Josh Q. Public:  Well you could have been anything that you wanted to.  And I can tell by the way you do the things you do.  -The Temptations

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  What’s quack-a-lacking sports fans?  So Tim Tebow won the Heisman.  Good for him.  I’m not saying he’s not deserving.  I’m not saying he’s not a good football player.  Faster than a speeding bullet!  More powerful than a locomotive!  Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!  All those touchdowns.  I get it.  I’m just saying there was someone better.  She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can’t find a better man.  Can’t find a better man.  I’m just saying there was someone who never got a chance.  I ain’t ever gonna get a chance to fight the best there is.  And you know somethin’,  I’m better than him.  I ain’t never gonna get a chance.  Dennis Dixon’s better.  Dennis Dixon never got a chance.  Dennis Dixon never got a chance because he got hurt.  Dennis Dixon got hurt because of a poor decision by his coach to start him on a ####ed up knee.  Start him on a ####ed up knee against an unranked team.  Dennis Dixon ####ed up his knee after single-handedly carrying his Oregon Ducks into the heart of the national title race.  Dennis Dixon singhandedly carried Oregon into the heart of the national title race by throwing four touchdown passes in three quarters against then undefeated Arizona State.  At the time, it was Oregon’s second consecutive victory over a Top 10 team.  At the time, Dennis Dixon was the best player in college football.  At the time, he reminded me of another Heisman winner, Charlie Ward, who reminded me of another Heisman winner, Doug Flutie.  Those guys could run.  Those guys could throw.  Those guys could lead.  And most importantly, those guys could win. 

Oregon had started this season unranked.  Oregon was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-10.  Behind Dixon, all that changed.  Behind Dixon, Oregon rose to number two in the nation.  On top of the world looking down on creation.  More fun that 101 Dalmatians.  Behind Dixon, Oregon was a 45-point per game scoring machine.  Behind Dixon, Oregon smashed Michigan.  Behind Dixon, Oregon manhandled USC.  Behind Dixon, Oregon looked like one of the two best teams in the country.  Behind Dixon, Oregon looked like a more than deserving opponent for LSU in the National Title Game.  In week one, Dixon rumbled, bumbled and stumbled for 141 yards rushing.  The most ever by an Oregon quarterback.  Quack!  The following week against Michigan, Dixon threw for three TDs and ran for another.  Generated 368 yards of total offense.  Named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week.  Named USA Today National Player of the Week.  Quack, quack!  All tolled, Dixon completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions.  Yowza!  All tolled, Dixon ran for 583 yards and nine touchdowns.  All tolled, Oregon was 8-1 and Number Two with Dixon.  But then, without even being touched, Dixon’s left knee crumbled.  One minute, against Arizona, Oregon was leading, 8-7.  One minute, against Arizona, Dixon was ripping off one breathtaking run after another.  One deathtaking run after another.  One crystalmethtaking run after another.  One minute, against Arizona, Dixon was well on his way to a breakout-performance, live on national television.  A Heisman winning performance, live on national television.  The next minute his knee crumbled as he tried to plant on an option carry.  Down goes Dixon!  Down goes Oregon!  Down goes the Heisman!  Yes, Tim Tebow won the award, but we all know who was the best football player in the nation was this year.  We all know it was Dennis Dixon.

Public Acknowledgements:  Pearl Jam, Raging Bull, Carpenters, Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  There’s something about a Josh Q. Public man.

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  I know I’m a homer.  A shameless homer.  An insufferable homer.  An incorrigible homer.  Doh!  But still.  Still.  This has to be the best time ever to be so.  It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.  I hope you had the time of your life.  I did.  I did.  I am.  I am.  This is the apex of my Boston sports fandom.  The pinnacle.  The Zenith.  I’m doing all right, getting good grades.  The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.  This moment in time.  This right here.  Stanley, see this?  This is this.  This ain’t something else.  This is this.  From now on, you’re on your own.  Sports historians will go back and claim this era in sports the Boston Sports Age.  Bigger than the Bronze Age.  Better than the Age of Reason.  Bigger and better.  Just stop a minute.  Freeze frame!  This freeze-frame moment can’t be wrong.  What would a Boston story be without J Geils?  Sorry, back to your regularly scheduled program.  1986 may be the closest, but that wasn’t even close.  The Celtics were the cornerstone.  The Celtics with the Big Four.  The Big Four.  Bird.  Walton.  McHale.  Parrish.  Champions of the world.  Maybe the best basketball team ever assembled.  The Red Sox were one booted ball away from their first World Series win since 1918.  The Patriots with Grogan, Andre Tippett, Stanley #### and company were one year removed from their first Super Bowl appearance ever.  One year removed from their first Super Bowl appearance ever but ousted by John Elway and the Denver Broncos in the first round of the playoffs.  Follow me, don’t follow me.  I’ve got my spine, I’ve got my Orange Crush.  The Bruins powered by Cam Neely and Ray Borque were on their way to great things.  But not there yet.  Lemelin and Moog had still not arrived.  Boston College quarterback and Doug Flutie back-up, Shawn Halloran, led the team to a 9-3 record and a 27-24 win against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Hall of Fame Bowl.  The Jim O’Brien era on the hardwoods was just beginning.  All and all, a pretty good time to be a Boston sports fan.  Pretty pretty good. 
.

