Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

In after Baud. Damn.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Fight them, without becoming them!

When they say they’re pro-life, they don’t mean yours.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

Giving up is unforgivable. ~Joe Biden

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Everybody saw this coming.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

He really is that stupid.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

Oppose, oppose, oppose. Do not congratulate. This is not business as usual.

You are here: Home / Sports / Steelers v. Vikings

Reader Interactions

352Comments

  1. 1.

    Comrade Jake

    I have a fresh batch of homemade salsa, some taco meat simmering, and a 12 pack of diet root beer.

    One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just isn’t the same.

  3. 3.

    Kevin Phillips Bong

    A 12-pack of diet root beer? Dude, ease up, you don’t want to party yourself to an early grave.

  5. 5.

    debit

    I have to say, I am very concerned about this game. But! I have a crockpot of stew simmering away to console me should John’s team prevail. Because, as we all know, dumplings make everything better.

  7. 7.

    MikeJ

    Cole, I’m guessing that you do not make Tunchie wear any Steelers paraphernalia.

    I’d love to see the video of Cole putting a jersey on Tunch.

  8. 8.

    gwangung

    Am tossing a batch of smoky garlic pork loin chops in the crock pot and see how they turn out. This might be a verrrrry interesting game to watch….

  11. 11.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I want to root against the Steelers cuz yer ahead of us in the div now but I’m still pissed at the Vikings because of last week so I’m rooting for injuries. I’ll prolly nap thru most of the game since I’m tired from canvassing the neighborhood for Little Bitsy.

  13. 13.

    Tim F.

    A 1:3 3:1 mix of real beef chili and Comte cheese, tortilla chips and plenty of my own beer. Will grill sausages and caramelize some onions some time in the second half.

  14. 14.

    dfd

    As a life long Bears fan, I can’t stand Favre. I will be rooting for the Steelers this afternoon. I just wish I had some real football food to chow down on. Warmed up pizza just ain’t cuttin’ it.

  16. 16.

    Tiparillo

    How do I root against both teams?

    Guess I’ll just root for Favre to get his head handed to him.

  20. 20.

    donovong

    Yay Falcons! And Steelers! Also.

    Low Country Boil with added snow crab legs for us’ns down here, ya’ll. And Sam Adams to boot.

    Diet Root Beer? Didn’t they use that shit in Gitmo as a form of torture?

  22. 22.

    JenJen

    I’m not sure if I’m behind this “Let’s play more games for the Limeys” crap.

    Missed all the fun last night, btw. I cannot BELIEVE what was going ON in that THREAD, and I have DOCUMENTS to PROVE that I am not INSECURE.

  23. 23.

    Steeplejack

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    I’ll prolly nap thru most of the game since I’m tired from canvassing the neighborhood for Little Bitsy.

    How did that go, by the way? I see Bitsy has shot ahead of the hated pom. Can we thank you for that?

  24. 24.

    Martin

    What are these Steelers and Vikings things of which you speak? The only sports on today are Angels playing the team that lives in Dick Cheney’s sphincter.

    Fuck Dick Cheney, fuck his sphincter, and fuck the Yankees for living there and on general principle.

  26. 26.

    CaseyL

    Way OT, but have we heard anything more about Henry the abandoned, starved Pit Bull? Has he found a forever family yet?

  28. 28.

    Tokyokie

    Chuck Butcher

    I found this soda pop in FL, cane sugar and real flavors. Boylan’s is from NJ and I liked it.

    I try all new colas that come across Central Market’s shelves and discovered Boylan’s a few weeks ago and like it a lot (even though I feel guilty because the name contains the nickname of one of my most hated college football teams). I usually drink diet beverages, however, and for that, I like this cola a whole lot: http://www.zevia.com/products_cola.html

  29. 29.

    Svensker

    @robertdsc:

    Fuck you, Favre.

    Give me an F…Give me a U…

    What’s that spell?

    What’s that spell?

    Ah, Mr. Joe, we miss your Fish.

    And what robertdsc said.

  31. 31.

    Michael D.

    Sitting here, watching the game. Couple Duvels and some Canadian beer for good measure. Voted for Bitsy. Have six chicken breasts out for dinner with some friends, but haven’t figured out what to do with them yet.

  35. 35.

    Michael D.

    Oh, and met this kid yesterday while at a sports bar with the Iowa State alumni association watching the game.

    Obnoxious little brat who was totally speechless when I told him how great the Canadian Healthcare system is compared to here. I don’t even think he’s ever heard differently from his own opinion and didn’t know what to say. Made a pojnt of telling me he spoke at CPAC.

    He sat at the table with his dad, laptop open, reading RedState and The Corner the whole time.

  36. 36.

    Midnight Marauder

    Yeah, that offensive pass interference wasn’t even close. 250 pound tight ends can’t just run over people in the red zone. You just cannot do that.

  39. 39.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Gonna let you in on a little secret, Steep. I lie, almost pathologically. I never canvassed the neighborhood. I sat here in my La-Z-Boy and watched the insides of my eyelids.

    Remember when I said I was a cop and a warrior? I lied. Oh, I have certs alright. My favorite are the orange ones. They remind me of the Johnson & Johnson orange baby aspirin we used to eat like candy when we were kids, before Reyes Syndrome took my brother.

    I never had sex with John either.

  40. 40.

    JenJen

    @John Cole: I can’t BELIEVE you and DougJ have remained SILENT. :-)

    I see Tennessee is playing BYE this week. I think they might actually have a chance, although currently it’s BYE +6.

    Off to Bengals fun shortly. KISS DA BABY! Gawd I love Sundays.

  41. 41.

    Michael D.

    @asiangrrlMN: I did. He’s actually a nice enough kid, but is totally impressed with himself. He was actually there as part of our Iowa State group. His dad is head of the Atlanta Alumni Association. I was there with a friend.

    When I first met him, I noticed he was looking at the Wikipedia page for Mitch Daniels and I told him Daniels was an idiot. He asked me why I thought that. I told him it was because Daniels is a Republican, to which he replied – hand extended…: “Hi. My name is John Krohn, author of the book, Defining Conservatism.”

    I wish I had my own laptop so I could have said. “Congratulations! I see it’s reached number 1,456,160 on the Amazon Sales Rank!”

    Totally didn’t speak after I told him about Canada’s health system and how good I thought it was. Absolutely speechless.

    His dad is totally awesome though. Really enjoyed hanging out with him.

  44. 44.

    icedfire

    As a transplanted Giants fan living in the Twin Cities, it pains me to say it but Go Steelers!

    Make all these ridiculously overconfident and annoying Vikings fans feel some doubt.

    And God help me, but I just want to punch Jared Allen in the throat.

  49. 49.

    Michael D.

    @asiangrrlMN: His dad is a conservative through and through, but he told me even he gets annoyed with his son, and he (dad) prefers to vote on his views rather than making sure everyone in earshot has to hear his views.

    I actually appreciated that, and had a nice time with him.

    The mom, I didn’t get to meet much, but she seems to be a total stage mom.

  51. 51.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Little Bitsy is really pulling away from Rufus, and surprise- the two-headed, five-legged monster puppy Jasper is catching Rufus.

    I can see an ad campaign built around Jasper.

    Does your puppy have an extra head or appendage? Try Grrr-nola, the hideous growth removal salve…

  55. 55.

    Michael D.

    OT, but some advice…

    Things not to say to your female friend at a party:

    Michael D.: Where’s the boyfriend tonight?
    Laura: Jeff’s home. He has swine flu.
    Michael D.: Awww man. That sucks. But I guess that’s what he gets for fucking a pig!

