Josh Q. Public: You say one love, one life. When it’s one need in the night. It’s one love. We get to share it. It leaves you baby. If you don’t care for it. -U2
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! What a difference a year makes. Last year was the year of the two-headed monster. The year of Orthrus. The year of Chimera. The year of Frank and Stein. It took two to make a thing go right. It took two to make it outta sight. Hit it! Last year was the year of the two back offense. The two attack offense. The two get back Jack offense. Do it again. Last year, the Chicago Bears featured Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Last year, the New Orleans Saints featured the Deuce is Loose and Reggie Bush. Last year, the New England Patriots featured Laurence Maroney and Corey Dillon. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts featured Addai a Deer and Dominic Rhodes. Dynamic Duos. Terrible Twosomes. This year? Not so much. This year it’s all feature backs all the time. All beatchya backs all the time. All Grade A meature backs all the time. Ryan Grant is helping the Packers reach the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade. He’s living the dream. Making folks scream. I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream. In 2005, he spent the entire season on the injured reserve. In 2006, he spent the entire season on the Giants practice squad. This season, he’s making things happen. Brandon Jacobs is making things happen. Brandon Jacobs is rumbling, bumbling and stumbling his way to make Giants fans soon forget Tiki Barber. He’s big. He’s powerful. He’s fast. Think Eddie George. Think battering ram. Shattering ram. Splattering ram. In New England there’s another guy. In a pass happy New England Patriots’ offense, Laurence Maroney is hitting the holes. In a pass happy Patriots’ offense, Maroney is running with power. The man of the hour, tower of power, he’ll devour. He’s gonna tie you up and let you understand that he’s not your average man when he gets a football in his hands. Daaaaamn! In a pass happy Patriots’ offense Maroney throws a block here. In a pass happy Patriots’ offense Maroney takes a handoff there. Does whatever it takes. Does whatever it to win football games. Then there’s the touchdown maker. The shake and baker. The record breaker. The takes the caker. Then there’s LaDainian. Then there’s Maude. That old compromisin’, enterprisin’, anything but tranquilizing. Right on Maude! Right on NFL feature backs. This Bud's for you.
Public Acknowledgements: Sesame Street, Rob Base & DJ Easy Rock, Steely Dan, Keith Jackson, LL Cool J, Bea Arthur and the King of Beers
Josh Q. Public:Punks jump up to get beat down! -Brand Nubian
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Championship Weekend. And then there were four. This old man, he played four. He played knick-knack on my door. With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. Who’s gonna get the bone? Who’s gonna sit on the throne? That’s what we want to know, from here to Sierra Leone. Who’s gonna come rolling home? Who’s going bowling? Super Bowling. Bowling for Dollars. Candlepins for Cash. Take the skinheads bowling. Take them bowling. All right. Let’s get to this. Like we always knew this. Like Huey Lewis. NFL Championship Weekend.
New York Football Giants at Green Bay Packers
Everybody’s jumping on the cheese wagon. Everybody’s jumping on Ted Stroehmann’s boy. Brett Fav-ruh. Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. Three-time NFL MVP. The ultimate weekend warrior. He’s got the records. Hit records. Smash records. He’s got a ring. He gets knocked down, but he gets up again. You’re never going to keep him down. He’s not getting up this time. Not against this New York Giants ballclub. I like this team. Yes, it’s gonna be cold at Lambeau. I get it. The Giants are a cold weather team too. That advantage is slim. Slim Pickens. Yes, the Giants are on the road. I get that too. But, by beating the Cowboys, deep in the heart of Texas, New York continued their remarkable road prowess. Continued their remarkable road prowess with their ninth straight victory away from home. By beating the Cowboys deep in the heart of Texas, New York set a single-season NFL record for most consecutive road wins. Yowza! They win by playing football the way it’s supposed to be played. Old time football. Eddie Shore football. They commit very few penalties. They commit even fewer turnovers. They pound the ball on the ground with Big Bad Brandon Jacobs. Eli Manning has been efficient just when you needed him most. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer match up with the best of them. On defense, they get to the quarterback. They’re not flashy. Not dashy. In the mouth they smashy. Team football. Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit. Team, team, team. No one more important that the other. Welcome to New York Giant football!
