these are the ties that try women's souls

First tie of the season, between the Shiners and Winehausfrau. Tiebreaker: Bench points. Edge: Winehausfrau.

The commish is considering a new tiebreaker next year. Click here for a preview.

---

steve smith squared

Stats through two games:

Giants WR Steve Smith: 16 catches, 214 yards, 1 TD, 16 fantasy points.

Panthers WR Steve Smith: 11 catches, 152 yards, 0 TD, 7 fantasy points.

---

it's been 15 years ...

... since Kordell Stewart's greatest play ever. Unfortunately, he was not a member of the Steelers at the time. Relive the "Miracle at Michigan" (September 24, 1994) by clicking here.

---

note to our card-carrying member of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Among this year's recipients of the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grants ($500,000, no strings attached) is Jerry Mitchell of the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger, who has spent years reported on unpunished killings from the civil rights era.

---

if you missed the colts-dolphins game ...

... you missed a strange one. Miami ran 84 plays to the Colts' 35 (just 14 of those in the second half). Miami rushed for 239 yards to the Colts' 61. Miami converted 15 of 21 first downs. The Colts had the ball for less than 15 minutes out of 60. What happened? Colts win, of course, on an 80-yard, 30-second drive late in the game.

---

R.I.P. henry gibson

Known for his comic roles and light verse, he was also an environmental activist and former Air Force intelligence officer. And though he seemed to affect a Southern accent, he was born in Germantown, Pa.

THE THUMBNAIL
Did you ever stop to figure
why the thumbnail is so hard?
Well, it hasn't got much choice
with all that skin to guard.
It may look fat and pudgy
but its heart is good and true.
It's prettier than a toenail ...
and easier to chew.

---

week 2: burning up the bench

Babs' win over Steel Curtain is all the more impressive when you consider that she had Tennessee RB Chris Johnson (31 points) on the bench.

---

week 2: at war with themselves

* Montana's bench outscored the starters, 31-27.
* Cat Success' bench outscored the starters, 40-31.

---

elsewhere in blogville ...

The blog we started at the paper to celebrate Southeastern Conference football has done pretty well so far -- we're among the half-dozen most-read blogs. While some locals have accused us of shoving SEC football down their throats (hey, that sounds like something Serena Williams would say), there's no shortage of Deep South zealots here in Charlotte. If you're interested in reading more about the realest football this side of Pittsburgh, click here.

---

somebody get Jeff George on the line

In his last two games (last season's playoff loss and this season's home opener), Carolina QB Jake Delhomme has 9 intereceptions and 2 fumbles.

---