Our Manifesto?

Professional Sports Is Very Interesting

Have you ever noticed how interesting professional sports is? If there's one topic that I enjoy spending hours thinking about and ruminating upon,...

Meet the Mets

Thank you NY Mets for getting YoHo Santana the fuck out of the American League Central. That could translate into five more wins for our beloved White SOX.

In that division ya take wins wherever you can get them.

Not you as in you or me (whoever you are)...we aren't going to win anything.

I don't know what the acquisition of Santana does for the Mets' chances to win it all. I'd say if the cubs got him they'd be guaranteed to win their division (although things already look good on that front for the north side club)...

Devin will say that I know nothing about baseball, but now that Santana's traded the Twinkies are going to trade Joe Nathan next. If I were generally managing the cubs I'd think about packaging Carlos Marmol (sp? Jeanz, Z? Lou? anybody) and somebody else in a deal for the Twins lights out closer.

True, the cubs do not win their division in 07 without Carlos M out of the bullpen, but is he ready or can he ever be a closer?

Kerry Wood closing? Can cubs fans really depend on his rattley shoulder to go out and throw every day? Bob Howry? He's a great set up man, but when was the last time he closed games on a regular basis?

cubs fans think I suck and that's fine, but I know a world class closer when I see one and Joe Nathan (with one exception in the last two years) has been lights out in the 9th inning.

Who wouldn't want that?

For Ed

Carl Quietly Reflects on the Giants Winning the NFC Championship

Wrigley Field Cubhubub

Are people really up in arms about the naming rights of Wrigley Field?

WRIGLEY FIELD!!!!

It’s fucking gum douchebags! What? It would be a crime to name the field after gum AND something else?

In the wake of the housing market slowdown, one of the sub-prime lenders should consider partnering with the cubs…

…hell, the cubs have been giving their downtrodden fans sub-prime baseball for almost 100 years.

The Liar's NFL Championship Game Picks

No time for love, Dr. Jones.
I'm getting ready to head out to the Chili Solstice tonight, and decided to get my picks up here before it was too late.
Here you go:

Last Weeks Picks: 2/2
Season Record: 175/89

Afternoon Game:
Patriots (17-0) over Chargers (13-5)
The Bolts got chewed up by the Colts last week. This game should be a cake-walk for the Patriots. I reiterate; should be.

Evening Game:
Packers (14-3) over Giants (12-6)
According to weather.com, tomorrow's forecast for Green Bay calls for flurries with a high temperature of 3 degrees.
Friggin' awesome!
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Correct picks in GREEN
Wrong picks in RED

Carl's Not As Pissed As Usual (and in a wig)

Live Free or Cry

WHO DO YOU BELIEVE AMERICA?!?

Tony Romo's got Jessica, maybe these two would make a good couple.



At least there's no crying in baseball.





Later, the French surrendered to the nearly disintegrated corpse of the bird killed by the Big Mullet...er, Unit.

My predictions suck...

From July 19th, 2007:

some early predictions:

1. 49ers make the playoffs.

- God, what a disaster. They do have Patrick Willis who won Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's a badass.

2. turner takes the gift of the chargers and loses in the first round of the playoffs.

- How the Hell do you let Billy Volek beat you? Not that, Ed!

3. I'll go to a Raiders game (Bears are here Nov. 11th) and get really drunk.

- Well, I went to the KC game and was so hungover I couldn't even have one drink at the game. NOT ONE. Pathetic and unacceptable.

TV Reception

Either my TV is totally fucked or some random Colts fan is playing a didgeridoo whenever the Chargers have the ball.

Maybe my ears are fucked.

It's probably my head. Who has didgeridoo delusions?

It has finally happened. I have become didgeridoolusional.

By the way, the NFL should adopt this song as its unofficial, official theme for the playoffs.

The Liar's NFL Divisional Playoffs Picks

Wow-wee - There are four great games happening this weekend. There isn't one stinker in the whole bunch, and they all should be well-matched games. Which is why what I'm about to do kinda freaks me out.
Last week I picked three road teams outta four, now this week I'm picking all four home teams to win. That doesn't make any sense. Hell, I'm picking against all three of my winners last week, and every year a wild-card team seems to make it to the Superbowl.
I don't care about all that noise - I see 4 home wins.

Bite me; that's why.

