by Jimmy Vaccaro (Twitter @JimmyVaccaro)
September 13, 2011

The first full weekend of both college and pro delivered a message like a Nolan Ryan fastball right below your chin.

I’ve been watching football games for a long time and am convinced that Scorsese and Spielberg could not have written these endings. Reports of Brian Kelly walking downtown shaking his head in disbelief could not be substantiated but a few guys holding money line tickets on the Fighting Irish were seen under the overpass at Sahara and I-15.

Then when we’re ready to call it a day here comes a kid running a blocked field goal attempt in for a TD and all-sports-book-rules-hell breaks loose. We got double dipped on the final but that’s part of being in a racket that’s unique and a crazy place to live in.

Let’s go to Sunday. The great John Facenda (NFL Films) first mentioned decades ago, "it starts with a whistle and ends with a gun." He could not have been more on the money.

• Saints fourth and goal with three seconds left.

• Big Ben looking like he was still at his wedding reception.

• The Falcons starting their Super Bowl march, but not even getting out of Chicago headed for Indy in February.

• Colts applying for Division II status or calling Favre on speed dial.

• Tom Coughlan a nice guy in a bad spot. Would not be surprised if Giants coach is first to get a pink slip this year.

• Cam Newton had a great day for Carolina, but both he and the Saints needed one more yard.

• Donovan McNabb has got to throw downfield sooner because there won’t be any later.

• Tony Romo, "the honeymoon is over" applies double here.

In a week very sobering to all of us, it was good to get through it with the help of our national pastime, which is the ball that bounces funny. We’ve only just begun.

Take care,

Jimmy V.