Betting the Pass Line (Last Week: 3-2 Season: 35-25)

Michigan at Ohio State (-20 ½)
Simply stated, Michigan is overmatched. The Buckeyes will romp.

Michigan State (+14 ½) at Penn State
On Saturday, Javon Ringer accrues one hundred and fifty yards. The Spartans stun the Nittany Lions.

BYU (+6) at Utah
An exquisite contest. For three quarters, they will skirmish. In the fourth quarter, Utah survives.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (-5)
Versus the Bearcats, Pittsburgh has won three consecutive contests. In 2008, their streak concludes.

Texas Tech (+6 ½) at Oklahoma
Graham Harrell versus Sam Bradford. Both amass four hundred yards. Both toss four touchdowns. However, Oklahoma wins the contest.

Grand Friday

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 494.13 points. No one analyze… Everyone enjoy.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“In case you didn’t hear, the economy is having a going-out-of-business sale right now.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live

An Example For All

Mike Mussina was not pretentious. He was not spectacular. He was simply resolved. For seventeen seasons, Mussina succeeded via fortitude and tenacity.

On Thursday, Mussina retired. “I always said when I got to this point, I wanted to go out on my own terms,” he said. “I didn’t want to go out with somebody telling me it was time to go, that I’m trying to find a job and I can’t find a job. I never wanted to bounce around from one team to another, to keep playing at 41 or 42, trying to scratch out eight wins this year and 10 wins the next year. I don’t want to do it that way. I’ve never wanted to do it that way.”

During his career, Mussina amassed 270-153 record. He posted a 3.68 earned run average. “It’s the end of a real special career, a Hall of Fame-type career,” said New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. “This guy goes down as one of the all-time great pitchers, and we’re happy that we shared him for a period of his playing career.”

On November 30, 2000, Mussina signed a 6-year, $88.5 million contract. However, he was not another mercenary. Mussina was authentic, committed, and professional. Both Major League Baseball and the Yankees will miss him.

NEW RULE

Championships merit networks.

From 2011-2014, ESPN will televise the Bowl Championship Series. Why? ESPN is entertainment. They are not sports. Their broadcast tandems are insipid. Their personalities are ridiculous. Their reporting is scarce.

Championships exude importance. They warrant magnificent stages. Around the Horn should not precede them. The Budweiser Hot Seat should not succeed them.

Worth A Read

College Football Fanatics

Simply stated, fans should read.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Chad Johnson?

According to Verizon Wireless, President-Elect Obama’s cellular records were accessed. Evidently, those three a.m. calls were pizza orders.

Today’s top five or this weekend’s attractions (1) Texas Tech at Oklahoma, (2) Jets at Titans, (3) BYU at Utah, (4) Giants at Cardinals, (5) Michigan at Ohio State

Historic Hallucination

On Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners hired Don Wakamatsu. Since Lou Pinella’s exodus, the Mariners have collapsed. They have accrued a 452-520 record. Wakamatsu will not improve them.

NEW RULE

Politics is bullshit.

In Vermont, the Pledge of Allegiance is controversial. Children may recite the pledge. Classes may not. Voluntary recitation is individual. Unoccupied classrooms must be utilized.

America has problems. Americans need solutions. Unfortunately, asses argue crap. Why? The automobile, economic, and mortgage crises are complex. They require compromise. Crap simply requires volume.

Gay Marriage. Guns. Pledge Participation. Socialism. These are irrelevant. Republicans and Democrats must stop infuriating. They must start interacting.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Here’s how bad the economy is. Today, on her show, Oprah gave everyone in her audience a car company.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Survivor: Fake Idol Removes Randy

On Thursday, Ken garnered immunity. Subsequently, Bob swerved Randy. Bob offered a hidden immunity idol. Randy accepted. Unfortunately, the idol was fake. Via a 5-3 vote, Randy was eliminated.

What Options Remain?

On Thursday, the Senate extended unemployment assistance. Unfortunately, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 444.99 points. Another solution attempted. Another solution useless.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Forbes magazine came out with their list of “Hottest Tots,” the hottest babies in the world. I guess these days there isn’t much going on in the stock market.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Pity Poor Pacman

Jerry Jones: “Yes, I do take responsibility for the fact that it was my own security that the issue was part of. Because it was my guy there that created the problem. ... The way that it was supposed to work in my mind, to some degree, we wouldn't have had that problem.”

