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Everyone is agog with the tremendous record of double digit underdogs in the NFL this year (16-2) and punters are betting these dawgs blindly. Looks like odds makers have moved decisively to counter that trend with the spread for the Tennessee Titans-Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys-Seattle Seahawks matches Thursday. The Titans give a mere eleven, the Boys 12 and a half. Give the points in both games…Troy Aikman has come out against the Cowboys reinstatement of Pacman Jones. Interestingly, Aikman hints Jones was ineffectual earlier in the season due to his confusion with the Dallas system. Jones could continue to be a liability when the team needs to be gearing up for a playoff push…Ty Conklin is still playing crazy good these days, backing up Chris Osgood in Detroit. Conklin, who many figured was due to come back down to earth after saving the Penguins last season, is 6-1 with a 2.44 GAA for the Wings…following last nights 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Leafs have given up an NHL worst 78 goals…Jason Blake may have suffered a concussion after being pasted by Colby Armstrong…researching Ron Wilson led me to Steven Brunt’s book, “The New Ice Age”. Wilson was the coach of the American team that pulled a monumental upset winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey (formerly the Canada Cup).He also coached the Yanks in the 1998 Olympics, a disastrous foray that resulted in an early exit but also a series of infamous acts of vandalism at site hotels. Brunt’s best work on Wilson follows the coach as his Washington Capitals get set to face the mighty Detroit Red Wings in the 1997-98 Stanley Cup Final. Wilson regards himself primarily as a motivator. When his Capitals fall behind, first by a game, then by two, then three, he pulls out every trick in his formidable coaching book. After being swept Scotty Bowman tells him at centre ice, “Don’t worry, Ron, there is nothing you could have done against this team, we’re too good”. Wilson is not insulted, regarding Bowman’s statement as simple fact. Wilson would go on to have an amazing run with the San Jose Sharks, only to be sabotaged by below par playoff performances (and surely the character of Shark stars Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau needs to be examined in the context of their repeated failure to raise their game in critical circumstances). So, when Wilson becomes available, they way I now understand it, Cliff Fletcher had powerful evidence indicating Wilson truly was one of the best coaches in hockey. He quickly moved to sign Wilson but I also now believe that Fletcher was reasonably sure that Brian Burke would both be his successor and also be comfortable with his old friend in the coaching role. Bottom line, the Leafs really do look like an organization determined to turn the franchise around. I am optimistic that the Buds are about to enter a most fruitful period… I also highly recommend Brunt’s book. Well, actually all his books, but The New Ice Age is a fantastic read. A great bit relays how Dominik Hasek, at the 1998 All Star weekend, stoned six successive Canadian shooters during the breakaway contest. No one really took it as an ominous sign, but in Nagano, with a spot in the finals on the line, Canada would be stymied by the Czech goalie on five shootout attempts, having neglected to deign to even practice the one on one drill, believing it would not be necessary for the Canadian juggernaut…but we did win in 2002, so sod off!..the Onion website, always brilliant, has a picture of Jimmy Johnson’s 48 car in a field. “Vehicle Retired To Stud” is the caption…Winky Wright pulled out of his proposed December fight with an injury. Wright announced he would like to apologize to his fans, both of them…don’t miss Guy Ritchie’s “Rock N Rolla” , it’s a blast and a nice return to form for the former Mr Madonna…