suffered twenty million fatalities in the wake of appeasement, in turn justified an occupation of Eastern Europe to protect its own border integrity from further invasion. The result? Almost five decades of Cold War, one more tragic chapter, originating with the appeasers.

When we are accused of arrogance, I respond with a few questions: Don't we deserve to be bitter? Yes and no. History played its hand and we were forced by necessity to meet the challenge. But we may justly be bitter that a world at war insisted that American mothers and fathers sent their sons to die.

Did Americans desire or deserve to send their sons to volcanic Iwo Jima? To a distant atol named Guadalcanal? To die on a torpedo run against Japanese aircraft carriers at Midway? From the jungles of New Guinea to a dust bin in Tunisia called Kasserine? Did the 101st Airborne deserve to freeze at Bastogne or merchant marines on convoys in the arctic? Did submariners deserve to die at the depths of the oceans? Did our airmen deserve a horrific death at 20,000 feet? No, but they did nonetheless.

Contrary to what many may think, we did not pursue our present role or seek a greater chapter in history. We wanted to be left alone but were not. We are who are and have earned our present station in time and history, not by desire, but by the demand of those insistent that the world would repeat its conflict with our absence. So it goes, so it is, so stop whining about our arrogance or leave us the hell alone. That's all we ever asked for anyway.

WATERBOARDING

If there is an issue that has been foolishly simplified more than the "waterboarding" controversy, I am hard pressed to remember.

The present conflict with terrorists has resulted in hundreds of detainees, of which three of them have been waterboarded. The three includes Khalid Sheik Mohammad, the man who mastermined the attacks on September 11th 2001. The constant shrieking from the left would have you believe it is in widespread random use and violates the nations' core principles. The defense from the right is based in the belief, supported by the CIA that it saved American civilian lives.

This issue is being debated sanctimoniously. Both sides have valid points, but the the issue has devolved into a partisan ideological shouting match. Both sides fail to acknowledge the gray area.

The partisan liberal view is that waterboarding amounts to torture and violates our greater constitutional principles. Whether one agrees about the method is in fact torture, it is a positive developement when the Constitution is weighed in the balance. As a nation, we must always temper our emotions by the virtues that our creation endows.

The partisan conservative view refuses to acknowledge the legal and moral contradictions of the actions. Their view on the issue, however is in principle a defense of life in the face of those who seek to do evil and undo the very freedom and liberty we have embraced regardless of our partisan divisions.

So which has priority? Our principles or our lives? Why not both? If you're on the left, do you really believe that innocent life should be extinguished if the means is there to prevent its loss? If you're on the right, do you really believe that justifying this action cannot be abused? Both sides on this debate need each other, for no other reason than to keep each other honest.

The left seems to be adopting a view reminiscent of many conservatives at the peak of the cold war. They seem to have adopted a modern equivalent to "better dead than red". Their piety on constitutional principles ignore that such principles are of value only to the living, not the dead. It advances an odd notion that our lives are only as valuable as our principles, absent any other active component in our lives.

Conservatives righteously defend life as the prerequisite to all other considerations. This is I believe correct, however it risks a culture of fear that would willingly subordinate our broader freedom for safety.

This issue has reached demagogic extremes because at its heart is the question of whether Bush Administration lawyers should be prosecuted for their advice, justifying waterboarding.

The left has viciously demonized the former President so as to consider his every action as criminal. The effort to criminalize "legitimate" policy differences is ultimately far more dangerous to our liberty as Americans than the effects or perceived effect of waterboarding. It would undermine our individual identity, and reduce our more objective sensibilities to the banality of what passes for politic discourse.

As a society we must embrace the greater principles of our founding. We must, however balance our mutual respect for Constitutional law with a respect for life. After all, it was a respect for life that inspired the birth of a principled constitutional nation.

ARLEN SPECTER

Here we go again. Washington D.C.'s latest political melodrama. Arlen Specter changes party registration from Republican to Democrat, giving them a veto proof majority, thereby removing any hope of slowing down a radical growth of federal government oversight and intrusion into our lives.

There are many opinions as to its impact, none of which has hit the mark. At the core of his decision, in a personal sense is a profound degree of narcissism. Politically, it is an insult to millions of voters whose values were contrary to Senator Specter's, holding their noses and casting a vote for him anyway. I know this because I was one of those millions on two separate occassions.

In 1986, when Arlen Specter was running in his first re-election campaign, he was opposed by Uber Liberal Delaware County Congressman, Bob Edgar. Like many conservative minded people, I was not in line with Specter's politics and would have gladly voted for a Democrat had they nominated a more moderate candidate. They did not. I held my nose, but I voted for Specter.

In 1992, Arlen Specter was opposed by Uber Liberal Feminist, Lynn Yeakel, whose political views I found bordering on personally offensive. The choice was clear and I voted while holding my nose.

Arlen Specter's almost thirty years in the Senate are a direct result of the Democrats failure to recruit a viable alternative. It is this failure that underlies Specter's continued political influence. After all, it's not as if he's actually accomplished anything in the Senate. Unless you count accusing Anita Hill of perjury. The most ardent supporters of Clarence Thomas found that accusation hard to swallow.

In the last couple weeks, Arlen Specter has canvassed the state of Pennsylvania to see if there is continued support for him with core Republican voters. He was facing former Congressman Pat Toomey in a primary rematch from six years ago when he barely won renomination. It should be noted that Pat Toomey immediately and unequivically endorsed him in the fall election of 2004. Sadly, the continued support of conservative Republican Pennsylvanians in spite of glaring differences did not deter Senator Specter from flipping sides out of political convenience.

In his announcement, he said that the party had drifted far too right and he did not want his legacy to be decided by primary Republican voters. Firstly, what legacy is he talking about? Secondly, he owes his electoral success to those primary votes, no matter his differences with the Republican electorate.

Arlen Specter was and is simply out of touch with Republican voters because he betrayed a fundamental principle relating to the size,scope and influence of the federal government. Supporting President Obama's stimulus plan and budget violated the core fiscal sensibilities of baseline Republican voters. He realized this far too late. He might have wanted to canvass voters before he voted, as he has never actually had political principles. It would have been far easier to vote against the President had he bothered to check with his constituents.

