Trash Talk Is BACK!!!

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The Brett Favre drama has kind of sucked up all the attention in the off-season, so it’ll take some time to get figure out what happened in the off-season. For this season opening trash talk thread, then, I’ll just let you all weigh in on the following questions.

Most importantly, which will have more viewers, that wrinkly white dude’s presidential nomination acceptance speech, or the Super Bowl Champs taking on their division rival?

Will anything that happens in Mile High this year electrify the crowd as much as last Thursday’s doings?

Which Manning brother will have better success this year, Venus–with a gimpy knee–or Serena–without two of the key defensive contributors from last year?

Which division will be more competitive this year, the AFC South (Colts, Jags, Texans, and Titans) or the NFC East (Giants, Skins, ‘Boys, and Iggles)?

Otherwise (since my muse has been beaten by the server gods), I send you to First Draft for this post. Since nasty nasty seems to be the mood of the last day or so, I feel okay indulging in this sort of mean-spiritedness.

There’s something I’m really, really hoping for tonight.

I hope that the football game runs long.  Really long.  So long that NBC has to cut away from it to show McCain’s speech in Minnesota.

Will there be a repetition of the infamous Heidi incident?  Not in New York or DC, as NFL contracts now require that broadcasters show games to their conclusions in their home markets.  But what about the rest of the country?  Wouldn’t it be great if NBC (the network, by the way, responsible for the aforementioned incident) cut away from the final few minutes of tonight’s NFL season opener to cover Oldy McBoring’s speech to the moribund GOP?  Wouldn’t that be great?  Man, lots of people would be pissed at McCain!  In addition to the NBC switchboards being melted by overuse, the RNC would see a lot of heat, as well.  It’s been a long year without football, as far as NFL fans are concerned, and they’d probably despise missing even a minute of the season opener.

photo by ButterflySha

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  1. bonjonno says:

    heh heh. Here’s hoping for a very long game.

    I just accidentally watched tv for 45 seconds and learned that by all accounts Palin’s speech last night was a big hit. Oy.

  2. prostratedragon says:

    ( ” …I feel okay indulging in this sort of mean-spiritedness.”

    Now surely you weren’t really looking for consent here, were you?)

    I hope that the football game runs long. …

    And since the Bears clearly want me to avert my eyes this year, Go NFC East, etc!
    HYAAAH!!

  3. bmaz says:

    Vikings best hope for quarterback is now a Jet. Global warming is seriously screwing with the whole mystique of teh Frozen Tundra though. Just don’t know if Rodgers can make those throws into the face of freezing cold wind like Brett did. Whole division is one giant pickum. Bears may surprise some people. Did Kitna predict another ten win season??

    Seriously though, Remember: The NFL (National Favre League) doesn’t really start until Brett airs it out at 1pm eastern 10am pacific time Sunday!

    • Mauimom says:

      until Brett airs it out at 1pm eastern 10am pacific time Sunday!

      You forgot to include “7 am Hawaii time.” I’m having a hard time adjusting from that 1 pm Eastern.

      Such fun watching football here! Last weekend we had to get up for the 6 am start of the Ohio State game [husband’s alma mater; sorry Marcy].

      I was furious to see that Joe Gibbs apparently made some speech @ today’s McCain-a-thon. I knew he was a Jesus freak, but really . . .

      • klynn says:

        I knew there was something great about your life, Mauimom, every time I have read your posts! Something beyond the amazing beauty of Hawaii, your articulate expression and astute insight…Now I know, you married a Buckeye…Mr. Mauimom, the Buckeye…

  4. damagedone says:

    OT. I see Abramoff got some more deserved time in the big house. Speaking of Abramoff and his pals. A good article can be found by googling “Ander Crenshaw & folio weekly”. Wonder if there is any more to this story and whether anyone is still sweating. Off to watch the start of the football season.

  5. prostratedragon says:

    bmaz: “Bears may surprise some people.”
    And, who would they be?

    ew: “It’s a very low bar, success in the NFC north.”
    There used to be a column in the Village Voice called “Slouching toward Bethlehem” or something. Maybe someone could revive the title for a weekly division wrap-up.

    • randiego says:

      I agree with that, but I really think is and will be more about Bush fatigue than anything.

      On one hand, I see the effect that the Internet Truth Squad (like this blog) is having on the media…

      … OTOH, I fear for 2012 when Bush will be a faint memory (Not for us, of course).

  6. randiego says:

    Lightning Bolts are banged up, and our MLB’s were already pretty suspect. Look for Carolina to come out running the ball this week.

