Trash Talk – All You Kneed To Know About Tom
In all the hubbub over the election, debates, McCain inciting racial strife and, of course, our economy continuing to fall off the face of the earth, the usually astute American public consciousness has lost track of a critically important story they usually would be all over. Tom Brady has undergone yet another knee operation. That is not good. Not to mention that Giselle must be getting cranky from the loss of consortium in their love shack. Peyton Manning demonstrated that knee surgeries now come in pairs though, so maybe it is nothing to worry about. You folks up there in Beantown better not let Randy Moss here about this though, because he was just starting to come out of his funk with Cassell.
National Favre League – Jeebus, it really is not a great week for captivating matchups. Check out the schedule, fairly bleak. Brett and the Jets visit Freep country up in Oakland. Maybe Al Davis will suit up, he may still be the toughest goat on the Raiders. Bolts at Bills, Saints at Panthers and Vikes at Da Bears are the only even halfway interesting regular schedule games. The real class, such that it is this week, are the Sunday night and Monday night games, Colts at Cheeseheads and Doncos at Pats, respectively.
Bowl Division, Smole Division (NCAA) – Okay, I want to come clean; I think the BCS is a bunch of shit. There; now I feel better. Big game of interest to Wheelheads seems to be the Wolvereenies at Joe Pa. Already the carping. Already the rationalizing from the Schembechler Whinery Region.
Kansas at Oklahoma appears to be a good game to watch. By far, the most interesting game would look to be Missouri at Texas. Chase Daniel is a pretty special kid, but so apparently is Colt McCoy. The battle between those two will probably be continuing on Sundays for many years into the future. For this year though, Texas looks to have too much for Missouri, and that and home field should carry the day. The other interesting game is LSU at South Carolina. Spurrier has a knack for these situations; Gamecocks in an upset.
MLB – The Sawx are dead. Long live the Sawx! I said when the season started that the Red Sawx may not be all that without their big prick, Curt Shilling. I am sticking with that prediction. Much to the chagrin of Ishmael, Bay State Librul, Neil, Phred and many other fine folks up Beantown way, I just don’t think they can pull it out this year. Say what you will about the Shill, but he has "it" when it comes to that last ounce of playoff toughness. It is not just with the Sawx either, the Diamondbacks couldn’t do it without the jerk either. MLB is going to commit hari kari, but the series is going to be Tampa Bay and Philly. Hari kari may be justified.
F1 Circus – This weekend is the penultimate race of the season, the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. From FoxSports:
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton put himself in prime position to claim the Formula One title this weekend by taking the pole position Saturday for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton set a top time of 1 minute, 36.303 seconds, and will start Sunday’s race ahead of Ferrari pair Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, who were second- and third-fastest.
Hamilton leads Massa by five points in the drivers’ championship with two races left in the season. To clinch the title here, he would need to finish on the podium and gain six more points than the Brazilian.
The front row for China is the same as the previous race in Japan, where Hamilton braked too late, forced Raikkonen off at the first corner and consequently received a pit drive-through penalty and finished outside the points.
Renault’s Fernando Alonso, who has won the past two grands prix and had vowed to try his best to help Massa win the title, will start from fourth on the grid.
BMW’s Robert Kubica, who still has slim hopes of snatching the title, put in his worst qualifying performance of the season and finished in the 12th spot, complaining of understeer.
Hamilton enters the Chinese GP five points ahead of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and twelve up on Kubica. But with both Ferraris right next to and behind him on the grid, Hamilton is going to have to earn his first title; and it was not until the last race of the season last year that Hamilton lost grip, so it is not over till it is over. It ain’t over. Again, the race is tonight, not Sunday morning, on Speed TV.
Trash it up!
Giselle don’t stay cranky long – she moves on…. Tommy had better get well soon, or get used to the idea of being a former boyfriend.
As to JoePa – God love him. And help PSU win. IF only b/c it will give Central Pa. something to pay attention to and talk about besides the Obama-n****r robocalls a 527 is pumping in there.
Chinese grand Prix ???
you lost me there, pal
what’s next, badminton ???
