Weekend winners
The NFL. Man, did you get enough, because a holiday that normally is reserved for the NBA and old specials was wall-to-wall NFL, and if the TV numbers match the betting interest -- the NFL drew five times the betting action of the NBA games Sunday -- well, it's going to be big.
The power companies. By all indications, the area power folks did an amazing job of keeping us warm, toasty and with limited cooking or power interruptions through that wicked cold front. And here's betting the December revenues will be noticeably higher when the books are closed. Anyone else dreading opening the power bill next month?
Dana Holgorsen. Houston staged a monster second-half rally to win -- and cover -- its bowl game. (Thanks. Santa's bills are hovering.) But he coached with visible and philosophical tributes to his mentor Mike Leach. Holgorsen wore a "State" sweatshirt and attempted five fourth-down conversions.
The dude that proposed to the 76ers Dancer and how he handled Twitter. So this normal-looking fellow proposed at halfcourt to a Philadelphia 76ers dancer over the weekend. As you would expect, she's easy on the eyes. She said yes. Good times. Well, it got posted on social media and the comments were brutal, starting with "he must be loaded" and moving to "got to be a back story, like he donated her a kidney" and then really got salty. Dude's response: "I know she's outta my league; I'm just happy to be here." Got the girl and kept his grace. That's a Christmas to remember.
The 5-at-10 clan. Had family in town. Great food. Great Christmas Eve service. Great memories. Hope your holiday was everything you hoped for friends.
Weekend losers
The NBA. OK, I probably watch more NBA than a casual fan. And I need to pay attention to a lot of sports for a living. (I know, rough life.) And normally the family TV on Christmas Day bounces between a marathon Christmas comedy, a parade or three and the NBA slate. Sunday, it was NFL-dominated, and for the first time in modern memory, not a moment of NBA action. That's not good for a league that routinely counts Christmas as its biggest regular-season day.
Russell Wilson. What a Christmas nightmare for the whole country to see. Not only did you throw picks on your first two drives. Not only did you get out-played badly by journeyman Baker Mayfield, who will be a free agent in a few months while Wilson has a five-year, quarter-of-a-billion-dollar deal. Not only did your now 4-11 team get smoked by a now 5-10 Rams bunch. But you got benched and your linemen want to fight you. Complete debacle in Denver right now.
Carlos Correa. Hard to lose Christmas when you have multiple MLB clubs lining up to give you in excess of $300 million to play baseball. But, now the Mets are worried about Correa's health and who knows what may happen next after the Giants already backed away because of a sketchy physical.
Bowl scores
So the much-anticipated first update on the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler optional, be it hat or Pete Weber) are here.
Santa sends much regrets that they are tardy. Vader may need to pass along some of that spread sheet mojo those smart kids are using.
(Side question: Speaking of wicked smart kids, how much fun do you think Matt Damon and Ben Affleck -- lifelong buddies who grew up in Boston -- had writing and making "Good Will Hunting" back in the day? Tons, right? Side question on the side question: Plus, the "How you like them apples?" had to be one of the first scenes they crafted in their heads, right? Discuss.)
So, without further ado, here's the standings, with some math caveats.
These scores are out of a possible 35 points to date. If you are languishing near the rear, well, that could be tough because of the number of folks you have to hop. But the points are going to escalate quickly.
The contest is certainly not betting in real life, and who knows if either of this well-known 5-at-10 regular contributors bet on every bowl game, but if they did, well, congrats to Vader and Spy, who are near the top but hit 13 of 17 of the picks so far. That should go a long way to making back those Christmas funds. Or putting a down payment on the looming power bill coming.
Getting into the craziness of the crazy bowl week underdogs are 11-6. So there's that.
To the scores.
Josh M -- 31
Brent R -- 30
Michael P -- 29
Kevin C -- 28
Ted P -- 28
Scole023 -- 28
Dawg747 -- 27
Spy -- 27
Jason T -- 27
George A -- 25
Ed C -- 25
Jason G -- 25
Fat Vader -- 25
Kelly W -- 25
Kevin K -- 25
Bill Hi -- 25
Bo C -- 25
Bo W -- 24
Patty H -- 23
Dennis B -- 23
Ellis M -- 23
Matt H -- 23
Drew C -- 23
WarEagle07 -- 23
BamaBill -- 23
Mike R -- 23
Joe T -- 23
David B -- 23
Brad P -- 23
Mrs. Alejandro -- 22
Clark T -- 22
Justin S -- 22
Chip -- 22
Marshall C -- 22
DC22 -- 21
Ernie -- 21
StuckinNC (formerly StuckinKy) -- 21
Pat B -- 21
Jason C -- 21
Bill H -- 21
Kyle O -- 21
Mr. Jackson -- 21
Will C -- 21
Will H -- 21
Danny T -- 21
Dr Picks -- 21
Todd G -- 20
BigDog3131 -- 20
Tom P -- 20
JTC -- 19
Doug D -- 19
Alejandro -- 17
Bicycle Bob -- 17
Patrick B -- 17
Chris Be. -- 16
SportsFan -- 14
Chris B -- 14
J-Mac -- 14
Chas -- 14
Don Page Jr -- 14
Dewayne D -- 14
Danny P -- 13
Leon H -- 13
Bob L -- 13
Jeff N -- 13
Sleepy Floyd -- 12
Joe B -- 12
Jimmy C -- 12
Peter W -- 12
Jeff Po -- 12
Bad Bob -- 12
Mark M -- 11
Mike S -- 11
Keith H -- 11
Kyle C -- 11
Jim C -- 9
Brian Ha -- 9
BigOrangeBacker -- 9
Little Ed -- 8
Big Ed -- 6
This and that
-- Learned that Kathy Whitworth has the most wins of any player on any single professional tour. Her 88 LPGA wins are the most. She died on Saturday.
-- You know the rules. Here's Paschall on Vols linebacker Jeremy Banks opting out of the bowl game to get ready for the NFL draft.
-- You know the rules, part II. Here's Hargis with a look at some of the area's top stories from 2022. Big year locally, for sure.
Today's questions
Weekend winners and losers. Go.
As for multiple choice Monday, what was your favorite Christmas gift this year? Go.
As for today, Dec. 26, let's review.
Did you know that 49 years ago today, "The Exorcist" premiered? Who thought of debuting that movie on the day after Christmas?
Forty years ago today, Time's man of the year was a computer. So there's that. Which has fallen more in significance in that time -- SI's Sportsman of the Year, Time's Man of the Year? Discuss.
On this day in 1966, Jimi Hendrix wrote "Purple Haze." Have we done a Rushmore of songs with a color in the title?
Go and enjoy the day.