From now on check my picks on Twitter.com/CurtisJStock. I’ll be posting picks as I make them instead of waiting to do them all at once.

CINCINNATI AT CLEVELAND
Cleveland is supposed to be improved. The Bengals look to be going the other way.  But it’s very hard to lay a full touchdown on the Browns. Especially with a team that has gone 0-6 against the spread in their last six home games and 1-11 in their last 12.
The Bengals have offensive-line – to name just one – problems and they aren’t very good in their road openers – 2-7 when playing in their own division.
And, the dog in this series has covered seven of the past eight meetings.
Games between the two have historically been very close. The two meetings last year were decided by two and three points.
The Browns will go with second-year QB Colt McCoy -the Browns 10th different QB since 1999. The Bengals start rookie Andy Dalton, who won’t have Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco – which might be a good thing anyway. Fourth-overall draft pick A.J. Green could be a standout of a young receiving group.
Cleveland will definitely throw a lot so the Bengals, which have switched from a 3-4 defensive base to a 4-3 will have to get pressure on McCoy.
Taking the Bengals +7.

DETROIT AT TAMPA
Detroit is one of the buzz picks this year but have to prove it. Especially away from home where they have lost 15 of their last 17 on the road. The two road wins in that losing streak came at the end of last season, though. It’s the other way for Tampa which don’t cover many of their home games – only 3 of their last 19. And, the Lions have covered four of the last five in this series. So that looks like a wash.
The Lions have some injury problems along their O-line. But their defense looks to be really good. with NFL defensive rookie of the year Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Cliff Avril and tackle Corey Williams are pretty solid too. Because Stafford and Vanden Bosch restructured their contracts, the Lions were also able to add LBs Stephen Tulloch and Justin Durant.
And while they went undefeated in the exhibitiion season – which means nothing – they did win their last four games of last year’s regular season.
Matthew Stafford has looked good in the pre-season following right shoulder surgery – 25 of 33 for 395 yards, five TDs and no picks.
Like Detroit, Tampa should be improved even after a 10-6 season. QB Josh Freeman is for real and he has targets like WR Mike Williams and RB LaGarette Blount.
Tampa was just 28th against the run last year.
Too close to call. But leaning to Tampa.

GIANTS AT WASHINGTON
Washington lost six games by four or less last year. Their biggest problem was a defense that finished 31st in yards allowed. An improved O-line should help Tim Hightower while Anthony Armstrong has become a solid receiver.
The Giants play really well on the road. They are 15-6 as favorites away from home while Washington is just 12-23 at home vs. divisional rivals, 3-7 as divsional home dogs and 5-12 in any role at home as a dog.The Giants have also won the last six in their series and have covered four of their last five trips to Washington.
Already, the Giants come in with a lot of injuries. They lost MLB Jonathan Goff this week. Goff joins injured DE Osi Umenyiora, DE Justin Tuck, first-round pick Prince Amukamara, CBs Terrell Thomas and Bruce Johnson, rookie defensive tackle Marvin Austin and LB Clint Sintim.
If Washington is going to end their losing streak to the Giants, with all of New York’s injuries this could be the spot.
But how do you pick Washington knowing that Rex Grossman is their starting QB. And while they have added some defensive pieces like linemen Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield, this is still a defense which was 26th against the run and 31st against the pass.
Slight edge to the Giants mostly because of the quarterbacking.

INDIANAPOLIS AT HOUSTON
Now we’ll find out how much the Colts miss Peyton Manning. The bookmakers think it’s a lot given that they have made Houston an 8 1/2 point favorite. The Colts have dominated Houston (16-2) but, that said, they have had troubling covering the spread against Houston including just 1-5 in Houston.
The Colts are 5-2 in their last seven positions as a road dog.
Houston certainly won’t find not seeing Peyton Manning. The Texans were 30th overall defense.and 32nd against the pass.
Veteran Kerry Collins stars for Manning, whose abscence will probably mean a lot of carries for Joseph Addai. The Colts still have Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon and the return of TE Dallas Clark should be huge.
With Houston RB Arian Foster still a question mark as to his availability and Manning out this is not a game I’d want to touch but if I did I’d be leaning to taking the points.
Last year Houston was dead last as far as giving up yards. That’s why they brought in Wade Philips as defensive co-ordinator and have switched to a 3-4 defense with Mario Williams now an outside rusher. Houston also brought in CB Johnathan Joseph and S Daniel Manning.
The Colts, meanwhile, will open with three new starters on their O-line while a fourth, Ryan Diem, moves to guard from tackle.
Hard not to take 8 1/2 points and the Colts. Even without Manning.