The oddest charge by Mr Specter is his view that the Republican Party has become far too tilted towards the right. What a joke! Is it more conservative than it was in the 1980's when Ronal Reagan was President? Is it more radical in its conservative ambitions than it was in the 1990's under Newt Gingrich's tutelage? Are we supposed to believe that a party that just nominated John McCain, the most moderate nominee since 1976 is dramatically more conservative?

Arlen Specter has conceded that he is leaving the party because he cannot win a Republican Primary but can win a general election as a Democrat. This is quite likely and it reflects a high caliber of political cunning on his part. Specter's electoral IQ has him poised to win a sixth term to the Senate at the tender age of eighty. It is a decision destined to perpetuate for six more years the mediocrity of the previous thirty. Stranger things have happened in politics and we can only hope Pennsylvania voters finally wake up and force a real concession in next years mid term elections.

THE DEBATE ON MARRIAGE

Of late, due to California voters' voting to define marriage as exclusive to members of the opposite sex, the issue of same sex marriage has become a political and societal firestorm. At length, I am going to express my views on this most volatile of issues. Let's start with the questions in play:

What are the origins of the institutions of marriage and alternately its role as an institution in a secular society?
History clearly shows that marriage as an institution is a religious ceremony in every society in every corner of the world. Marriage became an integral part of human societies as church and state were closely integrated. Therefore, the state recognized the value secularly, even though spiritual in origin.

As nations have progressively segregated church and state interests, what then is the proper role of the institution of marriage in a secular society, given its clear religious origins?

This matter is complicated as government (the state) has increasingly become more expansive in their perceived social responsibilities. That is to say, spouses receive benefits accrued to each other when the other passes away. Therefore, those benefits as they exist create an inequity for any same sex couple.

Should a government seek to refine the entire institution to accomodate the benefits that they have extended?

The government has and should find alternatives such as domestic partnership that addresses the inequity that it created by intrusion into the traditions of the institution of marriage. As there is no precedent in any faith for same sex marriage, it would be inappropriate for a secular government to alter its boundaries to conform to its domestic policy decisions. It would in principle violate the view that church and state ought to be separate.

Is marriage a human right?
No. Marriage is an institution one enters into by choice. It is not a necessary function of life, even though it has what may seem to be an obvious value. Again, it has come to be viewed as a human right by many due to spousal benefits that the state extends to married couples.

Is marriage a civil right?
No. A civil right by definition is a right extended to citizens by its government. Marriage, being rooted in faith and religion should not by any ethical standard be redefined to conform to the whims of the state.

Isn't marriage just about two people in love making a lifetime committment?
This is purely an emotional question and not easily resolved. The answer in my mind is NO.

What else could it be?
Obviously, love is integral in the marriage, but not to be forgotten is life itself. The greatest moment in life is childbirth, the moment that love finds its greatest expression in flesh and blood, bringing renewed hope and faith. Obviously, life can only be brought into this world and the hope it engenders through the union of man and woman. Marriage, as an institution, imperfect or dysfunctional as many are has proven to be the foundation for raising a healthy,productive child into a responsible adult. It is the life of the newborn that merits marriage as exclusive to a man and a woman.

Don't gay and lesbian love each other as much as heterosexual couples?
Yes, obviously. Same sex relationships are just as complex and meaningful as a heterosexual relationships. There is no cause nor care to doubt that such is the case. It is not the couples' love that is in question. The hard truth is this: No matter how much two members of the same sex love each other, their love cannot find its most perfect expression in the creation of life itself.

Does this mean that sex should only be for procreation between married couples?
No. We need to have a balanced perspective about sex. There certainly isn't anything wrong with enjoying sex as long as we recognize the potential responsibilities of parenthood.

Certainly same sex marriage would not mean the death of our Republic, but it would be highly irresponsible for secular government to redefine a religious ceremony.

NFL PICKS 12/28 2008

Well, Here we are at the last week of the season. How does that suck?. John & me were both 4-10 last week. I am 116-110-3 for the year. John is 110-116-3.

Here are this weeks' picks.

At Tampa Bay -13 Oakland:
The Bucs must win to get in. The Raiders? Can they win two straight road games? Is 13 too much? I don't like the points. I'll take the RAIDERS to cover.

At Green Bay -11 Detroit:
The Lions haven't win in Green Bay since 1991 & the Packers keep finding ways to lose. I'll still take the PACKERS

At Philadelphia -1 Dallas:
Which team will have something to play for by 4:15? I'll take the EAGLES either way

At Minnesota -7 NY Giants:
Conventional wisdom is that the Giants will rest up. I don't buy it. GIANTS to cover.

At Houston -3 Chicago:
The Bears must win & the Texans are coming off a disappointing defeat to the Raiders. The Bears pass defense will be exploited. I'll take the TEXANS

Carolina -2.5 At New Orleans:
The Saints can't score points if they don't have the ball. The Panthers will run at will. I'll take the PANTHERS

At Atlanta -14 St. Louis:
I'll take the FALCONS

At Cincinnati -2.5 Kansas City:
The Chiefs have played hard in spite of their record, but keep running out of gas. I'll take the BENGALS.

At Baltimore -12.5 Jacksonville:
The Ravens must win & will. I'll take the RAVENS

Tennessee -3 At Indianapolis:
I'll take the TITANS in a display of offense that tastes like vanilla.

At Pittsburgh -11 Cleveland:
STEELERS

At NY Jets -3 Miami:
JETS

New England -6 At Buffalo:
PATRIOTS

At Arizona -7 Seattle:
SEAHAWKS to cover

At San Francisco -3 Washington:
49ERS

At San Diego -8 Denver:
CHARGERS

NFL PICKS 12/21 - 12/22/2008

I was 7-6-1 last week. John was 6-7-1 (The Browns? Really?) I am 112-100-3. John is 106-106-3.Here are this weeks' picks.

Pittsburgh -2 At Tennessee:
My gut feeling says the Steelers find a way. I'll take the STEELERS.

Miami -3.5 At Kansas City:
The Chiefs have played passionately, no matter their record, but they keep finding ways to lose. THe Dolphins are finding ways to win. I'll take the DOLPHINS.

At New England -8 Arizona:
The Cardinals don't travel. I'll take the PATRIOTS.