This is a great time.

The Boston Red Sox have just steamrolled their way into the playoffs.  Went wire to wire atop the AL Beast.  Went wire to wire in the AL Beast and dethroned the hated Yankees.  Dethroned the hated Yankees after their nine year run.  Dethroned the hated Yankees after humiliating them in 2004.  Reverse the curse.  Wake the damned Bambino so I can drill him in the ####.  The times they are a-changing.  This Red Sox team is looking to be tough to beat.  Mighty tough to beat.  Beat on the brat.  Beat on the brat.  Beat on the brat with a baseball bat.  Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh.  Uh-oh is right.  Did you see Curt last night?   Boom boom out go the lights.  Lights out in his first postseason game since the bloody sock World Series game.  Lights out striking out four.  Light out allowing a meager six hits in seven innings.  Light out raising his postseason record to 9-2 while lowering his ERA to 1.93.  Goodness.  Josh Beckett looks unhittable.  Manny and Papi look like they can hit anything.  And hit it far.  They are the clear cut favorites to win this thing.  Second in four years.  Not too shabby.  Not too shabby at all.  Roll Sox roll!

The New England Patriots are beating the ever loving daylights out of everybody.  James Bond style.  Like James Bond, nobody does it better.  Makes me feel sad for the rest.  Nobody does it half as good as you.  Baby, you’re the best.  Yes they are.  Yes they are. Tom Terrific is the best.  Better than all the rest.   Tom terrific just tied an NFL record with at least three touchdown passes in each of his first five games.  First and ten do it again!  And again.  And again.  The Patriots just became the fourth team ever to start a season with five wins by at least seventeen points.  Yowza!  They just improved to 5-0.  Just improved to 5-0 marking the third time in franchise history they’ve begun a season 5-0 or better.  Just improved to 5-0 without a big contribution from Randy Moss.  Without Randy Moss, who going into the game, was the NFL leader in yards receiving and total touchdowns.  Primetime!   That’s what these Patriots are.  Primetime baby!  Primetime!  Primed and ready to take down their fourth Super Bowl Trophy.

The Boston Celtics.  Everything’s coming up roses.  You’ll be swell!  You’ll be great!  Gonna have the whole world on the plate!  Starting here, starting now, honey, everything’s coming up roses!  The Big ticket.  Ray Ray.  The Truth.  The new Big Three.  There hasn’t been this much optimism around the Causeway since Larry Legend left town in traction.  Hot ‘Lantic title in the bag.  East title very accessible.  NBA Champs?  Who knows?  The main thing is this:  They’re in the conversation.  I know.  I know.  A little less conversation, a little more action.  All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me.  A little more bite and a little less bark.  A little less fight and a little more spark.  Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me.  These Celtics will satisfy you.  Satisfaction guaranteed. 

For Boston, for Boston, we sing our proud refrain!  How ’bout them Eagles.  Them Boston College Eagles.  Them Boston College football Eagles.  Fourth in the nation?  Are you kidding me?  Matt Ryan.  Cold as ice.  Cold as ice, willing to sacrifice.  Willing to sacrifice on the way to a Heisman.  Willing to sacrifice on the way to an undefeated season.  Willing to sacrifice on the way to a National Championship.  The Eagles haven’t been ranked this high  since they climbed to No. 4 following a 52-20 victory over North Carolina way back in 1984.  Way back in 1984 when Midget Moses was behind center.  Way back in 1984 when two weeks later they lost to West Virginia.  Way back in 1984 when they finished the season with a Cotton Bowl victory over Houston and a No. 5 AP ranking.  Not to mention having the Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Doug Flutie.  With only Notre Dame and Virginia Tech standing in their way, this season could be better. 

We had Bobby Orr and the Big Bad Bruins.  We had Teddy Ballgame.  We had Bill Russell and all those Celtics banners raised in the gahden.  We had Yaz and the Impossible Dreamers.  Boston Sports has had a lot of great moments.  But none like this.  None like this all at once.  Hummin’, comin’ at cha.  Yeah, ya know I’m gonna gat ya.  Savor this moment Boston Sports fans.  It is a moment the likes of which,  we may never see again.

Public Acknowledgements:  Simpsons, Green Day,  Timbuk-3, Deer Hunter, REM, Pedro Martinez, Bob Dylan, Ramones, Ian Flemming, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Chris Berman, Gypsy, Elvis, Foreigner and Cypress Hill

Public Spectacle:
This episode of Josh Q. Public powered by Aqua Velva

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

Josh Q. Public:  Now you can’t catch me, baby you can’t catch me.  ‘Cause if you get too close, you know I’m gone like a cool breeze.  -Chuck Berry