NEW RULE

Terrorism is omnipresent.

Last week, Al Qaeda assaulted fifteen female teenagers. They utilized acid. Automobile crisis. Economic crisis. Mortgage crisis. These have owned the conversation. They should. With that stated, terrorism cannot be reduced. We must never ignore our enemies. We must never undervalue their evil.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Edgerrin James?

In North Carolina, a mailman received three years probation. His crime? He would not deliver junk mail. Bob Dole’s Viagra was delivered.

Finally, I tip the ol’ ball cap to John Lynch. Lynch was an excellent athlete. He is an exemplary individual.

Slap & Tumble

Amidst this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 427.47 points.

Mitt Romney: Detroit Must Collapse

If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. It won’t go overnight, but its demise will be virtually guaranteed.

Without that bailout, Detroit will need to drastically restructure itself. With it, the automakers will stay the course — the suicidal course of declining market shares, insurmountable labor and retiree burdens, technology atrophy, product inferiority and never-ending job losses. Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.

I love cars, American cars. I was born in Detroit, the son of an auto chief executive. In 1954, my dad, George Romney, was tapped to run American Motors when its president suddenly died. The company itself was on life support — banks were threatening to deal it a death blow. The stock collapsed. I watched Dad work to turn the company around — and years later at business school, they were still talking about it. From the lessons of that turnaround, and from my own experiences, I have several prescriptions for Detroit’s automakers.

First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers.

That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota’s Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product — it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable.

Second, management as is must go. New faces should be recruited from unrelated industries — from companies widely respected for excellence in marketing, innovation, creativity and labor relations.

The new management must work with labor leaders to see that the enmity between labor and management comes to an end. This division is a holdover from the early years of the last century, when unions brought workers job security and better wages and benefits. But as Walter Reuther, the former head of the United Automobile Workers, said to my father, “Getting more and more pay for less and less work is a dead-end street.”

You don’t have to look far for industries with unions that went down that road. Companies in the 21st century cannot perpetuate the destructive labor relations of the 20th. This will mean a new direction for the U.A.W., profit sharing or stock grants to all employees and a change in Big Three management culture.

The need for collaboration will mean accepting sanity in salaries and perks. At American Motors, my dad cut his pay and that of his executive team, he bought stock in the company, and he went out to factories to talk to workers directly. Get rid of the planes, the executive dining rooms — all the symbols that breed resentment among the hundreds of thousands who will also be sacrificing to keep the companies afloat.

Investments must be made for the future. No more focus on quarterly earnings or the kind of short-term stock appreciation that means quick riches for executives with options. Manage with an eye on cash flow, balance sheets and long-term appreciation. Invest in truly competitive products and innovative technologies — especially fuel-saving designs — that may not arrive for years. Starving research and development is like eating the seed corn.

Just as important to the future of American carmakers is the sales force. When sales are down, you don’t want to lose the only people who can get them to grow. So don’t fire the best dealers, and don’t crush them with new financial or performance demands they can’t meet.

It is not wrong to ask for government help, but the automakers should come up with a win-win proposition. I believe the federal government should invest substantially more in basic research — on new energy sources, fuel-economy technology, materials science and the like — that will ultimately benefit the automotive industry, along with many others. I believe Washington should raise energy research spending to $20 billion a year, from the $4 billion that is spent today. The research could be done at universities, at research labs and even through public-private collaboration. The federal government should also rectify the imbedded tax penalties that favor foreign carmakers.

But don’t ask Washington to give shareholders and bondholders a free pass — they bet on management and they lost.

The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk. In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.

Worth A Read

Coyote Blog

Dispatches from a small business.

The Daily Smak

Hey, weren’t you Senator Ted Stevens?

Senator Joe Lieberman will retain his committee chairmanship. Coincidentally, Senator John McCain will retain rocking chair.

On a ceiling mural, the United Nations spent $23 million. Barack Obama’s reaction? “Chumps you can believe in.”

The Blatantly Terrified

Ford CEO Alan Mulally: “While the domestic auto industry has made mistakes in the past, the current problems have been exacerbated by one of the worst economies in nearly three decades.”

Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli: “We are willing to provide full financial transparency, and welcome the government as a stakeholder -- including as an equity holder.”

