Herman Cain: Crazy...like a fox???

With the ridiculous preemptive move yesterday of one-time leader of the Republican horserace to unseat President Obama, Herman Cain, to deny adultery accusations that were going to be made, we started thinking.

What if this is all a False Flag operation? Think about it...Cain pays this woman, Ginger White, to disclose a fictional affair. Cain comes out and denies it before it's even reported. Media reports it. In a few days, evidence surfaces to show White is lying. Cain flips the whole narrative into "See...I told you they were out to get me" and rockets back to the top.

Come one...do you doubt the brilliance of a campaign that gave you the campaign manager smoke break video that ended with that creepy smile? We don't...

Week 12 picks: Thankful gambling isn't legal...

Because if it was...we'd have taken a beating last week with the 3-9-2 record we posted last week.

Thanksgiving picks:

LIONS (+6.5) v. Packers

BTPC pick = Lions getting 6.5

Dolphins (+7) v. COWBOYS

BTPC pick = Dolphins getting 7

RAVENS (-3) v. Niners

BTPC Pick = UPSET SPECIAL! Harbaugh's boys pull the upset, Niners getting 3.

FALCONS (-9.5) over Vikings

JAGS (+5) over Texans

BENGALS (+7.5) over Browns

Bucs (+3.5) over TITANS

Panthers (-3) over COLTS

Cardinals (+3) over RAMS

Bills (+9) over JETS

Bears (+4) over RAIDERS

Pats (-3.5) over EAGLES

SEAHAWKS (-3.5) over Redskins

Broncos (+6) over CHARGERS

Steelers (-10.5) over CHIEFS

SAINTS (-7) over Giants

Last Week: 3-9-2 Upset Specials: 0-0
2011 Season Record: 83-70-7 Upset Special: 7-3-1
Career to date: 349-314-25

Looking for a worthy cause this Holiday Season?

The Death Penalty Resource & Defense Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a fair and just criminal justice system for capital defendants. Their mission is to improve the quality of representation afforded to indigent defendants who are charged with a capital crime or who are currently under a sentence of death.

This holiday season, they have an added cause: to raise money to provide Christmas presents for the minor children of death penalty defendants in SC. Before anyone gets all outraged over someone suggesting helping "criminals" over the victims of the crimes, stop and think for just a minute: these kids are victims too. Unfortunately, they are victims who will not even get the small amount of attention victims get in these terrible situations, because they carry the stigma of being tied to the people accused of being the cause of so much grief and sadness.

Capital defense is often an insurmountable and thankless job. We admire all our friends and colleagues who take on the burden of a job that really can wear a person down. One thing we have been told by our capital defender friends, is even the slightest offering of simple humanity to their clients can do wonders. Something as simple as their lawyers being able to help bring just a slight bit of joy to their children can help bring down barriers these people have lived behind their whole lives. If you truly believe in forgiveness and salvation, how can that be wrong?

We ask that this season of giving, you consider offering a slight bit of humanity to those who society has condemned. Surely...during a time of year built around celebrating ideas of charity, hope and forgiveness it would not hurt to show a little of that to the innocent children of these horrible circumstances.

If you would like to make a donation, please make a check out to "The Death Penalty Resource Center" and write "Christmas Project" on the memo line. Those donations may be sent to Laura Young, PO Box 50860, Columbia, SC 29250.

Week 11 Picks: 11th NfL week in the 11th Month of 2011

Well...after buying Rex Ryan's hype, we're starting the week out in a 0-1 hole (we tweeted our pick of Jets laying 6 Thursday night). Thanks...Rexy. Who knew the greatest defensive mind of our lifetime would not be able to stop a one-dimensional QB? Of course, that quarterback has been ordained by God...so we guess we ought to take that in to account.

Let's move on and see if we can get back in the black on the ledger after yet another even Steven (8-8) week.

Titans (+6) v. FALCONS

Last week the Titans manhandled the Panthers, while the Falcons blew a game in OT to the Saints. There's been a lot of talk about how the Falcons decision to go for it on 4th & inches from deep in their own territory in OT. A lot of folks are comparing Mike Smith's decision to Bill Belicheck's decision to go for it a few years ago on 4th down versus the Colts. The problem with that comparison, is that the Pats decision was to win the game. If NE got a first down, they could have run out the clock and won. The Saints decision was simply to get 3 more downs. The reward was not worth the risk.

However, the fact Mike Smith decided to do that speaks volumes about how bad the Falcons' defense is. We think they'll win a must win at home, but we think 6 points is too much, especially when you factor in that it looks like Atlanta will not be playing with the player (Julio Jones) they neglected their defense and traded all those draft picks to select.