Mexican wrestling ???
why do you hate real Amurikans like that
hey, I wasted a lot of good material just gettin here, let me warm up a bit …
bmaz, are you speaking from experience or gossip, ’cause I’m thinking that
** Giselle can sneak into his hospital room, if he’s confined to the hospital; and
** Giselle can figure out some “innovative” positions that don’t involve pressure on that hurt knee.
Giselle started having second thought when Tom tried to romance her by opening a bottle of Bo Merlot.
There’s a few decent games tomorrow.
Bolts at Buffalo is certainly a big game for both teams, and remember that The Chargers don’t travel well to the east coast. Right now the game is listed as even, so take the points.
Baltimore at Miami is a good one – we’ll see how for real the Fish are.
Peyton at the Ex-Bretts is good one too. Indy -2.
New Orleans at Carolina. Another division game, always smart to take the home team in these. Drew Brees is the early clubhouse leader for MVP.
The Bretts against the Raiduh’s. Raiduhs play pretty tough D, Brett among the top passers in the AFC.
I’ll be a big Pats fan on Monday night. 3 TDs and a passer rating of 110.0 for Cassel would be fine by me.
poor guy
look at him, rooting against Denver like that
still thinks his team has a chance, an stuff
it’s kinda cute, in a sad sorta way, when a fan doesn’t realize that the primordial ooze has decided against his team …
what ??? you’re tryin to tell me the gods don’t hate San Diego ???
Oh, no, clearly the Gods are angry at the Bolts; see Leaf, Ryan……
rayn leaf was the “et al” part of my “goober faced QBs” catagory
Wait just a second, Raiduh fan.
Wasn’t Tom Brady’s multiple surgeries the “Primordial Oooze” stuff?
Your Raider hex won’t work here pal
I just live close to Oakland, I don’t root for oakland
least not in football
when it comes to riots, and intra-city violence, you’re a fool to bet against oakland …
Don’t bother to mention the only 5-0 team playing tomorrow: the Tennessee Titans of Nashville.
And speaking of trash talk, get a load of this headline from the trash network, CNN: “McCain, Palin hint Obama policies are socialist.”
And from the candidate his own self: “Raising taxes on some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut; it’s just another government giveaway.”
It doesn’t get much better than that.
That was a favor to you. The last time I talked about an undefeated team going into KC, they got their butt handed to them in the Chiefs’ only victory of the season. didn’t want the Titans to suffer the same fate as the Broncos.
Especially after Vandy falling again….
let’s hope you can work some of that desert magic on texas tonight
and what’s this ???
A link to FAUX Sports GNUS ???
jebus, what’s wrong with with this picture ???
the internal power struggle must be worst than I thought (keep fightin, ew)
here’s the non propaganda link
Thanks, I figure you can’t jinx teams from the comments.
Vanderbilt still gets lousy calls in big games. And we could use some help on run defense. The Dawgs were making huge yards on the off-tackle play, specially in the second half.
Just for the record, as soon as I started watching the UM-PSU game, it turned into a blowout.
Too bad…I was looking forward to seeing Michigan play against Buffalo in the Motor City Bowl…. might not happen seeing as Michigan doesn’t look like they will be bowl eligible.
with Brady out, the Bills might make the NFL playoffs this year
I mean the University at Buffalo Bulls not the Buffalo Bills.
http://www.buffalobulls.com
I am a sharp practitioner of intentional obtuseness
and I never pass a chance to take a poke at the bills
so what happened, somebody at tbs forgot there was a game tonight ???
and ew, as a fan of Joe Pa, I’d like to thank you for tuning in …
Ouch. EW, I don’t think you can take that sitting down.
Hey I spend every New Years Day rooting for Mrs. CTMETs team the Wolverines. If they’re going to have a lousy year it might as well coincide with the good year the Bulls are having.
Some useless information UB has only been invited to a bowl once in 1958.
UB also is the only D1 program with a Black Head football coach (Turner Gill of Nebraska fame), and Warde Manuel – (who played for Bo).
How bout some love for a progressive program???
Hey, awesome story; had not heard that before. That is cool. I have heard that Turner Gill has a lot of promise as a head coach, hope you guys can hold on to him.
Gots to say though, if you have to root for Michigan on New Year’s Day in bowl games, you got a lot of fortitude. Their record, especially in the Rose Bowl, is not real good. You must love your wife….
Just by coincidence mr. emptywheel and I got invited to go to Chicago for the New Years game between the Blackhawks and the Redwings. We’re definitely considering it.
