When did the world pass me by?

I don't know what happened here, but between the Miami Heat, MMA and NASCAR this week, nobody seems to give a hoot about the World Series.  Not that I care about TV ratings, in fact it's just the opposite, a Yankees-Phillies series would've barely registered with me, but drawn much bigger audiences than the current matchup.

What irks me about the whole thing is the glee that fans of other "activities" (I can't say sports because some of this stuff doesn't qualify) take in the fact people care less about something else than their thing.  Particularly when their thing is the biggest thing going.  I get why you want priority when your particular passion is being overruled in a bar by something you hate, but if the NBA, NFL or UFC is on, there's nothing that's going to supplant it.  So get over it and stop being such a sore winnner.

Instead we have football fans crowing about the awful Titans-Jags game beating the ALCS and hoops heads crowing that Miami's first game of an 82-game season dwarfs Game One of the Fall Classic.  Look, I'll be the first to admit that I'm happy live in one of the few places in this country where hockey gets an equal priority in regard to basketball, as I prefer to watch puck.  But I'm equal opportunity, and when we have a decent local squad, I'll tune in.  Acting as if disliking something will somehow elevate what you enjoy is stupid, ultimately your thing will be judged on it's own merits.  To every Timerberwolves fan who's upset their team gets bumped for a hockey or baseball game around here, get a better team, and that problem will solve itself.

Furthermore, where did the chip on the shoulder of these people come from?  Football and basketball are the two most popular games in the country, yet they feel they need to point this out as a part of some insecurity they have.  Particularly NBA fans, many of whom claim to be a rare breed, despite the fact they have tripleheaders on major networks 5 days a week, while the NHL fans among us need a roadmap, GPS and spelunking helmet to track down our favorite sport in the cable netherregions, if at all.

Try this, imagine living in a world where you don't give two s**ts about LeBron James, Brock Lesnar or anyone who's notoriety comes from driving something fast.  Realize that Sportscenter pretty much became a no-fly zone from October-June about 5 years ago for those of us with that mentality, and this past summer it turned year-round.  Also realize that I'm not ripping your thing, and will watch when it provides compelling moments, but you're not the persecuted one here.  Every time I have to fight to see the last 5 minutes of a game I've been watching for 3 hours because some meathead in a Tapout shirt is demanding the 5th undercard, I feel a little bit more like I just don't get it.  Will we even have baseball in 20 years?

Week 8 picks:

Last week: 7-7

Season: 36-38-2 (Just can't get over the friggin hump here)

NEW ENGLAND -6 over Minnesota
San Francisco -1 over Denver
Jacksonville +6 over DALLAS
Washington +2.5 over DETROIT
NEW YORK JETS -6 over Green Bay
ST LOUIS -3 over Carolina
Miami +2 over CINCINNATI
Buffalo +7.5 over KANSAS CITY
Tennessee +3.5 over SAN DIEGO
Tampa Bay +3 over ARIZONA
OAKLAND -2.5 over Seattle
Pittsburgh +1 over NEW ORLEANS
INDIANAPOLIS -5.5 over Houston