LANDRY, A LOCKER ROOM LEADER? UH, OK

The teaser for the new episode of Friday Night Lights is available. Looks like a good one again.

RAISE A TOAST...

A happy three-oh to a friend of the blog, Gavin Stainton, present-day proprietor of noted downtown Kingston dispensary of drink of MyBar (and one-time Ernestown Eagles baller back in the day).

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

Quick stuff for your Friday aft.:

Michael Vick at running back?

Vernon Wells only has a "few small details" to iron out on his new contract with the Blue Jays, says the Toronto Star. Now, can he pitch?

THE WEEK THAT WAS:

In terms of having a good sports year, Canada sort of kicked America's ass in 2006. Sorry for pointing that out ... Jeff Bagwell is a first-ballot Hall of Famer ... The Sidney Crosby Backlash will begin on a future day, at the crack on noon ... A geek's recommendations for best sports books in '06, oh and it wouldn't be Canada if there wasn't plenty of hockey.

BLOGS WE LIKE

Mark Wacyk's CIS Hoops Blog (they have some high praise for us) and American Legends.

Have an average weekend. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

Note to readers: We've crossed the 45,000 hits mark, which is not bad for a blog that is less than eight months old. It would be great to reach 50,000 by New Year's.

We're grateful for the support, although sometimes it feels like a tumbleweed should be blowing across the computer screen. Or I feel like I'm standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean yelling and ranting. Then again, it is a busy time of year.

Anyhow, what did we learn this week?

Some of those U.S. college bowl games are really pointless. (Much obliged, again, to Chris Young for the link.)

You're talking authors, it's Paul Quarrington, Don DeLillo, Kurt Vonnegut... and Mark Bavaro?

Some -- not all, mind you -- Ottawa Senators fans have an unhealthy obsession with referees.

There is a CIS hoops blog. You'll thank me on your wedding night.

Frank D'Angelo apparently has a clear shot at CFL moguldom and game attendance. Eep.

Have an average weekend. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND: WELL, THAT EXPLAINS THE HOCKEY SWEATERS

Daniel Negreanu apparently has better luck around the poker table than he does as a junior hockey mogul.

The star poker player bought into a Junior B team down in the States, the Fort Worth Texans, in the off-season. The new ownership group moved it to Tucson, Ariz., and not surprisingly given one of the owners' claim to fame, renamed it the Tucson Tilt (Full Tilt Poker is a sponsor).

The team's not drawing well, so it's on the move again -- to Topeka, Kansas for next season. (Information courtesy the strangely addictive Junior Hockey Blog).

The Laval Rouge et Or officially became a dynasty, spurring a call to reform CIS football.

Gregg Zaun was no longer a Blue Jay. Then he was again.

Chris Pronger learned the consequences of effing off to Mexico when there's controversy back home.

Could Dave Wannstedt be bowling in Toronto this holiday season? Could the GTA withstand the stench of failure coming off him? (Hat tip to a faithful reader, since that was his line.)

NFL Picks. Hey, I'm already 1-0.

Mark McGwire's Cooperstown credentials: Whatever you think, don't try to BS people by saying he doesn't have the numbers.

NFL coming to Toronto? More like, "If it was left up to the general public in the GTA, the megacity would get a second NHL team before it got a NFL team."

Have an average weekend. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.