    The Frightning Lightning have a comparitively easy schedule this year, with non-division games against the Jets, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta, to go along with tough-guys Indy, Patriots and Steelers.

    Throw in the division games of Broncos/Chiefs/Raiders.

    Match that schedule against the once-again-too-high expectations in Chargerland, and I think we’re looking at a stumble or two on our way to at best an 11-5 season.

  7. radiofreewill says:

    Meanwhile…in the “Coach’s Film Room”…a private VIP Lounge in the back of the 181 Club…

    “Now, Tommy, for this season, I want us to look at going back to the ’04 scheme. Do you remember that one?”

    “Let’s see…is that where we hooked the filming in with tapping the booth on their side?”

    “No, that was ’01.”

    “Hum…was that the season we mic’d all the Gatorade guys?”

    “You’re thinking of ’03. C’mon! What did we do the very next year in ’04?”

    “Oh, oh yeah! We put the secret second earphone in my helmet! The booth would tell me my progressions and then give me my release to the target spot, and the wide open man! That year was Kick Ass, Coach!”

    “But, you do remember, right, why we stopped doing that scheme? Huh? Huh? Because, on the possession downs, you weren’t even bothering to look before you threw at the wide open target receiver? Right? Tommy, listen to me – that was reckless! We really risked raising suspicions on those plays!”

    “But, Coach – those were our biggest gainers! If you take that away from me, there’s no way I’ll get MVP!”

    “Now, hold on Tommy, you know, I’ll work with you, but you gotta promise me – this time, this time, you’ll at least look before you throw. I mean, if we’re gonna “Win it All” and get Another Ring – like in the Glory years – I really need you with me on this…”

    “Oh, Coach, I know we can beat those bastards! You can count on me! I’m in! It’s going to be a great season! I can’t wait to tell Gisele!”

  8. phred says:

    You don’t mean to suggest that anything happened anywhere in the NFL during the off-season that didn’t involve Favre, do you??? I didn’t think so… Go Pack!

    And fwiw, the Giants-Skins game will crush the ratings of that withered old blowhard. Can’t wait to see the numbers on that tomorrow…

        • phred says:

          Good point. Around here I can pick up NYC stations as well as our local ones, probably no other major markets out your way other than Detroit. If Kwame wasn’t unpopular before he will be now ; )

          By the way, I like your 10 million estimate — that’s gotta hurt, when your VP from the bridge to nowhere outdraws you ; )

    • prostratedragon says:

      The way Kwame went on about how wonderfully things are now going for him and his family I thought he was giving the whole idea of being forced to plead guilty to a felony and resiging public office his endorsement. Maybe next time the courts, etc, won’t be so balky now that they know how much good they can do a fella.

      ‘Skins defense, offense not in the same league. Defense might keep them in some games, which the offense will then not be able to win.

  9. yellowdog jim says:

    So … we need Los Piel de Rojos
    (en español, por favor)
    to come back and tie it up
    to take us to overtime?

    ¿Sí?

    ¡Vamanos Piel de Rojos!

    (Would actual Spanish speakers please help this pobrecito here?)

  10. freepatriot says:

    I can beat a dead horse here, right

    HURRAY FOR UTAH

    (ducking and running)

    since Oklahoma managed to win their opener this year, I can almost get away with that

    BOOMER SOONERS

  11. Ishmael says:

    Since its a trash talk thread, I think its OK to say that I am just as concerned about who might be a torn ACL away from taking over for Tom Brady as I am about Sarah Paleolithic taking over from McVain.

  12. Ishmael says:

    Enough of the Favre talk – how about Tom Brady – great quarterback or GREATEST QUARTERBACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • freepatriot says:

      better than Otto Graham???

      I think NOT

      otto didn’t have it easy, like these modern flashy whippersnappers, he had to run thru the snow, up hill, both ways

      and if Minnisota is the best team in the NFC Norris division, then every team in the norris division SUX

      I mean, like “Okaland Raiders” kinda sucking

      6 an 10 could win that division

      (now that’s trash talkin you can believe in)

        • freepatriot says:

          It’s a term chris berman stole from hockey (whatever the fuck that is)

          apparently this thing called hockey has teams, and they fight each other on ice skates (maybe it’s canada’s equivalent of nascar)

          the teams are divided into divisions named after the toughest guys from the past

          so yeah, it’s probably named for chuck norris, back when he used to fight on ice skates

          I think he won the Lady Bing Award last year …

          I suspect that the whole thing is made up, but ya never know with fookin canadians

          /intentional obtuseness

          (wink)

          • phred says:

            Thanks for the quasi-explanation ; ) Although I grew up in hockey territory, I don’t tend to watch it on TV, so I missed the reference…

            PJ, I had also missed that Biden mentioned criminal charges, but from what I’ve read now it still seemed tepid. I wish someone would shake the Dems until they realize this stuff matters to people and they had better shape up and follow through. I know, I should stick to tilting at windmills… sigh…

    • phred says:

      I hope Cass Sunstein has a chance to sit down with Dr. Siddiqui someday and explain to her how prosecuting those responsible for what has been done to her is “criminalizing politics”. I hope he can explain it to me someday, too.