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner: “Our industry... needs a bridge to span the financial chasm that has opened up before us. What exposes us to failure now is the global financial crisis, which has severely restricted credit availability and reduced industry sales to the lowest per-capita level since World War II. This is about much more than just Detroit.”

An Artisan For Every Statistic

On Tuesday, Dustin Pedroia won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. This season, Pedroia batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 runs batted in. He also registered 213 hits, 118 runs scored, 54 doubles, and 20 stolen bases. His triumph was deserved.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“This will tell you what a techno crazy world we’re in. Barack Obama uses the Black Berry. Well the Secret Service said that’s a security risk and so they took away the Black Berry. And I’m thinking, well that’s not fair. They let George Bush keep his game boy.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Next Texas

On Tuesday, Texas reaffirmed Coach Mack Brown. Simultaneously, Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp was named “head coach in waiting.” In eleven months, Nick Saban’s former coordinators have each ascended. LSU should have retained both. Instead, they hired incompetence.

Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson: Economic Strategy

We are going through a financial crisis more severe and unpredictable than any in our lifetimes. We have seen the failures, or the equivalent of failures, of Bear Stearns, IndyMac, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Wachovia, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the American International Group. Each of these failures would be tremendously consequential in its own right. But we faced them in succession, as our financial system seized up and severely damaged the economy.

By September, the government faced a systemwide crisis. After months of making the most of the authority we already had, we asked Congress for a comprehensive rescue package so we could stabilize our financial system and minimize further damage to our economy.

By the time the legislation had passed on Oct. 3, the global market crisis was so broad and so severe that we needed to move quickly and take powerful steps to stabilize our financial system and to get credit flowing again. Our initial intent was to strengthen the banking system by purchasing illiquid mortgages and mortgage-related securities. But the severity and magnitude of the situation had worsened to such an extent that an asset purchase program would not be effective enough, quickly enough. Therefore, exercising the authority granted by Congress in this legislation, we quickly deployed a $250 billion capital injection program, fully anticipating we would follow that with a program for buying troubled assets.

There is no playbook for responding to turmoil we have never faced. We adjusted our strategy to reflect the facts of a severe market crisis, always keeping focused on our goal: to stabilize a financial system that is integral to the everyday lives of all Americans. By mid-October, our actions, in combination with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s guarantee of certain debt issued by financial institutions, helped us to accomplish the first major priority, which was to immediately stabilize the financial system.

As we assessed how best to use the remaining money for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, we carefully considered the uncertainties around the deteriorating economic situation in the United States and globally. The latest economic reports underscore the challenges we are facing. The gross domestic product for the third quarter (which ended Sept. 30, three days before the bill passed) shrank by 0.3 percent. The unemployment rate rose in October to a level not seen since the mid-1990s. Home prices in 10 major cities have fallen 18 percent over the previous year. Auto sales numbers plummeted in October and were more than a third lower than one year ago. The slowing of European economies has been even more drastic.

I have always said that the decline in the housing market is at the root of the economic downturn and our financial market stress. And the economy, as it slows further, threatens to prolong this decline, as well as the stress on our financial institutions and financial markets.

A troubled-asset purchase program, to be effective, would require a huge commitment of money. In mid-September, before economic conditions worsened, $700 billion in troubled asset purchases would have had a significant impact. But half of that sum, in a worse economy, simply isn’t enough firepower.

If we have learned anything throughout this year, we have learned that this financial crisis is unpredictable and difficult to counteract. We decided it was prudent to reserve our TARP money, maintaining not only our flexibility, but also that of the next administration.

The current $250 billion capital purchase program is strong medicine for our financial institutions. More capital enables banks to take losses as they write down or sell troubled assets. And stronger capitalization is essential to increasing lending, which is vital to economic recovery.

Recently I’ve been asked two questions. First, Congress gave you the authority you requested, and the economy has only become worse. What went wrong? Second, if housing and mortgages are at the root of our economic difficulties, why aren’t you addressing those problems?

The answer to the first question is that the purpose of the financial rescue legislation was to stabilize our financial system and to strengthen it. It is not a panacea for all our economic difficulties. The crisis in our financial system had already spilled over into the overall economy. But recovery will happen much, much faster than it would have had we not used TARP to stabilize our system. If Congress had not given us the authority for TARP and the capital purchase program and our financial system had continued to shut down, our economic situation would be far worse today.

