It also has that lady from Buffy and How I Met Your Mother. I think the face Saturday makes when Peyton gives him the gift is pretty funny. Nice sweater vest, Diem. Enjoy:

More photos » by Ron Hoskins - NBAE via Getty Images

6 days ago: INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 14: Danny Granger #33 of the Indiana Pacers reacts after hitting a three against the Boston Celtics at Conseco Fieldhouse on November 14, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Tonight's much anticipated match-up between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts is not the only sports contest this weekend to feature two teams from Boston and Indy battling each other out.

Last night in the NBA, the Boston Celtics visited Conseco Fieldhouse for their only visit of the regular season and lost to the Indiana Pacers 113-104. The win was the Pacers fourth in a row. Danny Granger dropped in 29 points while off-season free agent acquisition Dahntay Jones continues to show he might be a steal. Jones scored 25 and played some stifling defense.

Was last night's victory over Boston a precursor to what will happen later this evening? We shall see. A weekend sweep of Boston sports teams would indeed be sweet. 

This is your morning open thread to talk about whatever floats your sports boat. Iowa losing in O.T. to Ohio State? Charlie Weis's job in South Bend on life support? NBA? NHL? Early NFL Sunday game thoughts? Chit-chat away folks.

We're injured.

We're "ripe" for the pickin'.

The Texans know this is a big game and they simply "must win."

Blah. Blah. Blah.

By reading the lay of the media landscape, the Colts are supposed to lose this game so the National Press can claim Indy was a "fraud" for winning 7 games against bad teams to start the year, and the Texans become this year's version of the Jaguars. That's the script it seems everyone is reading from. It's the same old, tired melodrama everyone likes to play up prior to a pivotal game featuring the Colts.

Do you get the sense that media people are just sick of seeing Indy win? I do.

I get the sense the normal cadre of media douchbags, like Jason Whitlock, Bob Kravitz, and the entire ESPN network are sharpening their steak knives, ready to carve into the wounded side of the Colts.

Anyway, use this pre-game chat thread to flap your virtual lips until 12:45. Go Colts!

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell informs Colts fans it is OK to quit on the season because of injuries; opts to spend November and December working on children's book titled "Bob's Big Bad Elbow." (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

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Hi. I'm BigBlueShoe, and this is your

Friday Night Open Thread!!!

My job this fun-filled Friday is to inject a little humor into the news cycle, especially in light of all the WONDERFUL injury news we've gotten today. In case you've been living under a rock, or are too lazy to scroll down the blog frontpage, here is a quick recap of the wounded:

• Tyjuan Hagler, done for the year; biceps
  
• Marlin Jackson, done for the year; knee
  
• Bob Sanders, likely done for the year; biceps
  
• Anthony Gonzalez, out until December; knee
  
• Kelvin Hayden, out until December; knee

All these injuries were reported to us in less than 24 hours. As a result, Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, and Jim Caldwell have declared that it is OK to quit on the season. All players, fans, and bandwagoners can officially stop thinking about football and focus on Thanksgiving travel plans, Christmas shopping, and whether or not an animated Jim Carrey "playing" Ebenezer Scrooge on the big screen is worth a $10 investment.

Season over. Quit now. We'll see you next year for our pre-draft coverage. Pack it up. Bye-bye season. Bye-bye happiness. Hello off-season loneliness. I think the 2009 season's gonna die.

Or...............................

We can look at the team depth chart, take a breath, and look at this logically and intellectually.

• Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson barely played a lick this season, and the Colts still had the #1 scoring defense without them. 
• Anthony Gonzalez's injury is not season-ending, and like Brandon Stokley in 2004, Gonzo could come back and make a big late-season difference. His injury also hastened the development of Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie, which was a big positive.
  
• Tyjuan Hagler was playing well, but the Colts have Philip Wheeler waiting in the wings. If Wheeler isn't ready, then that's on him and the Colts will simply plug into another backer.
• Kelvin Hayden is expected back.

So, before you slice a razor blade across the throat of the Colts 2009 NFL season, know that the Colts have sustained injuries that are on par with injuries other teams have had to deal with.

The Bears lost Brian Urlacher in Week One. Half of the Packers offensive line is gone. Injuries to the Vikings secondary have made their defense swiss cheese. The Texans lost Owen Daniels. The Giants lost their safety as well. The Chargers lost Jamal Williams, the best player on their defense. The Steelers lost Aaron Smith. 

Welcome to the NFL, fellow football fans! Injuries are as much a part of the game as the pigskin ball, the field goal bars, and stupid pontificating from idiot TV announcers. Before you give up, take a look around the NFL and look at the injury reports for other teams. Shockingly, I bet you'll see their situations are the same as ours.

Go Colts!

Click after the jump to see the text from Bullard47's open thread, which I have combined with this thread to make your disco-tastic Friday night as injury-free as possible.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney (93) (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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When Dwight Freeney is not feasting on quarterbacks every Sunday (seven straight games with a sack!), or using his super human healing powers to recover from a strained quad, he's likely driving someone's kid to school in a limo.

In all seriousness, this is one of those stories that makes you respect Dwight Freeney, the man.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney spent Tuesday morning working with students at Indianapolis Public School No. 63, in the 1100 block of North Belmont Avenue, on the city's west side.

Jareal Smith was the local winner of NFL Take a Player to School day, a contest sponsored by the league and JCPenney.

Freeney went to Smith's home to pick the boy up for a limousine ride to school.

And no, this post was not sponsored by JC Penny, the NFL's Take a Player to School Day contest, or anything like that. This post was sponsored by the Dwight Freeney Is One Cool Dude Fan Club. We're currently open to new members.

This is your open thread for tonight's Stampede Blue Radio, which you can hear live NOW (or later on) over at Blog Talk Radio. use this open thread to chat during the podcast, ask me questions, or to make fun of me while I am trying to concentrate on not sounding like a douche.

Yeah, figured that title would get your interest (freak!).

Stampede Blue Radio once again kicks back into gear with host BigBlueShoe (aka, the dude who runs this site you frequent more than you should). Tonight, we will talk about the Colts dominant win over the Seahawks this past Sunday, recap Indy's impressive 4-0 start, and look ahead to the Sunday night match-up with the Titans.

Stampede Blue Radio

Tuesday, October 6th

9pm Eastern

Go Colts!