Kickoff 2005

And we're back to staying-at-home on Sundays, with the football season kicking off last Thursday. Shit, more cholesterol crap. Good thing I don't drink alcohol by myself while yelling at the screen like crazy.

After picking out one of those magazine annuals 3 years ago, my interest in American football has been sealed, just like it was for basketball when I started reading NBA magazines back in 1992. So what if am just an armchair athlete? I feel good that I'm a fan. Its an interest just like anyone else's - model kits, horticulture, video gaming, Harry Pothead, Warhammer, cross-stitching, Elvis memorabilia, audiophilia, philatelia, necrophilia, etc. (okay i just threw that last one in just to see if you're paying attention, dork).

Speaking of dorks, I expect if people knew I even purchased a 400-page football prospectus from those stat freak analysts at Football Outsiders (why else would I have a link to their website on this page), I'd be labelled as one (if I haven't been considered already). This book would be uninteresting, boring or terrifying to anybody else - but I find it a fascinating read (humor is of course, more of inside jokes to those in the know). Not particularly philosophical, but I can take deep number crunching, just like anyone who prefers pondering Sartre or Kierkegaard.

Of course, there's the requisite expression of dorkiness, if that's what you might call it - being in a game or buying fan gear *s*.



Ah, what the heck. To each his fun.

1st and 10 ... Week 1 prognostications
Tampa Bay at Minnesota ... no Moss? no Problem.
Denver at Miami ... Saban's 'Fins are still feeling their way around; no W today.
Tennessee at Pittsburgh ... the Titans are rebuilding so this should be a gimme for Steelers.
Chicago at Washington ... between these two bumblers, i'll take the Bears.
New Orleans at Carolina ... despite catastrophe, Panthers still have to win this game.
Seattle at Jacksonville ... Jax's D is better than 'Hawks O.
Houston at Buffalo ... looks like the Bills have improved more than the Texans.
Cincinnati at Cleveland ... Weis already won 2; time for Crennel's first.
NY Jets at Kansas City ... both defenses have improved, so may the better O win.
Green Bay at Detroit ... Lions should now be the king of jungle.
Dallas at San Diego ... will Drew Brees pick up from where he left off?
St Louis at San Francisco ... says here the 49ers will stink this year.
Arizona at NY Giants ... if anything, the Jints should be inspired by 9/11.
Indianapolis at Baltimore ... forget unstoppable vs immovable. Colts should win this.
Philadelphia at Atlanta ... never liked the Iggles, even moreso when TO arrived.