Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Infrastructure week. at last.

This fight is for everything.

Republicans in disarray!

Americans barely caring about Afghanistan is so last month.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

“But what about the lurkers?”

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

You are here: Home / Sports / Steelers/Jets Open Thread

Reader Interactions

262Comments

  1. 1.

    Svensker

    Apparently they changed the rules for pass interference during the week. It’s legal when the Jets do it.

    Oh, poo.

  2. 2.

    Bucky

    Every week you complain about bias in officiating against the Steelers. It is the joke of the century. The steelers enjoy more favorable calls than any other team in the land (and have for years. . .ask Seahawks fans about the Super Bowl)

    Do us a favor and shut up.

    XOXO

  4. 4.

    Danny

    I dislike both teams, but I will pull for the Steelers. In any event John will thank Obama for the win.

  8. 8.

    The Dangerman

    Eh, it’s just football; I have more important needs. Has the person with the bourbon tasting balls been outed?

  10. 10.

    Andy K

    Apparently they changed the rules for pass interference during the week. It’s legal when the Jets do it.

    Do you get like this every time you ejaculate prematurely perform the pregame rituals too early?

  19. 19.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Svensker: Best to turn off Balloon Juice and watch the game. Steelers will either win or John will ruin the game for everyone.

  21. 21.

    jaywillie

    huge 96 yd drive by the Black & Gold; longest given up by the Jets this season. That was huge; momentum swing.

  26. 26.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    You’ve got no one to blame but yourself for all of this! You did your pre-game ritual too far in advance. Stop whining and pass the rum balls.

    And the Giants once again prove you can’t win a game with your hands firmly around your throat.

  30. 30.

    alwhite

    I stopped by to mention the free 1st downs, but see a couple of people beat me to it.

    Anybody that saw the D-II championship game yesterday would never complain about bad calls again. A wide out was hit out of bounds, no flag, a QB was literally horse collared (pulled down from behind by his collar) a good 5 yards out of bounds no flag, and a dead ball was called a fumble. The NCAA should be ashamed.

  31. 31.

    The Dangerman

    @themann1086:

    Did anyone see that Eagles/Giants game? Holy crap. I still can’t believe it!

    Shades of Herm Edwards; quite the meltdown.

    I would have laughed, though, if the Returner had missed a defender and got tackled because of his celebration; now, THAT woulda been sweet.

    I assume that punter has already been cut.

  36. 36.

    Andy K

    @JordanRules:

    Why didn’t the G-men go for OT?

    Seems to me that’s exactly what they were doing. The game was tied at the time they punted. There were 14 seconds left. It was 4th down. Coughlin seems to have told the punter kick it out of bounds. The punter failed to do so.

  42. 42.

    Svensker

    Also, too, can anyone ‘splain me why Jets didn’t call a time out at 25 seconds? Does this make sense to anyone, cuz it sure doesn’t to me.

  45. 45.

    Andy K

    @JordanRules:

    Ummmm, so this punter, does he still have a job?

    It all depends on the capriciousness of the personnel brain-trust in the Giants’ offices. Watch the highlight. High snap, so Dodge has to rush the punt for fear it might be blocked.

    Honestly. if they cut any players after blowing a 21-point lead in the preceding 7 minutes, it would only be in order to save their staff’s ass.

  49. 49.

    JordanRules

    High kick not withstanding, I hope that Giants punter has a whole lot of rum balls. Gonna be a long night.

    Not having seen the game…what was the major cause of the 7 minute meltdown? I mean 21 points?? WTH

  51. 51.

    YellowJournalism

    @Bucky: If I recall correctly, John did an entire post or two on how the Seahawks fans were just being a bunch of WATB’s.

  52. 52.

    jaywillie

    @RichJ: riiiight…your team’s fans never whine about the officiating…c’mon, complaining about the officials is as much of a national tradition as the sport itself.

  53. 53.

    SST

    Yeah, apparently they also changed the rules so that when the Steelers get within two yards of a first, the refs just give them the benefit of the doubt.

    I’d love to see the Jets lose, but that shit’s happened three times already.

  54. 54.

    nalbar

    @Jordan, post #50

    Bad defense, bad coaching.

    But of course it is all the punters fault. Of course Coughlin ‘took the blame’. AFTER he ran on the field and berated him on national TV.

    That is Coughlin, ‘taking the blame’. Such a stand up guy.

  57. 57.

    autrement qu'etre

    It’s legal when the Jets do it.

    Still rather more polite than the things that are apparently legal when certain Steelers do them.

  58. 58.

    SST

    @JordanRules:

    Long touchdown pass, well-executed surprise onsides kick, an NYG three and out, Mike Vick being Mick Vick and a shitty punt. That’s it in a nutshell.

  62. 62.

    JohnR

    @The Dangerman:

    I would have laughed, though, if the Returner had missed a defender and got tackled because of his celebration; now, THAT woulda been sweet.