ATLANTA AT CHICAGO
Atlanta has fared very well in a favorites role. Especially against non-divisional team where they are 13-2 and as favorites of less than 4 points – 6-2.
Chicago has some good stats going for them too. They are 15-6 with conference revenge and 30-13 as home dogs with revenge. But then Atlanta is 6-1 straight up and against the spread against the NFC North.
There are problems in Chicago where RB Matt Forte and Lance Briggs want contract extensions and it’s ayoung offensive line that failed to keep QB Jay Cutler upright. Cutler was sacked an NFL high 52 times last year.
Matt Ryan now has speedy receiver Julio Jones to compliment Roddy White, who caught and NFL-high 115 passes last year, and rookie Jacquizz Rodgers. And, while he’s getting old and comes off the lowest output of his career there is also TE Tony Gonzalez and RB Michael Turner.
Running back Marion Barber will not play for Chicago.
Leaning to Atlanta.

BUFFALO AT KANSAS CITY
Buffalo is 5-0 vs. the AFC West while the Chiefs are just 3-9-1 when laying points at home. The Chiefs are also 0-4 in their last four games in this series and Buffalo has covered three straight in K.C., although Buffalo coach Chan Gailey is just 3-10 away vs. non div. opponents.
.The Chiefs were the AFC’s most improved team last year. But Matt Cassell’s effectiveness with a rib injury is a big question. Still, the biggest stat appears to be the Chiefs No. 1 running game with Jamaal Charles averaging 6 yards per carry against what was last year’s worst rush defense.
The Bills have a revamped defense this year with the additions of three time pro bowler Shawne Merriman and rookie DT Marcell Dareus, the third overall pick in the draft.
Don’t expect much scoring. Leaning to the Chiefs.

PITTSBURGH AT BALTIMORE
Baltimore is 9-5 as favorites of four or less – but 1-7 as divsional favorites of 11 or less – and the Super Bowl losers are 1-12 when starting the next season on the road.
Pittsburgh is also 26-10 on the division road, 13-4 as divisional dogs and head coach Mike Tomlin is 9-2 as a dog.
A lot of conflicting information in which, if you like defense, should be slug fest.
In their last meeting, the first round of the playoffs, Pittsburgh bounced Baltimore 31-24 holding the Ravens to just 126 yards of offence as Baltimore had trouble rushing the QB which could mean Ben Roethlisberger will attack Baltimore’s cornerbacks.
All 11 Pittsburgh defensive starters return which includes the likes of outside rushers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons is a rising star according to a lot of people.
Baltimore has rejigged it’s offensive line. For that matter nearly half the team – 20 new players – is new. Center Matt Birk, who had knee surgery last month, sounds like he will start going up against nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is a load.
Taking Baltimore minus 1 1/2 points.

TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville is a slight 1 1/2 point favorite which isn’t good news for the Jaguars given they are 3-11 as home favorites.
With David Garrard a late, and surprising, cut the Jags now belongs to QB Luke McCown, who hasn’t started since the 2007 season finale. RB Maurice JOnes-Drew is coming off knee surgery and his backup, Rashad Jennings, is out for the season. RT Eben Britton has back problems, Aaron Kampman is returning after a torn ACL.
Tennessee, on the other hand is going with Matt Hasselbeck at QB. Hasselbeck, behind a line that has tackles David Stewart and Michael Roos, will likely feed running back Clint Johnson a lot even if Johnson held out for a contract extension and missed a lot of time during his holdout.
Tennessee had a lot of injuries last year. I’ll take them plus the 1 1/2.

PHILADELPHIA AT ST. LOUIS
The Eagles, who are loaded this year, have owned the series going 8-1 against the spread in the two teams last nine meetings. The Rams generally struggle against NFC teams – 19-39 but they are 8-0 as dogs of less than 6 in September.
St. Louis is pegged as a team that will be much better than last year’s 7-9 record. They signed guard Harvey Dahl, wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker and backup running backs Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood. They also expect their second-round draft pick TE Lance Kendricks to provide some offense.
QB Sam Bradford was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year and with the additions teams shouldn’t be able to key on Steven Jackson, coming off his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season, as much.
The Eagles have a completely different offensive line for Michael Vick to ply his trade.  It will be interesting to see what that group will do given that C Jason Kelce is a rookie, and the RG, Kyle DeVan, has been with the team for only a couple of weeks. The left guard, Evan Mathis, had been the backup right tackle.
That looks like a tough task against against the Rams, who had 43 sacks last year. Hard to go against the Eagles, who have WRs Steve Smith, Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant but the Rams could keep this game close.

