Trash Talk: The Regular Season, at Last!

We made it the vast wasteland of baseball hell back to football season! Congratulations one and all, especially you baseball nuts cursing my heresy right now.

Titans-Stillers: Things kick off tonight with scribe’s Stillers taking on masaccio’s Titans, the Super Bowl winners against last year’s winningest team. Gotta go with the Stillers, easy, in this, because I still haven’t washed my hand since I shook Franco Harris’ hand at Netroots Nation. Plus, Mike Tomlin did something really classy this off-season–he said, as a friend of Michael Vick’s, he might have ordinarily considered pursuing him, but given Big Ben’s drama in the off season, he didn’t want to do anything to get in Big Ben’s head. The Stillers are pretty much the team that won the Super Bowl, whereas the Titans have lost both Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz. Plus, it’s in Pittsburgh.

Irish-Wolverines: Yes, this college game merits discussion in the first pro Trash Talk of the year. When’s the last time this game actually mattered? How long since it has it featured two undefeateds? There was an interesting stat on ESPN the other night–one of those insta-polls on which coach needed the win more, Charlie Weis or Rich Rod. The entire country, save two states, said Weis. One exception, of course, was MI. The other? WV, which appears to still be pouting. I gotta go with the Wolverines here, because if I gotta deal with game day traffic, then I sure as heck am owed a win. Go, um, Forcier!

USC-OSU: I might make the effort to muster some Big 10 jingoism over this game, to claim that OSU can stay with USC in the Horseshoe.  But … Navy?!?! So consider this the first opportunity of the year for bmaz to boast about how much better the Pac 10 is than the Big 10.

Merriman-Tequila: I frankly had never heard of Ms. Tequila when this whole nightmare for Shawne Merriman came up (yeah, you guys know my problems with pop culture, I get it). But from what folks tell me, Ms. Tequila is as dopey as she sounds–which leads me to give Merriman’s side of the story serious consideration.  But I had to include it here because (as some of you might remember from discussions of Brent Wilkes) it all went down in Poway, CA, where I graduated from high school. And, unless things have changed, Poway’s not the kind of town in which a homeowner’s dalliances with two and three women in one bed make national news. So I included this just to increase Poway’s shame.

There’s so much going on this weekend, I expect we’ll weigh in with more Trash on Saturday. So rather than picking games, why don’t we do a start-of-season prediction of Division winners, for an especially nice hubcap at the end of the year (maybe we’ll melt down all the hubcaps Phred won last year and turn them into one very very big hubcap)? Mine are:

NFC North: Da Bears. Yeah. I get that on paper both the Vikes and the Pack are much better than Chicago this year–frankly, pretty damn good teams all around. Yeah, I agree that Cutler is a punk. Call this a whimsical hunch that I will likely very much regret–say, by Sunday.
NFC South: I’ll pick the Falcons here, though I’d sure like to see Drew Brees have another great year with the Saints.
NFC East: It’s a wacky year in the NFC East, but I think the Gents are still the strongest team in the Division. Besides, isn’t there a rule that at least one Manning wins a Division?
NFC West: Jeebus, who cares? I mean, what are the chances that any team from the NFC West would ever be a factor at all in the post-season? On paper the Squawks are probably the strongest team, but they’ve got the worst travel schedule this year. So I’ll go with the sentimental choice of Mike Singletary’s Niners.

AFC North: Stillers. Whether Stillers or Ravens with the Division, the other will get one of the wildcards. I’m just going with the Stillers because I like Mike Tomlin that much.
AFC South: This will probably be a surprise division this year, with the Colts fading and the Titans losing some key personnel. So hell, if we’re going to have a surprise, why not the Texans?
AFC East: Pats. Not because Brady’s back. Not because they’ve loaded him up with even more guns on offense. And in spite of the fact that BillBel has ousted all of his defensive leaders. But because BillBel has followed up his 6th round steal of Brady, his 7th round Cassell pick, with his latest bottom-feeder (and, at this point, sole) QB back-up: undrafted Brian Hoyer.  Not that going into the first game with a brand new knee and a total rookie back-up is a good thing, mind you. But it’ll keep you amused.
AFC West: Looks like the Bolts are going to have more unhelpful drama this year, and BillBel has stacked the Bolts’ Division opponents with some great defensive weapons. Still, the Bolts are so much better than all the rebuilding teams in their division, they should easily take it.

