Babbling and Week 16!

At my work in perhaps the busiest restaurant in midtown Toronto (the media capital of Canada don’t you know!) I’ve had my run in with various sports celebrities. I personally have served two former Maple Leafs GMs (John Ferguson Jr; his dad paid, horrible tipper; Gord Stelleck, decent tipper) as well as heard stories of Damon Allen and even R&B singer George (OMG!) being present at the old place. Today however, a young lady walked in, sat herself and her friend at my table and had a few drinks. That young lady? Kristen Bourne, aka Tessa Campinelli from the original Degrassi! Impressive? You bet. It’s one thing if a celebrity that you’ve been told to like (like Kanye West or Cher) sits at your table, but to have someone there from a TV show or movie that you genuinely love, it’s something else altogether. This would be like my friend Shannon meeting George Romero or my cousin Jeff meeting Samuel L Jackson or my buddy Chad meeting Shannon Tweed. It just takes it to a higher level when the person in question belongs to something that is your own. Sorry I’ll stop babbling now. We do have football this week SportsOne. By the way. Yes. I did pick the Browns to cover (+14) last week. I justified it by saying “I don’t know what I’m doin.” Well there you go. And here we go.


TITANS (+2) vs Steelers

The fact that the Steel are getting every call makes them the favourite this week. The Titans are at home and looking to cement their stand as the No 1 seed in the AFC. They say in blackjack to never bet against black. Well this is football. I’m not betting against the mustache.

CHIEFS (+3) vs Dolphins

The fish are set to do battle with the Jets in week 17. The Chiefs have nothing to play for.
It’s going to be cold in KC. All those things equal a game that I won’t be watching but am pretty sure the Chiefs can win.

Cardinals (+8) vs PATRIOTS

Can the Pats win this game? Absolutely. Do I think the Pats win this game? Absolutely! Am I starting to think Tom Brady was just a product of a great offensive system? Absolutely!!!! Will they win by 8? No F*$&ing way.

BROWNS (-3) vs Bengals

They’re calling for a snow storm on Sunday. I really hope Cleveland is covered in snow. It would give a reason to watch this game wouldn’t it? Also, while discussing Madden ’09 with my brother Jordan, he mentioned how he got called for holding during a last second field goal try, rendering the field goal play void and he went into the locker room tied instead of up by 3. We got to talking and decided that most F.U. play we’d like to see happen in Madden ’10: Important Game. Your team up 21-20 with 0:21 left in the 4th. Opponents ball on your 41 yard line. 4th and 8. Instead of lining up for a 58 yd field goal, the computer attempts a pass; it’s batted down, but one of your players inexplicably takes off his helmet giving the computer a 1st and 10 at the 29 with 14 seconds left. They kick the 43yd field goal and win the game. That would cause many a TV to be broken we think. This has to be programmed into next year’s game. It has to.

REDSKINS (+5) vs Eagles

What happened to the ‘Skins? They were in the mix for so long and seemed to have lept off the plank into the harbour these last few weeks. Philly meanwhile has been beating up on teams who have been sort of shell shocked at he time. (Cards in the east, Giants right after Plax, Browns all the time) Washington puts its pride on the line in their last home game of the season and shows up.

49ers (-5) vs RAMS

Everybody in St Louis get your “2-14 Happy Dance” ready!

VIKINGS (-3.5) vs Falcons

There are a couple of things I know for sure. I will never forget meeting Tessa Capminelli (I know I know I’ll stop). Also, Matt Ryan WILL win rookie of the year. He has to. We all (and don’t say you didn’t either. Just because mine is in print and can be accessed 24 hours a day 7 days a week…um….wait…oh s&%#!) picked the Falcons to be terrible this year and they’re two wins away from potentially locking up the 6 seed in the NFC. They fall short this week however. (Am I actually picking T. Jackson to lead Minny to victory? I’m more star struck than I thought)

LIONS (+7) vs Saints

Hey! Remember when the Lions were favoured?? It was back in week 1 on the road in Atlanta! So not only do we have a team that threatens to go winless (or over defeated) but perhaps for the first time ever we have a team that might finish worse than 2-14 being favoured in one of those games on the road! Also, congrats to every Fantasy Football team who has Calvin Johnson in your stating line up. If you have him, you’re still in the playoffs. RIP Trampoline Bear 2008.

Jets (-4) vs SEAHAWKS

Brett Favre travels to Seattle to say goodbye to Mike Holmgren who coaches his second to last game ever. Forget the game, they need to do the postgame show live from the Hooters Brett will be taking his former coach after the Jets inch closer to the AFC East title.

Texans (-7) vs RAIDERS

You can almost feel the 2009 buzz coming for this team can’t you? Well it’s only about three years late. The Texans take their winning streak to Oakland. 2009 Fantasy Note: Keep an eye on Houston’s receivers next season. If you can, pick one up in the 3rd round (I’m not mentioning his name) and also, avoid every starter on Oakland unless you’re in a bizarro league.

Bills (+6.5) vs BRONCOS

This is the game you don’t want to go near. If the Chargers lose at 1pm, then Denver will have already clinched the division and should spend the next two weeks trying to figure out how to stop Peyton Manning from running all over them again. I’m betting on that to happen and the Broncos don’t show up. Plus the running back tandem this week is Tatum Bell, Selvin Young, Tim Biakabutuka, Onterrio Smith and (fresh out of jail) Bam Morris. Not a great line up.

BUCS (-3.5) vs Chargers

Chargers on the east coast means that they lose. At least it gives LaDanian Tomlinson loads more time to recover from that turf toe injury from last year? Now we need Novak Djokovic to miss a year or two with tennis elbow.

Panthers (+3.5) vs GIANTS

Ooh. The game of the week. Unlike the similar game being played in Tennessee, both of these teams are fun to watch. Carolina shows us why they should be the No 1 seed this week. The Giants peaked too early. They also hugely underestimated how vital Plax was to their offence. I know my buddies Ryan (they both like the Giants and they’ve both been rather quiet lately. Hmmm) are just waiting for another excuse to come down on me when the Giants rile off a bunch of wins in a row. Oh well.

BEARS (-4) vs Packers

The final game before Christmas. A few things will happen this week. The Bears will win on Monday night and set up a monster week 17. Thousands of parents will set up videos hoping that their kid opening his/her presents on Thursday will be the next internet sensation in the likeness of that little boy getting the N64 like ten years ago. And millions of men will have to make a new hole in their belt with a nail.