Cause and effect? While the Red Sox were jetting off to Toronto, they found themselves a half-game closer to first, because the Rays blew an 8-6 lead and lost to the Twins. So as long as we're not playing the team we're trying to catch, maybe we can catch them. Sound right?

You've probably already heard that Curt Schilling isn't signing on to write a fawning biography of Manny Ramirez. The big guy told WEEI that Manny really was as bad a teammate as we all feared. On the other side of the coin, LA is still enjoying that new-Manny shine. Enjoy it while it lasts, guys.

The Celtics will try to bring some of their success and glory to the White House today, which needs it, when they go for their photo-op and gift exchange with the President. We hope when KG meets Mr. Bush, he's in the same mood he was in for his post-Game Six interview. "I'm so hyped! 'Sota, Mr. President! Aaaaaaggghhhh!"

Now, what you've been waiting for, the football picks (home team in caps, as always):
PATS over Miami. If the Dolphins lose, their winning percentage since Joey Porter joined the team will be .053. We wonder what he'll say to terrify the Chargers next week.
SAN DIEGO over the Jets. There's already controversy brewing between Mangini and Favre. Let's take a second and pump our fists in the air.
SEATTLE over St. Louis. This clash of 0-2 teams (St. Louis, by the way, has a chance to run the table) may be the least-watched game in NFL history...
Detroit over SF....or, maybe not.
INDY over Jacksonville. These were supposed to be two of the four or five AFC powers this year. After this game, either they'll both be 1-2 or the Jags will be 0-3. It's things like this that make us think maybe the Patriots could still squeak into the playoffs this year.
BUFFALO over Oakland. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is the heir apparent to the the Wayne Fontes/Dread Pirate Roberts Unemployment Watch. Good night, Lane, sleep tight...most likely I'll fire you in the morning.
Dallas over GREEN BAY. We tried to talk ourselves into the Packers. But Tony Romo wins big games like this in months that end in R.
ALSO: ATLANTA over Chiefs, CHICAGO over Tampa Bay, MINNESOTA over Carolina, NYG over Cincinnati, Arizona over WASHINGTON, TENNESSEE over Houston, PHILLY over Pittsburgh (straight home-field advantage on that one), DENVER over New Orleans, Cleveland over BALTIMORE.