It's been a while since my last entry, between catching up on Christmas presents, getting ready for the whole family on Chrsitmas Eve, setting and wrapping all the presents for four boys and a very long Christmas Day.  I just have two words for you: Santa Hangover.

I know I am quite a bit older than most of my readers and let me assure that the smiles on Christmas morning are a great as it would seem... and the thought of not seeing those smiles keeps you going.

Funny how the New York media is painting Johnny Damon's grand slam in game 7 of the 2004 ALCS as "bittersweet" for Red Sox fans.  Wishful thinking.  It's still one of the top ten moments of this incredible Boston run.  I knew that the New York media would try to take this away from us.   World Series count for the 21st century still stands: Red Sox 1, Yankees 0.

My (only) four year-old television's cable tuner went this week and am looking into high def... Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP, man am I absorbing alot... screen and contrast ratios, pixels, HDTV vs. EDTV.

Speaking of absorbing a lot, I picked up the year-old Patriot Reign by Michael Holley yesterday morning.  Only put it down sparingly until I finished it last night.  Great book for a Patriot sports fan or anyone who wants to see how a healthy organization should function.  Also a blueprint of how to break into sports so you aren't 38 saying woulda, shoulda, coulda...

I thought I had my scare of the football season when Asante Samuel got hurt last night, only  to have it trumped ten times over when special teamer Tedy Bruschi got hurt a few minutes later.

My dad is a lifelong Boston sports fan and, therefore, is a natural pessimist.  So I was really surprised when he said about four weeks ago, "Just wait until the playoffs, the Pats will win it again."  I thought he was nuts, but now I am back on that duck boat bandwagon.  IF our aforementioned special teamer is fine.

Dad was the first to call the demise of Drew Bledsoe in New England and is a man  of few words, but the ones he speak are measured and usually right on.  Like all dads, when do I get a bit of that magic dust?

The Blue Jays got Glaus today and you can see everyone will pick them ahead of the Red Sox this year.  Let's just say I've seen this story before and it usually doesn't work out well for the Nove Riche' spenders. 

Sean Williams is back to blocking shots for BC Hoops and the world seems to slowly be getting back to normal.  Now let me get to bed so my eyes can adjust to watching BC football play on that blue turf tomorrow.

Greg

Predictions for the final three weeks of the NFL season for the 18 remaining teams (nine AFC and nine NFC) and playoff seedings with help from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:

The My Best Was Never Good Enough Division: Teams left out in the very, very, very cold –

American Football Conference

Miami Dolphins

Current Record: 6-7 (Overall), 4-5 (Conference-AFC), 1-3 (Division-AFC East)

Remaining: Jets (Win), Titans (Win), at Patriots (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 9-7 (Overall), 7-5 (Conference-AFC), 3-3 (Division-AFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: Better Days coming in Miami.

 San Diego Chargers

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 6-3 (Conference-AFC), 3-1 (Division-AFC West)

Remaining: at Colts (Win), at Chiefs (Loss), Broncos (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 10-6 (Overall), 8-4 (Conference-AFC), 4-2 (Division-AFC West)

Boss’ Skinny: Chargers overcome NFL’s toughest schedule, but take One Step Up and two steps back in AFC West.

 Pittsburgh Steelers

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 6-5 (Conference-AFC), 3-2 (Division-AFC North)

Remaining: at Vikings (Win), at Browns (Loss), Detroit (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 6-6 (Conference-AFC), 3-3 (Division-AFC North)

Boss’ Skinny: Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?  If 82nd Street is short of the playoffs, then yes.

National Football Conference

Washington Redskins

Current Record: 7-6 (Overall), 7-2 (Conference-NFC), 2-1 (Division-NFC East)

Remaining: Cowboys (Loss), Giants (Loss), at Eagles (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 8-8 (Overall), 8-4 (Conference-NFC), 3-3 (Division-NFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: Someone is standing on the Redskins’ sidelines in a Brilliant Disguise of Joe Gibbs.

 Atlanta Falcons

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 5-4 (Conference-NFC), 2-2 (Division-NFC South)

Remaining: at Bears (Loss), at Buccaneers (Loss), Panthers (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 9-7 (Overall), 6-6 (Conference-NFC), 3-3 (Division-NFC South)

Boss’ Skinny: It’s The Price You Pay by putting your star in harm’s way and missing too much time.

 Dallas Cowboys

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 6-3 (Conference-NFC), 3-2 (Division-NFC East)

Remaining: at Redskins (Win), at Panthers (Loss), Rams (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 10-6 (Overall), 7-5 (Conference-NFC), 4-2 (Division-NFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: “America’s Team” maybe Born in the USA, but they can’t break the Ties That Bind in their favor and lose on common opponents to the Vikings, 4-1 vs. 3-2.

