Mike, I just friended you. I play Words With Friends with many ENers. Challenge me to a game, I would love to play scrabble with you.

Betsy, you are too kind, and the “heart” feeling is one hundred percent mutual. And I feel the same way, Toni. Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be back eventually because I do appreciate you good people. It’s rare in life to be able to find a forum, proverbially and literally speaking, with such good, like-minded people. But for now I’m redistributing my time and tapping into the positivity needed to build a children’s book character/brand, with an eye toward (hopefully) making her into a TV show for PBS. It’s a unique experience, tweeting as a character. It’s really fun.

In the meantime, I finally signed up for Words with Friends, so I’m game if you are. :)

Please don’t leave Mike, I would miss you terribly. :(

Mike, I just read this! You can’t leave!!! I won’t let you! You are one of my ABSOLUTE favorite people! I’m so lucky to call you a ‘heart’ friend! You are a remarkable father, friend, inventor, artist, writer….oh man, the list is getting longer and longer. Believe me, the negative people on these forums come and go. But, you my friend, are what EN and this community are all about. ;-)

Topic: Beat the G-Men!

Off-topic: Thank you, Frank. You were beside me for many of those dramas, so I KNOW you know what I mean. As much as I enjoyed trying to help, and enjoyed trying to make people laugh, or think, or motivate, the poison that some people brought was too much. It really was “childish drama.” So I went cold turkey around Christmas, and channeled all my energy into my new project, and the various social media useful for building a brand. I still love EN, and praise them to the masses, and I really miss the old days in the forums. It was Mayberry-like back then, but now it’s the hood.

Shanamac, is that one of those blow up punching bags? I think I need to get one of them. My daughter’s bedtime directly coincides with the game, ugh. I think I need to wear her out ahead of time. “Adelyn, I said get BACK on your trampoline!” ;)

Does a profile picture speak a thousand words?

It’s cold up here in New England, but we have Tom Brady to warm our hearts. Go Pats!!!!

In keeping with the topic; Go Pats!!!!
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I hear ya, Mike… my participation here has dwindled also, not only due to the amount of blatant and seemingly
purposeful attacks of the established forum rules/procedures, but on anyone who calls the perpetrator on such disrespect.
They anonymously appear after some/one gets themselves in trouble here, zero-in on one or two members and wreak
havoc, then vanish…. THEN the one who got themselves in trouble re-appears a completly changed/reformed individual!

It’s obviously their goal to distrupt the inviroment here, and run-off good people, like you Mike, and so many others who
don’t frequent us any longer… ones who contributed and shared their laughs, knowledge, and experiences, now either
afraid to make a peep or just fed up with all the childish drama being vomited out of supposed adults!

I realize EN wants to grow their membership, but as long as a positive ID isn’t required to obtain membership, I’m afraid
the exact same entities that would tear an inventors dream from their heart, will continue to wax worse and worse until
the EN Forums (and eventually their business Model) are rendered useless.

This is going to be a great game, though the game beneath the game is what I find riveting. Brady and Belichek HAVE to win, in order to save face and not end up calling Coughlin, Eli and the NY Giants “Daddy” (circa Pedro referring to the Yankees in 2003). While the New Yorkers WANT to win, of course, they don’t need to worry about losing face if they lose the game because of 2007. More at stake for NE, which may take them off their game. Less at stake for NY, which may keep them cool under pressure.

Yeah, went into hibernation in the forums, Biskit. They just became too toxic. The voices of personal attacks and complaining and some people getting offensively personal became louder and louder. It just got ugly. Had to leave and turn my attention to positive stuff, like working with an illustrator to try and self-publish one of my children’s books, FOOLING EWE. Been super busy setting up all the social media, etc. I miss the good people here, but there’s too many Negative Nancys who are just plain mean, you know? I’d removed myself from all email updates. Musta forgot this one, Sports Fans. Glad I did. Go Pats! Brady needs a new pair of Ugz!