      • PJEvans says:

        only if you’re a pundit or something.
        I liked Biden saying that criminal prosecutions are on the table – I hope he can keep them there and have really good follow-through with them. I’d really like to see some of these guys trying to defend themselves at the Hague.

  13. WilliamOckham says:

    Oh my. It looks like McCain is in front of a green screen (the giant screen behind him has a mansion on it, perhaps one of his many homes, the green is the grass of the front yard)…

  14. freepatriot says:

    Carson Newman just took the lead against Northern Alabama 14 – 13

    and Vandy is thumpin South Carolina 17 – 10

    how come nobody is talkin trash about that ???

    and did anybody watch the car crashes this weekend ???(I had company, so I “got” to see the car wrecks this weekend) they really sucked, they hardly crashed at all

    what nascar needs is more figure 8 tracks

  15. Leen says:

    the “wrinkly” white dude. I am so tired of the ageism hogwash. McCain earned those fucking wrinkles and there are plenty of older individuals who have the wisdom and experience that qualify them to be in very serious decision making positions.

    I am also tired of the McCain campaign telling us the McCain lived in a 4ft by 6 ft box. I honor that this man did not break down with information that would have endangered others. But I do not honor his service in another immoral and illegal war. I do not honor that he was part and parcel of the slaughter of innocent people. How many times are they going to use that “box story.

  16. Leen says:

    I am trying to get the Diane Rehm show to bring Amy gooman of Democracy Now to discuss her and her producers unnecessary and violent arrest at the RNC. To discuss how peoples rights to protest were pre-empted and abused.

    I have been able to get many friends to write the Rehm show about particular programs and have been successful numerous times. Is anyone here willing to join on and write the show about this topic?

    Also trying to get her producers to bring on Flynt Leverett, Scott Ritter (she has had him on numerous times, it’s time to do it again), and Juan Cole to discuss the situation with Iran . We know if Cheney, Feith, Wolfowitz, Bolton and Israel have their ways. We will be witnessing a September or October attack on Iran.

    Please write or call the Diane Rehm show and back up these request if you have the time or interest.

    The link
    http://wamu.org/programs/dr/contact_us.php

  17. Leen says:

    Has anyone heard about this?

    Obama May Bring Criminal Charges Against Bush

    Thursday, September 4, 2008 10:15 AM

    By: Jim Meyers Article Font Size

    Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden said he and presidential hopeful Barack Obama could bring criminal charges against the Bush administration if they are elected in November.

    “If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued,” Biden said during a campaign stop in Florida on Monday, ABC News reported.

    “Not out of vengeance, not out of retribution. Out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no attorney general, no president — no one is above the law.”

    Biden promised that an Obama-Biden government would go through Bush administration data with “a fine-toothed comb” and pursue criminal charges if necessary.

    Democrats in Congress have issued subpoenas this year to senior Bush administration aides as part of an investigation into the authorization of torture tactics at the detention center in Guantanamo Bay.

    And Obama vowed in April that if elected, he would ask his attorney general to investigate Bush administration actions to see if “genuine crimes” have been committed.

    He told the Philadelphia Daily News: “If crimes have been committed, they should be investigated.”

    Biden: ‘We Will Pursue the Bush Administration’

  18. wkmorris3 says:

    I’m dreaming of a Manning on Manning super bowl. Peyton one year, Eli the next, and now for the tie breaker

  19. Leen says:

    Here is part of the last letter from Haroon (friend from Afghanistan who was studying here at Ohio University on a Fulbright, he returned to Afghanistan in June) I have his permission to share some letters. (Haroon speaks 5 languages, his spelling is not always perfect, but often better than mine)

    Dear Kathleen,

    Thank you for your wonderful email. I have started my new job with Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to improve security, development and local governance at sub-national level. We are supporting sub-national institutions to ensure local institutions deliver public services effectively.

    I have visited the most dengerious provinces in these few months. I have visited Kandahar, Urozgan, Helmand, Zabul, Paktiya, Khost, Kunar, Nooristan. I have plan to visit all 34 provinces and to meet provincial authorities to understand there problems. We are working on reviewing Provincial Development Plans (PDPs). We are working with provincial authorities to prepare comprehensive PDPs.

