That's a good point...but given the jockeying and predictions I hear about that contribute to the 'science' of the draft, how does that make the charge of prevalent thuggish behavior closer to racism?

The charge wasn't that there was prevalent thuggish behavior, but that the people the NFL hires are predisposed to be thugs. It's a subtle, but I think important difference.

The jockeying and predictions are, like I said, filling in gaps, looking for strengths and weaknesses. It doesn't always mean the biggest, baddest guy. Ask Marcus Colston.

Not inflammatory at all. Not to worry.

Interesting Hockey v. Football.

Random thoughts that might have some bearing on the disparity:

Hockey isn't as huge an industry in the US

To my understanding, hitting opponents is more incidental than strategic (though I could be wrong)

They're a bunch of pussy Canadians

looking for strengths and weaknesses. It doesn't always mean the biggest, baddest guy.

Of course this is true, and something I wasn't thinking about being all het up about dog fighting. Which, sadly, might prove your point.

It isn't the biggest, baddest guy who is hired to because he is fast or can keep the ball in his hands, or who can kick it the farthest.

there is something to be said for actively embracing the gentlman athlete and sportsmanship and, well, chivalry

Is there money in it?

Also, I think one reason you might seem more NFL off-field hijinx is because NFL gets more coverage--which makes the players more famous, and more rich. Scumbuckets are more likely to get the opportunity to indulge themselves, and more likely to get caught/covered.

there is something to be said for actively embracing the gentlman athlete and sportsmanship and, well, chivalry

Is there money in it?

A truism that makes me want to say...Kill me now.

I imagine this will be me come next month.

Heh. I still can't believe the M's are even in a position where it's worth getting worked up over a bad outing. I had them pegged for an 80-win team, 3rd in our division, out of contention for the playoffs by July. Our one chance was if King Felix put up Cy Young-quality numbers all season, but after the first two games he's been decidedly less than regal on the mound. Some days he's even more like Scullery Boy Felix. Ichiro and Putz were brilliant before the All-Star Break, but they've looked human since, and, anyway, a closer and a lead-off hitter can't carry a team all by their ownselves. And that's not even getting into idiotic management decisions by Hargrove and then MacLaren. I've yet to figure out why we're winning games. We could be leading 10 runs going into the 9th of Game 7 of the World Series and I'll STILL be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Still, it's fun. (Except for the part where we're currently down 8-0 in the 3rd. I know we can't win them all, but this is just embarrassing!)

To my understanding, hitting opponents is more incidental than strategic (though I could be wrong)

No, it's totally strategic and deliberate.

And dropping the gloves and actually fighting outside the play of the game is tolerated, if not encourage.

Lawyers/other people who might see memorandum's of agreement:

Does this sentance make sense or does it seem like it is missing a word:

• Payment will be a shared assumption of MY COMPANY 60% and TEACHER of 40% minus expenses. Expenses will include copying required course materials chosen by instructor, refreshments, and bulk mailings.

Also, I kinda like Hockey because they beat each other with sticks, but I head the rushing at each other tangled up-ness of football.

They're a bunch of pussy Canadians

Mmm. There are 16 regular season games in the NFL season. There are 82 regular season hockey games in the NHL.

That's fighting talk, there, Missy.