    Two minutes later:

    Michael D.: Ahmmm, Laura, it just dawned on me what I said to you two minutes ago, and I TOTALLY didn’t mean it the way it came out.

    Turns out, it never even occurred to her. :-)

  56. 56.

    Shell

    Damn you, Football. Cause of you it’s a Simpsons repeat tonight.
    I guess it’s useless asking if anyone’s gonna watch the baseball game tonight. Total wash-out yesterday.

  59. 59.

    John O

    Good game.

    After your standard career’s worth of love-hate for Favre as a Bears fan, I’m come to feel about him the way I felt about Pete Rose in his later years, as a Cub fan. I love watching him play.

    I thought this one was a no-brainer at Vikings +4.5, since I still believe they’re 50-50 to win outright.

    Should be a great second half.

  60. 60.

    Shell

    Lucy, the Super Pound Puppy, could be a contender.
    Why so many toy breeds? Small is not automatically cute.

  62. 62.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Michael D.: Funny as hell. I have a friend who had the piggy and was joking about the bacon she had been eating. I told her you don’t get it from eating pig. She said, then how else do you get it, duh!

    I said, by having sex with the pig. She thought it was funny.

  63. 63.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Shell:

    Why so many toy breeds? Small is not automatically cute.

    I’ve been hung up on the same thing. I cannot fucking stand little rat dogs. But Sammy actually looks pretty cool. Kinda like a microshepherd.

  66. 66.

    MNPundit

    f Lily has a Steelers collar you’d better take good care of her, because she is about to get her ass kicked with the rest of your team.

  70. 70.

    MNPundit

    @Shell: Bleh, I was we could edit. Actually small IS automatically cute. Humans respond to child-like things as a way of protecting offspring, thus anything that is child-like is cute and children are small.

    So small = cute.

  71. 71.

    Midnight Marauder

    HUGE drive for the Steelers going into halftime. Mike Wallace is looking more and more like another big-play threat for them each week.

  75. 75.

    Smith

    Go Steelers! The weekly Brett Favre blowjobs by ESPN and sports reporters must stop. If the Steelers win I’ll become a fan for life.

  86. 86.

    Demo Woman

    New England doesn’t look sharp. Brady threw two interceptions. Although they are ahead 21-7, the total yards is a different story. Pats 197, Bucs 162 —
    the Bucs aren’t intimidated at all.

  88. 88.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Demo Woman:

    Goodell is talking about putting a team in London. How dumb is that?

    Incredibly. According to the guys on the FOX pregame show, the idea would be for a London based franchise to play 4-5 games in a row at home, and then 4-5 on the road (aka the United States of America).

    I don’t think the NFL needs to expand anytime soon, but there are obviously some terrible franchise that might be moving soon–Jacksonville, Buffalo, St. Louis. It would just be foolish to take a team to a place like London, when there are perfectly good markets in America that would love to have a football team.

    And no, that does not include Los Angeles.

  92. 92.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Demo Woman:
    New England doesn’t look sharp. Brady threw two interceptions. Although they are ahead 21-7, the total yards is a different story. Pats 197, Bucs 162—the Bucs aren’t intimidated at all.

    True, but a lot of that is because the Pats were starting with short field position after Tampa Bay turnovers. So that kind of skews things there. But yeah, Brady has been a little off today so far. New England should have at least 28 (if not for that INT inside the 10), and probably 35.

    I have a feeling that they’re going to shatter this one wide open in the second half. The Bucs may not be intimidated, but they are still an abysmal football team. There is no disputing that.

  94. 94.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Mirthless Chopper – Frmrly TheFountainHead:

    It’s only a matter of time before they try that again. It’s just too big a market to ignore.

    True, but LA is a terrible sports town, with some of the most fickle, disinterested fans I’ve ever seen. I was totally (not) stunned when I went to the Rockets-Lakers playoff game last year–Game 1, Round 2–and I was one of maybe 12 Rockets fans at the Staples Center. That place was DEAD. I was cracking people up halfway around the arena by yelling out things like “WELCOME TO THE YAO MING BLOCK PARTY! EVERYONE IS INVITED!” That should never happen during a home game, let alone the fucking playoffs, and let alone at the home court of the #1 seed in the league. But that’s by no means exceptional when dealing with LA sports teams. Los Angeles, no matter how big a media market, doesn’t deserve a sports team. The people just don’t care enough. And the citizens of this town most certainly haven’t done anything over the years to change that impression.

    Regardless, they’ll try again in a few years, it will be a haphazardly constructed bid, and it will collapse on itself like a dying star. The cycle will continue anew.

  95. 95.

    geg6

    You know, I typically don’t get too crazy about non-conference games and certainly have nothing against the Vikes per se. However, I hate Brett Favre with an intensity approaching my hate for the Ravens. I am currently making burnt offerings and animal sacrifices to the FSM that we kick in the teeth of the Vikes today. It sorta astonishes me that I feel this way.

  98. 98.

    Mirthless Chopper - Frmrly TheFountainHead

    @Midnight Marauder: I don’t necessarily think you’re wrong about that, but it has something to do with the teams that are already there. I mean, you have the Dodgers and the Lakers that are so consistently good as to be boring. You also have huge support for UCLA and USC football. So I don’t think it’s that the people don’t care, it’s that they don’t have the sports history of sucking that places like Chicago, Philly, and Boston did.

  99. 99.

    MNPundit

    Ha, normally I’d be laughing at the Vikings with their coach made of 3-shades of stupid, but I just don’t like the Steelers.

    Go Vikes!

  100. 100.

    Martin

    Los Angeles, no matter how big a media market, doesn’t deserve a sports team. The people just don’t care enough. And the citizens of this town most certainly haven’t done anything over the years to change that impression.

    Well, they do care, but they care about the Trojans and the Bruins. LA is unusual in garnering that kind of college ball loyalty in a major city. I can’t think of another city that generally favors the college teams (Lakers excluded).

    I don’t think this is a bad thing out of LA.

  111. 111.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Mirthless Chopper – Frmrly TheFountainHead:

    I don’t necessarily think you’re wrong about that, but it has something to do with the teams that are already there. I mean, you have the Dodgers and the Lakers that are so consistently good as to be boring. You also have huge support for UCLA and USC football. So I don’t think it’s that the people don’t care, it’s that they don’t have the sports history of sucking that places like Chicago, Philly, and Boston did.

    Yeah, the quality and nature of the teams here definitely has a lot to do with it, but nevertheless, there’s what I would called “disinterested passion” towards pretty much all the sports teams here, even when they’re playing at the expected high levels. The only team that seems to not suffer from this is USC, just because they’re SO dominant.

    But as someone who has always been a huge sports fan, it’s just very noticeable how different the energy here in LA is when it comes to their teams, versus other “marquee” cities in the country. And yeah, the Dodgers and Lakers are typically good teams, but there’s still a pervasive attitude of “Call me when we’re in the championship” that consumes a lot of people here.

    Another example: During the Dodgers-Cardinals NLDS matchup this past year, the Dodgers were up 5-2 going into the top of the 7th of Game 1. The stadium had just finally gotten full after all the stragglers made it in (because who gets there on time for the opening playoff game of their hometown team, especially in Los Angeles? Losers, that’s who). Then, when they come back from commercial, you see a mass exodus of humanity headed towards the parking lot because, well, I guess they thought they had this one in the bag. Forget that the Cardinals threatened to tie it up in the 9th; forget that there’s still a helluva lot of time left in the game. What about the fact that it’s the fucking playoffs, and the first game of the playoffs at that? Who leaves early during the playoffs? I mean, that’s insane. This is what all that effort during the regular season was for, only 8 teams make it to the postseason dance, and you’re clocking out already?

