Mock

 I had other priorities, so I missed Joe Biden's speech to a mostly empty House chamber last night. It appears to have been his usual mixture of bad faith, kabuki and crap, so that's probably just as well. People are starting to realize what a dumpster fire we have in Washington, but the official line will remain that competence and unity are rising in Washington. Hunger Games all the way down, frankly.

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

NFL draft is tonight. I expect the locals to draft an offensive lineman and I hope the Packers pick a butt-kicking linebacker. I don't know who the Lions will pick, but the guy will likely fail. The Bears? Who knows? Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Guilty on all three counts

 Derek Chauvin found guilty on all three charges -- manslaughter, 3rd degree murder, 2nd degree murder. A few thoughts:

• I am somewhat surprised Chauvin got Murder Two, but given the enormous fear this region has been feeling ever since this all began, it's not a complete surprise. A jury that did not deliver what the mob wanted was gonna get doxxed and threatened. 
• Chauvin may have a chance at an appeal because of Maxine Waters, but he'd have had a better chance in a state where the judiciary isn't a wholly owned subsidiary of the DFL. This would have gone down very differently across the St. Croix, I think.
• And that's part of what sticks in my craw about all this. I don't hold any brief for Chauvin, who was the bully boy cop from central casting. Police are, at best, a necessary evil, and this dude was not a hero by any means. Having said that, Chauvin was doing what he was asked to do. And that means we should stop asking the Chauvins of the world to do such bidding. All regimes hire rough men to protect the vulnerable, but if we're not serious about protecting the vulnerable any more, and based on the available evidence we aren't serious, we should stop with the bullshit half measures.
• And therein lies the larger question: why are Chauvin, and by extension all police, doing the things they are asked to do? George Floyd might have died that day anyway, given that he had a likely lethal amount of fentanyl in his system. The danger to the public, I suppose, is if he drove off and caused a pileup on the interstate. That's a hypothetical. What officers actually do is more about financial considerations. Many of the tasks police pursue are revenue generation and not public safety. That question is even more relevant in the Daunte Wright case -- he was stopped because of an expired license tab. That's not a public safety issue, but the Wright case became a public safety issue because we ask our law enforcement to do these penny ante shakedowns. And since the cop in that instance had a brain fart and shot the guy, we've been living in fear for weeks.
• Finally, we need to be honest about the precise reasons we live in fear around there. We have seen vast swathes of our city burned and looted and our elected (not be me, mind you) representatives have ceded control of the city to the woke and their grasping acolytes. This town is chock full of grifters and grievance entrepreneurs at all times, but we also now import 'em, too. This screen shot (h/t Mitch Berg) sums things up nicely:

Grievance is lucrative

• Seriously, get back on yer plane and leave us alone, Al. 

Where we are

 Writing for PJ Media, Victoria Taft says it out loud:

When antifa and BLM stir as much fear as Pablo Escobar and his henchmen, which prevents you from doing your damned job and following the Constitution, we’ve arrived at Banana Republic status.

Welcome to Medellín, Minnesota, where judges, elected officials, and cops are afraid of the race cartels.

Do you dispute that idea? If so, tell me why. 

Dreary Brearley and the Brooklyn Center Extravaganza

 I have no idea who Andrew Gutmann is, but he has been paying north of 50K/year to have his daughter educated at Brearley, a hyper-exclusive all-girls prep school in New York. But he's had enough. Bari Weiss has the details:

I object to the view that I should be judged by the color of my skin. I cannot tolerate a school that not only judges my daughter by the color of her skin, but encourages and instructs her to prejudge others by theirs. By viewing every element of education, every aspect of history, and every facet of society through the lens of skin color and race, we are desecrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and utterly violating the movement for which such civil rights leaders believed, fought, and died. 

He's just getting warmed up:

I object to Brearley’s vacuous, inappropriate, and fanatical use of words such as “equity,” “diversity” and “inclusiveness.” If Brearley’s administration was truly concerned about so-called “equity,” it would be discussing the cessation of admissions preferences for legacies, siblings, and those families with especially deep pockets. If the administration was genuinely serious about “diversity,” it would not insist on the indoctrination of its students, and their families, to a single mindset, most reminiscent of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Instead, the school would foster an environment of intellectual openness and freedom of thought. And if Brearley really cared about “inclusiveness,” the school would return to the concepts encapsulated in the motto “One Brearley,” instead of teaching the extraordinarily divisive idea that there are only, and always, two groups in this country: victims and oppressors.

