The NFL regular season begins next week and it looks like the league will start it's season with replacement officials on the field. It's clear that the game is too fast for the inexperienced folks that Roger Goodell was able to scrape up. The mistakes have piled up.   Coaches and players have been gagged from talking about it. Since its inevitable that games will be decided on mistakes by the refs...we will see how long the coaches and players stay silent. Its hard to believe that a league as flush as the NFL would be arguing over what amounts to peanuts in the grand scheme of things and have their game marred in this fashion. If ever there was a time for the commissioner to intervene "in the best interests of the game"...this is it. But he won't...he works for the owners...just another group of short-sighted businessmen to whom every last dollar is sacred.

The Journal-Sentinel is reporting that three 21 year old Wisconsin students have been arrested in connection with the assualt on Montee Ball. 3 more lives wrecked by rash decisions probably driven by alcohol. Ball has recovered and is expected to play on Saturday agaisnt Northern Iowa.

The Twins have reportedly placed Joe Mauer on trade waivers. It was thought at the time that the Mauer contract was too large and too long but the Twins had to sign the face of the franchise. The Red Sox have always been interested in Mauer. We'' see if they put in a claim now that they have freed up all the money from last week's big trade. .

Are you watching the second season of "Hell On Wheels"? It really captures the grime and grit of the old west...probably better than anything since "Deadwood". It must really be uncomfortable for the star Anson Mount to be that dirty all day.

Songs Of The Day  (from my I-pod)

Keep Me Cryin-Al Green(1976) Green was moving away from his secular life but still had room for this good natured rant

Keep Me From Blowing Away-Linda Ronstadt (1974) from "Heart Like A Wheel"...just a beautiful record and one of the high water marks of 70's country-rock.