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At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

Your “Real Men Wear Hair Extensions” Monday Night Football Preview

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Before getting to the main course, a few quick words regarding the Sunday Night football appetizer between the Ravens and Steelers. That was an incredibly entertaining football game.  Definitely worth staying up for. Ben Roethlisberger’s nose has never looked better.

Speaking of the playoffs, tonight’s Patriots/Jets game in Foxboro has some serious postseason implications. I would put my readiness level for this game somewhere between DEFCON 4 and 5.  I haven’t been this excited for a regular season game since Jimmy Chitwood’s return from self imposed exile.  My wife and I are expecting our first child next month and I can tell you that this would be a bad evening to go into early labor. I have been waiting for this game to start since the moment I woke up this morning. It’s a good thing I’m not under some sort of performance review because I was really bad at my job today.

Furthermore, I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself until kickoff at 8:30.  I’m all caught up at work so no need to stay in the office. Went to the gym this morning so don’t need to exercise. Christmas tree is up so scratch that off the list.  We don’t have a dog so there is nothing at home that I can take for a long walk. I guess the house could use a little cleaning but that can always wait until the weekend. So really, I have nothing to keep me occupied except my own thoughts and that is always dangerous.  A caller on the WFAN just named Mark Sanchez this generations Joe Namath.  Ughhhhhh. Never easy being a Pats fan in the Tri-State Area. Radio silence begins now. New England 27-14. GO PATS!!!!! Share your views.

Statistical Analysis Shows a Correlation Between the Uniform and Winning

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Count me down as one of the many people who enjoy a good throwback uniform.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore the creamsicle throwback uniforms today during their 28-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.  Longtime Tampa fans probably did not enjoy seeing their team wear the old “orange and white” as the franchise was absolutely abysmal during the first twenty years of existence until becoming the “Pewter Pirates” in 1996. Still, for fans like myself, seeing teams wearing retro uniforms brings me back to my childhood when life was much simpler and primary colors ruled supreme.

Which reminds me, as a Patriot fan I can tell you that no one, I repeat nobody, thinks their current uniform is better than the old red/white/blue Pat the Patriot.  Ask my dad, who, without fail, will call me anytime the Pats are wearing the throwbacks and tell me that they ought to switch back permanently. Although, like the Buccaneers, maybe there is a connection between the uniform and winning as New England wasn’t consistently good until changing into their current unis. Come to think of it, the Patriots recent success might also have something to do with the coach and quarterback. In either case, is it Monday night yet? Share your views?

Battle for a 16 Seed Commences in Connecticut

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I took a family outing to Fairfield, CT today to watch the Sacred Heart Pioneers take on the Wagner Seahawks in a battle of Northeast Conference foes.  The game went into overtime where Wagner would eventually defeat SHU 73-68.

As the picture indicates, plenty of good seats were still available at tipoff, which is too bad because the basketball was entertaining and the setting quite intimate.  I would have expected a much larger crowd for a Saturday afternoon.  Maybe everyone was watching college football on television or out buying a Christmas tree. Either way, people are missing out on a good time. Share your views.

NBA Hoops: The Return Disappoints

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We wanted drama.  We wanted to see someone foul LeBron James hard as he drove to the basket.  We wanted verbal sparring and double technicals. We wanted Cavs players to act and care like spurned lovers who had just been rejected by their high school sweethearts. We wanted to watch a hard fought, competitive basketball game that went down to the wire. We were all disappointed.

My major takeaway from The Return is that players don’t care as much as fans.  It made me sick for Cleveland when the Cavaliers bench was seen smiling and joking with LeBron during the middle of the first half.  This struck me as totally out of touch. Shouldn’t the Cavs bench be more aware of the damage The Decision has done to the people and city of Cleveland? Or, as fans, are we asking too much of our professional athletes to care as we do?

Share your views. Also know, I’m still not convinced the Heat are a legit contender this year.  The Cavs team they destroyed last night could be one of the least talented teams in the entire league.

View My Picks: NFL Week 13

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Houston (+8) over PHILADELPHIA: The audio of Andre Johnson beating up Cortland Finnegan makes him even more likable.

MINNESOTA (-5.5) over Buffalo: Potentially no Adrian Peterson for the Vikings.  I wonder if God will find some time for Stevie Johnson this Sunday.

MIAMI (-4.5) over Cleveland: I was all set to blame Jake Delhomme for costing me my lock pick last week. That was until John Kasay bailed him out with a fortuitous last second wide right.

TENNESSEE (-1.5) over Jacksonville: Ugghhhhh.

Denver (+8.5) over KANSAS CITY: Why, why do I continue to go with the Broncos to cover on the road?

NY GIANTS (-7) over Washington: I sense the Giants are headed on a mini run to end the regular season.

Chicago (-4.5) over DETROIT: I feel like this line should be higher. Plus, Bears defense has totally won me over.

GREEN BAY (-9) over San Francisco: Aaron Rodgers could throw for over 450 yards this game.

New Orleans (-6.5) over CINCINNATI: Again, why aren’t we talking about the Saints a little bit more?

TAMPA BAY (+3) over Atlanta: NFC South is headed down to the wire.

Oakland (+13) over SAN DIEGO: Seems like a lot of points, even for a matchup between two teams headed in totally opposite directions.

Carolina (+6) over SEATTLE: Yikes! Something remarkable would have to happen for these highlights to ever make it on the air.

Dallas ( +5.5) over INDIANAPOLIS: Before the season began, this looked like a potential Super Bowl preview.  As it stands today, both teams could miss the playoffs entirely.

St. Louis (-3.5) over ARIZONA: We were all laughing with you Derek Anderson.

BALTIMORE (-3) over Pittsburgh: Walking boot or not, Ben Roethlisberger is going to get smacked around. Ravens are the better team on both sides of the ball.

NEW ENGLAND (-3.5) over NY Jets (52 total points): Game of the year…this week. For extra mojo the Pats will honor Tedy Bruschi during a halftime ceremony. As a Pats fan, I feel really good about this game.

Last week: 6-10