Josh Q. Public:  Don't call it a comeback.  I been here for years.  Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear.  -LL Cool J

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  Look who's back, back again.  Shaq is back, tell a friend.  Just when you thought it was safe to go outside again.  Just when you thought it was safe, here he comes.  Here comes the King.  Here comes the big number one.  Shaquille O'Neal is here, he's second to none.  When you say Shaq, you've said it all.  When you say Shaq, you've said it all.  Careful.  Careful out there.  Careful everybody.  I know.  Out of sight, out of mind.  The Big Aristotle was out of sight.  The Big Aristotle was out of mind.  The Miami Heat were out of sight.  The Miami Heat were out of mind.  Well, he's back.  He's back and he's still outta sight.  Outta sight, Daddy-O.  Outta sight, Shaq Daddy-O.   Can you dig it?  Sure he played limited minutes last night.  Sure the Heat still lost to the Pacers last night.  But the shape of the NBA changed last night.

The Big Baryshnikov returned last night from a 35-game absence.  With 4:49 left in the first quarter O'Neal returned and joined Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams and Udonis Haslem.  It was the first time that unit has been healthy enough to share the court since June 20, 2006.  You remember what happened then?  Don't ya?  Sure you do.  That was when the Heat polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks.  Polished off Disco Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks to earn the first NBA title in the franchise's 19-year history.  Everybody's been Phoenix Sunsing.  Everbody's been Dallas Mavericking.  Nobody's been Miami Heating.  I am.  I smell what Miami's got cooking.  I know.  I know as of right now, the reigning champs wouldn't even be allowed to defend the title.  Wouldn't even make the playoffs.  We know why.  There's been a void.  A big void.  A huge void.  A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void.  A seven-foot one, three-hundred and twenty-five pound void in the middle for 37 of the Heat's 41 games.  Even without Shaq, the Heat have been warming up.  During the past 10 games, the Heat are seventh in the league in scoring.   During the past 10 games, the Heat have put up better than 102 points a game.  During the past 10 games, the Heat are third in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point shooting and have a positive point differential.  During the past 10 games, the Heat have not had the Diesel.  They do now.  They do now, and all bets are off.

Peace out homies. Six Two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  We can be heroes, just for one day.   We can be heroes, what d'you say?  -David Bowie

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  I'm over it.  Kinda.  I still haven't read the paper.  I still haven't watched Sports Center.  Still haven't returned any of the phone calls.  Those horrible phone calls.  But I'll bounce back.  I get knocked down, but I get up again. 

Jabbar Gaffney got knocked down.  Jabbar Gaffney got up again.  What a play, what a play.  At the time, I was convinced it was going to be the next "the catch."   At the time, I thought Gaffney was going to be the next latter day Patriot.   All tied up.  Tom Brady, under pressure.  Under pressure, this is our last chance.  This is our last dance.  Tom Brady under pressure.  Tom Brady cool as a cucumber.  Tom Brady finds Gaffney in the back of the end-zone.  Gaffney climbs the ladder.  He U-hauls it in.  He gets jacked out of bounds.  He manages to get a foot down.  Did he get it?  Did he get it?  Touchdown baby!  Touchdown!  Up by seven.  Woo doggie.  If the Pats win this thing, Gaffney's a hero.  A Hiro.  A Hiro Nakamura.  Pats lose.  He's not.  Just another great play to go in the annuls of forgotten great plays.  That's when the light bulb went off.  The red light bulb went off on top of my head.  Jay Greenberg style.  What were some other great plays that were negated due to a loss?  Smaht huh?  Real smaht.  "I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"  Fredo style.  So lets do this thing.  Would be heroes:

Don Strock:  Don Strock led the nation in total passing and total offense while at Virginia Tech.  Don Strock, Miami Dolphins.  1982 AFC Championship game.  Orange Bowl.  The Epic in Miami.  Dolphins taking a beating.  In comes back-up QB Don Strock. Don Strock, the Dolphins rock. Give 'em that electric shock. There's still time on the clock. He rallies his team.  With Miami trailing the Super Chargers 24-10, Don Strock throws a 15-yard pass to WR Duriel Harris.  Woop!  Hook and ladder, baby!  Hook and ladder.  Woop!  Harris laterals to RB Tony Nathan.  Woop!   He...could...go...all...the...way!  He does.  Touchdown baby.   Touchdown to close out the half.  The Dolphins go on to lose in overtime.  If they win that game.  If they win that game, that play becomes the greatest trick play ever.  Don Strock becomes a hero.  Oh, what could have been.

