Has it been a year already fellow thrill seekers? My how time flies. Last season, I actually did finish over .500 for my picks, which was pretty darn lucky I think. Can I do it again? We shall see. There’s a lot of games this week starting with the Thursday night opener and finishing up with double the normal Monday Night Football action with two games taking place. Where to begin?

For those of you new to the weekly Pick Em post, I will go through and pick each game of the week, either with the spread, money line or total points scored. The picks will be in all caps and in bold. I will finish the post with my Upset Special of the Week and the Lock of the Week, meaning you can skip to the bottom for the real good stuff if you’d like.

If you follow along with my picks, you probably aren’t very smart. That being said, I was over .500 in my picks last season meaning if you actually bet money and used all my picks last season, you made some money.  Congrats.*

This weeks’ column is brought to you by Amanda of the Vikings cheerleading squad. Lets get on to the picks.

Read the rest of this entry

This is art

I was on vacation last week so this is a week old but I still have to talk about it. Carnegie Mellon University has an art exhibition going on that might just blind those people that aren’t a part of the Steelers Nation. Not because of all the black and gold that will be present, but because people might actually be gauging their own eyeballs out. Its entitled “‘Whatever It Takes: Steelers Fan Collections, Rituals, and Obsessions” and is a Steelers fan’s wet dream but probably an art buff’s worst nightmare.

How does the gallery justify an exhibition of this sort?  This is how:

…the exhibition, a first of its kind, looks at the ingenious methods Steelers fans use to construct their own personal and social identities in relation to the team.

“Steelers culture is Pittsburgh’s popular culture, and the fans are its primary creative force,” Rubin said.

The first of its kind? Might be the last of its kind. Here’s a brief list of what is going to be at this interactive “art” exhibit taken directly from CMU’s website (my own emphasis added) and the Post Gazette:

• A tour of Denny DeLuca’s homemade Steelers Den, which has been moved in its entirety from his basement into the gallery.
• New episodes of Jim Shearer’s weekly, low-budget Web show, “Yinz Luv ‘Da Stillers,” which is produced entirely from his bedroom.
• Visitors to the gallery will be able to contribute to the exhibition by re-enacting Franco Harris’ famous catch and becoming part of the unforgettable “Immaculate Reception” footage
• Lem Apperson’s nylon SuperFan costume on a mannequin
• And of course…Roethlispoodle

This is Roethlispoodle

Finally, the only real reason anyone should want to attend this exhibition is that friend of the Deuce, Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies will have a slide show of their classic “Great Moments in Unlicensed Pittsburgh Sports Merchandise” series. Art, hardly, hilarious slides, definitely.

While I know I am not a great art historian or even a lover of fine art, c’mon, the majority of this is stuff isn’t really artistic. Portions of it, sure, there’s some art in there, but overall, its not an art collection. It is something that belongs in a museum, not a gallery, but hey, it will be a lot of fun for Steelers fans out there and that is what is all about I guess.

Truthfully, I think what really ticks me off more is that you know Dan Snyder is looking at this and trying to figure out some way he can take this concept and monetize it somehow. I despise that little man so much…

Hard Knocks on HBO this season has been amazing from the start and this clip from the show is no different. It might even be one of the best endings to a pep talk ever in the history of endings to pep talks. Why? Well because of snacks of course. Who the fuck doesn’t want to eat a snack after getting pepped up? I know I do. Stick around til the end, its just randomness.

You know how in Madden when you perfectly time hitting the triangle or Y button and you leap over a defender? Yeah, this is like that. This is from last night’s Monday Night Football game where the Titans beat down the Cardinals 24-10.

So it only took him 10 days and four tries but congratulations to Albert Haynesworth of the Washington Redskins for finally being in semblance of shape and passing his conditioning test. Fat Albert finally ran out of excuses after an MRI on his knee showed no real damage that would prevent him from running, so he kinda had to pass. At last our long city-wide nightmare is over.