    According to the radio guys I was listening to on my drive back home from Philly he was checking the clock and running it out before scoring. That actually sounds plausible.
    On a side note, I liked the radio guys – reminded me of the ESPN-8 team from Dodgeball.
    Still, I suspect Michael Vick is going to make a sacrifice to the football gods tonight – that was an almost unbelievable performance.

  63. 63.

    Andy K

    @nevsky42:

    Siiiiiigh, the joys of being a Giants fan…

    Really? I mean, REALLY?!?! Didn’t the Giants just win the Super Bowl a few years ago?

    Here’s some perspective: The Chargers, Cardinals, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Seahawks, Panthers, Jags and Oilers/Titans have never won a Super Bowl. The Browns and the Lions have never BEEN TO a Super Bowl.

    If this was 1976 or so, I wouldn’t say anything, but shit, my Packers have won more championships than any other team in the league, but haven’t won one for nearly 14 years, and you aren’t going to see me writing, ‘Oh, that loss to the 2-win Lions just so typically disappointing’.

    Count your blessings before those lame duck soshulists force you to cheer for Carolina.

  67. 67.

    Andy K

    @nevsky42:

    Siiiiiigh, the joys of being a Giants fan…

    Really? I mean, REALLY? Didn’t the Giants just win the Super Bowl a few years ago?

    Here’s some perspective: The Chargers, Cardinals, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Seahawks, Panthers, Jags and Oilers/Titans have never won a Super Bowl. The Browns and the Lions have never BEEN TO a Super Bowl.

    If this was 1976 or so, I wouldn’t say anything, but shit, my Packers have won more championships than any other team in the league, but haven’t won one for nearly 14 years, and you aren’t going to see me writing, ‘Oh, that loss to the 2-win Lions just so typically disappointing’.

    Count your blessings before those lame duck soshulists force you to cheer for Carolina.

  68. 68.

    JordanRules

    @nalbar: Ha! I love how in the post-game Coughlin made sure to note that he was a ‘young’ punter…you know…after he cussed him out.

  71. 71.

    The Dangerman

    @JohnR:

    According to the radio guys I was listening to on my drive back home from Philly he was checking the clock and running it out before scoring. That actually sounds plausible.

    Plausible, maybe even smart, but I think this is the same Dog (as in Hot) that did a weird backwards pratfall into the end zone against the … Cowboys (IIRC). He plays around with the goal line a wee bit too much for my tastes.

  77. 77.

    The Dangerman

    @stuckinred:

    Someone is going to de-jewel his ass.

    I was thinking that, someplace, Leon Lett was hoping for him to get tackled at the 1 if he was dogging.

    Poor Lett; I saw both the Miami play in the snow and the Super Bowl play live. Not sure which is worse.

  81. 81.

    Josie

    I don’t watch the games, but I can tell from John’s posts week to week that the Steelers must be hated and reviled by all the refs and are obviously treated most unfairly. It’s a wonder that they ever win a game.

  85. 85.

    2liberal

    Apparently they changed the rules for pass interference during the week. It’s legal when the Jets do it.

    It is really rich to see a Steelers fan complain about the refs, at least during those weeks when he is not cowering at the thought of having to face the Patriots.

  87. 87.

    Yutsano

    @JPL: At this point I’d like to forget the sales tax is higher in King County just as a condition for keeping the Seahacks around.

  88. 88.

    J.W. Hamner

    Steelers fans and Jets fans are basically tied as the worst people in the world, so I keep rooting for a nuclear strike… barring that, let’s go Sanchize!

  89. 89.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Southern Beale: Ugh! I hope you feel better soon.

    @JohnR: This is how I saw it as I was watching. He didn’t really do anything to celebrate, so I was assuming he was making sure there was no time left.

    @Yutsano: Hi, hon. I take it your team is sucking?

    By the way, apparently the Vikes’ punter tweeted that the MN Taxpayers Stadium is unplayable because the field is hard as concrete. And, we are expecting 4-8 inches tomorrow (open stadium). Good times.

  92. 92.

    Kathy

    @Andy K: Eagles have never won one either. BTW I know no one ever talks about the Lions but they did beat Tampa Bay in overtime for an unheard of 2 game winning streak.

  93. 93.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: Yeah. Nothing quite like it. You’re miserable and hungry but can’t eat and don’t really want to eat. Yuck.

    @Kathy: Check out the last NFL open thread below. There was much rejoicing for the Lions.

  94. 94.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: It’s Seahacktastic!!

    Honestly. We need a QB bad. Mattie just needs to retire and give the shit up. And Carroll is not inspiring much confidence in me.

  95. 95.

    mr. whipple

    I liked the old NFL rules better, when a penalty for helmet to helmet contact required actual helmet to helmet contact.

    Call the whaaaaaaambulance!

  97. 97.

