R-E-S-P-E-C-T FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ME ~ Many have had there feathers ruffled by this week’s Vegas line as it relates to the Ravens. The Ravens have been installed as three point dogs in Kansas City and if you lean on conventional wisdom when it comes to these lines, provided there is such a thing, odds makers see these teams as equals on a neutral surface. But history indicates that the Chiefs are a very tough out in Arrowhead Stadium in December. The last time KC lost at home in December was way back on December 15, 1996 when they fell to the Colts by the score of 24-19. Since then the Chiefs have won 18 in a row by the average score of 30-15.  Seven of the 18 wins have been decided by 3 points or less.

So if you think about it, despite losing to Derek Anderson and the Browns the Chiefs will be a very tough opponent in Kansas City. Those that feel disrespected by the line should actually feel Respected. By the way, if you can accept a 7 day extended forecast the Ravens could be playing under sunny skies with temps hovering around 50 degrees.

I’VE BEEN KISSED BY A ROSE ON THE GREY ~ Now that could be the Michigan Wolverines theme song for the 2006 season. They narrowly miss defeating the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, OH by 3 and they were ahead of Florida in the BCS rankings prior to this weekend. They had no other games and Florida goes on to defeat Arkansas as expected in the SEC Championship Game. So now Florida has jumped ahead of Michigan and will take on Ohio State in the National Title Game? Am I in the minority by saying that a repeat match between the long time rivals OSU and UM is a highly desirable championship game? Did you like Ali v. Frazier II? I don’t know about you, but I hope that OSU crushes Florida and Michigan does the same with the Booty Calls from USC who laid a Trojan-sized egg against cross-town rival -- the unranked Bruins from UCLA. Suddenly that TROJAN MAN commercial just doesn’t have the same effect. It might now even be considered an insult!

ALL THE YOUNG DUDES, CARRY THE NEWS ~ And the Indianapolis Colts are going BOOGALOO DUDES! Vince Young certainly looked like the real deal yesterday as he led the Titans to a come from behind victory over Peyton Manning and the Colts, 20-17 yesterday. Young showed poise beyond his years and while he picked up key first down after key first down with his legs, he didn’t bail from the pocket prematurely. While still raw Young is a faster and more powerful version of his mentor, Steve McNair. Charting his progress should be fun and for those teams that viewed the Titans as a free space on the bingo card, you better recognize! This week Young goes into Houston with a chip on his shoulder. Why? The Texans passed on the home town native, that’s why!

By the way, nice kick by Rob Bironas. Judging from the distance on that kick, Trevor Pryce’s blocked FG back on November 12 had to hurt!

IT’S GETTING’, IT’S GETTING, IT’S GETTING KINDA HECTIC ~ This is from Orioles’ VP Mike Flanagan on what he anticipates happening at the MLB Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, FL: “We expect to be busy at the winter meetings.” How Mike, handing out resumes? Here’s what I predict and the good Lord above knows that I hope I’m wrong: NOTHING will happen of consequence unless the Orioles excessively overpay or they are willing to part with Eric Bedard or Miguel Tejada. By the way, who wouldn’t want Tejada? Let’s see Tejada makes $12 million per and Gary Matthews, Jr. weighs in at $10 million per reflecting current market value. To borrow from Uncle Vito: “Make me an offer I no canna refuse!”

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAIN IS GONE ~ Some observations from this weekend’s games…Seattle is going nowhere. Sure they will likely win the lame NFC West but a team that tackles that poorly and drops that many passes is going nowhere…If NFL Films or NFL Network plans on doing any promo films with the closing statement, “This is the NFL”, they should destroy all evidence of the Vikings @ Bears game yesterday. That was some of the most sorry looking quarterback play I’ve ever seen. Pull Lovie Smith’s head out of that hole and tell him to start Brian Griese now! There is no way that Grossman will do anything but deliver a first round exit for the Bears and the great city of Chicago. How old is Brad Johnson?…Props to Chad Pennington, an all-around good guy and former Ed Block Courage Award Recipient. He’s has faced intense scrutiny in NYC and has the Jets competing for a Wild Card Playoff Berth. Not too shabby for a team in transition…A very interesting Week 14 coming up in the NFL. Besides the Ravens game in KC, Denver travels to San Diego, Indy to Jacksonville and New Orleans to Dallas. Suddenly the Colts, a team some naïve pundits thought could go undefeated are in danger of losing four games with the Jaguars and Bengals still on their schedule…Trap of the week to me looks like New England -3 at Miami…Speaking of traps, I like the Eagles tonight and the three points and I have The Chief’s permission to say so…Are Tom Coughlin and Jeremy Shockey two of the biggest whiners you’ve ever seen or what?…Hey, how about the NBA Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference? The mighty New Jersey Nets lead by ½ game with a stunning 7-9 record. In fact 11 of the conference’s 15 teams have sub .500 records. There is hope for the Wiz after all…Took my son to see Déjà Vu on Saturday starring Denzel Washington. Interesting flick and it’s hard not to like a movie with Washington in the lead part. Plus Paula Patton the movie’s female co-lead….WOW! A sight for sore eyes and then some…Many thanks to all who attended the Toyota sponsored event at Della Rose’s Avenue Tavern on Thursday. Everything was perfect except of course for the outcome of the game. Added thanks to Great Moments Authentic and to Brinley’s Gold Rum who contributed to the evening’s festivities. Special thanks to Marques Ogden who also took the time to make his way to Della’s to partake in our pre-game discussion.