[Alberta's Child]

The Rams have a big test in Week 1 against the New York Giants. I predict that this will be a "bellweather" game that will set the tone for the entire season for both teams. If the Rams lose this game, they may be in for a disappointing season.

Something else to consider is that picking a "dome" team to reach the Super Bowl is never a great bet, since these teams usually have to first secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I don't care how good the Rams are on paper -- there's no way in hell they're going to win an NFC Championship Game in January in Green Bay, Philadelphia, New York, etc.

[Jhensy]

Love those Banff photos on your profile, BTW. My college roommate's parents were schoolteachers, and every summer they'd take him and his brother on cross-country car trips, eventually seeing all of the U.S. and Canada.

I asked him what was the most beautiful place he saw on all their travels, and without hesitation he said, "Banff." I have always meant to get up there one day. The kind of place us skyscraper-bound NYers dream of.

TO FOOTBALL: The Giants should have no excuses this year. They have addressed the special teams problems, the offense is high-powered with a motivated and healthy Hilliard added to the Shockey/Toomer/Tiki nexus, and the defense should be dominant.

With Sehorn gone, the secondary is outstanding; the linebacking corps of Barrow/Short/Dhani were FLYING against the Jets; and I'm getting excited about the 2 new guys on the line, Yumeiora and Joseph, plus the return of Hamilton. And the Eagles are weakened...

[Pharmboy]

I see, sir, that you not only know baseball but football as well.

If the defense clicks by the end of October, the Giants will roll in mid-January.