Click images for desktop size: "Painted Dress" by "Unknown" There is nothing like standing on the sidelines during a football game.
Especially a game under the lights when your breath is steaming and the mist and the remaining bugs flitter under the arc lamps.
It feels like a new world, a special world that only the players of the drama can really know. The crash of helmet and pad is the forefront, The background that comes like a living white noise from the crowd and the announcers never really interferes with the feeling that you and your team are alone. The drama, the conflict and the resolution are played only for you.
When you add to that a puppy who stands by your side holding a fuzzy football tight in her mouth . . . Its a complete world. I'm sure that if the astronauts looked down at the planet on a Friday or Saturday night they would see the fields and stadiums as pure white glowing balls of inexplicable energy.
Its a private beauty. The public gets to share in it but only in the apparent spectacle, never in the great beauty. That can only be hinted at until you step on the field.
We won Friday 20-7. It was a good win against a good team. The real beauty comes in seeing your teammates rise up and meet and beat a challenge.
The players have made my Over Time speech from Monday night a bit of local legend. They were caviled at by the others. The only thing I had to say was, “Isn't this great?” hey looked around and had to agree.

My housemate search is becoming a tragic comedy. Tragic is too strong a word, but comedy isn't.
This time a woman from the Inland Empire was supposed to move in today. I put her through some hoops regarding references. She made me nervous. I was afraid I'd come home one day and find her and my meager possessions all gone. An unsupported fear. I actually checked the references and agreed on Thursday that she'd move in on Saturday. We negotiated the rent etc. I came home, neatened everything and then she never showed . . . This was better than my last 20 hour housemate.
Its with mixed feelings I'm dealing with this. My puppy and I like living alone. The reality is we can't afford it. This women has two kids and she was real concerned about their bimonthly visits. I like kids and admired her concerns even while I wondered why they weren't with her.
I guess my negative instincts were right. My two calls weren't returned.
The wearisome hunt continues.

Last week I was 12-2 with my NFL picks. Not good enough to win anything but I'm still in decent position (35th) to win a season ending prize.
There are some good games this week. My picks are in bold.

Buffalo at Detroit - I'm actually picking the Lions! The Bills were throughly beaten last week. Beaten up physically and mentally. Detroit has been getting grittier and improving in each of their defeats. This could be the best chance the Lions have this season to win.

Click images for desktop size: "Protective Mother"
Carolina at Baltimore - Last week the Ravens weren't so much beaten by the Bronco's as they were asphyxiated by the Mile High Stadium. Denver has the nastiest home field advantage in the league. Even with Steve Smith the Panthers have looked little more than ordinary. I expect the Ravens to be breathing fire. They have a lot to prove against a Panther offense that converted no 3rd downs against the Browns.

Cincinnati at Tampa Bay - The Buccaneers looked better than expected last week. Not good enough though to beat the Bengals.

Houston at Dallas - The who cares game of the week. Will Mario Williams prove he was a better pick than Reggie Williams? Will Owens catch a TD?

New York Giants at Atlanta - A contender for game of the week. I'm picking the Giants. I think they can contain Vick and the running game. The Giants weakness is in the secondary and the Falcons don't have the tools to exploit it. The Falcons defense is scary with Abrahams in the line, so if the Falcons get an early lead this could be a rout.

Philadelphia at New Orleans - My game of the week. Everything points to an Eagles win. Brian Westbrook is back, Donavan McNabb is playing at the top of his considerable game. But the Saints look like a team playing for destiny. I never bet against destiny. Besides they have Reggie Bush.

Seattle at St Louis - One of the more interesting games this week. They're more evenly matched than they should be, especially since the SeaHawks will be missing Alexander. I don't really grasp how the Rams keep winning but they are. The coin flip falls for the SeaHawks mainly because they should know how to win this type of game.

Tennessee at Washington - This avoids being the cruddy game of the week only because it will be fun to see how well Portis and Brunell tear them up. And to see what the Redskins defense does to rookie Vince Young.

Kansas City at Pittsburgh - When a team makes excuses for losses expect them to continue to lose. The Steelers are a good team, so are the Chiefs. Rothlisberger had a brilliant first two seasons but he is showing he can't hand;e himself or adversity. And Parker is no real running attack. Larry Johnson is.

Miami at New York Jets - The Jets are the best looking losing team I've seen this year. Miami is just a disaster.

San Diego at San Francisco - If the Chargers are real contenders they need to blow teams like this out of the water. Should be the cruddy game of the week but Rivers is an unknown enough quantity to keep it interesting and Tomlinson is just sheer beauty.

Oakland at Denver - The cruddy game of the week. The Raiders - Broncos fury is long gone. the Broncos will win but it will be so boring. Even an upset would be boring.

Chicago at Arizona - The Bears defense looks like it could be the greatest in NFL history. A bad O-line, a talented rookie QB (Who is still one of the finest young men and players ever) and no Larry Fitzgerald are no match for a Bears defense that plays every down as if they were losing by 3 and there's only 1 minute left to play.
But the Cardinals new stadium will look pretty for its Monday night debut.

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