Side Note:  During the 2003-2005 football seasons, Nathan was the running backs coach at Florida International University, under head coach, you guessed it, Don Strock.  You remember FIU.  The Brawl with the U.  Yup.  Them.

Endy Chavez:  Endy Chavez, 2006 New York Metropolitans.  National League Championship Series vs. the Cardinals.   Game seven.  Cliff Floyd hurt.  Chavez taking his place in right.  Game all tied up.  One out in the sixth.  Jim Edmonds on first.  Up comes big Scott Rolen.  Oliver Perez delivers. Swack!  That ball is high!  It is far!  It is...caught!!!  Chavez on his horse.  Chavez, at top speed.  Chavez at the warning track, plants his right foot, leaps at the wall, walking tall, makes the sno-cone special.  Highway robbery.  Saves the two-run bomb.  He ain't done yet.  Not by a long shot, brother.  He has the presence of mind to gather himself and make the perfect throw to Jose Reyes. Double up Edmonds.  How about that?  Tommy Agee and Ron Swoboda got nothing on this kid.  All for naught.  Beltran can't get it done.  Mets lose.  How do you not swing at that?  You really have to take the bat off your shoulder there.  Just embarrassing.

Jack Nicklaus:  The Golden Bear.  Yup.  He lost once in a while.  He lost to the "Kansas Kid".  He lost to Tom Watson, the "Kansas Kid," at the British Open at Turnberry back in 1977.   Sherman, set the Way Back Machine. The Duel in the Sun.  Arguably golf's greatest tournament.  Through the first three days, both Nicklaus and Watson had put up 68, 70, and 65 scores. They played together on Sunday.  They played together on Sunday and matched each other shot for shot.  Golf's version of Bird/Dominique.  Mano y mano.  Blow for blow.  Toe to toe. Then it happened.  It happened on the 12th hole.  The Bear hits a spectacular 25 foot putt.  Yowza!  Goes up two.  Ballgame.  Not so fast there, Sparky.  The Kansas Kid isn't finished yet.  No siree Bobby.  Nails a 60-foot putt on 15 to tie it up.  Birdies the par-5 17th hole.  That's ballgame.

Valeri Zelepukin:  Valeri Zelepukin, New Jersey Devils.  Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. New York Rangers.  Devils down one nothing.  Martin Brodeur pulled.  20 seconds remaining in regulation.   Faceoff in the Ranger end.  Madison Square Garden is going crazy.  They're already dancin'.  Victory dancin'.  They put their left leg down, their right leg up. They tilt their head back, and finish the cup. Beastie Boys style. The Devils get the puck down low to Claude Lemieux.  Lemieux, across the crease to Valeri Zelepukin.  Zelepukin shoots.  Saved!  Rebound back to Zelepukin.  He shoves it in!  Zelepukin scores!  It's all tied up!  It's all tied up!  Eight seconds left ladies and gentleman.  We're going to overtime!  Actually two overtimes.  You know what happened then.  Howie Rose does too:  "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau! And the Rangers have one more mountain to climb!"   Zelepukin who?

Tim Duncan:  2004 Western Conference Semifinals vs. the Lakers.  Game six.   11 seconds remaining.  The Mamba hits a jumper.  Lakers up one.  Is this game done? It should be fun. Pass the Cinnabon. Time out.  The Spurs inbound to the Big Fundamental.  Time a tick tick tickn' away.  Shaq Daddy all in his mug.  Stumblin', bumblin', Duncan hits the fall away.  Hits the fall away and hits the deck.  Geronimo, look out below.  It's over, it's all over.  Sort of.  Point 4 seconds left.  Three time-outs later the Glove inbounds to Derek Fisher.  The Fish that saved L.A.  Fisher catches it.  Fisher shoots it.  It's good!  It's good!  Lakers win! 

Their defeat stolen from their jaws of victory.  These guys gave it their best.  But I guess their best wasn't good enough.  You wanna be a hero? Huh Binky, do you? You can save the cheerleader, save the world. Or, you can just win baby!

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  You telling lies thinking I can't see.  You don't cry 'cause you're laughing at me.  I'm down (I'm really down).  I'm down (Down on the ground).  I'm down (I'm really down).  How can you laugh, when you know I'm down?  (How can you laugh) When you know I'm down?  -Beatles

Public Service Announcement:  Oh boy, here we go.  I'm not happy about this one.  It's no fun writing this one.  I never thought I'd be doing this one.  But here we are.  Here we are.  Back to life, back to reality.  Soul  II Soul style.  Back to life, back from a fantasy.  How  did this ever happen?  How did we get here?  This is not my beautiful house.  This is not my beautiful wife.  I know.  I know.  I'm stalling.  I just don't want to do this.  I don't want to believe it yet.  Don't want to believe what I saw on my television set.  If I were Russian, I'd say nyet.  I can't do this without getting upset.  I'd rather write about the monks of Tibet.  Ok, ok.  Time to rip the Band-Aid off.  Let's do this.