Is the Giants more balanced team enough to overcome the extremely dynamic Pats offense? As much as I would like to make a prediction, I have no clue. Its hard for me to bet against Tom Brady though.

…ok so scratch that last post I just stumbled upon…that was so Bears-fan-ish and I apologize. But it won’t stop me next year I’m afraid. ew…next year..that’s so Cubs-fan-ish and I apologize. But it won’t stop me next year I’m afraid.

Mike, I really thought the Pats’ success would bring you out of hibernation. Tim and his Steelers, me and da bearsssssssss, and Chris and his Bengals are all sittin on the sidelines here…waiting to watch a GOOD football team. Pats look pretty good from here!

da Bear-cubsssssssssssssssssss are gunna beat the snot outta the Pack on Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
haha uh, rather , hehe

Yep, now that they know they CAN lose, they will prepare better. Injuries aside, they ought to reach the Superbowl with their priorities restored. So long as they can get past Brees, (big ‘if’) as he is daring to take away the MVP that was earmarked for Aaron Rogers just two weeks ago.

“They don’t have to worry about breaking records now.” Exactly. And they were, which skewed the team’s focus. Now they can just play football. The Pack is more dangerous now than they were yesterday morning.

Yeah, that crow tastes sour… Lol! I am eating it with a smile… Really? The Chiefs? I am still not sure how that happens… Now they can reserve their big guns. Like you said Mike. They don’t have to worry about breaking records now.

Can’t say I’m happy the Pack lost. In doing so, and effectively taking their mind off making history, they will restore their football focus and will roll through the playoffs. By losing, they’ll be more formidable going forward and, while sad about failing to make 19-0 history, they will be thrilled if it helps them repeat as Superbowl champs. Whoever comes out of the AFC will have their hands full.

Doesn’t Tim Tebow look like Brendan Fraser?

Aaron Rodgers is looking very average………….is this the day?

Yeah, that’s pretty messed up, Tim. It’s one thing when a player screws up his own life, something else when he contributes to screwing up others. As a pro player, he COULDN’T have exactly been strapped for cash. Yet players keep doing this stuff. Drugs, dealing, dog fighting. Screwing up the world, en masse. It’s a mentality, I believe, a mentality I just don’t get.

[Add] Biskit’s moved on to the Cubs. He’s working on breaking a curse now.

[Add #2] I just signed up to “follow” James Harrison on Twitter. Should be interesting.

Now that WOULD be funny. I don’t think there’s a rule against pulling the quarterback’s pants down. Harrison should think about it. Less fine, and maybe more damage to the QB’s psyche.

Boy was I wrong about Oakland upsetting the Pack. Wow. But I still stand by my prediction that going undefeated in the reg season means they will lose in the playoffs, and vice versa. Crunch-time focus will grow progressively more skewed until they are playing football the way light refracts through water.

I did not see that Bengals game, but it sounds painful, Chris. Bunch of flawed giants in the AFC this year. It’s weird. Tim, I just saw that Pitt will be without Harrison next Monday, versus the Niners. While I don’t think San Fran is as good as their record, it still smells like a big test. I say Pitt wins by 10. You?

No WAY Tebow beats my Pats. If you can’t pass accurately, and Tebow can’t, you can’t shred the Patriot D. And if you can’t shred the Patriot D, you can’t beat them because they score too many points.

yep Tim that was a tough loss. Experiencing growing pains with this young team but I like the direction the franchise is going. Unfortunately there have been quite a few blackouts this year. The Bengals haven’t had much tradition since the Boomer Esiason/Icky Woods days. Hopefully that is starting to change and we can give you guys another division challenger year in and out.

Wow. The writing was on the wall for Pitt to lose this thing. And then Big Ben just stood up and erased it. Impressive.

Roethelisberger is superhuman Tim.

Pujols to the Angels! certainly didn’t see that one coming.

Tim, tonight’s not a trap game for you, is it?

