Thursday picks

November's a weird time of year at this house. My eldest child's marching band season is over, my own ice hockey season ramps up a bit, and my older son's hockey season does as well. But, conversely, my work schedule slows down and there's a little less to do during the week. I'm not complaining, it gives me time to catch up on stuff I should've done months ago, like some indoor painting, putting up molding, etc.

Anyway.

Today's Veteran's Day which used to be Armistice Day. I was a high-school kid at St. John's College HS in DC, which used to be compulsory JROTC (wore the uniform, cut the hair, etc), but that was as close as I'd ever get to military service aside from walking into a USMC recruiter's office a little drunk one summer afternoon in 1991 (in a shopping mall, no less). My dad served in the Army National Guard for a few years in the 1970's, but never was called to Vietnam. My grandfathers and grandmothers both served in World War 2 (Coast Guard and Army), and both of my forebears saw combat in the European theater. They didn't talk about it much, and never bragged of their youthful exploits. There were no glorious stories of battle, only a simple acknowledgment that they'd seen war and were happy to forget it. At no point would either of my grandads have been comfortable being called "heroes."

I'm not sure that every man or woman who puts on the uniform today is a hero. I think politicians of all sides use patriotism as a campaign point and throwing the term "hero" around is specious. The over-use of the word has watered down it's meaning.

To all the veterans, living and dead, thanks for your service. I don't know if you're all heroes, but thanks nonetheless. You've been willing to do what a candy-assed guy like me was not.

Thanks, NFL Network, for extra football in November. Tonight's Ravens-Falcons match-up is a good one.

A good pal of mine is hooking me up with a ticket to Monday night's Eagles-Redskins game, which insures that me beloved Redskins will not only lose, but lose badly.

53-50 for this season, here's how I see week 10:

Baltimore at Atlanta: smart money's on the Ravens but the home team in this game is pretty good. Every week the "experts" coronate a new team as "the best in the NFC." I know the Ravens will probably win, but I'm picking Atlanta.

Detroit at Buffalo: Detroit, unless the QB position is unsettled.

Minnesota at Chicago: Vikings could be turning a corner. Or not.

NY Jets at Cleveland: I can't believe that Cleveland could knock off supposedly great AFC East teams in successive weeks. Detroit took the Jets to the mat last week, but I think New York's going to be prepared.

Cincinnati at Indianapolis: Bengals can't seem to turn the corner this year, and I think that the wheels have come off despite the fact that the Terrell Owens addition has been positive. Colts are banged up, but should win at home.

Tennessee at Miami: Chad Pennington is never the answer. Titans.

Carolina at Tampa Bay: Bucs.

Houston at Jacksonville: Houston is a talented team that can't seem to turn the corner I keep referring to. Jaguars aren't a great team, but could give Texans a rough ride.

KC at Denver: the spiral always spins downward. Josh McDaniels? Godspeed. Chiefs.

Dallas at NY Giants: really? This blog practically writes itself. Buh-bye, Dallas. Giants.

Seattle at Arizona: do I have to? Seahawks. They lost badly last week so they'll inexplicably bounce back this week.

St. Louis at San Francisco: again, the great flushing sound. St. Louis, simply because they seem to have momentum on their side.

New England at Pittsburgh: The Patriots laid a large, sulfury-smelling egg on the turf in Cleveland last Sunday. Sometimes you can polish a turd up until it shines in the sun - but it's still a turd. Or, to borrow yet another inept phrase, you can be looking California and feeling Minnesota...oh yeahhhhhh.

Right. The game. I'll take the Patriots, because part of me loves them. A little less than the Redskins, but still......

Eagles at Redskins: if London Fletcher can knock Mike Vick out in the 1st quarter again I will streak Fedex Field wearing nothing more than a Redskins knit hat. No one wants to see that, so let's hope it doesn't happen. My attendance at this game, as noted, means my beloved Redskins will lose. That said, please don't track me down and beat me up in order to sidetrack my attendance - I've got kids.

I think the Eagles are the better team, maybe the NFC's best. Maybe.

I realize I picked the Sunday night game with my heart and the Monday night game with my head. The struggle between the two rages on.....neither side wins.