I love Peyton Manning the football player and I'm secure enough to say I've got a man crush on the guy when it comes to his commercials (and skits). They make me laugh. And I'm guessing they make you laugh too.

So here are a few of my favorites.

Why - why? - would the Sox be interested in a 36-year-old outfielder who can't throw and whose one plus skill (speed) is rapidly declining? (especially when they want to re-resign a 33-year-old outfielder who can't throw and whose one plus skill [speed] is declining).
Unless they can get him for 1 year and like $2 million, it's not worth not. Especially not for multiple years and many multiple millions of dollars.

I understand Damon has some value, but this isn't the late 90s/early 2000s anymore. Guys don't have career years in their late 30s anymore. Now players Damon's age are going to do what they did back in the pre-steroid era: break down and be bad.

Yes, the need for a leadoff hitter is great, and Damon might be worth it if the price is right...but if those contract numbers are somewhat accurate - no thanks.

means you'll see more of this

As an Eagles fan, I really don't think Jay Cutler will be under center when my beloved Iggles venture into Soldier Field on Nov. 22...there's no way he will continue to get up from the pounding he is taking. He'll either be concussed, have broken ribs, or a separated shoulder by the time the Bears have finished playing the Cardinals and the 49ers.

Which is sad for Bears fans - they finally have a franchise QB but the franchise did such a terrible job in getting him an offensive line, they may well be looking for a QB to direct them for first half of the 2010 season while Cutler rehabs....

Kaneland basketball player David Dudzinski, a 6-foot-9 center/forward, is close to making a decision on his college commitment.

Naperville North's Matt Hasse, a 6-9 center, has committed to Austin Peay.

The two leading candidates for Dudzinski's services are Loyola of Chicago and Holy Cross of Worcester, Mass.

Holy Cross, with just 2,700 students, is a NCAA Division I program and member of the Patriot League.

Just look at Classes 6A and 7A....

The "upper" bracket of 6A is a who's who of the best in the state, with championship-caliber games happening as soon as the second round.

Same can be said for the subdivided "upper" bracket of 7A.

Back in the day the IHSA used to seed 1-32 (gasp!) but decided the travel times were too long for certain schools. But after covering volleyball in the west suburbs for years where the best teams always beat each other up just to get to a sectional final, and in football where the state title games are usually blowouts, most coaches and athletic directors would prefer to seed 1-32, travel be damned.

Said Oswego head coach Dave Keely:
"(Travel) is not all its cracked up to be. Take Edwardsville - they're coming all the way up to Minooka (in 7A). You have Richards going all the way to Rock Island. There's someone in the St. Louis area coming up this way in 7A also. I don't think it's that much of a problem.

I think most schools, if you did a straight 1-32 seed, the travel, in the long run, equals out because proximity is going to draw you back together again anyway."

Providence Catholic coach Mark Coglianese agreed:
"You need to kind of reward some of these teams that went 8-1 and even things out a little bit. I don't know all the (IHSA's) philosophies and theories, but I don't think this is real good division (of teams). I think going 1 to 32 would be better."

"He had surgery," said Kill at his weekly press conference in DeKalb. "It's not a major thing. He will be back (this season). Optimistically, there's a chance this weekend."

Kill said Harnish made the trip to Miami last Saturday and did some backpedaling and made some throws in the pre-game warmup but that he hadn't run full speed yet.

Fullback Conor Flahive also missed the Miami game with a knee injury and both he and Harnish will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, the coach said.

Harnish was injured two weeks ago during the Toledo game on Northern's final drive. Kill said he played the final five or six plays with the injury.

The Huskie defense is not immune to injury woes.

Senior free safety David Bryant was hurt at Miami, suffering a knee injury that will keep him out two to four weeks on an apparent chop block.

His backup, Mike Sobol, was also dinged with an injury Kill would not reveal, but is expected to play at home against Akron this week.

"At one time we had three (defensive backs) on the sidelines with me and that's not good," said Kill, who said redshirt freshmen Jody Van Laanen (S), Tony Davis (CB) and Rashaan Melvin (CB) will have to step up.
"Jody did a good job (Saturday). He hadn't had hardly any reps and we were down to no safeties at one time but credit to Jody for being ready to play."

The team's defensive line has taken some hits, too, as redshirt freshman Brian Lawson (Rich East) was sidelined with a hand injury that required surgery. It forced Kill's defensive coaches to move senior Jake Coffman back and forth between noseguard and end. He responded with 2.5 sacks.

Kill also cited nice work by redshirt sophomore Ron Newcomb (Mt. Carmel).

"We're fortunate to have guys like him step up, he came out of nowhere," said Kill, "who lost senior tackle Mike Krause before the season started to a heart ailment.

"We should be awfully deep on the defensive line a year from now," the coach said.

To the tune of Kings of Leon "Use Somebody"

I've been roaming around,

I'm leading Team FaBrees
to last place in
my fantasy league

backups startin'
lineup's filled
with injuries

you know that I'll prolly lose some money
drew needs to throw six touddy's
yeah thanks so much Matthew Berry

not doing work
i'm reading blogs and
ESPN
Still didn't stop
me from draftin'
the wrong Peterson

You know what team I face this week?
You know what team I face this week?

Maurice Bones-You
MAURICE BONES YOU

Come Monday night
no need to log on
accept defeat
Out 150
plus what I pay
DIRECT TV

I hope that my wife won't notice
I hope that my wife won't notice

I traded AP

to my team

traded AP to my team

cbs sportsline
yahoo sports
espn

all in last place
can't show my face

at my work place

fantasy season ends

week 13

This is the Daily Dose version:
I've been starting Ronnie Brown

I was scrolling down

trying to see

Antonio Gates

to fill the space

My league's too deep!

You know that I could use Mc-Gahee

You know that I could use Cotchery

Someone like Rice

And Rod-dy White

And Chris Cool-ey

Countless waivers

Late night claimers

Of all I seek

You know that I could use Austin Coll-ie

Knowshon Moreno

Off my bye week

While you lit it up

I accept defeat

My D got me 4

to make me lose it

I don't have Direct TV

Schaub was hot and I didn't notice

He was dropped and I didn't notice

Michael Crabtree?

and Josh Scobee

Someone need Shockey? Somebody?

I'm ready now, I'm ready to trade

I'm ready now, who'd you waive?

I'm ready now, I've been in a cave

I'm ready now

Someone like you, Jermichael Finley
Someone tell Drew to throw to Dev-er-y
Someone like you, Donnie Avery

I've been starting Garcon, I was scrolling down for the Vikings D
Oh why won't you come, week thirteen?

not sure, but I'm at Marmion Academy tonight for the Cadets' season finale against Montini Catholic, and the visiting Broncos have a junior linebacker by the name of Frank Nitti.

The name jumped off the page for me, but not because of anything he has potentially done on the field - I don't even know if he plays.

But "Frank Nitti" was a famous Chicago gangster portrayed just as famously by Billy Drago in The Untouchables in 1987.

George Stone: Where is Nitti?
Ness: He's in the car.<form mt:asset-id="1460" class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;">

The voice of the Huskies in football and basketball for more than 20 years, Baker will be inducted along with former NIU athlete/athletic director Cary Groth, the 1981-82 men's basketball team, former volleyball player Cathy Holmes (Galloway) and four-sport standout from the 50s, Wes Luedeking.

WGN-AM radio personality Dave Kaplan will emcee the banquet in place of Baker, who has done the honors for the past 23 years.

Tickts for the banquet ($50 apiece) are available. Call 815-753-1923.

The class will also be honored the next day at halftime of the Huskies' football game with visiting Akron.