I know I started a frenzy amongst Country Music fans when I broke the news that Keith Urban was the headliner at this years NFL Kickoff concert, and made fun of him in the process, but he's not the only act involved. Add to him, Usher and the beautiful Natasha Bedingfield and you have a show of people I didn't know that they had released an album in the last five years that's sure to please!

"It's my dream to sing in New York," Bedingfield said. "I've never been able to stop traffic like this - I stop traffic in other ways." Bedingfield says she's tackling the job of learning the basics about American football. "It's a new sport for me," she said. "I'm used to rugby."

Usher also is stoked for his appearance at the first NFL Kickoff held in New York in six years. "I'll be looking for body-painted fans," he said. "It's going to be an eclectic performance. It'll be great."

Stars from NBC TV shows also are expected to appear at the event, which runs from 3 to 6:45 p.m. Before the music begins, the NFL will show a video on the Super Bowl champion Giants. The event will be shown live on the NFL Network.

The concert will be a warm-up for the opening game of the NFL season tonight at Giants Stadium, where Big Blue squares off against the Washington Redskins.

Cops are planning on a crowd of 30,000 to 60,000 people at the concert, sources said. Spectators are being allotted the entire length of Central Park South, all the way from Columbus Circle to Grand Army Plaza.

Wait, did the NY Post really use the word "stoked" in an article? Guess so. In all seriousness, all three are great musicians and Keith Urban's following is huge. Plus we get NBC TV Stars as well! With the likes of Chuck, Noah Wiley (ER is still on right?), K.I.T. from Knight Rider, anyone from the eight Law & Orders and Minka Kelly and Hayden Pantierre (you can scratch the previous four)....anything is possible!

Oh and...Yay! Football's back.

Traffic Jammin' Session (NY Post)

REMINDER: Live-Blog tonight!

So how about this for an American debut. 3-3, Double, BB, 3 RBIs oh and this....

"A star is born in the teeth of the Lake Michigan wind."- Brent Musburger

Kerry Wood had tried to blow the game for the Cubs followed in turn by Eric Gagne doing the same for the Brewers. Fun game....well fun from the 9th inning on and Brent Musburger wasn't that bad.

The Cubs also lost the game in the tenth. Ah Baseball....it's good to have you back.

Okay now that the rain has stopped in Chicago we're going to try this again. Brent has already called Tony Gwynn Junior, Tony Gwynn Senior and Orel's hair is losing some of it's hold in the rain.

"I told him I sampled his mother's product. I can always tell the difference when it's Mrs. Braun."- Brent Musburger

Ryan Braun's mom is a brewer for Anheuser-Busch, but if you came in at the right time that could have been really funny. Hey there's the Edgar Renteria I know! A strike out with less than two outs and a runner at third and an amazing play by Alex Gordon to end it. Tigers....0 and 1.

And we're out to Dodger Stadium to hear from Dave O'Brien and Steve Phillips. It's definitely not raining there.

Jeff Kent just jacked a homer off Zito to make it 3-0 Dodgers. Vin Scully is making the impending blowout entertaining. (Via S2N)

I wish I had him because Dave O'Brien puts me to sleep. Utley homers for his first on the year 6-3 Nats. Cubs fans seem to really like this Fukudome guy too.....

If I had one wish today, it would be that Harry Caray could have lived long enough to have to pronounce the name "Kosuke Fukudome". That would have never failed to be hilarious. (Via Mal)

I concur. Zambrano's pitches are moving like crazy today in the cold weather. Good sign for Cubs fans. He's only given up one hit through six and two thirds. Santana is also perfect through two innings.

I heard this gem early in the Tigers/Royals broadcast and had to take note of it to put on here..."He did a nice job there pulling out-- up, pulling up."- Rob Allen of FSN Detroit (Via Chase)

If Erin Andrews is doing a game in So Cal, two words should be required: tube top. (Via Mal)

I was going to say sun dress, but either would suffice. I have yet to see her on the telecast though. Nevermind....here she is....



Wow...the Nats are doing it again in the ninth. Nick Johnson with a double that scored Lastings Milledge from first....barely.

"DeRosa moves in to keep Gwynn close on second base."- Brent Musburger
"Prince Fielder not the fleetest of foot but he scores easily from 2nd base."- Orel Hershiser

These two seriously have no idea who's on base. Gwynn bunted over Weeks to 2nd and Prince Fielder got an intentional walk and is on first. Good to see Kerry Wood in midseason form already as well. 1-0 Brewers in the ninth. Make that 3-0 nothing after a double.

