It’s a lot more fun to write about sports than politics. So it’s time to take a time-out from politics and talk about football!

The Gunslinger:

In what would have made a great western movie, the game between the Vikings and the Packers would have been an instant classic.

I really don’t care; Brett Favre makes great TV. Playing with what was later found to be two separate fractures in his left ankle, and having a sore arm and the aches and pains of being 41 years-old, Favre came within one foot being inbounds of beating the Packers for the third straight time. Now, the Favre-led Vikings lead on the Packers is 2-1.

Favre is questionable for the next game. His streak may end at 291 games.

Although the Vikings lost, they were hampered by poor officiating too. Head coach Brad Childress said the NFL had notified him that the Vikings should have been awarded a touchdown on Visanthe Shiancoe’s 17-yard reception in the second quarter. The TD call was reversed and the Vikings settled for a Field Goal. They lost by four points. Instead of going for a TD late in the game, all they would have needed was a FG to win it. They were on the Green Bay 20 when the game ended.

The Green Bay Packer fans belong to the NCAA (No Class At All) for booing the gunslinger. The Green Bay management and coaches let the gunslinger go. Your team may have been in NFC championship game last year if Favre was the QB. He beat your team twice last year.  Boo your owner and coaches…

Younger people who play and watch football can learn a thing or two from Favre. He leaves all 41 years on the field each week. He celebrates like a 15 year-old when his team scores. As I said, Favre makes great TV. He makes mistakes. He makes plays. If some of the so-called stars in the league would give half the effort, the NFL would be much better to watch.

Raiders/Broncos:

Those of us who don’t have Sunday Ticket were wondering why CBS, when it’s 38-0, did not switch to a more competitive game. On Sunday, the Raiders pounded the Broncos at “Mile High Stadium” like never before. The Raiders are not that good. The Broncos are that bad. It may be time to change coaches in Denver.

It would have made sense for CBS to switch (except in Oakland/Denver markets) to Chargers/Patriots which was decided by three points. I’m sure the local advertisers would have liked for people to see their ads during a competitive game.

I’m glad I have Sirius satellite radio with the NFL…

49ers/Broncos:

They play their next game in London. The head coaches may only have one-way tickets the way their teams have been playing. Too bad some winning teams were not going across the pond…

Giants/Cowboys:

It looked like the Cowboys might win their second game…until the Giants took control of the game late in the second quarter. The Cowboys lost QB Tony Romo (probably for several weeks), but their defense lost this game for the Cowboys. This is the NFL and you have to perform at a high level each week to win and the Cowboys have not.

The Cowboys have a state-of-the-art facility that is the pride of Texas. The Super Bowl will be played there in February. It’s safe to say the Cowboys won’t be playing the big game at their place this season.

Todd Bouman:

Last Monday morning (Oct. 18), Bouman was harvesting corn on his father’s farm in Minnesota. That night, he was in Jacksonville practicing with the Jags. He was also high school assistant football coach. On Sunday, he was the starting QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars (this could be a movie). He played very well in the first half, but the second half saw him throw a couple INTs as my Chiefs beat the Jags 42-20. Bouman completed 18 of 34 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Next up for the Chiefs are the Buffalo Bills in KC – a game they should win.

Speaking of the Chiefs, I’m cautiously optimistic about my Chiefs. We are winning the games we should win. The Chiefs must win their home games and steal a couple on the road. So far, they have won one on the road and held serve at home. They are a much better team this year, but I am not talking playoffs yet. They still have to play Denver twice, the Raiders twice, and play one in San Diego.

Missouri/Oklahoma:

For me, it all started early Saturday morning watching (on TV) over 18,000 fans show up for ESPN’s College GameDay at the University of Missouri. It ended with watching the goalposts being torn down after Mizzou beat the #1 Oklahoma Sooners 36-27. That was a big win for the Tigers. It was fun to watch the fans take the field.

A friend told me the headline in the local Columbia (MO) newspaper read: “NO OU DIDN’T!!!!!!!!!”

Mizzou has to beat Nebraska at Nebraska on Saturday to put Mizzou in the ranks of the teams deserving of spot in the National Championship. Saturday’s game in Lincoln will be the last Missouri/Nebraska matchup before the Cornhuskers leave for the Big Ten Conference. Hopefully, the Cornhuskers will leave with a loss.

I was born in Missouri and had several friends play ball there, and attended many games in Columbia – plus my wife’s distant relative is a coach there. That’s why I follow MIZ-ZOU.

The Safety:

In what was later determined to be a bad call, the safety called on the Montana Grizzlies from a kick-off ranks right up there with the weird calls of all time. I’ve refereed a few games and never ever thought a kickoff taking a player out of the end zone would be called a safety. Something is definitely wrong with the officiating for a referee to even think it is. That bad call changed the whole course of the game when Northern Arizona was awarded a safety, but the Griz ended up winning it.

Cats/Griz:

Both of Montana’s “big” colleges have not put together a string of good solid games. Fans have to be thinking that maybe they will get it together before the end of the season. They are both in the hunt along with Eastern Washington for the Big Sky title. It should be interesting from here on leading to the Cat/Griz showdown on November 20, which may be for all the marbles.

Kudos:

One of several of my former schools, the Princeton (MO) Tigers are 8-1. Their only loss is to a larger school. One game is left before the playoffs start across Missouri. Go Tigers…

Twitter:

Thanks to all the sports fans that follow me on Twitter to get the latest scores and some short commentary about the games over the weekends. Several sportswriters and sportscasters have signed on to follow me. It’s a pleasure to help spread the latest scores across the state and nation. You can follow me by clicking on the Twitter link on the upper right side of this screen. Tell your friends, too!