In the current environment, mentioning the Chinese Cultural Revolution is likely prima facie evidence of racism. Stop Asian Hate, pal. But let's keep going:

We have today in our country, from both political parties, and at all levels of government, the most unwise and unvirtuous leaders in our nation’s history. Schools like Brearley are supposed to be the training grounds for those leaders. Our nation will not survive a generation of leadership even more poorly educated than we have now, nor will we survive a generation of students taught to hate its own country and despise its history. 

There are obvious consequences to all this and we are seeing it unfold on our doorstep now. Our leaders in Minnesota are as Mr. Gutmann describes -- unwise and unvirtuous. We have the specter of mob rule hanging over Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center. And beyond the lack of virtue, there's also a lack of competence:

Initially, the city planned no curfew for the first time this week to "take a different approach," the mayor said in a statement. But around 10:30 p.m., Operation Safety Net announced the mayor had declared an emergency curfew that starts at 11 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.

The curfew followed unrest outside the police department. Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday, protesters breached the secondary barrier surrounding the Brooklyn Center police department. In response, law enforcement used flash bangs and pepper spray to push the crowd back. Officials repaired the fence. Protesters continued to throw items, such as glass bottles, over the barricades.

And the officials are pointing fingers at one another:

 Col. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol expressed frustration that the same strategy was not as effective Friday night. Authorities say a small group carrying bats were among the agitators.

At an overnight press conference, law enforcement laid out items, including cans, umbrellas, paint cans and wooden shields, that had been brought into the rally by protesters.

"If we want change in policing, we want reform in policing - let's do that. Let's get together and start reform," said Hennepin County David Hutchinson. "This profession needs help. We can admit that. We're not perfect. We can be better. But these people are not people you should be supporting." 

You can't act clearly unless you operate from clear moral principles. Unfortunately, at our current moment, the principle in place is might makes right. We may not have as many Mean Tweets, but there's a meanness in the land. We're at a tipping point.

Under Curfew

 We're okay here. I don't think a curfew is necessary, but whatever. About the only way our neighborhood would go up in flames is if we were in the midst of an apocalypse. And despite some of the rhetoric we're hearing lately, we are not in an apocalypse. We are, most certainly, in a time where cynics and opportunists are in the saddle.

The Golden Ticket

 So I got my vaccine yesterday, amusingly enough at the Vikings headquarters in Eagan:

Purple pride

It was the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, which requires only a single dose, so I will not have to return to the Vikings fortress. After 24 hours, the side effects have been minimal; a little bit of a runny nose and general fatigue, but I've been able to work and approach normal productivity. And if everything goes as it should, I will be able to say I'm fully vaccinated within a month. 

Most importantly, I have my card, which may shape up to be the most important document in my possession if the gubmint has anything to say about it:

As coronavirus vaccinations slowly release the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new question is emerging: Should countries and the private sector embrace the idea of a digital vaccine passport for travel, working and dining? Though proving you're vaccinated to travel isn't a new concept (some countries have required yellow fever vaccines for years), doing so for COVID-19 would be on a far grander scale than ever before.

This is a terrible idea, for all the obvious reasons. If your ability to travel, to conduct your life in a normal fashion, to have a life at all, are contingent on jumping through a hoop of Joe Biden's choosing, we're well and truly screwed. But why should I worry? Dobie Gray explained it to us way back in '65:

I'm in with the in crowd (Do-do-do)

I go where the in crowd goes (Do-do-do)

I'm in with the in crowd (Do-do-do)

And I know what the in crowd knows (Da-da-da-da)

It's worth noting I got my vaccine because I got the call from the State of Minnesota, after providing the grandees a lot of information that has nothing to do with my actual need for the vaccine. At this point, it's still a lottery and there are others I know who likely are at greater risk than I was, but they wait. But I have the card, the golden ticket. Does it make sense?

The blog is still alive

Have not written lately. Obviously.

Needless to say, much is going on. I will get back to weighing in soon. Thanks for reading!

Welcome back my friends, to the Chauvin that never ends

 We're going to be starting the Derek Chauvin trial tomorrow and Minneapolis will again be in the spotlight. I haven't gone downtown much in recent months to see the fortifications for myself, but there's enough concertina wire and barricades up around the government center to stop much from happening at the place where the trial will take place. 

Tunnel of love

I don't know who the grandees are trying to protect, but this sort of fortification suggests an extraordinary level of fear. The trial is going to last for at least a few weeks and while there are certainly going to be all manner of protesters downtown, it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to breach the perimeter, but I also think the problems will be elsewhere in town. 

