Wild Card Round:

New England 23

Indianapolis 20

Pittsburgh 14

Kansas City 10

Green Bay 24

New Orleans 10 

Philadelphia 34

Dallas 47

Divisional Round:

New England 20

Miami 44

Pittsburgh 30

Denver 17

Green Bay 0

Chicago 46

Dallas 13

San Francisco 19

Championship Round:

Pittsburgh 14

Miami 31

San Francisco 0

Chicago 49

Super Bowl I:

Miami 22

Chicago 46

Pro Bowl:

NFC 48

AFC 54 OT

Awards:

Season MVP - OJ McDuffie CHI

Super Bowl MVP - Walter Payton CHI

Offensive Player of the Year - Paul Anderson CHI

Defensive Player of the Year - Mike Singletary CHI

Rookie of the Year - Paul Anderson CHI

Rushing Leader - Walter Payton CHI (2,047 yards)

Receiving Leader - OJ McDuffie CHI (1,552 yards)

Passing Leader - Paul Anderson CHI (4,127 yards)

Super Bowl 38

Total Number Of Surveys Taken: 12

AFC Wildcard (1 pt)

Base: Total Votes 12

9 ( 75%) TEN*

3 ( 25%) BAL

AFC Wildcard (1 pt)

Base: Total Votes 12

6 ( 50%) DEN

6 ( 50%) IND*

AFC Divisional

Jan 10 (2 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

0 (  0%) DEN

1 (  8%) TEN

0 (  0%) BAL

11 ( 92%) NE*

AFC Divisional

Jan 11 (2 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

1 (  8%) TEN

0 (  0%) BAL

1 (  8%) IND*

10( 83%) KC

AFC Championship

Jan 18 (3 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

0 (  0%) DEN

0 (  0%) TEN

0 (  0%) BAL

0 (  0%) IND

3 ( 25%) KC

9 ( 75%) NE*

NFC Wildcard (1 pt)

Base: Total Votes 12

3 ( 25%) DAL

9 ( 75%) CAR*

NFC Wildcard (1 pt)

Base: Total Votes 12

1 (  8%) SEA

11 ( 92%) GB*

NFC Divisional

Jan 10 (2 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

0 (  0%) SEA

3 ( 25%) GB

1 (  8%) CAR*

8 ( 67%) STL

NFC Divisional

Jan 11 (2 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

0 (  0%) DAL

0 (  0%) SEA

2 ( 17%) GB

10 ( 83%) PHI*

NFC Championship

Jan 18 (3 pts)

Base: Total Votes 12

 

0 (  0%) DAL

0 (  0%) SEA

2 ( 17%) GB

1 (  8%) CAR*

2 ( 17%) STL

7 ( 58%) PHI

SUPER BOWL

Jan 26 (4pts)

Base: Total Votes 11

 

0 (  0%) DEN

0 (  0%) TEN

0 (  0%) BAL

0 (  0%) IND

2 ( 18%) KC

4 ( 36%) NE*

0 (  0%) DAL

0 (  0%) SEA

2 ( 18%) GB

0 (  0%) CAR

1 (  9%) STL

2 ( 18%) PHI

* winner

Which is most likely to happen?

Base: Total Votes 9

2 ( 22%) Only Jobaria will return for the playoffs

3 ( 33%) Only Datousaurus will return for the playoffs

2 ( 22%) Both Jobaria and Datousaurus will return for the playoffs

2 ( 22%) Neither Jobaria and Datousaurus will return for the playoffs

2003 Guest Book Entries

Name: The Chairman
Date: Monday January 19, 2004 18:01:55 GMT
Comments:

Thanks to Carolina we are done early this year, but check back after the Super Bowl for the final standings and the last report. All the awards should be up by then too.

I'll send out an email when the location of the annual meeting is determined.

Otherwise, have a great summer! See you in the fall.