Last Weeks Picks: 3/1
Season Record: 173/87

Saturday Afternoon Game:
Packers (13-3) over Seahawks (11-6)
I'm hoping like hell that the Pack goes all the freakin' way this year - I'm talking Super Bowl Champs.
Why?
So that Favre fucking retires. All-y'all know that if they pick up a Super Bowl title that Brett's gonna do the classy thing and exit stage left.
If they don't win it all this year, getting this close will just whip Favre into a frenzy for another 5 or 6 seasons. I'm gonna like the NFC North a lot more with Brett's #4 hanging up in Lambeau.
Go Pack!
Postgame: I effing love those blizzard games. Granted, the game was over before the half, but I could have watched another 6 quarters of Seattle getting buried in snow.

Saturday Night Game:
Patriots (16-0) over Jaguars (12-5)
I'm really hoping that my Pack runs all over New England in Super Bowl XLII - It ain't gonna happen. Whoever comes up against the Pats on February 3rd is gonna be wholly outmatched, and the real fireworks are going down in the AFC playoffs over the next couple of weeks. Strap yourselves in.

Sunday Early Game:
Colts (13-3) over Chargers (12-5)
I really want to pick the Bolts in an upset here, but I'm pretty damned sure that's because the Colts didn't bother to play their last regular-season game. That's a sucker's bet, and I'm not falling for it. Indianapolis is the better team.
Postgame: Oh yeah, that's why I wanted to pick the Chargers, because the Clots always eat turd when they rest everyone in the weeks leading up to the playoffs - I even fucking wrote that in my week 17 picks.
I gotta stop listening to my brain.

Sunday Late Game:
Cowboys (13-3) over Giants (11-6)
Okay, let's settle down, folks. I picked the Giants last week, but some normally-sane people are going friggin' nutty over 'em. They're just good enough to beat the rusty Bucs, but not a well-honed team like the Cowboys.
Sorry, Carl - The G-Men are done.
Postgame: OMG!!! Tony Romo totally pulled a "Romo". There will be many a NFL film dedicated to Tony's last-minute playoff melt-downs.
On a plus note; We get the possibility for another snow game in Green Bay next week.
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Correct picks in GREEN
Wrong picks in RED

The Other Kind of Gray Goose

Goose Gossage made it to baseball's Valhalla after hearing from the writers nine times "No flagon of ambrosia for you!"

I'm probably mixing my afterlife metaphors here but I don't care. I for one, welcome our new two inning closer/overlord to Cooperstown. It never bothered me that he would get pissed for being passed over time and again or when he'd go on Dan Patrick and argue with a certain dickhead from the Detroit Free Press (or the Cleveland Post un-Intelligencer or some such rag) who swore up and down that he would never cast a Hall of Fame vote for a reliever...

Granted, I was in first grade when he left the SOX so I do not really remember him playing for the South Siders but every baseball fan my age remembers those great Yankee teams of the late 1970's. If you watched any of those legendary victories I bet you remember that it was Rich Gossage on the mound in the 9th inning. The amazing thing about the end of some of those games was the last out was rarely a strike out. I seem to remember him battling Yaz at the end of the Bucky Dent game, fooling the great Carmine and getting him to pop up harmlessly somewhere in the infield.

I think he had more strikeout victims when the Yankees eliminated some of those great Royals teams in the playoffs but I'm not going to break down the numbers and game action for Mr. Gossage. Santi, how many times did Gossage strike out Pete LaCock?

Sorry.

Here at Killing for Sports, if you have an animal nickname we all cheer when you are elected to a hall of fame.

Now if we can only get George the Animal Steele elected to the Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Rumors Not Involving Fleetwood Mac

If the rumors turn out to be true and the SOX trade Paulie to the Halos for Chone Figgins & Urban Santana I will be perfectly pleased with Kenny’s off-season moves (with the possible exception of Scott Limbrenk…I can’t even spell his stupid name)

Figgins is a legit leadoff hitter who can play a bunch of positions in the field. Cabrera works best as a #2 and the SOX could bat Swisher further down in the order. I love Paulie and will never forget how great he was in the playoffs including his home run against the Angels in the ALCS and his homer off Chad Qualls in the World Series…but the SOX have a few players like him (Thome from the left side and Dye from the right)…& those guys clog the fuck out of the bases.

With Figgins and Cabrera at the top of the order, someone is more likely to get on base & the defense will have fewer opportunities to go into the Thome shift. At first it sounds crazy that the Angels would trade two decent players to get Paulie at this stage of his career…but they need a big bat to give some support to Vlad the Ball Impaler…especially with Garrett Anderson on the decline. Plus the Angels have always coveted Konerko and I will always be grateful to him for taking less money to come back to the SOX in 2006.

