Football Week 9

This week, #9, finds us at 3 fewer wins than losses as the weekend starts, and having had a pretty darn good week last week just to get this close to where I began. Here’s what I think for this week.

Minnesota +1 @ Purdue
Minnesota appears to have an edge here in what began as a pick ‘em game. The edge is that they aren’t Purdue. Purdue has played some quality teams and performed relatively well. They lost respectably to Ohio State and Penn State before getting blown out by Northwestern. The infighting has begun. They’re 2-5 and have 4 consecutive losses. My nickel says Minnesota hands the Boilers another loss.

Illinois –2.5 @ Wisconsin
The Illini can play with anyone when they’re playing within themselves, particularly when Juice Williams behaves. I believe that the whipping’ they put on Indiana last week may have shown the players what the coach knows, follow instructions and win big. Wisconsin has shown nothing, double nothing given that they were expected to play with the big boys this season. The Badgers, like the Boilers, have lost 4 in a row. Picking two teams to lose their fifth in a row, whew, no guts no glory.

Rutgers @ Pittsburgh –9.5
I’m flush with success, having picked a Wannie winner last week. This one seems simple to me: Pitt is real good, Rutgers isn’t.

Notre Dame -11 @ Washington
I am violating two policies here. I do not like to wager on the University of South Bend. I do not like to acknowledge them, period. They are, however, going to go out and kick their old coach’s butt on Saturday.

That is U of W Stadium at the left. Is that as cool as it gets, or what?

That’s it. Four games, that’s all I have.

Grey's and Gray's

Another one of the occurrences that makes life at my house challenging on a regular basis is the intrusion of the absurd TV hospital inmates from Grey's Anatomy. These wannabe doctors spend inordinate amounts of time screwing up, screwing each other, whining, crying, cohabitating, being amazed by day to day hospital stuff and behaving pretty much like you would expect a group of high school sophomores to behave were they turned loose in you local hospital. Mrs. PFOS is a loyal watcher of Grey's Anatomy, so the big screen ushers the precocious doctor-kids into our house every week.

Were these people real, I have to think that the hospital would be devoid of patients, loaded with lawsuits and under attack by regulators. In the espisode to which I was most recently subjected, two female m.d.'s launched their new career as lesbians, one of the others was reading a manual to diagnose a patient who was flopping around on a gurney like a crazed carp, two others were trading a tumor patient back and forth...I would run, run like the wind, were I sent to a loony bin like this for work.

The show is named, of course, after Meredith Grey, the character who is the most saccharine, the least focused, the most promiscuous of all. Inspiring.

The show's title is a play on Gray's Anatomy, the famous medical book first published in England in the year 1858. The book is still being published today. Henry Gray would never make it in Meredith Grey's world.

Henry Gray, in pursuit of his idea to create an anatomy textbook for students, worked with Dr. Henry VanDyke Carter for 18 months disecting unclaimed cadavers and making detailed presentations of their findings. Henry Gray died of smallpox at age 34, three years after the book was first published. Gray's has been revised and enhanced in each edition since the beginning, turning into a compendium of medical knowledge reflective of the respective time of each edition. A quick search on Ebay showed back editions for sale starting at just a few bucks.

So, thank heaven for Henry Gray. I can only hope that the other Grey completes her training and goes into private practice with Kate Walsh, the Cadillac commercial babe who escaped from this hatch a couple seasons ago. Her new show sucks enough that it has a good chance to be canceled, bringing happiness to many. To me, anyway.

Guy Ritchie, Hero

I confess. Two weeks ago I didn't know who Guy Ritchie was. Today I know.

Guy Ritchie is a hero.

Guy Ritchie just agreed to a divorce from his wife and she's ponying up $60 million, give or take a few quid. His soon to be ex-wife is Madonna.


Guy is getting a 1,200 acre country estate, a London pub, and cash. Madonna is keeping about 85% of her wealth, but she's giving Guy the heave-ho.