The Roll of the Dice Division: The Wildcards –

American Football Conference

6. Kansas City Chiefs

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 7-3 (Conference-AFC), 3-2 (Division-AFC West)

Remaining: at Giants (Win), Chargers (Win), Bengals (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 9-3 (Conference-AFC), 4-2 (Division-AFC West)

Boss’ Skinny: #### Vermeil extended The Long Goodbye by running the table after an upset over the Giants in the Meadowlands this Sunday.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Current Record: 9-4 (Overall), 7-3 (Conference-AFC), 2-2 (Division-AFC South)

Remaining: 49ers (Win), at Texans (Win), Titans (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 12-4 (Overall), 9-3 (Conference-AFC), 4-2 (Division-AFC South)

Boss’ Skinny: The Jaguars will have to Prove It All Night in the playoffs to justify that their gaudy record wasn’t just do to their cream puff schedule.

National Football Conference

6. Minnesota Vikings

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 7-4 (Conference-NFC), 4-1 (Division-NFC North)

Remaining: Steelers (Loss), at Ravens (Win), Bears (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 10-6 (Overall), 8-4 (Conference-NFC), 5-1 (Division-NFC North)

Boss’ Skinny: The Vikings recover from their cruise through the Tunnel of Love to grab the NFC’s last Wildcard spot.

5. Carolina Panthers

Current Record: 9-4 (Overall), 6-3 (Conference-NFC), 2-2 (Division-NFC South)

Remaining: at Saints (Win), Cowboys (Win), at Falcons (Loss)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 8-4 (Conference-NFC), 3-3 (Division-NFC South)

Boss’ Skinny: Watch out NFC, Kitty’s Back.

The Glory Days Division: The Divisions Winners –

American Football Conference

4. New England Patriots

Current Record: 8-5 (Overall), 6-4 (Conference-AFC), 4-0 (Division-AFC East)

Remaining: Buccaneers (Win), at Jets (Win), Dolphins (Loss)

Predicted Final Record: 10-6 (Overall), 7-5 (Conference-AFC), 3-3 (Division-AFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: Bill Belichick continues to do it with Spare Parts; but with all respect to Doug Flutie, he can't do it with a spare quarterback.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Current Record: 10-3 (Overall), 7-3 (Conference-AFC), 5-1 (Division-AFC North)

Remaining: at Lions (Win), Bills (Win), at Chiefs (Loss)

Predicted Final Record: 12-4 (Overall), 8-4 (Conference-AFC), 5-1 (Division-AFC North)

Boss’ Skinny: Who dey?  It’s been a Long Time Comin’ in Cincinnati.

 2. Denver Broncos

Current Record: 10-3 (Overall), 7-2 (Conference-AFC), 3-1 (Division-AFC West)

Remaining: at Bills (Win), Raiders (Win), at Chiefs (Loss)

Predicted Final Record: 12-4 (Overall), 9-3 (Conference-AFC), 4-2 (Division-AFC West)

Boss’ Skinny: Shannahan and the Broncos offense are Born to Run, doesn’t matter who is carrying the ball.

 1. Indianapolis Colts

Current Record: 13-0 (Overall), 11-0 (Conference-AFC), 6-0 (Division-AFC South)

Remaining: Chargers (Loss), at Seahawks (Loss), Cardinals (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 14-2 (Overall), 11-1 (Conference-AFC), 6-0 (Division-AFC South)

Boss’ Skinny: Tony Dungy is a Cautious Man and is hinting too loudly at resting his players.

National Football Conference

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Current Record: 9-4 (Overall), 7-3 (Conference-NFC), 3-1 (Division-NFC South)

Remaining: at Patriots (Loss), Falcons (Win), Saints (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 9-3 (Conference-NFC), 5-1 (Division-NFC South)

Boss’ Skinny: It will be great to see the Two Faces (or more) of Jon Gruden back in the playoffs.

 3. New York Giants

Current Record: 9-4 (Overall), 8-3 (Conference-NFC), 4-1 (Division-NFC East)

Remaining: Chiefs (Loss), at Redskins (Win), at Raiders (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 9-3 (Conference-NFC), 5-1 (Division-NFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: Eli Manning will sing his New York City Serenade all the way to the Division Round.

2. Chicago Bears

Current Record: 9-4 (Overall), 8-1 (Conference-NFC), 4-0 (Division-NFC North)

Remaining: Falcons (Win), at Packers (Win), at Vikings (Loss)

Predicted Final Record: 11-5 (Overall), 10-2 (Conference-NFC), 5-1 (Division-NFC East)

Boss’ Skinny: Da Bears are where they are because their defense is Tougher Than the Rest.

1. Seattle Seahawks

Current Record: 11-2 (Overall), 10-1 (Conference-NFC), 6-0 (Division-NFC West)

Remaining: at Titans (Win), Colts (Win), at Packers (Win)

Predicted Final Record: 14-2 (Overall), 11-1 (Conference-NFC), 6-0 (Division-NFC West)

Boss’ Skinny: The hottest team in football entering the playoffs wants it All or Nothin’ at All.