My take: Wow! I can already see Flagan, Heelatious and Guitar Wrecker camping out in front of Minges for a couple days so they get up close.

Guys — stalking is illegal in North Carolina. Those Secret Service agents will hurt you!

It’s Joe Biden vs. America’s Sweetheart (Sarah Palin) tonight in a vice presidential debate from St. Louis.

My take: I’m really looking forward to watching it — and I think it’s going to be much more interesting than the John McCain-Barack Obama debate (which I finally downloaded on my iPod and can see — if I find the time).

Biden is known for his longwindedness and Palin is known for … well, looking good. I really think it’s going to be entertaining on all fronts.

BAILOUT HEADS BACK TO THE HOUSE

The Wall Street bailout plan passed by a comfortable 74-25 vote in the U.S. Senate yesterday and now heads back to the House, where it failed earlier.

My take: I was shocked that it passed by so large a margin. As I said yesterday, I thought it’d have trouble passing but 74-25? Wow.

Hello, socialist government!

PAPARAZZI CALLED 911 TO REPORT LOCKLEAR

A photographer who was stalking following Heather Locklear was the “concerned citizen” who called 911 to tell authorities that she was impaired. The photographer made $27,000 from TMZ for the pictures of Locklear’s arrest.

My take: On one hand, I think it’s disgusting that these vultures follow celebrities around to make money from them. What makes me sicker is that people actually help make money for TMZ by looking at their junk.

But … if she was impaired — and it appears she was — I’m happy that someone (no matter how slimy they are) kept her from killing someone or herself.

The (sorely lacking 2,300-plus songs) iPod shuffle

Ante Up — M.O.P.

Mediate — INXS

Bring ‘Em Out — T.I.

Stuntin’ Like My Daddy — Birdman & Lil Wayne

Everything She Wants — Wham!

Eye Candy of the Day

Kate Walsh, formerly of “Grey’s Anatomy” and now of her own vehicle, “Private Practice”. Beautiful smile, gorgeous hair, shiny dress. What more can you ask for?

1. Charlotte Independence (11) 3-0   119 1

2. Matthews Butler (1)   4-0   105   2

3. Raleigh Millbrook      6-0   96   3

4. Raleigh Leesville Road      6-0   74   5

5. Davie County      4-1   47   6

6. Fayetteville Britt      4-1   42   4

7. Wilmington Hoggard      3-1   38   7

8. East Mecklenburg      4-0   34   8

9. Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor      5-1   27   9

T10. Asheville Reynolds      4-1   25   —

T10. Fayetteville Seventy-First      5-0   25   —

Others receiving votes: Richmond County 15, Mallard Creek 4, West Forsyth 2, Charlotte Myers Park 2, East Forsyth 2, East Burke 1, Greensboro Page 1, Greenville Rose 1.

3A

1. Greensboro Dudley (10)   5-0   118   1

2. Rocky Mount (2)   4-1   105   2

3. Eastern Alamance      5-0   81   3

4. Jamestown Ragsdale      5-0   73   4

5. Belmont South Point      5-1   69   5

6. West Craven      5-0   52   6

7. Waynesville Tuscola      5-0   48   9

8. Winston-Salem Carver     5-1   42   7

9. Harnett Central      4-1   22   —

10. Oxford Webb      4-1   18   10

Others receiving votes: Asheville Roberson 9, West Rowan 8, Wilson Fike 3, Kinston 3, Kannapolis Brown 3, SE Guilford 2, Mooresville 1, Charlotte Catholic 1, Asheville 1, Hertford County 1.

2A

1. Reidsville (12)   5-0   120   1

2. Jacksonville Northside      5-0   101   2

3. Newton-Conover      5-0   87   3

4. SW Onslow      5-0   83   5

5. Lincolnton      5-1   64   7

6. Lenoir Hibriten      5-0   58   6

7. Bunn      4-1   37   8

8. Eastern Guilford      5-0   32   9

9. South Columbus      4-1   22  10

10. Tarboro      5-1   19   4

Others receiving votes: Canton Pisgah 11, Salisbury 10, East Lincoln 8, Shelby 7, East Duplin 1.