Is that the one outdoors at Wrigley??? That would be huge cool quotient! Absolutely go.
That’s the one. It’d be a kick, that’s for sure.
Yeah Ew you guys have to go that will be really cool game to see
Just for the record, I am trying to watch the Red Sox-Rays game up here in Canada, but the sports network carrying it tells us that TBS has shut down completely and is not broadcasting the game – in the meantime, waiting for the game coverage to resume, they are showing the Miss Hooters 2008 contest. I will keep everyone posted…..
…and the game is back! Hey bmaz, who won the Miss Hooters contest? /s
ot
Jane on the deBachle
http://campaignsilo.firedoglak…..-opponent/
my question for Sarah on SNL tonight “what do you think about Obama paling around with 100,000 anti Americans in St.Louis today?”
Ick Bien Ein Fake Virginianer
My favorite Brady Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EU1O-hGxgg
Being an LSU alumni (alumni is spelled f-a-n-a-t-i-c), I am afraid you might be right. If not the Spurrier’s Gamecocks, then there will be some other upset. The Tigers have been riding high for too long. I’ve been amazed at Les Miles success so far. It can’t last forever.
That’s why I have to ride in the back of the bus to LSU home games. Nobody wants to hear my pessimism.
OT- this is for last thread, but nobody’s there. I saw ‘W’ this afternoon; Powell comes off very strong… It passed through my brain that powell’s appearance on MTP tomorrow and the release of the Stone film might be coordinated…The film gives Powell good cover for whatever he might say; he’s not alone anymore…
wow, Texas over Missouri 21-0. Gotta disagree bout Chase Daniel playing on Sundays. No arm downfield.
Yeah, that is what you guys said about Drew Brees too…..
You guys? Hey mister, I wanted to keep Drew Brees. I loved the guy, and I don’t think arm strength was ever a problem with him…
Can you imagine? Brees, with Rivers coming off the bench!
Oops, 28-0 now.
why was there another delay with Rays/Sox?
the home plate ump got beaned by the ball and had to leave the game. guess this triggers decisions about how to move the other umps around. took quite a while to get up and running again.
Sara has another wonderful history lesson at newtonusr’s Oxdown diary. She knows Minnesota like no other, and makes a case for why Michelle Bachman may well lose to Tinklenberg. Go to comment #29.
Well, my Jayhawks came up short, but they kept it really close until the fourth quarter. Had a great time at the game and visiting with family, too. Very tired now and early start tomorrow….
I never would have anticipated this kind of first half Texas domination over Mizzou. 35-3. go horns !
I’ve been lurking for quite some time, but since you are talking college football, I had to register! I watched part of the Texas/Missouri game & what a total blowout! I’m a USC fan, so I was kinda hoping Missouri would win, but whatever.
Welcome, and don’t be a stranger. USC is tough; they still have a decent chance to get to the title game.
Mizzou winning would not make up for Vince beating the greatest team in the history of the world
Welcome from out of the Lurkosphere!
Trash talking is just too hard to resist, so don’t let those pesky Longhorns stop ya. They’re all cattle and no hat.
And that was stated by a man that is all Gopher and no cheesehead hat!
LOL!
I’ll go fer this,
and I’ll go fer that,
but I ain’t wearing
no cheesehead hat!
Ode to MadDog, “I will not wear that Cheesehead Hat”
Would you wear it on a plane?
Would you wear it in the rain?
I would not could not on a plane.
I would not could not in the rain.
I will not wear your Cheesehead Hat.
I will not wear it, now that is THAT!
Try it try it you will see it will protect you, yessirree!
Both in a crash and in the damp, a Cheesehead Hat is handy Champ.
I will not crash nor be out in mist
Please go away, I must insist!
I will not wear your Cheesehead Hat.
I will not wear it, now that is THAT!
Alas poor MadDog will not see
a Cheesehead Hat is a must to be
properly prepared in all events:
untimely failures and weather inclement.