At Cleveland -3 Cincinnati:
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I'll take the BENGALS

Philadelphia -4.5 At Washington:
The Skins are done. I'll take the EAGLES

San Francisco -5 At St. Louis:
Mike Singletary should keep his head coaching job for getting this 49ers team to play so hard. I'll take the 49ERS

At Minnesota -3.5 Atlanta:
3.5 is .5 too much. I'll take the FALCONS

New Orleans -7 At Detroit:
DO you dare take the BENGALS & LIONS in the same week? Reggie Bush is out, The SAints are out of playoff contention, Shawn Payton is overrated & the Lions are at home, playing hard ans ALWAYS cover. They might win too. I'll take the LIONS

At NY Giants -3.5 Carolina:
Once again, 3.5 is .5 too much. I'll take the PANTHERS

NY Jets -3.5 At Seattle:
Forget being 0-3 on the west coast, I'll take the JETS

Houston -7 At Oakland:
I'll take the TEXANS

At Denver -6.5 Buffalo:
I'll take the BRONCOS

At Tampa Bay -3.5 San Diego:
I'll take the BUCS

At Chicago -4 Green Bay:
I'll take the BEARS

OBSERVATION

If I am ever so blessed to be a father, I think my first born will be named "Global Warming".
Why?
Firstly, it's gender neutral
Secondly, you can blame everything on global warming. If it rains,snows,sleets,hails or breaks anything in the house, you can point the finger at them & no one ever questions you.
It's foolproof, I tell you, FOOLPROOF!!!!!!!!!!

NFL PICKS 12/14/08 - 12/15/2008

I had a big week last week, going 11-4. John went 7-8. I am 105-94-2. John is 100-99-2

Here are this weeks' picks:

Green Bay -2.5 At Jacksonville:
Ugly game. Both teams have given up. I'll take the PACKERS

At Indianapolis -17 Detroit:
COLTS

Washington -7 At Cincinnati:
REDSKINS

At Atlanta -3 Tampa Bay:
FALCONS

At Miami -6.5 San Francisco:
DOLPHINS

Seattle -2.5 At St. Louis:
SEAHAWKS

At NY Jets -7.5 Buffalo:
JETS right the ship

Tennessee -3 At Houston:
TITANS

At Baltimore -2.5 Pittsburgh:
STEELERS

At Carolina -7.5 Denver:
PANTHERS

San Diego -5.5 At Kansas City:
CHIEFS

At Arizona -3 Minnesota:
CARDINALS

New England -7 At Oakland:
PATRIOTS

At Dallas -3 NY Giants:
GIANTS

At Philadelphia -14 Cleveland:
EAGLES

NFL PICKS 12/7 - 12/8/2008

I was 7-7 last week & JOhn was 6-7. I am 94-90-2 & he is 93-91-2. Here are this weeks' picks.

At Indianapolis -13.5 Cincinnati:
Colts to win

At Chicago -6.5 Jacksonville:
I hate this spread, but the Jags look like they've given up. I'll take the BEARS.

At Green Bay -6 Houston:
Can the Texans play in the frozen tundra coming off a big Monday night win? I'll take the TEXANS to cover

At Tennessee -14 Cleveland:
Cleveland no QB. I'll take the TITANS

Minnesota -10 At Detroit:
How do you stop Adrian Peterson? If you're the Lions, you don't. I'll take the VIKINGS

At Baltimore -5.5 Washington:
The Skins' offense has been exposed. I'll take the RAVENS

At NY Giants -7 Philadelphia:
7 points is too much. I'll take the EAGLES to cover

At New Orleans -3 Atlanta:
I'll take the FALCONS

NY Jets -3.5 At San Francisco:
I'll take the JETS

At Buffalo(Toronto) -1 Miami:
I'll take the DOLPHINS

At Denver -8.5 Kansas City:
I'll take the CHIEFS

At Arizona -14 St. Louis:
I'll take the Cardinals

At Pittsburgh -3 Dallas:
I'll take the STEELERS

New England -6.5 At Seattle:
I'll take the PATRIOTS

At Carolina -3 Tampa Bay:
Which Panthers team shows up? I'll take the PANTHERS

OBSERVATIONS

1.) Does anyone service the products they sell anymore? Television was much more fun with 6 channels, rabbit ears, etc.........
2) Do you ever feel like time is just passing you by? Like everything you ever held firm just seems diminished?
3.)Why do atheists insist on trying to ruin Christmas? Try to ruin everyone's good time? They are the ultimate killjoys. Their anthem would be "Joyless To the World". Honestly, what nut celebrates the Winter Solstice? THat sounds like fun. While we're at it why not decorate Stonehenge with bright lights and commit a blood sacrifice? Why not celebrate our vainglory instead of a season celebrating life,love,charity? Whew, honestly, think what you will of religion, but have you ever met a happy atheist? I'd tell them they need to get laid, but they only seem to care about their fulfillment anyway, so why bother?
4.) Why do those with good credit suffer while those with bad credit are relieved?
5.) What's so great about hi def anyway? It's just television.
6.) Have you ever noticed that those who express a need for public transportation never ride the bus? Trust me, I know.
7.)Now that gas prices are taking a nose dive, whatever happened to the windfall profits tax? Now that its lower than it was when it started to spike, do we give the oil companies a refund?
8.)Be honest. Does anyone really WANT to drive a hybrid or would you rather be driving a Classic Corvette or Mustang? Honestly, can you picture Burt Reynolds driving a Hybrid in "Smoky & the Bandit"?
9.) WE're headed for the coldest winter in 8 years, the world has not been getting hotter, gas prices are plummeting & you're not picking up some tail in that hybrid. Why bother? Of course, if you're like me you might want to learn to drive first.
10.) Does anyone really believe that plastic bags will destroy the planet? I think that will be the plot of a new screenplay. An alien race, instead of invading us will simply dump an abundance of plastic bags on the planet, killing us all. It's a lot more cost effective for the aliens, anyway.
11.) What's so bad about global warming? I moved to Florida for the warm weather. If I wanted to live in a grey,dreary,drizzly, rarely sunny world, I would've never left Philadelphia. In a world of global warming, I have no more head colds.
12.)Let me see if I get this right: WE can put a man on the moon in less than a decade but we can't drill for oil in the same time?
13.) If Europe is so great, why don't I want to visit?
14.)Have you finished decorating for Christmas only to discover its New Years?
15.)Who watches celebrity gossip shows? Would we want to be surrounded by papparrazzi all the time? Liking a entertainer is nice, but really do we need someone to go through their trash?
16.) Why do people dress up like fictional characters from TV or the movies? I enjoyed Star Trek too, but you may notice, I'm writing in English, not the original Klingon. Really, Spock ears?? Just watch the show and enjoy it for what it is. Otherwise, you're just a freak. Except for "24".

