Bruised Truth and Fearsome Fiction

NFL HOF Game and Favre

2008-08-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Redskins are in great shape at quarterback. I'm really impressed with the rookie Brennan from Hawaii. I hope Peyton Manning is well enough for the Colts.

I hear that some people are complaining about all the Favre coverage. Face it, it's way better than last year's Vick coverage. At least it's positive - a guy wanting to come back and play, not a guy killing dogs. I think the Packers made a big mistake in trading Favre to the Jets. People pay to see Favre play; this is like taking money and wiping your butt with it - it stinks. If the Jets are smart, they'll trade Favre to the Vikings for a first round draft pick or picks. I don't think the Packers stipulated that the Jets couldn't trade him there. This could turn into a real debacle for the Pack, and they only have themselves to blame.

I'm Back, with a Fireworks Review

2008-07-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry about being gone so long. Not like there're a lot of people reading this, anyway. But to the few, I appologize.

I checked out the firework displays on TV last night, Macy's and Boston's. Macy's did a lot better this year than last, a longer show than at Boston, and they put some money into it. However, the Boston show was better. It was more patriotic and less comercial than Macy's. Also the music and fireworks were beautifully choreographed, where in New York the fireworks were just thrown up there. McFee did a good job singing, but her big umbrella blocked the fireworks. The history lesson was interesting, but took from the show.

Preseason's coming, and I can hardly wait.

Super Bowl

2008-02-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'm soooo glad the Patriots lost. You could see the smugness as they entered the stadium yesterday, expecting to win. Congrats to the Giants for a well-played game. Eli now has it made in New York. Tiki should be shutting up now and the Chargers can grouse over making a wrong decision.

I guess there's a new football curse besides the Madden - quarterback celebrity girlfriend. If a QB's celebrity girlfriend attends the game, loss is assured. Just ask Tom Brady (Giselle was there) and Tony Romo (Jessica Simpson and Carrie Underwood). At least Romo is supposedly proposing to a college sweetheart according to The National Enquirer, and the curse should be lifted for him. I wonder if Brady will propose now; it was alledgedly based on his winning the Super Bowl according to what I read.

Afterburn SF Changes Publishing Format

2008-02-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Afterburn SF is now publishing on a by-weekly schedule starting yesterday with Cathy A. Chance's story "Call Signs". Check it out at http://www.afterburnsf.com.

NFL Divisional Playoffs

2008-01-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

Looks like the Pats are headed for the Super Bowl. With the Chargers so beat up after Indianapolois, I don't see how they can win Sunday. Poor Peyton was struck by the pick pixie again. I was shocked at the Jags. I expected more smash-mouth football than that. They just let Brady stand there and pick them apart. You deserve to lose when you do that.

How about them Cowboys? Lost another playoff game, that's what. Romo needs to take a page out of Tom Brady's book - wait until after you win a Super Bowl before dating models and starlets. I don't know what Romo sees in Simpson - I believe Nick Lachey ditched her; why would he want leftovers, seeing as he's got all that money himself? Eli Manning is now validated. He should be able to stay in New York for awhile. I bet Tiki's wiping the egg off his face after the comments he made about Eli on Football Night in America.

When the snow started I knew the Seahawks were done. Favre plays best in inclement weather, plus the Packers are hot. I think they'll beat the beatup Giants on Labeau Field.

NFL Wildcard Games

2008-01-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

As I said before, Jack Del Rio looks like a genius getting rid of Leftwich and he really had to win that game to make the decision look good because Byron got the team into the playoffs. Another genius is Bill Cowher for getting out before the losing started. I guess he took a page out of the book of Bobby Pruit of Marshall, since that team has really tanked since Snyder took over. Can you say coaching change?

Congrats to the Redskins for a great season. It seems they finally ran out of gas, along with their coach who just left. I thought Gibbs should have left seasons ago - the NFL just changed too much since his first time.

The Giants are on a roll. I think Eli was playing for his career. I don't know if the Giants would have kept him if they lost another playoff game. Just look what happened to Chad Pennington.

The Chargers were in the same boat except it was Norv Turner on the hot seat. Still they had a bye last year and lost in the divisional. Turner really has to win, but I think the Colts will beat them.