The problem for the local government is simple enough -- the optics of George Floyd's demise are both egregious and potentially incorrect. Although Keith Ellison and his merry band of prosecutors will never admit it publicly, they don't have an airtight case. It's quite possible Floyd was already a dead man by the time Chauvin got to the scene. He had a lot of fentanyl in his system at the time of death, quite possibly a lethal dose. His defense team will certainly present evidence to that effect to the jury. 

I sincerely hope Ellison and his team have an answer prepared. If not, someone may end up on the business end of that concertina wire.

RIP, Rush Limbaugh

 It's on his site:

Sui generis

I didn't listen to Rush that much -- he was on the air while I was at work and the only times I would hear him was if I had a day off or was in transit as part of something I was doing on the job. It would have been impossible to work and listen to him at the same time, because he would command your attention.

When I first became of aware of Limbaugh and his program, I assumed he would be destroyed, labeled a modern-day Father Coughlin, driven from the airwaves and polite company generally. He was driven from ESPN, but that was a side gig. He always engaged a massive audience with his microphone and his show was appointment radio for tens of millions of listeners for over 30 years. 

I am friends with two guys who are weekend talk show hosts and bloggers here in the Twin Cities, Mitch Berg and Brad Carlson. I've been on Brad's show several times over the years, mostly to talk about football and a few times to discuss Catholic issues. Doing radio well is hard work -- you have to engage your audience every time or you'll be gone soon. Even as a guest, it's a challenge. You have to be able to present your ideas quickly and cogently and keep things moving. The list of successful long-time talk show hosts is short, precisely because it's so tough to do. Rush Limbaugh made it seem effortless, but it wasn't. He had to be able to buttress every utterance he made. He had enemies who spent three decades trying to chase him from the air. He had to be on guard every moment. And he pulled it off. He towered over his enemies and challengers. No one was ever close to him.

Rush leaves the microphone at a parlous time. His detractors control the executive and legislative branches and they are in a hurry to change the world. These same detractors are eager to control discourse; wokeness is loose upon the land and hatred is in the saddle. Our voices may not be as authoritative or engaging as Rush Limbaugh's, but we have to make our voices heard.

Artifact

One of our usual Wednesday night stops during the summer of 1983. As you can see from the flyer, it was easy to get altered for a low, low price: 

We liked the Vulcan Mind Probes WAAAAY too much

Factored for inflation, the 2021 cost of one of these drinks would be about $3.50. You can't actually get something like this for less than $10 any more. Sin is not as cost-effective as it used to be.

You should not find it surprising...

... that the modern Democratic Party is full of scoundrels. But in case you weren't sure, spend two minutes with this video.

 

Creeps in this petty place

 The title isn't precisely what Shakespeare wrote. But for our purposes, it works. Your betters have a pronouncement:

Told by an idiot

No, it's Shakespeare. The full passage:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

Andrea Mitchell, it should be noted, has a degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a member in good standing of the Ivy League. By the way, she shares alumni status at Penn with the Bad Orange Man, but that's a secondary issue here.

Ted Cruz was correct. Andrea Mitchell was wrong. Jennifer Rubin is non compos mentis on her best days. Our betters, who hold the commanding heights of power and influence in this moment, are dumb. Especially when they try to dunk on other people on Twitter. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games---Super Bowl Mercenary Bucs Edition

 Yes, I'm still here, and not bitter at all about the NFC Championship Game. Life goes on, and we can talk about the Super Bowl. 

Well, I'm bitter. But there's not much to be done about it now, so yeah, on with the Superb Owl. And let's have some halftime entertainment!

That ain't The Weeknd, old dude. And I've never seen so many rugby shirts in my life, by the way.

Nah, it's Up With People, as compared to most Super Bowl halftime shows these days, which are usually Up Yours.

Left Shark does not approve. 

But anyway, back to the game. The one thing that is clear for me is that 99% of America is rooting for the Chiefs. The only people rooting for the Bucs are Bucs fans, Brady bandwagon fans that followed him from the Patriots, and AFC West rivals. I'm not one of those three groups of people. I never have rooted for the Bucs, I don't like Brady, and I root for the Packers, who last I checked play in the NFC North. 

A useful sorting out, Grasshopper. Very well done. By the way, what are you feeling?