NFL PICKS 11/30 - 12/1/2008

I was 8-7 last week. John was 7-8. We are both 87-84-2

Here are this weeks' picks.

At NY Jets -8 Denver:
The Broncos can't stop the run. I'll take the BRONCOS

At Buffalo -6.5 San Francisco:
I'll take the BILLS

At Tampa Bay -4 New Orleans
I'll take the BUCS

At Green Bay -3 Carolina:
I'll take the PANTHERS

NY Giants -3.5 At Washington:
I'll take the GIANTS

Miami -8 At St. Louis:
I'll take the DOLPHINS

Baltimore -7 At Cincinnati:
I'll take the RAVENS

Indianapolis -5 At Cleveland:
I'll take the COLTS

At San Diego -5 Atlanta:
I'll take the FALCONS

At New England -1 Pittsburgh:
I'll take the STEELERS

At Oakland -3 Kansas City:
I'll take the RAIDERS

At Minnesota -3 Chicago:
I'll take the VIKINGS

At Houston -3 Jacksonville:
Ugly game. I'll take the TEXANS

NFL PICKS 11/23 - 11/24/2008

I was 7-8 last wek. John was 9-7. John is 80-76-2. I am 79-77-2

Here are this weeks picks.


At Cleveland -3 Houston:
Brady Quinn has a broken index finger, but Houston is in disarray & on the road. I'll take the BROWNS

Buffalo -3 At Kansas City:
KC is very tough at home & Buffalo is reeling. THat being said, KC is finding ways to lose. I'll take the BILLS.

At Tennessee -5.5 NY Jets:
Can the Jets run on the Titans defense? I don't think so. The Titans are the most disrespected 10-0 team ever. I'll take the TITANS.

At Miami -1 New England:
Bellichick will be ready this time. I'll take the PATRIOTS

At Dallas -9.5 San Francisco:
49ers on the road? No way! I'll take the COWBOYS

Tampa Bay -8 At Detroit:
I'll take the BUCS

At Baltimore -1.5 Philadelphia:
Can an Eagles offense that score a pathetic 13 points against the Bengals defense, score on the Ravens? Keep hope alive! I'll take the EAGLES

Chicago -8 At St. Louis:
I'll take the BEARS

At Jacksonville -2 Minnesota:
The Jags stop Adrian Peterson? No! I'll take the VIKINGS

At Atlanta -1 Carolina:
The Panthers have been playing with fire. I'll take the FALCONS

At Denver -9 Oakland:
Mike Shanahan loves running it up on Al Davis. I'll take the BRONCOS


Washington -3.5 At Seattle:
Teams have figured out the Skins, but Seattle doesn't have the wapons. I'll take the REDSKINS

NY Giants -3 At Arizona:
The Cardinals are the chic pick. I'll take the GIANTS

At San Diego -2.5 Indianapolis:
Stick a fork in the Chargers. I'll take the COLTS

At New Orleans -2.5 Green Bay:
I'll take the PACKERS

NFL PICKS 11/16 - 11/17/2008

I was 8-5 last week & John was 6-7. I'm 72-68-2 & John is 71-69-2

Here are this weeks' picks.

At Atlanta -6.5 Denver: Falcons
At Miami -10 Oakland: Dolphins
At NY Giants -7 Baltimore: Giants
At Indianapolis -8 Houston: Colts
Tennessee -3 At Jacksonville: Titans
At Green Bay -3.5 Chicago: Packers
Philadelphia -9 At Cincinnati: Eagles
New Orleans -5.5 At Kansas City: Chiefs
At Carolina -14 Detroit: Panthers
At Tampa Bay -4 Minnesota: Vikings to cover
At San Francisco -6.5 St. Louis: 49ers
Arizona -3 At Seattle: Cardinals
At Pittsburgh -5 San Diego: Steelers
Dallas -1.5 At Washington: Cowboys
At Buffalo -5 Cleveland: Browns to cover

NFL PICKS 11/09 - 11/10/2008

Both of us were 7-7 last week. John is 65-62-2 & I am 64-63-2.

Here are this weeks' picks.

Jacksonville -6.5 At Detroit

LIONS to cover


Tennessee -3 At Chicago

If the Bears show up, they could win, but I'm guessing not. TITANS


At New England -3.5 Buffalo

I'll take the BILLS


At Atlanta -1 New Orleans

Falcons are hot. Expect Michael Turner to torch N.O. defense. FALCONS


At NY Jets -9 St. Louis

I hate the line, but I'll take the JETS


At Miami -8.5 Seattle

I'll take the DOLPHINS


At Minnesota -2.5 Green Bay

I'll take the VIKINGS


Carolina -10 At Oakland

Easy Money. PANTHERS


At San Diego -15 Kansas City

I'll take the CHIEFS to cover


At Pittsburgh -4.5 Indianapolis

I'll take the COLTS to cover


At Philadelphia -3 NY Giants

Hate the line but home field is enough. I'll take the EAGLES


At Houston PK Baltimore

RAVENS


At Arizona -9.5 San Francisco

CARDINALS

NFL PICKS 11/2 - 11/3 2008

I was 5-8-1 last week. John was 6-7-1. John is 58-55-2, & I am 57-56-2 for the season.

Here are this weeks' picks.


At Minnesota -5 Houston

THe Texans are hot. The Vikings are inconsistent. I'll take the TEXANS to cover.


Jacksonville -7.5 At Cincinnati

The inconsistent JAGS will get their ground game in gear. I'll take the JAGS.


Tampa Bay -9 At Kansas City

I'll take the BUCS


At Cleveland -1.5 Baltimore

Which Browns team shows up? I'll take the RAVENS


At Buffalo -5 NY Jets

5 is too much. I'll take the JETS to cover.


