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It was a summer far too long for its own good, a corpulent mess dragging the innocent sports fan into the horror of watching the CFL or worse, Spike TV and the marauders of the UFC. It’s over. The GRID IRON blooms again tonight with the World Champion Steelers at home against last seasons shocking upstarts, the Tennessee Titans. One big question revolves around tonight’s game - is Kerry Collins, the alcoholic leader of the former Houston Oilers, still on the wagon? I’m serious. Boosted by the best play of his life last year and then rewarded with a monster new contract, I’m hopeful that Collins has maintained a monkish devotion to his career and the advancement of his football team. Jeff Fisher, the longest serving coach in the NFL, is still looking for his first Superbowl and will have his squad geared up for a massive performance tonight. Can the Steelers, off a Superbowl win, ratchet up the intensity for this early season showdown? Motivation will be the key - take the Titans to cover the generous six point spread…I’ve made it official with my friends - don’t invite me to an NFL game. There is nothing more agonizing than the live NFL experience, and this is from one who absolutely adores the product. The game has 12 and a half minutes of actual action stretched over three and a half hours real time. This fact escapes you if you’re in the comfort of your own home, flipping games, watching a little NASCAR, picking up some Family Guy at halftime etc, or down at the Rail guzzling some tasty Moosehead, eating a two pound burger or some cheese sticks. But in the stands, surrounded by increasingly boorish Yanks, the vast amounts of nothingness becomes readily apparent. The concept of the polite American, in attendance with his/her family, is being relegated to the dustbin. Inspired by slackening social mores and an adherence to “Jackass” level codes of conduct, the crowd at a game is drunk, aggressive and dumb…almost like a mantra, I’ve denounced Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron as an irredeemable moron for, like, years now. But god bless him, he has sunk to levels of stupidity even I hadn’t conceived of. On Monday, against the New England Patriots, he will start three neophytes on the offensive line. That’s three players, who have never started an NFL contest, venturing against, perhaps, the best defensive line in football. This was all so unnecessary. Remember, Jauron was signed to an extended deal by Ralph Wilson midway through last season, precisely before the limitations of the team were exposed during a brutal freefall. The addition of loudmouth Terrell Owens makes the situation combustible…last year the New Orleans Saints were dusted by a rookie QB (Matt Ryan) in Week 1. Will history repeat itself? The Saints will introduce Mathew Stafford of the Detroit Lions to the great game this Sunday…ICE..the Atlanta Thrashers expect Evander Kane, fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, to not only make the team but be a top six forward immediately. Kane was outstanding during a recent Prospects Tournament and is earning raves for his competitiveness and newly ripped (seven additional pounds of muscle) physique…hmmm, still waiting for that San Jose Sharks roster shake-up…FOOTIE..Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Paraguay brought the unthinkable, a World Cup without the famed South American powerhouse, one step closer to reality. The drug addled Diego Maradonna has butchered his national squad despite the talents of, in Lionel Mesi, the world’s top player…the Republic of Ireland all but clinched a spot in the 2010 World Cup by virtue of Bulgaria’s 2-0 loss to Italy yesterday. Lets get the party started, lads…this is clearly the most complete and dangerous English squad of the last twenty years. A 5-1 blowout of Croatia has the Brits down as low as 5-1 to take the South African shindig next summer. Brazil remains the tournament favourite…FIGHTNEWS…in case you’re wondering; the fat bastard currently pictured on the Fightnews site, oozing gravy and tequila, well, that’s Chris Arreola. Yes, the dude who will be contesting the heavyweight championship of the world sixteen days from now. Chris, evidently, forgot to train. The title will be contested by Vitali Klitschko and a man who, according to Fightnews, was pleased with the 80 minute workout he put himself through yesterday. It is to weep, Joe Frazier forgive them…Miguel Cotto is walking around looking tight and pissed off, the look I like when I’m considering playing a live underdog…