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July 17, 2005

Issue #37

Bi-Weekly Publication

Weekly during Football Season

Table of Contents:

Stat Of The Week

Minnesota Vikings

View from the Nose Bleed Section

Just The Facts

Free Football Picks - New Format

Site Build It Special Offer- NEW

Stat of the Week:

Chicago White Sox opening line of 20 to 1 to win the World Series. Now they are 5 to 1 to win it all.

Minnesota Vikings

Some consider the Vikings a favorite more than a long shot and we would have to agree. Getting rid of perhaps the best WR in the league could actually help this team make the jump to the elite class. Mike Williams was available but they chose the big play ability of Troy Williamson instead. Since we are based in Reno we really liked the move because this shows the confidence the organization has in Nate Burleson. (UNR Alumni) Besides that, the move makes sense, because Burleson and Marcus Robinson are good possession receivers and Williamson provides the big punch. Adding Taylor through free agency will provide depth along with hold over Campbell. The RB position is one of the best even without Smith.

The Vikings added depth through the free agent signings and the Draft. The defense should be better and if the special teams can hold there own they should be in the mix at the end.

If the Vikings can leave Green Bay with a 6-4 record than they should make the playoffs. If they are under .500 after this game then they could be in trouble. They have some tough games in December and need to have some room for error down the stretch.

This is Culpepper’s team now and there is no Randy to blame for their short fall. This is a make or break year for Coach Tice. The odds are at 12 to 1. Besides the Eagles there are no favorites that have been there more than the Vikings. This might be the best bet on the board as far as getting great value.

From The Nose Bleed Section:

Thoughts and Ponders:

Show Me The Money

By the show of hands, how many people would like to make more money? I’m sure quite a few of you would have raised your hands. Hell, I’ll even raise my hand; in fact, I’ll raise both. I’m sure most of you reading this article are not professional football players. We probably work as teachers, construction workers, behind a desk, etc... We probably are not making 3.4 million a year with incentives if you succeed your goals.

I’m sure at the end of the year, your boss isn’t looking at your stats saying; “good job Johnson, you filed 89 papers for 1,250 people which goes way beyond your goal so here is an extra 200,000 dollars for you.” Or, “if you lead the pit in holes dug this year, you’ll see an extra 500,000 dollars at the end of the year.” It would be great if that were the truth wouldn’t it? I’m sure most of us would be a lot happier to get up in the morning when that damn alarm clock goes off. But most of the time, we aren’t complaining and we get up and go to work. We are making enough money to support the family, keep the bills paid, and basically live life.

On Sundays, we get up and go make a few bets and watch NFL football because that is the sport we love. Most of us would probably give our left nut to play in the NFL. Hell, we wouldn’t even complain just suiting up and standing on the sidelines for one game. Coming from one average Joe to the next, isn’t it a bit upsetting to see these athletes complaining they are not getting paid enough or they want to reconstruct their contract or they will holdout till they get more money? To me, it really pisses me off. I know this is their job but if anyone of us does that we get canned just like that. Don’t get me wrong, I know they do more than just play in games because they have to work out and stay in shape and practice but basically they are doing what millions and millions of people wish they could do: play sports for a job.

What they do for a job is something that most of us do for fun on the weekends with our buddies. We put on our favorite player’s jersey and go to the park and run routes and score touchdowns and just have fun. Do the fans go nuts when we score a touchdown? Unless you count the homeless guy on the bench, probably not. Do we get paid millions of dollars playing? Hell no. Do we care? Not in the least bit because we are having fun and don’t care. NFL players - we know what you do is your job but have fun with it and don’t worry about money. What you do everyday is what millions of average Joes would love to do but since we can’t, we have fun on the weekend with our buddies. Stop complaining about the money and just play the game cause that is exactly what it is, a game.

Just The Facts:



Handicappers for 2005 Free Picks Page:

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MidWestInsider
Vegas Vic Sports

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