Odds and ends

My two picks to make it to the Super Bowl - the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens - are each 3-0 and won by large margins on Sunday ... After losing to the hapless Detroit Lions, I can only conclude that the Washington Redskins have far too many low-character players who are only interested in getting paid ... The New York Yankees clinching the AL East against the rival Boston Red Sox this weekend was sweet, but certainly not the ultimate goal for a team that has won 26 world championships ... My daughter and her husband were in Florida this weekend, attending an event at Disney World and sparking my memories of when she (pictured above) was a tad bit younger and living in the Sunshine State ... It appears that next week's episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm will start the ball rolling on the Seinfeld reunion ... Best German beer and brats in the area: Doner Bistro in Leesburg, Va.

Meeting celebrities is always fun

Brian Billick, the former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Baltimore Ravens, was in Federal Hill last night speaking at an event tied to a local radio talk show called "Chalk Talk."

Of course, if anything Ravens-related is happening in Baltimore, my daughter, Stephanie, is usually tuned into it. That's her on the right posing with Billick and a couple of her friends last night. Her husband, Kevin, is also a huge fan of the NFL team and wasn't shy about taking the microphone and asking the coach a question or two.

You can see the football stadium from Federal Hill as well as the Inner Harbor. The area reminds me a bit of Old Town Alexandria, Va., with a tad more tourism because of the harbor, aquarium and nearby football and baseball stadiums. Lots of bars, shops and residences. Has a safer, cleaner feel to it than the rest of Baltimore. My daughter tells me that one of George Bush's daughters lives in Federal Hill.

It's always fun to meet celebrities. Just the other day someone I had recently met was excited to have run into Chris Cooley, the Washington Redskins tight end, in a deli in Leesburg, Va. Not too long ago, I saw musician Dave Matthews strolling around Charlottesville, Va., with his daughters. I also saw Sen. John McCain at Dulles International Airport.

For whatever reason and at any age, rubbing elbows with these accomplished public figures seems to always give us a little boost, particularly if we can interact with them. My daughter was in awe of Billick's Super Bowl ring. Apparently, the ring was the size of a Smart Car. Some in the media have said Billick's ego is even bigger. Regardless, the coach-turned-broadcaster has a personality that can be very engaging. Can you imagine sitting through a talk given by New England Patriot's head bore, Bill Belichick? I'd take a pass on that event, regardless of how many Super Bowls the guy has won.

A few random predictions on a lazy Saturday

Republican Bob McDonnell will edge out Democrat Creigh Deeds in the November gubernatorial election in Virginia. This race is being watched nationally and will act as a gauge on how the country feels things are going under the democrats in Washington. With unemployment rates continuing to rise, I expect the party not in power to win the race for the top spot in Richmond. When you run for mayor, you need to promise to keep the streets clear of snow and the garbage picked up on time. When you run for governor, you need to promise to generate jobs. Unless the unemployment rate reverses, expect the McDonnell to win, not because he has the best ideas, but because his party is like the backup quarterback on a team with a losing record. Fans get restless and want to see what the other guy can do.

Speaking of football, I see the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl this season. The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers had no running game the other night against the Tennessee Titans. That's a cause for concern for the black and gold nation. New England, a favorite of many people to win the AFC, simply turns my stomach, so I can't pick them. The San Diego Chargers are talented, but there is always the Norv Turner factor to consider. For local fans in Northern Virginia, sorry, but I see the Washington Redskins finishing last in the NFC East. I think the Indianapolis Colts will struggle a bit under a first-year coach and the Dallas Cowboys will have a new coach by the end of the season to go along with their new stadium with the fancy video screen that some bonehead hung too low over the playing field. So now,the NFL decided, we're going to get "do overs" whenever a punter hits the screen. I think Michael Vick will do something stupid and be banned from the league or booted by the Eagles. Remember, the Eagles didn't put up with the nonsense of Terrell Owens for very long.

HBO's trendy vampire series, True Blood, will end with a dud in this Sunday night's season finale. The show has not risen to the level of writer/director Allan Ball's other work, which includes another HBO series, Six Feet Under, and the movie, American Beauty -- one of my favorite films. Most fans want to see Maryann get whacked. I personally can't take another season of Tara and Eggs so I am hoping they both fall into a vampire pit. I am also rooting for Eric to grow his hair back and return to his old menacing self so that us guys can feel their is at least something masculine about this show. True Blood is coming back for a third season, so expect a cliffhanger at the end. I don't think they will mess with Sam possibly dying, because they already did that earlier this season. And everyone knows the main characters, Sookie and Bill, aren't going to bite the dust. I predict the cliffhanger will involve the nature of Sookie's powers and whether or not someone else is turned into a vampire.

And finally, I am predicting that this winter will be brutally cold in the east. Of course, I am only basing that prediction on the last two days. Seems far too early around these parts to have temperatures only reaching into the upper 60s. The air conditioning hasn't gone on in days and people around Northern Virginia are forgoing the shorts and returning to long pants and jeans. Fortunately, it appears temperatures will be back in the 80s by tomorrow.