    Left Coast Tom

    @asiangrrlMN: I had food poisoning from french fries as a 3 year old, I didn’t remember the actual poisoning, but I still wouldn’t touch french fries again until I was 12.

    Which means that food poisoning’s effects are somewhat less long-lasting than those of a bad officiating call are for Steelers fans..

  98. 98.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: What a coinky-dink. We need one, too. Though, apparently the wide-receiver turned QB (Joe Webb) is starting Monday night. Should be entertaining.

    @Left Coast Tom: Snort. Your last sentence kills me. But, yes. It’s quite horrible. Food poisoning, that is.

  99. 99.

    JenJen

    J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!

    I can hardly believe that my Bengals pick a week in which Carolina actually wins a game to win one themselves, snapping a 10-game losing streak. Where’s the integrity, boys? How bad do you want that #1 Draft Pick?

  100. 100.

    J. Michael Neal

    @The Dangerman:

    Plausible, maybe even smart

    I’ll go beyond plausible. I’m pretty sure he looked up at the clock as he ran along the goal line. When I watched it live, I immediately assumed that he was making sure the clock ran out. I’m not sure he needed to, but he probably didn’t take the time to look at the clock before that.

  101. 101.

    Andy K

    @Kathy:

    Yeah, I realized I forgot the Eagles, and that I had the Jags on the wrong list (they’ve never been to one), but it was after my editing abilities timed out.

    And we were talking about the Lions on Cole’s premature ejaculation early game thread. That’s the game I was watching here.

  103. 103.

    Yutsano

    @JenJen: I’ve also discovered Colt McCoy isn’t the future of the Browns. Protip: when you have a Pro Bowl quality fullback, RUN THE DAMN BALL YA IDJIT!!

    (This should not be interpreted in any way as me homering for Peyton. It’s just a statement of fact.)

  106. 106.

    Mike Kay (Team America)

    turn out the lights…. the party is over… they say all things must end

    steelers fall into division tie.

  107. 107.

    JenJen

    @Yutsano: What asiangrrlMN said. ;-)

    Since this is an Open Thread, may I please bring up the subject of my imminent Time-Warner Cable —> DirecTV switchover? Happens Tuesday, I’ll probably lamely live-blog the whole thing here, just because I can.

    I’m a little nervous about taking this plunge. Any DirecTV folks out there feel like reassuring me? I mean, at least I’ll get the NFL Network now, but I’m losing HBO On Demand, which means I can only slobber over and over and over to the best sports show of all time, “24/7: Road To The NHL Winter Classic” if I DVR the damned thing.

    I’m a-skeered.

  109. 109.

    Yutsano

    @JenJen: My folks have it and love it. Wouldn’t go back to cable at half the rate. Plus the reception is incredible even on their ranch in the middle of nowhere. So yeah, ya done made a decent choice there.

    And yeah maybe I’m being a touch overprotective of Peyton there. Honestly though looking at the stats he was massively underutilized today. That’s a QB who thinks he can go all air all the time. That’s fatal in the NFL.

  110. 110.

    JPL

    @JenJen: Before I switched to antenna, I had Time Warner then Direct TV. All pay connections have their own problems. The FCC is supposedly coming out with new rules and who knows what that means. Direct TV was better but did have some problems during windy weather.

  113. 113.

    Buck

    @JenJen:

    Jen, I love DirecTV, but probably for different reasons than would help you. I’m not a big sports fan, and I never cared for the pay channels, what with all the redundant programming. I was one of the lucky ones who managed to get both New York and LA network programming. All major networks, I have three of. (Comes in handy if you miss something)

    But, DirecTV is pretty dependable… if that helps.

  114. 114.

    JPL

    Uhoh..Seahawks seem to be moving the ball again. I hope that my comment earlier @86 didn’t jinx the Falcons.

  115. 115.

    JenJen

    @Buck: @JPL: @Yutsano: Thanks for the DirecTV comments. JPL, they’re also installing the HDTV antenna I bought outside, along with the satellite dish, at no cost, which should increase my local offerings mightily.

    I’m really too hung up on losing On Demand, maybe. But it’s a small sacrifice to make in order to pay $45 less a month in the first year and around $20 a month for the second year, to get most of the exact same channels (and finally, Friday Night Lights as it actually airs!) I’d just really had it with Time Warner, but worry that maybe I made my decision in pissy haste.

  119. 119.

    JenJen

    @JPL: I’m pretty stoked about that part. I’d just forego satellite or cable service altogether if I wasn’t such a damned sports and HBO addict. Truly don’t know what I’d do with myself in the winter without NHL Network, and with DirecTV at least I get NFL Network as a bonus.

    Speaking of which, oh shizz, Steelers have a shot here.

    ETA: J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!! What can I say? I’m a Bengals fan, after all.

  125. 125.