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107 replies
  1. randiego says:

    Hi Marcy, been waiting for this one!

    Poway has been in the news lately, there’s a recall effort underway against a councilwoman who used her influence to affect her neighbors development plans. I’ll never understand why so many of the Chargers players live there.

    In other news, the Padres passed the Diamondbacks in the standings last night. Heh.

    • emptywheel says:

      Big houses. And reasonable schools. That’s all I can figure, though I think a lot of people ship their kids out when they see how pasty the schools really are (or were?). I’m sure I’ve told you that when I lived there there were 3 or 4 Padres in the hood. Best of all, Tony Gwynn lived caddy-corner from me. He used to ref all the public service charity games in hoops. And me and his kids and him had a great game of fetch with my dog one day, when his kids were about knee high.

      • randiego says:

        They sing very loudly the superiority of Poway High, that always annoyed the crap out of me. I always found it to be a Stepford kind of place.

        I dragged my better half out to Poway in the middle of the night a few weeks back, to buy a surfboard of all things. It was a fun thread on facebook for a while, her friends had a good time with that.

        Tony Gwynn Jr played for Dad at SDSU, and is now playing for the Padres, who just passed the Diamondbacks in the standings.

        Albert Haynesworth is a monster, I’m relieved he’s out of the AFC! The Titans won’t be as good without him. Having said that, I’ll be pulling for Tennessee tonight.

        Look for Merriman to have a quiet game against The Raiduhs. He’s not 100%.

        • emptywheel says:

          Yup, that Tony Jr. I could have been his babysitter but I worked in a restaurant instead.

          And did you call us “Cowpie High”? Cause I heard that a lot around the county.

          It was a pretty Stepford place. We got suckered to move there bc of the schools. It wasn’t the happiest two years of my life.

        • scribe says:

          At least until he gets a rise out of you.

          As for me, I’m liking the way this schedule is working out b/c I can watch Stillers tonight and then devote all of my tomorrow night viewing to watching the orgy of Jeter-worship once he gets his next hit – the one which will carry him past Gehrig into first place on the “most hits as a Yankee” list.

        • scribe says:

          Correct me if I’m wrong, BMAz, but does not F.R.Evid. 412 preclude discovery into sexual history?

          A colleague wrote a memo on that about 10 years ago for a per diem assignment; the attorney for whom it was written then took it and welshed on paying, which came close to drawing a copyright infringement suit and earned him a lifetime spot on the shit list.

        • bmaz says:

          Well I think it is filed in state court, but that crap sure wouldn’t fly here without a manifest showing of grounds to believe there is a pattern and practice; cannot believe it would in California. Should be noted that FRE 412 basically is oriented to exploration of the victim’s history, not really the defendant’s. As to the defendant, though you just cannot prejudice with prior bad acts without a specific showing for the basis.

  2. scribe says:

    More about Poway. you say:

    unless things have changed, Poway’s not the kind of town in which a homeowner’s dalliances with two and three women in one bed make national news. So I included this just to increase Poway’s shame.

    Does that “not the kind of town” thing mean “a homeowner’s dalliances with two and three women in one bed” is so commonplace that it goes without mentioning? Or is it that it never happens?

    If the latter, that would be all the more reason for it to hit the national media.

    If the former, I’m moving there once my condo sale closes.

    ‘Cause you sure as all get-out don’t hear about that going on in Pgh. All you get to hear about is wingnut USMC rejects lighting up the neighborhood with their illegally-owned AK….

