My Presidential Endorsement And Mick's Picks

Mick the Cat did better than me in making pro football picks last weekend so he is back to make more picks. He has gotten pretty cocky now and is walking through the house with mass amounts of bling stating he had gotten it all from his "winnings" in Vegas. And the damn cat has never been to Vegas. Insane.

Dippy is out of jail now on some sort of technicality. Apparently he got a ton of evidence thrown out of court as it was gotten illegally. Something about not having a search warrant or something. Chain of custody issues. Whatever. He wants to make some picks on pro football for this weekend, but is not sure he should make too many comments about his state of affairs or any state of affairs. Dippy has had more legal charges than anyone in a pirate bear costume should have. He is the only one who celebrates Halloween everyday...or maybe not.

Then we have the magic that is Mike Singletary. Days after the greatest head coach debut news presser ever in the history of organized sports we find out that 49ers head coach Singletary is basically insane. We find out that during half time of his very first NFL head coaching game he dropped his pants and mooned his own team. Why? To illustrate how the Seahawks were kicking their asses. How did the 49ers play after Singletary literally showed his ass? They played worse. On the list of things not to do as a football head coach at any level (except the CFL) is to show your ass literally to your own team. That ranks on the list around with setting yourself on fire, getting arrested for DUI's, killing your pregnant girlfriend, and selling porn. You just don't. Just don't do it. Take off your pants in your own house. Not in the locker room in front of your players. Not in your car. Not outside in a park. In your own home. At this rate of sanity decline, Singletary will not make it past this season which would be very unfortuneate because he is quite entertaining.

Let me just say that the Presidential election is over. Unless something crazy happens such as Obama being caught on tape with a crack pipe or running from reporters at a hotel where his mistress is hiding their love child then Obama will win the election. There will be some nervous moments until the polls in California close, but it's over. The result of this election really has as much to do with the state of affairs in the country than the candidates themselves. I am reminded of 1992 when Asterisk Sr. was running for re-election during an economic downturn and appeared totally out of touch and a dynamic, younger, image conscious Bill Clinton used the third party candidate and a wave of change talk to win the White House fairly easily.  Times are darker now.  The economy is in a deflation (which is worse than inflation by the way) and is on the verge of a deep depression (not a recession which we are already in, but a depression).  Our military is stretched thinner than Tom Brady's condoms fighting a war that it should have never fought while struggling to keep any gains from the war we should have fought.  At this point, Russia is in better shape than we are.  In 1992, a vote for Asterisk Sr. was a vote for more of the same failing policies that were in place under Reagan and his hand maiden.  Now, a vote for McCain is a vote for more of the last eight years of Captain Asterisk's mad cowboy vision of America that has led us down the rabbit hole into oblivion.  It is also a vote for lowest common denominator of arrogance and ignorance.  This is personified by the GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin who is as appealing as Rosanne Barr singing the national anthem and just as ugly.  Palin represents everything that is wrong with the GOP.  She is trite, out of touch, out of ideas, blind, fraudulent, and boorish.  Though I am not a huge fan of Oprah Obama he does represent at least a different direction...a refreshing change.  He appears to be in touch with what is actually happening at the ground level.  He appears to have a vision.  He appears to have empathy for people.  He appears to be calm and thoughtful under fire.  He has a connection to people and strives for it.  His ideas and policies make more sense in this trying time.  He presents an energy towards going forward as opposed to going sideways.  He's brighter, more energetic, more intelligent, and more in touch with reality.  Sure, he is not that experienced.  I have to ask though.  Do we really need experience?  What has experience gotten us?  Don't we need someone who may have some level of objectivity?  As you can guess I am endorsing Oprah Obama.  This is without any reservations or hesitations.  His election will be a world changing event.  In a flat world, this would cause it to flip...just like Hammer's house.

Now your pro football picks:

Houston at Minnesota (-4.5)

Why am I picking this game?  Well, I have a soft spot for Minnesota.  The Vikings have not met expectations this year so far.  It is not too late for them, but when you have Gus as your quarterback I do not know how far you're going to go.  I honestly don't know anything about Houston.  Do they still have a team?  Does anyone watch their games?  Are they still the Oilers?

