Ryan: With the Super Bowl now just a couple days away, I’ve invited a few of my Patriots and non-Patriots friends to discuss the game and the betting.
First, the Pats have moved from 14 point favorites down to 11.5. Vegas is begging you to bet Pats… where would your money go? I’ve already stated and backed up the Patriots. Also worth discussing, these awesome bets:

How long will it take Jordin Sparks to sing the National anthem?
Over / Under 1 minute 42 seconds (UNDER)

Jack: Who is Jordin Sparks? Can’t they get a hot girl to do it? When it comes to the anthem, I hate that the Super Bowl is at a neutral site. How cool was it when the Indians had Danielle Peck sing before her ex, josh beckett started? If this game was being played in New York, you know Bridget Moynahan would be making her singing debut.

Ryan: I will admit that I bet on Billy Joel last during last year’s national anthem… if it weren’t for the rain and his short-breathedness, I’d have won big.

Jack: at least people have heard of Billy Joel. Seriously, who is Jordin Sparks?

Which QB Will Troy Aikman mention first after the Opening Kickoff?
Tom Brady or Eli Manning? (TOM BRADY)

Jack: I am going with the upset here. He will make reference to both Archie AND Peyton Manning before either of the two starting qb’s.

Matt: Is Peyton going to be at the game? If so, that determines a lot.

Ryan: I don’t think it matters. That’s a great O/U though: 20+ mentions of Peyton + Archie

Jack: or who gets mentioned more, Peyton or Archie. I would guess Peyton is mentioned at least 3 times more than his dad

How Many Times will Joe Buck mention Peyton Manning’s name during the Broadcast?
Over / Under 5 (OVER, WAY OVER)

Jack: Did Archie come up with this bet? This is the stupidest thing I have ever read. There is no senario where the under would come in.

Matt: Joe Buck is doing the game? He is the worst. by the way, this line is moving, i’d get on it at 5 if you can still find it.

Ryan: Do you ever answer questions with out asking questions?

Jack: Joe Buck is the 2007 Miami Dolphins of announcing

Jack: More importantly, will Shockey be on the sidelines. There is talk he will not show.

Will Don Shula be on the field to shake Belichick’s hand after the game?
Yes +250
No -400 (No way, he’ll have a heart attack when the Pats win

Jack: Definatly not. He would never be allowed on the field. And I would have to think he is smart enough to be hidden from the cameras should the Giants win. He does not want to be caught dancing around like a ballerina should the Pats fall.

Matt: That would be great if the NFL had Don Shula there to hand over the trophy. And hopefully that would be the end of the stupid 1972 Dolphin talk. And, if he were there to hand it to the Giants, it would be even better. Question is, would Boston fans rather have had the Yankees win a world series in the fall than lose to the Giants after an 18-0 start?

Jack: One important topic I would like to discuss, are the 1985 Bears the best post season team ever? In their first two playoff games they won 21-0 and 24-0. In Super Bowl XX, they defeated a weak NE Patriots team 46-10. When you look at the ‘85 Pats, and the ‘07 Giants, there are many similaritys. First, both teams had to play 3 games to get to the Super Bowl. Second, there were significant underdogs in the big game. Third, and most importantly, they are both very shaky at QB. I think that the 2007 Patriots need to defeat the Giants by at least 36 points to even be considered in the ‘85 Bears league. If it was possible to have the Bears team that played on Super Bowl Sunday go up against the Pats team that is about to play in a few days, there is no question in my mind the Lombardi Trophy would be headed to Chicago.

Matt: I think it is important to note that there is probably video of Jack doing the Super Bowl Shuffle. I would really like to see that. I will say that Jim McMahon is probably a better quarterback than Tom Brady, for sure; however, I think it is important to note that the Bears lost to the Dolphins in 1985. Additionally, they beat the Patriots twice. Wouldn’t that put history on the side of the Pats? I also think you have neglected to mention the best props: first to successfully challenge a play, longest play from scrimmage, # of Tynes missed fgs, highest rated ad in USAToday, and will there be a safety
.
In Conclusion: Jack’s picking the Giants is a sad-sad day for America. Given his recent success during the regular season picking games, or total lack thereof, this is all but a guarantee that the Patriots will win. Thanks Jack.

This week, Ian Poulter joined the club of loggerheaded PGA Tour players who chose to talk big on Tiger Woods. (Although, now Poulter says he was misquoted.) Let’s take a look at some of the others who thought this was a good idea.