Annnnnd.....It's Eric Gagne's turn to blow the game! Single, 4 pitch walk, and......3 Run FUKUDOME HOMER!!!!!!

Great call by Brent Musburger noticing that ex-Cub Jason Kendall was trying to steal signs behind the plate.

Moving onto Joe and Jon and we find out one of our replacements for Rick Sutcliffe this season.....Joe Morgan. Boooo.

"One thing I know is....the ball hurts."- Joe Morgan

I'll have other stuff going on today, but I'm going to keep a running track of Opening Day videos, quotes and goingons in this spot. It's cold and gray here in the Nation's Capital and it's perfect Baseball weather! Not really, but Opening Day is here anyway.

Here are your ESPN announcers for the day and I hope you get to enjoy some of the action....

Baseball Tonight from Yankee Stadium (ESPN, Noon)- Karl Ravech, John Kruk, Eric Young
Toronto at New York Yankees (ESPN, 1pm)- Dan Shulman, John Kruk
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (ESPN2, 2pm)- Brent Musburger, Orel Hershiser
San Francisco at Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN, 4pm)- Dave O’Brien, Steve Phillips, ERIN ANDREWS
Baseball Tonight (ESPN2, 5pm from Bristol)- Karl Ravech, Eric Young, Buster Olney
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota (ESPN2, 7pm)- Jon Miller, Joe Morgan
Houston at San Diego (ESPN2, 10pm)- Sean McDonough, Orestes Destrade, Candy Maldonado
Baseball Tonight (ESPN, Midnight from Bristol)- Steve Berthiaume, Eric Young, Buster Olney
__________________________________

"Actually adding Robert Cano up in the lineup not at the bottom is significant."- Eric Young

That would be Robinson, EY. And so it begins. It's raining in NY so it looks like Baseball isn't going to get underway until around 2pm.

And here we go. ESPN is giving us FSN's feed of the KC-DET game while New York is letting the rain die down.

No one (who's not a Tigers fan) should have to suffer through Rod Allen's color commentary. Clear, rain clouds in the Bronx. Clear! (Via RJBO)

The color guy from the Tigers just said, about Cabrera, "he's never played in front of a crowd like this before." Yeah, well, he's probably right; the 2003 World Series wasn't that big of a deal. (Via Anon)

Allen right on cue! Verlander is looking really good btw. Fastball is up in the mid 90s and some of the Royals' hands are going to be hurting in this cold weather. Hey Edgar Renteria can still hit! 1-0 Tigers.

Rod Allen, about Pudge Rodriguez: "He looks in shape... put on a few pounds...looking thick....in a good way"...what???? I skip my class to see the first pitch of the last year in yankee stadium and i get this!? (Via Frigidevil)

Apparently Musberger told Orel about his rule of his color guy being required to slick back his hair. (Via Mal)

Hahahaha. Orel is looking awesome today. Looks like the Cubs game is going to get off soon....it's still raining in New York. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd.....

POSTPONED! That's no fun, but it looks like the Cubs-Brewers get underway at 3pm.

Here we go.....

"Now here is Tony Gwynn Senior. His dad of course the Hall of Famer."- Brent Musburger

And The Burger wastes no time!

"Fielder gave up meat in the off season. Cattlemen everywhere are hoping he'll go into a slump"- Brent Musburger (Via Mal)

Over/Under on Hersheisher strangling Musberger: Bottom 4th after Musberger makes his 9349309349393 retarded comment of the day. (Via Anon)

Under! And another rain delay. Boooooo.

"Roberts showed some veterness there."- Gary Thorne

Good lord.

Occasionally you're just chatting it up too much to notice that the Play by Play guy threw it to you. Cheryl Miller had also just done an amazing job interviewing Eva Longoria on her and Tony Parker's nuptials. Who would expect her to be ready for an "actual" report on a player in the game?

"MY BAD!"

“The whole ratings system is full of ****. There’s no way in the world they know who’s watching anything in this country”- Charles Barkley (I tend to agree)

“The key to Brandon Roy is going to be his size.”- Reggie Miller (Umm What?)