    John - A Motley Moose

    I’m sitting here watching the game and thought to myself that John is going to be insufferable if the stillers pull this out. Then I realized that he would be insufferable if they lost. Talk about a no-win situation.

  127. 127.

    JPL

    Okay..The Falcons are going to win, but it was intense for a few seconds. Still waiting for the Steelers.
    I type to slow..

  128. 128.

    4jkb4ia

    This was great fun. I assume the jersey pulling was pass interference, the thing that baseball does not have.

  129. 129.

    Yutsano

    @JPL: And that’s a ballgame for both of us.

    Bright spot though: Jesus Boy is going to lose his first starting gig.

    (I corrected the typo…but I was rather tempted to leave it.)

  132. 132.

    MAJeff

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Kinda like the Vikes. I always expect them to find a way to lose.

    Are you even old enough to remember the 0-4 Superbowl ’70s? Losing in the end is what they do. Keeping that expectation in mind helps keep a little of the depression away.

  134. 134.

    burnspbesq

    Special teams won the game for the Jets. Kickoff return for a TD to open the game, two FGs, and two great plays on punt coverage in the fourth quarter.

  136. 136.

    Andy K

    Looks as if the Raiders have been running the ball down the Broncos’ throat today. I’d like to see what the T.O.P. stat is in that one.

  137. 137.

    AxelFoley

    Vick leads the Eagles to a miraculous comeback
    My Dolphins lose to the shitty Bills at home
    Steelers fall at home to the J-E-T-S, Jets

    This is madness.

  139. 139.

    fasteddie9318

    Is it wrong for me to want Bruce Arians to fuck himself with the other end of the iron-spiked double-headed dildo that I’d like the NFL referees to already be fucking themselves with? Should I think about calling the men in white coats to come take me away?

  141. 141.

    John Cole

    I know a bunch of insufferable pricks will start in on their Steelers get all the calls bullshit, but we have been raped by the refs all year. Letters from the NFL apologizing for blown calls, blatant no calls (Ben’s nose and Heath Miller), bullshit calls on our D, and now, in this game, multiple missed pass interference calls.

    Fuck y’all with your Steelers favoritism schtick.

  143. 143.

    burnspbesq

    @John Cole:

    You had two shots from the ten yard line at the end of the game and couldn’t convert either of them. You gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a safety. The safety was not the result of a brilliant play by Jason Taylor, it was the result of a blown assignment by a Steelers offensive lineman.

    Bad calls didn’t decide the game. The Steelers’ failure to execute when the game was on the line decided the game.

    Bad calls are part of the game. Great teams play through them. Good teams whine about them.

  144. 144.

    GregB

    60 Minutes is showcasing Chris Christie and is setting the table for the end game of the 30 year starve the beast agenda.

    David Stockman is sounding like Glenn Beck in advocating investing in gold and seeds.

    Give the people bread and circus.

  147. 147.

    mantooth

    Should Steelers fans be comparing bad calls to rape? Because that wasn’t called in the preseason in Georgia either.

  148. 148.

    burnspbesq

    Also too, Roethlisberger blew the read on the second-to-last play of the game. The tight end was wide open early, but Benno missed him, held the ball too long, and ended up having to try and zip it into coverage.

  149. 149.

    JPL

    @John Cole: I watched the Falcons game so I can not be an impartial observer about the rules of the game but I can say someone needs more rum balls.

  151. 151.

    Bucky

    Every team has bad calls against them. To say the Steelers have had a bad time this year?? Give me a break.. You had 2 shots from the 10 in the final seconds of the game. You didn’t deserve to win. That’s not being insufferable, that’s the truth.

    PS: I’m a Vikings fan, so I’ll win a game of misery poker with you every day of the week and twice on Sunday

  152. 152.

    Andy K

    @John Cole:

    Ya know, John, I tend to think that way about the Packers’ relationship with the refs at times, but when I think about it those iffy calls seem to come from the middling-to-bad referee crews, or on weeks following the weeks where weird calls are made or not after weird situations.

    And then there’s the old saw that when two teams who match up well against each other go head-to-head, there are a lot of players cheating to get an advantage. At that point it all depends upon the tendencies of the referee crews. Some let a lot go, some call everything, some tend to make certain types of calls more or less than others. This seems to be true in all team sports.

  154. 154.

    BGK

    Hay, open thread, right?

    My flight from JFK to Washington was delayed five hours. Delta repeatedly lied to us, saying the flight was en route and due in anything from ten to thirty minutes, only to change the scheduled departure time by another hour. So my boss and I tried to re-book on the Baltimore flight. The phone agent changed the reservations, but apparently too close to the departure time, as the gate agents told us to get lost. Really. Heh indeedy!

    So, right now I’m on the Acela just south of Newark, and am in for a very long night. The flight was eventually cancelled. We still have no idea what the problem was, as the gate and customer “service” agents wouldn’t say anything.

  155. 155.

