I haven't devoted a lot of thought towards the predicting business of the fans and media but I don't think a group of bloodhounds is necessary to corner the critter.

It's probably a portion just funnin' around. But along with that, I think, there is some sort of serious attempt on the part of the prognosticator to validate his other sports opinions. If my picks are mostly correct it adds more weight to my other sports talking or typing. I notice this on ESPN etc. It's incredible what percentage of the stuff is simply clowns predicting. Then in the late evening baloney of game day whichever one came out on top or had the biggest upset pick has a puffed out chest running his mouth about everything and anything while the other panelists hesitantly give praise or defer to his other analysis. Hesitantly because they remember the guy's upset special from last week lost 65-6.

Here-in lies the problem. The picks may be right one week and wrong the next. Or impressive between 1 and 4 o'clock and atrocious between 4 and 7. Fifty-fifty after 9.

So we have two choices. A.)When someone's predictions look really good one week then we take them more seriously the next several days, whatever they may say about other sports topics or other games. Or if their 1-4pm picks hit, we grant any oration they may deliver for the remainder of the day more signifigance, although their 4-9 picks might be tanking simultaneuosly......or B.) Ask them to really impress us. Liquidate and combine all of your property and financial assets into a duffel bag of cash, go to Nevada and double your life's work in 3 hours--on the one bet you really like against the spread that particular week.

Double or streetperson.

I now offer up a local prediction for Saturday's Louisville-Kentucky game.

I invite any reader of these words to visit the smack talk section of Louisville or Kentucky message boards.

I predict no one will be able to give me any substantive differences between that and kindergarten 15 minutes before nap-time for the cranky brats.

With underage women is an error in judgement in all cases. But I'd like to see a photo of the gal to determine how serious an error.

1.) We backed Saddam in a long bloody war against Iran.

2.) We knocked of Saddam thus creating the chaotic vacuum condusive to Iran moving in.

3.) Now we must stay to control the chaos and limit Iran's influence.

Part 4? Can it be anything other than war with Iran?

Toots away on the Bush trumpet.

Since Bush showed up the republican party has gone from 31 Governors to 22, from 230 house seats to 200 and a minority, and from 55 Senators to a Senate minority.

Keep tooting.

The cops found a pair of gloves at the scene. They don't fit.

.....about Iraq after 5 years, is if you're a Shiek in Anbar Province, it's very bad luck to have dinner with Bush.

Now if they could only get their coach a brain transplant.

Lesson number one, coaching 101, any sport----If you are in position to deliver a knockout blow you deliver it. So long as the possible downside of not connecting is not extreme.

Browns up 48-38, 4th and goal at the Bengal one, 6 minutes left. If you get the TD here you are up 55-38 thus making it a 3 score advantage. The opposition being Carson Palmer and receivers who are more than capable of getting two scores in that time, be it two TDs to win it behind 51-38 or a TD and field goal to tie it at 48-38.

The aforementioned downside for the Browns in going for the knockout and missing is 48-38 a little under 6 minutes left, Bengals at their own one. That isn't a downside at all. So by handing off to their big tailback on the 4th and goal the game is either over at 55-38 or it's 48-38 Bengals on their goal line. That coin flip is one you take every single time without any thought at all.

They kick the field goal to make it 51-38. Now you have to kick off. An average return puts the Bengals at their own 25. A good return at the 40 or 50, and the freak's out there too. The kickof return TD. So it's up 51-38 with the Bengals most likely at their own 25 or 30 maybe more, or up 48-38 with the Bengals completely pinned (Again, this is if the Browns don't get the TD, which again, ends the game if they do. Thus ending any ulcers over the last 6 minutes and the Browns did end up in an ulcer situation.)

Even if they go for the 7 and miss and the Bengals end up getting 10 to tie it, which couldn't have happened at 51-38, it's not a loss it's only overtime at home for the Browns.

All this not even mentioning the slight possibility of missing the short field goal or having it blocked and possibly returned......not getting the three points that isn't that important even if you did get it.

And these coaches get paid millions.

Rules out that guy as a good head coach. He'll have to be watched very closely in any late game strategy situation.

If this country insists on having another year and a half long O.J. media circus--every cable channel with nightly updates and discussion panels and then the trial on TV with everyone watching, holding their breath for the verdict----then I can only say maybe it would be best if bin Laden could blow up everything.

First things first. Before we can even discuss being cell-mates, are you a fellow premium?

A low level of tolerance for non-premiums. Having their mentally defective sports opinions sent around the planet by Salon like life's a big freebie. It's only 29 bucks.

But I know how gutless FOX is without seeing any of the video.

Will equal the murder chapter, but if it goes to trial and the judge allows television, that will be huge without any doubt.