Sounds like something from the days of King Arthur

20, has vowed to work with Republicans as well as fellow Democrats to reach an agreement on a package that may cost up to $775 billion over two years to stem a deepening recession. "We are in a very difficult spot," Obama told reporters between meetings with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill on Monday. "The situation is getting worse." Despite such challenges as the ailing economy, two wars and an estimated 46 million Americans without health insurance, the opening day of Congress promised to be something of a victory party for the Democrats who expanded their control of the Senate and House of Representatives in the November election. Newly elected members will be sworn in, and Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, will be elected to a second term as House speaker, which makes her the top ranking woman in American politics. The Democratic celebration will be marred, however, with messy fights in the Senate over two would-be lawmakers.

And Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid put off an effort to swear in comedian Al Franken of Minnesota, also a Democrat, who is facing a legal challenge of his razor-thin victory. If both were sworn in, the Democrats' majority in the 100-member Senate would swell to 59 their biggest margin in 30 years and just one short of the needed 60 votes to end Republican procedural roadblocks. But with the possibility of court battles, back-room negotiations, Senate debates and procedural hurdles, it likely will take time to clear the way for Burris and Franken. Democrats had hoped to have a fiscal rescue package ready for Obama to sign into law when he takes office They now admit it will take at least a month or so longer. Republicans who have been resistant to calls by Obama for increased spending on basics such as roads, bridges and health care said they were heartened that he wants his rescue package also to include up to $310 billion in tax cuts for businesses and the middle class."There will be widespread Republican enthusiasm for having a significant percentage of the package be tax relief," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. While the economic stimulus package is the first priority in Congress, there are scores of others.

This can only signal one thing: The Dead Man's time is coming to an end.I have been an Undertaker fan since he debuted in 1990 at the Survivor Series as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner. He was a giant of a man compared to most, and he seemed impervious to pain.His gimmick was no-selling the moves performed by his opponents, and staring ominously without expression. It went over almost instantly, and within a year he was WWE champion. He was one of the only people I can remember to hold the WWE title not only within his first year, but as his first title. Over the years he gained more attention by having great feuds, amazing matches, stellar promos, and one of the best managers in the biz, Paul Bearer. He is forever linked with casket, buried alive, hell in the cell and last ride matches.Since about 2006, he has been taking more and more time off each year to mend himself from the grueling life of the pro wrestler. He is moving slower and taking fewer risks, which is to be expected for a man in his forties.It never really clicked that he might soon be gone forever, because he has been around for so long. Not only is he one of two wrestlers to still be with the company since the first episode of RAW (the other being HBK), but he has one of the longest streaks of working for WWE in history, without leaving them for competition. The man is WWE through and through. He is the head of the Smackdown locker room, for sure.When he retires, we will lose something that the WWE is otherwise lacking: a good gimmick. The Undertaker along with many others have stated that the Undertaker gimmick was not supposed to last this long, but the fans responded so well, and still do.Without the Undertaker, who will strike fear into the hearts of the WWE's evil wrestlers Who will intimidate all the guys who intimidate others Who will have a Wrestlemania undefeated streak No one.Once the Undertaker is gone, the WWE will no longer be what it was to me when I was a kid. It will no longer be the world of outrageous characters and even more outrageous fights. It will simply be a wrestling company. And that saddens me.Someone on Bleacher Report recently wrote an article about the lost art of the gimmick; forgive me for not knowing who it was. They are absolutely right. The WWE, along with all of wrestling, has lost the ability to create an amazing character who is not based in reality.I am dreading the day when I read the headline "Undertaker Retires," because for me, it will be the end of an era that will never be matched again.. Rutgers will play the University of Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Saturday, and this one is not burning up the sports discussions in the Tampa Bay area.Rutgers coach Greg Schiano pulled no punches about playing over in the Fruit Dome (aka Tropicana Field).He wasn't happy with the date and destination for his Scarlet Knights.Which begs the question, who is more motivated in this first bowl game of the seasonThe answer could lie within the armour of the UCF Knights.There's simply more on the line for UCF than there is for Rutgers.A win by UCF could make them a dark horse candidate to join the Big East, as strange as that may sound.A win by UCF could give their fans and supporters some ammunition to look squarely at their former rival, the University of South Florida, and say, "See, we're better than you guys, you got blown out by Rutgers!" It would also give UCF recruiting ammunition if they were courting the same players as USF.Amazingly, the St. Pete Bowl has told us that it's a sellout, and it will be interesting to see if there's a fanny in every seat on Saturday.Yes, Rutgers has a LOT of talentyoung talentand has nothing to gain in this football game.Yes, UCF is excited to play a Big East team, and they tell us their fans will show up.Knights vs Knights.Sounds like something from the days of King Arthur.. The Saints are 13-0 and well on their way to capturing home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Cowboys are 8-5 and looking for their first win in December after losing to the Chargers 20-17 in Dallas.Are the chips falling neatly into place for the Saints to move to 14-0"We try not to mention the term 'perfect storm' here in New Orleans," says Reggie Bush. "But playing Dallas in December is almost as sure of a win as playing them in the playoffs Especially now that Tony Romo is doing the holding on kicks Of course, they say things are bigger in Texas.

With the Cowboys in town, New Orleans just got bigger, and easier.""And I'm sure the Cowboys won't feel quite as home in the primitive Superdome as they do in the luxurious confines of Cowboys Stadium Heck, you could view the huge video screen in 3D last week. You won't see three 'Ds' in the Superdome, although you most likely will see three 'Ls.'"Right now, Dallas holds the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, but that position will be hard to maintain considering their remaining schedule. After their date in New Orleans, Dallas goes to Washington then closes out the year by hosting the Eagles."We've got a chance to make history," says Wade Phillips, "by surprising people The game against Philadelphia will be crucial That's a winnable game. Heck, it's in January .""As for me, all I'm asking for is a little respect R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care, TCB. Realistically, though, with our December history, I should be singing 'D-E-F-E-A-T-S Take care, J-O-B.