“There’s Dean Demopolis who was at Temple under Don Chaney”- Mike Fratello

“The Gardener is Back!”- Mike Fratello after an interview with Eva Longoria

“He should aim for the hoop in the middle”- Mike Fratello after Marv Albert tells the audience that Francisco Elson sees double because of the mask he wears. Double is two Mike….not three. (Via Half Court Heave's live-blog)

And the highlight of the night had to be hearing Charles Barkley call out Skip Bayless and Jay Mariotti for calling the Spurs boring. He said they knew nothing about the sport, which made me fall asleep peacefully and miss the entire 2nd half.

There’s nothing like Charles Barkley putting you to bed at night……err, I’m glad the NBA is back.

So Much Live-Blogging It Will Make Your Eyes Bleed…NBA Opening Night! (Half Court Heave)

What's the NBA Season kicking off without the Knicks telling you their favorite Halloween costumes? Nothing I tell you! NOTHING!!!

My personal favorite is David Lee at about the 17 second mark

AA's Predictions:

East- 1) Det, 2) Bos, 3)Wash, 4) Mia, 5) Chi, 6)Cle, 7) NJ, 8) Tor
West- 1) Phx, 2) SA, 3) Dal, 4) Hou, 5) Den, 6) Utah, 7) LAC, 8) NOK

Eastern Conference Championship- Detroit over Washington
Western Conference Championship- San Antonio over Phoenix
NBA Finals- Detroit over San Antonio

ROY- Kevin Durant
MVP- Kevin Garnett
Coach- Byron Scott (NOK)

God...jokes from last year are so funny. The All Saints press photo will always make me laugh. I don't care if you're like TBL and want another Kim Kardasharirirarian photo.

10:55- The Colts are ready to strike and Madden is ready to pass out.

Vinatieri hits a Field Goal and the Colts push the led up to 17....

27-10 Colts.

For those of you who want to re-live the halftime show before I slay it in its own post.....Click Here

"The soccer zealots are also bitching about the game running long and delaying the start of the united/chivas game in LA. cue nelson....."- mcoale

Two questions....1) How do you know that? 2) Not a question...HA! HA!

11:04- Sorry for the break, but no one is really commenting.....Touchdown Colts.

34-10 Colts. Game Over.

I was on the WAPO site reading the blogs and the soccer one was updated (since they are playing tonight in LA). and I read the comments and it was nothing but soccer-heads bashing the college game on ESPN. It's really funny to read things like "why don't they just have a running clock?" or " can't they just show the game on ESPN Classic?" or "They would interrupt the football game if Beckham was playing." silly people.- mcoale

Hahahahahaha. People never cease to amaze me.

11:12- We're into the territory where each live-blog quarter gets shorter and shorter. The Saints complete a few passes and go no-huddle. Brees hits the TE Johnson for about the 50th time tonight.

"NBC really needs to re-evaluate their bump music library. i know it's Indy, but I think I just heard "Cuts Like a Knife"- Anon, Amen....FYI, a bump is the little diddies you hear when they transition from clip to clip.

Hahahaha Running with the Devil by Van Halen takes us to commercial! Great call Anon!!!

11:20- "The Horse Trailer's back???"- AM, He seems so excited

"Yes, but look at the bright side, AA. Now you get 10:00 game minutes of Michaels and Madden filler. And it's what, 34-10? The over/under is 53, so we can play the "when will Al Michaels make a thinly veiled gambler's reference" game.- RUTS, Is the veiled reference ever that veiled? How has he not been questioned by the FBI?

11:29- I know I've said this before, but......WADE PHILLIPS?!?!?!?! Come on. Does anyone think Dallas will do anything this year?

Sean Payton's offense looked like ass tonight. It's almost to the point that the less you "try" to get Bush involved the better you do. They didn't try to go up top once. Makes zero sense.

WOW! Giordono just ran through everyone on that interception. That kid is fast!

41-10 Colts.

"We thought it would be a high scoring game, but who knew 41 of them would come from one team."- AM, There's your vague reference RUTS.

Brees has averaged 6.2 Yards per completion according to Al.....that would be a record. Just dreadful.

And on queue he completes a 20 yard pass. Chris Weinke is safe!!!

So that's the game.....wait.....no it's not. Sean Payton calls a charity play for bettors everywhere....

He then decides to run the ball on a draw. Huh?