    And a sixth Lombardi Trophy accompanied by rings with 6 honkin’ diamonds in the football-shaped array of other diamonds. And the hypocycloids, of course.

    And James Silverback Harrison “looking to improve” over last year.

    • emptywheel says:

      Well, let me correct that. While I didn’t know as many bigamists as I knew in Utah, the two and three women in the bed are more likely to be wives than dalliances.

      Probably not your kind of place.

        • emptywheel says:

          As I’m sure I’ve also explained, my best friend at Cowpie high was LDS. We had a great gig worked out every time we’d go to parties. People would stamp her hand for fun, knowing she’d never drink. I’d say I wasn’t drinking. Then she’d give me the free beer.

          She was also a great friend to have the day there was a gunman in my neighborhood and she had to drive us out bc the rest of us were far too stoned to drive.

          So it was a Stepford place, but we made do.

        • scribe says:

          If you ever explained that – I never heard it.

          Fair enough – I just don’t do well in Stepford neighborhoods.

  3. scribe says:

    Y’know, I looked again at this picture (apparently taken at the Stillers training camp this year) and asked myself what would I do if I walked into a tent where this display was going on.

    And, in that almost-instinctual way that only a rigidly enforced ultra-Catholic upbringing can evince itself, I felt the immediate urge to genuflect and cross myself. So much so that I had to make a conscious effort not to get up out of the chair….

  4. scribe says:

    True about the state court, but most state courts also have a 412 analog. Also true that 412 is more victim-oriented, but IIRC the plain language of the rule does not limit it to victims only.

    I suspect this lady’s case will go away without a settlement – this discovery demand seems to be taking place while a motion to dismiss/for SJ is pending. Which would make the discovery demand a pure publicity stunt.

    • bmaz says:

      It is a total stunt, and a pretty loathsome one too. They stand no chance in hell of getting the discovery but have tried to pollute the jury pool and negatively affect his reputation by falsely inferring there is prior bad conduct. It is close to being sanctionable if you ask me.

  5. john in sacramento says:

    Titans v. Steelers

    You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
    You don’t spit into the wind
    You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
    And you don’t mess around with Jim

    And you don’t stomp on the terrible towel

    Have no idea what the spread is so I’ll just pick the winner. Steelers.

    As far as the other game tonight.

    Clemson v. Ga Tech

    Triple-option continues to confound; Ramblin’ Wreck rolls

    NFL Div Winners – all the div winners are the more complete, more talented, and fundamentally sound teams. Offense, defense, special teams. The biggest questions with div winners are with the Cards and Texans

    NFC Div Winners

    Giants
    Vikes
    Panthers
    Leaning Cards but maybe … *

    Possible wildcards – any two of these
    Bears
    … Seahawks* (possible dark horse)
    Pack (sleeper)
    Eagles
    Redskins (possible sleeper, see: schedule)

    AFC Div winners

    Pats
    Steelers
    Texans (Dark horse. I know the Titans had the best record last year, and the Colts are always the Colts. It’s a hunch)
    Chargers

    Possible wildcards – any two of these
    Colts (think they take a step back)
    Titans (think they take a step back)
    Ravens
    Or ?

    Just to better clarify sleeper and dark horse. I think you probably have three different tiers when talking about teams lower; middle; and top. I think a sleeper team is someone in the lower tier that makes a jump into one of the upper tiers. And a dark horse is a middle tier team that makes a jump into winning their div. And I guess that makes last year’s Cards team a sleepy dark horse or something like that *g*

    It’s all just a guess because you can’t predict injuries and YMMV

  6. freepatriot says:

    jebus

    24 fucking comments before y’all pull yer heads out an actually make yer fookin picks

    and did anybody notice that Randiego mentioned that the Padres passed the D’backs in the standings last night

    that seems to be the primary topic of this thread

    an we dint jes survive baseball hell, there was NASCAR hell, F1 hell, tennis hell, and golf hell (the worst of all sports hells, except for fishing hell)

    at least I think I survived

    there may be some lingering psychological damage (but the athletes should survive)

    here are the winning division picks

    make mine a gold plated hubcap please, something gaudy, and befitting my stature amongst you mere mortals)

