We're pleased to announce that the JoeSportsFan show on 590 the Fan, KFNS will air live from 6:00 - 8:00 central time, Tuesday night (01/06).

You can catch the streaming audio online at KFNS.com OR you can be super cool and watch the radio broadcast as it happens, right here on JoeSportsFan.com. The live studio audio streams crystal clear through the video feed, so you're not missing out on anything.  Plus, you get to see how cute we are.



It'll be like watching Mike and Mike, only we don't suck.

* The video recording, and audio podcast of the show will be available on Wednesday - or so Sebek tells us.  Dork.

Saturday night the Chargers became the third 8-8 team to win at least one postseason game. With five consecutive wins and a healthy amount of healthy talent, they seem to be the most entertaining and intriguing playoff team to follow. One question that remains unanswered in my head: are the Chargers playing the role of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals or the 2004 St. Louis Rams?

In 2004, the Rams squeaked into the playoffs at 8-8 and proceeded to win their first game of the postseason before losing 45-17 to the Falcons the following week. That version of the Rams had some talented skill players to coincide with lots of inconsistency, and was coached by a pass-happy offensive coach. Sounds a lot like this year's Chargers.

It was the last gasp for the should-have-been Super Bowl 'dynasty' St. Louis Rams. In other words, the playoff victory in 2004 was a smoke screen rather than a championship run for an aging team that had been very successful the previous five seasons.

Which brings us to 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, widely regarded as the "worst World Series winner ever". Often ignored by those who argue as much is the fact that the Cardinals were on the last leg (very last) of their run of regular season dominance -- the '04 and '05 teams won 100 games. While their regular season in '06 was barely above .500, the team was still built for a postseason run when healthy and had many of the same core players in tact. After a series win in San Diego, the '06 Cards outlasted the Mets in seven and went on to defeat the Tigers for the title.

So which route will the Chargers, winners of the AFC West three straight years, go the rest of the postseason? If they want to win it all, they'll need to get support from a Spicoli-like character, as the '06 baseball Cardinals did. And while new Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera doesn't resemble anything of the sort, he could be that mid-season acquisition that Jeff Weaver was to the Cardinals.

I'm speaking out of my ass of course, but since the Chargers fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell in late October and replaced him with Ron Rivera, the team is 6-3 and has given up 18.3 ppg. Before Cottrell got canned, San Diego was giving up 24.9 ppg.

Ron Rivera best grow his hair out and look like a stoner if he wants to increase his team's chances of a championship. Otherwise he's just being selfish.

There isn't a thing Dick Butkus won't do for money. Example #147 is the latest Fed Ex commercial featuring history's best linebacker with a porn star name. It follows an illustrious career of side jobs for the guy -- his IMDB profile is a who's who list of quality programming.

Gremlins 2: the New Batch, My Two Dads, Hang Time, XFL Commissioner, guest referee at WrestleMania 2, coach of the high school team in ESPN's "Bound for Glory" (and left the show after 8 games because his contract only paid him for as much, leaving the kids without their coach) etc. etc.

This isn't to say we wouldn't star in a Fed Ex commercial if given the chance, nor deny the chance to hang out with Paul Reiser and the Kenny Loggins look alike dad. In the meantime, we ask that you clear the way for Dick Butkus to consume the ceremonial first bratwurst. To ensure he eats it, we'll offer him money.



January 5

1920 - The Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees in what became known as the "Curse of the Bambino".  As we know all too well around these circles, the curse was lifted in 2004 and culminated with Jimmy Fallon prancing around Busch Stadium like a ferry.

1957 - The Dodgers' Jackie Robinson retires from baseball rather than be traded to NY Giants.  Stubborn?  Yea.  But it was little ridiculous for the Dodgers to assume that Jackie wanted to play football in New York.

1975 - Warrick Dunn is born.   The two-time Pro Bowler (1997, 2000) won a National Championship at Florida State in '93, had his football jersey retired (#28), and also was an AP All-American as a member of Florida State's Men's 4x100m relay team.  Not too shabby. If he was a head coach, he'd be fired for not doing much of anything lately.