The answer to the second question is that more access to lower-cost mortgage lending is the No. 1 thing we can do to slow the decline in the housing market and reduce the number of foreclosures. Together with our bank capital program, the moves we have made to stabilize and strengthen Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and through them to increase the flow of mortgage credit, will promote mortgage lending. We are also working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the F.D.I.C. and others to reduce preventable foreclosures.

I am very proud of the decisive actions by the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the F.D.I.C. to stabilize our financial system. We have done what was necessary as facts and conditions in the market and economy have changed, adjusting our strategy to most effectively address the crisis. We have preserved the flexibility of President-elect Barack Obama and the new secretary of the Treasury to address the challenges in the economy and capital markets they will face.

As policymakers face the difficult challenges ahead, they will begin with two considerable advantages: a significantly more stable banking system, one where the failure of a major bank is no longer a pressing concern; and the resources, authority and potential programs available to deal with the future capital and liquidity needs of credit providers.

Deploying these new tools and programs to restore our financial institutions, financial markets and the flow of lending and credit will determine, to a large extent, the speed and trajectory of our economic recovery. I am confident of success, because our economy is flexible and resilient, rooted in the entrepreneurial spirit and productivity of the American people.

Christopher Hitchens Excoriates Hillary Clinton

NEW RULE

Commonsense is inherent.

In Nebraska, the “Safe Haven Act” will be altered. The statute’s objective? Reluctant parents could discard their newborns. Unfortunately, a mother abandoned her eighteen-year-old daughter. A father stranded his nine children.

These abuses are abhorrent. They are unforgivable. Granted, “child” was interpreted as under eighteen. However, safe haven statutes are not novel. Nebraska’s intent was obvious. The mother and father were never parents. They are criminals. They warrant prosecution.

America has laws. Laws have loopholes. Loopholes should be exploited. With that stated, loopholes are miniscule opportunities. They are not vast manipulations.

Shepard Smith Attacks

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Yahoo’s CEO?

In Venezuela, Marisabel Rodriguez, President Hugo Chavez’s ex-wife, is a political candidate. Obviously, America endured a similar situation. Wait, Bill and Hillary are still married.

Today’s top five or college basketball’s finest (1) North Carolina, (2) Louisville, (3) Connecticut, (4) UCLA, (5) Texas

Cardinal Swipe?

On Monday, Albert Pujols won the National League Most Valuable Player Award. In 2008, Pujols batted .357 with 37 home runs and 116 runs batted in. Ryan Howard batted .251 with 48 home runs and 146 runs batted in. Howard made the postseason. Pujols did not. Obvious question… Should average control?

Jimmie Johnson’s Implausible Inevitable

Three-peat is a perverse phrase. The assumption mingles arrogance and performance. The intent mixes expectations and talent. Three-peats are not simple. They require a previous champion’s concentration and an unproven contender’s motivation.

On Sunday, Jimmie Johnson scored his third consecutive Nextel Cup. During the Championship Chase, Johnson recorded three wins, six top five finishes, and eight top ten finishes. “I could go race again next week and start the season and go for four,” he said. “It's on our minds. It's not that we're chasing a number, we just know what we're capable of. We know we can do better. It's a search to do the best we can.”

During his career, Johnson has accrued 40 victories, 101 top five finishes, and 156 top ten finishes. In 2006, Johnson accrued 5 wins, 13 top five finishes, and 24 top ten finishes. In 2007, Johnson acquired 10 wins, 20 top five finishes, and 24 top ten finishes. In 2008, Johnson amassed 7 wins, 15 top five finishes, and 22 top ten finishes.

Since NASCAR’s inception, twenty-eight titans have scored titles. Only ten have repeated. Only two have three-peated. Johnson’s concentration is evident. His motivation is omnipresent.

Pelosi: Homes Are The Matter

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “House Democratic leaders today made it clear to Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke that they must take immediate action and do everything they can to help hard-working Americans stay in their homes. The solutions to the problem at the root of our economic crisis – aggressively addressing home foreclosures – have been known for some time. Further delay in implementing these solutions is unacceptable.”

