Picks of the Week

This is the first of many "picks of the week" segments that will occur weekly at We Make It Rain. It is a tried and trued concept, plus I can keep track of what I would have earned had I actually bet on all of the games (since gambling is illegal). Each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from my local paper as of the time of typing the entry. I will keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. On to the picks.

New York Giants - 4 1/2 at Washington Redskins
I just don't think that Washington is that good. Campbell still needs to develop, and there is that ridiculous week 1 winning streak for teams that won the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens + 1 1/2 versus Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati just isn't that good. Of course, Baltimore is starting Joe Flacco. In this scenario, I am going with the home team.

Miami Dolphins +3 versus New York Jets
Chad Pennington is so familiar with the Jets defensive players and tendencies, that he has to have an advantage, right?

Kansas City + 15.5 at New England Patriots
Simply because the spread is too high for not knowing exactly what we will get from Tom Brady.

Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 versus Houston Texans
Pittsburgh's defense is going to be as strong as always. I think Hedley Lamar (or Woodley) is going to have a breakout season. Pittsburgh's schedule is tough overall, but I look for them to start out strong. The Texans will be much improved, if not in record, then at least on the field.

Jacksonville Jaguars -3 at Tennessee Titans
Between these two teams, there is a grand total of 0 Wide Receivers.

Atlanta Falcons +3 versus Detroit Lions
Simply because of the Honeymoon effect for Ryan. Could be a shootout.

New Orleans Saints -3 versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I like the Bucs to make the playoffs this year, but New Orleans at home getting points? Come on.

Philadelphia Eagles - 7 1/2 versus St. Louis Rams
For some reason I keep wanting to take St. Louis here, but my mind keeps overruling my initial thoughts. Perhaps because Steven Jackson just signed, the offensive line didn't get any better and Pat White broke some of Marc Bulger's collegiate records.

Dallas Cowboys - 5 1/2 at Cleveland
I think Cleveland is going to have a horrible year. With Dallas's high flying offense, they will score a ton of points. This might be the Cowboys' year, as they signed a proven winner in Pac Man Jones to lead the team through the playoffs. Look at what he did last year in leading a completely undermanned Titans' team into the playoffs. What? He didn't play last year? Really? Nevermind.

San Diego Chargers - 9 versus Carolina
The Chargers will start the season at home with an eye-popping destruction of Carolina, to the point where we will call them the San Diego Hannas.

Arizona Cardinals -3 at San Francisco 49ers
Having finally settled on a reliable and prolific QB, Arizona should make a run. I think they will win the NFC West.

Chicago Bears + 9 1/2 at Indianapolis Colts
This is strictly a homer hunch, but I think that Manning not playing the preseason at all, together with the loss of his center and both guards, may allow for a massive game by Tommie Harris. At least massive enough to cover.

Green Bay Packers -3 versus Minnesota Vikings
I think the Packers are going to be just fine without Farve. Minnesota will win their share of games, just not this week.

Denver Broncos -3 at Oakland Raiders
I think the Broncos are playoff bound this year, and if they cannot beat the Raiders by 3, then they don't deserve to be in at all. I do think Oakland will have a respectable year. Not good mind you, but respectable.

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Seattle Seahawks +1 at Buffalo Bills
Not sold on Seahawks running game, but I am not sold on Buffalo at all. Better team getting points? Don't mind if I do.

Previous Week's Record: N/A
Year to Date: N/A
Winnings (Losses): N/A

Girl of the Week

It is time to debut a new recurring post here at We Make It Rain: The Girl of the Week. Look for this entry generally on Mondays, but given the Labor Day holiday, it will begin today. For now, this will be my weekly pick of apparently randomly selected women to ogle. Of course, Sinickal and Hopps might have some selections later, as well.

For now, on to the "Girl of the Week" - Maya Sakura.

Reason #1 We Hate Rich People

Sean "Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, Whatever He Will Be Called Next" is a very successful entrepreneur and rapper. [Ed. Note - He really is not a good rapper]. He has made quite a name for himself as a rapper, music and television producer, clothing line originator, and now vodka hawker and because of his bountiful successes, he has amassed quite a fortune. And, like almost any man, he has learned how to flaunt that fortune with the best of them, including purchasing his own private plane.

However, Mr. Combs not only has grounded his plane in lieu of flying commercial airlines, but he has also gone public with this information saying that because of rising fuel prices, he has not been able to continue to fly his private jet anymore. In addition, he said, "Give a shout-out to all my Saudi Arabia brothers and sisters and all the brothers and sisters in all the countries that have oil—if you could please send me some oil for my jet, I would truly appreciate it." Combs continued "Tell whoever the next president is, we need to bring gas prices down....I can't believe I'm flying commercial.".

Well, you know what Mr. Diddy, we can't believe you are flying commercial either. And while you are begging, why don't you ask for some fuel for those that need it to travel to see family across the country, rather than those that try to maintain a lavish lifestyle on both coasts.

I am not one to pass judgment on the rich to be able to do whatever they are able to do, especially if they have worked hard for, and earned, their money. Someday I hope to be that rich.