It started off well enough, didn't it?  Started off like gang busters.  Here they come, here come the Patriots.  They are demons on cleats.  Their second drive.  Pitch to Crazy Eyes Caldwell.  First down!  Freeney hurt.  That's what he gets for wearing a Yankees cap.  Everything's coming up roses.  Fourth and a pubie.  Dillon.  See ya!  Michael Kay style.   We're moving.  We're grooving.  We're at the Colts 20.  At the Colts 20 and knocking at the door.  You saw the rest.  You saw the fumblerooski.  You saw Logan's run.  Touchdown! Touchdown!  Touchdown!  In your face Flanders!  In typical Colts/Pats fashion.  I'm already looking forward to the Peyton Manning hang dog press conference.  I just can't wait.  This is gonna be great.  

Second quarter.  Fourth and six.  What can Brown do you for you?  First down.  First down Troy Brown.  Corey Dillon.  Woop!  Touchdown!  Touchdown!  Touchdown!  Show me what you got little mama.  Show me what you got.  Next thing you know, before you can say Ty Law, Assante Samuel.  Assante Samuel pick.  Assante Samuel pick straight back to the hizzy.  I'm getting dizzy.  Booyakasha!  Sending out those texts.  Do you smell what the Pats are cookin'? Up eighteen.  I knew it.  I just friggin knew it.  Suck it Sean Salisbury.  Suck it Tom Jackson.  Suck it Michael Irvin.  Suck it Jaws.  Suck it Meril Hodge.  Suck it all ya'all.  No way these Colts are winning.  No how brown cow. No way Jose.  We'll be dancing in the streets once again.  Huzzah!

The beginning of the end.  80 yard drive. 80 yard drive and a FG to end the half.  Manning looks sharp. Manning looks tough.  Manning looks rough.  Manning looks like he's playing in the regular season.  Ruh-roh Reorge.  The Manning juggernaut continues into the second half.  The Colts piled on 455 yards.  The Colts scored on six of their final eight drives.  The Colts ran roughshod all over the Patriots vaunted defense.  Sure Crazy Eyes dropped some balls.  Dropped some big balls.  Dropped the biggest balls of them all.  But when all was said and done. When all was said and done, the Patriots bend don't break defense bent.  When all was said and done, the Patriots bend don't break defense broke.  Still, through it all, I never thought the season was in jeopardy.  Double jeopardy.  Our love's in jeopardy, baby.  I really didn't.  I was wrong.  Even down four with fifty-four seconds left, I still thought we had it.  Even down four with fifty-four seconds left at our own 20, I still thought the game was ours.  I was still a believer.  Not a trace of doubt in my mind.  I still thought Tom would be terrific.  I still thought Tom would pierce his dagger into the hearts of the Colts like he has done time and time again.  He didn't.  He marched his team to the Colts' 40.  He gave us hope.  He threw an interception to Marlin Jackson with 16 seconds left.  He set off an eruption in the RCA Dome.  Colts win!  Colts win!  I still haven't watched Sports Center.  I still haven't read the paper.  I still haven't listened to the Fan.  I still don't want to see the proof.  But it's there.  It's in the pudding.  It's in Peyton's pudding.  When do pitchers and catchers report?

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  I feel good, I knew that I would now.  So good, so good, I got you!  -James Brown

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  I feel good!  I feel good about the feel good story of the NFL.  I feel good about the feel good Saints.  They ain't the Aint's no more.  Hey, Buddy D, you can take that paper bag off your Cajun cranium.  Your cranium that protects your branium.  It's go time.  It's showtime.  It's Bridget Bardeaux time.  The Saints go marching in to Miami, ladies and gentlemen.

I feel good about Drew Brees.  Cool Brees.  Have arm, will travel.  The rootinest tootinest gunslinger in the West.  Throwing for over 4,000 yards.  How do you think the Chargers would have done last Sunday if he were still there?  Well, he's not.  He's with the Saints.  He is All-Pro with the Saints.  Heck, he's All-World.  All World B. Free.  He has a 96.2 passer rating.  He avoids the rush in the pocket.  He's a leader.  Everyone knows he's the guy.  He's the guy that will take you where you want to go.  And if you want to go to Miami, buenvenidos a Miami, then so be it.  He proved it last week against the Eagles.  Cool Brees was 20-of-32.  Cool Brees passed for 243 yards and a touchdown.  Most importantly, Cool Brees threw nary an interception.  Cool Brees delivered enough clutch throws to put the Saints over the top for a 27-24 victory.  Just win baby!  That's all Cool Brees has been doing.

