When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Mr T.

We played Christmas Eve though attendance was a little light. It was Billy B, Tommy B, Tricky D, Kevin, the Sackinator  & Thomas M (Tricky D's son) vs Big Jim, Mike (Big Jim's nephew), Joe K (Big Jim's son), Criminal & Turk. I don't recall the score but I do recall two highlights. Both were father-to-son connections. Billy B threw a bomb to Matt B (the Sackinator) that Matt took to the house. And Big Jim completed a TD bomb to Joe that Joe caught looking back over his opposite shoulder - just like Lynn Swann.

On Sunday West beat East. Again. The score was 48-20. West had Tom C, Big Jim, Criminal, Bannon the Banker, Billy B, Tommy B, the Sackinator, and back out of retirement, Justin Favre. Cooley showed up late and replaced Criminal. East had Tim D, London Collin, Bob V, Kevin, Howie, Turk and a new T fan, Tim's brother, Nick D. Highlights? How about Big Jim's interception return for TD. Only Kevin gave chase because the rest of East knew he was just too fast!

I am on the distro list for pick up soccer. Every week the note goes out about whether they will play or not. Why wouldn't they play? Believe it or not they claim it's too cold. This is from the organizer, "It is not supposed to get over the freezing mark today and there will be no sun to help warm us and the field." Now don't get me wrong. I like to play soccer but there is definitely something prissy about football when it's not American football. By the way, the UF could not make it this week. But it was not because it was too cold. It was because he was hanging out with his Russian friends testing airbags.

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. I did. My daughter, Olivia, made me a special Mr. T football complete with Mr. T bling. Check it out:

It's a Dad's life. Ok, so some things might be better than playing football.

Anyway, this week we play back-to-back games on New Years Eve and New Years Day. The last day of 2010 and the first day of 2011 - Football! How cool is that? On Friday we will play at 9 AM. On Saturday we will play the hangover bowl at 10.

See you Friday 12/31 @ Waters @ 9 AM. Remember when Mr. T wasn't so way cool and awesome? Me neither.

Tommy B
Chief Antagonizer
Mr. T Fans Football Club

Peace

An incredible turn out for Saturday's game - 19 players. Was it the snow? West continues their domination of East with a 41 - 7 victory. On the West we had Tim D, Rick "the Pick" L, Criminal, Big Jim, Billy B, Tommy B, Bannon the Banker, Gibby & Big Dan.  The East had Levon, Dancing with Stars, Tom C, the UF, Gio, The Jackson 2, that's Tony and his brother, new T fan Matt J, Twinkle Toes, Kevin & Howie. The highlight of the day has to be Rick "the Pick" L, who got 5 interceptions. The opposing QBs completed more to Rick the Pick than they did to their own receivers. We will miss Rick the Pick for a couple of weeks. It seems he has a fractured rib after being pancaked by Howie. As Rick puts it "Howie treated me like one of Superfly Snuka’s wrestling opponents from the early 80s". Superfly Snuka? Maybe Rick thinks he's "The Magnificent Muraco"

Did anyone go visit Santa Claus? My kids are getting older but we still make them go. I tell them that if they don't tell Santa what they want, they won't get anything. "'Cause how will he know?" It's coercion I know but that's too damn bad. I gotta control something. And sending him a letter won't work either. You just can't be sure he'll read it. Incidentally, I found a photo of a young UF visiting Santa. Posted for your viewing pleasure!

Ahh, the talented UF! Yikes.

This week is Christmas. Christmas is on a Saturday. That's just wrong because Saturdays are for football. We would just play Christmas morning but since so many of us have a wife and kids we will play on Sunday. Family harmony is important. I know. I live with JoJo, aka Mrs. T. So Sunday we will play at 9 on the snow-covered Waters concrete. And don't be making any religious excuses. Just take care of your obligations, if you have any, on Saturday. God would not want you to rest for two days. That would be sloth. It's deadly. So I hear.

So, Happy Festivus everybody. See you Sunday, 12/26 @ Waters @ 9. Right now the projected high temp is 29 for Sunday. Is that too cold? Remember, Mr. T does not get frostbite. Mr. T bites frost.

Tommy B
Chief Antagonizer
Mr. T's Fan Club

P.S. Who can play on Christmas Eve at 2 PM @ Waters? Take the poll!

I'm talented and flexible. I could play Hamlet, even though I look like King Kong.

