Do you hear that? It's the sound of salty man-teardrops hitting floors, coffee tables, and newspapers across the world.

Now I know, some of you MEN out there are reading this and saying...

"I'm a MAN and I don't cry... Never!"

Wanna bet?

And to prove it I'm going to test some of you real quick...

The movie is Rocky 3, and Clubber Lang has just defeated Rocky for the title. Rocky goes back to his locker room where Mickey is resting after falling ill during the match. The doctor gives Rocky the news, and he makes his way to see Mick who is being comforted by Adrian. Rocky keeps the hood of his robe covering his face since he looks like Tina Turner on a good day during her "Ike Years" Mick struggles and asks Rocky what round. Rocky answers, but doesn't tell him that he lost. Mick says a few brief words and passes.

Nope... Still dry-eyed?

Okay... Rocky again... This time it's sequel 4 and Apollo Creed is taking on that big Russian steroid freak of nature Ivan Drago. Apollo makes the fight out to be a big showboat spectacle, but when he realizes it's for real it's too late and ends up getting killed in the ring. As Rocky holds a dying friend in his arms the Russian eyes the two of them and remarks.

"If he dies... Then he dies..."

What? Still dry? Okay, okay, okay. We are nearing football season and almost all men love football so let's pop the movie "Rudy" into our mental movie player...

Rudy has worked his ass off, and he's even invited that black guy who used to play Roc on that Fox sitcom. There's just minutes to go in the game, and the whole stadium is chanting Rudy's name over and over as the coach finally tells him to go in for a play.

Got ya... Now that I have your attention these past few months some of us have been dealing with our own share of man-tears.

In Pennsylvania and throughout the Steelers nation there were brief moments of man-tears after Ben Roethlisberger decided to take a ride on his Suzuki Hayabusa without his helmet and got into an accident. It was an emotional ride as those in Steelers nation had to man-tear at the fact they may have to see Charlie Batch for the entire season. The last time he played a full season was the turn of the millennium in Detroit.

How about here in Boston where the Celtic fans' man-tears are on hold until they can pull off a deal which would bring 76er's Allen Iverson to Beantown to play alongside Paul Pierce. If Danny Ainge pulls this off we can forgive him for letting Antoine Walker getaway a second time, and man-tears may flow on Causeway St. as the tandem of Piece and Iverson may just bring a championship back to the Garden.

In Foxboro this year on opening night there will be no man-tears, no unveiling of championship banners and no surprise visits form Ozzy Osborne to perform Crazy Train. But there is a chance Ty Law may be back here picking off passes once again.

Down the road from Foxboro in September Boston's bad boys Aerosmith are performing with Motley Crue... For some, this double bill will garner some heavy metal man-tears; as a matter of fact, I may just have to dig out my jeans with zebra print pockets for this show... I'd have to lose about 100 lbs to wear them though.

What about Britney Spears in Bizarre... I mean Bazaar magazine posing nude while 4 months pregnant? Man-tears from those men who wish their wives looked this good pregnant while cursing Kevin Federline... Is the title of "Wife's Fortune Spender" an acceptable job description on a application?

How about man-tears for that season finale of HBO's Sopranos? An eight-month wait to see Anthony Jr's hot, Latino girlfriend again, and to see if my prediction of Tony and Christopher's relationship will come to a violent end.

Last month there were some video game man-tears, as the Halo 3 clip was unveiled to the world, and just this month stores started taking pre-orders for EA's Madden 07, which is due in August. Hopefully EA can bounce back from their horrid performance last year with Madden 06. You would think that having an exclusive contract with the NFL last year they would have put their best foot forward, but they didn't.

In other Sinista thoughts what the hell was up with this new installment of Superman? I took my boys to see "Superman Returns" at the drive in, and was wondering what happened to "Truth, Justice, the American Way" and common sense?

SPOILER ALERT

Overall the movie was great, but I did have some issues with the movie.

Everyone at the Daily Planet call themselves ace reporters yet not one of them connect the fact that Clark Kent returns to his job the same day Superman returns with the exception of Lois Lane's son.

Clark/Superman has been gone from Earth for five years and unbeknownst to him Lois Lane had given birth to his son. A son who is like "Blade", a hybrid with no weakness to Kryptonite. When Lois sees Superman for the first time she faints. What woman is going to faint on a guy she hasn't seen in five years after giving birth to his child? The "American Way" would have been Lois faking to be in trouble, and when Superman came to save her she would have her lawyer serve his ass with papers to take him to court and collect five years of back child support.

3)       If the above did happen how would the court figure out Superman's income? He has no known job, so would he have to take on work? What would he do? He has to spend his time saving the world. I guess speaking at colleges or making personal appearances would be a way for him to make money.

4)       And what was up with Lex Luthor? He's supposed to be a criminal genius, and after getting out of jail he has the same plan from the first movie to conquer real estate at the expense of destroying the USA forcing other countries to buy prime land. Also, why would he destroy the USA when it's one of the richest countries in the world? I'm sure Donald Trump would have bought up some planet Krypton real fast.

Oh Well, I guess I have way too much time on my hands so I better bring this to a close to get ready for this upcoming NFL season, but until then...

Pass the tissues... "Brian's Song" is on