    Cat Lady

    Steelers fans, Jets fans, Eagles fans, Pats fans, Giants fans – I think we can all agree that a Favre drama-free week is a great week. May it remain forever thus.

  156. 156.

    Gravenstone

    Any guesses on how badly the Packers get mauled tonight? A hot New England team versus a second string Packers QB and patched up O-line. This is gonna but painful…

  160. 160.

    Gravenstone

    That’s one way to avoid exposing your QB, run the ball. Let’s see if they can (finally) cobble together a running game.

  161. 161.

    burnspbesq

    @BGK:

    You should have been on the Acela in the first place. Only people who don’t care when they get to their destination fly in the Northeast Corridor in the winter.

  162. 162.

    JenJen

    @BGK: Travel is so glamorous, isn’t it? Sigh. I used to love it so.

    Reading your post makes me not miss my corporate travel years as much as I think I do.

    Good luck tonight! Hope your train trip doesn’t turn out like this one. Ben Smith called it “the Donner Party of Amtrak.”

  165. 165.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    @John Cole:

    I know a bunch of insufferable pricks will start in on their Steelers get all the calls bullshit, but we have been raped by the refs all year.

    Of course you have, child. Hush now, Santa will bring all good little girls and boys a free Super Bowl victory. And speaking of rape, Santa doesn’t care. Santa hates women.

  166. 166.

    Bob Loblaw

    @John Cole:

    That’s because Roethlisberger still hasn’t scored on that goal line sneak in SB XL.

    There’s a five year grace period for fans of the other 31 teams to give you shit for that little travesty. It’s karmic, just like Roethlisberger getting an undesired rhinoplasty. The grace period expires in time for next season. Until then, suck it up yinzers. You can get sympathy for the Lowery no-call then.

  167. 167.

    BGK

    @burnspbesq:

    Well, I really wanted to, but the business parts of the trip were Wednesday to Friday in the Boston area, and the Sunday overnight (it’s datacenter work and needs to be done off-hours), while the Friday night-Sunday morning was essentially vacation time. (My boss had never been to New York and wanted to go.) The airfare was similar for Ft. Myers-Boston-New York-Washington-Ft. Myers as it was for two separate trips of Ft. Myers-Boston and Ft. Myers-Washington, which was the alternative. Two Amtrak fares would’ve added considerably to our out-of-pocket expenses, so we attempted to fly. Now the company gets to pay for train fare anyway…

  168. 168.

    SFAW

    Boy, John, sounds like you’re falling back to your former Republican ways.

    “Waaahh! The recession loss is all the fault of the Democrats referees! If only they’d let the rich not pay any taxes Steelers play tough-but-legal football, the economy game would be great! Waaahhh!”

    Also.

  170. 170.

    asiangrrlMN

    @John Cole: No. It’s not like rape, Cole. You know better than that.

    @BGK: Gr. I hate that shit. Just own up to whatever’s wrong. Is that too much to ask?

    @MAJeff: No. Thankfully. I still know better than to expect them to win.

    Oh, and, go, Pats. Ick. I feel dirty for writing that two weeks in a row.

    Cat Lady, um, Packers are near the top of the division, so it can’t be a trap game. Unless you simply mean because the Pats have blown out two opponents, there might be an inevitable letdown.

    ETA: Ed Hochuli, I believe is referee. Short sleeves?

  173. 173.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Oh, and, go, Pats. Ick. I feel dirty for writing that two weeks in a row.

    Oh, and to think of the things I had planned for you.

    ETA: You know who I have to root for tomorrow, right?

  177. 177.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: Sh, it’s forgotten!

    @Andy K: Does it help that I’m secretly rooting for the Pack? Will you give me my choccies and bow-chick-bow-bow now? Oh, and it’s going to be a very interesting game tomorrow. In many ways.

    Oh, Ed . You NEVER should wear long sleeves.

  178. 178.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Does it help that I’m secretly rooting for the Pack?

    Yes it does.

    Now I’ll get back to my secret preparations for what I’ve got in store for you. I’ll only hint to what that is by telling you that the preparations involve a steep incline, a bowling ball and my tongue.

  181. 181.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Niiiiiice! I know seventy-six ways to please you…without even touching you. And, I actually cheered out loud when the Pack scored.

    Heh. I didn’t need the extra hint, but I like the song, so cool.

    @Yutsano: Really? I will go cheer him up.

  184. 184.

    Svensker

    @JenJen:

    Hope your train trip doesn’t turn out like this one.

    Wow! Incredible. Sounds like those people must have a faint understanding of Cole’s psyche now after the Steelers’ loss, don’t you think?

  185. 185.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Being French-Irish-German-English-Odawa-American- and a guy- I didn’t receive any formal training in the amorous arts. I’m an autodidact. But I give 200%.

    Just sayin’…

  186. 186.