San Diego Super Chargers at New England Patriots
I’ve been waiting for this one. Anticipating for this one. Stay right here, ’cause these are the good old days. Good old-fashioned rivalry. Colts/Pats was a nice rivalry. Colts/Pats was a cute rivalry. Brady vs. Manning. All that. But it’s time to take the gloves off with this one. Go all Ogie Ogilthorpe with this one. Punch somebody in the eye with this one. The Chargers have been doing some gabbing. Igor who? The Chargers have been doing some blabbing. The Chargers have been doing some back stabbing. Back stabbing since the Patriots did the Lights Out Dance on the Super Charger logo one year ago. Know this: You can’t have a signature dance or prop and not expect it to get used against you if things go bad. The Honky Tonk Man knew there was always a chance that somebody would take his guitar and smash it over his head. The Patriots took Shawn Merriman’s guitar and smashed it over his head. The Chargers have been crying ever since. LaDainian Tomlinson’s been crying. Shawne Merriman’s been crying. Igor Olshansky’s been crying. Phillip Rivers’ been crying. And if any of ‘em ain’t crying now, they’re gonna be crying on Sunday. All the Patriots talk about is their next foe. All the Patriots do is play football games. All the Patriots do is win football games. The Patriots are going to crush the Chargers on Sunday. Remember these three little words. These four little syllables. Brady to Moss. You’re gonna hear ‘em. Again and again. Brady to Moss. Then, Antonio Cromartie will be crying too. Antonio Gates, LaDainian Tomlinson and widdle Phiwip Wivers all have widdle boo boos. All that’s left now is, for New England to solidify their place in NFL history. New England is the best team you have ever seen. The best team there’s ever been. Better than Mats Sundin. It’s just not fair. This is what the Patriots are going to do to the Chargers on Sunday:
Public Acknowledgements: Ed Kilgore, Bob Gamere, Camper Van Beethoven, Something About Mary, Chumba Wumba, Slap Shot, Hoosiers, Carly Simon and Bartstool Sports
Josh Q. Public:Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greens keeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac…It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! -Carl Spackler
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! The Pack is back. Go, you Packers! Go and get ‘em! Go, you fighting fools! Upset ‘em! Yes, the Pack is back. The Pack is back in the NFC Championships. Back for the first time since the 1997-98 season. It’s the time of the season. When the love runs high. The love runs high for Brett Favre. Everybody’s talking about Favre. Everybody’s squawking about Favre. Everybody’s hawking Brett Favre. And with good cause. After two seasons of toil, double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn, and caldron bubble. After two seasons of that, Favre has had a magical 17th NFL campaign. A memorable 17th NFL campaign. A record breaking 17th NFL campaign. He deserves all the accolades he receives. But so does another guy. So does Ryan Grant. Ryan Grant did something Saturday. Ryan Grant did something Saturday neither Paul Hornungnor Jimmy Taylor ever did. Ryan Grant rushed for 201 yards in a playoff game. Rushed for 201 yards against the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense. Shredded the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense. He’s been shredding vaunted defenses all season. Grant came to the Packers this season a nondescript running back amongst a myriad of nondescript running backs. When injuries depleted the Packers’ nondescript running game, Grant became the starter. Grant became the man. The man with a plan. And he ran. He ran so far away. He just ran. He ran all night and day. He ran for 956 yards. Ran for eight touchdowns. Ran for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. In just ten starts. He ran the Packers into the Playoffs. He ran for 201 yards, a Packers playoff record, and three TDs in a Packers playoff win. He lowered his shoulder. And he ran. Ran straight ahead. Earl Campbell style. Straight ahead to the NFC Championship Game. Ryan Grant, giving the Packers hope. Giving them hope to carry on. Lighting up their days. Filling their nights with song. Go, you Packers! Go and get ‘em! Go, you fighting fools! Upset ‘em!