    The point is that this is not exceptional behavior for LA sports fans; it’s a feature, not a bug. Compared to fans in other major sports towns (like the ones you listed–Chicago, Philly, Boston), LA sports fan are an abomination. That scenario I just described would never happen in one of those towns, or even a place like Houston or Denver. It’s just a reflection of the entitlement mentality that is ubiquitous out here.

  113. 113.

    Linkmeister

    @Midnight Marauder: Er, the Dodgers drew nearly 4 million this year.

    What people who’ve never been there don’t realize is just how geographically huge LA is. There are a ton of sports fans there, but they’re spread out over miles and miles north and east.

    Some bozo just managed to get approval (by the lege and the Gubernator) to build a stadium in City of Industry, bypassing current environmental standards and using an old plan he’d drawn up for a shopping mall or something in the same location. He’s hoping to pull an existing NFL team willing to move. Irony would be off the charts if it was the St. Louis Rams.

  119. 119.

    Martin

    The only team that seems to not suffer from this is USC, just because they’re SO dominant.

    No, USC has taken alumni investment to a new level. It goes way beyond the football team. Being dominant clearly doesn’t hurt, but there’s more to it than that.

    I’ve worked in places where they wouldn’t hire people unless they came from USC. Some of the dumbest people I’ve ever met had USC degrees, but they had jobs waiting for them. That’s not unusual with the ivys, but it’s unusual with a school like USC.

  120. 120.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Linkmeister:

    Some bozo just managed to get approval (by the lege and the Gubernator) to build a stadium in City of Industry, bypassing current environmental standards and using an old plan he’d drawn up for a shopping mall or something in the same location. He’s hoping to pull an existing NFL team willing to move. Irony would be off the charts if it was the St. Louis Rams.

    Yeah, that would be Ed Roski and his “if they come, I will build it” plan, with an assist from the Governator. But still, any move to LA is a long way away. Just listen to the fierce urgency of whenever from Goodell:

    “Hopefully, someday we’ll be able to get back to Los Angeles,” Goodell said.

    That sounds a lot like the gameplan for the past 15 years.

  121. 121.

    They Live By Night

    My two favorite teams are the Bears and whichever team is playing the Vikings. Go Steelers!

  125. 125.

    Martin

    @Linkmeister:

    In fact, the Dodgers led all of baseball in attendance this season, beating out the Yankees 3.76M to 3.71M.

    That’s because they don’t charge $1200 for seats, and don’t pack the seats with the most dickish people on earth. And they’re a NL team, so they are naturally righteous.

  131. 131.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder:

    That should never happen during a home game, let alone the fucking playoffs, and let alone at the home court of the #1 seed in the league

    Hmm, how did that series turn out? Sour grapes much?

    Thanks for the Ron Artest gift by the way :)

  132. 132.

    Midnight Marauder

    @BP in MN:

    At first I thought you were talking about post #34; I couldn’t figure out what you had against birch beer.

    Haha. Yeah, I thought the same thing too at first. And I think it’s high time for Polamalu to make his presence known in this game.

  134. 134.

    debit

    I would have my tubal ligation reversed so I could have Adrian Peterson’s babies, should he desire our offspring.

  135. 135.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    Hmm, how did that series turn out? Sour grapes much?
    Thanks for the Ron Artest gift by the way :)

    Hey, the fact that we played you guys as tough as we did without Yao (and to a much lesser extent, T-Mac) is more than any Rockets fan was hoping for. And if you think Ron Artest is a gift for that Lakers team this season, you are in for a world of hurt. Just prepare yourself for some of the worst shot selection and fundamental basketball decision making that you’ve seen in quite some time. It really is amazing to me that so many people out here in LA think that Artest is some kind of upgrade of Ariza. That’s just crazy.

    By the way, thanks for the Trevor Ariza gift.

  143. 143.

    Midnight Marauder

    HOLY SHIT! What a play! And man, do I feel validated for scooping up the Steelers’ D off the wavier wire for this week.

  146. 146.

    debit

    I miss the edit button, FYI. I would have added that was a bullshit tripping call and because of it, we’re now down by 10. I repeat, fuck me.

  151. 151.

    ranger3

    The refs are pulling out all the stops for the Steelers today. Can’t have The Greatest Team Ever drop to 4-3 I suppose.

  158. 158.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: Paying the full MLE for a 6th man is so 1999. You should throw a Trevor Ariza party!

    As for RonRon being a net negative, I’m going to go ahead and bookmark this comment for later :)

  163. 163.

    Joel

    As a Stephen Jackson owner playing against Colts D and Peyton Manning, if you’re a team as god awful as the Rams, and Marc Bulger – one of the most overpaid, crappy, disgustingly bad quarterbacks in the league – is your quarterback, why do you have him throw twice on 1 yard situations?

  166. 166.

    Joel

    @James K Polk, Esq.: Houston will be much better than people credit them for. Lakers are clear favorites in the West, but I don’t like switching out Ariza (underrated) for Artest (overrated). I actually think Ariza is better – straight up.

  167. 167.

    Earl

    @ranger3:

    The refs are pulling out all the stops for the Steelers today. Can’t have The Greatest Team Ever drop to 4-3 I suppose.

    The greatest team ever sucks if it’s Pittsburgh…

  169. 169.

    John Cole

    The Steelers deserve to lose this one. They have made so many mistakes. Jeff Reed should start tackling something other than hand dryers. RM should stop waiving the ball around like a loaf of bread. And so on.

  170. 170.

    Joel

    Frankly, the Rams, Stephen Jackson excluded, need to be decimated. In the literal sense of the word.

    At least the other crappy teams in the league have excuses/hopes.

  171. 171.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Not sure what’s up with chasing the back judge down at full speed and then shoving him into the ground. I replayed it several times on my DVR and it looked pretty fucking malicious. Be interesting to see what comes of that.

  173. 173.

    ranger3

    88 yards. Wow. Shocked it didn’t get called back. I guess the one that got knocked over was the one responsible for screwing the Vikings. And yeah… Reed is a pussy. This is a professional football team? I’m going to enjoy watching them choke this one up.

    Greatest Team Ever.

  177. 177.

    WyldPiratd

    a univ. of north carolina player is a pussy? surprise, surprise.

    unc’s defense choked thursday. blew an 18 pt 2d half lead to the 2nd grade reading level fsu criminoles.

  178. 178.

    Mark S.

    @Joel:

    I actually think Ariza is better – straight up.

    I don’t. I think the Lakers will be a lot better, especially if Bynum can finally have a healthy season.

  180. 180.

    leinie

    John, you need a cig after that awesome kick return by Harvin? I’m loving that kid more and more as the year goes on.

    Oh, and that tripping call? That was about as fucking real as the fucking WMD in Iraq.

  181. 181.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    How the fuck did Favre miss that tackle on Woodley? You think it’s cuz he didn’t have his close-up glasses on and just didn’t see him right there in front of him?

  183. 183.

    Studly Pantload

    Heh – “wild and crazy 4th quarter,” they said. Picturing Martin/Aykroyd in their stylish plaid pants.

  184. 184.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Joel: Paying a guy top dollar based on a single year’s production while playing as a complementary player on the best team in the League isn’t something I would have expected from Morey.

    There is NO way that he is underrated coming off that postseason. No post game, no mid-range jumper, too slight to guard burly small forwards. His game is flashy (lots of highlight steals and dunks) but is predicated on his athletic ability. That concerns, considering his injury history.

  185. 185.

    ranger3

    @John Cole: @John Cole: Just having some fun, dude. It’s not as if people rag out my Cowboys on gameday in these parts.