    JenJen

    @Svensker: Totally. Makes one wonder what the train riders would’ve done had they encountered actual adversity and long-term discomfort, ya know? As a Bengals fan I am already well-acquainted with such feelings.

  187. 187.

    Yutsano

    @JenJen: That no ban hammer thingie is gonna keep haunting JC mehinks. Of course if he’d just issue sin bin penalties that might correct some behavior around here. Doesn’t work too well in hockey though.

  188. 188.

    Andy K

    @Yutsano:

    Doesn’t work too well in hockey though.

    Without getting into too much detail, it doesn’t work very well on teh intertubes either. It’s the VERY rare offender who doesn’t become a recidivist within about a week after being released.

    Personally, I like to use shame if I just can’t help ignoring the behavior.

  191. 191.

    Andy K

    @J.W. Hamner:

    Just saying.

    It’s alright, man.

    I spent a month this summer talking about Diego Forlan the same way. I’d follow that man through hell.

    ETA: It took me a while to figure it out, but Forlan makes me think of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, Stupor Mundi.

  192. 192.

    Yutsano

    @Andy K: I’m a personal fan of mockery, unless they’re incoherent, then I’ll just ask what they’re on.

    @asiangrrlMN: BoB got sinbinned twice before he got the ban hammer finally. I wonder who let him out of his cage however.

  193. 193.

    Andy K

    @Yutsano:

    I wonder who let him out of his cage however.

    My money is on his creator. I used to be pretty sure it was DougJ, maybe Cole, but I’ve started thinking outside of the BoX: My money’s now on Tim F..

  198. 198.

    Yutsano

    @Andy K: Holy shit. Flynn ain’t doing too shabby. But it’s just the first half and NE has had a habit of roaring back in the second.

  204. 204.

    Andy K

    @DMD:

    As bad as those are, the neon alternates they wore- what, last year?- are worse. Looked like there was a road crew playing against the visiting team.

  207. 207.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: FWIW NE is scoring mostly on luck than effort. I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into a better to be lucky than good sitch.

    Getting dinner, BBIAF.

  210. 210.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    You were too late, but I thought of that.

    Okay, first, a bag of Cheetohs and a can of Rockstar for everyone.

    Let’s see…Uhm, fo Yutsano, there was a guy hawking stolen items outside…Awww, FUCK NO!…So I got you a copy of The Dangerous Book For Boys and an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Davenport University (I’m pretty sure the latter wasn’t stolen, and I probably overpaid for it- it cost me a quarter).

    Loneoak…I peeled a “My Child Was Student of the Month at East Grand Rapids High School” bumper sticker from a big ass SUV. Your mom can finally be proud.

    Cole…A box of Kleenex.

    asiangrrlMN….Ooooooo, you’ll like this….I got you the special End of the Decade On Our Backs double issue, and the Mongolian Clusterfuck size tube of KY Jelly.

  211. 211.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Damn. I think I less than 3 you. You’re too good to me! Store must be really close to you.

    ::Dives into bag of goodies::

    @Andy K: That’s cool. It’s cold here. We’re supposed to get eight inches tomorrow (I wish!). The Bears/Vikes game is going to be very interesting.

    ETA: Is it just me, or has Cris Collinsworth gotten exponentially worse in the past two years?

    TOUCHDOWN, BITCHEZ! It’s all you, Andy K.

  217. 217.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Oh my god. That’s hilarious. Johnnn Kuuuuuuhn! That’s all I got. And, you’re quick on your feet with a quip and a clip. I appreciate that.

    You cannot be stopped!

    This Flynn kid is pretty good. You won’t need him once Rodgers is back, right?

    ::plots how to seduce Flynn into signing with the Vikes::

  219. 219.

    Andy K

    Damn.

    Flynn just stepped in there like he’d been there all of the time. He’s spread it around to 9 different receivers. Guys in his situation usually key in on two or three receivers.

  222. 222.

    burnspbesq

    @asiangrrlMN:

    What the Vikes need to do is trade up and draft Andrew Luck. Of course, if Luck learns of this he will probably decide to stay at Stanford for his senior year. And the Vikes will end up drafting a defensive tackle from Clemson or an outside linebacker from UCLA.

  223. 223.

    Andy K

    @burnspbesq:

    Oh, yeah, I did get you something: A can of OFF for gadflies.

    (been meaning to type that or a few minutes- was on phone w/mother ‘o’ child, who’s also a Packers fan)

    ETA: Share that with General Stuck.

  226. 226.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Grout, so she can finish the in-progress-for-five-years bathroom overhaul.

    Eric’s got everything at his little market.

    ETA: I’ll get her something really nice for Christmas if she did, indeed, commit an effective act of espionage while in MA for her wife’s mom’s memorial service this week.

  227. 227.

