Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- I'm a bad person for laughing at this.

- 15 timeless thoughts from Naval Ravikant

- How can you not like Henry Winkler?

- Cool - incredible orbit map of our solar system

- Who knew? Plastic grocery bags are actually good for the environment. "You must reuse an organic cotton shopping bag 20,000 times before it will have less climate damage than a plastic bag."

- Yesterday was the 244th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill (long read)

Top 5 - Reasons the Patriots Will Win Today

Here are the Top 5 reasons the Patriots will win today against the Chargers.

1. Bill Belichick - in Bill We Trust! You have the GOAT of NFL coaches with a week to prepare, two weeks of rest for his players and the game is at home

2. Tom Brady - you have the GOAT of  NFL QB's going up against Philip Rivers. Brady is 7-0 lifetime vs Rivers and Rivers has said he's aware of that record. There's enough pressure in an NFL playoff game without Brady getting to live rent-free in Rivers' head but that's the case here

3. Home field advantage - New England is 8-0 at home this season and are 9-0 in playoffs games. Their last loss at home in the playoffs was 1978. It will be cold, crisp with possibly a stiff breeze today. Weather the Pats will be used to but will also be another thing San Diego Los Angeles  will be thinking about and have to deal with.

4. Travel - the Chargers had to fly to the East Coast last week for their game in Baltimore then back to California. Now they have to do it again. This sort of travel physically and mentally wears on you. Plus they've spent all week answering questions about jet lag. This will be just another thing to wear down their physical and mental energy. Meanwhile, the Patriots just have to focus on the game itself.

5. Las Vegas - the bookmakers have the Patriots as a 4-point favorite. So you have all the talking heads saying on paper the Chargers are the better team and you would be getting more than a field goal if you bet on them? Las Vegas WANTS YOU to be the Chargers. You know what that means.

So let it be written - so let it be done!

Morning Links

Some fun stuff for your New Year's Eve morning:

- The Wire - Brother Mouzone/Omar confrontation

- Montreal craigslist, Where you can find almost anything

- If they make these for adults - I want one

- Has anyone ever seen Philip Rivers and Strong Bad in the same room?

NFL Thoughts

Yesterday:

Arizona 30 - Atlanta 24: The line going into the game was Arizona minus 1. When the line was originally set - Atlanta was a 1 point favorite. Arizona was at home with a veteran QB who had won a Super Bowl. Atlanta was on the road with a rookie QB. I wanted to take the Cardinals but I held off on the game because I'm a fan of Matt Ryan and didn't want to be rooting against him. Instead I took the over (51.5). Happy day.

San Diego 23 - Indianapolis 17: You had the veteran QB Peyton Manning versus the combustible Phillip Rivers. You had the solid Tony Dungy coaching against Norv Turner. I thought this was a lock. How does Rivers and Turner beat Peyton and Dungy? Special teams. On punts Indy was consistently pinned back against their own goal line. On kicks San Diego consistently started off with great field position. Indy should have won and covered.

Baltimore vs. Miami: Keep in mind that Miami was a 1 win team last year but that win came against Baltimore. Keep in mind that Miami is at home. Keep in mind that you have a veteran QB matched up against a rookie QB. Now forget all of that because it doesn't matter. Take Baltimore and give the 3 points.

Philadelphia vs Minnesota: Both home teams won and covered yesterday. Both home teams will lose today. Take Philadelphia minus 3. I also like the over in this game (41 points)

NFL Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous NFL thoughts and observations.

I'm in a few fantasy football leagues and I think I'll be hard pressed to pick a single player from the San Diego Chargers. Yes that includes LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers. My gut tells me that both players have peaked and are due for an off-year, a decline or an injury. Sorry but that's what my gut tells me. Sure Antonio Gates and Nate Kaeding might be worth a pick at TE or K but in general both players are over-rated and better values can be found elsewhere.... The same may hold true for Kansas City. It's not that I think their "talent" is due for a let-down. I just don't think much of the talent. Of course Herm Edwards is also perhaps the worst coach in the league (Norn Turner "fans" may beg to argue). Maybe take a risk on receiver Dwayne Bowe or the defense... After looking over the Oakland Raiders roster - I find myself on the verge of a no-AFC West player boycott altogether... OK - maybe if the Denver Broncos' Jay Cutler or Selvin Young are available at the right time I'll end up taking a player or two from the AFC West...

Philip Rivers in Strange Wilderness



My kids think this clip is funny. They aren't as mature and sophisticated as I am. Yet I find the clip funny too but I find it amusing because I can't help seeing that goofy shark at the end and thinking, "Hey - that's Philip Rivers!"