The Bell Lap

Sarah is usually good for two or three consecutive wins early in the season. Whether that is skill, luck, or proximity to the Center of the Football Universe I do not know, but this was the year that almost got away from Our Lady of the Frozen Tundra.  Not quite though.  Sarah edges Rich on the tiebreaker thanks to the track meet Monday night in New O and thus guarantees herself, at worst, a breakeven season.

So this is it.  One more time around before we settle in for a long winter's nap.  The season's last hurrah is Sunday, with, notably, ALL the games being played Sunday.  So no need to panic tomorrow about getting picks in, unless panic is your thing, and if so I've got all kinds of great stuff for you to panic about.

Probably four or five of you have realistic shots at the money spots, and McCravens, despite that unintentionally hilarious move of putting 16 on the Colts only to see them win, still has the easiest path to the Roo Award.

The finance department would like to interject: Tim Mitchell has already been paid his winnings via Dwolla.  Not pimping Dwolla here.  Just sayin how much cooler it is to press a button to pay you as opposed to buying stamps.

Because a December where I forget to take a cheap shot at the college football postseason is like Dick Cheney forgetting to down a jigger of Pennzoil with his corn flakes, do not forget to tune in to the Meineke Nobody Care Car Care Bowl at noon EST on Saturday.  Free mufflers to anyone who is still watching after the second quarter.

A very Happy New Year to all of you.  Be safe this weekend.

No, dummy! 30 tickets to the Outback Bowl for 12-pack of Diet Coke! What part of 'final offer' don't you understand?

It's All A Terrible Mess

Just a reminder that we have this week:

1. One Thursday night snoozefest
2. Many many games Saturday
3. Pack vs Bears Sunday
4. The Monday Night game

Please plan accordingly...and have a lovely, peaceful holiday, everyone.

Just When You Think You Know Something Else

After a few things broke my way Sunday at your expense, I concluded that this would be a good week to not say much.

Just When You Think You Know Something

Before we get into wonky stuff, I would congratulate Team Dean and Marlene on victory #2 this season.  I have to say, I'm a little disappointed, as this win was achieved without any of those crazy Monday Night ninja moves Dean is known for.  Nope, 10 on Seattle and close enough on the tiebreaker to beat Dan.  Not that any of you knows the final score of the St Louis vs. Seattle game.  My god.  Did John Gruden find anybody to gush over?  Did Ron Jaworski take a powder halfway through and go play catch with the fish guys at the Pike Public Market?  I would have.

This week's update is brought to you by the number 1374, and if you check the YTD standings, you'll see why.

I have a modest proposal for you, for those of you comfortable with sending and receiving money from an online bank you've probably never heard of.  Payouts are coming soon in the pool of Smoove, and I would not mind at all sending you $$ electronically.  PayPal is the elephant in this room, but they ding the recipient a significant percentage of the amount transferred.  I hate PayPal.

But I kind of dig this new Dwolla thing.  It works a lot like PayPal, but only with cash, that is, an EFT attached to your checking account.  No credit cards or anything like that.  Instead of a percentage, the total damage for sending money to someone is a quarter.  I could send you $50,000 via Dwolla and they'd charge me 25 cents.

To receive money, all you need is an email address.  Check it out.  If you're interested in this, let me know.  I'll pay the quarter when I send out your winnings.  I hate writing checks.  Sign up now and win a playoff-watching party with Ndamukong Suh for yourself, ten friends, and your physical therapist!

"Please, ref?  Pleeeeaaase?  Just one skull.  Let me stomp one guy's head.  Just one.  No?  How about his nuts?  Maybe just an arm?  Pretty please?"

 

 

Week Something-Or-Other

Here's a tip of the fedora to our good friend Roo, who probably gets more ink than most players in the pool.  It's usually for all the wrong reasons, of course, but not last weekend.  Roo defeated Rick in triple overtime and took home, figuratively, the weekly jackpot.

As you know, Roo moved to Pennsylvania at the beginning of the season and has had a couple months that even Andy Reid wouldn't trade for.  In addition to encountering housing issues, his new job apparently involves extensive hand-to-hand combat with cratefuls of live scorpions.  I suppose he could have been exaggerating (but he never does that).  In any case, I am happy we can send the boy a fifty-bone lifeline.  That should buy him a few six-packs of quality brew, or a few cases of Iron City if he's trying to get in good with the townies.

Do keep in mind that the Thursday train rolls on - coincidentally, Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland - and you'll be wantin' to do them there picks before quitting time tomorrow.

Hell Of A Season For Guys Named Aaron

If Dean is our resident ninja, unseen and unheard except for the couple times a year he emerges to sweep your knees, pocket the spoils, and vanish again, Aaron is the Category 5 hurricane inexorably churning through the waters, rolling everything and everyone in his way.  If he keeps up his current pace we're going to have to get him his own bobblehead.

"I'm Aaron Lytle and you're not"

With five weeks left in the season, several things are clear.  We have obvious contenders for both the top spot and the Roo Award.  Roo has a legitimate shot at the Roo Award.  There is no US Embassy in Iran.  This chick could do better.  And I am up way too late to be writing stuff.

As usual, there is a game tomorrow night, so get those picks in.  Enjoy the rest of your week.