    4jkb4ia

    Hold on, if the jersey pulling is called, and it is a hold, they get 15 yards. So they get to run one more play, and Roethlisberger was clutch in impossible situations the whole drive. So John has a point whining about the officials. 4jkb4ia reserves the right to regard this as a legitimate win.

    I want to thank you guys for descending on John on whining about the officials at the beginning of the thread. It is a weapon in the hands of the yetzer tov. Was also a classic Balloon Juice moment to see that done by 20 commenters at once.

  231. 231.

    burnspbesq

    @4jkb4ia:

    Hold on, if the jersey pulling is called

    He wasn’t the last defender, so it’s a yellow, not a red. And it was clearly outside the area, so it’s not a PK.

    Wait … what?

  232. 232.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    She was my favorite bartender back in the day, and after a while she was my housemate. Did the casual sex thing a few times, and, whoops…I’d figured she was on the pill…Stupid kid I was…Anyway, she came out of the closet a few years later, when she quit drinking…They moved to MA so she could attend Smith, which is where she met the wife. I love ’em both. Newman, to whom you wished a Happy 9th Birthday is theirs- they went in vitro. Brendan, 20, is mine.

    I don’t know what it is about me and bi and gay women…The reason I know of On Our Backs is because before Baby Mama, I had a thing with a bisexual performance artist/stripper/live sex performer who bopped between San Francisco, New Orleans, Ibiza and Grand Rapids- appropriate song here– who was featured in the OOB subscription ads back in the late ’80s…And there have been more since.

    So while, as I wrote above, I’ve got little formal training, I’ve had rigorous hands on experience with some women who haven’t been too bashful to tell me what to do. Probably should have committed my self to at least one of ’em, but that was back in my drinking days, when I felt like I didn’t deserve much above misery- dumbass that I can be.

  233. 233.

    4jkb4ia

    @asiangrrlMN:
    But it’s weak because this is the NFL and you need a TV to attend to the games in large part because the officials can’t be trusted to get it right. Of course modern technology has shown that umpires get it right less than you would have thought.

  235. 235.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Sad ending to the game. Fascinating story about your Baby Mama (and your subsequent experiences with bi women), but what really grabbed my attention was the espionage bit.

    Oh, and yay, Pats. Sigh.

    @4jkb4ia: I just mean that in general, refs aren’t trying to screw one particular team. That’s the part I find weak.

  237. 237.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Well, damn. Not nearly as interesting as the other bits. By the way, which woman in On Our Backs is the one you dated?

    ETA: I’m outie for a bit. I’ll read your response when I return, or you can email me with the deets (addy on my blog. I’m blogging over at ABL’s place now, did you know?).

  239. 239.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: Huh? No. I’m not whining about the referring at all. The game was lost fair and square. He was just commenting on Cole’s whining about reffing, and I was saying that I find whining about it to be weak in general because I don’t buy that refs are out to get one team or another.

    Besides, Eddie Guns is teh hawt, so all is forgiven.

  240. 240.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: It was a general comment to teh emo surrounding the reffing whines (which I have zero sympathy for given how fucked over the Seahacks were in the Super Bowl and they fessed up to years later) but I hooked it on to you because, well, I like you. :)

  242. 242.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Her name’s Laura/Otter. It was a bondage sorta pic- iirc (and I think I’ve still got that old copy) rope-bound at the wrists, knees and ankles, knees to chest, wrist tied to rope at knees. Shot from the right side, and from a high angle. Prosthetic wings attached to her heels (not shoes, but her heels) are what stand out. And it wasn’t part of a spread, not that I’m aware of, anyway, but an ad to drum up subscriptions for the magazine.

    But it was back in the late ’80s, and I don’t know that she spends much time in SF any more- which is probably good, because SF and GR probably did bad things to her. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, she’s got a small theater in New Orleans to which she devotes most of her time now.

    I really liked her. She was very adventurous. I think she felt that I was too vanilla for her after I turned down her many offers of a vermouth enema. But she was fun to be around.

    Where else in the ether is there a football thread in which anyone would feel comfortable writing about this?

  244. 244.

    Andy K

    @handy:

    I dunno. If they run into Atlanta, look out. After seeing both Atlanta and the Pats beat my Packers, I’ve got to say that I think the Falcons are the better team. Atlanta beat us when we were a lot healthier.

    And, shit, if the 18-0 team could blow it at the end, so could this team.

  245. 245.

    Yutsano

    @Andy K: The speculation is what makes it fun. Unless you’re a Seachicken fan. Then you go into every game expecting a loss and are pleasantly surprised at another outcome. No wonder we drink so much coffee up here.

  246. 246.

    Andy K

    @Yutsano:

    Agreed on all three points. But confidently stating that the Pats should start getting fitted by Jostens is a bit too far out on the limb for me to consider it speculation.

    BTW, it’s only going to get worse for the Seahawks if they don’t find Hasselbeck’s replacement soon. You might have a few more seasons like this with MH, but it will get really ugly if he goes down within the next year or two.