    @Michael D.: That caught my eye too. Tebow’s schtick was tiresome before, now I’m starting to develop an actual dislike of the guy.

  187. 187.

    John Cole

    @leinie: In real time that would have looked like a classic leg whip to every one of the officials. They don’t get to do slow motion reverse angles while calling the game. Cripes, you act like they are making shit up.

  189. 189.

    burnspbesq

    @Martin:

    Some of the dumbest people I’ve ever met had USC degrees,

    That may have been true in the past, but no longer. On the undergrad level, USC has gotten better faster than any major university in the country, with the possible exception of NYU.

  204. 204.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    As for RonRon being a net negative, I’m going to go ahead and bookmark this comment for later :)

    Oh, you should. I would take that swap any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. You’ve got some who is clearly on the rise, a bright, promising young talent who the Lakers (his hometown team) somehow let get away. And then you’ve got Artest, he of the terrible shots, dribbling out shot clocks for more terrible shots, head-scratching passes, horrific 3 point shooter. Just look at the stats from their respective playoff performances last season:

    Ariza (off the bench): 31.4 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.3 AST, 1.5 STL, 49% FG, 47% 3PT, 56% FT

    Artest (starter): 37.5 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.2 AST, 1.08 STL, 39% FG, 27% 3PT, 71% FT

    Yes, please, give me the 24 year old who’s poised for a breakout year, over the 29 year old headcase who is going to be jacking up shots all season and royally pissing Kobe off.

  205. 205.

    debit

    Well, I didn’t think we’d make it loss free for the entire season. Now that’s it’s happened, I can stop dreading it.

  208. 208.

    Eric S

    Paraphrasing voice from my tv: “6 foot 8, 348 pounds chasing him down to the end zone. You can’t coach that.”

    YES! Yes, you can.

  210. 210.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @John Cole:

    So how was this interception for a td caused by the refs, you Vikings whiners?

    Yeah, show ’em what a poor winner looks like.

  211. 211.

    martha

    Sorry ’bout that. I scared the puppy dog (Ellie, golden retriever) with my hollering at the TV…

  219. 219.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    The good thing for you Vikes fans is that you won’t have to put up with that sort of disappointment for too many years come like we Packer fans did.

    Big game next week, huh?

  224. 224.

    ranger3

    I just typed a really stinging comment about the Steelers poor tackling when Fox ran back that absurd interception. Had to delete the whole damn thing. Too bad cause it was brutal… John would have banned me, but then cried himself to sleep later.

    It’s cool though cause I actually do despise Favre and I think he’s vastly overrated. So typical that he throws multiple TDs to the other team. That’s why he’s a season killer for eveery team he’s ever played for. He won* only one Super Bowl in spite of all his stats and supposed greatness.

    *Favre won that bowl like Big Ben won** the one against Seattle. Desmond Howard actually won the game, Favre was just lucky on his team that day.

    ** Has any QB ever had a worse performance in the Super Bowl? No, really. I want to know.

  225. 225.

    burnspbesq

    @WyldPiratd:

    A-fucking-men. I love looking at the ACC standings right about now.

    Duke 2-1, Weak Blue 0-3.

    We’re going to win in Hooville this week, and then we’re going over to Chapel Hell and bring back the bell. After that, we’ll more than likely lose to GaTech and Miami – which means that we will need to beat Wake the last game of the season in order to be bowl eligible. Duke in a bowl game – how fucked up would that be?

  231. 231.

    Midnight Marauder

    I should also mention they’re respective 3 point attempts:

    Ariza: 40-84
    Artest: 23-83

    That’s not going to get better anytime soon for Artest, whereas Ariza has demonstrated great improvement in his jumpshot over the years. And as for this:

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    Paying a guy top dollar based on a single year’s production while playing as a complementary player on the best team in the League isn’t something I would have expected from Morey.

    That’s not why Morey gave him the contract. I think you’re downplay just how integral Ariza was to the Lakers playoff run this year, particular when they matched-up against the Denver and Orlando. He was too athletic, too consistent with his outside jumper, and too active on the defensive end (steals, blocks, and forcing people to change their shot) for the other teams to do anything about, not mention he gave Kobe and Co. a lot more flexibility in the gameplan. He didn’t need the ball in his hand to create his shot; he could just sit in the corner and wait to be fed an open knockdown jumper. Artest, as you’ll find out if you haven’t already, needs the ball in his hand a surprising amount of the time for his game to work. And when it’s in his hand, he has the tendency to just take horrifically unadvised shots that just kill your team in all kinds of ways. That is not something that goes well in the triangle offense; a player like Ariza was CREATED for the triangle.

    Believe me, I was once like you, talking myself into the possibilities of Artest. Well before the All-Star break, you will regret your positive words about that man.

  232. 232.

    Earl

    @John Cole: I would agree but that “classic leg whip” move is the one that every team does week and after week when they’re doing poor chop blocks…without penalty.

  236. 236.

    Roza

    Yoi
    Stillers give me my cardio workout yet again

    and I will take those 25 Sidney Rice fantasy points thank you very much

  237. 237.

    ranger3

    OK, nobody say mean things about the Cowboys that might upset me. Let’s have some sportsmanship and appreciation of one of the storied team in professional sports.

  239. 239.

    4jkb4ia

    OTOH Ron Artest with the greatest coach ever may be the best possible Ron Artest. And he is there to play defense.

  240. 240.

    burnspbesq

    @ranger3:

    OK, nobody say mean things about the Cowboys that might upset me. Let’s have some sportsmanship and appreciation of one of the storied team in professional sports.

    Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce.

  242. 242.

    NobodySpecial

    Cole, I’m guessing that you do not make Tunchie wear any Steelers paraphernalia

    I’m guessing the game-worn Tunch jersey is too small, actually.

  243. 243.

    ranger3

    Aikman trashes the Cowboys the entire fucking game every time he does color. I can understand that the Boys aren’t playing to his standareds and haven’t for over 10 years. But it gets old.

    Everyone knows it’s not 1995 anymore, Troy. We’re not very good now. We get it. We just want to get lucky and win a cheap one like the Steelers have been doing so we can say we’re the greatest team ever even though we’re actually pretty mediocre.

  244. 244.

    WyldPiratd

    was a fun game to watch for fans who don’t like precision football.

    Vikes and Stillers are good teams. A. Peterson is just a ridiculous physical freak of nature.

    And to the Dook fan upboard–whup the Wahoos and f**K THE Tarholes!1

  245. 245.

    Midnight Marauder

    @4jkb4ia:

    OTOH Ron Artest with the greatest coach ever may be the best possible Ron Artest. And he is there to play defense.

    I think Artest on the Lakers is one of the most interesting subplots of the upcoming NBA season. If anyone should be able to turn him into a productive, sane, competent player, it would be Phil and Kobe. But Artest is still a force of nature all to himself. And his defensive skills have slipped considerably over the past few seasons. There’s a reason Battier was covering Kobe when the Lakers played the Rockets.

  249. 249.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: Part of the reason for the 3 pt percentage difference his how they got their 3 point attempts. Ariza got to camp out because of the help that Pau and Kobe drew all game long every game. The game plan was to force Ariza to shoot (as opposed to slash and finish), and he was on a silly hot streak.

    Who is going to draw help on the Rockets team in the post to allow Ariza the wide open jumper from the wing? Joey Dorsey?

    Artest only wants a ring, has a great post game, superior passing and rebounding skillz and his contract. Only time will tell how this plays out. My gut tells me Ariza gets hurt in the first 25 games…

  252. 252.

    ranger3

    @Demo Woman: Jerry Jones is actually a top notch owner. The new stadium rocks. It really is amazing. He hired some mediocre coaches, but after Switzer none of the coaches he’s brought in were actually horrible. And you know he’ll do what it takes to us back on top again.