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  The Heisman.  The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award.  The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award awarded annually to the most outstanding collegiate football player in the nation.  Our country’s football salvation.  Leaving opponents needing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  I know.  I know.  It’s early.  So I gotta get up early in the morning.  To find me another lover.  Gotta find me a lover that won’t run for cover.  I found me one.  I found Ray Rice.  I found Sugar Ray Rice of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.  I understand Rice’s Heisman hopes went down this week.  Went down this week because Rutgers played lowly I-AA Norfolk State.  Went down this week beacause Sugar only got twelve touches.  He may have only gotten twelve touches, but the cat did score three touchdowns.  Scored three touchdowns on runs of twenty-two, seven and four. Scored three touchdowns and put himself atop the scoring leaders list.  On top of the world looking down on creation.  Looking down creation as the nations second leading rusher for yards.  The only running back to be in the top five in both categories.  Yowza!  Rice will probably fall down the list even more.  He will fall down even more because Rutgers is off this weekend.  I get knocked down.  But I get up again.  You’re never going to keep me down.  You’re never gonna keep Sugar Ray Rice down. Sugar Ray finished with jaw-dropping numbers last year.  Awe dropping numbers last year.  Newton’s Law dropping numbers last year.  And he’s doing again this year.  His 175-yard outburst against Navy in Week Two made him Rutgers’ all-time rushing leader.  Rutgers all time leading rusher!  And get this.  He’s only two games into his junior season.  Holy Mackerel.  And that’s not all.  There’s another all-time rushing record that might come into play next season.  We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.  If Rice has another season in the sun next year, the NCAA career rushing record could be his.  On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne is the current owner with 6,397.   Rice still has a hefty 3,000 yards to go, but if he keeps shredding opponents the way he has been, it’s not out of the question.  Yes it’s early, and Sugar Ray Rice should get his worm.

Public Acknowledgements:  The Gap Band, The Carpenters, Chumbawamba and Terry Jacks

Josh Q. Public:  He’s so cold, he’s so cold.  He’s so cold cold cold like an ice cream cone.  He’s so cold He’s so cold.  I dare not touch him my hand just froze.  -Rolling Stones

Public Service Announcement:  Ok here we go!  Don’t look now folks, but here it comes.  Here comes the boom, boomin’, bouncin’, stalkin’ much walkin.  Walk with the bouncin’.  Hit’em where it counts man.  Hit’em like a mountain.  Split’em have’em spittin’ up blood like a fountain.  Yup here comes the boom.  Boom boom shake the room.  Here comes College Football.  On Thursday, August 30, ESPN takes a break from Who’s Now and brings back the smashmouth.  Starting us off down south.  Bringing us LSU vs. Mississippi State.  I can’t wait.  The thrills, the spills, the spectacle, the humanity.  The waiting is the hardest part.  Every day you see one more card.  You take it on faith, you take it to the heart.  The waiting is the hardest part.  The waiting is almost over.  You know what else I can’t for?  Huh?  Do ya?   I can’t wait for Boston College Screamin’ Eagle quarterback Matt Ryan.

Everbody’s been Orange Bowl MVP Brian Brohming it up.  Fight now for victory and show them, how we sure will win this game.  Fight on you Card’nals and prove to them
that we deserve our fame.  Everybody’s been packing a pair of Colts.  Brennan and McCoy.  Everybody’s been yakking about John Parker Wilson.  Roll Tide roll!  Like R. Kelly, everybody’s been feelin’ on yo’ Booty.  Not me folks.  Not the Public.  There’s a quarterback up in Chestnut Hill nobody wants to talk about.  For Boston, for Boston.  Thy glory is our own.  For Boston, for Boston.  ‘Tis here that truth is known.  The truth is, Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in the country. Since the 2005 season, Ryan has been leading the Screamin’ Eagles.  Since 2005 he has led them to two bowl victories.  Since 2005 he holds a 14-4 record in eighteen starts.  Ryan has thrown for 200 or more yards 15 times.  He’s is fifth all-time in school history in passing yards.  When all is said and done he will finish third behind Midget Moses and Brian Foley.  This is one cool cat.  Singin’ the blues while the lady-cats cry.  Wow, stray cat, you’re a real gone guy.  I wish I could be as carefree and wild.  But I got cat class and I got cat style.  So cool, they call him Matty Ice.  Ice ice baby, too cold, too cold.  Cool enough to lead the ACC in total offense and in passing yards.  Cool enough to play hurt.  He played most of 2006 on a broken foot.  He was awarded first-team All-ACC honors on a broken foot.  Gimping to a double overtime victory against nationally ranked Clemson.  Gimping around to beat Florida State.  Wo oh oh oh oh.  Wo oh, oh oh.  Hangin’ tough.  Hangin’ tough at 6'5?.  Hangin’ tough with a laser rocket arm. Hangin’ tough with great mechanics. So you can Sam Keller me.  Hail to the team!  The stadium rings as everyone sings the Scarlet and Cream. You can Matthew Stafford me.  Glory, glory to old Georgia!  Heck, you can even Pat White me.  Others may be black or crimson, but for us it’s Gold and Blue.  But I’m telling you its For Boston, for Boston, we sing our proud refrain.  It’s for Matt Ryan.  The best quarterback in the country.

Public Acknowledgements: DMX, Fresh Prince, Tom Petty, Stray Cats, Vanilla Ice, DraftStock.Com and the New Kids on the Block.

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!