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GRIDIRON…I’m not confident enough to use a “suicide” selection, but in my mind the Tennessee Titans are unlikely to start their year 0-3, even if their Sunday opponent is the ultra hot New York Jets. Taking 2.5 is a nice incentive…Sporting News top five ranked NFL teams looks like this; Giants, Colts, Falcons, Vikings and Ravens. I would not have moved the Atlanta Falcons from 12^th to 3^rd off a win over the punchless Carolina Panthers. And whither the Steelers and Patriots?…Sunday featured Carson Palmer, QB of the Cincinnati Bengals, winning his first start in 627 days. Off the way he played the Bengals may have a few more upsets in store. Palmer is an elite level talent when healthy…if you are Steven Jackson, life as a running back for the St Louis Rams must be living hell. The best running back you’ve never seen or heard of, wasting another year with an inept and disinterested collection of mutts…yes, I am the President of the JaMarcus Russell and Byron Leftwich fan clubs. And, yes, thank you for enquiring, I did drink more than was advisable on Sunday night…PUG LIFE..so, the Beat Poet took pity on me and advised of a location where I could watch the Floyd Mayweather - Juan Manuel Marquez fight Saturday night. I took off down to the Harbour Sports Grille, just south of the ACC, and was very impressed with how they run things at the foot of Yonge. Like The Rail, the Harbour has a hands-on, committed owner. Howie was on the floor watching, due to two diverse sets of fans, a complicated night unfold. One group, dressed stylishly and engaged in upbeat, smart conversation, wanted the boxing. The other, knuckles scrapping the floor, women draped over their shoulders, wanted the UFC. Well, the times being what they are, Howie was gracious and upfront at the beginning of the night, explaining that the mixed martial arts would take precedence, but that sound would be played for the boxing main event. Okay, that’s cool. Now what I really liked was when it became clear that, shockingly to all, the pugilism crowd was in the majority, Howie called an audible and not only gave us precedence with the sound, but also command of the gorgeous large screen TV’s. I find pub staff all too often unwilling to accommodate crowd’s wishes, to sense the mood on a particular night. To be fair, their hands are often tied by edicts issued by absent management. Having the owner in the crowd, chatting and listening to patrons, is a real bonus for the serious sports fan…the Harbour also pays almost immaculate attention to the cleanliness of their lines. The beer was fresh and scrumptious, just the way I like it…no, you cynical bastard, I don’t have an ownership stake in the place. I just like the rarest of all commodities in Toronto; a well run, friendly staffed bar…the boxing was highly entertaining. Chris John perplexed Rocky Juarez for 10 rounds before surviving a battering in the final 2 to win a well deserved victory in an interesting rematch (first fight ended in a suprising draw, with John appearing to have had an edge). John is the real deal and a handful for any featherweight in the world…in the big scrap I found Mayweather a compelling figure. His speed shook the Mexican to the core, particularly when he began tossing lead left hooks of incomprehensible swiftness. Marquez is a great, a warrior (who did not think he would get up after being deposited on the canvas in the second?) and his abject defeat must rank as an important win for “Money”. PUBS..Maria, the boss, and I do mean the BOSS, at the Rails and Ales, also worked Nikki Beach during the film festival. Surely you’ve heard of Nikki Beach? The place where Drew Barrymore partied the night away before, famously, missing the preview of her own flick? There are stories out there, whispers along the Danforth, but don’t worry Drew, Maria is nothing if not discreet and circumspect…Sean Penn and James Gandolfini may not be so lucky. Tales of their boorish conduct had the crowd howling in the aisles Friday night down at The Rail…thankfully, we hear Ed Norton is a first class good guy. It would be more than awkward if real life Ed resembled his character in American History X, or, y’know, that large green guy…