I am still feeling the HYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Kansas City Chiefs (-3) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs The Chiefs are back to defend their title and return to face a Bucs team that they beat in this very stadium in late November. It must be acknowledged that the Bucs have a huge advantage in not being able to travel, and will make history as the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. My big question is how in the world did the Bucs get so many mercenaries under the salary cap? It's like they were borrowing tips from the Saints. Tampa has a lot of unlikeable people on their roster. Brady is a proven cheater thanks to Deflategate, and was part of Patriots teams that was caught breaking NFL rules multiple times. AB is the dictionary definition of a diva wideout and is one of the few players I never want the Packers to sign or trade for. Suh is a dirty player, and Gronk just annoys me with his frat bro stuff. Yeah, I know that Tyreek Hill has his own legal troubles, but the Bucs have far more people who football fans can find easy to hate. The Chiefs will have a healthier Patrick Mahomes. Sorry Patrick, you are not the MVP of the league. The MVP wears 12 and plays for Green Bay. The Chiefs have more experience than the Bucs, and should be the first team to repeat since the Patriots back during their first dynasty. I also love how explosive the Chiefs can be on offense, and they have a better defense than people think. Chiefs 35, Mercenary Bucs 21.

That's all spot-on. The Chiefs can deal destruction in multiple ways and in Mahomes they have a quarterback for the ages. Brady has done amazing things in his career and he was just barely good enough to beat a Packers team that went moronic at the worst possible time. The Chiefs are simply a better team, top to bottom. Bet the chalk and take the points. Kansas City 34, Tampa Bay 26.

Enjoy your football this weekend, and thanks for reading this feature all season long. Until September, Ben out. 

No one for the Hall?

 We'll get the announcement this evening -- will anyone make the Baseball Hall of Fame this year? To be honest, I doubt it. Here's the list of candidates:

Curt Schilling -- I think he's worthy. The only guy with a shot this year. His tendency to be a conservative loudmouth has hurt his candidacy. It shouldn't matter, but sportswriters tend to be PC and it's hurt him. He has one more year on the ballot and the writers may decide to throw him a bone then; otherwise, he's a cinch on a Veterans' Committee in the future.

Bloody socks and bloody shirts

Roger Clemens -- Steroid guy; not proven but strongly suspected. Also a prickly personality. He was clearly the greatest pitcher of his generation and probably top 5-6 of all time, but he's probably not going to make it.

Barry Bonds -- Mr. BALCO. If he'd been able to control his jealousy at McGwire and Sosa and had stayed off the juice, he'd have been in the HOF years ago. Now, probably not.

Omar Vizquel -- great defensive player and ended up close to 3000 hits. Unfortunately, he seems to be a domestic abuser as well. Don't think he's gonna make it.

Scott Rolen -- one of the best third basemen in history, but he wasn't flashy and didn't attract attention to himself, so he's underrated. He's climbing the ladder and should make it as early as 2022 or 2023.

Billy Wagner -- dominant lefty relief pitcher. Not sure he's special enough to make it.

Gary Sheffield -- a legitimately fearsome hitter, but has the steroid taint and was also roundly considered a bad dude. Not likely to make it.

Todd Helton -- climbing the ladder; he played his entire career for the Rockies, so his power numbers are suspect, but he was a great hitter and won three Gold Gloves. Not this year, but eventually, yes.

Manny Ramírez -- like Sheffield, a legitimately great hitter and one of the most colorful characters in the history of the game. But he's lousy with steroids so he's not going to make it.

Jeff Kent -- a great hitter at a traditional defensive position (second base); has the numbers, but never seems to get the traction. A candidate for the Veterans Committee in the future.

Andruw Jones -- defensively elite center fielder who also hit more than 400 home runs, but his career fell off a cliff at the age of 30. He may make it eventually primarily for his defensive excellence, but he's a borderline case in any event.

Sammy Sosa -- over 600 homers and while he's never admitted to steroid use, everyone thinks he did. He's gotten weird post-career as well. No chance.

Andy Pettitte -- great pitcher, but a serious steroid taint. Not likely to overcome the stigma.

Bobby Abreu -- a modern-day Ken Singleton or Dusty Baker; a talented player who is seriously underrated. But no one thinks Baker or Singleton is a Hall of Famer, either.

There are three first year players who I think could stay on the ballot, although I don't see any of them making the HOF during the normal 10-year process. They are:

Mark Buehrle -- a high-quality lefty who mostly pitched for the White Sox. He's a lot like Mickey Lolich, but only old guys like me remember Lolich. 

Torii Hunter -- like all Twins fans, I love Torii Hunter. And he was a hell of a player, one of the best center fielders of his era. But he's not going to make it.

Tim Hudson -- a good righthander who won over 200 games in his career. His career numbers are quite similar to Catfish Hunter, who is in the HOF, but Hudson's taste in teammates wasn't as good. 

The rest of the 1st year players (Dan Haren, Barry Zito, Aramis Ramirez, Shane Victorino, A. J. Burnett, Nick Swisher, LaTroy Hawkins, and Michael Cuddyer) aren't going to make it. Even die-hard Twins fans would admit Hawkins and Cuddyer aren't worthy.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Aaron Gets What He Wanted Edition

 Old dude, the Packers don't have to travel for the NFC Championship Game for once. This time, a team has to come to Lambeau in the snow. 

