Well, Ireland's appeal was denied. Wrongfully, I might add. FIFA is a bunch of FOOFAs who don't know POOPa about sportsmanship and proper play. So Ireland suffers.

This other appeal, though, should be heard.

I really see no reason why Baltimore's Dwan Edwards should be fined for hitting Josh Cribbs while he was running downfield to try to make a tackle.

Cribbs agreed, saying: "It's football. Just as he hit me, I could've hit him blocking for my guy. It happened during the play between the whistles. They have rules in place to protect players, but I don't think it was intentional at all."

Elizabeth wants to make sure I did not go hoodlum on the newsroom in light of the French travesty against the Irish. She points out our inate ability to embrace these kinds of things, and she's right. This should actually make our weekend.

As the great William Butler Yeats wrote: "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy."

This shall be the mantra. Especially since I'm driving to Detroit today (does one do that of their own free will?).

A brief list of those who have

committed crimes against the Irish:

(Anyone who can guess all and their significance wins Thanksgiving dinner at Alan's)

Even the Brits are standing up for purity and righteousness. The London Times writes that Thierry Henry's hand ball "was pure, calculated cheating."

Even the French are ashamed.

Imagine that one.

We interrupt the diatribe about Ireland being robbed by the hand ball of Henry for this bulletin:

Here's a soccer quote for you, from a former soccer referee named Graham Poll: "The refs do their best but the players are good at cheating."

There you have it.

Here's the proof of the hand ball that eliminated Ireland from the World Cup. Clearly a hand ball, no?

Something MUST be done.

So much has been written and said about Bill Belichick's decision to go for the first down on fourth-and-two from his 28 late in the Sunday night game at Indianapolis. But few people ask this question, so I'm going to: Crazy as it was, wasn't it refreshing to see one NFL coach go against the mold and actually try to … you know … WIN the game right then and there?

The Irish Times is soooo right.

Thierry Henry's hand ball was "shameful stuff."

Josh Cribbs' agent said he was furious that the Browns had Cribbs in the game for the last play against Baltimore.

How's that again?

Cribbs is a football player, and he plays when there are plays called for him.

Besides, if Cribbs is not on the field someone else has to take his place (the Browns only put 10 on the field when the other team is about to score a touchdown).

Is it OK for the other guy to be at risk but not Cribbs?

I still question the play call, but implying that Cribbs is sacred at that point and someone else can be sacrificed is simply inappropriate.