24 hours and counting...

Until the NFL season officially kicks off. I'm very excited. Colts v. Saints. It should be an offensive festival. Sadly, I do not have many Colts or Saints on my Fantasy teams this season. Sure, there's Deuce on my Family league team, but I don't foresee using him much the first few weeks. He will be a nice option come bye weeks. I do, however, have Olindo Mare on both of my teams. His pre-season wasn't so great, but I figure I'll start out of the gate with him because of the upsides. Dome kicker, decent skills, great offensive team. I expect good things. I had a similar kicker in Jeff Wilkins since I started playing Fantasy Football. There was an unwritten rule in my family league that he was to go to me no matter what, but things changed this year. He was drafted by my dad because my mother told him he had to. See, Jeff and I go way back. He was a good friend in high school. Great guy, lovely wife (also knew her in high school) and a great kicker. I figure when you go see Poison and Warrant in concert with a guy, you deserve, without question, to draft him every year. And just to piss me off further, my brother drafted him in the Analyst league. Granted, he's fantastic and for the reasons listed above, he is a kicker to covet. Still, what about that unwritten rule? Damn them.

I also possess Anthony Gonzales on my Analyst league team, but will not start him for now. I have much better options at this point. Given Peyton's prolific talent, however, I may use him down the road. I'm anxious to see how he fares in the first few weeks.

To change pace a bit. Let's talk some baseball. Is Carlos Zambrano on crack? I couldn't believe the crap coming out of his mouth the other day. Dude, you just signed a 91 million dollar contract. Of course the fans are going to boo you when you stink like that. On what other team would he expect solace from the crowd? The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908. My grandmother was born that year. She lived her entire life without seeing the Cubs win a World Series Title. Fortunately, she was not a Cubs fan. My point is...people have been born, lived very full lives and have died in the span of time between 1908 and now. Your team is in the hunt and you are sucking it up. Pardon their selfishness, Carlos, but they don't want to go the way of my grandma without seeing their team win the title. Start pitching better, earn your ridiculous salary and you will feel the love again. Geez!

The division races are close in some cases. My D-backs are doing everything in their power to lose the NL West. That's my streaky D-Backs. One of the greatest moments of my entire fascination and love for sports came at the hands of the D-Backs. That October 2001 World Series was one for the ages. I will never forget it, ever. I don't actually see them winning another World Series this year, but I'd like to see them make the Playoffs. If they keep playing like they have the last few weeks, things aren't going to end so great. Come on D-Backs, pull it together. In the words of Tim Gunn, "Make it work."

The USA Men's Basketball team was spectacular. If they don't win the Gold next summer, I will be very stunned. I have to say I think this team is superior to 1992's Gold winning "Dream Team." Far better. I guess we'll find out next summer in Beijing.

I was not going to mention the Michigan loss, but as a self-respecting OSU fan, how can I not? That was crazy. Sheer chaos. Lloyd Carr will lose his job, but I don't expect it will be until the end of the year. If he loses to OSU again, and I think he will, he will be gone the very next day. If not that night. The only foreseeable way he will be fired earlier is if they start losing regularly. College fans, especially Big 10 fans, and most certainly Michigan fans, are not going to stand for multiple losses in a season where they began at #5. Ask John Cooper what it was like losing to Michigan every year and wondering if he'd still have his job the next day. It's got to be excruciating for Carr. Still, you are expected to beat 1-AA teams when you put them on your schedule. Even though the Mountaineers beat the Wolverines, they still aren't a Wisconsin or an OSU. If they couldn't beat App. State, can they beat OSU? I guess we'll see. Michigan will rebound and this loss will make them better, but will it be enough to beat the BIg 10 powerhouses?

That's my perspective. Does anyone care to discuss?

Elle