Yes. Here's a picture of Tom Brady arriving at Austin Straubel Airport for the game with some of his teammates:

Indeed, Geritol Fan, it is Tom Brady and his band of mercenaries who have to come up to the proving ground of the NFL.

Indeed. And let me guess -- might there be some, uh, hype involved.

You've been part of this for at least ten years. You know the answer. Of course I am feeling HYYYYYYPPPEEEEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Tompa Bay Bucs (+3.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Some people say that Aaron Donald is still getting blocked by Elgton Jenkins to this very day. In all seriousness, that was a great performance by the Packers to beat a very good Rams defense, and earn a rematch against the Bucs. Obviously, we all know what happened in October, but that was a long time ago. Yes, I know that the Bucs are healthier on defense, but it is important to note that the Packers have played a lot better on defense. What is especially encouraging is that the Packers have had success against teams that run the football well. The Packers shut down in consecutive games Derrick Henry, David Montgomery, and Cam Akers to a large extent. It's also important to note that Allen Lazard did not play in October down in Florida, and he had a great game against the Rams even with the drop of a touchdown pass earlier in the game. This game will not be easy, as the Bucs play good defense and we all know that Brady is used to this stage. But I like the Packers to move on in a close game and send the Bucs back home without a home Super Bowl. Packers 24, Bucs 21.

At first, I hated this matchup. But as the week has gone on, I feel better about it. Brady was only okay against the Saints last week and that was in a dome. It will be snowy and windy in Green Bay and it's been noticeable that Brady struggles with long horizontal throws. I think there's a pick six coming on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Packers have had a chance to devise a game plan for Devin White and Lavonte David, who destroyed them last time. Don't let White come downhill; make him chase Robert Tonyan all over the field. Bucs will not go down easily, but they will go down. Packers 33, Tampa 24.

Buffalo Bills (+3.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City dodged a major bullet last week, thanks to Chad Henne playing well in relief of a concussed Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has been cleared to return to action, and obviously tilts the field in favor of the defending champions. However, the Bills have been playing very well lately and did play the Chiefs close in the regular season. Kansas City throughout their run the past few years have had wins that were aided by a bit of fortune. Last year they survived 3 double digit deficits, and last week Dan Sorensen should have been flagged for a hit to the head on the controversial fumble late in the first half. I have nothing against the Chiefs, but those points have to be acknowledged. In fact, I think the Bills can hang in there, and pull off a major upset. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 35, Chiefs 34.

I was tempted to pick Buffalo, but we do need to disagree on one. Mahomes may not be 100%, but 85% of Mahomes is better than 95% of the league. Buffalo's weak running game will prevent the Bills from holding a lead should they get one. It'll be a shootout, but I like the Chiefs. Kansas City 38, Buffalo 28.

One question, old dude. Did our buddy Brad Carlson pick games this week?

Yes. Yes he did. You can see his picks here.

Enjoy your football weekend. Ben out. 

Hey, have fun with it

 An early live look at President Biden's inaugural address:

My "dumb" tag is gonna get a lot of work over the near future.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Get Aaron What He Wants Edition

Old dude, the Packers have had their week of rest and should be in good shape to get Aaron a chance to play at Lambeau next week for the first time in his career. But the Rams will not make it easy, as they looked good at Seattle last weekend.

They did. Or perhaps the Seahawks looked bad. It's difficult to be sure.

Divisional weekend is always fun, because you have had to do something impressive to get here. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Los Angeles Rams (+6.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Rams had the most impressive win on the NFC side last week with an impressive display against the Seahawks. But, the victory came at a cost. Aaron Donald and John Wolford left the game with injuries, and Jared Goff was struggling with his injured thumb. Of course Donald is going to play and still be a factor, and the Packers need to block him up along with Leonard Floyd. The challenge for the Rams is going to be how well Goff is going to play in a cold weather venue. As for the Packers, pretty much everyone is in better shape except Kingsley Keke. The biggest worry outside of the usual things the Rams throw at you is a fake punt. Johnny Hekker is one of the best fake punt guys, and the Packers have struggled all year with special teams. I wouldn't be surprised if Jalen Ramsey travels with Davante, so someone like MVS, Lazard, Big Dog, or Big Bob might need to step up a bit. On defense, Snacks Harrison probably is going to need to make a play against Cam Akers. I'm also going out on a limb to say that at least one of Amos and Savage need to make a play. The Packers can win this game, but it won't be easy. Thankfully, the fans in the stands should help the team get a win. Packers 31, Rams 28.