Yup. While I don’t seem to have a choice but to love the perennially-contending Red Sox, being raised on them, basically, by my late father, I simultaneously don’t like them like I did even a few years ago. It’s weird. And it’s probably a big reason why I am always secretly rooting for small market underdogs to do well, like the Pirates, Padres, and Twinkies. And, of course, Tampa, who do things right. Especially since taking the Devil out (of Devil Rays). The Marlins have twice won, and then unloaded, and now they are on a Monopoly-style spending spree. It’s unsettling. Yes, a salary cap is necessary, even if it means my Sox can’t contend every year. I want the game back.

I agree Mike, I feel like there should be a salary cap. Makes it hard for a small market team to compete with the big boys unless they get a lot of young talent, make a run, then dump them when the demand large contracts after a year or 2. Looks like I was wrong about Pujols as well. They are going strong after Prince Fielder now though.

All Miami sports teams should change their moniker to the Heat. It could be a Heat factory on South Beach, a megaplex where Heat players from all sports train together. I’m sorry, but it’s ludicrous what they’re doing. Not that spending 170-200 mill (aka Sox and Yanks) isn’t, because it is and I don’t like that, either. I don’t like when the game looks like a business, and buying contention is kind of gaudy. I miss the old days. Or maybe I miss collusion.

Its hard for me to see Pujols going anywhere but Florida but thats just my opinion. The Marlins are trying to build something big down there. I’d make my bets to vegas now :)

St. Louis press reporting Cubs officially made Pujols an offer today. I guess they are in the Albert lottery dispelling rumors.

Go Theo.

Yea Chris…and I very laughingly tossed that out there much earlier in this thread, right after the, ahem, incident.

poor ole Favre…………not sure if he will ever be able to hang up the cleats

Miiiiiiike…your stirrring the pot. haha

Oh boy. “… according to ESPN Chicago, Favre would be receptive if the Chicago Bears called him to see about fixing up their quarterback position following Jay Cutler’s(notes) thumb injury and the comic inefficiency of backup Caleb Hanie(notes).” http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corne...

Thanks Tim…………I figured we are not on the level of the Steelers/Ravens yet. But its baby steps…………I really like the defense and then the core of Dalton/A.J. Greene/Benson

That WAS an exciting game, Chris. I didn’t expect the Pack to have such a tough time with them because, I figured, they’d be ready. Oakland next week, on the other hand, I think they might look past. Also might have a hangover from the Giants game. I predict the streak ends then.

Sorry Betsy. Still one helluva year for the Cougs, and they still earned a bowl game, I believe. That’s big.

the streak continues! Great game though.

Sorry about your Cougars Betsy! Does it end tonight Mike?

How bout those Northern Illinois Huskies winning their first-ever MAC title yesterday?

Congrats to all of DeKalb, Illinois!

I really believe they will rest their starters last game Mike and take a loss. It seems that most coaches value that extra week off rather than going for an undefeated season. I hope they go for it though.

Prediction: If the Pack go undefeated in the regular season, they will lose in the playoffs. But if they lose in the regular season, they will win the Superbowl.

I find it kind of funny that the “dream team” is having a nightmare season.

I think they will go after the record. If they could run the season without a loss I think they will try. I agree though chris. The only team that will beat GB is GB.

Mike, I think the only thing that will stop the Packers are the Packers themselves. If they have their seed locked up they may rest all of their starters the final game against Detroit.

Re: Green Bay running the table… The game against the Giants on Sunday just got a lot more interesting. With the Giants losing yesterday, which also gave the Cowboys sole possession of first place, and with three wild card contenders ahead of them fighting for two wild card spots, the G-Men are going to be desperate against the Pack. As it is, they are on the outside looking in. They lose Sunday, it may be the end.

No, no fat lady singing in Chico yet. Maybe they could use Sherri’s nephew at QB?

Sherri, The Love runs deep in your family..can tell. Best wishes to Heather and your wee nephew