It Can Stay in Vegas
Posted February 8, 2010, 8:21 PM ET

I just returned from a hellish adventure in Las Vegas.

I know the national slogan for Sin City is "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". Let me tell you, whatever variation of the Sin City flu that I acquired, the fine folks in the desert can keep it.

I knew I was in for trouble before ever boarding the flight to head west for our Super Bowl shows.. Don't you hate it when you know you're about ready to get sick, and you jump on a plane heading to anywhere?

Before we landed, I was already done. Sipping on Jack Daniels with a little lemon wasn't about to stop the bus that was in the process of running over me.

I had as much chance beating this beast as I did holding another dealt 2-5-8 hand on "Let It Ride".

The only good thing about falling prey to the latest Sin City Swine Flu was that I was able to spend less time on the tables than I normally would....so I figured it helped my wallet.

But what's the fun in being in Vegas when you are coughing up a lung, running a fever, sweating like a pig?

I had to live vicariously through our crew's tales and gambling stories, and by the sound of things, it might have been a good thing that I wasn't with them.

Enough with the bitching.....

I'm on the comeback trail with my assorted meds, and like the Saints, I plan to arrive back on top.

"Who Dat?"

Can you believe the New Orleans Saints are the Super Bowl champs?

Good for them...and all the great people of the Gulf Shore region. They deserved it......and the way the Saints played and coached.....they deserved it, too.

Laying on my deathbed the last few days, I've been amazed at how many "football experts" have taken shots at Peyton Manning's legacy. I thought Manning played well in the Super Bowl, and there's no doubt that his interception wrapped up the Saints' historic achievement.

Manning is having a brilliant career. The point here is a simple one....he "is" having an incredible career. It isn't over. Assuming that he can stay relatively healthy, you gotta figure he has another chance to win a Super Bowl title.

For argument's sake, let's say Sunday's disappointing loss is the last time we see him in a Super Bowl game.

Is he the best NFL QB to ever play?

Nope.....but he is a "no-brainer" Hall of Fame player.

It is truly amazing how thin the line is between greatness and being a goat. The Super Bowl is a measuring stick event for a player's career. It's exactly why I eliminate Dan Marino from the equation, when this topic comes up.

Manning's career is still active, and that's why I think it's a bit premature to brand a guy before his body of work is over. There is no question that playing well and winning the big game can do nothing but enhance everything else on your football resume.....that's true for all players, coaches and front office folks.....and the flip side comes into play, too.

But I still came away from Super Bowl 44 with a smile on my face, knowing that we saw one hell-uva good football game, played by two tremendous quarterbacks. I also was thrilled to know that as soon as the game ended, I was heading back home to get in my own bed.

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The North Carolina Tar Heels have been the biggest bust of the college hoops season.

The defending champs have lost five of their last six, heading into their Wednesday showdown game against Duke. UNC has been so ordinary, that I decided to cancel our annual "PrimeTime Viewing Party" matching both UNC and Duke fans. Let's be honest: the Heels haven't held up their end of the bargain.

As lame as they have played in recent weeks, why do I get the feeling that we'll see whatever is left of their A-game at the Smith Center on Wednesday night?

For UNC fans, the season has really been reduced to trying to beat Duke.

My, how the mighty have fallen.

Ironically, this Duke team has looked just so-so at times, too......but the difference is that they are atop the ACC standings and ranked in the Top 10. I still think the Blue Devils are the league's best team, but this is a different kind of ACC.

It's an ACC that has just a few ranked teams, and the defending national champs fighting off DFL in the conference standings.

If Coach K's gang punches UNC's lights out on Wednesday, the rest of the hoops season is really going to get ugly in Chapel Hill. So bad, that reaching the NIT might be an accomplishment.

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Is NASCAR so hard up for a storyline that I'm suppose to care that Danica Patrick finished outside the Top 5 in an ARCA race?

Geez, NASCAR.....check yourself.

If Danica had won the race, I wouldn't have cared.

By the way, for whatever it's worth...Danica's tired "Go Daddy" Super Bowl ad finished next to last in the most desirable commercials.

So much for that national appeal.

This week, Danica does the Nationwide series.....I can only imagine what the sport has conjured up for an encore performance.

Screw all that garbage....bring on the 500, and let's see if Danica's overdue boss can finally snap his long winless streak.