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LOVE AT THE RAIL..what with the Leafs and the Irish soccer fiasco, we were a bit glum as we headed out for the Rail last night. But the mood evaporated when the big news was delivered to these eager ears; Len and Maria are engaged! Hip hop hooray!!! On a sandy midnight beach in Jamaica, with sparkling stars and an incandescent moon, a proposal was delivered and accepted. Can you imagine a better setting? (And Len assures me he wasn’t smoking a big phat doobie at the time). Congratulations to the magnificent couple and a heads-up to their family and friends; it’s going to be the mother of all celebrations…we actually kind of kicked things off last night and I’m typing this one shaky finger at a time. Maria told me the good news by proudly displaying the beautiful rock adorning her finger. Problem is, being the wrong gender, it took me quite a while to understand why her hand was outstretched. When I finally looked down I still thought we were just looking at some new jewelry. The incredulous look on Maria’s face finally tweaked me to grasp the significance. Maria, I guess this means no more dirty dancing? Little ones running around behind the bar? And, heavens forbid, the parents of both Maria and Len will finally get the pair out of their homes! And I thought the Irish were bad!

FOOTIE..thanks very much to Kev for sending a clip of Ireland benefiting from a very questionable call during their qualifying match against Georgia. I just don’t believe the motto of FIFA should be “what goes around comes around”. The focus at this time should be on the hand ball and officialdoms response to the gross illegality. I believe a replay is warranted though, yes, it appears Ireland did have some luck in an earlier match…

GRID IRON..it now appears Washington Redskin Albert Haynesworth will not play in tomorrow’s showdown with Dallas. That’s a huge development and a big boost to the Cowboys chances. Running back Clinton Portis is also out for the ‘Skins…the New York Giants have lost four games in a row and now play off their bye week. According to Troy Aikman, it’s now or never for the Giants. He predicts a loss to the Falcons would lead to a tumble out of playoff contention…the Scouts offer a few plays for tomorrow; they advise investments on the Ravens and Chargers and an “over” play in Detroit…

ICE..the Sporting News hands out some quarter pole awards and names the Carolina Hurricanes as the NHL’s biggest disappointment thus far. Fans in Toronto might disagree with that pick…biggest surprise is the New Jersey Devils…Marian Hossa is expected to debut for the Chicago Blackhawk’s this week. A very good team is about to get much better. Hossa is tabbed to play on a line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews…

PONIES..Bill Finley of ESPN is only the latest to develop some common sense. He announced he will cast his Horse of the Year vote in Rachel Alexandra’s direction and wrote an excellent piece offering his reasons why. Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders Cup Classic does not compare with a year of stellar efforts from the three year old filly…I notice how jaded and resigned sports fans seem these days. Why is it wrong to ask for the two runners to meet on a racetrack and decide this once and for all? Why are people so quick to explain why events can’t happen, why France and Ireland can’t play again, why two horses can’t be put on a track and asked to compete? Where are the visionaries and contrarians? Sports, of all sorts, should not be this difficult…

PUG LIFE..the Pacquiao - Cotto fight registered 1.25 million buys, a number I found slightly disappointing. It did outsell the Floyd Mayweather - Juan Manuel Marquez fight, however, strengthening the Filipino’s contention that he is the greater attraction…