I feel good about the Saints whole offensive package.  The Deuce is Loose McAllister, St. Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and company have been an absolute machine.  A wrecking machine.  A mean machine.  They're just a mean machine and they don't work for nobody but you.  They're a mean machine that topped the National Football League in total offense during the regular season at 391.5 yards per game.  A mean machine that went out last week and set this year's playoff high total of 435 yards of offense against the Eagles.  A mean, balanced machine against the Eagles, totaling 208 yards on the ground and 227 yards through the air.  As good as the Bears defense is, I gotta think they'll have their hands full on Sunday.  Saints win!  Saints win!

Oh ya, expect both St. Reggie and Devin Hester, the Very Bester, to explode for at least one Sports Center special each.

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  Is it getting better?  Or, do you feel the same?  Will it make it easier on you, now you got someone to blame?  -U2

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go.  One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.  LaDainian Tomlinson.  Larry Johnson.  Shaun Alexander. Tiki Barber.  Best running backs in the National Football League.  LaDainian Tomlinson. Larry Johnson.  Shaun Alexander.  Tiki Barber.  Done for the year.  It takes two to make a thing go right.  It takes two to make it outta sight.  Hit it!  The Chicago Bears.  The New Orleans Saints.  The New England Patriots.  The Indianapolis Colts.  They all employ dynamic duos.  They all are playing for it all.

Chicago Bears:  Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.  Thomas Jones.  You stick around, I'll make it worth your while.  Got numbers beyond what you can dial. Maybe it's because I'm so versatile.  Numbers and versatility.  That's Thomas Jones.   He's run for over 1,200 yards the past two seasons.  He can pass block.  He can catch passes.  He is elusive.  He broke Tiki's all time rushing record at the University of Virginia.  He is coupled with Cedric Benson.  Fourth overall draft pick.  The Punisher.  Powerful and bruising.  Hard- they're calling card.  With these two totally different styles, it makes it hard for defenses to adjust. Very hard indeed.

New Orleans Saints:  It takes two baby, to make a dream come true.  Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush.  Deuce McAllister.  The Deuce is loose.  Coming back from a knee surgery.  Coming back with a vengeance.  The thunder part of the backfield.  Saints all-time leading rusher.  He moves the pile.  He can deek if he needs to.  He gets the tough yards.  The rough yards.   In his first-ever playoff start, McAllister rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.  He had 4 catches for 20 yards and another touchdown.   He has help.  Reggie Bush.  Lightning.  Mr. Excitement.  St. Reggie.  He reverses field, woop!  He fiddles, woop!  He diddles, woop!  Gone! 

New England Patriots:  Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney.  Corey Dillon.   Driving dirty.  Corey Dillon has a tattoo on his chest.  The ink says:  Down & Dirty.  How apropos.  Down & Dirty.   That's how this cat plays.  Bone-crushing, will breaking, smashmouth football.  14th all-time leading rusher in the NFL.  Leads all active backs.  He's been to the Promised Land.  He has a ring.  He knows what he's doing.  He's leading the charge.  Right behind him?  Laurence Maroney.  The Kid.  Tick, tick, tick, boom!  He's big.  He's fast.  He's an explosion waiting to happen.  He loves the stiff-arm.  He is the future of the New England Patriots. 

Indianapolis Colts:     Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai.  Dominic Rhodes.  The little fella. Coming up big.  Getting the big yards.  The first undrafted player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards as a rookie.  Last week against the Ravens during the Colts' final clock-eating possessions, he was the featured back.  The featured back that led the squad to a field goal with 23 seconds left.  The featured back that ran the rock five consecutive times to start the drive and 11 of the 13 snaps.  Nothing flashy.  Just effective.  Leave the flash for Joseph Addai.  The Colts' number one draft pick.  The NFL rookie rushing leader.  The NFL rookie rushing leader without starting a single game.  He starts now.  He starts in the playoffs.  He started against the Chiefs.  Rushed for 122 against the Chiefs.  Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack gets through the hole lickety-split. 

The NFL is a copy cat league.  Four teams left in the playoffs.  Four teams with a two pronged running attack.  How long before every one is copying these cats?

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!