Macca

Bill Simmon's column this week focuses on Michael Vick ...scroll down (just over half way) on this link for his tips ... http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8583255/the-polarizing-michael-vick Tomorrow's TV games ... 5.00 AM Arizona (4-4) at Green Bay (5-3) Fox2 5.00 AM Chicago (6-1) at Tennessee (3-5) OneHD 8.15 AM Minnesota (5-3) at Seattle (4-4) Fox2 8.25 AM Pittsburgh (4-3) at NY Giants (6-2) OneHD 12.15 PM Dallas (3-4) at Atlanta (7-0) OneHD & ESPN TUE, NOV 6 12.30 PM Philadelphia (3-4) at New Orleans (2-5) ESPN For all other matches ... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#9

Here's an interesting ESPN 'blog' about tanking in the NBA ... it focuses on 6 teams in 6 different seasons ... http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/40780/when-tankers-tell-the-truth

NBA is back ! Managed to listen to a fair bit of today's game between last years Western conference Semi-finalists - OKC and the Spurs... Here's a few highlights ... which may only be up for a few hours ... http://www.nba.com/

Good story and one that highlights how quickly a team can rise . Good drafting and getting very good free agents is the key hey ! Who's to say the Colts don't rise again quickly with Andrew Luck . They're a sneaky chance to get a wild-card in the AFC . The thing that impresses me with Luck is how he plays well in the 'Big' moments . I've probably mozzed him now ps - hopefully your Lakers can get a win for you tomorrow (it's on ESPN) Those Chiefs can't get it done - what the hell's happened ?

Yeah it most probably happens but it's difficult to pin down . The Colts could have possibly won an extra game or 2 last season but because they'd lost Peyton through injury they had an easy out . Andrew Luck was the prize on offer of course . And yeah , those 49ers are doing well . You've got a few testing games to come (vs Chicago , @ New England and @ Seattle) but you should win your division . I reckon the NFL would prefer to do Friday or Saturday games but fairly sure that College has both those days 'Protected' (though Saturday night NFL games have in the past been on in late December) I've heard a bit of talk about Tuesday night games but the Thursday night games probably gets a big TV audience so they'll stay . Money talks . I see the Vikes are on the tele again 'cfh' . Miracles do happen ! Tough one at Seattle though - should be close . Ha ha ! It seems that 'Tanking' is sort of accepted in the States . Obviously they've had a draft a lot longer than us but it seems they're years ahead of us with regards the public acceptance of tanking . Teams are probably way more adept at 'Disguising' the practice as well . I've also heard that despite having a lottery system in the NBA, it doesn't stop teams from tanking . In the States it seems tanking is not viewed as 'Throwing games' . It should be viewed the same way in Oz . Experimentation with player positions and roles , 'Resting' players , giving rookies game time experience , early surgeries etc etc has been going on in all sorts of sports way before we had such things as drafts . That practice was never called anything before the advent of 'Drafts' though do I seem to remember phrases such as "They're just playing out the season" . Now it's called tanking . Same difference in a lot of ways . The 'Caro's of this world wouldn't agree but they're often just muckrakers anyway

Games on the box this week ... FRI, NOV 2 11.20 AM Kansas City (1-6) at San Diego (3-4) OneHD & ESPN MON, NOV 5 5.00 AM Arizona (4-4) at Green Bay (5-3) Fox2 5.00 AM Chicago (6-1) at Tennessee (3-5) OneHD 8.15 AM Minnesota (5-3) at Seattle (4-4) Fox2 8.25 AM Pittsburgh (4-3) at NY Giants (6-2) OneHD 12.15 PM Dallas (3-4) at Atlanta (7-0) OneHD & ESPN TUE, NOV 6 12.30 PM Philadelphia (3-4) at New Orleans (2-5) ESPN For all other matches ... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#9

Tampa Bay played very well - surprised me . Thought you had 'em covered . Tomorrows games on TV ... MON, OCT 29 4.00 AM Atlanta (6-0) at Philadelphia (3-3) Fox2 4.00 AM Seattle (4-3) at Detroit (2-4) OneHD 7.25 AM NY Giants (5-2) at Dallas (3-3) OneHD 11.20 AM New Orleans (2-4) at Denver (3-3) OneHD & ESPN TUES, OCT 30 11.30 AM San Francisco (5-2) at Arizona (4-3) ESPN And for the other games ... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#8

