Keith Olbermann leaves countdown.

And while I am sad? I know he will be back. He's found himself in worse situations than this and he's found a way to extricate himself before and since.

I mean, look at this.



That's a career killer. And KO found his way back. He'll be back. The wingnuts must have their media demon.

I have become a technological luddite.

Somewhere along the line? It happened. I don't know the whys and wherefores, but right now? I feel as if I am locked in to where my technology is. My computer? A desktop from 2000. My video game system? PS2. My TV isn't flat screen, let alone high-def.

And yet? I do the social networking thing. I do the facebook, and I do the twitter. And both have decided to make a layout chance in recent weeks. Facebook? They just did it. Pull the band aid.

I liked the old facebook, but you know what? It's done. And it's inoffensive.

As for twitter? The new twitter layout is clunky and unpleasing visually. Too much information, too wide of columns. Just too much of everything. I said to myself, self? I'm keeping old twitter for as long as possible.

Viva old twitter.

And there were hints that Twitter did not want me to do this. The Blue Bar up top that said, "New Twitter is Here! Switch to New Twitter!" to "You're using an older version of Twitter that won't be around for much longer. Switch to new twitter." And I would passively resist. I figured they would decide that to move me.

Then came last night? And twitters automatic retweet function, which I initially disliked, but I got used to, swung from annoyingly stupid to ridiculous. For you see? If someone would find a statement from a Patton Oswalt or a Brandon Jennings as something for their timeline? I would get a message.

• Wondering who this is?
• Someone you follow thought this was worth retweeting, which is why you are seeing it in your Home timeline. Learn more.

It happened once? I thought it weird. But then someone got retweet happy. And for every. single. retweet. I would get this message? I searched to see if I could file a request to turn this off? I couldn't. I asked twitter support to help. It didn't. I yelled at twitter to turn it off. Nada. I hurled expletives at random. And nothing happened.

Then it hit me.

I switched to New Twitter. I thought that was the trick. The bar would disappear and I wouldn't go back. But you know what? It didn't. I had the option to return, and I did.

But there was one certain subtle difference. When I was in new twitter land? It was still as ugly as sin? But I did not get that message. Return to old twitter, and I got the message.

So it comes to this. I'm not going to move from Old Twitter. They can ask me if I have no idea who Oprah or Tiger Woods is. I'm not moving. This is where I make my stand.

Drag me into the ugly, or let me keep my beautiful James Shields cracking Manny Ramirez in the face background, and let me keep old twitter. But just because you decide to change something that was working just fine does not mean you can try dickery to get me to move off my little piece of internet land.

NFL Playoff Preview. Sure. I'll do it.

I'm not a gambling man, I don't have a spectacular manifesto in regards to the way to figure a playoff victory. But that being said? There are three major aspects to my figuring out a team's strength in general versus an opponent. The margin of yards per play versus yards allowed, scoring margin, and the takeaways, plus or minus turnover margin.

The results show some surprises, but nothing too indefensible. He's how I'd rank the teams in regards to power.

1) Pittsburgh
2) New England
3) Green Bay
4) Philadelphia
5) New York Jets
6) Atlanta
7) New Orleans
8) Baltimore
9) Kansas City/ Chicago (tie)
11) Indianapolis
12) Seattle

So what does this all mean?

1) I would put money on the Packers or Eagles winning the NFC Championship.

Granted, the Packers do have a bit of a fundamental flaw in regards to a consistent desire to run the ball. But even then, they went down to Atlanta and nearly took them down. And the fact of the matter is that the Falcons are a team that can be thrown on. A team that gets a lead on them makes them a definite upset victim.

2) Seattle is as bad as everybody expected.

I know that New Orelans is coming there. And if Matt Hasselbeck can go? Seattle will cover. But if I was football outsiders or something, I would go back and look through the lowest scoring margin of all playoff teams. Why? Because the Seahawks have given up six points more per game than they've scored.

Think about this another way? The next worst team in this playoffs is nine points better than the Seattle in scoring margin. New Orelans isn't a great team this year. But they'll win.

3) I've got to respect Peyton Manning.

