To know list: 8 is enough—unless you're talking Oregon and turnovers, in which case it's nine

Sporting News, The, Oct 6, 2003

(7) YOU HEARD IT HERE

'No matter how strong you are, if you get crushed between the car's bumper and the wall, or your head is slammed between two cars, you're going to be killed.'

--Owner Rick Hendrick at the Q&A session of the Talladega drivers meeting. After three of Hendrick's crew men from the No. 48 Lowe's team were injured at New Hampshire, Hendrick applauded NASCAR's decision to bring in cars single file and not allow competitors to pass on the left while driving down pit road.

(8) THE EDGE

The matchup

Broncos vs. Chiefs

The question

Who owns this stinkin' division?

Edge-ucation You heard of Priest Holmes? How 'bout Clinton Portis? Do the names Trent Green, Jake Plummer, Rod Smith and Tony Gonzalez ring a bell? That's great, it really is. Meanwhile, you know who wears the pants in these perfect--as in 4-0--families? Their defenses. The AFC West will be won by the team that keeps it up on "D" all year. Advantage: So far, there is none.

The matchup

Notre Dame vs. an off week

The question

Will the Irish lose again?

Edge-ucation Now that's just plain silly--of course they won't lose again. Not another game, anyway. Some pride? Sure, with another week to think about throe straight losses to Big Ten teams, they might lose some pride. Some confidence? OK, with everyone saying they'll lose to Pitt, USC, B.C. and FSU coming up, they might lose some confidence. But another game? No.

The matchup

Cubs and Red Sox vs. their curses

The question

Will they be one-and-done by the time you read this?

Edge-ucation No--it'll take another day or two. Edge kids! It'll take longer than that, maybe three weeks longer than that, because curses are a whole lot of B.S. and, well, only the Marlins went mojo-to-mojo with the North Siders and Beantowners in September. And the Marlins won their Series already, least you'd forgotten the least compelling championship in the history of sports.