All the BLOGS are heavy laden with the serious news of the day so I guess it’s time for me to come in and lighten things up a little.

The other day Dan was joking about having Evel Knievel jump the future bridge site at the Indian River Inlet. At some point, the bridge is said to look like this:

But right now it looks more like a pair of ramps set up for a motorcycle jump. Then I came across a little advertisement featuring Evel Knievel and decided he is no longer in the ramp-jumping business.

So I guess that’s out of the question.

Next we have a photo which best describes the subtle differences between men and women and sheds some light on why there almost always seems to be a communication gap between them.

Yeah, that about says it all.

Next up, weather on Delmarva. Let’s see, shall I go out with the suntan lotion or a parka? Whaddya think? Drive the convertable or take the Hummer? Umbrella or sunglasses?

and finally…

A golf course I can sink my skills into. Why hasn’t someone come up with this sooner?

Well, That’s all for now folks. Keep on smiling and I will try in the meantime to come up with a serious BLOG.

I watched young David Walter (NCCo. Teen) win the Jeopardy Teen Tournament this evening, rooting for him all the way. He didn’t win last night’s game but came through, magnificently, tonight, to take $75,000 home with him.

While I was watching it was difficult not to reflect upon the news of earlier today where the Cape and Central game last night caused such a disgusting ruckus. Causing a pregnant woman to be taken to hospital and police called out from all over. Maybe worse is the result of the poll results on this home page. Why in the name of all that’s holy are so many calling for additional police to be on duty and a children’s sporting event?? For some reason I suppose I hoped the majority would choose the last option…”Get rid of all HS sporting events” but only 16% of the voters did. Meanwhile, a shocking 32% called for “allowing the fans to watch but bring in more cops”. Have we, as a society, gone mad?? How many times has some disturbance…or worse…been reported as happening in or around our schools and their events? How many times has violence been the end result of such disruptions followed by ensuing arguments “this…or that…didn’t happen”. Strikes me that with the increasing frequency of such reports it’s as the old adage says…no smoke without fire. And it makes little difference that the four who were arrested were obviously not HS students. (At least I hope they weren’t, given their ages…!)

I’d like to know what is hoped to be accomplished by increasing police presence at something as inconsequential as a kid’s sporting event. And wouldn’t it be much more effective to ban sports events, at least for a year? In the grand scheme of things, how important does anyone deem sports to be, anyway? Yes, it’s healthy…but not when spectators or pregnant women get hurt or leave in fear. It’s not educational. It may be seen as a means by which some kid gets scouted for better but what about that if he/she doesn’t have the academic ability to graduate college with a real education and purpose for life instead of, at a minimum, a few years of pseudo-fame as the best player on a team and, at best, go on to play pro-sports…few and far between.

A referendum has just been approved to bring a middle-school campus and a new elementary school to the Milford district at an increase to the tax-payer. No…it’s not huge increase but as a tax-payer I’m absolutely fed-up hearing we need new schools, bigger and better, more modern buildings in order for kids to get a better education. Since when has an edifice dictated the quality of education? We need improvement, yes…in the quality of our educators, better compensation for excellence in that area; for parents to stop making excuses for their ill-behaved children and/or suing school boards when they take a stance against an unruly child. Perhaps we are more in need of schools where the unruly and undisciplined may be sent so that children who want to learn may do so. Maybe then we would have more kids like David Walters, who can be admired and emulated by his peers for his academic ability rather than by how well he plays or how good he looks in on the field. Where the investment his family made in his upbringing and education will benefit him throughout his life and not only for a few bragging rights at the Friday night post-games.

Congratulations, David!! On a day when there is some disgust at a few of your generation for their behavior, you did make some of us very proud for the manner in which you conducted yourself throughout…even though you had not won.

Chiefs @ Colts: True, the Colts have the worst run defense in the NFL and the Chiefs have the excellent RB Larry Johnson. However, the Chiefs also have an ailing QB Trent Green and a green playoff team, inexperienced. The Colts can overload their rush defense, and march to the house frequently with their superb Peyton Manning lead offense. Besides, the Colts are playing at home where they are 8-0: Colts

Cowboys @ Seahawks: The Cowboys are healthy, the Seahawks are not. Moreover, the ‘Boys have been playing better away than home. Offensively, the Seahawks are not playing well, even with Hasselbeck and Alexander back from injuries. The ‘Boys offensive is explosive when Romo is playing well, which he is not currently. This is a very tough call. Hasselbeck should be able to exploit the weak Cowboy secondary, therefore: Seahawks

Jets @ Patriots: This is a real tough one to pick, because both are really good teams on both sides of the ball; therefore I’m going to have to go with the more experienced team and the team that has been peaking as the season ends. Patriots

Giants @ Eagles: The Eagles have also peaked, offense, defense and special teams, whereas the giants are all over the place. The question is whether the Eagles can contain Barber; well they did the last two times. With Barber contained, it will all be on Eli – I don’t think he is up to the task. Moreover, the Giants are hurting without Strahan and with Shockey questionable. Last but not least, the Eagles have Akers and Reid. I could be wrong, but I think the Eagles have a shot at the Superbowl, and could beat conservative coach Schottenheimer’s Chargers but not the Ravens I’m afraid. Eagles

The home teams will carry the day!!!

