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November 20th, 2009 After ten weeks of the season We've got four teams currently tied with 7 - 3 records and two others are within a game of first place. Six contending teams cram into one Sports Illustrated cover this week as the wheel of fortune continues to turn. How would everyone like their prizes should they win? On account or gift certificate? Would anyone care to buy a vowel? Jim, your wish has been granted! But as you can see, the arrow on the left side is still pointing to your team...  November 13th, 2009 Does the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx work if I post the cover when the week's already begun? Well let's find out shall we? I should also point out that this cover is appearing for the first time on Friday the 13th! Let's see just how much luck these Irish boys have...  November 6th, 2009 Since last week’s question and answer session regarding the statistical perils of not attending the football draft went so well, let’s continue with some more questions from The Commish’s mailbag. But before we begin I need to quickly answer a question that almost all of you, to a man, have been asking. No, the new George Clooney movie “The Men Who Stare At Goats” was not inspired by Rob Hanratty’s recent business trip to India! On to the more difficult Q&A… What’s the real deal with Brett Favre? Is there something we’re missing here as he seems to have gotten some serious mojo back this season. Let’s see, the old guy beats his former team twice including a triumphant homecoming game this past weekend. Throws for seven TDs in those two games while rubbing it in the face of his old fan base. He’s seemingly as healthy as he’s ever been and tarnishing his legacy even further with every play. Is it any wonder that the names “Favre” and “Faust” are very close to each other? What’s this you say? Who’s this Faust guy? Well, it’s not former Notre Dame coach Gerry Faust, that’s for sure. Rather, Faust is a character from German literature (too bad he wasn’t Norse, eh?) who, per a Wikipedia entry , “…is frustrated with learning and the limits to his knowledge and power and attracts the attention of the Devil, who agrees to serve Faust until the moment he attains the zenith of human happiness, at which point Mephistopheles may take his soul. Faust is pleased with the deal, as he believes the moment will never come…” So surely we can ascertain from this that the Devil went down to Mississippi after leaving Georgia this past summer! This plot sounds all too familiar, doesn’t it? Favre is frustrated with not playing and needs to achieve greater happiness. The Devil is willing to help him achieve this in exchange for his soul. So first comes the Jets gig. That didn’t work out so well and they need to tweak the deal a bit. Lo and behold the Vikes come calling and Brad Childress still can’t explain that visit in the middle of the night from the Ghosts of QBs Past, Present and Future. Along with this new gig come those two victories over the team that in his mind, stood in the way of his achieving this “zenith of human happiness” thing. But now that he’s accomplished all this, what’s the end game? Well if we follow the story, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the halftime entertainment at this year’s Pro Bowl involves a visit from ole Mephistopheles himself calling in an old debt and leaving south Florida with a soul with the number 4 engraved on it. And for those amongst us who are well read in the classics and might care to research this connection further, see if you can come up with the number of Packers season ticket holders named Gretchen… What exactly were the Patriots thinking about when they decided that wearing their throwback uniforms in London, England would be a good idea? Seriously! Those unis must’ve had King George rolling over in his grave! Well as much as dust from decaying 300 year old bones can “roll” that is. Surely Bill Belicheck was aware that by clothing his team as they were he had the potential about to start an international incident, no? We’re not talking about the fact that the Hoodie is not fashionable across the pond right now. No, instead we’re here to discuss the fact that the helmet logo of the Pats throwbacks depicts a Revolutionary War soldier playing the role of center on the offensive line. The “Snap Heard ‘Round The World” if you will. Need I remind you who our opponent was in this war for independence? Right-o chap, you’re spot on as it was jolly Old England we defeated in 1776. Flash forward eleven score and thirteen years later and here comes King Belicheck throwing in back in the faces of the Londoners who are dolling out some serious schillings and pence to watch this crazy thing called “American Football” that all the kids are talking about. You think the NFL was behind this, perhaps finally getting revenge for the time that they were forced to accede to allowing the London team in the World League to be named the Monarchs? Think about it, that had to hurt a bit no? It’s not like the Berlin team was named The Wall or the Amsterdam team was named The Dykes. Oh wait, wrong topic, wrong column! Just ignore that last one (not that there’s anything wrong with it…) No wonder so many folks seemed to be rooting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s not like the pirate industry is so big in the United Kingdom or anything. Now if they were playing a game in Somalia perhaps I’d understand. Anti-patriot sentiments notwithstanding I do believe there’s a more valid reason that would explain why fans would show more support for a winless Tampa team instead of the Pats. Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer is also the owner of local soccer team; or should I remove my ethnocentrism and call it a football club? Manchester United is to soccer what the Patriots are to football so looks like Mr. Glazer may have convinced the not-so-in-the-know locals that he had super teams on both sides of the Atlantic. I’ll close this response (and this week’s column as well) by reprinting and slightly modifying a Top 10 I had published a few years back when the NFL first started playing this annual game in England. From the home office in Glastonbury, Connecticut and the remote office in Glastonbury, England… Top 10 Ways That American Football Games Are Different In England
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