Along the same lines, here's Ella (with a bit of help from Louis) . A classic from George and Ira Gershwin ... Macca's Jazz 4.9

Apparently each game held in the UK has sold out in rapid time . In 2008 there were 500,000 applications for tickets and they had to ballot them out in the end . Prices range from 45 - 100 pounds . Yeah , that Giants at Dallas game holds a lot of interest . Always a big clash between those 2 rivals . Atlanta at the Eagles will be interesting as well . Quite a few good games this week . Washington at Pittsburgh is another good match-up as well as MNF and SNF . And 'cfh' , your blokes are finally on the tele tomorrow ! On ESPN and not OneHD this week

Here's the TV games and Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal's podcast ... http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8539013 Tomorrow ... 11.20 AM Tampa Bay (2-4) at Minnesota (5-2) ESPN MON, OCT 29 4.00 AM Atlanta (6-0) at Philadelphia (3-3) Fox2 4.00 AM Seattle (4-3) at Detroit (2-4) OneHD 7.25 AM NY Giants (5-2) at Dallas (3-3) OneHD 11.20 AM New Orleans (2-4) at Denver (3-3) OneHD & ESPN TUES, OCT 30 11.30 AM San Francisco (5-2) at Arizona (4-3) ESPN And for the other games ... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#8

Verlander may well pitch in games 1, 4 and 7 (or at least that is Justin's wish) . More likely he pitches in game's 1 and 5 . If his form holds up its Detroit in 7 for mine . ESPN radio are covering all the games for those without Foxtel . Depending on your type of mobile phone , ESPN radio is quite accessible ... http://espn.go.com/espnradio/

Ha ha ! Well done to you blokes all the same . Those Lions were somehow still in the game right to the end despite being woeful in the red zone . In all honesty the Bears should have put Detroit away by the end of the 3rd quarter . Cutler took a huge hit from Ndamukong Suh . He seemed to recover ok but he'll no doubt have a bit of 'General soreness' himself tomorrow . In the States, some are describing this 'Tackle' as some sort of 'WWE' move . Suh is just a beast of a man !

Confident, sort of . Bit concerned about the Bears - if they keep winning it might be out of your blokes and mine for a wild-card spot . Dare I say it , at Green Bay we're taking it "One week at a time" . Although It may well come down to the 2 games that we play each other (week's 13 and 17) . Btw , how'd ya pull up after yesterday's 'Footy Forum' games ? Good to see we got another overall victory !

I've still only seen edited highlights but from what I can gather, Rodgers had a huge game again . He's an immense player when on song and unfortunately for your blokes, he stepped it up again today . As you're no doubt aware , the Rams play New England next week at Wembley - another big game ! No real surprises today although the Jets and Redskins were both unlucky to lose . Houston made a statement and the Saints won again . With Brees at the helm they're capable of winning quite a few more games and will at least provide nuisance value . Their defence is woeful though and remains their achilles' heal . Need the Lions to win tomorrow :-) Edit : Just noticed that the Rams / Patriots game is on at Wembley Stadium (corrected post)

The UK production of 'Inside Men' is a very good, fast paced thriller . 4 parts in series 1 (2012) . Series 2 to be aired next year . http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1989062/

May the better team win 'Hipster' What's the odds on a close finish ? A lot riding on this game . The loser will have a reasonably long haul back in either of their divisions . Being a 16 game season , teams that fall too far back start running out of games . Especially in our divisions, with every team being at least competitive .

