CSzem's Corner

(BOD - Miranda Kerr)

(Last week's record: 8-5. Ladies and gentlemen, CSzem is not completely useless)

As Tewks has no doubt informed you in the intro to this write-up, my initial run at making picks in a public forum went surprisingly well. Anything above a .500 record is an achievement (just ask the Toronto Blue Jays, Tewks….), and being a couple games over is that much better. If I was a smart gambler, and just bet each individual game while taking my own advice, last weekend would have been profitable. But that would be far too logical.

On to this week’s picks.

Colts (-7) v. Bengals

The Bengals are really in disarray, despite nearly pulling off a monumental comeback on Monday night (no team in history had ever come back from 20 points down against the Steelers – seriously – and the Bengals almost did it in the 4th quarter on Monday night). The Colts need to step on the gas, and should get this done.

Texans (+1) @ Jags

This is the first of a huge number of games with a spread of 1, which is typically very rare. This means there’s a lot of money to be made as long as you can pick winners. Crap, that doesn’t bode well.

Allow me a slight digression here for the purposes of educating fledgling gamblers out there. In picking these games, it’s important to keep in mind the process that goes into setting these lines. First off, the most common misconception about Vegas lines is that people think the lines are intended to reflect what Vegas considers to be “the most likely outcome”. Not true. Vegas’ goal in setting a line is to pick a line that will generate equal amounts of action on either side. So they’re trying to read the public more than the teams. This is why you often pay a bit of a “tax” on teams that the public typically likes to support (like the Pats, Cowboys, Colts, etc.).

The OTHER important note (and the reason I brought this up now) is that Vegas typically works in a 3 point advantage for the home team. What that means is that (for the game above) the oddsmakers actually think that Houston is 2 points better than Jacksonville. If the game was in Houston, it would (likely) be Houston -5. So that’s why I’m taking the Texans. Vegas and I both think they’re the better team.

(We’ll try to keep it brief now….)

Dolphins (+1) v. Titans

Please ignore that entire diatribe as I now go directly against what I just discussed.

Bears (+1) v. Vikings

Why? Why why why? Why do people still think the Vikings are good? They needed a miracle fourth quarter just to beat the Cardinals (a terrible road team) at the Metrodome. And now I’m supposed to believe they’re going into Soldier Field and winning against a team with a much better record?

Lions (+2.5) @ Bills

Why am I talking myself into the Lions as a bit of a sleeper team? Ndamukong Suh (eat that spell check) is an absolute beast and I think will make life miserable for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Browns (+3) v. Jets

Is Cleveland good? They might be, right? They just won in New Orleans and then manhandled New England. The Jets struggled to win on the road at Detroit, who probably isn’t as good as this frisky Browns team. Jets may win, but not by a lot.

Bucs (-6.5) v. Panthers

One of the best calls I made last week was saying that the Josh Freeman-led Bucs weren’t getting enough respect in Atlanta, and that the line should have been 6.5 or 7 (they lost by 6 when they failed to convert a 4th down from the 1 at the end of the game). Carolina is AWFUL. They might be worse than Dallas.

Chiefs (-1) @ Broncos

Looks like one of the easiest games on the board to me so you can probably mark down the Broncos for a win.

Rams (+6) @ Niners

This week’s version of the “How the hell are they laying 6 points to ANYONE” game. Rams are flat out better than SF. This line is crazy to me.

Cardinals (-3) v. Seahawks

These teams both suck. But they both also win games at home and get smoked on the road.

Giants (-13.5) v. Cowboys

I was legitimately excited when I saw that this line was less than 2 TDs. I think there’s money to be made here.

Pats (+4.5) @ Steelers

Two good teams, think it comes down to a FG or late TD.

Eagles (-3) @ Redskins

The Eagles might be really good, the Redskins are not.

Pretty sure I will have lost most of you (most likely Tewks, included) when I went on my little gambling-education rant. But it’s CSzem’s Corner, and that means I can do what I want. Plus, I guarantee none of you were up at 2:30, 3:10, 3:30, and 4:00 (or if you were, it was more pleasant than it was for me).

A Day to Remember

Last year, I wrote a Remembrance Day column that I think was, perhaps, the best thing I've ever written on this blog. Reading it over last night, I realized there is no way I can capture such lightning in a bottle again.