Fear not dear Reader for you will see
bmaz and I will not let him be…
One day Dear MadDog will attest
his very own Cheesehead Hat is best!
some days you just gotta set aside the mundane and trivial things like the future of Democracy and the fate of the world and all that, and discuss what’s really important
FOOTBALL
feel free to chime in on the lesser issues we discuss here too (like when a repuglitard mouth breathing congresscritter inserts a size 16 eeeee clodhopper into her mouth, or the vice presnit decides to burn a NOC agent in a personal vendetta)
you know, I attended the Longhorns’ first ever Rose Bowl appearance -against Michigan. Wolverines had quite a triad in the RB, QB, and WR that year.
SC should win out and definitely has a chance for the Championship game. SEC and Big XII will beat each other up.
New Mexico scored 70, UCLA won, Northern Illinois won (beating Toledo), UAB won, the Vols hammered the mighty Bulldogs. What else is relevant? So we live in a post-reactionary, neo-feudal state where our owner elites owe no moral accountability. We do have some tremendous stadiums.
That is what Romulus Augustulus said too.
Woohoo!! Boston wins! And Lester on the mound tomorrow!
Hot damn! Sawx pull it out. Maybe more of that Shilling stuff rubbed off on them than I thought. Outstanding.
I take it you mean this Romulus:
Have you stumbled upon the lost transcript holding the heuristic key to the secret rhetorical foibles of Odoacer’s political trick bag (much like the quatrains of Nostradamus but having the great prophetic “robocall” code). I had thought Rick Davis had the only copy. This makes thing much more interesting. San Diego State let the Lobos have 70…70…I mean really. Rocky Long may be a descendant of Odoacer.
Nostrodamus on the Red Sox v. Rays:
1555 was a long time ago. Its understandable that he would miss this one.
Nostrodamus may have been too fixated on Eva Longoria (I have had similar issues) and not spent enough time considering Big Papi and Papelbon.
True.
Its a season of fixation what with the appearance of the Black Hearted Moose Princess and all.
I used to get disgusted but now I’m just amused.
A while back I was wondering when Marc Ambinder’s head was going to explode. It appears that Palin and Bachmann have pushed him over the edge.
“Expansive unreality” is right in line with the trend toward compulsive facetiousness and the Munchausen factor. Soon McCain will storm Vaudeville.
Heh, Ambinder probably ought to avoid string theory, whether modified or super, in his political analysis.
and we need to keep the physicists away from the cats, apparently
I learned somethin new in Ambinder’s comment thread:
Schrödinger’s cat
poor little kitty …
The only way to confirm whether or not you really learned this postulate would be to kill yet another cat. Here kitty kitty…..
as long as we don’t open the box, the kitty is ALIVE
maybe
we think
we can’t PROVE the cat is dead unless we open the box
I never suspected how much relevance the parrot sketch has to quantum physics
the kitty could be in the box “pinin for the fjords” …
we don’t know
we can’t know …
and all this is somehow relevant to subatomic particles n stuff
I don’t know about Ambinder, but you should definitely keep me away from quantum physics
A good night for Boston. Can they do it twice, win the pennant from down 3-1?
I was channeling freepatriot watching three things at once; SoxTB, AZvCAL, SNL.
Marky Mark stole the show doing an imitation of himself doing an imitation of Samberg doing an imitation of himself. Wiig was good as usual. Pohler’s always on. They did a good bit with Fey, Palin and Alec Baldwin to open the show. But the best SNL thing I saw all week was Sarah Silverman on Lettermen telling the story of when she stabbed Al Franken in the head with her pencil.
I am thinking a burlesque featuring Bachmann with McCain as a kind Joel Gray Master of Ceremonies.
modified string theory SUX
Super Sting Theory RULZ
all your suspect dimensions are belong to US*
*Parallel dimensions not included, prices may vary due to availibility in your area
I left a comment on the newspaper endorsement thread. My hometown paper, the Houston Chronice, endorsed Barack Obama today. The last Democratic nominee for president they endorsed was LBJ in 1964. It was obviously the Palin pick that they couldn’t stomach:
The part that amazes me is that they got past this:
[By “demonize” they mean “describe honestly”]
bmaz — quick drive by… Colts at Cheeseheads 4:15 ET not Sunday night… Don’t want anyone to miss it by accident ; )
Good Op Ed this morning by Frank Rich at the Gray Lady about McCain having painted himself into the political corner with George W. Bush, and thus having torn up his Maverick credentials in deed, if not in word. What Rich misses, however, and what almost all commentary on the campaign is missing, is that this is just as revealing about the state of the twenty-first century Republican Party as it is about McCain’s personal character. He would never have obtained his party’s nomination if he hadn’t embraced most of Bush’s policies and political practices, even though a large majority of the American people have begun to realize how disastrous those policies and practices have been. Today’s GOP is a party that has been taken over by elements whose agenda is having the effect of destroying the American Expirment, and they have taken their party swirling so far down that bowl that if American democracy recovers, their party will probably never again be regarded as a respectable democratic (small “d”) political entity. The election of 2008, more so than any since at least 1860 and perhaps ever, is utterly crucial to the future of American democracy.