NFL Week 17

2007-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's always sad when the season ends. However, this year the end was better than most because of teams that were still trying to make the playoffs. Even so, the best game was the Saturday night game between the Patriots and the Giants. Hats off to Coughlin, who played his team to the end. Eli Manning might have just saved his job there. He finally looked like a number one pick. And of course I can't go on without acknowledging the Patriots' perfect season. Way to go! That'll mean nothing if they can't win the Super Bowl. I think the most dangerous team in the AFC is the Jags. Del Rio looks like a genius getting rid of Leftwich, whom I think will probably be a backup from now on. The Pats will have their hands full with them.

It's official - the Skins are now the team to root for, what with the Saints gone. With the way they're playing, they'll go far in the playoffs. I think they can beat the Seahawks. If the Giants play like they did Saturday, they can beat Tampa Bay. Both of those teams will give the Cowboys fits, especially if they play like they did yesterday.

I hope Vince Young can play next week. I still think he's the next Michael Vick, hopefully without the criminal charges. The Browns need a new QB. Anderson has thrown too many interceptions. Why won't Romeo play Quinn? It seems Quinn might be better off if Romeo takes a job with the Dolphins, which is being rumored.

NFL Week 16

2007-12-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it - the Browns outbungled the Bungles. Now they have to wait and see if the Titans lose, which is unlikely, considering the Colts have the bye locked up and have nothing to play for. However, the Patriots are playing for records, which was obvious yesterday. All the Dolphins did in the second half was play the pass and keep them from scoring. If the Giants do that Saturday, they have a great chance of winning the game. I wonder - what will be more important for Brady, his own TD record or the team record and his not getting hurt for the playoffs? Time will tell. I didn't see Brady on 60 Minutes. I wonder if he got a coach to help out his image. I assume that was why he was on the show, so he could try to be likable like Favre and Peyton Manning.

How about them Skins? It was clear who wanted to win more last night. If the Redskins make the playoffs, they'll have a lot of people rooting for them and they'll be like last year's Saints.

Happy holidays, everyone.

December Issue of Afterburn SF Is Live

2007-12-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

The December issue of Afterburn SF came out this morning and is chocked full of action. Stories on the site are

The Unicorn Problem by Joanne Hall
Jastice by Anthony Kendall
The Shadow by Douglas Kolacki
The Drunken Thinbeard by Jonathan S. Pembrook
Chatter Me Timbers by Lindsey Duncan
Barrier by John Kratman

Read them all at http://www.afterburnsf.com.

NFL Week 15

2007-12-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

What unselfish play by Brian Westbrook! Unfortunately it was all for nought after the Vikings eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs yesterday. I don't know about the Giants. With Shockey's season-ending injury and a bad case of team dropsies, I don't see how they can go far in the playoffs. It's not all Eli's fault.

I see Adrian Peterson took over as Nike's spokesman. That was Vick's job before. I saw where the NFL fined several Falcon players for supporting Vick. I guess the league doesn't want to support criminals.

Can the Patriots be stopped? I don't think so. The only thing left is to see whether Brady gets injured trying to go undefeated and breaking Peyton Manning's TD record.

NFL Week 14

2007-12-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

All the games I watched this weekend and Monday were all blowouts. The only thing of interest was Vick's sentence. I knew he'd get more time than the others, but I still think he got off easy. I thought for sure he'd get 36 months. After last night I don't think we'll hear about Vick much again, except when the new recruits come in next year and Vick is used as an example of what not to do. With Vick out of the way, the Pro Bowl roster should be interesting because he was a shoo-in each year. Favre should make it, as should Romo for the NFC.

Looks like the Patriots will go undefeated and have a great shot at another Super Bowl. I'm willing to guarantee victory for the Pats against the Dolphins. I wonder if the Steelers' Smith will agree. That Jets-Patriots game will be real interesting. I'm sure there'll be some hard hitting on the field, maybe even on the sidelines. The Giants better bring their A game, but I don't think Eli has matured enough as a QB to win that sort of game yet.

NFL Week 13

2007-12-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the Ravens blew their chance to beat the Patriots. They had 'em and kicked it in the weeds. I can see why Boller is a backup. Chad Pennington would be great in Baltimore. It's obvious he'll never be a starter for the Jets again, so why not go there? He's been to the playoffs and has winning experience.

I hate to admit it, but Jack Del Rio was right to get rid of Leftwich. I don't think he ever really recovered from that injury at Marshall, who BTW, is not in a bowl game. Maybe if Snyder spent more time coaching instead of being a grand marshall in an eastern Kentucky Christmas parade, perhaps the Herd would have had a chance to win more than three games.

