I’m not a big sports fan… never have been. While my friends all collected baseball cards and played pick-up games of touch football, I collected models of spaceships and dinosaurs and read Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Martian series. But even I, a New York City kid, knew who Johnny Unitas was. I remember thinking that the Baltimore Colts’ helmet should have a sideways horseshoe to represent a “C” for “Colts” and the fact that it was oriented in a “U” shape must have been a tribute to their most illustrious team member.

As an adoptive Baltimorean, very aware of his contributions to this city — both in action and in symbolism — I mourn his passing.

I feel so much better now, knowing that such international powerhouses as Bulgaria and Portugal are ready to support the US in its pre-emptive strike in the ongoing war against Osama bin Laden al-Qaeda Taliban Terrorism Afghanistan the Axis of Evil Saddam Hussein Iraq tyrants.[NYTimes reg req'd]

(Its probably not necessary to say, but: I’m being facetious. I mean no disrespect to the people of the great country of Bulgaria, and particularly the two Bulgarians who may, through some unlikely coincidence, be reading this. I realize that Bulgaria is the president of the UN Security Council for the month of September, and a member of the Council until next December, and therefore does have some influence in the outcome of the debate on Iraq. But I also realize that China, France and Russia are permanent members of the Security Council, and each have veto power over the Council’s decisions. None of these three seem amenable to the US’ insistence that Saddam must be removed now!)