Miller joins forces with prognostications

There was no shortage of big news this week in the National Football League as players were suspended, birthdays were celebrated, jinxes were smashed, and milestones were achieved.

If you have been within a mile of a television set lately, you have clearly familiar with football’s soap opera that is the continuing saga of the Philadelphia Eagles and Terrell Owens.

Like sands through the hour glass, so too were the troubled days of their lives as T.O. reached a new low in his career with his suspension without pay from all Eagles activities for the next four weeks, and their subsequent announcement that he will not return to the team afterward.

After months of repeatedly bashing Donovan McNabb and the organization, the Eagles decided to do away with the bird with the biggest beak. Unfortunately for them, Owens is also the biggest player they have on the field when it comes to making things happen.

Following the notification of his suspension, Owens called a press conference with his agent Drew Rosenhaus where he apologized to his teammates, his coach, and the organization for his actions, but it came as too little, too late as explained by McNabb in Thursday’s press conference.

“I thought it was a sincere apology just like my team have said, and it’s unfortunate that after the apology what happened after that, but again, that maybe could have been solved earlier in the week or whatever may have been, but again that’s over and that’s the past and we’re moving on,” he said.

When asked if there was anything that he could have done to put an end to the drama in its early stages, McNabb said that he felt confident in his actions, and that it is the responsibility for an individual to realize the possible effects of their actions.

“I don’t regret anything that I’ve done or I’ve said the way I’ve handled it. In life you have to handle situations that happen—if it’s personal or whatever—in a professional matter. You go along by obviously trying to put out a fire if there’s a fire that has been made. Also you want to handle it in a way that if kids are watching, they know that it’s the right decision to make and that it’s the right thing to do, and understanding that we are role models and that we are grown men…,” said McNabb.

LaDainian Tomlinson showed his manliness last week against the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets by racking up 107 yards on the ground and four touchdowns to lead the Chargers to their fifth win. Tomlinson’s accomplishments took a little of the sparkle off of Curtis Martin’s 100th career touchdown. While the score was almost to one of the league’s class acts, it was not as important to the Jets as Jason Wright’s score was for the Cleveland Browns because it marked the first time since last November that the Browns broke the plane of the end zone on a running play.

A man who ran to help his country after the events of September 11th was honored over the weekend as fans and the league showed their appreciation towards former Cardinals player Pat Tillman by celebrating what would have been his 29th birthday. Tillman put aside his high-paying NFL career to join the military and was subsequently killed in action. His death, while a tragedy, is a tribute his selfless nature and love for his country.

Emotions ran high in Arizona as a giant American flag was stretched across the field and four jets performed a fly-over in missing man formation.

Emotions were also bubbling over the following day in New England, but not from a celebration of Patriots fans.

Finally. That must have been the word dominating Peyton Manning’s thoughts on Monday night after finally defeating the New England Patriots in Massachusetts for the first time in eight attempts. It doesn’t matter that they beat up on an already beat up New England defense because Manning finally got the monkey off of his back. Now all that he has to do is win the big one this February—something he was never able to do in his college days with the Volunteers.

Carson Palmer didn’t have any problems rising to the occasion for the USC Trojans, and after a couple of years of progressive improvement he has led the Bengals to a 7-2 record.

The tiger-striped tacklers have held opponents to just 134 points (third in the AFC) through nine weeks while the offense is third highest scoring team in the conference with 210 points. They will enjoy this weekend’s bye along with the Saints, Chargers, and Titans, but our local prognosticators have done anything but sit on the sidelines.

John Blanco continued his dominance by missing only two out of 14 games last week to improve to 94-36 overall. He enjoys a nice view at the top of the prog palace, but second place Will Hunter kept pace with a 12-2 finish to climb to 89-41, while Jon Cramer tied Rich Brooks’ 11-3 mark to stay in third at 84-46. Unfortunately for Brook, he still lags behind the Lil’ Mahi (70-60) by a couple of games in last place at 68-62.

Aside from all of the week-to-week bragging rights, the records received new meaning from the folks at Miller Lite and the Pacific Trading Co. as they recently joined the Saipan Tribune to offer a slew of prizes to the top finishers.

The top weekly winner will receive a case of Miller Beer, unless the Lil’ Mahi takes the cake. For his accomplishments he will take home a Pepsi Package. Sorry little guy, but you’ve got a few more years to enjoy root beers.

Not only will our pickers win weekly prizes, the regular season champ will receive free entry with three friends to the Miller Lite Super Bowl Party and a Miller Gear package that includes a T-Shirt, keychain, can cooler, and more.

Blanco has a lead, but now the other guys have a little incentive to catch him.