Winter is coming?

The Rams are a very good defensive team. The pick six on Russell Wilson last week was the play that changed the game. Aaron Rodgers is more careful than Wilson, so he's unlikely to make a similar mistake. The key will be getting the running game going. Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, A.J. Dillon -- if the three of them combine for 200 yards, the Packers win easily. If they total 100, it's going to be bad. I don't think the Rams will be able to score enough on offense to win the game -- Akers is a nice running back, but Goff will struggle in the cold weather, especially with a surgically repaired thumb on his throwing hand. Packers win, but it won't be easy. Packers 27, Rams 20.

Baltimore Ravens (+3) vs. Buffalo Bills I have to start by apologizing for calling out Lamar Jackson last week. He played very well against the Titans, and I'm happy to admit that he proved me wrong and showed that he can win in the playoffs. It also was a great win for the Bills last week. Getting a home playoff win in front of Bills Mafia was fun to watch. As for the game, the Bills have the better defense, though obviously Jackson is a dynamic playmaker and is more explosive than Josh Allen. This game could go either way, but I like the Bills, especially because they look to be peaking at the right time and recovered nicely from the Hail Murray. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like the Buffalo Bills 24, Ravens 10.

Lamar Jackson could win this all by himself. The Bills have to be disciplined on defense and keep Jackson in the pocket. I believe they will. The Ravens have a decent defense, but they may not hold up in the end. Bills 24, Ravens 23.

Cleveland Browns (+10) vs. Kansas City Chiefs I know that everyone wants to laugh at the Steelers for getting blown out to the Browns and light into Big Ben and Mike Tomlin, but the Browns deserve a whole lot of kudos. Winning a playoff game without their head coach, key starters, and less practice time is very good. Browns fans, you deserve this moment of triumph after all of the jokes I and the rest of America lobbed at you over the years. Heck, that makes the news of the Lindor trade a lot less crushing. (Sorry for that, I'm a big Twins fan and enjoy making fun of an AL Central rival. The Central is going to be won by either us or the Chi Sox.). The Chiefs are the big favorites, but there is a couple of things that worry me about them. First, they rested their starters against the Chargers and lost. They are going to have some rust. Second of all, the Browns are coming in hot, and have nothing to lose. The final concern I have for the Chiefs is that during their run last year, they cheated death 3 times. By all rights, the Texans should have won in Arrowhead last year. Thanks to Bill O'Brien having an epic meltdown, they dodged the bullet. They also survived the Titans last year. They also narrowly survived the Niners in the Super Bowl. That's right, I'm picking the Browns to pull off another huge upset. Sorry Mahomie. I still love you in fantasy football. Don't Clown With The Browns 21, Chiefs 17.

The Browns are a nice story. The story does not have a happy ending. Chiefs 34, Browns 21.

Tompa Bay Bucs (+3) vs. New Orleans Blame the Refs This might be the last ride for Drew Brees, and might be the last home game for him as well. I would say that about Brady, but he wants to return to Foxboro next year to stick it to Darth Hoodie. The Saints beat the Bucs twice in the regular season, but it's very hard to beat a good team 3 times in one season. Of course, 2001 Duke and 2000 Michigan State basketball say otherwise. The Saints are healthy for once, and Brady has finally gotten in sync with Bruce Arians. I think the Saints have the better offense, and they look to be on a mission. I just hope they have to travel up to Wisconsin to get their rematch of Week 3. Saints should win big. Saints 35, Tompa Bay 0.

Uh, no. No way the Saints pitch a shutout. I think they win, though. I wonder if the Bucs can handle adversity and they'll be facing it. I could see a meltdown or two on their sidelines, as their team has a plethora of divas. Saints 35, Bucs 29.

One last thing, Seabiscuit -- here are our friend Brad Carlson's picks.

Enjoy your football this week. Also, live positive and test negative. Ben out. 

Shit's getting old

 Inevitable:

The House impeached President Trump for the second time Wednesday, charging him for behavior they believe caused the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that left five dead, dozens injured, and the historic building defaced and damaged.

Ten House Republicans joined all House Democrats to pass a single impeachment article accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, must now decide when to send the article to the Senate, which is not scheduled to be in session until Jan. 19 and is unlikely to consider it until after Trump leaves office.

Trump’s term ends on Jan. 20 at 12 p.m.

Ya know, maybe if the Dems hadn't done the impeachment thing before over the Ukraine bullshit (you know it was bullshit because Biden never campaigned on the issue; of course there was an obvious reason for that, but whatever) this latest spasm of self-congratulation might have meant something. This is more like a medieval king exhuming an enemy's corpse to hang it.