Another epic battle on the grid-iron today. Well, it was epic if you were playing for West! If you were playing for East, I am certain you got some good exercise. West beat East 55-29. For the West we had three Burke Boys - Billy B, Tommy B and Matt "the sackinator" B, Rick L, Tim D, Gio, Tony and Big Jim. For the East it was Levon, Criminal, Turkish, the UF, Dancing with Stars, Sean P, Mike P, Twinkle Toes and new T fan, Howie. Highlights of the game were a 50 yard kick-off return by Turkish (that's Criminal's son, Bard Jr. who so far has not earned the nickname Juvie D. He is on the straight path. Which isn't easy when your dad is nicknamed Criminal, oh, and also gay.) Matt "the sackinator" B had not one, but two sacks today. I should mention that Bard Jr and Matt B are in 4th grade. The other highlight that I recall was Rick L's 65 yard interception return for TD. Levon, Criminal and the UF all pursued, but, Tommy B got in their way and managed to block all three in a foot race allowing Rick L to run untouched into the endzone. Teamwork baby!

Three weeks of football so far. And it's time for my annual call-out. If you have played with any frequency in the past and I have not seen you this year, shame. The list of those that spend their time doing things that are not as important as football ('cause what is?) is as follows:

Jeff, Cooley,  Bannon the Banker, Chico, Justin, O'Kelly, Rod, John H & Brig.

What's up guys? You got some other way to workout? (WTF? That is probably the weirdest thing I have ever seen. Very disturbing. Who thinks of this crap?) Anyway, not playing football will not make you stronger nor will it make you faster. You will just get old, fat and delusional like this guy. Also very disturbing.

This week we play Saturday 12/18 @ 9 AM on Waters concrete. Better than the metrodome, I guess. The prediction? It's always the same: Pain!

Tommy B
Chief Antagonizer
Mr. T's Fan Club

Anger - use it but don't lose it.

East played West 8v8 in week 2 and there was some serious hitting going on. Touch football. The only guy that gets "touched" is the ball carrier. And by carrier I mean you must have had the ball for a few steps. For everyone else on the field it's full contact. Plus Waters turf is more like fuzz-covered concrete. And London Collin's forearm is also like concrete, only less fuzzy. Roger M and I can attest to that. Roger had to leave the field early (his head got caught between Collin and the turf) and Collin and I met at the football going full speed in opposite directions. I used to have this problem remembering..., uh..., Damn. Anyway, for the East we had Levon, Tim D, Kevin, Bob V, Criminal, new T fan Big Dan, London Collin and "I can't believe it's not Thanksgiving" Patrick M. For the West was Billy B, Gio, Murdock, Rick L, Tom C, Roger M, Dancing with the Stars and Tommy B. East beat West 41 - 34. Highlights? We scored 75 points so you'd think I'd be able to remember...something.

Preparation. If you really want to excel on the ball field, you have to Be Prepared. Just like good boy scouts. There's all the things you do during the week to be ready, like working out, getting enough sleep and eating well.  Then there is the night-before preparation. Most everyone has their rituals. I like to eat a lot, have a few beers and chill out with Mrs. T. Rick L likes to hit the VI at Happy Hour and stay until Bindy drags him home. Criminal? Well its a little odd and very hard to describe. So, I took a picture of Criminal's pregame custom last Friday night. He really likes Scotch. Nice purse.

You may have noticed that the UF was absent this week. I certainly did. I did some checking and you won't believe what the UF was doing instead of playing football. It turns out he enjoyed cooking so much (this is actual footage of the master baster on Thanksgiving morning) he's taken a job at a BBQ joint. He's the new masseuse. He can make you feet delishilable.

Illegal contact. Does everybody know what that is? In the projects, its "climin in yo windows, snatchin yo people up". On the football field, its intentionally bumping or grabbing a receiver more than five yards down field from the line of scrimmage. Actually you aren't supposed to grab the receiver anytime. But, if you want to check somebody, line up close, go ahead, take a chance. But let's play by the rules. No jibba jabba.

This week's game is Saturday @ 9 AM on Waters Concrete. Remember to bring a red shirt. Remember, Mr. T does not get amnesia, he just chooses to...uh...

Tommy B
Chief Antagonizer
Mr. T's Football Club

P.S. Did you know Mr. T Fan and INGA official Joe A was on Leno? Fred S cut this out of the original. And it was such a nice Cathedral.