1A

1. Warsaw Kenan (7)   6-0   112   1

2. Thomasville (3)   5-0   105   3

3. Mt. Airy (2)   5-0   104   2

4. Murphy      6-0   83   4

5. Albemarle      4-1   62   5

6. Siler City Jordan-Matthews      5-1   37   6

7. Cherokee      6-0   30   9

8. Dunn Midway      5-0   27   10

9. Plymouth      4-1   26   7

10. East Bladen      5-1   18   8

Others receiving votes: Topsail 14, Jones Senior 10, Robbinsville 6, Louisburg 5, West Montgomery 5, Seven Springs Spring Creek 5, Elkin 4, Hendersonville 4, East Surry 3.

1. Charlotte Independence

2. Matthews Butler

3. Raleigh Millbrook

4. Fayetteville Seventy-First

5. Raleigh Leesville Road

6. East Mecklenburg

7. Wilmington Hoggard

8. Charlotte Mallard Creek

9. Richmond County

10. Fayetteville Britt

3A

1. Rocky Mount

2. Greensboro Dudley

3. West Craven

4. Eastern Alamance

5. Harnett Central

6. Jamestown Ragsdale

7. Belmont South Point

8. Waynesville Tuscola

9. Kinston

10. Wilson Fike

2A

1. Reidsville

2. Jacksonville Northside

3. Newton-Conover

4. SW Onslow

5. Lincolnton

6. Lenoir Hibriten

7. Bunn

8. East Lincoln

9. Tarboro

10. East Duplin

1A

1. Warsaw Kenan

2. Thomasville

3. Mount Airy

4. Murphy

5. Jones Senior

6. Albemarle

7. Dunn Midway

8. Cherokee

9. Topsail

10. East Surry

Check back here around 4 p.m. for the Associated Press poll.

Kinston at Wilmington Hoggard

North Lenoir at Eastern Wayne

Swansboro at South Lenoir

Parrott Academy at Northeast Academy

Goldsboro Rosewood at Jones Senior

College (a horrible week of choices…)

Florida State at Miami

South Carolina at Mississippi

UNLV at Colorado State

Ohio State at Wisconsin

Illinois at Michigan

Pro

Indianapolis at Houston

Chicago at Detroit

Tennessee at Baltimore

New England at San Francisco

Buffalo at Arizona

As I usually do first thing in the a.m., I plugged my iPod into my work computer, which hosts my library. Somehow, I hit a button and wiped the memory of my iPod and now all I have are the videos, TV shows and music I have bought from iTunes — I don’t have any of the freaking 2,300 or so songs I’ve painfully downloaded over the past year and a half!

Is there any way to get them back? I’ve unplugged the iPod, tried to reset, but I’m still stuck with 132 songs (that I bought) and that’s all.

Yes, I’m frustrated. Can someone a little smarter than me (and that describes a lot of you out there!) help me?!?!?

No one went 5-0 in either college (all 40 of us missed Houston over ECU!) or pros. Twelve of us went 5-0 in preps.

Eastern gained another game on second place, though, with his 10-5 week. I’m in second place, five games back, while there’s a three-way tie for third, seven games back.

Again, many thanks to my tremendous, terrific, tabulating, tantalizing, thrilling, teddy bear-loving girlfriend for her help in putting this together

1. Eastern                                   67-22 (.753)         10-5

2. Hanks                                     62-27 (.697)          10-5

T3. COliver                                   60-29 (.674)         9-6

T3. Heelatious                               60-29 (.674)          8-7

T3. Jagshouse                                60-29 (.674)          9-6

T3. JWade                                      60-29 (.674)          7-8

T3. Rocky                                      60-29 (.674)          9-6

8. Native Son                               59-30 (.663)          10-5 (5-0 in preps) 

T9. Deep Run Pirate                     58-31 (.652)          11-4  (5-0 in preps)

T9. GWhitley                                 58-31 (.652)         8-7

Others:

Clay                                          57-32 (.640)          7-8

Blake H.                                    56-33 (.629)          9-6

Johnny Kennedy                    56-33 (.629)          7-8

Jourbet                                    56-33 (.629)          4-11

Randy Capps                           56-33 (.629)          9-6 (5-0 in preps)

Tatemooring                          56-33 (.629)          11-4 (5-0 in preps)

Shandsp                                  55-34 (.618)          10-5

Taplie Coile                             55-34 (.618)          10-5

Diamondheels                         54-35 (.607)          9-6

ENCMetalhead                      54-35 (.607)          11-4

Petey Pablo                            53-36 (.596)          7-8

The Kid                                   53-36 (.596)           9-6

Greg Melvin                           52-37 (.584)          7-8

Horns                                        52-37 (.584)          9-6

Omega07solo                          52-37 (.584)          6-9

Rousehouse                            52-37 (.584)          9-6

Wimpy57                                52-37 (.584)          10-5

Coach5511                              50-39 (.562)          8-7

John Q. Awesome                  49-40 (.551)          10-5 (5-0 in preps)

