Welcome Back to the Superdome

Last night was one of my must-see football games of the season. It was the return of the Saints to play in New Orleans for the first time since before Katrina. On Monday Night Football, no less. The game was all about emotion, and the Saints didn't disappoint. They moved to 3-0 on the season with a 23-3 walkover of the Atlanta Falcons. It was a great game and a great homecoming; even ESPN announcer Tony Kornheiser seems to be getting less annoying as the weeks progress.

Still, as I watched the pre-game, in which the announcers tried desperately to be both pleased at the return of football and somber about the troubled attempts to rebuild the rest of New Orleans, I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable about watching football played in a stadium where people lost their lives. It was a strange and surreal event. Football won't cure all the ails New Orleans. Nor will music, highlighted last night by some great performaces from U2 and Green Day, make all the difference. But I guess every step counts in new Orleans. And if Reggie Bush has his way, there should be lots more steps to come.

Stronach caught up in Domi divorce

Ew, Ew, Ew, Ew, Ewwwwwwww!

Belinda, I think it's time we had a chat. I'm worried about you. Your professional slide is one thing: from CEO of Magna to conservative power broker to legitimate Tory leadership hopeful to cabinet minister to turncoat to, well, I guess you're still in the Liberal caucus. So you went from one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world to a second-tier politician in the official opposition. It's true, that is kind of sad. But all of that wouldn't matter so much if it weren't accompanied by a much more worrying personal disaster.

Tie freaking Domi? Seriously?

I mean, the first husband was all business. He ran Magna, had daddy's blessing and seemed like a solid guy. Then, you seriously traded up. Husband number two was legendary Olympian Johann Olaf Koss. The guy is maybe the greatest winter Olympian of all time and a humanitarian to boot. That one went belly up and as you entered politics, along came Peter MacKay. Young, bright, pretty and a moderate conservative, he seemed made for you. For a while, it was Ken and Barbie in the corridors of power. Too bad about Stephen Harper winning the leadership, dashing your hopes and driving you across the floor and away from Peter. It wasn't so bad, really - he was a bit of wimp in the end. But he won the PR battle and made you look like the heartbreaker. The Bill Clinton rumours kept resurfacing - but you wouldn't sleep with a married guy, would you? Would you?

Which brings us to Tie Domi. Tie freaking Domi? Seriously? The cro-magnon meathead? Of all the athletes in Toronto you choose the married ex-enforcer with the square head and no visible neck?

Stop the slide, Belinda, before it's too late. At this rate, you're gonna end up with one of Mel Lastman's sons. And who wants that? That's right, no-body!

NFL Week 2: Big Questions

So, Opening Sunday is well behind us, and heading into week 2 of the NFL season, here are the big questions I'm pondering:

1) Will Bledsoe shape up before T.O. loses it?
Drew Bledsoe, whom I still and always will love, kinda stunk it up on Sunday. His offensive line did him no favours, but three interceptions (really four but one was called back) and some serious missed chances have some fans already calling for back-up QB Tony Romo to get the starter's job. Now that may be crazy talk at this point, but truth is Bledsoe needs to get rid of the ball faster and get it to T.O. more. Granted, they haven't had much time to practice together, thanks to T.O.'s 'sore' hamstring, but I thought Bledsoe favoured Terry Glenn a bit much in the game - something that won't sit well with Mr. Owens for long. When it came right down to it, with a chance to win in the fourth quarter and a game-changing receiver on the field, Bledsoe couldn't quite get it done. He did, however, manage to connect with T.O. for a touchdown. Maybe that's why T.O. has given the controversy a pass this week, refusing to answer quarterback questions in the press. But if Bledsoe can't set his shizz together, it's only a matter of time before T.O. starts his old QB-bashing ways.

2) What effect will the Branch trade have on Tom Brady?
The Patriots have now lost their top two wide receivers - David Givens had already taken off for Tennessee in the off-season and now, the Pats have traded malcontent Deion Branch after a lengthy holdout. Branch was obviously a key component in the Patriot's offense and one of Brady's favourite guys on the team. His loss certainly isn't going to help Brady return to Superbowl form. Brady has admitted that the Branch mess was a distraction last week - now it's over and he's down a star receiver. The Pats were awful against the woeful Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Jets may not be the biggest challenge in the league, but the are better than Buffalo, so Brady's going to have to shake off the Branch situation fast. Can he do it?

3) How long until Vince Young is starting in Tennessee?
And, seriously, how is Kerry Collins still a starting quarterback? How is that possible? Anyone?

4) What is Mario Williams gonna have to do to silence the haters?
Yes, Houston could have had Reggie Bush. We know! Yes, Mario Williams was a... let's call it 'unusual' pick for first overall in the draft. But all that matters now is whether Williams can live up to the pick in the long run. For his sake, I hope so. If not, there are gonna be some front-office vacancies in Texas pretty soon.

5) Which QB sucks the most?
Jake Delhomme had a rough Sunday, but with Steve Smith out, we'll give him a break. And J.P. Losman didn't pay so bad, for J.P. Losman. Collins is no star and Bledsoe bit, but last week they were both surpassed in suckiness by some fellow QBs: Jake Plummer was interception happy in St. Louis, Brett Favre was shut out for the first (but not the last) time in his career and Chris Simms had a QB rating of 30.5 with no TDs - that's a full 100 points behind Phil Rivers at 133.9. That just plain sucks. So, until Matt Leinart gets a start - my official pick to flame-out Ryan Leaf style this year - we'll give the title to Simms. I guess Phil Simms is no Archie Manning.

Canada's Plan for World Domination: Step 1

No wonder Mark Burnett won't let Canadians compete on Survivor. Look what happens when he lets a few of us take on Rock Star: Total northern domination! First J.D. Fortune and now the King lemur, also known as Lukas Rossi.

While we could seriously argue whether Dilana, Toby and Ryan are actually better off without the deadweight of 3 middle-aged rockers desperately clinging to fame, Toronto-born Lukas was crowned the 'winner' on last night's season finale. In this, he followed in the footsteps of former Oakville resident Fortune. 2 seasons, 2 Canucks with the crown.

And even better, the Canadians in question went completely against the stereotype of the quiet, polite, unassuming Hoser. Hosers they were, but in a completely different way. Arrogant, preening, totally Rock Star. Gotta love it, eh?

Back to School

I know, I know, I'm list obsessed. It's just an extension of my not-at-all-crazy desire for everything in the world to be neat and tidy (well, except my side of the closet - it has special dispensation to be a non-neat, non-tidy, earthquake-zone mess. But woe betide the weary hubby if he leaves his socks on the floor too long. He's so lucky he married me).

Anyhoo, since my own posting has been a little slow, I'll point you to my favourite list of late: EW's 50 Best High School Movies. The list is eclectic, and weighted a little heavily to the post-1980 period, but you'll still see classics (Natalie Wood's on there twice and then there's the Ramones). Personally, I'd never give Election, possibly the most nasty, misanthropic film of all time a spot in the top 10, ahead of Say Anything. But, really, it's hard to quibble with a list that's got Harry Potter and Dr. McDreamy on it. And the top 5? Just about perfect.