I might be talking out of my ass on some of this…and even if the SOX make this trade they still might not be as good as the Indians or the Tigers.

The SOX can move Fields or Swisher to 1^st and have a viable and dare a say, diverse line-up for the 08 campaign.

I’m getting excited.

Swish

Nick Swisher or a $60mildo contract for Rowand? Nick Swisher or Tori Hunter at $90 mildo? Kudos to Kenny for making this deal. I think the Oakland Moneyball man is on the way up in his career. This is not the case for either Rowand or Hunter. They signed big deals and they are at a very different point in their careers.

Now let’s be clear…out of all the outfielders on the market Tori Hunter was the most talented (we’ll see about Fukudome)…but let the Angels pay that amount of money for a player whose bat, glove and charisma will help their ballclub.

Yes, SOX fans have a connection with Rowand and the beloved ‘05 team, but 60 million for a guy who should be hitting 6^th? Come on people, Swisher is the better deal.

Sure, I was surprised that the much coveted Geo Gonzalez was put in the deal, but if I know Kenny Williams, he will trade for and acquire Mr. Gonzalez once again. He’s the new, non-spitting Roberto Alomar.

I’d like to think the WhiteSOX are not done. They don’t seem to need either Messrs. Krisp or Pierre as Swisher will probably fill the void in center. But the SOX do need a lead off hitter and a viable 2^nd baseman (Uribe may be a worthwhile experiment but by no means is he a sure-thing at 2^nd). It would make the SOX Fukudome misadventure worth it if they could somehow steal Brian Roberts away from the cubs. Speaking realistically, the cubs have the inside track on this deal (McFail) and they have more to offer the O’s than do my beloved WhiteSOX. One version of a cubs/Orioles trade has the Patterson brothers reunited in Camden Yards. Awww….

That’s all in the future. For now, good job Kenny W and I promise to do my best to stay out of White Sox business.

The Liar's NFL Wild-Card Weekend Picks

This ain't good. For some reason I'm picking 3 road wins in the wild-card round. It isn't smart, but that's how I see 'em.
I think that I'm just unholy pissed at Seattle, Pitttsburgh, and Tampa for half-assin' it and screwing up my picks last week - This'll learn 'em.
I'm a firm believer in momentum, and the first three of these games are essentially the same story. I promise to mix it up a bit.

Last Weeks Picks: 10/6
Season Record: 170/86

Saturday Afternoon Game:
Redskins (9-7) over Seahawks (10-6)
While the Shawks were prancing around the may-pole, the Skins have been playing do-or-die games for the last 4 weeks; winning against the Bears (7-9), the Giants (10-6), the Vikings (8-8), & the Cowboys (13-3). In those four weeks Seattle won against the Cardnials (8-8) & Ravens (5-11), and lost to the Panthers (7-9) & Falcons (4-12).
Way to limp into the playoffs, boys.
It's gonna be a rude awakening for Seattle while they're picking their teeth outta the turf after this one.
Postgame: Arrrrrrgggghhhh!

Saturday Night Game:
Jaguars (11-5) over Steelers (10-6)
At least the Seahawks managed to pull out a win against the fucking Ravens in the final weeks - Pittsburgh can't say the same.
WTF? You guys do know that Baltimore lost to the Dolphins, right?
The Jags are a freaking juggernaut (bitch), and I don't see the sleepwalking Steelers waking up in time to get to the next round.

Sunday Early Game:
Giants (10-6) over Buccaneers (9-7)
What the diddily?
Before last week, I woulda picked the Bucs without any hesitation. A month ago I would have bet that the Giants wouldn't even make the playoffs.
After seeing NY play a hard-lost game against the red-hot Pats, I've had a change of heart. That game took GUTS. I don't care if they lost, they fucking played the hell outta that game. It beats watching Tampa drop two gimme games against the 49ers and the Panthers.
This game is the perfect litmus test on whether it's better to play or to rest after you have your playoff spot nailed down. I say "play".
Postgame: Wow, Garcia looked rusty as all hell. Maybe if they played him for more than a few downs over the last month this coulda been a real game.
The verdict is in: Play trumps rest.

Sunday Late Game:
Chargers (11-5) over Titans (10-6)
I'm not sold on the Titans and really would have rather seen the Browns in this match-up, but this is what we got. I don't think that either Cleveland or Tennessee has what it takes to knock out San Diego, but that match-up would have given me a dog in this fight -- insert Micheal Vick joke here --.
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Wrong picks in RED
Correct picks in GREEN