Oh well....that's all she wrote in this one. An absolute blowout by the Colts...shame on you who expected something else. Just an FYI....if there's another game this year where the Colts aren't laying at least 7 points....You take it. And you take it fast!

41-10 Colts. Thanks to all of the commenters this fine evening and thanks to Keith Olbermann for that halftime "show"

9:15- Reggie Wayne Fumbles and Jason David returns it all the way for a Saints' TD! Get burned by Harrison one play, return a fumble for a TD the next.....

7-7.

"I really hate it when they run one play or just have the kickoff after a break and then they go to another break. It's like someone giving you a hummer and then stops to answer a cell phone call."- SMED, Amen Smed....Amen.

9:24- Nice clip of someone driving John Madden's bus around the track at Indy. Good times.

When did Joseph Addai turn into Larry Johnson? Good lord this is a lot of carries early. Ugoh gets used by Will Smith and the Colts are punting. Moore runs it back into Indy territory after Hunter Smith out kicks his coverage.

"Al- they use Bush, the use Moore. I say we can use MORE BUSH."- Anon, This thread is slowly turning into 3rd Grade humor, but there's nothing wrong with that.

9:30- Wow, Bob Sanders should have had that pickle on that one. 3rd down and 4 and the Saints run a little trickeration...a reverse to Stecker nets them the first down.

"Bush through the middle."- AM, Sorry I had to.

Another 3rd down attempt for the Saints....Reggie Bush drops a sure first down, and Olindo is back on again....it's good.

10-7 Saints

"Does Al still think he's fooling us into thinking he's the same height as Madden? It's been 5 years Al. We know you're standing on something."- Student of the Game, I know right? He's standing on like 15 phone books. Madden is Shrek.

Just an FYI that I'll be Live-Blogging the Halftime Show in another thread.

9:41- Andrea gives us a report that African-American College teachers are comparing Tony Dungy's victory to Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Ummm, it was great for the Black Community, but let's not go overboard here.

Wow....great play by Roman Harper! Turn and karate chop that thing. Another Hunter Smith punt. New Orleans has great field position again.

"Going into commercial of Louisville/Mid Tenn game. Mr Announcer man says "Brohm is coming back on the field to get his team out of the funk they're in" Umm...They have 38 points in the 3rd.I don't believe O is the problem. Great job tonight."- Make It Stick, I'm loving the College updates.....keep them coming. Also, Mr. Announcer Man is a hilarious substitute when you don't know his name

9:48- Keiaho with a hell of a tackle on Reggie Bush. Just shoved the defender into him. Is it just me or is Reggie trying to hard tonight?

"Tony Dungy couldn't get his daughter into a better college?"- Anon, Hahaha....Spellman isn't good enough for you Anon? FYI- They were on the Hillman waiting list.

Great pass down field to Clark and Addai follow it up with a 10 yard run. Anyone else notice that they are turning the volume up and down on the crowd each play? As soon as Al and John go to talk they turn it way down.

Vinatieri hits a FG and we're tied...

10-10

10:58- Brees had a rating of 107 in the shotgun in 2006?!?! Goddamn that is ridiculous. Thanks for that stat Madden, and another great point saying that Freeney has been dominated tonight.

Of course....Dwight just blew by the Saints line on the next play.

That's the half......man Football is fun!

10 to 10 Tie!

Meet me here for the halftime show live-blog.

Seriously, before you even think about reading or looking at anything else.....click on that picture above. When did Al Michaels and John Madden turn into Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric in The Lost Boys??? Holy crap.

FYI- This is now my new wallpaper. I think you should make it yours.

Onto the live-blog of "Thursday Night Should Be Sunday Night Football In America"!

Quote of the night comes from our friend Lozo and it doesn't even involve the pro game...

"Jimmy Claussen had shoulder surgery on his elbow."- Lou Holtz

8:06- We're live from the RCA Dome!!!!! Football is here and I couldn't be happier. Welcome Back!

Dick Er, Rich Eisen informs us that Keisha Cole is also singing tonight. That's good to know.

THIS IS OOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRR SMALL TOWWWWWWN!

Or something like that. Nice! They went straight into the Our Country commercial. Synergy rules!!!

8:16- I think they purposely put Faith Hill before Kelly Clarkson to make her feel like crap for gaining 50 lbs this offseason.

"This Kiss" ranks number 4 on the list of songs I DO NOT want to hear before a football game. Others include....Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground and Electric Avenue by Eddie Ocean.