However, don't try to pass your sad tales like not being able to maintain your private plane to the regular folks who are having problems maintaining their automobile that takes them to and from their minimum wage jobs to support their family.

So, reason #1 why I hate rich people is that once they become famous, they think we care about their perceived money problems, when the only problems they have to face are superficial.

Little League Legend

I am a little late to the editorializing about this situation, but it took me awhile to figure out who exactly was to blame.

Jerricho Scott is a 9 year old little league [editor's note - not Little League, but rather a different organization for developing players] pitcher in New Haven, Connecticut who happens to throw around 40 miles per hour. Apparently, he was scaring opposing hitters to the point where he was told that he could no longer pitch in his league, but that he could continue pitching if he moved up an age bracket. (It is my understanding that 40 mph is not necessarily fast for 9 - 10 year olds, and that Scott has not hit a batter all year). Scott did not pitch in his first game after being told not to pitch, as it was not his usual game in the rotation. However, in the following game, his coach told Scott that he was going to pitch. Upon taking the mound, the competing team's coach had his players leave the field, despite the protestations of the player's themselves. (One of the stories is that the team was 0-8 and their coach wanted the forfeit victory).

One of the allegations is that Scott turned down an offer to play on a different team in that league (the defending champs apparently), and that a board member that banned Scott from pitching was an employee of the defending champs' sponsor.

That, of course, is the Cliff's Notes version, and I am sure that as the (sure to be filed) lawsuit progresses we will hear all types of allegations and excuses, but for right now, I want to figure out who to blame. Here are my 5 people that I feel are the most to blame.

5. Overzealous parents who want their teams to win at all costs. Their ridiculous attitude has led to the development of sports and leagues where nobody wins, nobody keeps score, and everybody just has a good time. This is sports. Kids need to learn how to win, and how to lose. It's part of growing up. If you want your kid to have fun only, then take them somewhere else.

4. Ridiculous parents who don't want to hurt anybodies' feelings, let alone the children. Your kids' feelings will not be permanently damaged because one pitcher is better than them. Your kid won't be permanently damaged if all the pitchers are better than them. Your kids will bounce back. If they aren't good at baseball, try music, soccer, art, pick-up-sticks, whatever. Hell, try all of them. Let the kid figure out what he is good at. It might not be baseball, it might be photography. Who cares.

3. Johnnie Bell of Stuart, Florida - Because he was the pitcher that threw 1000 miles per hour and was the first to have the wicked curve ball that scared everyone in my league. I don't blame him for being good or for the Jerricho Scott situation, but I blame him for ending my baseball career.

2. Parents and bureaucrats that think it is alright to skirt the rules, or change them altogether. If Scott was allowed to pitch at the beginning of the season, let him pitch at the end of the season. The board members of that little league should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

1. YALE! - It was New Haven, after all.

Possibly Our President - Are You Kidding ME?

I love contests of all types - I believe in exploiting your opponents weaknesses until they make you stop. I am hoping for a good fight with this race and want to do my part by throwing dirt early and often.

We Make it Rain: 1 - FoxNews: 0

Volley #1:
Should McCain win and go into remission - This will be our Commander in Chief.

On the Harley:



I hate to read tea leaves but isn't that one step before Alyssa?



After all she did pose for Vanity:



At least she will have something in common with Cecilia Sarkozy:



I shouldn't be throw too much dirt - after all she loves video games and they teach real war experience:

Dude Made Thriller

We here at We Make it Rain love sports primarily because we can appreciate talent, especially talent that can evoke jokes and/or mockery. Talent like that doesn't just exist in the sports milieu, it can cover a myriad of endeavors, like music. And in music almost nobody is more talented, or evokes more jokes, than Michael Jackson.

Without embarking on a biography of the King of Pop, we simply just want to acknowledge Michael Jackson's 50th birthday today. So, Happy Birthday Michael Jackson!

Just remember, no matter what accusations people have brought against you, you still made Thriller. For that, and your entire discography, you are certifiably in my Top 10.

Now "U" Crank that Soldier Boy

Sorry for the absence in posts, but unfortunately, from time-to-time, real life intervenes. Anyway, just a quick note to remind everyone that college footbal begins tonight, and what better way to start a new season than to not watch the begining of the resurgence of the national power that is THE "U". Starting about 19 freshmen and 43 sophomores, the Randy Shannon era certainly has a bright future behind redshirt freshman Quarterback Robert Marve, who is statistically the best high school quarterback ever produced in the State of Florida (and No, it's not Tim Tebow, look up the numbers), and a myriad of freshmen linebackers (the #s 1,2,3,5 and 7 ranked linebackers in the country last year). Unfortunately, Marve is suspended tonight, so the Canes will go with freshman Jacory Harris to run the show, leaving Marve to cut his teeth against Florida next week at the Swamp. [Authors Note - I'll be at that game].

Now, some of you might be coherent enough to remember that I said "not watch" the game in the earlier paragraph. That is because it isn't being shown on any network whatsoever. Oh well, I guess North Carolina State v. South Carolina will have to do.