RJarman                                48-26 (.649)          9-6 (5-0 in preps)

KHS Defensive Tackle          48-41 (.539)         7-8

Jackson                                    47-27 (.635)          —–

Drugpusher                             47-28 (.627)          11-4

Bluedevil99                               47-42 (.528)          8-7

Jeff Howard                            46-38 (.548)          8-7

ECPirates11                            44-30 (.595)          8-7

Tranters                                  43-31 (.593)          8-7 (5-0 in preps)

Comet65                                 40-34 (.541)          9-6

TwinFan                                39-21 (.650)          9-6

KTownPirate                        24-20 (.545)         11-3 (left out Clinton-SL game)

Deep Run Dynasty                22-22 (.500)          —–

Alan                                          21-9 (.700)          —–

MrNLHS1991                       20-25 (.444)          4-11

HSR                                          19-11 (.633)          —–

AdrianBrewer                        15-14 (.517)          —–

Scott44544                         9-6 (.600)           —–

Carlogan*                            7-8 (.467)          7-8

* indicates first-week player

And without further ado – your MNR: 

CITIGROUP TO PURCHASE WACHOVIA

And the banking wheel continues to go round and round: Citigroup, based in New York City, will purchase Wachovia, which originated in Winston-Salem. The FDIC brokered the deal but made it clear that Wachovia wasn’t going under.

My take: My friends, these are some scary times. Last week’s Washington Mutual sale — along with the Wachovia buyout and the $700 billion government buyout — should show us that things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

REDSKINS SPANK THAT COWBOY BOOTY

The Washington Redskins made sure their final trip to Texas Stadium was a successful one, defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 26-24, Sunday afternoon.

My take: As an unapologetic ‘Skins fan, I absolutely LOVED it. It just helps prove that the NFC East is — by far — the best division in the NFL.

HEATHER LOCKLEAR ARRESTED SATURDAY NIGHT

Actress Heather Locklear was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of controlled substances Saturday. A concerned citizen observed Locklear stumbling around before she got into her car, where she ended up parking it on a road. Locklear was tested for alcohol but it came up negative. Her drug test results will come in later this week.

My take: She was treated for depression earlier this year, so maybe it was some of those type of drugs. Regardless, she still looked HOT, even in her mug shot:

The iPod shuffle

Jesus Walks — Kanye West

Believe It Or Not — Nickelback

Margaritaville — Jimmy Buffett

Crossroads — Cream

Something In The Way She Moves — James Taylor

• Virginia is bad — really, really bad. Thank God Saturday’s embarrassing loss will certainly put the nail in Al Groh’s coffin. An insider (you know who you are!) claims that Skip Holtz will be the next Virginia coach. I have absolutely no problem with that.
• Congratulations to Duke and their football fans. Note: I didn’t congratulate Duke’s basketball fans. I’ve never been to a college football game before and seen as many basketball jerseys as I saw at today’s game. Regardless, good for David Cutliffe and the Devils — you spanked my Wahoos good today.
• East Carolina is evidently not as good as we thought they were. The hot blonde tells me that of 40 entries this week in our pick ‘em contest, not one person picked Houston to win. Virginia Tech and West Virginia weren’t as good as we thought they’d be, either, meaning those wins weren’t as impressive as they initially appeared. ECU will likely not be in the top 25 anymore this season — and the Pirates don’t deserve to be, either.
• Another nugget I have to credit the hot blonde with (yes, I’m blessed — she’s a sports nut, too): Skip Holtz is probably ecstatic he signed that contract extension before today’s stinker. He’s still a hell of a coach — don’t freak out, Pirate Nation — and he’s certainly welcome in Charlottesville.
• The ACC is simply up for grabs. UNC wins at Miami? Duke wins a league game for the first time in 20 years? (OK, slight exaggeration there). Maryland wins at everyone’s top 10 team Clemson? Wake loses at home to Navy — which lost to Duke earlier this year? The league is anyone’s to win this year. Well, except Virginia (which reminds me: **** you, Al Groh.)

My take: I can’t say he was one of my favorite actors — his politics later in his life got in the way for me at times — but he is recognized as one of the best actors by people much more intelligent than me.

I loved him with Tom Cruise in “The Color of Money.”

RIP, Mr. Newman.