So, fellas, the precedent has been set. If your partner wants to boot you, your asking price is $60 million.


Start saving, girls.

Thank You, and Thank You for the Lesson, Too

HSHSQB got whacked and taught me just how kind people can be.

Translate, please.

My son, to whom I refer in certain circles as HSHSQB (Hot Shot High School Quarterback), took a vicious --and legal-- hit in the final minutes of his opening game this year. He's been hit hard before, he's landed in the ER before. We thought little of it. He continued to play for the next few days before confessing to the trainer (not to the parents, mind you) that he had a problem. Trainer sends kid to rehab place, rehab place says see doctor, doctor says big injury, kid gets scheduled for season ending surgery. Bang-bang-bang. And bang.

Between bang 3 and bang 4 is where the schooling began.

We have been fortunate to have avoided major injuries with the boy, and with the other kids before him, although the occasional guest author/daughter did run herself into a stress fracture as track athlete. A digression here, she has subsequently become a marathon runner, having completed the L.A. and now Chicago marathons, a feat which impresses me beyond expression.

Back at the current kid...after all the bangs, he, his mother and his father were all pretty bummed.

Then you started.

The things you have done have made such an impact on us, I can't thank you enough. Here's a partial list...

• Jess, coming over, bringing movies, spending time, you are so sweet


• Donna Kiewbawls, your selection of a birthday gift was inspired!


• Theresa, my telephone confidant, reminding me that we're not alone


• Linda, stopping by school, more than once, to offer concern and guidance, so appreciated
• Bob, your concern and insight into what the kid's feeling, right on target
• Patty, picking up the mom's spirits and concerned about the kid, we are so grateful
• Tim, your understanding and support have been very, very important
• ScottBob and Patty, you are special 'cause you make others feel that way
• Laurie, thank you for coming by, come more often
• Don, you called, out of the blue, and gave me peace of mind at a time when I really needed it
• My co-workers, my business associates, so many of you from HRI, PPD, GE, Penske, Mesirow, Tony Sr and Tony Jr, Big Mike, and many others whom I cannot at this moment recall, your kindness and concern has been very important to me
• The Mom's co-workers and all the teachers who've expressed support, it makes a difference, it really does
• HSHSQB's teachers, each of whom responded with "whatever you need"
• The boy's coaches, who made sure he stayed involved
• Petey and Margaret, I simply cannot express how much we appreciate your friendship
• Officer Tony, you are a peach
• Dziadi i Buszi, kocham cie
• Godmother and the kids, thank you

There's more, I'm sorry, I can't remember. You all collaborated, each with your independent actions, to teach me a lesson in how very kind, caring and compassionate people can be. I haven't been in this position before. Neither have I been pro-active towards others who have been there. That's the lesson you've taught me. Reach out.

Thank you for your kindness, and thank you for teaching me how important it is to reach out.

Monday Morning Football Scoreboard

No wager on it, but how 'bout them 'Cats!!! Northwestern's big thumping of Purdue over the weekend sends the 'Cats to 6-1. They're headed for Indiana this coming Saturday

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As for PFOS, well, Saturday was berry berry good for me, flirting with perfection, were it not for a missed game winning field goal by Connecticut and a lay-down like I've never before seen by Michigan in the second half of their game.

I went 6-2 for the weekend to make up some of the year-to-date deficit, going from 7 under to 3 under .500 for the year. The game by game:

HAWAII +26½ @ BOISE STATE
Boise 27, Hawaii 7
Boise goes to 6-0, perfect. The bigger number is that they are now 30-0 against their WAC opponents on the SmurfTurf. The Rainbows hung in there, trailing only 10-7 at the half. Boise's D-backs had fun in the second half with a mittful of interceptions, but Hawaii stayed within the points.
"W"
CONNECTICUT +0 @ RUTGERS
Rutgers 12, Connecticut 10
The Connecticut kicker clammed a kick and killed the comeback as the clock clicked down. Onomonpoiea? No, alliteration. Words like "BOOM" or "CLANG" are onomonpoeia. Kid CLANGED a 42 yarder to cost his team, and me.
"L"
WISCONSIN +3½ @ IOWA
Iowa 38, Wisconsin 16
My choice is the Hawks at home, as the Badgers season flirts with train wreck stature.