+ Stephen Ames: February 22, 2006. While gearing up for the first round of the 64-man World Match Play Championship, Ames, ranked 64, said when asked about his chances of beating top seed Tiger, “anything can happen, especially where he’s hitting the ball.”

The Result? Woods plays lights out and annihilates Ames as quickly as possible winning 9&8.

+Rory Sabbatini: May 11, 2007. After losing to Tiger at the Wachovia Championship, Rory tugs on Superman’s cape by saying,

“A lot of people have commented when they’re paired with Tiger they stand and watch the show and not participate. Well, I’m not someone to watch the show. I’m there to participate to win. I want to be paired with Tiger in the last group on Sunday here this week.”

And then the following week, after the first round of the Players’ Championship, Sabbatini dropped this gem,

“No, I want Tiger. Everyone wants Tiger. I want him to pick it up and we’ll be up there late on Sunday. After watching him play (last) Sunday I think he’s more beatable than ever. I think a few fortuitous occasions out there really changed the round for him. Realizing that gives me even more confidence to go in and play with him on Sunday again.”

The result? Neither player has a fantastic showing, but in the end Tiger’s even finish edges Rory’s +1.

+Ian Poulter: This week, Golf World UK quotes Ian Poulter as saying, “The trouble is I don’t rate anyone else. Don’t get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven’t played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Tiger.” Later, Poulter backtracks saying his words were taken out of context.

The result? Remains to be seen. But with Tiger off to his hot start this week in Dubai, Poulter could find himself the latest victim of the wrath of tiger.

[h/t: ESPN, Washington Post, Toronto Star, PGA]

I can’t stop laughing. It’s absurdly awesome.

The NBA announced their All Star reserve lineup tonight:

Here are the Eastern Reserves:

Caron Butler

Paul Pierce

Antwan Jamison

Joe Johnson

Chauncy Billups

Rip Hamilton

Chris Bosh

Here are the Western Reserves:

Steve Nash

Chris Paul

Dirk Nowitski

Carlos Boozer

Amare Stoudamire

Chris Paul

Brandon Roy

David West

 This will give those slighted players a chip on their shoulders that they can carry through the rest of the season!

Kevin Everett has accepted an invitation from the NFL to sit with commissioner Roger Goodell during the Super Bowl.

Everett, a TE for the Buffalo Bills, is a little less than six months removed from suffering a severe neck injury in a game against the Denver Broncos. Everett was paralyzed when he arrived at the hospital, and orthopedic specialists characterized his chances of recovery as “dismal” and “bleak.” But Everett proved the experts wrong and is now able to walk.

Everett seems jazzed about getting to sit beside commissioner Goodell. “I think it’s pretty cool,” said Everett, “you know, just go and hang out with the commissioner. He’s the head man in charge of the whole NFL … that’s kind of a big deal right there.”

One thing though Kevin - you better watch your language around Goodell. He’s liable to suspend you even though you’re not playing anymore.

(source: ESPN)

Ancient former Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez is not yet ready to let the curtain fall on his major league career. Today the one-time 50-homer man inked a one-year, $2 million deal to play for the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins already have solid outfielders in Jeremy Hermida, Cody Ross and Josh Willingham, so Gonzalez will probably be a spot starter out there and perhaps fill in at first. For the record, the $2 million Gonzalez signed for is more than the three guys mentioned above made put together in 2007. It’s nice to be a veteran, even one who only hit .278 last year.

(source: Fox Sports)

According to several sources (TSN, ESPN, etc.), Peter Forsberg has informed Swedish team MoDo that he will not be playing for them this season in anticipation of returning to the NHL.

And in order for Forsberg to be eligible for the NHL playoffs, he has to be signed by the trade deadline of February 26th.

Several teams are claimed to be ‘in the running’ for Forsberg’s services include San Jose, Anaheim, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Colorado. While the Flyers and Avalanche are considered the sentimental favorites, Forsberg would only come back for one reason: win the Stanley Cup, which probably rules out Colorado. And with the Ducks recently re-signing Teemu Selanne, the Sharks and Flyers seem the most likely destinations.

An Arizona man’s lab chewed up two of his SuperBowl tickets, each worth $900 each. The courier slid the tickets in an envelope under the door, and the doggy chewed them up.

The good thing is that the tickets are replaceable.

I love my pets, but man oh man, I have no idea what I could do if this happened to me and the tickets weren’t replaceable.

[AZ Republic]

It’s all about the hair. He got a bottle of champagne and a cigar by the way. What, no concubine?

He makes Tim Tebow look like a scholar.
Even Maurice Jones Drew looks baffled by the mixture of ummmms and uhhhhs…