FYI- Number 1 on the list of song I WANT to hear is The Divinyls I Touch Myself and/or RATM's Freedom. One or the other.

8:25- That girl can sing! Did I miss Kelly Clarkson??? Dammit. Tell me someone YouTubbed the Frumpster. Oh well.....let's do this!

8:35- Good to see you Al and John. You look much less frightening in HD than you do in that photo above.

"The Season Begins...."- Al Michaels, Thank God!

Did anyone else notice in the open while faith hill was singing that John Madden looked completely uncomfortable walking on that fake red carpet? And we get to see that every Sunday night all year long!- Matt

Oh yes I did Matt, and the video should be up in about 10 minutes! Hilarious.

8:42- Wow that Manning-Bush spot was completely unfunny. Just kick the thing off already. When did they flip the coin by the way? Did I completely miss that?

Wow. Mike McKenzie blasts Addai on the first play and he's down. And he's okay!!! Thank god. My KSK Keeper League Team would be in trouble. Whew.

It appears Marvin Harrison is wearing Billy Dee Williams' mustache.- McBain (Has he ever not had it? LANDO!)

8:45- Sit down Reggie Bush. All of that dancing will not get you by the white special teams guy!

I can't even here John and Al it's so loud in the dome....the Indy D looks amped. Lookout for a bomb....

8:52- Reggie dances again and gets blasted. Just run straight President. Andrea Kramer tells us nothing about Joseph Addai. Great reporting.

3rd down and 6 and Indy smells the draw and just about knocks the Saints out of field goal range.....

Like I said.....Olindo Mare misses the FG.

"Did they get enough plugs for Sprint in that opening or did they need about 30 more?"- Matt, Anything over Our Country. Anything.

8:58- The Colts looked pretty weak until that completion to Dallas Clark. First down. They can really do that all night long if they want to. Another first down with Addai running on 3rd down.

TOUCHDOWN MARVIN HARRISON!!!!

7-0 INDY

Beautiful pass and catch there. God I love football....isn't it the best? I just can't get over how happy I am that the season is here. That was the longest offseason ever!

9:08- "Monday September 24th you'll meet Chuck."- Al Michaels, Yeah and then Chuck will leave us when he's canceled a week later.

"Jeff Saturday looks like Ron Jeremy with a Helmet on."- OilCanBoyd, Now that's funny...I don't care who you are.

John Madden goes into a five minute convo about how contacts work. Meanwhile Bethea destroys the Saints TE Johnson! 3 and out for the Saints.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND COMMENT ON THE NEW NBC FOOTBALL INTRO

Meet me here for the 2nd Quarter of the live-blog

We're kicking off the NFL Season (get it?) with a live-blog tonight, and YOU'RE invited! Cool right? I thought so. So while I make my two trek through the worst traffic on the face of the earth.....you get your commenting hats on and start preparing for the live-blog.

Here's what you need to know.....

Spread: Colts by 6, O/U 53
Where: RCA Dome, Indianapolis
When: 8:30pm
Weather: It's a Dome you a**
Music: Q: Where do Honeydews and Cantaloupes go to camp?
A: John Cougar's Mellencamp!

Love that joke....also Kelly Clarkson and Faith Hill

What To Look For When Indy Has The Ball:

1. Anthony Gonzalez- The third WR in Indy's system is usually a sneaky MFer....I don't think AG will be any different than Brandon Stokely in this regard.
2. Mike McKenzie- About the only person who can do anything to slow down Indy.
3. Tarik Glenn's Replacement Tony Ugoe- He's protecting Peyton's blindside, and has some big shoes to fill after Glenn retired.
4. Marvin Harrison- Do I really have to say anything else?
5. Peyton- Again....Do I have to say anything?

What To Look For When N.O. Has The Ball:

1. Sean Payton's Genius- I guess you can't really look at someone's genius, but you'll know if it's working right away.
2. Bob "Mother F'ing" Sanders- I nicknamed him this last year when said that if he played the whole playoffs the Colts were a shoe-in for the title. The dude is the only good thing on that defense. I don't care what you say....Freeney is overrated.
3. Reggie Bush- He's not a rookie anymore and everyone is wondering what Payton has in store for the Soph. I'm hoping they cut down on the gimmick plays this, and just let the baller run.
4. Drew Brees' Birthmark- How can you not stare at it?
5. Drew Brees' Receiving Core- I'd take the quartet of Colston, Henderson, Copper, and Meachem over most other team's choices. I can't wait to see them go four wide.

