sunday hangover in the 3-Dot Lounge

If the Colts don't conquer the Belichick mountain today, they never will. It's shaping up as a defining moment in Peyton Manning's career. Right now, he's the face of the most popular league in history. If he fails again today, the jokes will commence... BOOO-vers

25 years ago Wednesday, the Bengals lost their 1st Super Bowl to San Fran. Here's a great story about the 49er alumni from that game, and the pain that football exacts...http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/21/SPG6JNM6MN1.DTL

Look at the Reds salary numbers in John Fay's analysis in Sunday's Enquirer, and you know part of the reason they are where they are: 9-mil for Eric Milton. 4-plus for Kyle Lohse. 2-mil each for Mike Stanton and Jeff Conine. The burdensome salaries of Junior and Dunn. Throwing good money after bad...

Anyone seen Letters From Iwo Jima, Eastwood's companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers? I'm a WWII nut, and was a little disappointed w/Flags..the book was much, much better...

I've never seen a college coach go off on a referee the way Mick Cronin did at the end of regulation yesterday. He made Huggins look shy. Given that Cronin ran clear across the court and cursed the guy the way Dennis Hopper cursed in Blue Velvet, it's a wonder he didnt get a second T, and tossed.

Nothing new, but I remain amazed with the writing on the TV show 24. They've taken a one-year concept and kept it compelling for, what, 5 years? Already, this season looks as good or better than any of the others. Free TV gets no better...

Bet The Ranch If You Dont Mind Sleeping on Cardboard: Bears 20, Saints 17... Colts 27, Pats 26.