BTPC pick = Titans getting the 6.

RAVENS (-7) v. Bengals

Yes...Ray Lewis will be out. So, we believe, will be the Bengals top CB, Leon Hall. So while those two may cancel out, the Bengals are definitely gonna be hurting missing star rookie WR AJ Green.

Last week, we took the Seahawks because we saw the Ravens turning in a turd after beating the Steelers, just like they did in week 2. This week, we think they'll respond like they did in week 3, with a convincing win. If the Bengals were healthy, we'd like their chances to cover...but when Pacman Jones is gonna be your top CB, we have to take the Unibrow.

BTPC pick = Ravens laying the 7.

Jaguars (-1) v. BROWNS

In a game between two complete shit teams, we suppose we'll go with the team that doesn't seem to be coming apart in the locker room. (see Hillis, Peyton).

BTPC pick = Jaguars laying the 1.

DOLPHINS (-1.5) v. Bills

This game has Dolphins Turd written all over it. Sure...they'll be helped if Bills WR Stevie Johnson can't go. These are two teams that are completely opposite. The Bills started out red hot and have cooled off. Miami didn't even get it's first win until 2 weeks ago. Now, after screwing up the chance at the #1 pick and Andrew Luck, the Dolphins might be entering the let's miss out on Matt Barkley sweepstakes.

Despite good play out of him the last two weeks, we don't think Matt Moore is that good. We certainly think Ryan Fitzpatrick is better. We'll go with the better QB in this one.

BTPC pick = Bills getting 1.5

PACKERS (-14) v. Bucs

Let's just go ahead and pick the Pack and move on, shall we?

BTPC pick = Pack laying 14.

VIKINGS (+1) v. Raiders

Carson Palmer on the road in a dome just weeks after coming out of retirement.

BTPC pick = Vikings getting 1.

Panthers (+7) v. LIONS

Somehow, we get the feeling that Cam Newton will show up against a shit-talking Detroit Lions team. If not...we may have to bail off the Cam Newton bandwagon.

BTPC pick = Panthers getting 7.

Seahawks (+3) v. RAMS

BTPC pick = This Rams team is a different team with Brandon Lloyd. And this Seahawks team is a different team away from home.

BTPC pick - Rams laying the 3.

Cowboys (-7) v. SKINS

The Cowboys and Tony Romo appear to finally be hitting on all cylinders. The Skins are falling apart.

BTPC pick = Cowboys laying 7.

BEARS (-3.5) v. Chargers

San Diego is imploding and this is Norv Turner's farewell tour.

BTPC pick = Bears laying 3.5.

49ERS (-9.5) v. Cardinals

The Cards went on the road and beat the Dream Team last week. But this 49ers team ain't a dream team...they're a blue-collar, well-coached squad. 9.5 is a lot of points though. Still, we just think the Niners are that much stronger.

BTPC pick = Niners laying the 9.5

GIANTS (-6) v. Eagles

Absolute must win for Eagles. That's great, but Vince Young is starting. Seems like the Giants have a pattern of looking good-looking bad-looking good-looking bad. Last week they lost to the Niners. This week...

BTPC pick = Giants laying 6.

PATS (-15) v. Chiefs

Some guy named Palko is starting at QB for the Chiefs.

BTPC pick = Pats laying the 15.

Last Week: 8-8 Upset Specials: 1-0
2011 Season Record: 80-61-5 Upset Special: 7-3-1
Career to date: 346-305-23

Week 10 Picks: A Perfect 10...

Another week of Even Steven puts the pressure on us to do the unthinkable: Pull a Perfecto in Week 10. We're up for it...are you? Well...Lets. Get. It. On...

Jags (-3) v. COLTS
If our Miami Dolphins have any chance of getting the #1 pick in the NFL Draft, Indianapolis has to win a game. And this one is huge if they are gonna do it. Having been Miami fans since the early 80s, we can tell you our luck is not good

BTPC pick = Jags laying the 3.

FALCONS (PK) v. Saints
Toughest game of the week to pick. Who knows...hold on...*flips coin*...FALCONS it is.

BTPC pick = Falcons.

Steelers (-3) v. BENGALS
We've got a lot of Ws this year riding the Bengals. That's what makes this week so hard. Those Ravens-Steelers games are just so hard to understand. It's like both teams just get so up for them, that they can skew your outlook on both teams. At the end of the day, we think that the Bengals just aren't as good as the Ravens are...AGAINST THE STEELERS. The Ravens are simply a different team when they play the "burgh. Add in the fact that the Steelers are coming off a tough loss and their fans will turn out in Cincy, we can't keep riding the Red Rifle in this one.