Week #17, the final week of the season:

Giants @ Redskins: The ‘Skins are gelling and the Giants are falling, apart! However, this is a must win for the G-men, so I think they will squeak one through the Redskins porous defense. Giants

Browns @ Texans: Coming off of a big win over the Colts, I see the Texans continuing on a high against the lackluster Browns. Texans

Lions @ Cowboys: The ‘Boys were drilled last week by the Eagles who played a near perfect game. This is a must win for the ‘Boys, and they will win. Cowboys

Patriots @ Titans: The Pats have already clinched their division and home field advantage, but the Titans have a must win game at home. On paper, the Pats are the better team, but I think the Titans can rise to the occasion. Titans

Seahawks @ Bucs: In spite of their recent slide, it is hard to discount Holmgren’s Seahawks with Hasselbeck and Alexander weaponry. They need to prove themselves before the playoffs begin, and they will. Seahawks

Steelers @ Bengals: Roethlisberger has not been sharp; turnovers have killed the Steelers. Besides, the Bengals have a shot at a wild-card. Bengals

Raiders @ Jets: The Jets are by far the superior team to the hapless Raiders; they are on a roll, and need this win to get into the playoffs. Jets

Panthers @ Saints: Coming off an impressive win over the Giants last week, and with impressive offensive weapons, the Saints are in the playoffs, whereas the Panthers have to win this one for a playoff spot. I don’t think they are up to it, unless the Saints take a rest. Saints

Rams @ Vikings: A must win for the Rams against a rebuilding Vikings with a little tested QB. Rams

Jags @ Chiefs: Both teams need a win and some other help to make the playoffs. This one is a toss up; I’m going with the home team an Trent Green. Chiefs

Cardinals @ Chargers: The Cardinals can surprise with Leinert, but no way against the potent Chargers who, if they win, will be first seed in the playoffs. Chargers

49ers @ Broncos: Sea level to one mile high, and more snow too, no way for the 49ers, especially with a win putting the Broncos into the playoffs. Broncos

Falcons @ Eagles: Philly will be a madhouse on Sunday as the Eagles play to seal the NFC East title behind an equally crazy Jeff Garcia. Vick has never been up against this before, even though a win could possibly put the Falcons in the playoffs; I don’t see that happening. The Eagles played a near perfect game against the Cowboys last week, as they peak. Eagles

Dolphins @ Colts: The Colts have to prove to themselves that they can compete in the playoffs, so their putrid defense has to step up. The Colts offense will win anyway. Colts

Bills @ Ravens: The Ravens are my pick to win the Superbowl! A win will help, giving them home field advantage. Ravens

Packers @ Bears: The Bears have nothing to gain but their pride with a win, and I am not too sure how much pride there is the way their defense has been playing lately. On the other hand, the Packers defense has been improving, and Grossman has not steadied himself out yet. I’m predicting an upset by Favre & Co. Packers

Here are my picks for the entire Week 16 schedule, all on a hunch!

Packers over Vikings @ Green Bay

Chiefs over Raiders @ Oakland

Bucs over Browns @ Cleveland

Titans over Bills @ Buffalo

Falcons over Panthers @ Atlanta

Redskins over Rams @ Saint Louis (Campbell keeps improving as a weapon, and the defense has had a rebirth.)

Ravens over Steelers @ Pittsburgh (With or without McNair, the Ravens have an offense.)

Giants over Saints @ New York (This is a must win for the Giants over the resting Saints, and they will win with Tiki and Plaxico prevailing, and Strahan back in.)

Jags over Pats @ Jacksonville

Colts over Texans @ Houston

Bears over Lions @ Detroit

49ers over Cardinals @ San Francisco

Chargers over Seahawks @ Seattle

Broncos over Bengals @ Denver

Eagles over Cowboys @ Dallas (Dallas secondary yields to the Garcia driven momentum)

Jets over Dolphins @ Miami

Let us continue with our football picks, NFL East plus other contests of local interest. Here is week #14:

Eagles @ Redskins: This is a tough one to call. Garcia has the Eagles charged up and has delivered, whereas the Redskins pass defense has improved. Betts is doing great, and the Eagles defense against the run has been poor. I’m going with the better QB, thinking that will overcome home field advantage, but I could well be wrong. Finally, the Eagles should want this win more than the Redskins. Eagles

Giants @ Panthers: Another tough call; both teams need a win for a wild card position, and both have serious problems, the Giants with inconsistency and injuries, and the Panthers with inconsistency and injuries. Delhomme may not play due to his injured thumb, so this will be a key deficit, therefore I’m going with Eli, Tiki & Co. Giants

Saints @ Cowboys: It’s not getting any easier. The ‘Boys are up against the best offense in the NFL, but the Saints have two receivers out this week. On the other hand, Bush is coming of age in the running game. But the Cowboys have become a consistently good team, and you can’t beat Parcells for his expertise, except Peyton learned under Parcells. On a hunch, I’m going with the home team: Cowboys

Bears @ Rams: On the surface, this should be an easy pick, but with Grossman’s erratic performances, who knows? The Rams have similar problems including injuries and terrible team discipline/spirit. Based on defense, my pick is: Da Bears!

Ravens @ Chiefs: I’m picking the Ravens based on their great defense against a poor Chief defense. Ravens

Browns @ Steelers: I know I am right on this one!!! Steelers