Well, the Dare To Dream Express de-railed and looked a lot like the train wreck in The Fugitive.  Granted, we didn't get the help we needed from Norv Turner (huge shock there) so regardless of how the Hawks finished they weren't going to the postseason, but it would have been fun if that Arizona game meant more.  I apologize for the delay in the review but vacation and work stuff had to take priority and I had zero desire to type out a blog on my new iphone.  Let's take a look at the last couple games through the eyes of Happy Gilmore.

"What's this I hear about you breaking a rake and throwing it in the woods?": After that Niners game on Christmas Eve, I can't guarantee that this didn't happen.  The Hawks had that game in their grasp, including another blocked punt, and let it slip through their fingers. 

"Now, you've had enough... bitch.": After the agony of that 2-6 start and the building of hope that the Hawks gave us in the second half, they finally finished us off on Christmas Eve and we landed in the proverbial puddle.  Just when we thought we could get back up, one more haymaker was delivered via the Arizona game and we'd finally had enough.  The only question was whether that was Bob Barker delivering that blow or if it was Bill Bidwell.  They're about the same age although Bob was always the better dresser and definitely had the better inspirational putt. 

"What a shot by Happy Gilmore! [turns to his partner] Who the hell is Happy Gilmore?": Who the hell was this Lockette guy on Sunday?  That was a pretty impressive catch of a pretty impressive throw by Jackson.  Did the Hawks find their deep threat for next year?  Maybe, maybe not, but it gives us some continued hope that the Schneider/Carroll tandem has a decent eye for talent. 

"Everyone seems to be coming around... Well I'm not Doug!": Well, I don't know that everyone's coming around yet, but there is definitely growing confidence in both Carroll and Tarvaris.  It's tough to get too excited about another 7-9 season, but there definitely feels like there are fewer holes on this team than we thought at the beginning of the year.  While I don't think there's a huge ground swell for T-Jack to be the starter next year, we at least feel ok if he's our backup instead of old Clipboard Chaz.  

"I'm stupid. You're smart. I was wrong. You were right. You're the best. I'm the worst. You're very good-looking. I'm not attractive.": Ok, as long as I'm willing to admit that.  Ok, maybe I was a little optimistic when I predicted a 9-7 year.  Ok, I completely ignored the possibility that the Niners were going to be good.   But, this was not the 4-12 team that many thought it would be.  We definitely saw some growth, particularly on defense.  We were frustrated with the offense many times, as we knew we would be.  Now we hope that Pom Pom Pete can go get us a quarterback and maybe a big-play receiver and we might have something.

"It's all in the hips. It's all in the hips.": I choose to believe that's what it is about Larry Fitzgerald.  That guy is absolutely amazing, especially considering who he's had throwing him the ball the last couple years.  After a couple of those one-handed catches on Sunday, you wish the refs would check that guy for super glue on his gloves.  I'm picturing an Eddie Harris from Major League amount of products under his helmet to make sure he can catch the ball with only one finger.  

"You know what *else* could draw a crowd? A golfer with an arm growing out of his ass.": Talk about plenty of good seats still being available in Arizona on Sunday.  Sure it was a matchup of two teams that were going to miss the playoffs, but that's inexcusable.  You know the blue hairs down there weren't out partying all night on New Years Eve.  It wasn't 25 degrees or anything.  The Cardinals had actually been playing well lately.  Yet, there were maybe 40,000 people there on Sunday.  Epic fail Cardinals fans.

Back tomorrow with the return of the picks column for the playoffs.  We'll see how much fake money we can make throughout the playoffs.  Also, at some point next week, I'll put together a season recap.