CAROLINA AT ARIZONA
Arizona is just 2-10 vs. the NFC South and 1-9 as non divisional favorites of 7 or more.
Carolina is 9-3 as dogs in road openers but they are a bad team ranked last in the NFL last year in total offense (258.4) and passing (143.1).
Kevin Kolb is Arizona’s QB and he’s a lot more than a warm body. Kolb’s arrival was enough for Larry Fitzgerald to resign and they really had it going in the pre-season.
Their rushing attack, however, is almost nonexistent.
Carolina, which starts rookie QB Cam Newton, is just 2-7 as dogs vs. teams looking for revenge; Carolina won the last meeting between the two by a score of 19-12 late last year. That was only the second of Carolina’s wins last year. And they already have offensive line injuries.
On the plus side Newton will have a lot more weapons to employ this year: DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen.
On defense they have DE Charles Johnson and MLB Jon Beason. The latter is listed as questionable as is RT Jeff Otah but both will likely start.
Taking the Cardinals.

MINNESOTA AT SAN DIEGO
Phil Rivers should be able to pick apart the Vikings, who are just 1-5-1 as road dogs, 18-32 as dogs vs. non division and just 3-9-2 away vs. the AFC West. The Chargers, on the other hand, are 7-0 as home favorites of two or more in September.
Minnesota defeated San Diego in their last meeting but that was four years ago. Still, Rivers is 12-2 Su and ATS at home with revenge.
The Chargers, which missed the playoffs despite leading the NFL in offense and winning seven of their final nine games, have two very good newcomers in LB Takeo Spikes and S Bob Sanders.
They also have a lot of their injured players from last year back to health like Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson. The offensive line is strong which should help them run the ball – something they couldn’t do last year.
Taking San Diego.
SEATTLE AT SAN FRANCISCO
Seattle, which somehow won the NFC West last year with a losing record, has to stop the 49ers running game.
But with Frank Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon that won’t be easy.
Seattle, with Tarvaris Jackson now the starting QB, is only 4-16 as dogs with revenge and 2-13 as road dogs.
The 49ers also boast a record of 9-3 straight up and 8-4 against the spread vs. divisional teams.
WR Sidney Rice and LG Robert Gallery, who were two of Seattle’s main offseason acquistions are both hurt and doubtful. Ben Obomanu will start in Rice’s place while rookie James Carpenter will replace Gallery. Rookie John Moffitt starts at RG while Breno Giacomini, who has never been a starter starts at RT.
In the series Seattle is just 1-4 in their last five visits to San Francisco.
In the last meeting the 49ers won 40-21 as Seattle turned the ball over five times.
Only 10 players on Seattle’s active roster were there just two years ago. Two big losses are Lawyer Milloy and Lofa Tatupu.
San Francisco also has made wholesale changes – losing LB Spikes, DT Abrayo Franklin and CB Nate Clements – while their secondary might be without CB Shawntae Spencer and Free safety Dashon Goldson and safety Reggie Smith which means four new starters in the secondary.
Have to go with the 49ers here.

DALLAS AT N.Y. JETS
You have to call Dallas undefeated so that makes this stat come into play: the Cowboys are just 2-13 when undefeated playing a team seeking revenge. The last time these two met was in 2007 and the Cowboys routed the Jets 34-3.
On the other hand, Dallas is 10-3 as dogs vs. an opponent seeking revenge which makes it a wash.
The Jets have a couple of things going for them but they are 0-7 as non division home favorites of 10 or less.
But then Dallas is 7-12 in their last 19 road games.
While Tony Romo is healthy after missing final 10 games of the regular season with a broken collarbone, the Jets return 10 of 11 defensive starters losing only DE Shaun Ellis.
The Cowboys already have significant injuries at cornerback – Terence Newman likely won’t play and Mike Jenkins left practice with a knee injury as did RT Tyron Smith. Both are listed as questionable.
The Cowboys offensive line is shaky and inexperienced. The RT and LG are new; Kyle Kosier moved to RG, Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode is gone as are RT Marc Colombo and RG Leonard Davis.
Dallas lost WR Roy Williams and RB Marion Barber at running back, but they still have WR Dez Bryant and running back Felix Jones.
Dallas’  biggest problem last year was defense which gave up for points (436) than anyone in the NFC.
I’ll take the 6 points and the Cowboys