Iowa is rejoicing, they knocked the Badgers around at will. When Wisconsin is good, they look really good. When they're bad, like they are now, they look like the Russian national football team. If there was a Russian national football team. It's not going to get easier, the Illini are coming to visit next, comrades.
"W"
USC -46@ WASHINGTON STATE
USC Trojans 69, Washington State -0-
I think that the Trojans will work out on the Cougars...
Did they ever! Pete Carroll let the starters play the first half. The second and third levels of the Trojans played the second half of the game and they were still too, too much for this unfortunate Washington State group. This is the 4th time that Washington State has surrendered 60 or more points this year. What a mess...
"W"
PITTSBURGH –3 @ NAVY
Pitt Panthers 42, US Naval Academy Midshipmen 21
how I love ya, how I love ya, my dear old Waaanie...Man, does that feel good to get one right on Pitt! They've been tough for me to handicap, but I am so excited to get this one right, even though Mrs. PFOS and I are Navy football fans. Navy battled right to the end, punching in a TD with :20 left on the clock. You gotta love these guys!
"W"
OHIO STATE –3½ @ MICHIGAN STATE
Ohio State 45, Michigan State 7
Terrel and Beanie will carry the Bucks. Terrel threw for a TD and ran for a TD, and Beanie ran for 2 TD's. We are an anti OSU household, but you have to give them credit for being very, very good. I'm pleased to see a resurgent Michigan State program, but I think the beat down they got on Saturday was good for quieting a rather obnoxious group of fans. Speaking of fans, MSU's stadium had pretty much emptied out long before the game ended. What's up with that?
"W"
TOLEDO @ NORTHERN ILLINOIS –7½
Northern Illinois Huskies 38, Toledo 7
the Rockets spent everything they had last week at Michigan, and a letdown is unavoidable.
Yes, the Rockets sputtered as predicted, and the Huskies did not waste their opportunity, avenging last year's loss to Toledo in a big way.
"W"
MICHIGAN +24 @ PENN STATE
Penn State 46, Michigan 17
Michigan needs redemption...Michigan needs a lot more than redemption. They need a quarterback, some running backs, a few receivers, a complete defensive unit, a place to hide...MICHIGAN SUCKS!!! Michigan led in this game, 17-7, believe it or not. Then PSU ran off score after score. There's all this bs in the press about new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez needing to get personnel who fit his spread offense. BEEEE-ESSSSS! What's the excuse on the other side of the ball? Write it down: MICHIGAN SUCKS. The performance was witnessed by the 4th largest crowd in the history of Penn State, around 110,000. THEY were happy.
"L"
INDIANA @ ILLINOIS -16 1/2
Illinois 55, Indiana Hoosiers 14

Illinois in a rout...When they don't try to be more than they are, the Illini are an absolute handful. This stubby little tailback they unveiled, Ford, had over 150 yards rushing in his debut. Arrelious Benn looked NFL-worthy. Juice Williams played intelligently, with restraint, showed judgement, in other words he did everything that he doesn't usually do, so he looked fabulous. There was one impressive Illinois scoring drive early in the second half that looked like a tutorial, as the Illini used every offensive weapon at least one time in the drive, leaving a befuddled Indiana team not knowing what hit them. Illinois heads north to Madison this coming Saturday to try to make the Badgers' season a bit more miserable.

"W"

The year to date record is now 27-30-2. STP Partners, which is a pick and choose of games picked here, hit a big one and a little one on Saturday and then GOT HIT by a horseshoe to win another. Very profitable weekend, and please, folks...Start Wearing Purple!