    Green Bay
    New Orleans
    philly
    seattle

    Baltimore
    Tennessee
    Miami
    San Diego

    remember, a GOOD hub, not some toyota junk …

    • emptywheel says:

      First Trash back. We sort of took it easy during pre-season, had to nurse some lingering injuries. So we just need to get the kinks out. By Saturday, we’ll be ready.

    • freepatriot says:

      Doesn’t anyone like someone different in AFC West?

      I’d like someone different in the west

      we’ll swap ya Al Davis for Jerry Jones, straight up

      an I’m sure bmaz would trade the bidwell family for the first guy mentioned

      we’d prolly get some draft picks too …

      • bmaz says:

        Freep put something foul in the smokescope. Thinks the TunaFish are going to beat the Patriots.

        And by the way bucco, the next Trash Talk will be all F1 and curling in your honor!

  7. randiego says:

    and did anybody notice that Randiego mentioned that the Padres passed the D’backs in the standings last night

    Poway has also been a significant topic

    • emptywheel says:

      Yeah, but we had to tell those Poway stories to give everyone else an understanding of how Merriman’s 2-3 non-wife gals in one bed might be regarded by his neighbors. That counts as football, you see.

  8. CasualObserver says:

    NFC East: … NFC East, but … the Gents are still the strongest team in the Division

    Thank you EW, and of course you are right. By the way, you are a superb blogger, your acumen and perspicacity are as legendary as they are monumental, your smile lovely, and you are a fine human being.

    The above has nothing to do with your pick of the G’ints, btw.

  9. Neil says:

    To football in a minute:

    The Docket, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s news blog
    Judge angered … Link
    September 10th, 2009 | by noahs

    Sullivan gets pinched for smoking a doobie on the Cape Cod National Seashore and federal judge comes down on US prosecutor for dismissing Sullivan’s charges but not other suspects of that same infraction, after knocking down the USA’s reason – “additional adverse effect” on Sullivan’s immigration status.

    Does Judge Collins have a legitimate role in questioning the propriety and equity, in the broader name of justice, of the US attorney prosecuting decisions?

  10. Neil says:

    Pats fans want everyone to Remember the Titans! Two dropped passes in a row on 2nd and 3rd down, then a missed FG. Ugh. It’s early.

    • JimWhite says:

      Okay, I missed your Brian Hoyer mention in the post and wondered what Steny has been up to now. So I googled for news today and found this. I never knew there was a National Jewish Leadership Advocacy Day on Iran. The take-home is chillingly bipartisan:

      U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), speaking Thursday in Washington at the National Jewish Leadership Advocacy Day on Iran, told more than 300 Jewish leaders that he will mark up the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act in October and “begin the process of tightening the screws on Tehran” if Iran “does not reverse course.”
      /snip/
      In addition to Berman, Jewish community leaders heard House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) both say they also were ready to proceed with sanctions legislation. Hoyer, speaking before Berman, said he had told his colleague that “once you move it, my intention is to bring it to the floor shortly thereafter.”

      Also speaking were House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)

      As if Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan aren’t going badly enough, we gotta keep stokin’ the war fires for Iran.

      Puke.

  11. john in sacramento says:

    For the Trojan haters

    USC vs Florida and LSU.

    Winning percentage v. teams in the top 10. Click for the google cache version if the website is still overloaded

    LSU’s combined record vs. teams that finished in the top 10 since 2002 is: 5-10 a .333 win percentage

    Florida’s combined record vs. teams that finished in the top 10 since 2002 is: 10-12 a .455 win percentage

    USC’s combined record vs. teams that finished in the top 10 since 2002 is: 11-3 a .785 win percentage

    For the PAC 10 haters

    As for the SEC vs Pac 10 football, all-time, head-to-head record (through the 2008 season) – here it is:

    The SEC leads the Pac-10 60-38-5 (.607). However, over the past 11 years (1998 – 2008), the Pac-10 actually leads the SEC 10-7 (.588).