Arizona -3 At St. Louis

The Rams confidence is back. I'll take the RAMS


At Chicago -12.5 Detroit

As bad as the Lions are they've been covering & this is a rivalry. I'll take the LIONS to cover.


At Tennessee -4.5 Green Bay

I'll take the TITANS


At Denver -3.5 Miami

The Dolphins will run like mad. I'll take the DOLPHINS


Atlanta -3 At Oakland

I'll take the FALCONS


At NY Giants -8.5 Dallas

Rivalry or not, I'll take the GIANTS


Philadelphia -6.5 At Seattle

I'll take the EAGLES


At Indianapolis -6 New England

The Colts get back into a groove. I'll take the COLTS


At Washington -2 Pittsburgh

I'll take the REDSKINS

NFL PICKS 10/26 - 10/27 2008

John was 8-6 last week & I was 7-7. Our season records are an identical 52-48-1

HERE ARE THIS WEEKS' PICKS:



At Baltimore -7.5 Oakland:
I'll take the Ravens

San Diego -3 New Orleans:
Saints are in disarray. I'll take the CHARGERS


At NY Jets -14 Kansas City
I'll take the JETS


Buffalo -1 At Miami
I'll take the BILLS


At Dallas -2 Tampa Bay:
Cowboys suck! I'll take the BUCS


At Philadelphia -9 Atlanta
I'll take the Eagles


At New England -7.5 St. Louis
I'll take the RAMS to cover


At Carolina -4 Arizona:
Tough game. I'll take the PANTHERS


Washington -8 At Detroit:
Clinton Portis goes crazy. I'll take the REDSKINS


At Jacksonville -7 Cleveland
I'll take the JAGS


At Pittsburgh -3 NY Giants:
I'll take the Steelers


At San Francisco -5.5 Seattle:
I'll take the 49ERS.


At Houston -9.5 Cincinnati:
Tough line. I'll take the TEXANS.


At Tennessee -4 Indianapolis:
I'll take the TITANS

NFL PICKS & FOLLOW UP 10/19-10/20 2008

I was 6-8 last week bringing my total to 45-41-1. John was 5-9, bringing his season record to 44-42-1.


Here are this weeks picks:

Tennessee -9 At Kansas City:

Kansas City sucks but is tough at home. It won't matter. Larry Johnson is out & Tony Gonzalez is pissed. The Titans will run the ball & stuff KC. I'll take the TITANS

At Buffalo -1 San Diego:

San Diego is the chic pick here. Buffalo gets TRent Edwards back, they're difficult at home & it's a 1pm start for an inconsistent but highly talented Chargers team. I'll take the BILLS

Pittsburgh -9.5 At Cincinnati:

Carson Palmer is out which is good for him, Pittsburg doesn't light it up, but any spirit is gone in the Bengals. I'll take the STEELERS

At Miami -3 Baltimore

Miami is coming off a devastating defeat to Houston in a dramatic ending. Baltimore, even with talented young QB Joe Flacco is being exposed on offense. Grudgingly, I'll take the DOLPHINS

Dallas -7 At St. Louis:

Tony Romo is playing with a busted pinky behind a line that can't block. As bad as the the Rams looked before last weeks stunning victory over the Redskins, they have enough talent at home to keep the Cowboys honest. I'll take the RAMS to cover.

At Chicago -3 Minnesota

A battle for first place. 3 is too much in this rivalry though. I'll take the VIKINGS to cover

At Carolina -3 New Orleans:

The Saints don't have a run defense & the Panthers can run the ball. I'll take the PANTHERS

At NY Giants -10.5 San Francisco

INteresting game. 49ers stayed with the Eagles until they collapsed in the 4th quarter.THey don't have enough & Giants are smarting from their Monday night letdown. I'll take the GIANTS

At Houston -9.5 Detroit

The Lions have packed it in. I'll take the TEXANS

NY Jets -3 At Oakland

Favre lights it up. I'll take the JETS

At Washington -7.5 Cleveland

Cleveland had a big win on Monday night & the Skins had an historic letdown against the Rams. I'm betting Cleveland has their game back & Derek Anderson can light up a soft DC secondary. I'll take the BROWNS.

Indianapolis -1 At Green Bay

The Colts are back to their old ways. The Pack have no shot at Lambeau. I'll take the COLTS

At Tampa Bay -10.5 Seattle

The Bucs for the first time will get little attention by Bay Area fans as the Red Sox have forced a prime time Game 7 with the RAYS opposite this game on television. Seattle looks as bad as they feel. I hate the spread, but I'll take the BUCS

At New England -3 Denver

Even at home & a soft Denver defense, the Pats don't have enough offense. I'll take the BRONCOS

NFL PICKS 10/12 - 10/13/08

At New Orleans -7 Oakland

The Saints can't stop anyone, anywhere. With a week off and a new head coach, I figure the Raiders can cover by running the ball. I'll take the RAIDERS.


At Indianapolis -4 Baltimore

The Colts are having trouble blocking, but I figure they'll wake up. I'll take the Colts.


At NY Jets -8.5 Cincinnati

The Bengals have covered against the Cowboys & Giants, but the Jets are coming off a bye week. I'll take the JETS


At Tampa Bay -1.5 Carolina

I'll take the Panthers


At Minnesota -13 Detroit

The Lions are a joke. I'll take the VIKINGS


Chicago -3 At Atlanta

The Falcons are more confident & Kyle Orton is looking very good as well. I'll take the FALCONS.


At Houston -3 Miami

Everyone's on the Texans' bandwagon this week. I'm not. I'll take the DOLPHINS


At Washington -13.5 St. Louis

I'll take the REDSKINS


At Denver -3.5 Jacksonville

If the Jags can run, they can win. The Broncos have nine lives it seems though. That being said, I'll take the JAGS to cover


Philadelphia -4.5 At San Francisco

The Eagles must and will win this game. I'll take the EAGLES


Dallas -5 At Arizona

The Cowboys have been winning, at least & they will this week too. I'll take the COWBOYS


Green Bay -1 At Seattle

Tough call. both had embarrassing losses last week, but I'm guessing the wheels have come off the Packers train. I'll take the SEAHAWKS


At San Diego -5 New England

Until the Chargers show passion, I'll take the PATRIOTS


NY Giants -8 At Cleveland

Cleveland had a bye week, but will miss Kellen Winslow. I'll take the GIANTS

NFL FOLLOW UP 10/13/08

I was 8-6 last week & John was 6-8. We are both 39-33-1 for the season

NFL PICKS 10/5 - 10/6

Indianapolis -3 At Houston

The Colts with two weeks to prepare can get their act together. The Texans are the Texans. I'll take the COLTS


Tennessee -2.5 At Baltimore

The Ravens are coming off a physically punishing Monday Night game & TEnnessee is much better than many know. I'll take the Titans.