WizardsBullets 6-23

As we enter the New Year, there's a few teams on fire right now. To my Spanish speaking brothers and sisters out there, these squads are "hace calor" baby!

They are led by the once-pitiful Atlanta Hawks, a team on a tear as stud two-guard Joe Johnson simply shreds it. The Hawks just finished a 7-1 homestand, won their sixth straight last night against Indiana, and reached 20 wins before New Year's Day for the first time since the 1987-88 season - the Nique years - when second-year center Al Horford was one.

We've pimped the Hawks and point guard Mike Bibby previously, and they are not letting us down. Are they a 55-win team? Maybe, but probably not. But the Bibby-Johnson backcourt is bringing it hard every night and the front court is beginning to mature and play consistently. If they keep the starting five together into next season, this will be an Eastern Conference contender year-in and year-out for a few years.

Dallas and New Orleans also continue to round into mid-season form, but I'd be remiss if I did not cite my WizardsBullets, which just might be inspired by the pending return of Gilbert Arenas as they've won ... wait for it ... wait ... TWO STRAIGHT! Of course, then they lost again last night, but let's focus on the upside for now.

Sure, the two-game win streak came sans Caron Butler - the heart of the team. But Washington was able to pull out an 89-87 victory over the Rockets on Monday night. It was the team's first victory of substance in 2008, and third-year power forward Andray Blatche scored 16 and pulled down eight boards to continue his ascent into a solid NBA contributor. This came on the heels of Blatche grabbing 15 boards with 19 points, four assists, three steals and blocked shot on Saturday night against Oklahahoma City.

In reviewing the box score at ESPN.com, I was thrilled to see this video replay which included an on-air personality who's head is shaped like nothing I've seen before. I didn't realize Santa made heads shaped like this. Go figure.

Regardless, while it's a sad state of affairs to celebrate win against a 3-29 team, we Bullets fans will take it.

Ridularity Round Up

• Minnesota has one win (and eight losses) since canning Randy Wittman. Happy New Year Kevin McHale to whom we'll pray for that this Marbury trade scenario is just a joke.


• Do you ever miss Erik Estrada at his finest? I do.


• Monday night we were painfully reminded of the Brenda Warner Super Bowl sightings.   During the Valero Alamo Bowl game between Missouri and Northwestern, Tigers QB Chase Daniel's family was shown by ESPN following roughly 18 Mizzou offensive snaps in the first half, and then after every - I kid you not - every freakin' Tigers offensive snap in the second half and overtime.  I like ESPN. I do. But I'm asking all JSF loyalists to petition ESPN to demote the director of that game production.


• Rumor has it that Baron Davis is realizing what we suggested early on - that his misguided signing with the Clippers was just that. Nice beard Baron, and nice work denying it as well.


• The constant barage of these horrific Bud LIght "Drinkability" ads that InBevweiser wishes to besiege upon us is getting to be too much. Note to InBevweiser marketing staff and the Bud LIght ad agency: DRINKABILIY IS STUPID! GO BACK TO MAKING FUN OF MILLER LITE OR WRITING FUNNY SONG PARODIES LIKE THIS CLASSIC!


• Another note on beer, as I kind of like the stuff. Memo to the Adolph Coors Company: There is little you could do to get me to drink the worst swine known to the beer swilling community - Coors Light - especially this new barrage of ads featuring Brian Billick and Mike Ditka. They are not remotely entertaining. How about this - spend your money on improving the product.


• Again, while I hate to harp on this, never doubt Jesus when it comes to football knowledge. Steelers, Colts, and Philly baby.


• My sincere thanks to all of you who voted for me for the ESPN.com Best Chat of 2008 (you might still be able to vote here). I'm schedule to do a new online chat on ESPN.com on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. Hope you can join us.


• Finally, if you'd like to check out the 2008 Year in Mustache from the American Mustache Institute, you can read it here.

A happy and safe New Year to you all.  Carry on.

if you want to send holiday kisses to Dr. Aaron, e-mail him at abe@joesportsfan.com