I still don't like him that much. But if you consider how good this team has been this year? Peyton worked a miracle getting this team in. If they beat the Jets? That's a great season. Flat out.

4) My Pick for the Super Bowl?

Green Bay and New England in a return match from the game of the year.

5) My Picks for this Week?

Baltimore 20, Kansas City 17
New York Jets 27, Indianapolis 24
Green Bay 35, Philadelphia 34
New Orelans 28, Seattle 20

Brewers got a starter (And are all in!)

I'll say this. Doug Melvin isn't going into this year with some half-assed milquetoast sort of an attempt at a fix. The big acquisition isn't going to be an overaged #3-#4 starter who collapses after start #6. The bold move isn't that they traded for James Loney.

They got Zack freaking Greinke. They got their new Sabathia.

The future of this team could be looking very bleak. 2013 could have 103 losses. And the definite downside of losing Brett Lawrie is compounded by losing the #1 pitching prospect, the guy who should be starting at center field, a tarnished, but upside strong shortstop, and the Kansas City Royals next closer.

But that being said? Odorizzi hasn't hit AA. A lot changes for a pitcher when he hits AA. Still a strong prospect, but better arms have hit a wall. And Alcides Escobar's floor is currently matched by Yuniesky Betancourt. And the next failed drug test from Jeremy Jeffress and he's gone. Just gone.

It's like John Sickels says, it's a whole lot of decent prospects going back to Kansas City. And for the Brewers to get Grienke in return? It's exciting. Even if 2009 is so much the career year and 2008 is his real baseline. It's a massive upgrade.

They're probably not going to match the bold on paper talent of Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, and Hamels. But then again? You look at the Brewers and you see a 25, 27, and 28 year old as your core rotation, with Randy Wolf suddenly only having to put up 4th starters numbers. And this is going to be a strong bunch.

Prince Fielder's walk year, Ryan Braun, and an A- rotation? Half measures did not occur this year. Melvin made moves as if it was some sort of win or die scenario. And God love him for it.

All-in is awesome, until it fails.

Brewers got a starter...

And I suppose this is what cautious optimism feels like. Why? Because this is the sort of a deal that has a real downside for the Brewers.

Not that Shaun Marcum is a high-risk player. Sure, he has a Tommy John in his past, but he's had three years of quality starter in the majors under his belt. And he slots in as a legitimate #2 starter. So instead of just praying Mark Rogers is decent and Randy Wolf returns to form?

You're going into 2011 with two starters that should win 60%-70% of their games. It fills a big hole for right now. And with Cincinnati as a small-market team and St. Louis's defense looking awful on any gapper? There's room at the top of the NL Central.

But that being said? And it may be payment of the cost to be the boss, but if it was anybody else not named Brett Lawrie, I would have loved this deal without doubt or provocation. But as it is Lawrie? I am with reservation.

Two reasons as to why. One? The Brewers best upper level infield prospect? Taylor Green. A 24 year old that hasn't met AAA yet. And with a .774 OPS in AA. And he's a defensive tweener!

And second? You know what, worry about tomorrow when it comes. Tonight we got ourselves a strong starter. And he's ours for two years.

I will celebrate tonight.

So you know how I watch wrestling, right?

If not? I do. I watch wrestling. And tonight had one heck of a main event. It wasn't the most technically proficient. But the story told here was awesome.

You have Jerry "the King" Lawler. 61 years old. Kind of a perv. But on his birthday? He's gets himself a match with the recently crowned WWE Champion The Miz.

And logically, you'd expect the match to go the way of the Miz. But the story told was a story where WWE Announcing colleague Michael Cole stopped Jerry inches from stealing the championship.

It allowed the Miz to recover, and ultimately win.

(Sorry about the Spoiler, but the listing of the age up front shoulda told ya.)

An entertaining match. Well broadcast and whatnot. But? There are people who find fault with the match. There are people who find fault with the Leader of the Cole Miners.

Are you ready for Swears? Go!



Wrestling Fans. You have to love them.

I have been dethroned as the most adorable Bucks Fan!

Credit goes to Blog Bro and Twitter Bro Ethan Jaynes