Week 14 – Conspiracy Theory from 1988

This has only a slight connection to football, but this article is a must read – it describes how Ben Johnson believes that Carl Lewis led a conspiracy to compromise Ben Johnson’s 1988 drug sample!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/12/05/bc.as.spt.ath.australia.johnson.ap/index.html

The top 3 things that got me laughing in this article are:

1) That Ben Johnson claims that Carl Lewis was part of a conspiracy to taint his 1988 Olympic drug sample, EVEN THOUGH Ben Johnson admits using “banned drugs” at other points in his career. Ben Johnson says: "Number one, that day the drugs that they find in my system was not the drugs that I was using," he said. So, I think Ben Johnson believes that drug testing is like the game of “Go Fish.”
Olympic official: Do you have any, Stanzoloal?
Ben Johnson: It’s pronounced stanozolol, and NO, I don’t have any stanozolol, go fish!”

2) Ben Johnson claims that he “drank beer with a former US Football player in the drug test waiting room at Seoul.” …wait a minute, who serves beer at the drug test stations!?! (maybe it’s just a 1980s thing)

3) That the “footballer” is a “family friend” of Carl Lewis, which is why he clearly put something in Ben Johnson’s beer, right before Ben Johnson went to urinate.

I think one of the many things that makes no sense in all of this, is why would you take a beer from someone you don’t know right before you get drug tested, IN THE WAITING ROOM? I mean, honestly, who does that?

Onto the games…
Manwich Matchup of the Week AND Upset of the Week
New Orleans at Dallas – It’s the battle to be “America’s team!” This could be a high-scoring shootout, especially because I think M. Colston will be healthy for the Saints. The Saints have compiled an amazing 7-1 NFC record, and I think the magic will continue. Pick: Saints
Editor’s note: the saints are 7.5 point underdogs right now! That seems rather large.

Cleveland @ Pittsburgh- I too am absolutely flabergasted over the Browns victory. I was thinking about it afterwards, and the victories are so rare that everyone of them seems so very special. Pick: Pittsburgh

Atlanta at Tampa Bay – I think the Bucs have just thrown in the towel, and are now gunning for a top draft pick to get a new QB. Granted, Chris Simms may be fine next year even without his spleen. Pick: Atlanta

Baltimore at Kansas City – Whoa nellie. I’m banking on the fact that the Chiefs are going to be angry that a clumsy, caucasian, backup QB beat them last week. Let’s just hope they take their frustration out on the Ravens. Pick: KC

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets – this could be a very interesting game. Pick: Jets

Indianapolis at Jacksonville – I hope last week was Indy’s wake-up call. Pick: Indy

Minnesota at Detroit – oh boy… neither of these teams have been playing well at all. Go with the home team I guess? Pick: detroit

New England at Miami- I really thought the Dolphins were going to continue their winning ways. Pick: New England

N.Y. Giants at Carolina – 2 weeks ago, this easily would have been the Manwich Matchup. Now, these teams get matched up in an awkward elimination game. It’s almost impossible to forecast, because both teams have been so mixed up. What I can’t seem to figure out is how the Panthers have this amazing D-Line yet can’t stop anyone. I guess the LBs are that awful? Pick: CAR

Oakland at Cincinnati – The Bengals got lucky w/ this game. Pick: Cincy

Philadelphia at Washington – Jeff Garcia is back! This NFL season has had lots of QB surprises and drama. We’ve already had a Huard brother make a sensational run, the rise of an unknown (Tony Romo), a return to mediocrity (Joey Harrington), the 3 top selected rookies seeing action (Leinart, Young, Cutler), and even an appearance by Vinny Testaverde! All we need now is a Week 17 emergency start by Neil O’Donnell. Pick: Philly

Tennessee at Houston – I was praising the Titans last week, and I still had no clue they were capable of beating the Colts. The march to the 2007 Playoffs begins now! Pick: Titans

Green Bay at San Francisco – This used to be a sexy matchup. Pick: San Fran

Seattle at Arizona – Did anyone else see the game on Sunday night between Seattle and Denver? I know it was cold, but I swear Coach Holmgren was wearing George Costanza’s gortex coat. Pick: Seattle

Denver at San Diego- Well… at least the weather’s nice in San Diego. Pick: san diego

Chicago @ St. Louis- Final QB Ratings for this Sunday: Grossman: 21, Bulger: 42. I don't think that will be enough for the Rams. Pick: Bears

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 116-76
Manwich: 9-5 (Cowboys beat the Giants)
Upset of the Week: 3-10 (going w/ a rookie QB, even at home in Denver, is not a smart move.)