BTPC pick = Steelers laying the 3.

Rams (+3) v. BROWNS
There are two explosive players in this game. The Browns have failed to figure out how to get the ball into Josh Cribbs hands all season, while the Rams have already gotten Brandon Lloyd more into their offense in 2 games than the Browns have done with Cribbs all year.

BTPC pick = Rams getting 3.

Bills (+5.5) v. COWBOYS
Our fantasy team, Wolf Blitzer's Lap, is so Dallas-dependent, it's sad. And we hate the Cowboys. Meanwhile, the bloom appears to have fallen off the Buffalo rose. This is a game where the Bills can show no...they're not dead, while Romo just gives Cowboy fans that much more grief.

BTPC pick = Bills getting the 5.5

CHIEFS (-3) v. Broncos
What's more important here...that the Chiefs made Matt Moore the Player of the Week in the AFC or that Timmy Tebow is no Matt Moore? Trust the Beard...Haley rights the KC ship.

BTPC pick = Chiefs laying the 3.

EAGLES (-13) v. Cardinals
The only feeling we have stronger than not trusting the Eagles to cover a large spread is the fact that you're doomed with John Skelton as your QB. Quick...where did John Skelton play in college? The football powerhouse of Fordham University. And by "football powerhouse," we mean the other two notable NFL figures from there since we've been alive (Lombardi was from there, but he obviously was before out time) are Wellington and John Mara. That's right...Fordham churns out rich white boys named Mara to own the NY Giants. It's kind of niche "powerhouse."

BTPC pick = Eagles laying the 13.

If you're looking to get into Fordham University, you might want to follow in Wyatt's footsteps, who apparently was aided in the admissions process from the fact that he (and his buddy Gary) created a woman with his computer...

Texans (-3) v. BUCS
We've picked against the Texans so many times this year and gotten burned, we give up. So ample warning...that probably means the Bucs win this going away...

BTPC pick = Texans laying the 3.

PANTHERS (-3.5) v. Titans
While Cam Newton was inexplicably added to the injury report on a bye week, we still think he's gonna be rested and refreshed coming off a bye-week. Meanwhile, Chris Johnson is apparently still busy counting his new contract money.

BTPC pick = Panthers laying the 3.5

DOLPHINS (-4) v. Redskins
We don't know what is sadder: that the Redskins are 4 point dogs to a 1-win Dolphins team who is terrible at home and quarterbacked by reject Matt Moore or that we're actually scared of a team quarterbacked by Dolphins reject QB John "Check Down" Beck. If we have to rely on anything, we'll rely on our Dolphins terrible luck in them further blowing the shot at the #1 pick.

BTPC pick = Dolphins laying the 4.

SEAHAWKS (+7) v. Ravens
In Week 2 of this season, the Ravens were coming off an absolute shellacking of the Steelers and they lost to a Titans team that we've found out is not very good. Seattle is a tougher away trip based on distance and the phenomenon of Seattle's homefield advantage. We think history repeats itself.

BTPC pick = UPSET SPECIAL! Seahawks getting the 7.

BEARS (-3) v. Lions
Last week, we rolled with a Bears teams (who we think is better than people realize) against an Eagles team (that was not as good as people thought). Our feelings have not changed. The Bears are still better than people realize. In fact, an undiscussed trend this season, is how well Cutler is playing, seeming to be sticking it to all those folks who blasted his toughness from that playoff game last season.

BTPC pick = Bears giving 3.

49ERS (-3.5) v. Giants
Well...that NYG team that showed up against the Pats is a completely different team than the one that tried every which way they could to lose to the hapless Dolphins the week before. This NFL video of their locker room after the Pats game shows they might have a little "nobody believes in us" mojo at work right now. Harbaugh has been pumping that vibe into this 49er team all season. A very tough, tough game to predict. There is a high likelihood that the Giants have a letdown traveling all the way out to the West Coast for this one. But if we have to pick who to go with, we're gonna go with the better QB. Do not let us down, Eli...

BTPC pick = Giants getting 3.5

Pats (+1.5) v. JETS
For the AFC East lead. If NE loses 3 in a row...it could be over for them.

BTPC pick = Pats getting the 1.5

Vikes (+13.5) v. PACKERS
In week 7, the Vikes lost by only 6 to the Pack at home. That was Ponder's first start. We don't see the flip in who's at home being 7.5 points.

