Man, the year is closing fast; Christmas is only two days away, New Year’s is nine days away, and most importantly the BCS national championship game is only 16 days away.  Plus, it’s starting to feel like winter.  I don’t know what it’s like where you all are, but down here in the Jacksonville area, it’s in the lower 40’s…brrrrrr. 

Speaking of cold weather, did you guys see the Monday Night game last night?  THAT looked cold.  It was so cold you could see their breath before it came out of their mouths!  I felt like I was watching an old NFL Films game, except it was live (a little Autumn Thunder anyone?  Plug in your headphones and turn up the volume!  By the way, did you know Favre has his own NFL Films-type music?  It’s actually pretty solid and makes me want to throw an interception or five…then take a painkiller.). 

Anywho, what were we talking about?  Aaaaah, yes; the MNF game…it looked cold out there; I heard something like 6 degrees at kickoff.  I love the invention of HD television.  There are a few characteristics of sporting events that make the extra cost of HD service worth it: snow and/or heavy rain during football and cold-weather football where the prominence and visibility of the steam and moisture rising from opposing players in the trenches resemble dragons lined up in formation.  Regardless of your feelings of the sport/event/competition, NASCAR is great in HD too.  But I digress…

The MNF game was interesting and entertaining, especially since it came down to a blocked kick basically ending regulation and leading to a field goal in sudden death OT for the Bears, who still have playoff hopes, to beat the Packers, who are out of the playoff hunt but were still good enough to play spoiler to the Bears.  I seem to remember when ESPN first purchased the MNF franchise, several radio and print personalities were accusing the NFL of giving ESPN crappy games for MNF.  Turns out, it wasn’t so in 2008 with many of the games featuring important matchups and/or rivalries with few blowouts.

A lot was made yesterday about Bill Cowher’s ire directed towards the Titans treatment of the Terrible Towel during the closing minutes of Sunday’s Pittsburgh @ Tennessee game.  Sounds like somebody needs to call the WAAAAAAAAmbulance!  By the way, Jeff Fisher’s not worried about it.

It’s funny how life works out and irony manifests itself.  The season following the first ever 16-0 regular season in the NFL, another team is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum by being one “L” away from the NFL’s first 0-16 regular season.  I know I’ll be keeping an eye on the Lions vs. Packers game just to rubberneck at the trainwreck Detroit has created.  That’s irony, right?  Or is that coincidence?  Either way, it’s all up to the Packers to take care of business and seal the historic deal.

Speaking of the greasefire that is the Lions, remember that bloggeresque snide remark from the Detroit News columnist to Lions head coach Rod Marinelli?  Marinelli wants nothing to do with an apology.

Plax just can’t seem to stop…wait for it…waaaaaaaait for iiiiiiit…shooting himself in the foot.  Of course, this figurative shooting incident happened way before he literally shot himself.  Still though…Plax, hire somebody to take care of your details and get you some insurance, brah.  (That pun was absolutely intended and telegraphed as bad as a Jonathan Crompton pass across the middle.)

Ok; ‘nough about foobaw.   If Manny and Teixeira actually sign with somebody, does it mean I can stop mentioning baseball in TMA until they actually start, you know, playing again?  Please!?  No?  Freakin’-a…here’s some more then.

Oh yeah, here’s some more football I forgot: remember kids, at a basketball school, 4-8 in football will get the head coach a contract extension.

Looks like we get some GITC Studs & Duds today!  Neckbeard almost lost to Sasquatch, too.  And, in case you missed Happy Hour last night, GatorTrey told us he was running in the snowglobe hampster race at the O’rena during the Magic vs. Warriors game.  I’m looking forward to hearing about that.  If anybody saw it on the tele and has video, holla back at me and I’ll get it posted promptly…that includes any video you’re willing to give up, Trey.  Remember, Trey, your humiliation is for the good of S&F.

There was a lot of college b-ball last night.  Something of note, Memphis’ loss to Syracuse this past weekend was the catalyst for the Tigers drop out of the top 25 for the first time in several years. 

Anybody been keeping an eye on the college basketball polls? #’s 1 thru 7 are identical in both significant polls with the top 4 all being undefeated teams.

The NHL season has been underway for a couple of months now and there were several games going last night.  I’m not much of a hockey fan and generally don’t pay much attention until the finals for the Stanley Cup begin. However, one way to get this less-than-casual fan roped in is to play outdoor games.  I LOVE the outdoor games and am hoping for a tame snowfall during the Winter Classic.  GITC dropped me a link for a Wrigley webcam where you can monitor the preparations for said Winter Classic.

You guys interested in golf?  Yeah, me neither.  What about women’s long-drive golf?  Again, me neither…unless, of course, I read this first:

“This is who I am. This is my life,” she said firmly. “That other person, that 245-pound SWAT cop I used to be, he’s gone. He’s not coming back.”

Hmmm…interesting… (the bold-ing is mine and an editorial choice I made for effect)

Looks like Melo’s gonna be out for a few games.

Shaun Ellis throws the equivalent of half-a-snowman at a Seahawks fan:

I almost forgot…bowl games pick back up this evening with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl between #9 Boise State and #11 TCU!!  We anticipated this game being one of the better early bowl games so hopefully the matchup lives up to our hopes.

We hope you are all having a nice, lazy week during this, your last full week of 2008!

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