sfaJack

Yeah, but Cincy and Philly are both 1) overrated and 2) in the Dome. I honestly don't see Indy losing either of those games. I'd say they still have the inside track for home field. Not that it mattered last year.

That Buffalo game is probably my third favorite sports moment of my life. Just a beautiful game and the resulting chaos and disbelief around here was a comedy goldmine. One guy somewhere in town literally set fire to all of his Oilers gear on his front lawn--got him on the evening news and everything. It was just as well they lost they game though because if they had accidentally made it to the Super Bowl that year, the Cowboys would have beaten them worse than they beat Buffalo.

In terms of TV, the rules must have been different back then because I remember the Cowboys were almost always on (at least I seem to remember my dad watching all the Cowboys' games), even when they sucked bad in the 80's. Beginning around '91/'92, due to their return to glory, the Cowboys were in a lot of national games that were shown here. Then, in the Oilers' later years, the Cowboys were often on OVER the Oilers because the Oilers stopped selling out their games and fell victim to several local blackouts. After the Oilers left in '96, the Cowboys became Houston's de facto "home" team--all of their games were shown here. Now it seems we're lucky to get 10 Cowboys' games a year on TV here. It fucking sucks. Add that in with the fact that the Texans officially complained to the NFL when a Beaumont radio station (that can only be heard in the eastern third of the Houston area anyway) started carrying the Cowboys' Radio Network this season, resulting in the station being forced to pull the Cowboys, and I'm really frustrated. What does it hurt to have the RADIO feed of the Cowboys on a rimshot signal that barely cracks into the Texans' home market? There are A LOT of Cowboy fans in town...why would the NFL shun part of their fanbase?

Most of us aren't gonna live that long though.

Goddamn I wish the NFL would fold up/move the Texans. In addition to everything about their organization sucking since day one of their existence (making the whole thing a gigantic waste of time), I don't get see a lot of Cowboy games on TV here because NFL rules either require that only the Texans' game is shown or the local affiliate is encouraged to not show the Cowboys head up against them. Fuck.

Thanks for using those EP's, Gert!

Two words: Richard Justice.

The costume is/was one of those medieval court jester things, completely with faggoty purple and yellow jester hat. She found a "matching" set for herself and said that we'd be so cute together. I, of course, refused to even try it on which led to her getting in a huff and asking why I couldn't just do this one little thing for her. Whatever.

I can one-up your pumpkin shopping: My better half just called me from the Halloween store down the road. She says that she has found the "cutest" costume for me and INSISTS that I go down there to look at it/try it on. This is, of course, after we just had a big fight a couple of nights ago about my stating that Halloween is for little kids and certainly nobody over the age of 13 should dress up for it and her stating that I should "loosen up and have some fun" every now and then. *stabs self in eye*

It would just kick off an endless stream of "inside sources are telling ESPN that TO is going to return on XXXX date with XXXX team" rumors. We'd all be sick of Chris Mortensen.

It was reported on one of the local sports updates on 790 this afternoon. I was surprised to hear it myself because all that's been discussed and written about thus far is Carlos Lee, who I agree is a much better fit for them. I know Biggio isn't going anywhere. Drayton would let him play 5 more seasons if necessary to get that 3,000 crap over with. But if the Astros really are doing all they can to "BE A CHAMPION" as McLane is so fond of saying, can you honestly say that you are doing that if you start Biggio over Burke at second base on Opening Day next season?

Ok, good. You had me worried you had crossed over into "delusional" instead of "fanatic" territory for a minute there. Oh yes. It's just that living here I get wind of way more Astros' talk and information. And since we don't have a whole lot of Astro fans on the board outside of viva, I just sprinkle in a few Astros' comments to liven up the discussion. I don't post about the Cubs as much because, honestly, you and Bruiser do a really good job of saying most everything I'm thinking between the two of you and I figure why clog up the board with the same old, same old? It's depressing enough being a Cubs' fan...I don't think we want to read the same sad stuff over and over again.

A few Astros notes being reported all day: - They have granted permission to Cecil Cooper to interview with either the Rangers, Nationals, or Giants for their managerial job. Astros aren't saying which specific team but it is one of those three. - Negotiations are underway on Biggio's contract for next year. Oh, boy... - They are more likely to push for Alfonso Soriano than Carlos Lee this winter. My question on that is: what if he makes playing 2nd base one of the conditions for his signing? Do you give up on him or sign him and tell Biggio to take his selfish quest for 3,000 hits elsewhere? THAT'S an 800lb gorilla Drayton McLane doesn't want to acknowledge...

Please tell me you're not amongst the moronic section of Astro Nation who actually believe they have a shot at A-Rod. Their stupid bullshit "trade proposals" are already polluting the sports talk around here. IF the Yankees put Rodriguez out on the market AND he actually agrees to be traded, the Astros would probably be amongst the teams least likely to get him because they have exactly one regular who would even crack the Yankees' lineup (Berkman) and one pitcher that the Yankees would even consider as being close to fair value for Rodriguez (Oswalt). Seriously, who else do they have that the Yankees would want? You don't take a bunch of unproven minor leaguers in exchange for Alex Rodriguez, unless you are flatly looking to dump his salary...and we know the Yankees aren't worried about that. So unless you are willing to part with either Berkman and/or Oswalt, forget it (and if you do that, why bother with A-Rod at all; you'd be no better off). Also, if you think the fact that A-Rod sells a few cars around town is reason enough for him to move to Houston, you are grasping at straws. The Astros will be better served pursuing Carlos Lee or Soriano, talking Jason Schmidt into coming to town, and hoping Hirsh and one or two of the younger pitchers develops than wasting their time pursuing Alex Rodriguez.

5-0 with my off week coming up? Sweet.

Why has everyone just assumed that the Tigers will lay down before the mighty Yankees? It's insane. They won 95 games! They are a pretty competent team themselves and have no reason to fear the pinstripes.

Hey, looks like 4-0 and a nice 2 game lead in the division already. AFC North three-peat (and subsequent playoff meltdown) is well underway!

You know Garner's gonna go with Wandy. I mean, he has 9 wins this season, which is WAY more than Sampson!

At least he resisted the temptation to bring Oswalt back on short rest tonight and then again on Sunday as he was apparently thinking about doing.

I loved how Phil Garner let Dan Wheeler, his best reliever, throw 46 pitches tonight. I'm all in favor of keeping your best pitchers in the game as long as possible, but 46 pitches for a guy who's now thrown 4 of the past 5 nights seems a bit much. Better hope they don't need him tomorrow.

The Pirates are useless. Contract them now.

Reports are that he's now been released from the hospital. So, if he really did try to kill himself, would this be standard operating procedure? Wouldn't he be held at the hospital and referred for a psychiatric evaluation, including a release from a psychiatrist that he's fit to play football? They'd really just let him go home like that? Something doesn't add up.

Where did you hear this? It CAN'T be true. Can it?

Nobody's running on the Cowboys either when Mike Zimmer removes his head from his ass and calls aggressive plays. Their defense is too fast.

Garner throwing all the shit against the wall and hoping something sticks?