Public Acknowledgements: Zombies, William Shakespeare, Bob Wolfley, Flock of Seagulls and Bob Glauber
Josh Q. Public:Don’t call it a comeback! I’ve been here for years. Rockin’ my peers and puttin’ suckas in fear. -LL Cool J
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Everybody’s been yammering about those New England Patriots. Everybody’s been jammering about those Indianapolis Colts. Everybody’s been clamoring about those Dallas Cowboys. What about these Green Bay Packers? Go, you fighting fools upset ‘em. Smash their line with all your might. A touchdown, Packers, fight, fight, fight, fight! The Packers have been fighting. Have been exciting. Filling the fans at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field with delighting. Delighting the fans with a 7-1 record. Delighting fans atop the NFC North. On top of the world looking down on creation. So where’s the love? Father Father Father help us. Send some guidance from above. Cause people got me got me questioning. Where is the love? Where is the love for Ted Stroehmann’s boy. What about Brett Fav… ruh? The toughest summama#### to ever strap on a helmet. Brett Favre, 38. Brett Favre playing like he did during his heydays. His Say Hey Willie Mays days. Brett Favre is having an MVP-like season. Just this Sunday, Favre threw for 360 yards. Just this Sunday, Favre threw for two TDs. Just this Sunday, Favre threw the go-ahead 60-yard bomb to Greg Jennings with 3:05 left in the game. Just like he threw the game winning 82-yard bomb to Greg Jennings in OT two weeks ago. What’s not to love? Just because their elder statesman Favre is 38, don’t think for one minute this is George Allen’s Over the Hill Gang incarnate. Far from it. These Green Bay Packers are the youngest team in theNational Football League. They don’t play like it. Linebacker AJ Hawk is just nasty against the run. His third-quarter interception Sunday set up a touchdown. Aaron Kampman is the NFL’s leading sack man since 2006. He may not do a Lights Out Dance. He may not have a giant robot likeness prowling around London. Danger Will Robinson! But he may just be the best defensive end in all of football. The Packers may not have the best running game around. No three yards and a cloud of dust here. But what they lack on the ground, they more than make up for in the air. Last week, when the defense went through a rough patch in the fourth quarter. A tough patch in the fourth quarter. An HR Pufnstuf patch in the fourth quarter. When that happened, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings picked up the slack with long receptions. So while there is absolutely no doubt that geriatric Favre and his laser rocket arm remain deadly, the story doesn’t stop there. The story ends with the entire Packer team putting somebody in the wall.
Public Acknowledgements: Mike Vandermause, Eric Karll, Carpenters, Something About Mary, Black-Eyed Peas, Lost in Space, Sid & Marty Krofft and Lauren Wallace
Josh Q. Public:Wo! I feel nice, like sugar and ####e. I feel nice, like sugar and ####e. So nice, so nice, I got you! -James Brown
Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! Feel Good Fridays. I know. I know. It’s only Thursday. But I’m taking a long week-end at the beach. I deserve it. Don’t I? Hell yes I do! Yesterday I was crying about Michael Vick. Yesterday I was crying about Tim Donaghy. Yesterday I was crying about Barry Bonds. Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you, you, you. No more! From now on, I’m going to be part of the solution. From now on, every Friday, except for this Friday because I’m doing it today, Josh Q. Public will be celebrating the good guys. Men who should win the Nobel Prize. All that and McDonald’s French Fries. The men in the white hats. The Dumbledores. The Peter Petrellis. The guys you’d be proud to have on your team. Today we start with Green Bay Packer wide receiver Donald Driver. We all know about Driver’s exploits on the field. We all know he’s high profile. Agile. Versatile. Don’t you tell me to smile. You stick around I’ll make it worth your while. Got numbers beyond what you can dial. We all know he makes the tough plays on the field. One of the toughest wide receivers in the game. Last year he had the most catches in the NFL in the middle of the field. It’s off the field however, where he makes the toughest of plays. Donald persevered through incredible setbacks. At one time in his youth, he lived in the back of a U-Haul truck. His father went to prison. Driver himself turned to desperate measures. He dealt. He stole cars. And I’m driving a stolen car. On a pitch black night. And I’m telling myself I’m gonna be all right. He turned out all right. He received a four-year scholarship to Alcorn State University, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting, and worked on finishing his master’s degree in Computer Science. Since he turned pro, Driver has become one of the most active athletes in the community. He has made hundreds of appearances since his rookie 1999 season. In the spring of 2001, Donald and his wife Betina created the Donald Driver Foundation. The foundation offers assistance to ill children with unmanageable hospital bills. It provides housing for the homeless. It donates to a variety of local charities. Donald’s foundation has put previously homeless families in new, fully furnished homes. Donald has also donated much of his time and efforts to such institutions as the Milwaukee Juvenile Detention Center, the PALS program, and the Children’s Miracle Network. He has made numerous guest-speaking appearances and visited Green Bay-area schools stressing the importance of fitness and the importance of making the right decisions in life. Driver was awarded the Community Service Award by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his outstanding community involvement. Donald also had the honor of receiving the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is the only NFL award that recognizes off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence. Sweetness! Here’s to you Donald Driver. One of the good guys.
