His Name is "Dice-Kay"

The rationale this AM I heard on Boston radio is that the Red Sox are now in the driver's seat. Boras does not have any more leverage with Matsuzaka, in theory, because he can't pit teams against each other (a la "Bowling for Zito"). Therefore the Sox can set a price- maybe even below market. Matsuzaka made "only" $3 million last season for Seibu. Even if the Sox double his salary, they get a relative bargain. And word is Daisuke does NOT want to go back to Japan next season (he would dishonor himself after indirectly declaring his desire for better competition in MLB).

I say the final number ends up splitting the difference between the $12mil per Mussina signed for and the $6 mil that would double Matsuzaka's salary from Japan.

Call it an even $9 million per over 4 years. Maybe 5 if the Sox want to commit that long... heck, he's only 26 now- he'd still be just 31.

NFL Week 9 Here and Gone

Wow, and gone it went, faster than I expected. Forgot to add this in this week...
Detroit 30, Atlanta 14
Baltimore 26, Cincinnati 20
Washington 22, Dallas 19
Buffalo 24, Green Bay 10
N.Y. Giants 14, Houston 10
Kansas City 31, St. Louis 17
Miami 31, Chicago 13
New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 14
Jacksonville 37, Tennessee 7
San Francisco 9, Minnesota 3
San Diego 32, Cleveland 25
Denver 31, Pittsburgh 20
Indianapolis 27, New England 20
Seattle 16, Oakland 0

Week 9: 8-6
Overall: 80-48

Week 10 predictions will be retro'd (as has become my custom) into the Here and Gone next week.

This is why we love John Daly. The guy is just about every guy's alter ego fantasy. Observe this assumed daily schedule for J.D.:

Get up.
Drink.
Scratch and sniff.
Drink.
Place bets with bookie.
Drink. Smoke.
Get a limo to the airport.
Drink. Smoke 1 last one before the flight.
Get on the plane.
Drink.
Land.
Drink.
Show up at a PGA Tour event.
Drink. Gamble in the clubhouse.
Play golf badly, but because you have all the natural ability in the world, you don't look like you suck.
Drink. Get paid sponsorship money for showing up.
Drink. Smoke.
Drink. Smoke. Eat some fast food (hey, every guy's gotta throw down a few burritos or KFC to keep going- and to look like J.D.'s physique)
Board flight for Las Vegas.
Drink. Smoke. Gamble all night.
Repeat.