The Dems have fears, though, doncha know:

But Democrats made the case during the one-day proceeding that Trump is too dangerous to remain in office a moment longer, coming to the floor to suggest Trump may incite additional violence, move to pardon the protesters charged in the Capitol siege, or even start a nuclear war during his final days in office.

“He must go,” Pelosi said on the House floor. “He is a clear and present danger to the nation we all love.”

There's not a chance in hell Trump will start a nuclear war. He might pardon some people, but the greater danger is that he will declassify a bunch of information the Democrats would prefer remain buried. And I hope he does.

If I'm Trump, my to-do list is as follows:

1. Pardon Julian Assange and Edward Snowden
2. Declassify everything
3. Pardon Hunter Biden, but only after issuing formal charges
4. Pardon Joe Biden
5. Pardon Hillary
6. Don't pardon Obama

The Democrats deserve to have their fears exposed, as well as their rampant malfeasance. I want to pardon some of them because it will make them look like the vindictive weasels they are and frankly I don't need to see any more witch hunts, even though Biden richly deserves the treatment Trump received, because he is a straight up corrupt politician. But it's over now. Biden will reveal who he is every time he opens his pie hole. He can't hide any longer -- this isn't FDR in 1944.

Shut up, they’ve explained

 I am 57 years old. I have always been free to speak my mind. Free speech is sacrosanct. Or at least it was. Not sure it is any more. Choose your words carefully. We are in a dangerous place.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Don't Talk About Playoffs Edition - Update, with link to Brad's Picks

 Old dude, the good news is that Facebook and Twitter can't suspend this feature. I mean, it's not like taking shots at football teams breaks any rules. But if A School in Columbus takes over social media, then I am screwed.

Facebook and Twitter, no. But I continue to keep my head on a swivel.

Well, the Packers get a week off to chill out, and hopefully all the NFC games go into overtime. And by overtime, I mean multiple overtimes.

Can they play until Tuesday? That would be good.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Indianapolis Colts (+6.5) vs. Buffalo Bills The Bills probably are the one team that can beat the Chiefs on the AFC side. But they haven't won a playoff game since the 1990s, and they really need this one badly. The Colts have a good formula for winning, and Phillip Rivers is probably on his last ride. I would expect JT to control the clock, and the Bills will have to take all of their chances on offense to win. If the Bills don't win, then serious questions have to be asked about their core. But thankfully the Bills have the better team and this is the week they can celebrate a playoff win. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 28, Colts 7.

If the Colts can play keep away, they have a chance. Buffalo will miss their fans in the stands for sure. But I agree, the Bills are the better team. Bills 28, Colts 20.

Los Angeles Less Annoying Showtime on Turf (+3) vs. Seattle Seachickens The Rams have major question marks at quarterback. Jared Goff might go, but he is probably going to have some trouble with the thumb. The Rams are the real Showtime in LA, and the reason I say it is because they don't have the annoying bandwagon fanbase the Fakers Lakers have and also don't have LeBron James. The Seahawks won't have the aid of their Microsoft and Boeing bro fanbase, but they are experienced and haven't lost a home playoff game in quite a while. As much as it would crack me up to see Cheat Carroll lose, his team is too talented and the Rams are too inconsistent week to week. Are There Real Seachicken Fans? 25, Rams 0.

I tend to agree with this assessment as well. You're being remarkably level-headed this week? Do you need some of my Geritol? Seahawks 24, Rams 21.

Tompa Bay Bucs (-7.5) vs. Washington Name Redacted The Name Redacted is an amazing story, and deserve a lot of props for being here. Yes, they may have won a horrible excuse of a division in the NFC Least, and did get help from the Eagles screwing over the Giants. Seriously, that ticked me off. The only reason I am not doing a Very Special Comment on benching Hurts is because I have to save it for another game. Riverboat Ron beat cancer during a year where it was very scary to have cancer, and Alex Smith is deservedly Comeback Player of the Year for showing the mental strength to get back on the football field after what he went through. The Bucs are inconsistent, and I think they will struggle to keep Brady upright. Look for the Name Redacted to pull the upset. Oh, and get ready for sports talk shows to endlessly debate who won the Brady divorce for the 1000th time this year. Name Redacted 17, Tompa Bay 8.

Another cogent analysis. I think the Bucs win it late, but I would not be surprised if the WFT knocks Brady out of the game early and takes it. Buccaneers 20, WFT 16.

Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) vs. Tennessee Titans This game is a rematch of the stunning upset in Baltimore last year, and there is more pressure on the Ravens than the Titans. Lamar Jackson is a great player, there is no doubt about that. The problem is that he has yet to win a playoff game, and really blew a golden chance last year in light of the Patriots being knocked out the week before. If the Ravens lose this game, then Lamar might need to be considered for replacement. There, I said it. The Titans didn't impress me when they were up at Lambeau, but they can run the clock, and Derrick Henry is still a beast. The Titans know their identity better than just about anyone in the league, and should win a home playoff game for the first time in a while. Remember the Titans 35, Ravens 10.

It took a while, but you finally made a ridiculous observation in re Jackson. I knew you had it in you! The Titans are not good on defense. This will be a shootout. Ravens 40, Titans 34.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+10) vs. New Orleans Blame The Refs Da Bearz backed into the playoffs, and even Gino would agree with me on that one. As a Packers fan, nothing would please me more than ownership extending Ted Phillips, Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy, and Mitch Trubisky. All four of them have done a great job this year, and really have the Bears going in the right direction. As for the Saints, this probably is the last ride for Drew Brees, and the Alvin Kamara story will be monitored up until game time. The fact that this game is on Nickelodeon is just hilarious. The Saints should win this game, unless the refs find a way to screw them over again. Saints 70, Da Bearz Still Suck 0.

SpongeDrew SquareBrees vs. da Bearz. It's only sad the NFL didn't think of this while Sid and Marty Krofft were prowling the airwaves. 

Archie Manning and Bears Coach Abe Gibron, pregame 1973

The Bears aren't very good, either, but one exceptionally weird thing seems to happen in every Wildcard Round. So, even though I have no reason to believe this will actually happen... Bears 20, Saints 17.

Cleveland Browns (+6) vs. Pittsburgh Yinzers That's not a misprint. The Browns actually made the playoffs. But unfortunately they are playing without several key players and their head coach. As for the Steelers, they are fully rested after sitting their stars against the Browns last week. However, there are problems for the Steelers. Their defense has some depth issues, and Big Ben has clearly started to decline this year down the stretch. Also, when did JuJu turn into such a diva? The guy was likeable his first two years in the league, but has now been dancing on logos and making himself a target of ire for opposing defenses. It's clear that the Steelers might not have been as good as we thought earlier this year. If the Steelers were to lose, then it would be hilarious and I probably would listen to Pittsburgh sports radio for the meltdowns. Browns 20, This Week On Days Of Our Steelers 17.

The Browns are getting bit by the COVID bug. That will be enough to derail them, unfortunately. Steelers 24, Browns 20.

A School In Columbus (+8) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in South Florida Before the axe gets used, some praise towards Alabama. Don't worry Tide fans, you did nothing wrong. This might be the best team Nick Saban has worked with, and probably the best Alabama team of all time if you go back. They have no weaknesses, and I'm honestly impressed. I've been critical of Saban before, but this time I'm rooting for him heavily with a hazmat suit and a strong need to take a shower after the game. It's time for a Very Special Comment.

This should be a fun game, but only one team can say that they actually got there entirely without help from above. I find it hilarious that some of the Buckeye fans on the internet believe these outlandish conspiracy theories on how ESPN, the SEC, the ACC, and me are out to get them and hinder them when they brush under the rug that they got here in part because the Big Ten overturned their dumb 6 game rule. It's too late to change it now, but I have one thing to say. Barry Alvarez went to bat for the Buckeyes in their hour of need. If at any time in the future the Badgers need lobbying to get into the playoff, I expect Gene Smith to do the same thing willingly to repay his debt. You can say I should be rooting for the Buckeyes because of Big Ten honor. Well, that's not how it works. I'm rooting for Alabama. Do you know how terrible that is? I really dislike Alabama, but at least the one good thing I can say is that the SEC never overturned rules during the season to benefit the Tide. If you need a rule change during the season to even get to the title game, then that's not a title earned. The Big Ten pulled a move by doing this that made Vince McMahon think that it was too scripted. The football gods see all, and their justice will be coming.

I think the Tide should just dominate because they are better. Also, it's a shame because Ohio State actually has a likeable team this year. Nothing against the players or coaching staff. My beef is with those above them. Roll Tide 150, IU Got Screwed 0.

IU lost to Ole Miss. The Hoosiers didn't get screwed -- they are a nice team that, in a different year, would have been playing in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. As for this game, I agree -- this is as formidable an Alabama team as I have seen. Buckeyes are worthy, but they won't be able to hang with the Tide. Alabama 45, Ohio State 31.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Update from D: Brad Carlson's picks for Saturday are here.