  12. klynn says:

    Hey,

    Where in the world has MadDog gone? Haven’t seen his contributions here in about a week.

    Hope MD is okay.

    • fatster says:

      Glad you noted that. He has gone missing. skdadl hasn’t been around in a few days, also. Hope she’s ok, too.

  13. masaccio says:

    The Irish blew out Nevada, and got to play a lot of people. The corn chips and bleu cheese gave up points to a directional school. Loyalties aside, you gotta like the Irish.

  14. cregan says:

    Absolutely great that football season is back, especially college ball. I agree, USC is going to have a tough time against Ohio State.

    • bmaz says:

      Oh yeah; betting the Big-10 over the Pac-10 is always an excellent play. Or, you know, not. Man, your track record is already shaky; this is not likely to ameliorate that.

      • cregan says:

        As in other things, I say what I believe regardless of the prevailing wind or other considerations. And in this case, I believe USC is going to have a very tough game and I don’t think the rookie QB is up to it. AND, the Big 10 is much stronger than the Pac 10 this year.

        • bmaz says:

          Hey this is Trash Talk, it is okay to throw down here. But i been watching the Pac-10 eat up supposedly stronger Big-10 teams since I was a kid. Granted, most of those years were Rose Bowls, because that was the only time they played. Honestly, most of all those 20-25 years, a middle of the conference Big-10 team might have beaten the equivalent from the Pac-10. But conference champ against conference champ it was fairly bleak for the 3 yarders and a cloud of dust boys. This year the frosh QB is an issue; but I think USC is way to fast on both sides of the ball for OSU. Navy was looking fast fer crying out loud.

        • emptywheel says:

          Like bmaz said, I may think you’re full of it elsewhere, but you are heartily invited to throw trash here.

          While I’m going to maintain the Irish get beat in the Big House, I’m not sure I buy your take on OSU’s chances against USC.

        • randiego says:

          And in this case, I believe USC the Navy Middies are is going to have a very tough game and I don’t think the rookie QB is up to it.

          there… fixt

  15. cregan says:

    Man, the Big 10 and Pac 10 have had some great throw downs over the years. My favorite was Ohio State vs SC in I think ‘67, I’m not sure. You could tell OSU had some skills. I told my Dad after about one quarter that OSU would come out on top, and they did. Then, I think USC came back the next year and smoked OSU in the Rose Bowl.

    Course, these days, you don’t even know if you’ll get Big 10 vs Pac 10 in a Rose Bowl. I’ve never been to the game, but I know they get crazy in Pasadena for the few days before. I went down a few days early to see the Parade one year, and there were school shirts, hats, banner, pennants, etc. all over the the place.

    Now, if USC still had Sanchez, it would be a different story.

  16. cregan says:

    With an Irish name, ND has to be my favorite team over the long haul, but I’ve been hiding my head and avoiding eye contact during the season these last few years.

    By the way, as a side note, I like the empty wheel because people are tight with their arguments and generally passionate about what they believe. It is world class political discourse, and that is what makes it interesting.

  17. cregan says:

    My Grandfather was imprisoned as a political prisoner at Gorman’s Town prison in 1922 and 1923 (the hot time of the revolution). He was a member of the IRA. While at the prison, he had the other prisoners write in an autograph book their thoughts at the time. Including one fellow prisoner who was getting hung the next day. Quite inspirational to see what these guys had on their minds.

    He left the book to me when he died.

    So, needless to say, our family were required to be ND fans.

    I am not planning any victory parties after the game, I’ll tell you that. But, it’s a big game in their schedule, so who knows??

      • cregan says:

        I have given it to a few professors of Irish history, but but that was while ago, and I don’t know if they are going to do anything with it.