Eli pulled out that win Sunday, but I still don't think he's improved enough. He's dangerously close to being a backup if he keeps that sort of play up. You can't always bounce back at the end and we know how tough a New York market is, right Chad?

However, Peyton keeps rolling along. I wonder when Marvin Harrison will be back. No one's said that I've heard.

Short Story Published & NFL Week 12

2007-11-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

My short story "Cameo Girl" is in issue 2 of 7th Dimension Magazine. Purchasing information can be found at http://www.newtonshair.com/7thdimension.

RIP Sean Taylor. What a horrible tragedy! There's too much crime in this country and I think it's because of lack of good employment opportunities. The high-paying industrial jobs have almost all gone overseas and now the US is divided into 'haves' and 'have nots'. Just look at the Christmas ads on TV - it's mostly either Wal-Mart or Lexus. When will America get tired of the rich getting richer? Can anyone really do anything about it at this point?

The Packers and Lions game lived up to the Thanksgiving hype, but the others were blowouts. I'm so pissed at not getting NFL Network. I'm going to miss one of the best NFC matchups of the year.

Eli Manning is too inconsistent for the New York market. If Chad Pennington was canned, what's keeping Eli afloat? The Manning name?

The Eagles are a better team than I thought. I'd rather see them in the playoffs instead of the Giants.

NFL Week 11

2007-11-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

Can the Patriots be stopped? At this point I don't think so. Shame about Spygate. That will surly tarnish the team's legacy.

Ta ta ta ta! The Bungles are back in all their nonglory. All that's left is the fans wearing paperbags. Cinci just can't seem to get it going. Look at the Browns. It's unbelievable that they're playoff contenders.

Dallas is for real. I wish they played Green Bay Thursday. Detriot and the Packers should be good though.

Vince Young and Jay Cutler played well last night. Vince is the new Vick without the stripes. I'm still shocked Vick went to jail before Thanksgiving. Doesn't say much for his family's support of him, his doing that. I sure would want to spend my last holiday for a while with loved ones.

NFL Week 10

2007-11-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

Looks like the Packers and Cowboys are the best in the NFC. I predict they'll be one and two seeds, depending on who wins Thanksgiving Day. That'll be the best turkey day game in years. With the Lions imploding, the wildcard spots are more cloudy. The Giants should have one, the Lions too, if they can keep winning. If not, maybe the Eagles or Redskins can take it.

Speaking of imploding, what about those Colts? They've turned to road apples before my very eyes. Injuries can do that. I don't know who's better now, Vanderjagdt, or Vinetteri. Seems like if you go to the Colts as a kicker you go downhill. I don't know if the Colts can hobble into the playoffs or not, since the AFC is such a tough conference. Both the Jags and Titans are on their heels and other teams have good records; even the Browns have a shot. I predict the Steelers will win their division as well as the Patriots (duh). The AFC South is a toss-up between three good teams at this point, while the AFC West is a three way toss-up of three mediocre teams, meaning just one of those will probably be in the playoffs there.

The Niners need to replace Alex Smith, in my opinion. He seems to be getting worse as time goes on, not better. The season is a wash for them.

Two Poems in Star*Line and NFL Comments

2007-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

My poems, both haiku, "retirement party" and "electric eel" are in the Sept./Oct. 2007 issue of Star*Line. You can find out ordering information at http://www.sfpoetry.com.

Looks like the Pats are for real. The 1972 undefeated Dolphin team should be worried - they might not be the only undefeated team after this season. Is it me, or does Peyton Manning have a tendency to choke at the end, especially when playing the Patriots? He's lost several games because of interceptions near the end of games.

Injuries have pretty much ended the Broncos' season. I'm not sure if Jay Cutler will be back, but at least he got some publicity from being on the animated cartoon South Park this week.

I think they should keep the lights off during NBC's Football Night in America. The broadcasters looked so much better. There's only so much makeup can do to cover wrinkles, not that I'm super young myself, but I'm not on TV.

NFL Week 8 and Publication News

2007-10-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

I found out my poem "When We Were Wealthy" was published in August in issue four of The Written Word Magazine. It won third place in the Living in Oblivion category in the 2005 Kentucky State Poetry Society Contest. You can read it at http://www.rebeldawncf.com/writtenword/august2007/when.htm. Also my review of Kim Paffenroth's zombie book Dying to Live is up in the Fall 2007 issue of Noneuclidean Cafe, just in time for Halloween. You can read it at http://www.noneuclideancafe.com/vol3_issue1_Fall2007/reviews.htm#Newman.

