T.D.

Thanks! I goofed: it was Olney (whose stuff I usually like) rather than Gammons pimping the trade @ ESPN. I'm not sure about the trade either, but the wacky salary inflation this off-season has left me even more baffled than usual...

Yes, Gammons is also pimping this deal at espn.com, so I should have taken it more seriously. I don't pay up for "ESPN Insider", so dunno what Peter's saying.

Maybe the Moneyball number crunchers for the Red Sox forgot to include a "Coors Field" dummy variable in their regression analyses... I don't put much credence in the rumor. It looks like Boston is assuming the Yankees' long-time media role as rumored destination for all white elephant contracts.

I found this Balliett quote from a 1959 article on Pee Wee Russell: "...while throughout the record [it's not clear to me which record] Freeman emits further variations on the solo he has been at work on for several decades."

This is a nice Edwards shot (sorry I couldn't find a bigger image):

Mickey Rourke Mickey Roker Jack Woker

Your sig furnishes an appropriate metaphor for the latter matchup...

I'm pretty sure I saw a small mtn lion out here on the East Coast last summer. Local rangers swear there are none around, but many don't believe...

Whoa! Interesting detail: On the verge of their 50th anniversary, the husband and wife are 70 and 65, respectively...

Vladimir Kramnik Nick Brignola Brigham Young

I'm in the Catskill region, upstate NY, around 130 mi from NYC. It's about -15 degrees (Fahrenheit), but snow cover of only 3" or so. There's a "wind chill alert" through tomorrow AM.

Rogers Hornsby Gina Gershon George Gershwin

Eddie Money Maria Bartiromo Tony Romo

Lord Emsworth Ima Hogg Yma Sumac

Well, it's only my initials... Nothing whatsoever to do with any real or imagined pigskin prognosticatory prowess.

Long John Baldry Dre Bly Bert Blyleven

PM sent. Might do two or more squares.

Old Hoss Radbourn Gilda Radner Gildo Mahones

I voted for HS&TJM, but it was extremely close between that and Doin The Thing. Tough to go wrong with either the Dorham-Mobley or Mitchell-Cook front line.

James Joyce Dr. Joyce Brothers Brother Theodore

Beano Cook Cookie Lavagetto Conte Candoli

I'm gonna wait for more info on the injury lists, but am inclined to lay the points: 1) With the Pat monkey finally off their backs, Indy might explode with a big 60-minute effort; 2) I got the impression, watching yesterday, that Da Bears are scared to death every time Rex throws the ball. I just don't trust that dude. His big completions vs. NO didn't impress me, because the Saints DB they picked on was really out to lunch. One thing in Chi's favor is their bye during "wild card weekend"; maybe they'll be healthier/fresher.

Agreed. Don't understand why the Pats didn't try to run in the second half, keeping the ball away from Indy. I recall Jints-Bills, SB XXV (1991). NYG were heavy underdogs and offensively outgunned. The very first thing Parcells (adios, Bill; I used to love ya, but got sick of your travelling show) said re. game plan was "Shorten the game"....

Holy crap, I hit 'em both! Did the picks Wed. to avoid overanalyzing. When the ESPN.com "experts" came out 100% for the Saints on Fri., I was salivating. But I practically wrote the Colts off @ halftime (the "pick-six" seemed crushing).

Uh...check page 16. But our scores will have to diverge this week.