    I’ll take Jones over Dan Snyder any day.

  253. 253.

    Mark S.

    @Midnight Marauder:

    I should also mention they’re respective 3 point attempts:

    Ariza: 40-84
    Artest: 23-83

    What, for the 2009 playoffs? Who cares? Not that it really matters, but Artest shot 40% from the 3 point line in 2009.

    Artest is a much more proven player than Ariza. Yes, Artest has some baggage, but if some dipshit threw a beer at you from the stands, wouldn’t you be pissed. (Yes, it would have helped if you weren’t beating up the wrong guy)

    All I’m saying is that I think Artest has gotten a worse rep than he deserves, while Ariza has looked good playing along side Kobe, Pau, and Lamar.

  255. 255.

    geg6

    What a goddam afternoon. The Stillers won ugly but gave me heart attacks all day. And now my John just called to tell me his idiot daughter just ran over her own dog. I want to punch that stupid bitch in the neck. As usual, she was smoking and talking on the phone while driving and hit the dog. She is a menace to society. The dog is alive, but has been rushed to the vet. I hate her right now. Really and truly hate her.

  256. 256.

    NobodySpecial

    Has any QB ever had a worse performance in the Super Bowl? No, really. I want to know.

    Craig Morton managed to stink it up in two super bowls.

    1970 season: 12-26, 127 yds, 1 td, 3 int.

    1977 season: 4-15, 39 yds, 4 int. Pulled in the third quarter.

  261. 261.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    Part of the reason for the 3 pt percentage difference his how they got their 3 point attempts. Ariza got to camp out because of the help that Pau and Kobe drew all game long every game. The game plan was to force Ariza to shoot (as opposed to slash and finish), and he was on a silly hot streak.
    Who is going to draw help on the Rockets team in the post to allow Ariza the wide open jumper from the wing? Joey Dorsey?

    True, but that was my earlier point. Ariza’s game sublimely compliments the triangle offense, far more than Artest’s does, especially at this point in his career. But the reason Ariza is going to be fine on the Rockets is because of their up-tempo, push the ball upcourt style. Aaron Brooks is one of the fastest point guards in the league, and as I’m sure Lakers fans will remember, he gassed them by driving to the lane and kicking it out all series long. Well, who do you think is getting those kickouts this season? Even without a healthy Yao, the Rockets are still a very good inside-outside team; that’s part of the reason they went out and got Ariza, because he’s a piece that makes them an even better inside-outside team. And in many ways, the Rockets are a better team without Yao in the lineup, because it allows them to run their more uptempo pace more often and easily, a pace of which Ariza will be a focal point. Also, you substantially underestimate the dominance that is Luis Scola in the post.

    Artest only wants a ring, has a great post game, superior passing and rebounding skillz and his contract. Only time will tell how this plays out. My gut tells me Ariza gets hurt in the first 25 games…

    His post game is decent, but he doesn’t go to it all that often; that’s where the jacking up of ill-advised shots comes in. He’s a decent rebounder at this point in his career, certainly not superior or dominant. He’s not even the best rebounder on the Lakers team this season. And sure, he wants a ring, but they’re also going to have to mesh his game with the triangle, and believe me, that’s not going to be pretty at all.

  264. 264.

    J.

    Was anyone else playing the Adrian Peterson drinking game during the game? (Where you have to drink a shot or have a swig of beer every time an announcer says “Adrian Peterson.”) Of course, if you had been, you’d be way to wasted to post a comment. ;-)

  265. 265.

    Malron

    @asiangrrlMN: Well, you’re a sorry ass sports fan if you’re pissed about a player that led you to 2 comeback wins and a 6-0 start because he commits 2 turnovers late in a game against the defending Super Bowl champs. But enjoy your hatred.

  267. 267.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Malron: Plus, the Jets were 8-3 last year, then lost out because of Favre being Favre and missed the playoffs. I don’t give a shit about their record–just about where they end up at the end of the season and beyond.

  268. 268.

    Bucky

    The only part of the game I really enjoyed was Purple Jesus making Randall Gay look like a little girl.

  269. 269.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Mark S.:

    What, for the 2009 playoffs? Who cares? Not that it really matters, but Artest shot 40% from the 3 point line in 2009.
    Artest is a much more proven player than Ariza. Yes, Artest has some baggage, but if some dipshit threw a beer at you from the stands, wouldn’t you be pissed. (Yes, it would have helped if you weren’t beating up the wrong guy)
    All I’m saying is that I think Artest has gotten a worse rep than he deserves, while Ariza has looked good playing along side Kobe, Pau, and Lamar.

    Yes, for the playoffs, and I would that it’s more representative of each player’s overall performance throughout the arc of the season. Sure, Artest had a higher 3PT percentage during the season; but during the playoffs, he got shot happy and murdered the Rockets. And that was without a dominant player like Kobe on his team; Kobe isn’t going to tolerate the kind of 2-7 3 point performances that Artest came to be known for during the close of his time with the Rockets. Moreover, Ariza got better as the season, and specifically, the playoffs, progressed. Artest did not. It’s pretty logical to look at their performances and see that Ariza has a ton of room for growth as a player, whereas Artest is pretty much the player he’s going to become, and now is the time when regression in his skill sets begins to become more and more obvious.

    I would agree with you Artest has baggage and a worse reputation than he deserves; I would also say that those things are irrelevant to the points I’ve been making. I’m just talking about his actual performance on the court, not any of the crazy “Ron Ron” antics. And his performance on the court has been noticeably inconsistent and on the decline when it matters most. And again, the reason Ariza looked good playing with Kobe, Pau, and Lamar is that his game fits perfectly with the kind of high-tempo offense that is the triangle; that’s not the case with Artest.

    Lakers fans are talking themselves into a world of hurt this season. More importantly, it’s inexcusable that they let a bright young promising talent like Ariza get away (especially to a conference foe), and the big piece they got to replace him is a diminishing Ron Artest.

  270. 270.

    ranger3

    Dear Troy Aikman,

    No. We’re not demoralized because the Falcons scored a TD. They’re a quality team and no one expected that we’d just steamroll them like we used to steamroll people at home back when you were throwing to Micheal Irvin. That was a long time ago and we’ve all adjusted to the new reality that we’re not dominant anymore and Romo is going to fumble alot and we’re going to have scrap for every win and rely on getting lucky every once in a while. We’ve moved on. How about you get over yourself and just call the fucking game.

    Hugs and kisses,

    Every Cowboys Fan Watching Fox Right Now

    P.S. While we’re on the subject of getting over shit, you can stop making babies already. You’re not fooling anybody. You’re gay. Everybody knows, nobody cares. I’d be a little relieved if just came out. I mean, you’d be kind of a weird guy if you weren’t.

  271. 271.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: The triangle, aka triple post offense, thrives when the SF/PF has good passing skills in the high post and can make the elbow jumper. Ariza can’t pass well and has no midrange game. Did you know that Artest played in the triangle his first three years in the league?

    Brooks’ man will get beat (welcome to the NBA, where handchecks are now illegal), but the help is coming from the big guys in this case. I got nothing but love for Scola (perhaps the most underrated player in the NBA), but he isn’t going to draw Ariza’s man from where he posts up.

    If Ariza beats the injury bug, it may turn out to be a good signing, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

  272. 272.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Malron: Nope. Just pissed because he does what he always does and will continue to do. Everyone will excuse it because he’s Brett Favre loving the game.