Thankfully, now Redskins fans can worry about the 3 headed running back battle, the lack of any wide receiver under 30 starting for the team, the offensive line, McNabb learning a new offense at QB, who McNabb’s backup will be (Rex Grossman or John Beck), how strong will this defense be in a 3-4 … and more. See how much other news is out there besides Albert?

But while the corpse of this story is warm, I’d be remiss if one last parting shot wasn’t sent Albert Haynesworth’s way. Take a listen to Kirk McEwan and Mike O’Meara, from 105.9 The Edge, having a good laugh at Weird Al Haynesworth’s expense. Kirk interviewing Mike doing an impression of Albert. Enjoy!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Read the rest of this entry

Remember that Coors Light ad?  Well you won’t see any more like it, at least you wont see one with any sort of NFL branding on them because Anheuser-Busch owners InBev just locked down the official beer of the NFL rights for a cool $1.2 billion.  Say that with me, $1.2 billion dollars.  If there is ever a deal that is good and bad for the owners, its this one.  How on earth can they claim poverty come negotiation time with the NFLPA when they signed this mega deal and this is just one of their many “official” sponsors?

In this down economy, the new beer sponsorship will, according to the St. Louis Business Journal, pay the league $42 million in the first  year and increase to $50 million by the end of the 6 year deal.  Currently, they are being paid $3o million a year.  That’s a pretty nice raise, yes/no?

Budweiser used to be the official beer of the NFL but they’ve never had as much exclusivity as they currently have.  Right now, Budweiser is the official beer of 28 NFL teams, the exclusive beer of the NFL and the exclusive beer of the Super Bowl including the logos that go along with it.  As great as that is for Budweiser, I think it might not be the best for the fans.  Not because we need to see a variety of beer commercials, no, who cares about commercials really, that is just the point of the game where I run to the bathroom or check my fantasy team.  No, the most troubling thing about the deal is that we still probably won’t see another Bud Bowl since it was created because Bud didn’t have the Super Bowl logo rights at the time.  Now they have them and I am sad.  I still want more Bud Bowls.  That is good Super Bowl commercial gambling entertainment there.

I mean, this is about 10 times better than any of those coaches commercials, right?

Seems like Santonio Holmes isn’t going to get off the hook as easily as he thought.  After previously not cooperating with authorities, Holmes’ accuser Anshonae Mills told police Wednesday that she now wants him charged with throwing a glass at her and cutting her face all because of some beef over a seat in a VIP lounge.  She is also suing Holmes in civil court for assault & battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress for an amount in excess of  $15,000.  Seems like that was worth it, eh Santonio?

This has been quite the offseason for the Steelers, you’ve got their starting quarterback facing sexual assault charges stemming from some incident in a college bar and now their #2 wide receiver is  facing assault and battery charges from some VIP clubbin.  After these past few years of Steelers gettin in legal trouble, The Deuce now asks the question…who will be the next Steeler to get accused of a crime?  Lets take a look at some arbitrary odds that I have just created right now, purely for entertainment purposes.

Jeff Reed 1 to 2

This guy is a walking disaster.  Not only does he not mind dubious photos of himself to get released onto the Internet but he was arrested twice last year for crimes that involved alcohol.  This guy is a drunk and has got to be the odds on favorite to get nicked next.

James Harrison 4 to 1

He was arrested back in 08 for assault, so he’s shown the propensity to commit violence to people on and off the field of play.  He’s gotta have a decent shot at winning this bet, but his lack of being a total drunken ass in public put’s him behind the Jeffmeister.

Santonio Holmes…AGAIN  8 to 1

I mean, this guy is a notorious pot user and he’s currently got a bad combination of a ton of stress bearing down on him and a lot people keeping their eyes on him to make sure he doesn’t get into anymore trouble.  The second this guy smokes up to relieve the stress Johnny Law is coming to knock on his door to make him put it out.

Matt Spaeth 15 to 1

He was Jeff Reed’s partner in crime during one of Reed’s two arrests in 2009, I mean ya cant let a guy drink alone, right?  Spaeth got caught for public urination outside of the stadium.  Odds are he won’t get arrested again but you and I know its not the first time he’s taken a leak outside a bar and it won’t be his last.

