The Explorers Club
Question No. 2: Felix Edmundovich "Iron Felix" Dzerzhinsky.






The Victors
I am on the record as being against a rematch between the valiant University of Michigan Wolverines and the hated Ohio State University Buckeyes, but let me say this: if the point of the BCS is to produce a national championship game between the two best teams, it has failed yet again. I largely agree with the sentiments container herein: hyperlink. As an opponent of a rematch, I am ecstatic that for the first time in years the Rose Bowl is being restored to its rightful glory. The Big Ten versus the Pac-10, the valiant Wolverines versus the weaselly University of Southern California Trojans, that's the way the Granddaddy of 'Em All is supposed to be! Woot! Go Blue!

What's great about the BCS is how easy it is to hate. Both the pesky University of Wisconsin Badgers and the downtrodden Auburn University Tigers have better BCS averages than the despicable University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, yet the despicable Irish alone received an at-large BCS invitation. It's a good thing Charlie Weiss single-handedly invented the game of football, because otherwise that kind of favoritism would be inexcusable.

Predictions: victory for the hated Buckeyes, Michigan, and the swampy Louisiana State University Tigers. You can never say it too often, Go Blue!

Fire Millen
23-69, Mr. Millen, 2-10 on the year. Have you no decency? And now I want each of you to reach inside yourself, tap into your inner 13-year-old, and giggle it with me, "Huh huh, huh huh, sixty-nine. Huh huh."

Lately, a great multitude has been making the case that though the Lions are almost certain to finish with a worse record this season, Rod Marinell's first as head coach, than in any of Steve Mariucci's three seasons (5-11, 6-10, 5-11), Marinelli is "a good coach" and the team is "moving in the right direction." It was Rod Marinelli, in cahoots with the offensive "genius" of Mike Martz, who longed to be rid of Joey Harrington and replace him with QBs Jon "Mr. Interception" Kitna and Josh "The Benchwarmer" McCown. You guys know that I'd blame Matt Millen for the fall of Constantinople if I could, but "upgrading" from Harrington to Kitna was more Marinelli and Martz's doing than it was Millen's. Kitna has now thrown for at least one interceptions in ten consecutive games, including three today. The Lions had three offensive drives in the fourth quarter; each met an ignominious end: Kitna threw an interception, Kitna fumbled, and Kitna threw an interception. And yet Marinelli insists that Kitna is the leader of this team and gives the Lions the best chance for success.

Personally, I'd say calling a man the leader of a 2-10 team is a condemnation, not an endorsement. But, it does appear that the preseason evaluations of Marinelli were spot on, he is just the kind of coach Millen wanted. Millen isn't man enough to take responsibility for the 23-69 record his decisions have wrought; Marinelli isn't man enough to take responsibility for the 2-10 disaster his decisions have wrought. Have the decency to resign, you hypocrites.

BTW South Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "One Week" from Stunt (T.L.A.M.)

Saturday, December 2
They Might Be Giants, "Letterbox" from Flood (Mt. Love)

Thursday, November 30
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "The 'Weird Al' Show Theme" from Running With Scissors (Mt. Love)

Tuesday, November 28
Josie and the Pussycats, "3 Small Words" from Josie and the Pussycats - Music From the Motion Picture (Mt. Love)