Sadly the Jets benched Chad Pennington. I guess he just couldn't overcome those shoulder injuries because he was great years ago. I hope he can heal up some more and start again somewhere. However, Brett Favre was great as usual last night, winning the game in a long TD pass. It's a joy watching him play.

I saw the Redskins and Patriots game Sunday. I agree with the opinions given on ESPN last night that the Pats shouldn't have run up the score. The game was won in the first half. It will be interesting to see if defensive players now gun for Brady's knees in future run ups. That gave the Steelers a Superbowl win when Carson Palmer was knocked out with a knee injury. It's obvious Brady's going for Peyton Manning's season TD record.

Review in The Dream People, Second Place, and NFL Comments

2007-10-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

My review of "The Anthology of Spam Poetry", edited by Morton Hurley, is in the 28th issue of The Dream People at http://www.dharlanwilson.com/dreampeople/issue28/reviewanthologyspam.html.

I also won second place in the Heartland Review Prize in the 2007 Kentucky State Poetry Society Contest for my poem "Sense of Loss".

Now for the NFL. Brett Favre just keeps on going. I wish I knew where his fountain of youth is. I need it.

The Eagles have landed, but in a pile of poop. I think I can safely say they're out of the playoffs. Their division is just too talented this year.

The Chad Pennington bashing continues on Football Night in America. I hope they're ignored. The Jets' recent loss certainly wasn't all on Chad, plus he had over a 100 QB rating. I think those NBC people have made a snap judgment on Pennington and nothing he's ever going to do will ever be good enough. They're now trying to vindicate themselves before people go over to FOX's OT in droves, if they haven't already. Tiki Barber comes off as a smug know-it-all, in my opinion, and the others sit there like wet noodles.

The ESPN crew is better this year, but Russell Crow was super boring last night. I only wish they had gotten him out of the booth earlier.

NFL Week 4

2007-10-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Got a late start this week, so I'm combining Sunday's and Monday's games. Congrats to Brett Favre for breaking the NFL touchdown record. I saw that game and he's made a surgence in his career. He looks a lot like the Brett of old. Hopefully he'll play for a few more years.

Slippng Brian Griese in didn't do the Bears any good. There's a reason he's been a backup for most of his ten years in the league. You can officially write them off for the season.

The Chargers ran out of juice. It's hard to believe that coaching can make that big of a difference in a team, but appartently it's true. I bet Marty's laughing up his sleeves. Who in their right mind fires a coach with a 14-2 record? I can see why Keith had the Charger administration as the worst people in the NFL. Those people need to get new jobs, because they just flushed the franchise for the year.

MNF Week 3

2007-09-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, the Aints came marching in last night, complete with a fan covering his face with his shirt. All that was missing were the paper bags. Do quarterbacks have expiration dates, like milk? It seems some are great one year and stink the next, never to return to their former glory. Drew Brees was a Probowl player last year and now he can't seem to throw enough interceptions. I hope it's temporary like Brett Favre, but I don't know. Maybe there was a good reason San Diego kept Phillip Rivers.

I alway liked Vince Young, especially after seeing him in the Rose Bowl playing for the national championship. I'm not surprised at his success. However, last night was not a do-over of that Rose Bowl game. That was the NFL, not college, and most of the players from then are at home, their playing days long behind them. It's just like I said before - those California players are mostly overrated - just ask Kurt Warner who came back to play by replacing Matt Leinhart and Marvin Lewis who's watching the slow return of the Bungles. Did they ever leave, or were they lost in the California hype? Time will tell.

NFL Week 3

2007-09-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Niners aren't there yet. The Steelers rolled over them yesterday with a healthy Ben Roelisbeger. The Steelers seem to be the ones to beat in their division. The defense did a great job containing Frank Gore.

The Giants won when they needed to. The defense stepped up in the second half over the Redskins who wore an early seventies throwback uniform. Way better looking than the Eagles' early thirties uniforms - ugly, but not so much as to make them the worst person in the NFL on the NBC SNF halftime show. I still think that segment is a bad idea what with that goofy red phone that reminds me of the Power Puff girls' phone with the clown head being that Keith guy's noggin. He sure looks foolish enough in that segment to be a clown, in my opinion.