AA Prediction: Colts 31- Saints 20

Leave your predictions in the comments and I'll see you around 8pm folks!

Bang it here for the Live-Blog 1st Quarter

There are things you miss out on when you're a lowly blogger. You don't get to attend the games, you don't get to experience the fans, you don't get to check out the sights around town, and you most certainly don't get to....Play cornhole with a Coors Light Girl???

And Darren Rovell pretends his job is sooo tough...

Anyway, the game did not go over well. I was hoping that Stefanie would be good, so that I wouldn't have to feel uncomfortable about beating her. You see, when it comes to competitions like this, I can't ever be polite. So I beat her 4-0.

Damn. I wish I could play a pickup game of cornhole with a chick while doing my job. Oh that's right...I can!!! I forgot I live in my parent's basement....Mom, you got next???

Coors Light Gal, Game of Cornhole And Me (Sports Biz)

I know I've used that before when talking about the first two days of the NCAA Tournament, but I think I've changed my stance. There's nothing more painful than the NFL Offseason (especially this one). It's ridiculously long and seems to go on forever when the preseason finally starts.

Well that all ends tonight (cue the All American Rejects). The NFL Season is kicking off tonight, and it's kicking off here at AA(.com) as well. I'm going to give you a few details on what to expect this year, and then throw some quotes and links up regarding tonight's Saints-Colts matchup.

The NFL and AA:

1. Live-Blog Tonight (Around 8pm)! I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not, but screw it....it's Opening Night. I hope you can make it.

2. Live-Blog of every Monday Night Football game starting with the Double Header on 9/10.

3. Signal to Noise live-blogging most (if not all) of the Sunday Contests. As well as other Channel 4 News Team Members filling in the top games of the weekend.

4. The AA NFL Pick 'Em Contest for a free IPhone. There's still time to join....and yes....a FREE IPhone is going to the winner thanks to Ligit.com.

5. "Your Sunday In Quotes": A new feature that will have an open thread on Sunday where you can add any of the wacky Announcer quotes you hear throughout the day. I'll compile all of them for a nice big post on Monday.

Fun times right?

Around the 'Sphere NFL News:

The Channel 4 News Team has a Fantasy Fantasy Football League.....Jon Kitna is my Quarterback. Enough said.

"There was so much focus on player conduct during the offseason that I think that everybody, quite frankly, right now is ready to get onto the football aspect of things."- Adam Schefter (NFL Network)

The Jets and Giants are getting a new stadium It's pretty. (NY Daily News)

“Everything has been negative and it’s time for some positive stuff. Ninety-nine percent of what happens in the NFL is good. This offseason has just been filled with crap”- John Madden

The Ballhype 17 Games Contest is starting tonight as well.

Bill Maas has been arrested again! Carrying a loaded gun on a plane is reaaaaally smart. (Fanhouse)

KSK is in a giving mood. (Kissing Suzy Kolber)

Your ESPN "Experts" have their predictions up Sal Palantonio is picking Indy to be a Wild Card team....that makes Jacksonville the AFC South winner. Riiiiight.

Peter King is in rare form already. "Coffeenerdness: Might be just my imagination, or my experience at the local Starbucks, but this breakfast-sandwich thing is slowing the service there noticeably. It's a coffee place after all." (CNNSI)

Dan Shanoff is picking the Pats over the Saints in the Superbowl. (Dan Shanoff)

Urlacher is calling out Merriman for his Lights Out celebration (Fan IQ)

The Pro Bowl may be moved up. Really? (Larry Brown Sports)

David Carr Is Apparently Hot (Ladies...)

Matt Millen and his Intern are heading to Oaktown. (Ghosts of Wayne Fontes)

Predictions from Minnesota. Surprise! Randball is picking the Vikes Week 1. Tread carefully with that game people. (Randball)

And lastly....No Opening Day post would be complete without predicitions. Here are mine.

