The Patriots have now won 12 consecutive regular season games. The record for consecutive wins in
the regular season is 17, held by the 1933-34 Chicago Bears. The Patriots would break that
record with a 6-0 start in 2004. The record for most consecutive wins (playoffs included) is 18,
held by four teams: the 1989-90 49ers, the 1972-73 Dolphins, the 1941-42 Bears and the 1933-34
Bears. A Superbowl win and a 4-0 start next season would give the Patriots that record.
How good have the Patriots been? Here are the numbers:
- The Patriots are 34-9 since losing to the Rams in Week 11 of the 2001 season.
- The Pats are 19-3 at home over the same time period.
- Most incredibly, the Pats are 21-2 after November 16th over the past three seasons.
- The Patriots became only the second team in NFL history to win 14 consecutive games
(including the playoffs) in a single season. The other team was the 1972 Miami Dolphins
who were a perfect 17-0.
The Carolina Panthers remind me a bit of the Superbowl Champion Patriots of two years ago. The
Panthers play very solid, tough defense. Their offense is not prolific, but they can control the
ball and seem to get better late in the game. They are also very well-coached. I think that the
Patriots will win (I'll guess 23-13) but I think the Panthers will be a much tougher challenge
that the overrated Eagles would have been.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the A-Rod for Manny Ramirez trade talks have been rekindled. I
refuse to be fooled again. We were teased more than enough the last time around.
Reliever Jesse Orosco announced his retirement this week. Now he can sit back with his great
grandchildren and reminisce about the time he struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the same inning.
After accepting millions of taxpayer dollars to build a new retractable-roof ballpark in Milwaukee
for the Brewers, the club has announced that they will trim the team's payroll from a
measly $40 million in 2003 to a pathetic $30 million this season. Taxpayers were promised that a new
ballpark would enable the franchise to increase revenues and put a more competitive team on the
field. Absolutely sickening.
Every few years, Major League Baseball owners will promise to bring more fiscal responsibility to
the game. After the strike was settled in 1995 the owners began offering shorter contracts for
smaller dollars but as usual that didn't last long. By the end of the decade, players were
getting deals of five or more years for two to three times as much per year as they received in
the early 1990's. During this off-season, the owners again promised to spend responsibly.
Unfortunately, there is always at least one idiot organization that can't control itself and
throws the market out of whack by overpaying. In 2000, it was the Rangers and the Red Sox. In
most other years it is the Yankees. This year, the idiot organization was the Baltimore Orioles
who signed Miguel Tejada to a six-year, $12 million per year deal despite the fact that the other
suitors were offering three to four years in the neighborhood of $9 million per year. This hurts
the Red Sox because it will make it harder for them to sell their four-year, $12 million per year
offer to Nomar Garciaparra. I don't appreciate the excessive greed of the players but it is more
infuriating to see the owners making the same mistakes year after year.
As bizarre as the Mars Rover looks, it is still a more attractive vehicle than the PT Cruiser.
I sincerely hope that Vin Baker wins his battle with alcohol addiction, but he will not get any sympathy
from me until he agrees to void his contract. So far Baker has been paid $20 million by the
Celtics for about 20 decent "on the wagon" games. I assume that the Player's Association will
argue that Baker deserves $14 million per year to drink himself out of the game. It's very sad
that Baker has this difficult problem, but it is even sadder that he doesn't have the pride
to give back the money that he has stolen from the Celtics.
I would have loved to have seen the look on Jake Delhomme's face when he saw Tom Brady sitting in
the President's VIP box at the State of the Union address. Even better, I would have liked to have
seen John Kerry's face when he saw Brady in the President's box. About the only thing that could
diminish Brady's popularity in Massachusetts is an admission that he is a Republican.
Ted Kennedy was repeatedly shaking his head from side to side during the President's speech. I
couldn't tell if he was showing his disagreement or if he was still feeling the impact of Happy
Hour.
It is customary for members of the opposition party to applaud the President during the State of
the Union address. Hillary Clinton's theatrical clapping and exasperated facial expression
reminded me Mike's response in Swingers after the old lady hits 21 at the low stakes
blackjack table.
The Democratic Debate on Thursday was not nearly as entertaining as I had hoped it would be.
Only Al Sharpton was able to provide some comedic moments.
I think these debates would be much more interesting if the candidates were given sodium
pentothal prior before heading to their podiums. It would be great to hear an honest answer
for a change.
The low point of the debate occurred when General Wesley Clark responded to a question about
Michael Moore referring to the President as a 'deserter' by saying that ".. I am delighted to have the
support of a man like Michael Moore .." It is disappointing that a decorated General would not condemn
Moore for tossing around baseless accusations about the Commander in Chief. General Flip-Flop
would be well-advised to distance himself from the fat, slovenly traitor. If there were ever another
military draft, I would be willing to bet my car that Michael Moore would be the first person to reach
the Canadian border.
Has anyone ever seen this guy --> 
and this guy --> 
in the same place at the same time?