What about them Cowboys? They're the team to beat in the NFC. I don't think the Bears will be in the playoffs this year because of the massive injuires in the defense and the inconsistency of Rex Grossman. The Bears really need to draft a QB next year. What about Andre Woodson of UK? The Wildcats are awesome this year, unlike the dundering turd of Marshall who'll be lucky to win one game this year.

New Issue ol Afterburn SF Live

2007-09-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

The September issue of Afterburn SF went live on September 17, 2007. Stories in this issue are:

Twenty-One by Michael Merriam
These Arms, and Her by Rupert Merkin
The White Devils by Jason Gross
Forever Underfoot by Larry Hodges
Heirloom by Nyki Blatchley
Battle Brothers by Sarah Wagner
Joyriders by Chris Ward
Eee by Jonathan C. Gillespie
Plague Chalice by Christine Lucas
Belvedere's House by Daniel I. Russell

Check them out at http://www.afterburnsf.com.

MNF Week 2

2007-09-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

I liked Charles Barkley in the booth last night. Not only was he entertaining, he had interesting insight on Philadelphia fans. According to him, if the Eagles don't win, McNabb is in trouble. I agree it's not fair. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems blaming QBs; just read my past posts. However, I don't think McNabb is to blame this time. Last week it was special teams. Andy Reid took care of that. Now it's the defense, so porous as to allow huge runs by Clinton Portis, and the receivers dropping balls that was to blame last night. Randy Moss should be in Philadelphia. His playing for the Patriots is like greasing a fat hog in the ass - totally unnecessary. The Patriots won three Super Bowls without him. The Eagles only got there through a big-name receiver, T.O.

I noticed Sunday that Randy Moss said he was from Rand University, not Marshall University. Rand was a playoff on his hometown, Rand, WV. I can see why he didn't mention Marshall - it's a paperbag (over your head) season, yet again. Snyder has had three years to get Marshall winning again. Instead he insists on playing Morris who can't lead a winning team. The NFL even looked at a QB that the coach never even played. What does that say about his talent assessment skills? Snyder had his chance. Time to find a new coach next year.

NFL Week 2

2007-09-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Bengals are bungling again. How they could beat the Ravens last week and then blow it with Cleveland is unbelievable. Carson Palmer couldn't get it done. Looks likes he's been a bit overrated unlike Ben Rothlisburger, who shone in the Steelers' win over the Bills. The Bills need a new QB, in my opinion. Losman hasn't done the job. How many more chances can he get?

Brett Favre is hot. I'm glad Eli played, although I didn't see that game. I watched the Cowboys and the Dolphins. The Dolphins have never recovered since Dan Marino retired. I saw some of the Bears and Chiefs game. What's up with KC? They used to be a playoff team. Herm Edwards is a good coach, at least at the Jets. They have talent, so you wonder.

The Patriots' cheating scandal rocked the NFL this week, even making NBC Nightly News. Various opinions were given Sunday night on the fines, but one important aspect was never discussed - Belichick's Hall of Fame chances now that he's been labeled a cheater. Before this week he was a shoo-in. Now, who knows? Michael Irving was very grateful to have gotten in as he mentioned in his induction speech, for things he did wrong after he left the game. Belichick accepted responsiblity for spying while as a coach. Maybe that's why Goodell didn't suspend him. If Belichick had gotten suspended, that could really ruin his Hall of Fame chances. If Coach Belichick does eventually get voted in, the Pete Rose debate will soar, even if it's baseball and not the NFL. If one so-called cheater gets in a hall of fame, why not Rose who just bet on games?

MNF Week 1

2007-09-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Bengals got lucky last night. They blew most of their opportunities and fortunately held out on a goal line stand. That Chad Johnson celebration wasn't much. Like Tony I expected more from the hype. Congrats to ESPN for getting rid of the 'Tony Tony Tony' email segment. The show was much better for it. The Ryan and Julia Parker video from Flatwoods was great. They're not far from where I live. The local paper had a small article about it. Evidently he's a song writer and has his own website.

The second game was a yawner. Matt Leinhart, I feel, is overrated, like a good number of the California players hyped by sports media. The SEC doesn't get the respect it deserves. Frank Gore wasn't shown to potential last night, but I don't believe it's his fault. Alex Smith to me seemed mediocre. The Cards need a bigger offensive line. Those players looked like receivers to me. They need more bulk.