        It isn’t very long, maybe 50 pages, so it doesn’t make a book.

        Also, it is quite fragile, so I just gave copies to the professors.

        • randiego says:

          50 pages of that type of material sounds like a lot to me, and it also sounds like a very unusual piece of history. If you are interested in having it published, you shouldn’t be approaching professors, you should be approaching an agent or book editor.

          You were wise not to let anyone take possession of the originals.

  18. Mauimom says:

    So consider this the first opportunity of the year for bmaz to boast about how much better the Pac 10 is than the Big 10.

    Oh, bmaz, come sit next to me!!!

    Actually I’m just about to get on a plane to go from Maui to Phoenix and then on to Columbus. Son is sportswriter for the USC paper, and husband went to OSU. [I’m rooting for SC.]

    Having watched both games this last weekend [this endeavor had to start @ 6 am], I think OSU is going to do better than expected [their quarterback is nimble, and Navy’s offense is hard to defend], but I still think USC will win. USC’s defensive players are quick, which should cut some of Pryor’s threat.

    Also, Barkley is a far better quarterback than his 18 years would suggest. And cripes, the running backs they have!

    Noise in The Shoe will be a factor, but it should be a good game.

    If I did the Twitter Thing, I’d tweet you from the game.

  19. radiofreewill says:

    Mercy! Bu-coops of choices to make in the quest for a Hubcap!

    Redskins
    Bears
    Falcons
    Squawks

    Ravens
    Colts
    Pats
    Bolts

    USC beats OSU
    Irish run around The Brontos
    Merriman takes Tequila

    My early SB pick – Redskins beat the Pats!

  20. scribe says:

    Well, a W is a W.

    If you’re going to be a winning team, you have to be able to win ugly, too. Not that anyone expected anything other than a defensive struggle tonight.

    Dick LeBeau deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, now.

    Mike Tomlin is what you would get from the melding Vince Lombardi, Yoda and John Shaft.

    Polamalu has a strained MCL (knew that as soon as I saw the replay) and is expected to be out 3-6 weeks. He was walking pretty well shortly after the injury, but he’ll be feeling it today for sure.

    The replay on Polamalu looked like an injury Dave Winfield (as a Yankee) suffered when he hyperextended his knee making a play. Still makes one cringe. But, though everyone was moaning and crying when Winfield went down that time, it needs be remembered that Winfield being out was one of the things which led George Steinbrenner to giving money to (remember this name?) Howie Spira (”What’s he doing while he’s out – he says he’s injured?!”) for dirt on Winfield which, in turn, led to Steinbrenner being suspended by MLB which, in turn, led to the Yankee “baseball people” being in charge of player development and trades which, in turn, led to drafting Derek Jeter and not trading Andy Pettite and Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter (for various quick-fix free agents/veterans, something Steinbrenner was very inclined to do) and which trust in the “Baseball people” led to not trading Mariano Rivera for Mariners’ SS Feliz Fermin when the then-Yankee shortstop (Andy Fernadez or Gonzalez – I can never keep it straight) got hurt and instead allowed the Yankees to let Jeter play every day despite a bit of a stumble out of the gate. That was the spring of 1996 and, as they say, the rest is history. I heard a radio host, long-time journo and game caller interviewed on one of the talk-radio shows today talking about Jeter, and that the consensus seems to be building (outside NY, where it’s existed as settled fact for years) that by the time he is done Jeter will rank as probably the third-greatest shortstop of all time, behind Honus Wagner and Cal Ripken.

    And, to think, they wanted to trade him for Pascual Perez.

    So, even things which appear “bad” at the time, aren’t necessarily so.

    • randiego says:

      Mike Tomlin is what you would get from the melding Vince Lombardi, Yoda and John Shaft.

      oh my god fucking gag me. The Stillers were damn lucky to win that game, at home. How many sacks did they give up?