Penn State Won! w00T
By the way bmaz, still think the Sawx are done? ; ) 4-2 RED SOX!!! Game 7 awaits… Packer/Sox doubleheader today — WooHoo!
Coaches Poll out this morning:
1. Texas (58) 7-0 1,522 1
2. Alabama (1) 7-0 1,436 2
3. Penn State (2) 8-0 1,413 3
4. Southern California 5-1 1,264 4
5. Oklahoma 6-1 1,218 6
6. Texas Tech 7-0 1,210 5
7. Florida 5-1 1,184 7
8. Oklahoma State 7-0 1,083 10
9. Georgia 6-1 1,067 9
10. Ohio State
Someone please explain how USC now leapfrogs Oklahoma. USC is one of four teams to score over 60 points on Washington St. this season. And WSU has been kept under ten points many times.
‘Bye’ could beat WSU by 60 points.
Pick Bolts in Buffalo.
Pick Gints in NY against 49ers
Pick Vikes 3-3 in Chicago – this should be a good game. I wish I could watch.
Pick Balto in MIA
Remember the Titans 5-0 in KC 1-4
Upset Bengals 0-5 over Steelers 4-1 in Cincy.
Upset Rams 1-4 over Boyz 4-3
4:15 games coming later.
OK, the world is not coming to an end: Neil could predict this outcome. I mean, the first quarter has been all Rams.
Re: the big rally, a map of the St. Louis eruv may be online, but suffice it to say that it does not make it to the city, never mind the Arch. Also suffice it to say that the people in our synagogue would certainly have caught on where we were if we failed to show up.
The power is out in Buffalo. They are playing the game without instant replay. The play-by-play guys are using a land line to call the game, without the use of a game clock.
It’s 1957 in Buffalo. 7-3 Chargers, early 2nd Q
Yes the lightning bolts have knocked all the power out. Local electrician said Noval Turner was crying that his electric blankie wouldn’t work.
The Chargers have allowed Trent Edwards to go 19-21 passing playing a weak zone. You can’t win like that.
13-7 Buffalo, halftime – A crazy score for a game that Buffalo seems to be dominating.
Power was back on, then went out again.
Possible upset in Dallas? St Louis leading 24-7 at the half!
Power back up. Cant the NFL afford backup power generators?
No. They are all being used to power the mobile cell towers in Cindy’s backyard.
they probably could, but the NFL spends a considerable amount of money researching ways to screw over a certain team located at the extreme southwestern corner of the continental united states
it’s getting kinda expensive to make the primordial ooze’s vendetta against the chargers look plausible
no, wait, I probably shouldn’t have told you that …
(wink)
Can you say 6-0?
I thought you could.
Break up the Titans!
I know that the Wolvereenies have fallen on hard times. I know that the Big 3 in Detroit are in a world of hurt. I know that there are some wacked out politicians and right wing nuts up there. But, seriously, what the hell is going on in Michigan???
Not that any time of day would be appropriate, but 6:45 a.m.? wow!
They are clearly early risers. Um, so to speak…..
the predominant theme, clearly, is suckitude.
that said, I will be rooting heavily for Meatchicken to btho of tOSU later this year.
.
wow, I just saw a phantom safety
the jets fumbled into the end zone and the raiders recovered for a touchback
but the NFL dot com page showed the jets scoring a safety, and showed the score as 5-3 NY, instead of the 3-3 tie I been watching (we only get a raiders game this afternoon out here)
what does it all mean ???
that the computer geeks workin for the nfl don’t really watch the games
fookin geeks …
I’m so freaking nervous….
Will the Sox win?
