What about Bob?

Mantz, Bob Mantz has much time on his hands. He has therefore commissioned a simulated fight between Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo. The video is now up and running on the Bob's Blitz Blog.

In a clever move, Mantz has none other than Neil Best as the referee. (Howard Stern and I get to sponsor one of the corners.)

Gut feeling: Best will not include this entertaining video on his blog, since he must deal with Mssrs. Francesa and Russo on a daily basis. We have no such reluctance.

Here it is:

We haven't linked to our favorite power rankings maven lately, but he's certainly had a string of interesting and wacky stuff.

Like the fight that broke out among paraplegic hockey players.

Maybe Mantz's best post ever.

A reference to the fact that there are some seats with obstructed views. Best, the star of Newsday's website, wrote about the situation, too.

Best has an update on the situation in his latest post. Apparently the situation is receiving the attention of the Yankees' brass.

Mantz is already out with his playoff picks, thumping his chest that he has gotten 75 percent of his playoff picks right!!!

(That means he went 3-1 last week.)

Anyway, I agree with Mantz on three of his four picks for this weekend's games (against the spread.)

He likes the Cardinals, Iggles, Stillers and Ravens to cover.

We like the Panthers, Iggles, Stillers and Ravens to cover.

The second annual Glauber Nation Playoff Picks Contest is up and running, and the polls are open for Round 2. Click here to make your picks (straight up, not against the spread).

We were frankly a little "skittish" (see: Jerry Reese on Eli Manning circa late November, 2007) about referencing the "unique" Power Rankings of one Bob Mantz, founder and chief cook and bottle washer for Bob's Blitz sports blog.

Mantz is a little "out there" when it comes to his blog, and these power rankings in particular were out there. Or, as we suggested at the time, hallucinogenic out there.

But lo and behold, Mantz got a kick out of it, and developed what has become - for lack of a better term - a blog crush on Glauber Nation. He cites us regularly, even creates videos and faux blogs referencing our work. We're flattered to be a regular punching bag/punchline/feature of his blog.

And we're also delighted to see that we've been part of his success, which ultimately becomes part of our success, which in turn helps him succeed, which then helps our page views (the blogosphere is very incestuous, as you can tell). Anyway, Mantz puffs his chest about page views here.

Check out his stuff. It's funny ... most of the time.

Maybe one day when Mantz gets really brave, he'll post the Power Rankings for the entire league, and he'll pick ALL the games each week, as we do. That way, if he wants to goof on our pathetic record (it was awful last week), at least he will have Mantzed up by putting his rep on the line for every game.

... but I'm pretty sure it's Bob Mantz going off the rails yet again in his endless facsination with Newsday bloggers.

Now he's even put Boland into the mix ... just what the Bubbling Cauldron needs as his Jetsies try to pick up the pieces after a two-game losing streak.

Yes, he spelled the name right while taking a shot at our weekly picks (which he sometimes makes, but usually doesn't. Lots of guts, that Mantz.)

Anyway, for some reason, a Youtube video of some guys fishing made him think of us. Specifically, our picks remind him of fishing. I guess maybe he plans on giving me a couple of lures for the holidays. Or else maybe another bad look-a-like with Steve Gutenberg?

Enjoy Sunday's games, Mantz. And I love your description of our blog's slow-moving, next-to-impossible-to-comment software as "glitchy."

(Mantz: Would you please click onto this link and explain whether it's you or not. And whether it's serious or not. There is a look-a-like possibility here, but I want to be accurate about the picture of the guy to the left.)

The man who regularly ridicules our picks and our power rankings has weighed in with his own weekly rankings. But this time, he has ignored over half the NFL's teams, choosing instead to do the top 15.

There are some curious rankings in that grouping as well, but c'mon, Mantz. How about the rest. Why are you gonna ignore millions of fans in 17 NFL cities by not giving them the respect of a ranking.

Buck up, son. Finish the job.

Or did you do this on purpose, hoping we'd notice, write about you, and make you even more famous than we've already done.

Bob Mantz, whose career picking football games and doing Power Rankings has soared ever since we suggested there might be some hallucinogenics at work on both counts, has done it again.

He picked the Jets to trounce the Titans, and that's exactly what happened.

Great call, Mantz.

Way to put that Ivy League education to work in tackling the major issues of our time.

And you, too, Best. I'm sure the Cornell community is proud of your 90-minute sit-down with Mike Francesa.

We've done our part to pump up Bob Mantz' page views on his "Bob's Blitz" blog, although it looks like he might have a record-setting day today once word spreads of his "scoop" that Brett Favre is leaning toward coming back to the Jets next season.

Mantz quotes sources saying Favre has been looking for homes in the central New Jersey towns of Cranbury and East Windsor/Princeton.

Not sure what to make of this. I had heard a few weeks back that Favre had bought a home in Tewksbury, N.J. When I asked him about it, he said he had not. In fact, he remarked how expensive homes were in the area. He is currently renting a home in Morristown, N.J.

Favre is known to be thrifty. Laveranues Coles recently pointed out that Favre has been wearing the same pair of camoflauge shorts to practice just about all season.

As for Favre's future plans, I don't think he has made any definitive decision. In fact, had Mantz written that sources indicate Favre is leaning toward retiring after this season, he'd have just as good a chance at being right.

btw, Favre hates traffic in NY/NJ. If he were to move to Princeton area, it'd take him a minimum of about an hour (without traffic) to get to Jets' training facility.)

(Hey, Blitz, how about a different picture of NYC?)

Oh, well. There are many, many more stories like this to be written. Thanks to Mantz for starting it off.

Time to get ready for the Titans!!!

Holy Craphonso Thorpe!

Bob Mantz has inducted "What About Bob" into his Hall of Fame, thanks to our post about his wacky Power Rankings. Oh, my. What an honor. This even beats being told once by a long-time reader, "Bob, I just want you to know that I [read your articles in the bathroom] every morning."

Here's the announcement, which is also Bob's response to What About Bob's response to Bob's response to What About Bob's response to our initial response to Bob's Power Rankings.

Mantz made some veiled threat about court action in response to our proclamation that Islander505 has an exclusivity contract with Newsday blogs, but we'll address that at another time. Meantime, we bask in the glow of this most unexpected honor.

I hope everyone enjoys a safe and happy Halloween.

I'm thinking Mike Singletary will dress up as a full moon.

(A gold star to anyone who can guess the identity of the Pro Football Hall of Fame bust.)