Is it just me or do the baseball free agent market news items sound like things you'd say about your buddy trying to get with a girl.  Think about it.  "Angels GM:  We won't be pursuing Manny" or how about "Angels, Fuentes showing mutual interest" and then there were all of the tasty news items of the bad break-up between Rafael Furcal and the Braves.  And in the end, you know who wins?  The guy with the most money (think Yankees sign C.C. and Teixeira).  See, the metaphor works all the way around.

So I got some jeans, and the sticker read "34/30 Short Length."  Was it really necessary to add the "Short Length?"  Like if I didn't read that I wouldn't know that my legs were short?  Do they really think someone walks up to the jeans and says, "hmm . . . I can't figure out which of the jeans have short lengths with this numerical system!  Why didn't someone ever teach me to count?"  Thank you clothing industry.  A double reminder of how I'm not tall.  Thanks, just the ego boost I needed.

The NFL playoff picture gives me a headache.  Here's what you need to know:  I'm back in love with the Titans.  They're going to play Carolina in the Super Bowl.  The Titans will win the Super Bowl.  All of those "if Team A wins or ties, and Teams B and C lose or tie then if . . ." scenarios are just window dressing.  It's like trying to figure out who's going to play some meaningless bowl game.  I promise you that San Diego, Denver, Miami, the Jets, Minnesota, Chicago and Tampa Bay will all be watching the Super Bowl in front of the television.

How great is that Christmas day game between the Lakers and the Celtics going to be?  I know Phil's trying to play down the significance, but it's the first time we'll see a full strength Lakers team against the Celtics.  Will the Lakers be tough enough?  They sure looked good against New Orleans tonight.  Will Boston miss James Posey?  We shall see.  I'm excited.

The Champions League draw has some great match-ups in the Round of 16.  Chelsea vs. Juventus.  Real Madrid vs. Liverpool.  Inter vs. Manchester United.  Those will be some great match-ups and let's just say that the draw didn't do England any favors.  But the team to beat has to be Barcelona.  They have a 10 point lead in La Liga and does anyone want any part of Messi, Henry and company?

I know I already talked about baseball, but can the Dodgers please get Manny?  Please!  What's our lineup going to look like next year without him.  We're not re-signing Lowe either.  Where's all of the money from ticket revenue going?  Sign Manny!  I don't want to root on a 74-88 team like Giants fans have to every year for the next decade with all of their mis-spent money.  Manny can save us from all of that!  Just do it!

What is wrong with Tiger's caddie?  What's nerdier than two golfers fighting?  I know!  A golfer and a caddie fighting. 

I'm usually not one for movies that aren't happy or funny the entire time or don't involve the word Godfather, but Slumdog Millionaire was a really good movie.  Go see it if you have not yet had the chance.

I don't watch a lot of hockey anymore, but they're making a huge deal about the Sharks getting off to the greatest start in NHL history in terms of points, but shouldn't they mention at some point that they did away with ties thus making it easier to get more points with the shootout wins?

I know some people were upset that TCU and Boise State played a meaningless bowl game, but do you really think after watching that game, albeit an exciting game, that either of those teams, this year, could beat the elite teams in the SEC or Big XII?

I'm really upsets me that Bernie Madoff did all of this and is Jewish.  Talk about giving my people a bad name.  Not fair.  Black people got the Presidency with Barack Obama and we're stuck with the greediest man alive.  And on top of that Jordan Farmar's injured.  Unless Shawn Green comes back or Manny Ramirez converts, we're in trouble.

At least the UCLA basketball team looks good.  I think Michael Roll just hit another three in his sleep.  59 points scored in the first half?  Is Ben Howland still our coach?  I'm liking the up tempo style.

Back to football for a bit.  The Packers may be the most frustrating team to watch in my entire football-watching career.  I am beyond thankful that I'm not their fan.  At least with the Raiders I just expect us to lose and then update the NFL draft page to see who we're projected to get.  7 of the Packers' last 8 losses have come by four points or less.  Think about that.  How can a team lose that many close games?  I know the commentators want to blame Aaron Rodgers, but they're not in any of those games without him.  How about the defense?  They just kill me. 

Taking football in another direction, why is Eli Manning in the Pro Bowl instead of a guy like Matt Ryan?  Matt Ryan saved a franchise from the days of Michael Vick, Bobby Petrino, and Bill Parcells.  The Giants manage to win with their defense and running game in spite of Eli Manning.  I know, let's take the guy who refused to go to one team when he got drafted, got traded to another, and lucked into the perfect situation and reward him with a trip to Hawaii.  I don't understand why we base individual awards on team accomplishments.  It doesn't make sense to me.  I know that certain players make the guys around them player and should be recognized for doing so, but some guys don't.  They just happen to be mediocre players on great teams.  I'd almost rather see a guy like Robert Horry or James Posey on an All-Star team because at least they're the best at their specialties.  But watching Nebraska QB's win Heismans back in the day, or halfway decent QB's making Pro Bowls just bothers me. 

You know what else bothers me?  Vodka after tequila.  Remind me never to do that again, even if it was my birthday.