San Diego -6.5 At Miami

The Chargers are 2-3, but an enigma. They play uninspired. The Doplhins are coming off a bye week & are at home. I'll take the Dolphins to cover.


At Carolina -9.5 Kansas City

If the Chiefs can run Larry Johnson effectively, they'll have a shot. The Panthers are short two starting OL. THat being said, I'll take the PANTHERS


At Philadelphia -6 Washington

I don't like 6 points, but the Eagles defense has only given up 9 points in their two home wins. I'll take the EAGLES


Chicago -3.5 At Detroit

Tommie Harris is out & the Lions are coming off a bye week. So what? I'll take the BEARS


At Green Bay -3.5 Atlanta

The Packers are hurting all around. I'm betting Atlanta can run the ball. I'll take the FALCONS


At NY Giants -7 Seattle

Both of these teams are coming off a bye week. I don't think Seattle has much right now. Without Plaxico Burress, I expect the other receivers to step up. I'll take the GIANTS.


At Denver -3 Tampa Bay

This is the most difficult pick of the week. Gruden ought to run the ball down their throat like KC did last week. The Broncos need pressure on Griese. I think the Bucs run he ball well enough. I'll take the BUCS


New England -3 At San Francisco

A lot of people are on the 49ers in this game. Frank Gore can exploit the Pats defense. I'll take the 49ERS.


At Arizona -1.5 Buffalo

I'll take the BILLS


At Dallas -16 Cincinnati

I'll take the COWBOYS


At Jacksonville -5 Pittsburgh

I'll take the JAGS


At New Orleans -3 Minnesota

Adrian Peterson will have his best game this week against the pathetic Saints defense. I'll take the VIKINGS

NFL FOLLOW UP 10/03/08

Me and John both went 9-4. I am 31-27-1. John is 33-25-1

NFL PICKS 9/28 - 9/29

Denver -9.5 At Kansas City

Can KC score enough points on a porous Broncos defense? As bad as the Chiefs are, the history of this rivalry suggests the Chiefs WILL COVER


At Cincinnati -3 Cleveland

UGH!!!!!!! I'll take the Browns


At Jacksonville -7 Houston

Jacksonville giving a TD? I'll take the TEXANS


At NY Jets -1 Arizona

The Cardinals have the weapons & the Jets lack both the pass rush & secondary. That being said, I'll take the JETS.


At New Orleans -5 San Francisco

A high scoring affair. The 49ers will cover


At Carolina -6.5 Atlanta

Can Atlanta run the ball on Carolina. I don't like this spread, by a Panthers team that has returned to its enigmatic ways. I'm betting though that Carolina will finally take advantage of Steve Smith downfield. PANTHERS,


At Tennessee -3 Minnesota

I'll Take the Titans at home.


At Tampa Bay -1 Green Bay

This is the most difficult pick of the week. The loss of Al Harris might effect my thinking, if next to Deangelo Hall, Al harris was the most overrrated CB in the NFL. I'll take the Packers


Buffalo -8 At St. Louis

In recent years this would be an easy pick, but the Rams are just awful. I hate the 8, but St Louis is just that bad, even at home.


San Diego -7.5 At Oakland

A rivalry & 7 1/2 is too much. I'll take the Raiders to cover


At Dallas -11 Washington

This is arguably the most intense rivalry in the NFL. As good as the Cowboys are, I'll take history. REDSKINS to cover.


Philadelphia -3 At Chicago

If Roethlisberger was getting tossed around like a rag doll, how well protected can Kyle Orton be? The Eagles run stuffing defense is back & Matt Forte is about to get a great lesson in it. EAGLES


At Pittsburgh -5.5 Baltimore

No Willie Parker & an ailing Roethlisberger. RAVENS to cover

NFL FOLLOW UP 09/25/08

Here are observations after Week 3

NFC EAST:

The Cowboys, Eagles & Giants are the three best teams in football. The Cowboys gutted it out over the Packers, the Eagles defense overwhelmed Pittsburg, & the Giants found a way to beat a desperate Bengals team. The Redskins, also looked good against perrenial "surprise" team, Arizona.


NFC SOUTH:

The Falcons are fundamentally sound and beat teams they can & should beat like Detroit & Kansas City. THey won't win many, but it's a good sign. Tampa can't win by throwing 67 times a week. Jury out on them. Carolina blew a ten point lead against the Vikings on the road. The Saints are hurt, but still should've beaten a Denver team with a swiss cheese defense.


NFC NORTH:

The Vikings played desperate & it paid off. Green Bay came up short. Chicagohas no offense & the Lions are awful. R.I.P. Matt Millen


NFC WEST:

Arizona came back down to earth. The 49ers beat up a bad team. Seattle got back in the game & the Rams are also very very bad. Trent Green won't help.


AFC EAST:

Buffalo is the class of this division & knows how to win close games. Roscoe Parrish is out & that is a real blow. The Patriots were EXPOSED. The Jets did not have enough against an explosive Chargers offense & the Dolphins played LIGHTS OUT, this week.

AFC NORTH:

Pittsburg got buried under the Eagles blizzard. THey suddenly look vulnerable. Willie Parker is out & Roethlisberger is ailing. The Ravens have an impressive young QB & a more impressive defense, that looks revived. The Bengals are an abomination that gave it all in a demoralizing defeat against the Giants. The Browns are better than their record, but losing in the trenches has them 0-3

AFC SOUTH:

Tennessee looks very solid & will be tough to overcome. The Jags eeked out a win against the Colts. The Texans are underwhelming. The Colts look out of sync, but will step up. Be sure of that.