Take the Vikings.

Dippy:  My gerbil is smarter than any fox I know.  Matter of fact your cat is smarter than any fox I know.  Take Houston.

Mick:  Houston.

Pittsburgh at Washington (-1)

I really like what is happening in Washington.  I hope that it is sustainable.  Has Campbell thrown an interception yet?  They escaped being beaten by a no-loss team in Detroit.  Not sure exactly what your are going to get from this team.  Their games against Cleveland and Detroit were not real convincing.  However, they are 6-2.  A win is a win.  Pittsburgh presents a big test for this team.  It's a test that I don't think they will pass.  Take the Steelers.

Dippy:  Did you notice that as we are writing this stupid entry that your Bulldogs are being killed.  I mean prison raped by Florida right now.  Georgia is the most over-rated team that I ever seen.  They are more over-rated than Spam.  More over-rated than Madonna.  More over-rated than any movie that Richard Gere has been in since 1992.  Take Washington.

Mick:  Washington.

Dallas at NY Giants (-9.5)

The Cowboys are like the Raiders except with more talent.  More talent means that you should win more games.  More talent with a coach who is a marshmallow means unmet expectations.  TO will be doing sit-ups in his drive way by December 1st and this will be his last season in Dallas.  He'll be playing for Atlanta next year.  The point spread for this game is too high.  I think that Dallas will keep it close and eventually lose.  I know how good the Giants are, but they are also over-rated.

Dippy:  Fox, did you ever consider visiting me in jail?  You didn't.  You did not show up.  You were too busy.  You were too busy chasing women and money around.  Too busy making stupid bets on-line.  How much are you down by now?  The Giants are great.  Eli Manning is playing better than his brother.   Coach Tom's head hasn't melted off yet.  Take the Giants.

Mick:  Giants.

Detroit at Chicago (-12.5)

I am pulling for Detroit.  Not to win.  No.  Not at all.  I want them to complete the perfect season.  I want them to lose all 16 games.  I think they can do it.  Sadly, I think they'll actually win their last game of the year against a team that has nothing to play for and will be playing JV high school players.  Nonetheless, I want the impossible dream to happen.  I was broken hearted when Miami somehow beat Baltimore for a win.  I hope to not be so disappointed this time around.  The point spread for this game is also too high.  Detroit has been playing people tough.  I don't think the Bears will cover.  Take the Lions.

Mick:  The Lions.  Of course.

Dippy:  Only a loser would pull for another team to go 0-16.  Take the Bears.  

Atlanta at Oakland (+3)

Beat the teams that are not as good as you and play well against the teams that are better than you.  That is exactly how it has played out for Atlanta.  They have lost to three teams that are way better than they are.  The Falcons have beaten teams that are much worse than them.  The Raiders?  I think that they are in the category of teams that the Falcons should beat.  Take Atlanta.  Take that #47!!!

Dippy:  The Raiders are better than the Falcons.  No, just kidding.  The Florida Gators are.  At least we can say that the Gators are a ton better than the over-rated Bulldog team that have killed today.  I love it.  I love watching your team get slaughtered and burned.  The Falcons will make it perfect weekend for Georgia football by going to Oakland and watch DeAngelo Hall score a pick six off of Ryan.  Take the Raiders.  Is there a pool on the Crypt Keepers death?

Mick:  Raiders.   

Your Pro Football Picks With Mick The Cat

So far this NFL season at wagerline.com I am standing at 47% with my picks and I am 6,000 "units" in the hole. I pick both the spread and the over/under on each game of the week. I do absolutely no research. I go only by instinct. Except that my cat can do better. So to prove my point I will compete against my house cat on five games. The cat will pick by the first team name he touches when the match-up is held up. Now this cat is not declawed and probably is rabid so this might be difficult.