The Chairman

Name: Archeopteryx
Date: Saturday January 17, 2004 02:23:55 GMT
Comments:

Finally! I win! I almost forgot what its like.....I'm goin' all the way baby!

Bird Topic: Are Birds Really Dinosaurs?

Name: Mockingbird
Date: Friday January 09, 2004 02:42:28 GMT
Comments:

Nickname for Jobaria - Puffin

Name: The Chairman
Date: Monday December 29, 2003 07:23:32 GMT
Comments:

Congratulations to Wormer! She won the 2nd Half title by 2 games and Overall title by the tie-breaker.

Also, congratulations to Torosaurus who won the 1st Half title.

And thanks to all who played.

Don't forget the playoffs start SATURDAY. Make all the playoff picks before the kickoff of the first game.

The answer to this week's poll was 4 (in week 12, Dove and Great Auk tied the record for most wins in a week and then, in week 15, Blue Jay and Green Jay tied it again).

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday December 23, 2003 22:57:54 GMT
Comments:

There are 3 games on Saturday this week. You can pick those 3 and do the rest later if you like.

Don't forget to guess the total points in Sunday night's game for a tie-breaker.

This week's poll answer was 2 (ARCHAEOPTERYX & GREAT AUK).

You can submit topics here, and you can use the "Do Not Post" box to keep it a secret too.

Name: Green Jay
Date: Saturday December 20, 2003 04:34:18 GMT
Comments:

Does this work for submitting my topic?

Topic pick is Partridge

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday December 16, 2003 07:02:33 GMT
Comments:

There are 3 games on Saturday this week. You can pick those 3 and do the rest later if you like.

Also, congratulations to Robin, Dove, Green Jay, and Great Auk for getting this week's poll question correct!

The answer was 18 (6 Western Meadowlark, 5 Mockingbird, 4 Bluebird, 3 Robin), but I also would have taken 16 as 2 are Mountain Bluebirds.

The Chairman

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday November 25, 2003 08:51:55 GMT
Comments:

The competition was tough for Dinosaurus' new name:

Great Auk wrote Robin:

Hey buddy, old-pal-of-mine,

Do you remember that card Grandma sent us with all the pictures we had to name? One picture was of a worm, and we said that would be her next nickname. Ha. Ha. That was a funny one. I think you came up with that joke. Good one! Well, I just thought it would be really funny and cool to give her a worm name...

Then Dinosaurus wrote Robin:

Hi. I see that Matthew won the SPAM football pool this week and he gets to name me. Congratulations on your excellent picks! I really like the idea of being named "Golden Eagle". I hope you consider this request when deciding on a new name for me.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Saturday November 22, 2003 05:27:42 GMT
Comments:

I have updated the player files with the bird names so you can check out the nicknames there.

Just click on the Members Only link and then choose the Players link in the CURRENT column of the menu.

It will have everyone except the newest person, who is Bluebird.

Name: dianne
Date: Saturday November 22, 2003 03:48:51 GMT
Comments:

Could you please make a list of everyone's current nickname and given name. It would help some of us who can't keep it straight. Thanks.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday November 18, 2003 06:06:01 GMT
Comments:

Why Green Jay?

Dinosaurus explains:

Hi. I am pleased to have "won" a very dismal week for our football pool. I checked Google for help with North American birds and I found a Cornell University site. That seemed to be an appropriate site for my selection of a nickname for Julie. Trying to keep my personal theme of picking a nickname that starts with the same letter as the person's name, I am naming Julie "Green Jay" -- that's as close as I can get. . .Julie has green eyes and Jay starts with the letter J. Bye for now.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday November 04, 2003 07:21:22 GMT
Comments:

I am either Great Auk or Alfred. Here is what I received:

Mockingbird sent:

Nickname for pachy:

Great Auk, Alfred Edmund Brehm

. Look familiar? Before similar looking birds were discovered in the southern hemisphere, the Great Auk or Garefowl was also known as a Penguin. The Great Auk inhabited the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic from Virginia and Ireland to Greenland and Iceland almost to the Arctic Circle. The flightless bird was easily captured. They and their eggs fed many sailors. Shorebirds that breed in a limited number of colonies at only certain locations are highly susceptible to concentrated stresses and the Great Auk was extinct by mid Nineteenth Century.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday October 21, 2003 06:22:35 GMT
Comments:

Here is more about mockingbird.