BTPC pick = Vikes getting the 13.5

**We forgot to get our Oak-SD pick in before their game Thursday night. In all honesty, we would have probably taken the Chargers laying the 7 so we'll just chalk that one up as a loss for this week.**

Last Week: 7-7 Upset Specials: 1-0
2011 Season Record: 72-53-5 Upset Special: 6-3-1
Career to date: 338-297-23

Week 9 Picks: Surviving the Crazy

Holy crap was Week 8 of THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE* was crazy, was it not? Cam not covering at home to the Vikes, Brees & the Saints laying a turd in St. Louis, the Ravens barely surviving the hapless Cards, God abandoning Tebow, the Steelers finally stepping up against the Pats at home, the Chargers terrible fold down the stretch and oh my...that ass-whupping the Eagles opened up on the Cowboys. Seriously...it was one of the wildest weeks we can remember. We only hit on two of those games and it was only because Tebow being mortal and Norv Turner choking are irrefutable facts of life.

Still...given how crazy a week it was, we feel pretty good that we survived the crazy and managed to go 6-7. It could have been a lot worse. But let's see if we can get this train back on the winning track.

Falcons (-6.5) v. COLTS

If our beloved Dolphins are gonna win the Suck For Luck sweepstakes, Indianapolis is gonna have to eventually win a game. We don't feel very good about Miami's chances of having Andrew Luck slip on a Dolphins cap in MSG next year.

BTPC pick: Falcons laying the 6.5

Bucs (+8.5) v. SAINTS

What the hell happened to the Saints last week? We don't know...but you gotta think Drew Brees and Company are gonna come out with something to prove.

BTPC pick: Saints laying the 8.5

Browns (-10.5) v. TEXANS
As if things couldn't get worse for the Browns, this week saw locker room leaks spring where his teammates seemed to be throwing Hillis under the bus. This guy is embracing the Madden Cover Curse like nobody's business.

BTPC pick: Texans laying the 10.5

BILLS (-2.5) v. Jets

The Jets last two games were wins versus the Dolphins and the Chargers. They looked absolutely horrible versus Miami and it took the Chargers imploding off a lead to hand them that second win. Last week they had a buy. Interesting trend, the bye week doesn't quite mean what it used to. Thanks to the new CBA rules, teams have to actually give their players 4 days off in a row during the bye. So teams don't really get that extra prep time with the players like they used to. And the Jets could have used it to prepare for a hot Bills team.

BTPC pick: Bills laying the 2.5

CHIEFS (-4) v. Dolphins

Miami continues to scare the living crap out of their fans who realize that the current version of this team is going nowhere and who are hoping the Dolphins stumble into the Number 1 pick in the NFL draft. Seriously...as a Dolfan...it's like these games are all off the same script. You can predict exactly HOW this team is gonna blow each game in the 4th, a fall that usually begins as soon as Tony Sparano gives a enthusiastic fistpump for a disappointing FG. Meanwhile, Todd Haley has taken a team that looked terrible after losing its top Defensive and Offensive players at the start of the season and turned them around. Word out of Miami is Vontae Davis and Brandon Marshall almost came to blows this week. Starting to get the idea that those "At least Sparano has not lost the locker room" stories are about to come to an end...

BTPC pick: Chiefs laying 4.

49ers (-4) v. SKINS

Good teams beat the teams they should. Last week the 49ers took care of business against a bad Browns team at home. This week, they face a similar situation against a Skins team which at one point looked decent. However, they're facing the dreaded West Coast team-traveling to the East Coast-for a 1pm KickOff phenomenon. Can they overcome it? We're not sure, but we know we don't like the Skins without Santana Moss. They don't have anyone that scares a defense now, meaning Patrick Willis and Co. can now crowd the LOS and tee off on John Beck. That's not good.

BTPC pick: 49ers laying the 4.

COWBOYS (-11) v. Seahawks
How is it ever a good thing for your coordinator to be all in the headlines? First, it was Rob Ryan falling on his sword for the turd the Cowboys laid versus the Eagles. That's fine. But then, Ryan comes out and does his best Rex-Ryan-Foot-In-Mouth impression by claiming he's the best DC in the league. You'll notice Ryan didn't start saying this until later on in the week, probably about the time he realized this week's opponent was the Seattle Seahawks. After the Cowboys pass rush dismantles an already pathetic Seahawks offense, we will all be treated to a Ryan crowing. We can't wait.

BTPC pick: Cowboys laying 11.

RAIDERS (-7) v. Broncos

Nothing speaks to the quality of the Caron Palmer trade like the fact that the Raiders are right now a much more complete team than the Broncos and they are at home, yet we are scared of giving them 7 points with Carson "Pick 6" Palmer getting his first start.

BTPC pick: Raiders laying 7.