NFC East- Dallas Cowboys (Redskins, Eagles, Giants)
NFC North- Chicago Bears (Lions, Packers, Vikings)
NFC South- New Orleans Saints (Panthers, Bucs, Falcons)
NFC West- Seattle Seahawks (49ers, Cardinals, Rams)
Wild Card- Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers
NFC Champion- Chicago Bears

AFC East- New England Patriots (Jets, Bills, Dolphins)
AFC North- Baltimore Ravens (Steelers, Bengals, Browns)
AFC South- Indianapolis Colts (Texans, Titans, Jaguars)
AFC West- San Diego Chargers (Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs)
Wild Card- Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos
AFC Champion- San Diego Chargers

Super Bowl XLII- San Diego over Chicago

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Adrian Peterson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: LaRon Landry
MVP: LT
Offensive Player of the Year: LT
Defensive Player of the Year: Shawne Merriman
Coach of the Year: Mike Nolan
Fantasy Sleeper: Mike Furrey Furrey isn't really a sleeper, so I'm switching to Brandon Jones (TEN) and/or Brandon Marshall (DEN). Pick your Brandon!

Have a great day and I'll see you for the Live-Blog at around 8pm tonight!

The start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season is only about twenty minutes away – I’m sure the Mets are chomping at the bit to get a piece of Chris Carpenter; a win tonight would TOTALLY make up for last year’s NLCS – which is kind of like those moments right before the start of a marathon: sure, people are fairly good-natured now, maybe going over a few last-minute strategies or sharing a laugh with another runner, but by the halfway mark, all these good moments will be little more than a memory and all anyone will really want will be a nap.

But for now, it’s a good feeling. Winter is (pretty much) over; spring is here. The only thing that bothers me is that I have to go to work tomorrow. At least I’m on my way home by 2:10, so I can keep up with the full slate of day games (seven 1:05 EST starts) if I so choose. Still, most people aren’t so lucky; if you’re one of them, feel free to head on over to Baseball Truth and sign the petition to make Opening Day a national holiday.

Anyhow, with the first pitch almost here, it seemed like as good a time and place as any to bust out something I’ve been hiding on my hard drive for a few weeks now: a list of the best Opening Day moments in baseball history (several of them came from the list on the Hall of Fame web site). With any luck, we’ll see something amazing in the next twenty-four hours; until then, check out my list after the jump.


Bob Feller’s no-hitter (April 16, 1940)
The only Opening Day no-no in baseball history, Feller’s feat was impressive considering his age (21), time since he had last pitched (two days), the weather (35 degrees), and the final score (1-0).

George Bell’s three-homer game (April 4, 1988)
The first of a trio of players to homer three times on the first day of the season, all of Bell’s blasts came against Royals right-hander Bret Saberhagen, including a two-run drive in the fourth that gave Toronto a 3-2 lead.

Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes’ three-homer game (April 4, 1994)
Rhodes started the season off with a bang, slapping Dwight Gooden around with three solo clouts, but finished the year with only eight homeruns. Six of them came in April, including five in two games: Opening Day and April 28.

Dmitri Young’s three-homer game (April 4, 2005)
Three players have enjoyed three-homerun games on Opening Day; only Young victimized more than one pitcher, hitting his first two off Jose Lima and the third off Mike MacDougal. Also, pay close attention to the date: apparently, if you want to go deep three times on Opening Day, it has to take place on April 4.

Hank Aaron’s 714th career homeruns (April 4, 1974)
Speaking of April 4…Aaron went into 1974 knowing that his next homerun would be the biggest of his career. He didn’t waste any time getting it, taking Reds pitcher Jack Billingham deep for the historic three-run shot in the top of the first inning.

Dwight Evans’ homerun on the first pitch of Opening Day (April 7, 1986)
Every player wants to get the season off to a good start; it’s hard to do better than Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans, who homered on the first pitch of the year from Tigers pitcher Jack Morris.

Frank Robinson’s homerun in his first game as the major league’s first African-American manager (April 8, 1974)
Lots of homeruns on this list. Robinson’s might have been the coolest not only because of the historical meaning but because he was totally pissed off when he hit it. I’m gonna let Robinson tell it: “[Yankees pitcher] Doc Medich got me 0-2, then threw a bastard slider that I barely fouled off…I thought, ‘This sonofabitch is trying to strike me out on three pitches on my day. He’s trying to embarrass me.’” Next thing you know – boom goes the dynamite.

The Tigers stage a miracle ninth-inning comeback (April 25, 1901)
Trailing 13-4 entering the ninth inning, the Tigers came roaring back with ten runs in the bottom half of the inning to win, 14-13.