NEW ENGLAND AT MIAMI
The Patriots relish the role of heavy favorites going 9-2-1 in their division when favored by four or more. They are also 10-1 as divisional road favorites. But Miami is 7-2 with divisional revenge. And the Monday night underdog is 14-3 playing a team that won at least 13 games last year.
Last year the Pats hammered Miami twice last year by scores of 38-7 and 41-14.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miami keep this one close. The Patriots defense is still suspect and while Miami lost Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown they added Reggie Bush. It will also be interesting to see how the Patriots two new additions – DT Albert Haynesworth and receiver Chad Ochocinco – fit in.
Leaning hard to taking the Dolphins and the 7 1/2 points.

OAKLAND AT DENVER
Oakland easily handled Denver in two meetings last year but it’s Broncos who are favored.
Oakland is 10-2 in divisional games. And Denver has a couple bad numbers going for them – they are 2-11-1 as home favorites; 10-25-1 in divisional games at home and 9-20-1 in any divisional game.
Denver, however, has won 11 straight home openers and their offensive line appears to be most improved while Oakland has lost nine straight openers.
But, this is a game that has a team, Denver, which couldn’t stop the run, going against the second-best rushing team last year, Oakland, which were the only NFL team to go 6-0 within their division.
Denver’s defense was terrible last year. They do get Elvis Dumervil, who was lost for the season in training camp last year, back and their first round pick Von Miller should wind up in Oakland’s backfield a lot.
The bottom line is that Oakland, which is loaded for speed, appear to be a significantly better team than Denver – their opening day records notwithstanding.
Taking Oakland plus 3.

First the built-in excuse or cop out if you prefer: I hate the opening weekend because there aren’t a lot of trends that I use.

Anyway that said, here’s what I think of Thursday’s opening night special which brings together the last two Super Bowl champions: the Green Bay Packers at home to New Orleans.

The Saints, which  held six weeks of player-run practices during the lock-out may be more ready and New Orleans is 5-1 in its last six openers. They are also 3-1 straight up and against the spread in their last four against Green Bay- the last coming in 2008 when they won 51-29 in a game which was pick’em.

But on the other side the defending Super Bowl champions has won the last seven Thursday night season-openers and the last 10 season openers period – a time frame where they are 7-2-1 against the spread.

The Packers, however, have struggled against NFC South teams going 0-7 straight up and against the spread in the last seven regular-season games. (They did beat Atlanta in the playoffs.)

The Packers won last year’s Super Bowl missing a lot of key starters as injuries mounted throughout the season.

The Saints will be without their best pass rusher, Will Smith which will make Aaron Rodgers breathe a little easier. Then again, Rodgers is one of the best at confronting blitzes anyway.

With Rodgers and Drew Brees going head to head you have to figure there are going to be a lot of points scored in this game. Both teams will probably use five DBs a lot. But getting RB Ryan Grant back – along with TE Jermichasel Finley is huge. If the Saints go looking for the pass too often Grant and James Starks will have room to run.

The same, however, can be said about the Saints with RB Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles. Even if Reggie Bush is no longer with the team.

There is no problem with the right side of the Packers O-line with RG Josh Sitton one of the best in the game. The left side, with young guard T.J. Lang is unproven.

I’m surprised the line is as high as it is – Packers by 4 and the first thought is to take the points.

I’ll have weekend picks in either later tonight or on Friday.

First,  Summer Song swooped from next-to-last place to win the $50,000 John Patrick Handicap in most impressive style to win the one-mile offering in a very crisp 1:37 2/5.  She has now won three of her four starts in Edmonton after doing the vast majority of her racing at Hastings Park in Vancouver.

Then, Embellished showed why she was last year’s two-year-old filly champion in the $50,000, six-furlong Chariot Chaser. Finding her best stride in mid stretch after making a three-wide move around the final turn,  she could be headed to the Canadian Derby if she continues to perform the way she did on Saturday winning by three parts of a length over Maegans Princess.