    Oh, and fuck you and your standards for who makes a legit sports fan. I don’t have to give a rat’s ass about Favre to care about my team.

  273. 273.

    ranger3

    OMG APPLE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAC NEEDS TO DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Those Mac commercials are sooo bad. Terrible. They are reeaaalllllly scared of Windows 7 it seems. People might figure out that paying too much for a system that can’t even play any good games isn’t such a swell idea after all. After that all they’ve got is their contrarian base and that’s not much of a business model.

    Microsoftis teh rulz. And they now officially have better commercials.

  276. 276.

    burnspbesq

    @ranger3:

    Microsoftis teh rulz. And they now officially have better commercials.

    You should stop drinking now. Your judgment is clearly impaired.

  277. 277.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    If Ariza Artest beats the injury not pissing Kobe off with terrible shots/ batshit crazy bug, it may turn out to be a good signing, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

    Likewise.

  278. 278.

    madmommy

    Oh shit. That crash back to Earth for the Saints seems to be happening before my eyes. The Dolphins are up 14-3, Brees has been sacked once and Ricky Williams actually put the bong down long enough to run for a long TD. The O-line is not protecting Brees at all, and the defense has not figured out how to stop the ‘Fins.

  279. 279.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @asiangrrlMN: I wish there was a rule that AP had to play without his shirt on. He might be the most attractive male athlete I have ever seen…

  281. 281.

    ranger3

    @AhabTRuler: That TV is the 8th wonder of the world. You can finally see the hottest cheerleaders on the planet in all their blessed glory. And fuck those pussy kickers whining about it. I hope JJ sticks to his guns on that point. It’s within regs, deal with it. You’re fucking professional athletes, you get paid bags of money to punt. Kick around it genius.

  282. 282.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    The triangle, aka triple post offense, thrives when the SF/PF has good passing skills in the high post and can make the elbow jumper. Ariza can’t pass well and has no midrange game. Did you know that Artest played in the triangle his first three years in the league?

    Yeah, I knew that, but I would counter that it was 7-10 years ago, before the beginning of his decline in skill (clearly, I cannot stress that point enough). If you’re counting on Artest to knock down consistent jumpers from the elbow (the shot that he bricked SO HARD, SO FREQUENTLY against the Lakers), again, you’re in for a world of hurt this season. He’s not a good shooter anymore, let alone an efficient shooter, and let alone a smart shooter.

    Overall, I just don’t think the Lakers should have let Ariza go, and if they did, they should have replaced him with someone else. He’s just too young, too good, and too promising a talent to let him get away like that, especially after the coming out performance he had in the playoffs.

  283. 283.

    smiley

    @madmommy:

    Oh shit. That crash back to Earth for the Saints seems to be happening before my eyes.

    I read someone (at CNN/SI, I think) earlier in the week who predicted that. I didn’t believe it then but now I’m starting to wonder. Lota game left though.

  284. 284.

    madmommy

    @smiley:

    There is a strong fatalistic streak in all Saints fans. As fun as the first five weeks of the season has been, deep down I knew it couldn’t last.

    I really hope I’m wrong…

  285. 285.

    ranger3

    @burnspbesq: The Mac ads are annoying, but then are Mac users. So it makes sense.

    Making stupid commercials about superior they are even though their really not probably appeals the aforementioned contrarian base.

    “OHHHH! WE DON’T USE MS! WE’RE COOL! WE’RE DIFFERENT!”

    Whatever.

  286. 286.

    Mark S.

    @Midnight Marauder:

    We’ll see. For me, the biggest signing the Lakers made was keeping Odom. I admit he goes through stretches of suck, but when he is on, he makes the Lakers almost unbeatable. Granted, Ariza was the vice-MVP to Kobe last season’s playoffs, and if I am wrong about Artest, the Lakers may suffer.

  288. 288.

    Phoenix Woman

    Arrrgh. Well, I tried to help the Vikes by staying away from the TV (that Percy Harvin runback happened once I went to the other room), but to no avail.

    Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. If we can’t beat a decent team, we have no business being talked up for the playoffs, much less the Super Bowl.

    Sorry, Brettster — you won’t get another ring with us. Oh, well.

  289. 289.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Mark S.:

    We’ll see. For me, the biggest signing the Lakers made was keeping Odom. I admit he goes through stretches of suck, but when he is on, he makes the Lakers almost unbeatable. Granted, Ariza was the vice-MVP to Kobe last season’s playoffs, and if I am wrong about Artest, the Lakers may suffer.

    Now on this point, we can both agree. If the Lakers had lost both Ariza AND Odom, they would have been lost this season. But yeah, that’s definitely the biggest offseason move they made, in keeping Odom. The dude can take weeks/months/seasons off at a time if he so desires, but when his head is in the game…wow. The dude is tough.

  290. 290.

    Demo Woman

    @madmommy: Miami started off slow but they appear to have a pretty good team.
    NE plays them the 8th of Nov. NE might need it to snow to handle the Dolphins.

  291. 291.

    ranger3

    Finally getting some INTs. Woo Hoo Go Boys!!!! If we can pull this one out we’re 4-2 which I’d be pretty happy with honestly.

  292. 292.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: Ignoring sample size isn’t a good idea when it comes to the NBA, and banking on Ariza’s performance from last year, playing off the best teammates in the league will turn out to be a mistake.

    Ariza’s Stats from preseason-

    FG% 37.5
    FT% 69.5

    Beware the contract year performance bump.

  293. 293.

    ranger3

    But you know 3-3 isn’t that bad.

    Arrgh! Fucking turnovers. We will need to get lucky in the 4th quarter. Going to be a trying afternoon.

  294. 294.

    Mike T

    @ranger3:

    Jerry Jones is actually a top notch owner.

    Whaaa?

    I guess it depends on whether your criteria for “top notch” is “making money” or “fielding a successful team”. He’s great at teh former and sucks at the latter. He’s so good at the former and crappy at the latter that he’s one of the few owners who want to kill the golden goose by getting rid of the salary cap. He can’t build a championship team on a level playing field, so he wants to spend his gazillions and buy a Lombardi Trophy.

    Fuck Jones. He’s everything that’s wrong with the NFL

  297. 297.

    Demo Woman

    It’s bad enough to have a turnover and a TD but the Fox announcers need to just shut up.

  298. 298.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    You’re getting Cinci/Chicago because the latter are a division rival of the Vikes (that’s why I’m getting it in Lions Land, too)- but the way this one is going, don’t be surprised if they don’t show the whole thing.

    The only alternative CBS has to show you is Buffalo at Carolina…I’m pretty sure that one is only running in those teams’ markets. Thank the gods for that.

  299. 299.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    Beware the contract year performance bump.

    That’s like one of the 10 Commandments for the NBA…or any professional sports league these days, I suppose. I’m just chalking that up to getting to know the new team, new players, all that jazz. Although, he’s never been a great free throw shooter (Ariza, that is), which is somewhat surprising.

  300. 300.

    ranger3

    Romo to Austin. Get used to that, world. All you Cowboys anti-fans are gonna enjoy hating him. The Boys have this one in the bag. I never had any doubt. Glad I bet my life’s savings on this game, that was a smart move. I look forward to spending all my new found riches on front row seasons tickets at the Cowboys most excellent new stadium.

  301. 301.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: BTW, I’m rooting for the Rocks this year too, sad to finally see Mt. Motumbo out of the league. I almost cried when he went down last year. Brooks is a diamond in the rough (great draft pick) and Landry is CASH. Scola, well, I’ve already said how much I think of him.

    You all need to dump coach sleepy though…

  302. 302.

    debit

    Man, Chicago is just being beaten down. I feel so badly for them I can’t even feel sorry for myself anymore.