Larry Foote 50 to 1

Foote was involved in a custody battle of a son he didn’t know existed back in 2006 and there’s been no trouble since he won that case. Foote’s always been a great guy, but ya never know when family and especially one’s children are concerned. Emotions run high, could be a powder-keg ready to explode.

Troy Polamalu 100 to 1

I mean, no one thought Marvin Harrison could ever get in trouble with the law, right?  I mean, technically he didnt, but if Harrison could have some sketchy situation with someone getting gunned down and it might be because of him, then certainly something equally as sketchy could happen to Polamalu.  Anyone who hits that hard on the field has got to have some unresolved anger issues or some dark dark secrets fighting to get out.  Ya can’t count it out is all I’m sayin.

“The Field” 10 to 1

We’re no dummies, there’s a lot of crazy people on football teams and we’ve just named 6 people on a 50+ man roster. This might be the safest bet of them all.

The Deuce happened upon these Jay Glazer tweet pics and just had to post for all to comment on them.  Look at those friggin outfits.  Wow.  Glazer and Payton were in the Orpheus Parade this year and these were their outfits for that gigantic spectacle and man they are loving it huh?  What is up with Sean Payton doing the metal devil horns sign, not very saintly.  Also, I’m not exactly sure why Glazer is there but I am sure the reason why he is holding the Super Bowl trophy is because Payton is enjoying a tasty po’ boy and needed some latcher-on to hold the trophy for the Super Bowl Champion.  The dialogue for this scenario in my head went something like this:

“Boy!  I say boy!  Hold this here trophy while I eat this sammich right here!  Yes that’s right, now….oh snap, camera,” coughs and emits a high pitched Iron Maiden-esque voice “METAL!!!!!”

Here’s some more Payton and Glazer

Glazer’s caption to this photo sheds a bit more light on who the heck these other guys are in the picture:

Riding in the orpheus parade today w sean payton, mickey loomis, pat green, bobby hebert. What an unbelievable party!

Again, sweet friggin outfits but seriously…why the heck is Jay Glazer there?  He’s no great New Orleans musician.  He didn’t win anything this year.  He isnt some great athlete from New Orleans’ past.   He is just a reporter…kinda/sorta.  And more devil horns or is he signing “love” all ‘gangsta’ style or somethin.  Too many questions, just enjoy the pictures.

It only took a couple weeks for NFL players to start acting crazy. Rey Maualuga just got one upped by Deon Anderson who has a warrant out for his arrest.

Anderson went crazy and pulled a gun on a parking valet after accusing him of tampering with his car. The arrest warrant states

On 02/02/10 at approximately 2:16 AM off duty officers working Black Finn (4440 Belt Line) were alerted by staff members of a man with a gun in the parking lot. Officers were pointed to an area where four males and two vehicles were. Complainant Mekonnen Gigi advised Deon Anderson was mad because of problems with his vehicle, and accused him of tampering with the vehicle. Gigi stated Anderson retrieved a handgun from the car and asked him why he was laughing. Gigi stated he was in fear of imminent bodily injury or death when Anderson displayed the firearm. The firearm was recovered from the shrubs nearby, and was
found to be loaded with a round chambered.

The parking lot confrontation isn’t the first time Anderson has made the papers for bringing the ruckus. He and Flozell Adams fought on a team flight after a loss to the Eagles in 2008 when the Cowboys season fell apart. Marcus.

We’d like to credit Marcus Vick for inspiring Anderson but a hat tip to the late Sean Taylor is more appropriate given the circumstances. We’re talking ATVs not home invasion and murder. We’ll leave that to Wilbon. Sean Taylor whipped out some guns on Ryan Hill, a Miami resident who he thought stole his property. At least he thought he was wronged? Marcus Vick just went crazy on some kids in a Burger King parking lot because he’s a Vick and that’s just how they was raised.