  21. BayStateLibrul says:

    From MeWalkEE (old news)

    Have an old Favre jersey that you’d like to burn?

    Anyone who brings a Brett Favre jersey to Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove on Saturday, Sept. 5 will not only receive free admission but will be entered into a drawing to win tickets to see Minnesota play in Green Bay on November 1st. The tickets are courtesy of Connections Ticket Service.

    After a full day of racing, a line of Favre jerseys will be strung behind the starting line. Then, Great Lakes Dragaway staff will set them aflame with a 300 mph jet car!

    Jerseys that aren’t burned in the giant fireball will be donated to homeless shelters and Goodwill.

    Gates open at 9 a.m., feature race at 6 p.m.. The jersey burn is at 8 p.m.

  22. JimWhite says:

    Was Polamalu a victim of the Madden curse? Turns out there is a long list of problems for players featured on the cover of the Madden game.

    Paging bmaz, this article dissed your man, big time:

    2006: Donovan McNabb(notes). Missed last seven games of the season.
    2007: Shaun Alexander(notes). Broke his foot, missed six games.
    2008: Vince Young(notes). Missed one game. But things didn’t go well.
    2009: Brett Favre(notes). Missed no games. But did become insufferable.

  23. cregan says:

    OK, slightly off topic, so I apologize, but seems some interest.

    Here is one thing from the book, the letter from Dick Barrett to his fellow prisoners dated Dec. 8, 1922:

    My Fellow Prisoners,

    Well, it is just 7 am and I am to be executed at 8 am. Perhaps more of you may be called on to go the same proud way. Well boys, it is very easy. Death is only terrible at the distance. The nearer you get to it, the better. Tis all over for me. I can easily escape now. I hope you will all be true to the faith of our National Fathers and when called upon to do a great thing for Ireland’s sake, you will face it manfully.

    Do not bear ill will or dream of reprisals. The cause is too holy for ignoble deeds. I have not seen Liam, Rory or Joe and I am sure they too are happy.

    Goodbye to all, remember me, and pray for us four. I have a packet of cigarettes I wish I could give one to Cooney or Tom.

    Your fellow prisoner,

    Dick

    People did copy this letter at the time, so it might be out there somewhere.

    • fatster says:

      Please follow randiego’s advice. And do let us know of your success. And surely you will be successful at getting those letters published. They are unique and capture an era as only the participants can do. Thnx.

        • emptywheel says:

          Well, you know, if this Tequila thing went on much longer, it might be a distraction. Now Merriman can just have fun on Sunday.

          I remember how good it felt to come back to my first tournie after knee surgery. He’s gonna have fun. (Note, I can’t imagine how Brady will feel bc I was never as much of an offensive player as defensive. I was a Monster Back–damn good one–for Poway’s Powder Puff team, so Merriman and I are practically related.)

        • freepatriot says:

          oh yeah

          San Diego Versus New Orleans in the superbowl, baby

          you have not yet begun to regret trading Drew Brees

          I’m thinkin it’s gonna be a “redsox Curse” an stuff

          but you could wait 86 years to win a superbowl, right

          (duckin & runnin)

          PS, wildcards ???

          we gotta pick wildcards ???

          Pitt & Indy

          Chicago & Tampa

          (resumes duckin & runnin)

  24. john in sacramento says:

    Drive by …

    In case I don’t get here tomorrow

    SC wins easily unless Pryor goes all Vince Young on the Trojans

    Barkley shines

    PS I know they’re favored. But do you want me to pick a hard game? Like Florida over that top 10 powerhouse Southwestern Central La State? Hmmm, I think that’s who they’re playing. Right? … Kidding *g*

  25. Neil says:

    AFC W – Patriots
    AFC N – Steelers
    AFC S – Titans
    AFC W – Chargers

    NFC E – Giants
    NFC N – Vikings
    NFC S – Panthers
    NFC W – 49ers

    my pics above. some thoughts on BilBel’s QB decision later.

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