  303. 303.

    Andy K

    @Malron:

    If it wasn’t for Favre being Favre you wouldn’t be 6-1 right now.

    But who’s to say that they wouldn’t be 6-1 with Sage Rosenfels starting? What if Favre had stayed retired and the Vikes had signed Jeff Garcia?

    The only thing of which I’m certain is that they wouldn’t be 6-1 with Jackson. Don’t know if you can blame the g.m., the coaching staff or Jackson himself for not being able to get the job done. But the lack of a qb of even average quality cost that team dearly over the past two years by allowing opposing defenses key on Peterson.

  304. 304.

    ranger3

    @Mike T: Oh please. That’s just absurd. Are you trying to be funny? He won three times in four years. And as for buying trophys, hows that working out for Mr. Snyder? It’s not just his money (although as a Rangers fan I appreciate the importance of having an owner who can pay his bills) but his ability to run a quality organization and attract talent that has gotten results since he arrived here 20 years ago.

    People love to give Jimmy all the credit for 92-95 run (even though he was two years removed from the organization by 1995) but he had total control in Miami and couldn’t do shit. People forget how much heat Jones took for hiring Johnson in the first place, there was much skepicism but Jones didn’t listen to his critics and made them all STFU pretty quickly.

    The man has made mistakes and is certainly no boy scout. He has ego issues, but that comes with the territory with guys like him. He is a winner, however. He has the track record, and the Cowboys are playing better the past few years better than they have since 95. Fact is, they could just as easily made a run last year as the Cardinals. We just played awful in the last game of the year. That’s the reality of the modern NFL. Lot’s of teams can win it all, it’s all about who happens to be playing well in January.

    We have sufficient talent and the guys play hard. As I said, we need to scrap and, yeah… we need some luck. But we’ve got about as much a shot as anyone.

  305. 305.

    Midnight Marauder

    @James K Polk, Esq.:

    BTW, I’m rooting for the Rocks this year too, sad to finally see Mt. Motumbo out of the league. I almost cried when he went down last year. Brooks is a diamond in the rough (great draft pick) and Landry is CASH. Scola, well, I’ve already said how much I think of him.
    You all need to dump coach sleepy though…

    Dude, I was crushed when Mutombo went down. Just one of the classic all-around good guys in the league, and always a pleasure to watch. I don’t know how I’ll watch basketball without being able to scream out “NO ONE FLIES IN THE HOUSE OF MUTOMBO!” anymore. And yeah, Brooks and Landry are really solid young players, and Scola is such a hoss. I go back and forth with Adelman as the coach, though. This year is his make or break year, just like it is for the franchise as a whole. If things don’t work out this season, there’s going to be a whole lot of changes for the Rockets, including the possibility of moving Yao somewhere.

  307. 307.

    Christian

    Man, people hating on Favre after that game are just being ridiculous. He’s obviously a great player — that was one of three interceptions he’s thrown all season FFS. And that interception wasn’t even “Favre being Favre” in the way that most people think of it. The fumble was certainly his fault but that play should never have existed anyway; thanks BS “tripping” call!

    Anyway both teams played pretty terrible today I thought. They came up big on a few key plays which made the game bearable, but the Steelers just capitalized better on the two turnovers and the Vikings had like 150 yards in penalties, so the Steelers won.

    If I were a neutral observer watching today’s game I’d tell you that neither of those teams are Super Bowl material this year, even though I’d be happy to see either or both in the Big Game.

  308. 308.

    Demo Woman

    From MSNBC sports news
    NORMAN, Okla. – Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford will have season-ending surgery and expects to enter the NFL draft in April.
    No surprised here.

  309. 309.

    ranger3

    Romo is playing fucking great today. Maybe he decided to suck in September this year instead of December. That would be a welcome development.

    And Miles Austin has dreamy eyes. Derrick Jeter has dreamy eyes. I think we’ve found our new #1 receiver.

  311. 311.

    James K Polk, Esq.

    @Midnight Marauder: Yao is such a marketing monster, I can’t see him getting moved. He’s kinda like the golden anchor, what with the injuries. He’s such a great guy AND baller, it’s really depressing to see him keep getting hurt.

    TMac has the most valuable (read: expiring) contract this year, if the Rocks want to move someone.

  313. 313.

    Andy K

    @ranger3:

    Writing as someone who liked the Cowboys (early Staubach era), then hated the Cowboys (when they were the winners of the Dorsett sweepstakes because T.D. wouldn’t play for the second-year Seahawks….rich getting richer, ugh), and then came to kinda like them again (Parcells), I’ve gotta call bullshit on the “America’s Team” bullshit.

    They didn’t earn the distinction. They fell into it by default. It as based on their “home” television market in the ’60s and ’70s on CBS, which included not only damned near all of Texas, but stretched west to California’s eastern border and north to, iirc, to Montana’s border with Canada, and included Arkansas, western Kansas and western Nebraska. If the KC Chiefs or Denver Broncos had been in the NFC, CBS would have assigned about half of those markets to that team, and the Cowboys wouldn’t have been able to make the claim.

  315. 315.

    ranger3

    @John Cole: I’m spoofing myself. Kinda having not the best weekend, just blowing off some steam. Be happy I haven’t starting drinking yet today.

    Cowboys are going to find a way to lose this game in an especially painful way.

  317. 317.

    ranger3

    @Andy K: Don’t sweat it dude… edit fail has plagued me all day.

    I’m not gonna lose sleep over it, you people are so fucking smart… you can figure out what I meant to say.

  318. 318.

    Brachiator

    @Midnight Marauder:

    Lakers fans are talking themselves into a world of hurt this season. More importantly, it’s inexcusable that they let a bright young promising talent like Ariza get away (especially to a conference foe), and the big piece they got to replace him is a diminishing Ron Artest.

    The Lakers didn’t simply let Ariza get away. His agent made stupid, stupid, stupid demands during negotiations, and even tried to back peddle when it was too late.

    I think you make some great points about what Ariza may do in his new surroundings. Your cautions about Artest are noted, but the Lakers offense will not revolve around him.

  319. 319.

    ranger3

    @HRA: Jim Kelly? I’m confused. He was without doubt the greatest QB in USFL history, but I don’t see the relevence here.

  320. 320.

    Andy K

    Man, Fox needs to switch games for me NOW! The Bears will not make up the 35-point deficit against the Bengals.

    And Cutler just threw his fourth pick of the day…Gimme Falcons/Cowboys or Saints/Fins, Rupert.

  322. 322.

    ranger3

    @Andy K: I honestly feel for Bears fans. It’s amazing they have had the success they have considering they’ve never had a decent QB in the modern era.

    I never understood the hype about Cutler. Not at all. Didn’t seem impressive in Denver and certainly haven’t thought much of his performance so far in Chicago. He reminds me of Ryan Leaf in how he’s been built up as a sure fire Hall of Fame QB but all I’ve seen from him on the field is suck. Time will tell.

  323. 323.

    HRA

    @ranger3:

    Plenty of relevance to offer about Jim Kelly. He blew every Super Bowls. It was obvious to those of us who watched him during those years whether it was a win or a loss. When the camera showed his eyes during warmup, we knew it and it was always true.
    Frank Reich, his backup, was a much better QB. He should have been QB in the Super Bowl after the famous Houston game.

  324. 324.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @John Cole:

    Not me. Don’t know. But schmoozing the Cowboys is beyond the pale in my book. I would ban he/she with extreme prejudice, after a good flogging.

  326. 326.

    Andy K

    @ranger3:

    I honestly feel for Bears fans.

