People love interesting writing

.... and I really enjoyed this column from Page 2's Bill Simmons about bad Christmas gifts for the NFL fan in your life. My favorite is #28, a game ball used in last month's epic 13-13 tie between the Eagles and Bengals. In fact, I think that gift is so funny that I'm going to use my Christmas bonus to buy it for Ed.

What was that? Oh, really.... Oh, okay, I, uh, I wasn't aware of that.... Yeah.... Well.... I'll tell you what - I'll get it for him anyway if he wins the Murray Holiday Invitational. (Not too much risk there with CB and "The H" involved.)

Speaking of the MHI, you guys need to crack down and get your picks in. When I told my sister about it, she submitted her plays right away. So what are all you "Sharps" waiting for?

One thing I've found amusing lately is the different ways people react to being called a "Sharp." There's basically three different ways people take it:

1. "Yeah, no shit."

Chris Bennett is definitely the best at this. If you call him a sharp he usually just says nothing as if his sharpness is so obvious and so understood that he doesn't need to acknowledge it. Sometimes he will reply by snickering and saying "Well, yeah I am" or he will just make a face that says "Yeah, no shit." Out of everyone I know who is routinely called a sharp, I present that CB handles it best.

2. "Shut up, John. Stop mocking, dick.... You're such an rat, dude."

This one is a dead heat between Hoffy and Jeff because they both react the exact same way every time I call them sharp or compliment them on their fine cell phones. I just don't get this. Scotty and Jeff both ARE sharp. And their iPhones really are cool. So why can't I just mention it literally every time I see them, usually in a mocking tone, with a grin on my face? Is that so bad? I don't get these guys. They need to take lessons from CB.

3. "Oh, yeah I'm real sharp..... (Looks back for my reaction which is usually a big smile) I don't know shit about this stuff..... (Still looking at me to gauge my reaction to try determine if I am serious or mocking him....) So and so (Usually Bennett) is the real sharp."

Ed has perfected this one. Any time I call him sharp he immediately mocks himself before looking at me to see if I'm being serious or not. Ed actually is sharp so I'm not sure why he needs a sharp square like me to validate him but it's still funny.

I'm done for one day. I'd like to write more. I just don't have any material.

Get your picks in. I'm looking at you, Austin.

Sent from my iPhone

Enjoy the game.