Public Acknowledgements: Donald Driver Foundation, The Imperials, Hogwarts, Heroes, Beastie Boys and Bruce Springsteen
josh q. public. For the public, by The Public. Irreverent sports opinion from a Bostonian in New York. The one blog to read, when you’re reading more than one. Good to the last drop!
Dillon. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts featured Addai a Deer and Dominic Rhodes. Dynamic Duos. Terrible Twosomes. This year? Not so much. This year it’s all feature backs all the time. All beatchya backs all the time. All Grade A meature backs all the time. Ryan Grant is helping the Packers reach the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade. He’s living the dream. Making folks scream. I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream. In 2005, he spent the entire season on the injured reserve. In 2006, he spent the entire season on the Giants practice squad. This season, he’s making things happen. Brandon Jacobs is making things happen. Brandon Jacobs is rumbling, bumbling and stumbling his way to make Giants fans soon forget Tiki 
Barber. He’s big. He’s powerful. He’s fast. Think Eddie George. Think battering ram. Shattering ram. Splattering ram. In New England there’s another guy. In a pass happy New England Patriots’ offense, Laurence Maroney is hitting the holes. In a pass happy Patriots’ offense, Maroney is running with power. The man of the hour, tower of power, he’ll devour. He’s gonna tie you up and let you understand that he’s not your average man when he gets a football in his hands. Daaaaamn! In a pass happy Patriots’ offense Maroney throws a block here. In a pass happy Patriots’ offense Maroney takes a handoff there. Does whatever it takes. Does whatever it to win football games. Then there’s the touchdown maker. The shake and baker. The record breaker. The takes the caker. Then there’s LaDainian. Then there’s Maude. That old compromisin’, enterprisin’, anything but tranquilizing. Right on Maude! Right on NFL feature backs. This Bud's for you.
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Championship Weekend. And then there were four. This old man, he played four. He played knick-knack on my door. With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. Who’s gonna get the bone? Who’s gonna sit on the throne? That’s what we want to know, from here to Sierra Leone. Who’s gonna come rolling home? Who’s going bowling? Super Bowling. Bowling for Dollars. Candlepins for Cash. Take the skinheads bowling. Take them bowling. All right. Let’s get to this. Like we always knew this. Like Huey Lewis. NFL Championship Weekend.
remarkable road prowess with their ninth straight victory away from home. By beating the Cowboys deep in the heart of Texas, New York set a single-season NFL record for most consecutive road wins. Yowza! They win by playing football the way it’s supposed to be played. Old time football. Eddie Shore football. They commit very few penalties. They commit even fewer turnovers. They pound the ball on the ground with Big Bad Brandon Jacobs. Eli Manning has been efficient just when you needed him most. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer match up with the best of them. On defense, they get to the quarterback. They’re not flashy. Not dashy. In the mouth they smashy. Team football. Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit. Team, team, team. No one more important that the other. Welcome to New York Giant football!
