When I was growing up in Steubenville, Ohio, on North 6th Street, everyone had a nick name. There was Que Ball, Paul the Pollock (you know who you are), Cement Head, Shorty (for obvious reasons), Pee Wee, Nappy, Salami breath, The Nose and many more.
We all had a moniker (mine was Sabes) and nobody was offended. The phone would ring and my dear departed mom, Mary, would yell, “It’s Pee Wee for you.”
That’s the way it was, but now it seems like everyone is offended and that offends me. I was driven over the top this past weekend, probably fueled by the Northwestern game.
I was surfing through the TV stations trying to relax with a nice glass of wine when I stopped to see this interview with our wonderful president by this so called reporter. I am waiting for this AP guy to ask about jobs, the government shutdown, the upcoming huge debt ceiling vote, will he be negotiating or golfing?
Low and behold this idiot asks the president what he thinks about the Washington Redskins nickname and if he thinks it should be changed because some people may be offended? Without blinking he starts to give an answer like he knew the question was coming. With all that is going on, this is what they are talking about!
Obama says they should change the name. Will this craziness ever end? If for some reason our great president gets his wish and the Skins must change their name it will never end! The Audubon Society may be offended with the Blue Jays or the Cards (if they go down to the Pirates) or the Orioles for giving birds a bad name.
Makers of argyle socks may want the Red Sox and White Sox to include Argyle Sox. A great great great cousin of Blackbeard the Pirate is offended by Pittsburgh and we could even see Siegfried and Roy upset with Detroit for abusing the Tigers name. Sly Stallone may need some quick cash and sue the Colorado Rockies.
Do you see where I’m going? Once this type of thing starts it will never stop. Please, no normal person can be offended by the nickname Redskins if, in fact, the logo was put together by a native American Indian. So go golfing or try to negotiate something instead of talking about this nonsense. GO SKINS!
Northwestern triggered a bad week for this bettor, maybe the worst bad beat I have ever taken. But that was last week. I need to regroup and get some winners.
RECORD: 5-5-1 overall NFL;
29-18 overall NCAA.
Last week: 3-3 NCAA, 0-1 NFL
NCAA Saturday
BYU -7 vs. Georgia Tech: The Cougars could be a perfect 5-0 but for two narrow losses. They are really moving the ball up the field and their defense has been great, to say the least, giving up just 16.8 points a game. They crushed the Yellow Jackets last year in Atlanta, 41-17, and catch them coming off a huge game at Miami. BYU.
Kansas St. +19 vs. Baylor: How can you bet against a team that in four games has scored 69-70-70-73 points? Well, those games were all at home against a West Virginia team that was half ok and put 42 points on the board just failing to get the cover. The Wildcats from Manhattan beat Texas on the road and should have beaten Okie State last week, losing close (33-29) as a 13½ point dog. They were crushed at Baylor last year 52-24 as a 12 point favorite and want revenge in the conference game. KANSAS ST.
LSU -7 vs. Florida: In their five games this year the Gators have played all of them UNDER the listed total. This game could play out a lot like last year in Gainesville when Florida beat LSU 14-6, except for the fact we will get a different winner this year. Tigers cannot afford another loss and get revenge. LSU/UNDER.
North Texas -6½ vs. Middle Tenn St.: The Mean Green have won both of their home games, including a big victory over Ball State as the dog. They look to avenge last year’s 38-21 loss in Murfreesboro to the Blue Raiders who are not the same team. NORTH TEXAS.
NFL
Sunday
We get the biggest point spread in the history of the NFL with the undefeated Denver Broncos posted as a 28 point favorite over the winless and hapless Jaguars. If I were running a sports book I would not even post this game as it is for entertainment only and to raise Manning’s stats.
Titans +13½ vs. Seahawks: Ok I must be crazy betting against the 12th man but this number is just too enticing with Seattle coming off back-to-back road games and their first loss. TITANS.
Redskins +4½ vs. Cowboys: Just love it when the announcers get into this Redskin debacle. I will mute it, but do love to see Jerry Jones cringe when his team loses. Skins off the layoff. REDSKINS.
Have a great week, and remember, you may be walking around lucky and not even know it. So play those 10-team parlay cards and those 50 cent pick fives.
Record
Last Week
3-4
NFL
5-5-1
NCAA
29-18
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Follow Richard on Twitter @SabesBet. Contact Richard at [email protected].