“Our country faces a serious and worsening foreclosure crisis that is affecting millions of Americans. Addressing the underlying problem of home foreclosures, and stopping the continued drop in home values, is essential to restoring confidence in our financial system, freeing up the flow of credit consumers and small businesses, and spurring renewed economic growth.”

GAME BALLS (NFL Edition)

Marion Barber (RB – Cowboys): 24 carries, 114 yards, 1 td
(Win: 14-10 at Redskins)

Braylon Edwards (WR – Browns): 8 receptions, 104 yards
(Win: 29-27 at Bills)

Justin Gage (WR – Titans): 4 receptions, 147 yards, 2 td
(Win: 24-14 at Jaguars)

Ryan Grant (RB – Packers): 25 carries, 145 yards, 1 td
(Win: 37-3 vs. Bears)

Thomas Jones (RB – Jets): 30 carries, 104 yards, 1 td
(Win: 34-31 at Patriots)

Ben Roethlisberger (QB – Steelers): 31/41, 308 yards
(Win: 11-10 vs. Chargers)

GAME BALLS (College Football Edition)

Kenny Britt (WR – Rutgers): 8 receptions, 173 yards, 1 td
(Win: 4-16 at South Florida)

Dominick Goodman (WR – Cincinnati): 9 receptions, 134 yards, 1 td
(Win: 28-20 at Louisville)

Shonn Greene (RB – Iowa): 30 carries, 211 yards, 2 td
(Win: 22-17 vs. Purdue)

Max Hall (QB – BYU): 28/37, 354 yards, 2 td
(Win: 38-24 at Air Force)

Montel Harris (RB – Boston College): 25 carries, 121 yards, 1 td
(Win: 27-17 at Florida State)

Percy Harvin (RB – Florida): 8 carries, 167 yards, 2 td
(Win: 56-6 vs. South Carolina)

Case Kenum (QB – Houston): 24/37, 402 yards, 6 td
(Win: 70-30 vs. Tulsa)

Jacquizz Rodgers (RB – Oregon State): 27 carries, 144 yards, 1 td
(Win: 34-21 vs. California)

Da’Rel Scott (RB – Maryland): 29 carries, 129 yards, 1 td
(Win: 17-15 vs. North Carolina)

Chris Wells (RB – Ohio State): 24 carries, 143 yards, 1 td
(Win: 30-20 at Illinois)

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“President-Elect Barack Obama and John McCain met today. They got together and they had a nice meeting and Obama thanked McCain for choosing that nutty Alaskan chick.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Panic & Purge

On Monday morning, Citi announced a payroll reduction. On Monday afternoon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 223.73 points. Anyone terrified?

America's Basketball Guru

Pete Newell
(1915-2008)

NEW RULE

Republicans require a pulse.

Michigan Republican Chairman Saul Anuzis. South Carolina Republican Chairman Katon Dawson. Florida Republican Chairman Jim Greer. Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle. Former Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. Their ambition? Republican National Committee Chairman.

The winner is irrelevant. Whoever survives, they must perform. They cannot merely court conservatives. They cannot merely ingrain issues. They must expand, modernize, and sell the party. Republicans need an articulate operative. They need a strategic personality. Another Chairman Emeritus would be a catastrophe.

The Campaign Has Concluded

Worth A Read

Dating Pro

Featuring advice, news, and tips.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Syracuse’s Coach?

According to the CDC, Burlington, Vermont is “America’s Healthiest City.” Ten people constitute a city?

Today’s top five or NASCAR’s finest (1) Dale Earnhardt, (2) Jeff Gordon, (3) Jimmie Johnson, (4) Richard Petty, (5) David Pearson

BCS: Prime Quintet Remains Static

1. Alabama (11-0)
2. Texas Tech (10-0)
3. Texas (10-1)
4. Florida (9-1)
5. Oklahoma (9-1)
6. USC (9-1)
7. Utah (11-0)
8. Penn State (10-1)
9. Boise State (10-0)
10. Ohio State (9-2)

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

Summit Solves Nothing

President Bush Complete Text

Line of the Morning

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

“The auto industry didn't cause this problem of having a 30 percent reduction in sales last month… The question is do we want to put more people in the street, cause more unemployment, or do we want to use just a small fraction of that which has already been appropriated to help the financial services industry, just a small fraction, to try to save these up to 3 to 5 million jobs working on the automobile issue.”