So I’m watching ESPN this morning and they’ve got a story about the upcoming playoff game between the Ravens and the Titans. Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco has been given a nickname by his teammates, the reporter announces — “Joe Cool.”

Pfui. I have nothing against Joe Flacco, who seems to be a promising young talent, but why can’t this new generation of NFL players make up their own fraking nicknames??? There’s only one Joe Cool, and his last name was Montana, not Flacco.

And while I am on the subject, there’s only one LT, and he was a linebacker for the New York Giants, not the oft-injured running back for that team in San Diego.

Next thing we know, ESPN will be telling us that some wet-behind-the-ears young kids just out of college want to be called “Night Train” and “Crazylegs.” Well, I saw it’s spinach and I say the hell with it.

The commish needs to start slapping big fines on these clowns for inappropriate misappropriation of nicknames.

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The pristine, undamaged copies of the Guardians of Order GAME OF THRONES rpg book are now all gone. Sorry.

I do still have some copies with minor water damage available at $55 plus shipping, and some with major water damage available at $20.

((LATER))

My lady Parris has asked me to add the following addendum to this post:

“Although George’s stock of the gorgeous Guardians of Order RPG limited
edition is now depleted, I still have a few copies.

Those copies will be donated to charity auctions for good-deed-doing
over the next few years. Usually we donate an item or two to the
charity auctions held at conventions we attend, or to on-line auctions
such as last year’s “Match It for Pratchett” campaign.

So for those unhappy collectors who weren’t able to get a copy before
George sold out, there’s still hope you can get one in the coming
years, if you attend a convention we’re at, or you see that I’ve
donated one to an on-line auction. An added bonus will be helping out
with a good cause as well as getting a copy of this incredible book.”

Parris

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If the TIMES says so, it must be true.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/opinion/03herbert.html?ref=opinion

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Here’s wishing for a great 2009 for all my friends and readers.

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To be a Jets fan is to understand the meaning of pain.

It is, admittedly, a different sort of pain than that known by Lions fans, but no less sharp. The Jets like to tease you with false hope, so the eventual defeat will cut deeper.

It is all Joe Willie’s fault. As every true Jets fan knows, he made a deal with the devil to win SuperBowl III. So long as any Jets fan who saw that victory remains alive, the Jets will never win again.

Sigh.

(I won’t talk about the Giants this week. The game meant everything to the Vikings and nothing to the G-Men. I was heartened to catch glimpses of Danny Ware and Mario Manningham, however. Both showed flashes, and David Carr did well enough as well, though Ghu Forbid that we ever actually need him).

One consolation for Jets fans. At least they’re not the Cowboys.

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A reader named Wes Nelson sent me this YouTube link.

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Some of my readers are… odd.

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Music: Nightmare Before Christmas
So it’s Xmas Eve already. Our traditional day for watching BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL. Nothing like that to get you into the holiday spirit. And remember the moral — the bad guys get all the goodies.

I wonder if Rowan Atkinson is available for the HBO series? I could see him as Varys.

Ho ho ho. (Where did the year go?)

A merry xmas to all, and to all a good night.

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The wildlings have arrived, and just in time for Yule.

Dark Sword Miniatures has rolled out three new miniatures, wildling captains set to lead your raiding parties. All of these are available at the Dark Sword Online store.

Here’s the “green” for Rattleshirt, aka the Lord o’ Bones:

Here’s a nicely painted version of Alfyn Crowkiller. Alas, poor Alfyn, he was killed off-stage before he could actually appear in the books, but while he was alive he kicked ass.

And last, but definitely NOT least, a gorgeous version of Mance Rayder, sometime bard, and King Beyond the Wall.

Dark Sword has some other nice figures on offer as well, including a lovely Tom Meier “sorceress” who could easily be added to your Westerosi miniature court, and a new Jeff Grace female archer from the Elmore range who might work as well, with more clothes. Check them all out at http://darkswordminiatures.com/

Oh, and speaking of Tom Meier… I’ve gotten a few emails wondering when we’ll be adding some direwolves to the Dark Sword range. That’s in the works, I promise it is… but if you’d rather not wait, and really want a Ghost to put beside your own Jon Snow, well, Tom Meier has recently issued two terrific new wolves as part of his own Thunderbolt Mountain range.

Tom was kind enough to send me some of each, and I can promise, these are very cool sculpts, and ought to make great direwolves. I’m having some painted up for my own collection right now. They’re available from Thunderbolt Mountain at

http://www.thunderboltmountain.com/

Comments on the miniatures are welcome here. Comments on other stuff, not so much.

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The Jets game… sigh… what can I say?

Aside from “same old Jets.”

Brett Favre looked his age this afternoon. Every long ball was underthrown, except the last one that Coles bobbled, and the short passes had no zip.

Hey, Dolphins, can we please have Chad back?

That was a painful few hours. It’s a familiar pain. I have been a Jets fan for a long time, and by now you’d think I’d know that they just play well in the early season to get your hopes up, so that the inevitable collapse will be that much more painful when it comes.

The Giants – Panthers game restored my faith in life and the NFL. What a great game. Hard-fought from beginning to end, seesawing back and forth, full of great plays on both sides. Especially on offense. The defenses got slugged around a little. I am concerned that our D did not sack Jake Delhomme once. Our pass rush seems to come and go these days, and with the playoffs near that worries me. But Brandon Jacobs returned in a big way, Derrick Ward was amazing, and the O-line were opening holes I could have run through. Let’s hope it’s THIS version of the G-men who show up for the playoffs, not the guys we’ve seen the past two weeks. Anyway, we’ve got the bye and home field throughout… let the wild rumpus begin!

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