Chapel of Love by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector.   Performed by the Dixie Cups.

Have a thoughtful and reflective Ash Wednesday and consider giving up something for Lent.  Red has done this for several years now and while it may or may not have helped, I work under the theory that it cannot hurt.

Or if you are in Ashbourne, England you can participate in the Royal Shrovetide Football Match which may be the strangest “soccer” match on the planet.

Photographer and writer Randy R. Potts takes a look at gay bars in deeply conservative West Texas.

There is a lot of run for Tom Brady after Superb Owl XLIX.   Well, what about a guy who took his team to the league championship game every year he played and won seven titles.  Who also posted a record of 114 wins, 20 losses and four ties, including going 9–3 in the playoffs.  Who also still holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt (9).  Oh, and who also has an NBA Championship ring (assuming they gave out rings back then).  Of whom do I speak?

The incomparable Otto Graham who led the Cleveland Browns to 7 titles in the AAFC and the NFL and yes, won an NBA championship with the Rochester Royals.

Punxsutawney Phil predicted winter will continue for six more weeks.  Phil was pronounced to have seen his shadow despite generally gloomy and overcast conditions this morning.

I am with Phil Connors on this one.

Baby Please Don’t Go by Lightnin Hopkins.

From the Annals of the Blues –  In 1982, blues legend Sam (Lightnin’) Hopkins died at the age of 70.  Hopkins was born in Centerville and started playing on a home-made guitar at age 8.  His first  instrument was  a cigar-box guitar with chicken-wire strings. By ten he was playing music with his cousin, Alger (Texas) Alexander, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. By his teens, Hopkins was playing the blues wherever he could find an audience.   His career was interrupted by a prison term at the Houston County Prison Farm in the mid-1930s.  After that, he returned to the blues-club circuit ultimately deciding to live in Houston.  In 1959, Hopkins began working with legendary producer Sam Chambers and for the first time his songs began to reach a mainstream white audience. Hopkins switched to an acoustic guitar and found greater success as a folk-blues artist ultimately playing at distinguished venues such as Carnegie Hall and opening concerts for numerous rock bands. Hopkins recorded at least 85 albums.

Red is keeping it simple this week.  This is the matchup between two worthy teams.  One led by Belicheat and the other by Pete the Cheat.  Belicheat has perfected it at the pro level (except for that getting caught thing) while Pete the Cheat took it to a whole new level at USC.  So who do you pick in a game featuring two notorious cheaters?  Obviously we have to look elsewhere.

The Patriots offense can roll anyone on any given day.  Do not expect Broncolike futility this year.  Even the Seahawks defense will have trouble containing so many varied options.  Brady can pick among 4-5 legitimate downfield threats and the fresh legs of the Fat Pig (aka LaGarrette Blount).  The Patriots defense is better than it should be.  The Seahawks will not surprise them.  The key will be containment on Wilson.  They cannot let him extend plays – easier said than done.  Lynch will get his yards, but Lynch alone cannot beat you unless your team is two scores down.  That’s they other key for the Patriots – keep it close.  The Pats win a close game in the 4th quarter.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks passing attack is weak.  Patriots cannot get too focused on stopping Lynch.  They have to shut down Wilson and his mediocre wide receiving corps.  I think the Seahawks defense will have to limit the Pats to 24 points or less to win.  A tall order.

The edge is ever so slightly in favor of the Patriots – unless Brady really is feeling crummy enough to affect his game.  This one should be good.

Patriots 31 Seahawks 23.

Cheapest tickets for the Big Game on NFL Ticket Exchange are $3715.  You can spend up to $14,000 if you are interested.  Not.  I am, however, curious how the game is going to be played in the spaceship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind while hovering over the Arizona desert.

The Dallas Morning News Reports that giant retailer Wal-Mart will be lobbying the Texas legislature to pass legislation allowing it and other publicly traded companies to sell liquor to the public. We have come a long way from the days of fighting over the “Liquor-by-the-Drink”  prohibition.