Bengals (+3) v. TITANS

Titans had a bye week last week. See previous discussion re: the new trend with bye weeks. The Bengals are the more talented team. Previous incarnations of the Bengals would blow this game, after going all the way out to Seattle and taking care of business against an inferior team (which was itself out of character for the Bengals). We think this Bengals team continues to go against the grain.

BTPC pick: Bengals getting 3.

Rams (+3) v. CARDS

This is the toughest game to predict. Both teams played much better than anyone thought the would last week. Yes...the Rams did their damage at home (where their energy level was off the charts). But it just seemed that they're a different team with Brandon Lloyd stretching defenses. Stephen Jackson sure seemed fired up. This game could go either way. In that situation, we take the points.

BTPC pick: Rams getting the 3.

PATS (-9) v. Giants

The Giants tried every which way they could to give that game to Miami. And the Pats are gonna be pissed about their Steelers game.

BTPC pick: Pats laying the 9.

Packers (-5.5) v. CHARGERS

The Chargers have lost their last two games to teams they should have beaten. They should not beat Green Bay, who is the best team in the league.

BTPC pick: Packers laying the 5.5

STEELERS (-3) v. Ravens

Oh what a difference eight weeks makes. It seems such a distant memory, that 35-7 ass-whupping the Ravens opened up on the Steelers in Week 1. You think Pittsburgh has had this game circled on the calendar? Yeah...we do to.

BTPC pick: Steelers laying the 3.

EAGLES (-7.5) v. Bears

Was last week the turn-around point for the "Dream Team"? We don't know...but we do know they ought to beat the Bears. The question is will they do so by 7.5? Seems to us, Vegas is putting just a little too much into the Eagles dismantling of Dallas. The self-proclaimed greatest DC in the league (Rob Ryan) simply had shitty gameplan against Vick. And Garrett didn't help matters by forgetting stud rookie DeMarco Murray (and he better be glad Wolf Blitzer's Lap still managed to win). We don't think the Bears will make the same mistake.

BTPC pick: UPSET SPECIAL...Bears getting the 7.5


Last Week: 6-7 Upset Specials: 1-0
2011 Season Record: 65-46-5 Upset Special: 5-3-1
Career to date: 331-290-23

*Copyright all the WorldWide Leader, who apparently has decreed that all their personnel refer to the NFL as "THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE." We blame Chris "Meathead" Berman...

Florence, Stand Up. Mr. Lawson is passin'.

It is one of the most iconic moments in American Literature and one of the most powerful scenes in the history of motion pictures. It is a line spoken to a young girl who has just seen her father fail to save an innocent black man from being convicted by a white jury in the Jim Crow South, for a crime he did not commit. As Jean Louise Finch sits on that “colored balcony” at the conclusion of the rape trial of Tom Robinson, Rev. Sykes utters an instruction which shows the deep respect her father, Atticus Finch has earned: “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” As she looks around, Jean Louise realizes everyone around her is standing to pay respect to her father.

The very nature of criminal defense work can be disheartening. Those who practice criminal law pour their heart and soul into defending those who society shuns. Yet it is the respect that work deserves, as evidenced by the memorable scene Harper Lee gave us in To Kill A Mockingbird, which has inspired many a criminal defense attorney. This week, Florence County suffered a great loss with the passing of Jack W. Lawson, Jr., a man who earned similar respect.

Harper Lee could just have easily named the hero of her tale Jack Lawson. Webster’s defines the word “hero,” as a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Jack would have shunned any such description of himself. In Jack’s mind, all he tried to do throughout his legal career was what was just and right. However, it was those qualities which have made Atticus Finch the most revered hero in American film. It is also those qualities that made Jack Lawson a hero to those of us in the bar.

For a period of about eight years, Jack was a Deputy Solicitor here in the Twelfth Circuit. During that time, Jack prosecuted criminal cases with the same sense of justice and compassion with which he had defended cases. In 2008, Jack came back across the aisle to defend cases, becoming the Chief Public Defender for the Twelfth Circuit. Jack explained that he belonged at the defense table, because in his heart he was meant to defend people. Jack once said that the loneliest seat in the world was a defendant’s chair in a criminal case and that he was meant to sit beside those folks.

Atticus Finch explained to us that real courage was “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Jack Lawson exhibited such courage every time he sat down at that defense table and he kept showing that courage over the past few months as he fought to be able to return to the job he loved. To say that Jack Lawson will be missed is an understatement. He will be missed deeply by his family, his friends and by his community. Florence has lost a hero. We have lost our Atticus Finch.

The Oyster Roasts will never be the same without Jack...

SCNow article of Jack's passing here.