Torosaurus commented:

I pick “Mockingbird” for Maiasaura

Some filler for “Behind the Nicknames” : Maiasaura just picked Western Meadowlark which is a very popular state bird so is Mockingbird – one state being Florida where her mother lives. Also Mockingbird starts with M like Maiasaura and Macpherson plus as a bonus the three letter code can be “Moc” (very close to Mac). Also Gregory Peck passed away this year at age 87 (hey his birthday is the same as Linda’s) and his movie was one of Pete’s favorites and I am sure one of hers.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday October 14, 2003 04:27:29 GMT
Comments:

There may have been a typo here, but this is from the actual email.

Maiasaura quickly typed:

I'm not sure I like the responsibility that goes along with being the "winner." I'm not sure who Microraptor is but I think it's Linda's mom (so says Gloria). If that is correct I choose the Western Meadowlard - state bird of Nebraska. If it's incorrect let Gloria pick a name since I'll be cruising until Mon.

Have a great week.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday September 30, 2003 04:44:57 GMT
Comments:

And now, the rest of the story:

Dinosaurus said:

Hi. I finally decided on a bird nickname for David. I tried to find a bird that had some association with David. I wanted to pick a bird that started with the letter "D". It was not easy until I found a website with birds of Scotland. My nickname for David is Dunlin, a sandpiper found in Scotland and many northern coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. I hope my football picks aren't this much work. Bye for now.

Name: The Chairman
Date: Tuesday September 23, 2003 05:20:46 GMT
Comments:

Here is how Robin came to be:

Dinosaurus wrote:

Hi. I just talked with Matthew and he told me that I am going to win the pool this week! Yeah! He is the loser and wants to be called Robin, so Robin he is.

I finally got a little success from AOL. I get about 1/2 of the pictures and the picks have been updated on the SPAM website. I talked to a technical rep from Gateway and he thought that AOL just needed to reinstall their program. That makes more sense than most of what AOL tried to tell me. Bye for now. . .

Name: The Chairman
Date: Monday September 22, 2003 02:55:29 GMT
Comments:

Here is the significance of the Bluebird nickname:

Maiasaura wrote:

I don't understand this "vintage football." Does it have anything to do with the current season.

I sent my picks in and is it true that I won week 1? If yes, and I have to pick a bird name for Holly my choice is Bluebird - because I like the story: according to Cherokee lore "the bluebird is a native bird of North America, although once common, now rare. This often is a reminder that we are born to happiness and fulfillment, but we sometimes get so lost and wrapped up in the everyday events of our lives that our happiness and fulfillment seem rare. When a bluebird shows up it should first remind you to take time to enjoy yourself."

If I didn't win week 1 - nevermind!

Name: maiasaurus
Date: Saturday September 20, 2003 02:11:39 GMT
Comments:

I did considerable research in finding the right nickname for Holly and I chose the name based on Cherokee lore, which I sent to you along with the name. Please include it on the home page so that Holly and everyone else understands it's significance. Thanks.

2003 Nickname Beat

Nickname Beat:  Birds

By Matthew Anderson

Are Birds Really Dinosaurs?

The word dinosaur was created in 1841 and used to describe a type of extinct reptile.  Dinosaurs and birds are very different in many ways.  Two of the most brilliantly designed structures in nature are bird feathers and special lungs.  Feathers are complex structures with barb, barbules, and hooks.  They originate from follicles inside the skin in a manner akin to hair.  Dinosaurs had scales, which are folds in skin.  In reptile ("bellows"-style) lungs, the air is drawn into tiny sacs where blood extracts the oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.  The stale air is then breathed out the same way it came in.  But birds have a complicated system of air sacs (avian lungs).  This system keeps air flowing in one direction through special tubes in the lungs, and blood moves through the lung's blood vessels in the opposite direction for efficient oxygen uptake.  Also birds move both its upper jaw and lower jaw.  In most vertebrates, including reptiles, only the lower jaw moves.