Tomlinson’s been crying. Shawne Merriman’s been crying. Igor Olshansky’s been crying. Phillip Rivers’ been crying. And if any of ‘em ain’t crying now, they’re gonna be crying on Sunday. All the Patriots talk about is their next foe. All the Patriots do is play football games. All the Patriots do is win football games. The Patriots are going to crush the Chargers on Sunday. Remember these three little words. These four little syllables. Brady to Moss. You’re gonna hear ‘em. Again and again. Brady to Moss. Then, Antonio Cromartie will be crying too. Antonio Gates, LaDainian Tomlinson and widdle Phiwip Wivers all have widdle boo boos. All that’s left now is, for New England to solidify their place in NFL history. New England is the best team you have ever seen. The best team there’s ever been. Better than Mats Sundin. It’s just not fair. This is what the Patriots are going to do to the Chargers on Sunday:
the accolades he receives. But so does another guy. So does Ryan Grant. Ryan Grant did something Saturday. Ryan Grant did something Saturday neither Paul Hornung nor Jimmy Taylor ever did. Ryan Grant rushed for 201 yards in a playoff game. Rushed for 201 yards against the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense. Shredded the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense. He’s been shredding vaunted defenses all season. Grant came to the Packers this season a nondescript running back amongst a myriad of nondescript running backs. When injuries depleted the Packers’ nondescript running game, Grant became the starter. Grant became the man. The man with a 
plan. And he ran. He ran so far away. He just ran. He ran all night and day. He ran for 956 yards. Ran for eight touchdowns. Ran for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. In just ten starts. He ran the Packers into the Playoffs. He ran for 201 yards, a Packers playoff record, and three TDs in a Packers playoff win. He lowered his shoulder. And he ran. Ran straight ahead. Earl Campbell style. Straight ahead to the NFC Championship Game. Ryan Grant, giving the Packers hope. Giving them hope to carry on. Lighting up their days. Filling their nights with song. Go, you Packers! Go and get ‘em! Go, you fighting fools! Upset ‘em!
above. Cause people got me got me questioning. Where is the love? Where is the love for Ted Stroehmann’s boy. What about Brett Fav… ruh? The toughest summama
National Football League. They don’t play like it. Linebacker AJ Hawk is just nasty against the run. His third-quarter interception Sunday set up a touchdown. Aaron Kampman is the NFL’s leading sack man since 2006. He may not do a Lights Out Dance. He may not have a giant robot likeness prowling around London. Danger Will Robinson! But he may just be the best defensive end in all of football. The Packers may not have the best running game around. No three yards and a cloud of dust here. But what they lack on the ground, they more than make up for in the air. Last week, when 
the defense went through a rough patch in the fourth quarter. A tough patch in the fourth quarter. An HR Pufnstuf patch in the fourth quarter. When that happened, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings picked up the slack with long receptions. So while there is absolutely no doubt that geriatric Favre and his laser rocket arm remain deadly, the story doesn’t stop there. The story ends with the entire Packer team putting somebody in the wall.
The men in the white hats. The Dumbledores. The Peter Petrellis. The guys you’d be proud to have on your team. Today we start with Green Bay Packer wide receiver Donald Driver. We all know about Driver’s exploits on the field. We all know he’s high profile. Agile. Versatile. Don’t you tell me to smile. You stick around I’ll make it worth your while. Got numbers beyond what you can dial. We all know he makes the tough plays on the field. One of the toughest wide receivers in the game. Last year he had the most catches in the NFL in the middle of the field. It’s off the field however, where he makes the toughest of plays. Donald persevered through incredible setbacks. At one time in his youth, he lived in
the back of a U-Haul truck. His father went to prison. Driver himself turned to desperate measures. He dealt. He stole cars. And I’m driving a stolen car. On a pitch black night. And I’m telling myself I’m gonna be all right. He turned out all right. He received a four-year scholarship to Alcorn State University, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting, and worked on finishing his master’s degree in Computer Science. Since he turned pro, Driver has become one of the most active athletes in the community. He has made hundreds of appearances since his rookie 1999 season. In the spring of 2001, Donald and his wife Betina created the Donald Driver Foundation. The foundation offers assistance to ill children with unmanageable hospital bills. It provides housing for the homeless. It donates to a variety of local charities. 