    I have organized one day conference in Kandahar in which regional governors, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, NATO and ISAF Commander, Ministers, Foriegn Embassadors participated. We encouraged provincial authorities to discuss challenges and problems in three areas: Security, Devevlopment and Local Governance. They identified problems in each areas and provided solution to solve that problem. It was very effective conference. I am planning the same conference in other provinces.

    Situation is very dangerious. I am afraid of this situation. I am thinking why I left the U.S, because nothing could be change. It is a mess. I am thinking to find a way back to the U.S. There is no place for people who are really working for the prosperity of Afghanistan.

    My children and wife are happy to have me arround them. Yet, I have a little bit afriad of the situation. If something happens to me, they will suffer a lot.

    I miss you all. I miss the moment we were together discussing about world issues especially Iraq, Phalestine, Afghanistan, the U.S. politics. I miss all those moments.

    Please convey my regards to your daughters, gradparents and all your friends. Hope we will meet once again.

    Thank you
    Haroon

    =================
    Haroon Rashid Sherzad
    Strategic Communication Coordinator
    Office of the President
    Independent Directorate of Local Governance
    Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

    —————————————————————————
    One has to wonder what the U.S. is really doing to improve the lives of the Afghani people? The whole time Haroon was here he would speak weekly with his whole family. They reported that things were better in regard to the oppression by the Taliban just after the invasion of Afghanistan. But soon after they believe to be an illegal invasion (the government of Aghanistan has been asking for proof of Osama Bin Ladens involvement in 9/11 and have never received any proof) the Taliban were moved back but when the Bush administration took their focus off of Afghanistan the Taliban have regained power.

    Haroon is convinced that the only way to deal with the Taliban is to pull them into the process of building up their infrastructure. To be inclusive and take their deep concerns about the negative influence of Western ways on their culture into the development equation. He claims that there is no way (at this point) to destroy the Taliban or some of their valid concerns He firmly believes in making them part of the process(that they are not all violent radicals)

    He also believes the only way to deal with the illegal poppy production is to turn it into legal poppy production (medical use) He has explained that before the Russians invaded many of these farmers had pomegrante, apricot and almond orchards that were destroyed by the Russians during that war. (would take a long time to be able to make a living off new orchards)

    Haroon and I would talk hours about the incredible focus on family on their elders that the Afghani people still hold onto and that those values are very precious. The question seems to be how can they improve their access to water, electric, health care, education without destroying these precious values?

    So how much money are we sending to Afghanistan to help really build up their access to water, electric, health care, police training and protection, education. Last I read we have sent to Afghanistan in six years what we spend in one month in Iraq. Pathetic

  20. john in sacramento says:

    … which will have more viewers, that wrinkly white dude’s presidential nomination acceptance speech, or the Super Bowl Champs taking on their division rival?

    Gigantes

    Will anything that happens in Mile High this year electrify the crowd as much as last Thursday’s doings?

    That’s hard to say because Obama went for a policy speech rather than an inspirational one and the Broncos don’t have any stars

    Which division will be more competitive this year, the AFC South (Colts, Jags, Texans, and Titans) or the NFC East (Giants, Skins, ‘Boys, and Iggles)?

    I’m leaning NFC East because it’s more balanced. And don’t underestimate the Giants … they could end up in the Super Bowl again

    As far as my home division (from Minn., lived in Appleton Wisc. … and actually I’m a huge aberration because I’m a fan of the Vikes [1a] and the Pack [1b])

    I see the Vikings in first going 10-6 and the Pack in second going 9-7

    A few weeks ago I was guessing the Vikes would go 12-4 or 11-5 but now with Bryant McKinnie’s 4 game suspension and Madieu Williams injury I think they can only hope for 10-6; they have a brutal first four weeks of the season. The Vikings will wind up with a top three defense; they have the best defensive line in football this side of the Giants of last year. The offense will be improved; AP and Chester Taylor will rush for over 2,500 yards; and the passing game will depend more on Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice than Tarvaris Jackson, because Tarvaris wouldn’t have a bad year last year, he just didn’t have anybody who could hold on to the ball when he threw it. The best the Vikes can hope for is to get lucky in the playoffs and get to the NFC Championship game

    Say what you want about Favre but McCarthy and Thompson will find out that he was worth at least 4 wins per year to the Pack. They have a good young team, but some have it, and some people don’t, Favre does, and they traded him. The best they can hope for is a wildcard game

    PS what happens if Aaron Rodgers gets hurt?

    Bears have no offense and the defense is getting old

    Does Detroit still have a team? … just kidding