When Dwight Eisenhower warned of the creeping military-industrial complex, little did he know it would invade even the football trash talk of the liberal blog set. But, yet, here we are this week all soldiered up.
That is because the big story today is the Army/Navy game. The reason I say Army/Navy is the big story is because I refuse to discuss the sham going on at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York where the Heisman Trophy is going to be handed to a professional athlete who is also a petty thief; Cam Newton ought to be disqualified as ineligible to compete instead of playing for a national championship and receiving the Heisman. The NCAA and the BCS are both corrupt and sick jokes.
As to the game itself, it looks like a fair fight for once. The Midshipmen have won eight in a row over the Black Knights, many of the games not even close (Navy has outscored Army 89-6 over the last three games). But his year both teams have had good seasons and are going bowling, with Navy to the Poinsettia Bowl and Army to the Armed Services Bowl. The Black Knights are ranked ninth in the country in rushing (260 yards per game) and tied for 12th in turnover margin at plus-one per game. But Navy is on a roll behind senior quarterback Ricky Dobbs and the vaunted triple option offense has been grinding over opponents. There is also the measure of the common opponent both teams played this year; Navy crushed Notre Dame, while teh fighting Irish fairly easily dispatched Army. So, prediction here is another solid victory by Navy, but Army may finally at least be able to get in the endzone for the first time in four years.
PROS: There are only four games of real interest this weekend: Giants at Vikes, Pats at Bears, Iggles at Dallas and Chefs at Bolts. The Giants have had an up and down year, but seem to be generally getting things together down the stretch. Bad Eli has been a turnover machine and, of course, the Vikes have the king of turnover machines, the Geezer himself. But the Geezer is hurt, can he play? Will he start? Of course he will, that is what he does. But I would not be surprised if he is ineffective and sits down after about a quarter; especially considering that Tavaris jackson has been okay in relief the last couple of weeks (although not nearly as good as the scores of those games would lead you to believe). This should really be an interesting game; for the most part, the Vikes have played better than their poor record indicates, but they are nowhere near last year’s team. The Vikings are at home and want to finish off the season on an up note; the Giants are actually playing for playoff positioning. Toss up!
Bieber Brady and the Pats invade Soldier Field to visit Urlacher and Da Bears. Urlacher has already said the Bears are a better team. That is the kiss of death against Belichick and Brady, not to mention that Belichick has the young Pats defense finally coached up and playing solid. Pats look good in this one.
Eagles at Owboys would look to be a blowout for the Eagles. But not so fast, Dallas has been playing a LOT smarter and better since Jason Garrett took over for Wade Phillips, and Dallas has a strange way of driving the Iggles crazy and beating them, ev en when the Iggles are superior. Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is out for the season and Asante Samuel is questionable for the Eagles; both are huge. Edge here still has to go to Philly, but you never know.
Lastly, but maybe most importantly, is the Chiefs at the Chargers. The Chefs, at 8-4, have a two game lead over the 6-6 Bolts and KC won the first meeting earlier this year. So, if KC wins this one, the Bolts run of division crowns is over. San Diego, however, is on its usual end of the year tear they always go on before Norval takes a crap in a playoff game. Phil rivers is tearing up passing records this year and Matt Cassell is likely out after undergoing an appendectomy Wednesday. That is enough of a blow to put this game solidly in the Chargers favor.
So, that is it for this week trash it up. The musical selection is from the first Jefferson Starship album, Dragonfly. I have been listening to this old wax on the turntable the last week and had forgotten just how good of an album it really was. The track here is All Fly Away, which is one of the lsser known ones, but simply a killer song.