The Stones with 'Gimme Shelter' Macca's 60's 10.9

Here's the full week's games and Bill Simmons column ... http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8524001/a-hierarchy-hypocrites FRI, OCT 19 11.20 AM Seattle 6 at San Francisco 13 OneHD & ESPN MON, OCT 22 4.00 AM Washington (3-3) at NY Giants (4-2) Fox2 4.00 AM New Orleans (1-4) at Tampa Bay (2-3) OneHD 4.00 AM Tennessee (2-4) at Buffalo (3-3) 4.00 AM Dallas (2-3) at Carolina (1-4) 4.00 AM Baltimore (5-1) at Houston (5-1) 4.00 AM Cleveland (1-5) at Indianapolis (2-3) 4.00 AM Green Bay (3-3) at St. Louis (3-3) 4.00 AM Arizona (4-2) at Minnesota (4-2) 7.25 AM Jacksonville (1-4) at Oakland (1-4) 7.25 AM NY Jets (3-3) at New England (3-3) OneHD 11.20 AM Pittsburgh (2-3) at Cincinnati (3-2) OneHD & ESPN TUES. OCT 23 11.30 A Detroit (2-3) at Chicago (4-1) ESPN ·Bye: Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, San Diego

I'm still not totally sold on Atlanta though it's hard to fault winning form . Their schedule isn't too tough from here on in so they could easily end up with the 1 seed . They could 'Dome it' right through to the Super Bowl (which is at the Superdome) Should be a good one tomorrow . Harbaugh will have your blokes fired up you'd reckon . For a week 7 preview here's Bill Simmons/Cousin Sal podcast ... http://espn.go.com/e...play?id=8509315 And for a bit of a laugh here's a small bit of audio from Frank Caliendo . He was on 'Mike and Mike' earlier in the week . His impressions of Jon Gruden and Chris Berman were quite good http://espn.go.com/e...play?id=8507635 Week 7 games on the tele ... ESPN as well as OneHD are covering tomorrow's game ... FRI, OCT 19 11.20 AM Seattle (4-2) at San Francisco (4-2) OneHD & ESPN MON, OCT 22 4.00 AM Washington (3-3) at NY Giants (4-2) Fox2 4.00 AM New Orleans (1-4) at Tampa Bay (2-3) OneHD 7.25 AM NY Jets (3-3) at New England (3-3) OneHD 11.20 AM Pittsburgh (2-3) at Cincinnati (3-2) OneHD & ESPN TUES. OCT 23 11.30 A Detroit (2-3) at Chicago (4-1) ESPN And here's the other games for week 7 ... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#7

It's a tipsters nightmare 'Harcourt' . Makes the games so much more interesting though . I had the 49ers as 10pt favs over the Giants but was once again proved wrong . Was thinking about doing a top 12 this week but it's very difficult with Houston , New England and San Francisco all losing along with the Ravens and Falcons just getting over the line . I'd have to have the Giants near the top . Yeah , nearly did the same '84' but Peyton has been getting this Denver team back into games . Once they got it back to 24-14 it was game on . Don't know what's happened to Rivers .

Big comeback win to the Broncos today . Denver have had a really tough schedule and are now 3 and 3 . As for San Diego , that was a meltdown . Leading 24 - 0 at half time . The locals aren't very happy ... http://www.utsandieg...-lead-ballgame/ Peyton's QB rating was 129 . He threw for 309 yards (24/30) with 3 TD's . Elway look well pleased on the sidelines .

Packers are at St Louis next week . Big clash for quite a few on 'land ! Relieved to win that game against the Texans . Green Bay came to play but Houston had a really off day . Rodgers was great with 6 TD's . There's hardly any guaranteed wins in the NFL and next week could go down to the wire . Watched the end of the Eagles game and thought you had 'em Dappa . Was genuinely surprised by the ease of the Giants win and how about Seattle ? Russell Wilson is stepping up and surprising a few people . The Bills helped the other 3 teams in the NFC West division with an upset win . Didn't see that coming either . Seattle are at San Francisco on Friday (our time) Baltimore and Atlanta did well to hang on and it's hard to believe that the Jets are now joint leader of the AFC East . A few teams have come back to the field today and a few others have put their hand up . The Giants especially .

Good work 'Yossarian' . Must have a listen to a bit of their other stuff

'The Average White Band' with 'Pick up the Pieces' . This song is still used occasionally in the States for their sporting promo's and highlights . Hailing from Scotland their music is a mix of rock , funk and R&B . (yes, they're still kicking around) Macca's 70's 10.8

Yeah , Monday's are a mad scramble during the NFL season . I like the EPL and the baseball as well so fitting in those 3 sports and work is an exhausting effort . By midnight I'm cooked ! Here's Bill Simmons weekly column . Nearly always entertaining ... http://www.grantland...4/to-believe-in