I just voted, wimped out, and said that I can’t answer the question…
I don’t wanna jinx them…
I’ve got a lot of baggage.
it’s personality, not baggage
take me fer instance
I’m not superstitious, but why take the chance …
The Curse was broken. It’s just one game, winner take all. Enjoy.
Did you know the Girls Latin building is now Fenway High School? Did you go before Girls and Boys merged: Boston Latin?
I took four years of Latin but not at the Latin School, I went to Boston English.
Kidding.
No, I went to a Catholic HS on the North Shore, and it wasn’t
St. John’s Prep, my bro went there…
Raiders leading the Bretts…
Cheeseheads leading the Peytons…
And anyone who thinks that Tampa has a chance tonight against the Sox hasn’t been paying attention. Didn’t the Yankees lead the NLCS in ‘04, and the Indians lead the NLCS in ‘07?
The Sox got ‘em right where they want ‘em.
in consecutive weeks, the rams beat the defending superbowl champs and last year’s number 1 seed in the NFC playoffs
is St Louis havin a good week or what ???
N – Pick Bolts in Buffalo
Y – Pick Gints in NY against 49ers
N – Pick Vikes 3-3 in Chicago – this should be a good game. I wish I could watch.
Y – Pick Balto in MIA
Y – Remember the Titans 5-0 in KC 1-4
N – Upset Bengals 0-5 over Steelers 4-1 in Cincy.
Y – Upset Rams 1-4 over Boyz 4-3
Winner in Bold. Result: 4-3, 1 game over .500 (Still, it was good day b/c Powell dominated the news cycle.)
I’m enjoying the OT… it’s time for a Favre.
favre got janakowskied
57 yards
next up, sox n fish & seagulls versus pirates
arrrrr
yep.
Is October the best sports month of the year?
you don’t know the half of it
football
the World Series (game 5 or 6 is usually on my birthday)
the fruits of Humboldt (wink wink)
my birthday (did I already mention that ???)
and top it of with Halloween (yeah, I’m a chocolate junkie too)
and did I mention the weather ???
you east coasters (includes everybody east of Nevada) apparently need visual aids to know when fall arrives. around here, the nights get crisp while the days stay warm (the leaves DO turn colors and drop out here, but that happens between thanksgiving and christmas, where it belongs …)
and then there is the crop from Humboldt (did I mention that)
now that the redsox, the whitessox, the brewers and the cubs been eliminated, I can enjoy some baseball, and the fruits of Humboldt
(wink)
Dustin! K
It’s the Sun Devil Factor!
He’s making plays at the plate and in the field (infield.)
1-0 bottom 4th
f*ck I spoke too soon. a fastball off the plate away poked into deep right field on the foul line, double, RBI Pena scores.
1-1
jees ew, you would think that the red wings or pistons would take up some depression matter while mr brady rehabs and the ole maize and blue try and battle that urge to turn into west virgina in michigan…. sorta like the maize and blue basketball team…. do you think there might be a conspiracy theory there? all we need is the west virgina hockey coach.
ahhh all this gloating, yet I remain a long sufferin lions fan. fearing of course, they will f**k up draft day (our version of the super bowl) and leave us in a perpetual state of limbo gives me pause for any confidence that the roy williams dump made any sense….
arrgghhh
down 2-1… time for a little red sox magic
Make that 3-1. Looking bleak for the Sawx; Garza is killing them.
No outs in the 8th and he brings in the closer. hmm.
My condolences for the Red Sawx fans. I joke around, but I was rooting for the Sawx.
That said, my hat is off to Tampa Bay and their fans. Enjoy to the fullest what you have going on there, it is special. Get thee to one of the Series games, no matter what the cost. It is worth it, you will keep that forever, and it is not the same watching it on TV. I know. Seven years ago it was me. The importance of this to the community, the oneness and togetherness, the pride, the emotion – it is all incredibly special. I cannot tell you what it felt like when it happened with the Diamondbacks the first time in 2001. It is just a wonderful thing. Soak it all in Tampa; hoop it up!
can we go halvsies on those condolences ???
I just can’t bring myself to have sympathy for boston
I save my sympathy for teams I really hate
in my world, sympathy is the ulrimate form of disrespect for a sports franchise
look at those poor little red sox, boo hoo
Well said, but what the fuck is up with those cowbells?