Puffin

Nickname:  Puffin to Duane from Dianne

Puffins don't build their nest in trees; they build their nest in burrows, which they make themselves.  A large group of puffins are called "rafts."  Bald eagles, sea gulls, falcons, and killer whales are a puffin’s enemies.  They are excellent swimmers and divers, and can live to be almost forty years old.  Some people have nicknamed them "clowns of the sea" or "sea parrots."

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore oriole, sometimes also called a firebird or golden robin, is a pleasant-sounding songbird.  It was named after Lord Baltimore, the Maryland colony's governor.  The male bird's orange and black feathers are the colors of Lord Baltimore's coat of arms.  In 1894, Baltimore's major league baseball team was named after the bird.  It became the state bird of Maryland on June 1, 1947.

Hawks

Hawks see clearly over long distances, and have strong wings and strong feet.  They usually catch and eat live animals.  Duck hawks can dive at 175 miles per hour and can catch birds in midair.  Kestrels are about the size of a robin.  The largest hawks are called eagles.

Partridge

The partridge is mentioned in The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The name partridge is also sometimes associated with grouse, the bobwhite, and quail.  It was first introduced to North America in 1889, when the gray partridge was brought into Virginia.  The partridge is a fast bird. Using its deep chest to propel itself, the partridge can scurry across the ground at quick speeds to avoid predators.

The National Symbol

The bald eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782.  It was selected by the U.S.A.'s founding fathers because it is a species unique to North America.  Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird, because he thought the eagle was of bad moral character.  Bald eagles were once very common throughout most of the United States.  They feed primarily on fish and they can carry their food off in flight, but can only lift about half their weight.

Swans

You can find swans on ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers, and many live in salt water, too.  There are mute, whooper, bewick's, whistling, trumpeter (which is the largest and they don't migrate south for the winter), black, black-necked, and coscoroba swans.  Migrating swans travel mainly at night.  There is a book about swans called The Trumpet of the Swan.  It is a bird mentioned in The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Penguins

There are 18 different kinds of penguins, and they live south of the equator.  Emperor penguins are the biggest (35 in. tall and up to 90 lb.) and little blue penguins are the smallest (a third as tall and just over 2.2 lb.).  Penguins have enemies such as seals, sharks, and killer whales.  Some penguins make their nest with stones and pebbles.  There is a book about penguins called Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Worm-Eating Warbler

Nickname:  Wormer to Gloria from Matthew

Worm-eating warblers can also be called wormers.  However, they mainly feed on caterpillars, spiders, and other insects.  Wormers winter in the Caribbean Basin, and they summer in North America.  They build their nest on the ground and hide it with leaves.  The song of a wormer is a thin dry buzz.

Green Jay

Nickname:  Green Jay to Julie from Gloria

The green jay has a blue cap and no crest.  It eats seeds, fruits and insects.  The City of McAllen, Texas has chosen the green jay as its official bird.  The green jay lives in southern Texas and Mexico.  Its song is a harsh ch-ch-ch-ching, fast beetle-beetle, and odd low snore.

Archaeopteryx

Nickname:  Archaeopteryx to Jennifer from Julie

Archaeopteryx is an extinct bird, being about the size of a pigeon.  It had curved claws for perching.  It could move both its upper and lower jaw.  Unlike the vulture, the archaeopteryx had feathers on its head.  Also, it had claws on its wings, which could be used if attacked like the ostrich.