Oakland at Baltimore (-9)
By the luck of the draw I was able to watch the last of the Raiders-Jets match-up from last Sunday. This was one of the worst games I have ever seen. Both teams were worse than putrid. They were as fresh as garden salad left on the counter for three weeks with no air conditioning...in Nevada. Favre looked like he was hurt. The Raiders do not know concepts like a snap count and how many people belong on the field. The showed a shot of Raiders owner Al Davis in his box and he looked like the Crypt Keeper. Somehow the Raiders kicker (shouldn't he be in jail due to multiple DUIs?) ended this game and the Raiders actually won. I felt cheated that we did not get a shot after the game of the Crypt Keeper celebrating the win. They won't win this week. They never play well after a win at home and then traveling cross country. Terell Suggs will have another bounty...er...contest...er...friendly banter against the Raiders. Take the Ravens. Though Flacco is the worst name for a NFL quarterback ever.
Mick The Cat: Ravens.

Seattle at San Francisco (-5)
Why am I picking this game? No one under 12 should be allowed to watch this game. These two teams deserve to end in a tie. That is how bad they both are. I am interested to see how Mike Singletary does as a head coach. I loved him as a player and I suspect that players will be willing to play hard for him. Sadly, Nolan picked Alex Smith as his franchise quarterback and look how well he's doing now. He looks real good carrying a clipboard watching a guy that no one ever heard of start for his team. Seattle coach Craig Stadler is doing real well in his last season. Stick to your day job Stadler. Take the 49ers.
Mick The Cat: Seattle.

Washington at Detroit (+9)
i am having a real struggle with this game. The Redskins should not have lost at home to St. Louis. They gave that game away. The Lions are worse than the Rams and they are playing in Detroit. Last week the Redskins should have won by at least ten points or more against Cleveland. I just can't take Washington at Detroit with a point spread of nine. Detroit is not going to win, but this point spread is too high with a team that no one can really predict what they will do. Detroit, it is.
Mick The Cat: Washington. Meow.

Atlanta at Philadelphia (-9.5)
I know that everyone has jumped on my case for not believing in my beloved Falcons. If you have been a fan of the Falcons you would understand that nothing is ever as good as it appears and that at the end of every rainbow there is a pile of crap. Today I saw Matt Ryan's jersey being sold at the mall. Now it is the beginning of the end. Actually, no. I believe in Ryan. I think that he is the real deal. His mental game is excellent which will prove him well as his career progresses. The only thing stopping him are injuries and/or team management ineptitude by not surrounding him with good players. I refuse to have high expectations of the Falcons until the management shows that they know how to surround their franchise quarterback with good players. However, I am the most hopeful I have been about the future of an Atlanta quarterback since...ever...and that includes Vick/Mexico and Bartkowski. It will be a tough game for Ryan in Philly, but I think Atlanta will keep it close and I am not sold on the Eagles anyways. Atlanta.
Mick The Cat: Eagles.

Arizona at Carolina (-3)Why hasn't Kurt Warner gotten hurt yet? I have been waiting all year to see everyone's favorite beer bong sucking statutory rapist Matt Leinart play. Warner was one step away from retirement after Bouldin almost got his face snapped off against the Jets. I am waiting though. I wonder how ready Leinart is to come out if Warner breaks his pinkie or something. Is he on the sideline all hung over praying that Jenny from the whirl pool at the Holiday Inn will get her monthly friend to come in on time? Also, I am sick of hearing about Tony Romo's pinkie. That pinkie has had so much power over the Cowboys season and the air waves that I can't stand hearing about it anymore. The pinkie needs to talk about Tom Brady's knee which is getting also over-exposed. So, I need to pick one. Arizona does not travel to the East Coast well either. They will get rolled. Carolina is quite good and if the Cowboys don't get their act together Carolina has a chance at a high seed in the play-offs....if they can only compete with Tampa...ugh. Take Carolina.
Mick The Cat: Carolina. Of Course.

Random Thoughts: Washington Edition

Last night I posted an Atlanta edition of random thoughts. Tonight I am switching gears again and focusing on Washington sports mainly because the laxatives no longer work and I need something to do when sitting on the throne of the gods.