    Not me. This fourth generation Packers fan remebers an ugly game…The game was on 12/7/80, at Soldiers Field overbydere…Gloomy, cold and rainy day…Bears won 61-7…They ran it up. Fuck ’em. The Bears Still Suck.

  327. 327.

    CaseyL

    @John Cole: I don’t know, but he’s a lot of fun. I like this spoof; can we keep him?

    Listened to an NPR story about a former pro football player who suffered a few hundred concussions over the course of his career, and who now has pretty much lost his short term memory and is likely to have dementia within 5 years.

    He played about 20 years ago, but I’m not at all sure football is any easier on its players now. I heard some commentator say maybe the players should go back to the equipment they had before the superhard padding; that the armor-like uniforms give the players a false sense of security so they hit even harder.

    I don’t know how to feel about this. On the one hand, yeah the players “know what they’re getting into.” On the other hand, we’re talking about guys, guys in their teens and early twenties – not the best long-term decision makers around.

  329. 329.

    ranger3

    @HRA: He turned the ball over alot, but I think Dallas’ smothering ball hawking defense had a little to do with that.

    If you want to blame someone for Dallas success, blame Frank Reich. His comback against Houston (and then Montana’s late rally against Houston in the playoffs the following year) insured the Cowboys wouldn’t have to face the Oilers. And the run and shoot gave the Cowboys alot of trouble back then.

    Houston was maybe the only team that could’ve beaten Dallas in 92/93.

    As I write this… TD Cowboys. It’s in the bag. 4-2 with a fovorable schedule coming up. Suck it, haters.

  330. 330.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @ranger3:

    People love to give Jimmy all the credit for 92-95 run (even though he was two years removed from the organization by 1995) but he had total control in Miami and couldn’t do shit. People forget how much heat Jones took for hiring Johnson in the first place, there was much skepicism but Jones didn’t listen to his critics and made them all STFU pretty quickly.

    I give Herschel Walker all the credit for the 92-95 run. That trade was a blockbuster:

    In 1989, at the height of his NFL career, the Cowboys traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a total of five players (LB Jesse Solomon, DB Issiac Holt, RB Darrin Nelson, LB David Howard, DE Alex Stewart) and six draft picks (which led to Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson).

  332. 332.

    Midnight Marauder

    I thought Braylon Edwards shitting on Cleveland during Monday Night Football was bad, but what Cedric Benson is doing today against the Bears is just mind-reeling. I can’t even imagine how many things I would have smashed/set on fire this afternoon if I was a Chicago Bears fan. The over/under would have to be at least 15.

  334. 334.

    ranger3

    OK that was a dirty hit. I’m just sick of that shit, whoever does it. You should NEVER do anything that is likely to injure another player. In soccer they have a rule against “dangerous play” which pretty much says you have to careful not to do things like kick people in the head whether you’re trying to make a play on the ball or not. I’m sick of seeing WRs getting blindsided by DBs who clearly are intentionally trying to knock them unconscious.

    It’s a contact sport and people are going to get hit but I am sick of seeing that shit. All it is is guys trying to make up for the fact that they got beat on a play by trying to knock their opponent out cold. Not exactly sporting behavior.

  335. 335.

    smiley

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I give Herschel Walker all the credit for the 92-95 run.

    A little OT but Herschel is going to be passed by Jesus Boy for the most rushing TDs in SEC history. Talk is they (the Gators) want to do it during the UF/UGA game next weekend.

  336. 336.

    ranger3

    @arguingwithsignposts: That trade never happens without Jerry Jones. Plenty of people hate JJ here in Dallas, especially given how the Cowboys have played this decade. But that’s foolish, plenty of NFL franchises would love to have our problems.

    People forget how hopeless the team was in 1988. Tom Landry was an amazing guy and Tex Schram was a legend but things change and by 88 it looked like history had passed the Cowboys by. Jones changed everything. The team you know and hate today wouldn’t exist if not for Jones.

  337. 337.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @ranger3:

    That trade never happens without Jerry Jones.

    I agree. It also never happens without whoever the dipstick owner of the Vikings was at the time. :)

    I’m from TX, and lived in DFW for five years, so I am well aware of the JJ hate. I have some of it myself, mostly because of that obnoxious stadium and some of the other stupid stuff his ego has done.

  339. 339.

    HRA

    @ranger3:

    “He turned the ball over alot, but I think Dallas’ smothering ball hawking defense had a little to do with that.

    If you want to blame someone for Dallas success, blame Frank Reich. His comback against Houston (and then Montana’s late rally against Houston in the playoffs the following year) insured the Cowboys wouldn’t have to face the Oilers. And the run and shoot gave the Cowboys alot of trouble back then.

    Houston was maybe the only team that could’ve beaten Dallas in 92/93.”

    I admit Dallas was a better team during the Super Bowls. At the same time, I know the Bills could have done much better.

  340. 340.

    ranger3

    OK. Troy Aikman just called Jones a “polarizing figure”. Maybe. And no doubt his style will rub alot of people the wrong way. But Jones made you a very rich man and first ballot Hall of Famer. Would that have happened without him? How would things have worked out for you been drafted by Tamba Bay? Because you could’ve been wearing those creamsickle uniforms on Sundays… not that there’s anything wrong with that.

  341. 341.

    ranger3

    @arguingwithsignposts: Love the new stadium. Love it.

    People bitch about the party deck, but you know life is about choices and you don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. I happen to like it.

    I especially like that, after the AFL folded, Jones brought the Dallas Desperados Dancers to the new stadium, renamed them the Cowboys “Rhythm and Blues Dancers” and now we have two groups of absurdly hot babes shaking it on game day.

    The stripper poles are an especially nice touch. Adds a little class to the place.

  342. 342.

    outerspacefarout

    WHO DEY!!!!!!!!!
    what a game! chad had over a hundred and 2 touchdowns. benson gave chicago 189 reasons to miss him…
    bengals win 45-10 and we didn’t even need a nonsense tripping call to win…
    WHO DEY!

  344. 344.

    Andy K

    @ranger3:

    The stripper poles are an especially nice touch. Adds a little class to the place.

    I’m sure Jack Ruby would approve.

  345. 345.

    smiley

    The Saints might be a ligit contender. First time since the Jim Mora/Bobby Herbert era. Oh wait…

  347. 347.

    madmommy

    Zounds, what a game! Brees does a QB sneak for a TD, Sharper gets yet another pick that he runs back for a TD. After playing like a sorry pack of dogs in the first half, they could have done what the Saints usually do, which is fold like a cheap lawn chair. Not this time! A huge, come from behind win on the road-Huzzah!!

  348. 348.

    Morbo

    Didn’t seen any of the games up until Giants/Cards here. I did see this hit on highlights though. Memo to defensive backs: the other guy is supposed to be the one who falls over.

  350. 350.

    Andy K

    @Nethead Jay:

    That was one of of the most spectacular comebacks I have ever seen.

    Call me jaded if you will, but with the way that Saints’ offense operates I’m not surprised at all.

    Now if they’d started the comeback in the fourth quarter, I’d think differently. But they started chipping into the Fins’ lead at the end of the second.

  351. 351.

    Morbo

    And now I’m sad that I missed all the day games, because the Giants and Cardinals are just embarrassing themselves.

  352. 352.

    Gus

    @John Cole:
    You don’t understand. Vikings fans have the biggest ref persecution complex in professional sports since Drew Pearson shoved Nate Wright and got away with it to steal the 1975 NFC championship game. Watching a game with Vikings fans can be awfully annoying. Every call that’s remotely close feeds this persecution complex. I know, I used to be a Vikings fan before I gave up on football.

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