AFC WEST:

The Broncos are th class of this division, but boy their defense sucks. They could collapse. The Chargers finally got on the ball, but their defense ain't all that. The Raiders have a lot of talent, but the coach keeps looking over his shoulder. The Chiefs are the worst team in football

NFL PICKS FOLLOW UP 09/25

Me and John both went 7-8-1. I am 22-23-1 & John is 24-21-1 for the season

NFL PICKS 9/24-9/25

At Atlanta -6 Kansas City

This is about who can run the ball best. I'm betting Matt Ryan plays better than Tyler Thigpen too. I don't like the line, but I like the Chiefs less. I'll take the FALCONS


At Buffalo -9.5 Oakland

Oakland beat a bad Chiefs team. A high line, but Buffalo is better than many know. I'll take the BILLS.


At Tennessee -4.5 Houston

Houston has had 2 weeks off, but Tennessee looks very good right now. I'll take the TITANS


At NY Giants -13 Cincinnati

13 is a lot of points, but not against the Bengals. I'll take the GIANTS


At Washington -3 Arizona

I'll take the REDSKINS


At New England -12.5 Miami

Dolphins can't score TD's. I'll take the PATRIOTS


At Chicago -3 Tampa Bay

Tampa is inconsistent. This game will be decided by defensive scoring. I figure the BEARS


At Minnesota -3 Carolina

Always go with the hot team over the desperate team. I'll take the PANTHERS


At Seattle -9 St. Louis

Can we skip this? 9 Points? UGHHHHHH. I figure Seattle gets its act together this week. I'll take the SEAHAWKS.


At San Francisco -4.5 Detroit

I'll take the 49ers


At Denver -5.5 New Orleans

Saints are inconsistent & Denver looks fired up. I'll take the BRONCOS


At Philadelphia -3.5 Pittsburgh

The Eagles do not have a great track record with the Steelers. Great game. I'll go with my heart. I'll take the EAGLES.


At Indianapolis -4.5 Jacksonville

Colts have issues with the Jags & Bob Sanders absence should help the JAGS. BUT, I'll take the COLTS.


At Baltimore -2.5 Cleveland

The Browns held their own against the Steelers & the Ravens had the week off, but the Browns don't get pressure. I'll take the RAVENS.


Dallas -3 At Green Bay

The Cowboys defense was exposed & now lacks Roy Williams. The Pack can block up front & unlike the Eagles last week, both of their starting wideouts are playing. I'll take the PACKERS.


At San Diego -8.5 NY Jets

The Chargers are a few seconds from being 2-0 instead of 0-2. They will likely win this, but their formerly vaunted defense will get exposed by a Jets offense that was justly criticized for being too conservative. JETS to cover

OBAMA,BIDEN,KLOBUCHAR & MARX

I was watching a variety of news programs today when I came across two comments that alarmed me. Many have been made aware of Joe Biden's comments that it is "patriotic" to pay higher taxes. Lost in that comment was his direct suggestion that they want to take from the rich & give to the middle class.

It reads "We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people," Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America

I ask how is this any different than Karl Marx's famous axiom "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." ?

They both advocate taking from those who have & give to those who have not.

Freshman Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a supporter of Barrack Obama, on Fox News suggested that we needed to raise taxes because the economy is like a pie. There is only so much to go around & it needs to de divided equitably.

Again, how is this view differrent tha Marx's axiom, "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."?

One cannot genuinely support free market economics and use a pie to analogize its dynamics. A pie suggests that economics is a zero-sum game. It suggests that one's success has a direct effect on another's failure, as opposed to their respective merits or compatency.

Free market theory and practice fundamentally states that economies are ever growing, ever expanding & upon expansion, increasingly inclusive of a greater number of citizens. That's why pies as an analogy undermines the very underpinnings of free market economics, as it suggests finite limitations and denies genuine growth and expansion as a variable. If we had always adopted this view, we would no doubt still be living in caves, evenly dividing the remains of the days hunting & gathering.

At the root of all this is the belief that some people are deemed unworthy of success & should be denied its rewards. Obama,Biden, & Klobuchar and certainly many more would set themselves up as the arbiters of who is and is not entitled to reap the rewards that success provides. It is fundamentally un American to seek to use the instruments of government to undo individual success.

I may be accused of red baiting, but nonetheless it is increasingly obvious that Obama/Biden would embark on a Socialist economic program, even though they don't quote him directly.

To borrow a phrase en vogue these days. You can put lipstick on a copy of "Das Kapital", but it's still "Das Kapital".

NFL REVIEW 9/18/08 WEEK 2

NFC EAST:

Let's start with the Eagles- Cowboys game. Great game with a disappointing ending. Eagles have holes, but more importantly they exposed Dallas's weaknesses to every other opponent. Their secondary is suspect no matter how many big names they have. Moreover, their front four don't get much pressure against a first rate offensive line like the Eagles. DONOVAN McNABB is BACK, and despite his foolishness, Desean Jackson is a star.

The Giants beat up on a soon to be Scott Linehan less St Louis Rams squad. The Redskins beat up a very lackluster Saints team. Jason Campbell's numbers look good, but didn't look confident, but they got the win anyway.

Whoever wins this division is the favorite to go to the Super Bowl.

NFC NORTH:

Well, we know Aaron Rodgers can play, but we always knew he could Durability was the question, so we'll see. Brad Childress finally relieved Tarvaris Jackson & Gus Frerotte is a step up. The Bears can't win on defense & special teams. If they had a viable offense they would've beaten Carolina. The Lions just plain stink in spite of a valiant comeback.

NFC SOUTH:

Carolina is 2-0 withouth Steve Smith. Pretty impressive. This team looks like they have a spark back. Jake Delholmme has rarely looked better. The Saints do not inspire, the Bucs have no offensive identity & the Falcons are rebuilding. Don't let Matt Ryan's numbers fool you. In just his 2nd start he showed poise & composure against a difficult Bucs defense. He'll be a star.

NFC WEST:

The Cardinals look very good under Kurt Warner's leadership. If he stays healthy, they'll win this division comfortably. BELIEVE IT OR NOT. The 49ers have firepower but not enough to matter, The Rams may be the worst team in the league & Seattle is so riddled with injuries, it's difficult to see how they recover quickly.