** Redskins fans should be very worried about the start of the season. Coach Zorn installed the West Coast offense for his quarterback's ten millionth system in the last five years in football. Things started off well for Jason Campbell in the pre-season as the Redskins starters seemed to be able to move the ball fairly well. As the pre-season has worn on the offense has regressed into a shell of Art Shell. The offense now looks awful and I am not sure that Campbell is going to be able to pull off this new system in the near future. I think that it will take longer than most thought for this offense to gel. The Redskins fans need to give things a chance and not be too quick to hit the "boo" button early. It's going to take time. The current line has the Giants favored by three up to four points in their match-up Thursday night. I would take the Giants in this game. The offense is still trying to get it's wheels moving after being stuck in the mud for the last two to three weeks. The defense will be solid, but not stellar. Jason "Dancing With The Stars" Taylor's playing status will be a game time decision, but he really would not be a difference maker in this game anyways even if he was to play. Taylor is not interested in playing professional football. Coach Tuna in Miami knew it and so did anyone who witnessed his horrible dancing. He had to go. Now, Washington has yet another washed up high priced veteran that Snyder is famous for collecting. If Taylor plays against the Giants this week I would be surprised and if he makes a difference then I will check myself into rehab for sex addiction just like Fox Mulder.

** With absolutely no one looking (including me) the Nationals have now won seven in a row. All at home. They took three from the Dodgers (a team that should know better than to lose games it should win in a pennant race), three more from the Braves (the race for last is on!!!), and one from Philadelphia (who should also know better). Tim Redding is the best starting pitcher that the Nationals have and he pitched five and a third of no-hit ball until the wheels fell off. The Nationals relievers walked three straight batters and hit another in the sixth to cut their lead from 6-0 to 6-3. However, unlike what usually would happen to the Nationals, the relief staff held on to the 7-3 win. The Nationals need to win 10 games over the next month to avoid getting the 100 loss chain around their neck. For them to be able to avoid the 100 loss ceiling would be an accomplishment. This team has been smashed by injuries and unmet expectations of it's young players all year. Their best closer has been gone for the whole year and their best hitter has been gone for significant time for a team that could not afford any injuries. The Nationals rank at the bottom or near the bottom in most every team category. They have been essentially putrid all year and show no signs of any major improvement any time soon. The Nationals rank 26th in MLB in team payroll, which does not tell the whole story. The story is not how much a team spends it is how it is spent. Tampa Bay is 31st in team pay-roll and they have the best record in the AL. Jim Bowden has had six years now to play GM. He has been a complete failure during his tenure. There were a couple of seasons where the team hit 83 wins, but in fact the team has gotten worse every year for the last three. It's time to send him on his way...to Atlanta.

** So do I have this straight? The GOP Vice-Presidential candidate's 17 year old daughter is five months pregnant? OK. This should be interesting. I am actually going to stand down from commenting on this issue. It would be bad karma for me to make any comment about this situation. I'm taking a pass and I am happy that Obama is telling his folks to do the same.

** I watched way too much CNN today (which is a TV generated laxative in the worst way) as they were covering the landfall of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana this morning. Things could have been a hundred times worse for New Orleans and they are not quite out of the woods at this time, but there was a huge sigh of relief this afternoon as the storm rolled further and further northwest of NOLA. I loved how CNN tried to be responsible by riding the fence between encouraging "iReports" from citizens in the storm's path and the safety of those same citizens. I love the media. Anything for a story. "Get us those iReports...Make sure you dodge that huge piece of steel siding flying through the air at 100 mph...Be careful of all those downed power lines...Send your iReports to us anyways...Even though you don't have power...Good luck!!" I did enjoy the one "iReport" of someone in Lafayette who stated they had all the supplies they needed plus "beer and wine." This is exactly what I expect from Louisiana residents in the face of a possible natural disaster!! Of course, if you were watching FoxNews you could have gotten Geraldo Rivera slumming around near the levees. I thought Geraldo was in prison somewhere for tax evasion being "exploited" by a white supremacist gang.

** Was anyone surprised that Virginia got rolled by 45 by USC? If you were, then you have been hanging around Ricky Williams and Chad Ocho Cinco for way too long, man. UVA did not have a chance to even score 10 points against USC in a game that simply was only played "for the money."