  247. 247.

    Yutsano

    @Andy K: I had a minor amount of hope for Whitehurst especially after seeing his pre-season play, but I agree he’s not the answer. And I don’t really think a rookie would be either. We’re gonna have to poach someone decent here and try to build a system around him. Fortunately we’re pretty good at getting receivers to actually catch the ball, it’s just a matter of getting it to them Run game needs work too. Yes I’m dreaming about a possible fill-in for that. Yes I know it ain’t gonna happen any time soon.

  251. 251.

    Cacti

    Why do I have such a hard time believing in the Falcons as a Super Bowl favorite?

    They’ve won a league-best 8 straight, and of the playoff teams, they’re the most balanced on paper (#5 scoring offense, #7 scoring defense).

    There’s just something that makes me think to myself “not gonna happen”.

  252. 252.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I’m blogging over at ABL’s place now, did you know?

    Damn, I missed the edit!

    No, I did not. Now I must bookmark her site.

    So are you guys setting yourselves up to be the anti-Jane and anti-Marcy? I’m joking….

  253. 253.

    Andy K

    @Cacti:

    There’s just something that makes me think to myself “not gonna happen”.

    I don’t even have to ask where that comes from, but I’d be remiss to point out that the SAINTS won it all last year.

  254. 254.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Andy K: Wow. I’m surprised you didn’t give that a go. (J/K). I’m used to being the more adventurous one. It doesn’t phase me.

    ETA: Emily Hauser is blogging there, too! We’re going to be the new “Charlie’s Angels” of blogging. Or something. ABL is sassy; ee is classy; I am brassy.

    @Yutsano: I will fight you for him. And, being a Seattle fan is much like being a Vikes fan, I see.

    @Cacti: When your team never wins, you feel they never will win. I know exactly how you feel, but as Andy K. reminded you, look at the Saints.

  255. 255.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Granted we’re not quite dealing with an Old Man Yells at Football situation here, but Matty really does need to hang up his cleats. It’s finding someone who can fill his hole adequately that will make the difference. At least no one suggested Vince Young. You’d never hear me say, “Oh HELL no!!” faster. Although I did let out a nice Whiskey Tango Foxtrot when Carroll got hired.

  257. 257.

    Andy K

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Wow. I’m surprised you didn’t give that a go.

    Well, I didn’t have time to be drunk for a week. More importantly, I didn’t want to feel drunk for a week. For as much as I knocked back over [doing math in head] 26 years, I was a social drinker who just stayed at the bar until it was time for everyone- meaning the last bartender- to go home.

    Another one of my favorite bartenders, who was a housemate before Baby Mama, as well as Baby Mama’s manager, used to always remark that people rarely knew when I was drunk. She knew, of course, because she knew how much I was drinking. But my tolerance for alcohol was very high. Had I felt drunk all of the time, I don’t think I would have made many drinking/chat buddies. I probably would have quit sooner, out of sheer embarrassment.

  258. 258.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: So sad about Vince Young. I was rooting for him to succeed. Sigh. As for the Vikes, Joe Webb, the receiver turned into a QB is starting tomorrow’s game. And, as I noted earlier, we are supposed to get six-eight inches of snow tomorrow night. The Vikes are now in an open stadium (for now, I should say). 10 degrees predicted. VERY interesting.

    @Andy K: Heh. Yeah. I hear ya. I can drink one drink over the course of an hour or so. That’s my limit. It’s the Asian in me.

  259. 259.

    Andy K

    @handy:

    Dude, I don’t think that’s hate.

    I share Ron’s sentiment- the Packers are beat to bloody hell right now. And I’m definitely not a hater. I’m a big fan of Brady (since he was in Ann Arbor) and the Hoody. They’re a great team. They should have more easily beaten the Packers, who didn’t dress Rodgers and Cullen Jenkins, and who lost Nick Collins before the half. A 31-27 win at Green Bay wouldn’t have made me feel less of them, but they should have won 31-7 in Foxboro.

  260. 260.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Hell at this point I’d take John Carlson (WR for the Seahacks, Google him, not too shabby, though his wedding ring is ridiculously huge) as QB over Matty. He couldn’t possibly do worse. And Charlie is playing like he’s a high school back-up. It’s enmaddening.

    Agreed on VY, but at the same time he’s acting like a brat too. So plenty of blame to spread around there.

  261. 261.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Yutsano: You are so predictable when it comes to your type. Clean-cut jock.

    VY, oh, no doubt. He’s not suited to be an NFL quarterback right now. I was just rooting for him to pull it together.

  262. 262.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Yeah well he’s a good Catholic boy (presumably, he went to Notre Dame but that doesn’t mean much anymore) so they’re all supposed to be married and popping out kidlets by now. I was actually speaking more of his athletic abilities, although if he lived in my building I might go out of my way to get to know him more.

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