Also, I know that the readership of this blog has increased greatly since then, so I'm sure there are a lot of you who haven't had a chance to read it. Therefore, I'm going to repost it as it's the best way I can pay tribute to the brave men and women who fight in our armed forces.



Today is Remembrance Day. It should be held in the utmost respect and reverence for the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have served in the military protecting the liberties we, as a society, take for granted every day.

For that reason, today’s post will be a marked departure from my regular fare: this is a tribute to the brave Canadians who have risked and are risking their lives overseas to protect the world from tyranny and oppression.

This is not meant to be a political discussion. I don’t care if you sit on the right or the left; arguing about the purpose and merits of our fighting forces does nothing but cheapen their tremendous sacrifice. I will say this, to all of those who question our involvement in overseas conflicts:

The only reason you are able to espouse such opinions and exercise your right of free speech is due to the strength and resolve of our veterans. Remember that the next time you get up on your moral high horse and criticize military tactics and procedures. These people made the ultimate sacrifice for you, asking nothing in return. Never forget it.

I fear that patriotism and remembrance is taking a backseat in the non-stop hustle of 21st century society and its complete subservience to technology. When is the last time you turned off your cellphone, email, TV or the internet and truly appreciated how great it is to live in a country like Canada?

I love the support provided by citizens during repatriation ceremonies along the Highway of Heroes, but it’s terrible to think that such an outpouring of compassion and thanks is catalyzed by the death of one of our soldiers.

I implore everyone to shut off all communication devices at 11am and reflect on the lives that were lost to guarantee our liberty. Two minutes is a miniscule amount of time to appreciate the veterans and the blanket of freedom they have provided Canadians.

Watching the Remembrance Day Ceremonies from Ottawa, it was heartbreaking to watch dozens of elderly men and women reminisce about their wartime experiences. Although their words couldn’t be heard, it was evident they struggled with inner demons of what they saw and what they had to do during their time “over there.” Many had tears rolling down their cheeks.

World War II veterans lived in an era where you kept things internalized and didn’t vocalize their experiences. I’m sure many of them did extraordinary and heroic things but they wouldn’t be caught dead bragging about them. That is extremely noble and refreshing in today’s “look at me” society.

The courage and bravery showed by these veterans is incomprehensible to me. We live in an age where sports media types think “courage” is a pitcher throwing on three days rest. Risking your life for your country is something the average person could never imagine.

I have a close friend currently serving a second tour of duty overseas. He is the bravest person I know. I can’t imagine what he goes through on a daily basis. The funny thing is I could beat him up in high school; now he could probably kill me with one hand.

I also have no problem saying I am too much of a coward to do what he does. It takes a special type of person with a bravery gene to risk life and limb. I am glad there are people like him willing to do the dirty work to keep us safe.

The things veterans have seen and experienced change them forever. They are haunted by their experiences for the rest of their lives – a steep price to pay for serving one’s country.

My thoughts on Remembrance Day can be encapsulated by the following music video; it’s one of the most stirring and heartfelt things I have ever seen. If you only look at one link I ever post on this blog, please make it Terry Kelly’s Pittance of Time.

To all former and current military personnel:

THANK YOU.

Talkin' with Tewks Live: A Small Sniff of Potpourri

(BOD - Brooklyn Decker)

Today's podcast is an abridged version of our usual fare. Cszem departed after just five minutes because he supposedly had to go "to work". Truthfully, I just think he didn't want to cry on air about the plight of his beloved Cowboys.

We discussed some NFL football and his apparently accurate picks and then I went on a solo mission after he left to talk about the NHL and NBA.

Before I post the podcast, I need to do some general housekeeping. From now on, new material will be posted on this site every Tuesday, Thursday and most Fridays (with Cszem's NFL picks). Podcasts on Tuesdays and my longer article on Thursdays.

Here is the link to my new website (remember to copy the link in your browser). It's kind of like the end of the Wizard of Oz when the great and powerful Wizard (Tewks) is revealed to be a small, creepy man with a predilection for Kansas farm girls (my real persona). New material will be posted there every Wednesday morning.

Talkin' with Tewks Live: A Small Sniff of Potpourri
  
Enjoy.