Great Auk

Nickname:  Great Auk to Paul from Dianne

Before it became extinct in the mid 1800's, the great auk was found in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean along the coasts of North America and northern Europe.  It was a swimmer, not a flyer, and a superb navigator.  The great auk was a hardy, gentle and trusting bird that loved the sea.  People carved the great auk's figure on the walls of caves.  The carvings can now be seen in El Pinto Cave in Spain.

Dove

Nickname:  Dove to Linda from Holly

Doves eat on the ground, and they eat cracked corn, sunflower seed, and white millet.  The mourning dove is smaller than a pigeon, makes a soft cooing sound, takes tiny steps, and bobs its head as it goes.  Wisconsin's symbol of peace is the mourning dove.  The nest is sometimes built on top of a deserted robin's nest.  In the Bible Noah sent out a dove from the ark to find out if the waters had gone down.

Mockingbird

Nickname:  Mockingbird to Dianne from Julie

Mockingbirds will eat bird cakes as well as raisins and other fruit at backyard feeders.  If you get too close to its nest it will attack you.  One time a pig came to a tree to eat some oranges, and the mockingbirds attacked it because they thought their nest was being threatened; however, the pig actually enjoyed the pecking.  One mockingbird was heard imitating the calls of 32 different birds in just 10 minutes.  The mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

Western Meadowlark

Nickname:  Western Meadowlark to Shirley from Dianne

The western meadowlark is the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming.  Its nest is placed on the ground in a concealed spot and is partially domed, made of grass and other plant materials.  The eggs are buff speckled with brown.  Its song is "See-me- I'm MEADOWLARK!"  If you move close to it, it will turn its back to match the grass; if you move even closer it will fly away.

Blue Jay

Nickname:  Blue Jay to Judy from Matthew

The blue jay is nearly 1 foot long, including the tail.  They can raise or lower their crest on their head.  Blue jays live about four to six years.  They love peanuts.  A blue jays voice is "Jay-jay-jay;" it also can mimic the calls of red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks.

Dunlin

Nickname:  Dunlin to David from Gloria

Dunlins have a long bill and short legs.  They live on tundra in the summer and beaches in the winter.  The dunlin looks different throughout the year with its colors being brightest in the summer.  The call of a dunlin sounds like a short slurred 'treep'.  The dunlin is on many stamps.

Robin

Nickname:  Robin to Matthew from Gloria

Robins are not afraid of living near humans.  They have many enemies such as squirrels, dogs, cats, and hawks.  They make their nest of twigs and mud.  The robin is the most popular songbird in the United States because it appears to be a happy and friendly bird.  It is the state bird of Wisconsin, Michigan and Connecticut.

Bluebird

Nickname:  Bluebird to Holly from Dianne

The bluebird is a songbird that lives in North America.  Bluebirds eat insects, some berries, and other small fruits.  The bluebird is the state bird of Idaho, Missouri, Nevada and New York.  Bluebirds are dying out.  They are dying out because their houses are being taken over by sparrows and starlings.

2003 Regular Season

AFC East

yz*-Miami 14-2

x-Indianapolis 10-6

x-New England 10-6

NY Jets 6-10

Buffalo 6-10

AFC Central

y-Pittsburgh 10-6

Baltimore 8-8

Cincinnati 6-10

Tennessee 6-10

Jacksonville 4-12

AFC West

yz-Denver 13-3

x-Kansas City 9-7

Seattle 9-7

San Diego 6-10

Oakland 3-13

NFC East

y-Dallas 11-5

x-Philadelphia 9-7

Washington 8-8

NY Giants 7-9

Arizona 5-11

NFC Central

yz*-Chicago 16-0

x-Green Bay 11-5

Detroit 7-9

Minnesota 4-12

Tampa Bay 4-12

NFC West

yz-San Francisco 13-3

x-New Orleans 10-6

Atlanta 8-8

Carolina 5-11

St Louis 2-14

 

x-clinched playoff berth

y-clinched division title

z-clinched 1st round bye

*-clinched home field

Teams in orange have an owner.