A Good Start

As I am preparing my first blog entry regarding the Washington Redskins (yes, Atlanta, I am seeing someone else now) as the "home team" I am mulling over in my mind a question on one of the Redskin fan blog sites asking whether or not the Redskins should keep their name. As someone who tries in this blog to not be politically correct I would answer this question with an adamant "No." The Redskins have the most politically incorrect name in all of professional sports. Actually, the LA Lakers come close (there are no lakes in LA, and the only "lake" there is actually is a tar pit). However, they have had that name since the start of the franchise. Why change now? What would change into? The Murderers? The Congressmen? The Bought Off? The Gun Ban Posse? The Monuments? The Presidents? The President's Hookers? I mean it could go on and on. All the other names are taken...the Capitals, the Nationals (they really should have brought back the Senators), the Wizards (this is so racist against wizards). So what would be the point? The world needs a lot less political correctness anyways. PC has kept people from speaking their minds and from their heart. Sure, people may not like what some other people may have to say, but we all have the RIGHT to say it. I respect people who speak their minds, mean exactly what they say, and give me the honest truth. Don't give me some sugar coated response that could mean a hundred different things. Just give it to me straight. If I don't like I'll tell you. So, in other words, the Redskins should stay the Redskins if that is what they want.

Jim Zorn is the new head coach of the Redskins.

Hmm...the former quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks (also a non-PC name). He spent most of his entire career being chased after by Raiders defensive linemen and having his brains splatted all over the Kingdome turf. This is the guy you want as a head coach? Well, at least Dan Snyder did not get some flashy big name who either had no clue what he was doing coaching pro ball (Spurrier, who left for South Carolina as an escape hatch) or the game had completely passed him by (Gibbs, and I know I'll get killed for this, but if you really had a brain you would agree). Dan (who is one of the worst owners I have seen in football) did not go after Tom Landry or tried to exhume George Allen. He did not get a top college coach, which I guess is good. College coaches who succeed in college can't do the same thing using the same methods in the pros (like sleeping). It shows also that maybe the big name is not what the Redskins need now. They need a coach and a fresh head coach at that. I am still unsure of this decision (due to Zorn's lack of head coaching experience and spending his entire career getting killed in Seattle, Green Bay and Tampa-sure to cause brain damage), but it is a fresh start.

So far, the reports that I have read from training camp (aside from key injuries to starters and potential new starters) is that Zorn is trying to put his stamp on the team from day one. He has been a bit of a drill sergeant, which professional athletes need (but don't want) continuously demanding continued repetitions and hustle. He has been demanding of his players and so far has not taken any grief from them. He has demanded attention, respect, and drive. One player that seems to have responded well to this is Clinton Portis. Yes, Clinton, the man with all the wigs, big sunglasses, and the desire to be the NFL's version of Dennis Rodman, has been working harder in this off season and this camp than in previous seasons. The team's best offensive player working hard is a great sign. He has signaled to his teammates that it's time to get to work. It's not time for warm and fuzzy time. It's time to be serious if things are going to get better.

I expect Zorn to have some definite mis-steps in his first head coaching season, but the early signs are quite positive. It will be much easier for him to loosen the reigns if he needs to be, then it would be to crack the whip later on. This is why taking a hard line approach is the best plan to establish oneself (as long as you don't go into overboard land like Barney or Dippy the Pirate Bear when he trained his dog to attack ants and parked cars). Hey, it eventually worked for Tom Coughlin.

Zorn is planning to install the West Coast offense for the Redskins. I question this move mainly because I wonder if the team has the right personnel for it. However, the players have been quite happy with it so far in comparison to Gibb's predictable 1983 offensive of strategy. Zorn has also installed a more aggressive pass defense strategy which also has players more involved in the action (corners will be playing closer to the line). So far, so good and maybe Zorn did not have too much brain damage from hitting his head on the Kingdome turf too many times...but there is a lot left to go and Howie Long still works for Fox Sunday.