AFC EAST:

The Pats played it close to the vest, but the JETS playcalling helped a lot, as conservative as it was. The Dolphins are playing hard, but don't have enough in the tank to win. The Bills look fantastic. A fine & terribly underrated young QB Trent Edwards who is quickly becoming one of the best. They're defense is solid, Marshawn Lynch is a beast & they may have the best Special teams in football.

AFC NORTH:

Pittsburg is the class of this division, but Roethlisberger may have nagging, recurring problems. Cleveland played them very well, but their investment in the DL looks like a bust. But it's only week 2. Baltimore was off due to Hurricane IKE & the Bengals are the greatest set of underachievers. Will Carson Palmer ever play for a good team?

AFC WEST:

The Broncos look very good, but they should be 1-1. They look inspired, but I'm not totally convinced. With Shawne Merriman gone & LT hurting though, the Broncos may likely win by default. The Chiefs are forced to start Tyler Thigpen at QB & the Raiders took advantage of a bad Chiefs team.

AFC SOUTH:

The Colts would be 0-2 if the Vikings had a QB, but instead they pulled a rabbit out of their hat. That's what champions do though. They win games they shouldn't. Teams like Minnesota never win championships because they lose games they should win. Houston was off due to Hurricane IKE. Jacksonville loses when teams put eight in the box & stuff the run. As yet, David Garrard hasn't been able to getdefenses to play honest.

Tennessee made the best decision by sticking with Kerry Collins at QB over Vince Young. They might win this division, but it's early

NFL Follow Up 9/17/08

John and me were both 9-6 this week. My record is 15-15. John's is 17-13

NFL PICKS 9/14 - 9/15

At Kansas City -3.5 Oakland

How bad are the Raiders? Can DAmon Huard beat them in this historic rivalry? No way I'm taking the Raiders. Chiefs win.


At Cincinnati -1 Tennessee

The Bengals a favorite? Not a chance. Besides, Kerry Collins is an upgrade at QB. Titans to win


Indianapolis -1.5 At Minnesota

I expect Adrian Peterson will be very successful against the Colts defense, but I can't see Peyton Manning letting this team start 0-2. Colts to Win


At Washington PK New Orleans

An odd line. SAints are clearly hurting, but the Skins played so uninspired. I'll take the Saints.


Green Bay -3 At Detroit

The Pack does not normally play well in Detroit, and a better QB would've beaten them Monday night. That being said, the Lions have little to show. I'll take the Packers.


At Carolina -3 Chicago

This is the most interesting game of the week. Carolina won a game they shouldn't have, but the Bears looked fired up too. I'll take the Panthers to cover.


NY Giants -8.5 At St. Louis

The Rams stink. Giants in a rout


At Jacksonville -5 Buffalo

Bad line. Jags got hammered by Titans defense last week and the Bills ain't too shabby. I'll take the Bills to cover.


At Tampa Bay -7 Atlanta

Brian Griese starts this week for Tampa. Can they stop Michael Turner? Yes, but to how much? They'll force Matt Ryan to make plays. I hate seven points as a spread, but this is the 1st real challenge for Atlanta. I'll take the Bucs.


At Seattle -6.5 San Francisco

The Niners look awful, I'll take the Seahawks


At Arizona -6.5 Miami

I'm not sure about this line either, but I'll take the Cardinals.


At NY Jets -1.5 New England

The Jets can't blow this opportunity & they won't. JETS win


At Denver PK San Diego

The Broncos beat the Raiders? Big deal. I'll take the Chargers.


Pittsburgh -6 At Cleveland

This game is too much a rivalry for the home team to be getting 6. Pittsburg played great last week, but 6 is too much. I'll take the Browns to cover.


At Dallas -6.5 Philadelphia

This game is the most important game in the first half of the season in the NFC. The winner will be touted as the lead contender afterwards. I'll take the Eagles to cover, at least


At Houston -4.5 Baltimore

Texans are an enigma, & Baltimore is fundamentally sound. I'll take the Ravens to cover

NFL PICKS RECORD

I was 6-9 last week & John is 8-7. Long season though

FOLLOW UP - WEEK ONE

This is just my summary of each division after week one.

NFC EAST: Jim Zorn looks clueless in DC. The Giants had a lot of energy, but the Redskins were not a test. The Cowboys looked very impressive, but one thing they need to watch out is penalties. They had many needless penalties that will hurt in a playoff game. The Eagles looked great, but honestly the RAMS have given up after the first week. No way to judge, yet.

NFC SOUTH: The Falcons are fundamentally sound under coach MIKE SMITH, who protected young QB Matt Ryan by running the ball. They were however playing the Lions. But a good start. Tampa & New Orleans played each other tough, but uninspired. Carolina has gotten attention for the last second game winning TD. FINE, but the TE who caught it pulled Delholme's feet from the fire, whose clock management was appalling. They got away with one.

NFC NORTH: Packers looked fine, but what are they gonna do when they face a team with a QB? Vikings? NEED QB. Lions? Abysmal.

NFC WEST: A division so appalling the CARDINALS could win it. Guess hell might freeze over after all. Seahawks have injuries at QB, Niners suck & the Rams may be the very worst team in football. Maybe

AFC EAST: Forget the optimism. It's JETS or Bills to win this thing now that Brady is out. Dolphins played hard but won't win much.

AFC SOUTH: Forget the pessimism. The Colts are not done. Manning will play better. The Jags disappointed again, but then again Tennessee seems to have a much better defense than thought. Kerry Collins will be an improvement at QB. ALSO, Chris Johnson, the rookie HB looks like a steal & has a great future. Houston? Who knows.

AFC NORTH: Pittsburg looks great. Cleveland needs a pass rush. John Harbaugh understands fundamentals in running a team & Joe Flacco has a very bright future & can make ALL the throws. Then there's the Bengals. THey never showed up either. With all the promise they have, they don't have any passion. Carson Palmer is destined to be the Archie Manning of the 21st Century

AFC WEST: Denver beat up a really bad Oakland team. Really bad. Jay Cutler is developing into one of the elites it seems. Time will tell. How does a rookie WR beat D'Angelo Hall over 10 times? I sure hope Oakland got some butter with that piece of toast. Hall is unquestionably the most overrated played in the NFL. Kansas City was game & should've forced NE into OT. Bad omen for them. Chargers? Lots of talent. Wait and see.