Maegans Princess, a former U.S. runner, is trained by Rod Cone, who also sent out the second-place finisher, Boomtown Brat in the next stake, the Ky Alta, behind Freedoms Traveller.

The latter’s win was delicious but sad irony.

On the very afternoon a rememberance was held for trainer Barry Brown, who died May 13, Freedoms Traveller, splashed through the mud to win  the first distance prep race of the year for the Canadian Derby.
“Amazing. I’m sure Barry was looking down, opened his wings and carried (Freedoms Traveller) along a little bit,” said Lianne Knechtel, Brown’s partner of 18 years and now the horse’s trainer.
“When we set the date for Barry’s rememberance I had no idea that the Ky Alta was on, or that Freedoms Traveller would be in the race.
“Barry always really liked this horse but he had to prove he belonged first.”

Freedoms Traveller proved at least two things on Saturday. He won’t need to bring along his own track – he has won in the slop, ran a bang-up second in last year’s Canadian Juvenile and now in the mud. And it looks like he will relish the Derby’s mile and three-eighths.

“He’s by Peacenfreedom, whose prodigy love to run long,” said Knechtel. “But I guess I’ll have to have a chat with Barry.
“Until now I wasn’t even thinking about the (Aug. 20)  Derby,” Knechtel said wiping a warm tear away.

It wasn’t even the win that surprised me. Or the score. Well, yeah, the score surprised me too.

But what really had me impressed was Edmonton’s offensive line.

Offensive linemen are the guys that seldom get noticed – unless it’s when they keep getting run over and look like circus bears on roller skates.  They don’t appear on the stats sheets. All they do is win or lose a game.

Seriously. The offensive line is where everything starts when a team has the ball. You can have Peyton Manning stand back there but if he’s constantly getting harassed, knocked down or tackled then he isn’t going to be able to deliver either.

Sunday, the O-line wasn’t the one the Eskimos even counted on having start.

Offensive  tackle/guard Cliff Washburn was supposed to start but he broke his hand. Offensive tackle Jeremy Parquet was supposed to start but he had a concussion. Brian Ramsay was also injured.

So the Eskimos essentially went back to the future.

Aaron Fiacconi played centre again,  Patrick Kabongo was at left guard. Kyle Koch was back at right guard and Greg Wojt was back at right tackle. The only newcomer was left tackle Junius Coston, who was acquired from the Calgary Stampeders and who, like the other four, played a whale of a game. Coston replaced Parquet.

At that point I think I would have bet the house that Ray was going to be running for his life again.

It drove me crazy last year when everyone and his dog wanted to blame everything on Ricky Ray. But when your favorite play call is either ‘Duck,’ or ‘Run Ricky Run…’

Now the question is what happens when Washburn, Parquet and Ramsay return from injuries? After the way the others played, how do you make a change?

Not after that kind of an effort.

Of course it’s only one win in one game. But, like I said, they surprised the hell out of me.

First, Sherwood Park-owned Inglorious won the Queen’s Plate for owners Vern and Donna Dubinsky. Then Sherwood Park’s Danny Sahl finally broke through and won the Canadian Tour’s Syncrude Boreal Open in Fort McMurray.

Inglorious, the only filly in the field came flying down the stretch to win by two and a half lengths. Another Alberta horse, Pender Harbour, owned by Edmontonians Bob and Roberta Giffin, Denny Andrews and Sandra Lazaruk, finished third.

Inglorious won $600,000. Sahl won $24,000.

There’s no question that the biggest surprise was Sahl, who won his first Canadian Tour event in 80 attempts.

“It was all about perservence. I never gave up on myself,” said Sahl, 32, who is probably the best junior golfer the Edmonton area has ever produced.
“I kept believing in myself. I knew it was going to happen; I just didn’t know when.”

Inglorious, on the other hand, was the 9-2 third favorite which was a huge overlay considering how she had just captured the Woodbine Oaks and that 34 fillies have now won Canada’s most famous horse race.

“It’s amazing isn’t it?” said Vern Dubinsky, who owns a trucking company, V.D.M. Trucking, which hauls oil rigs.
“I’m thrilled to death… It’s just like a dream. I’m not sure I believe it yet.”

I’m sure Sahl is thinking the same thing. Sahl had all the tools. He was Edmonton’s best junior and had gone to Kent State with the likes of Jon Mills, British Open winner Ben Curtis and Sunday’s runner-up Dustin Risdon.

Congratulations to all.  Except Northlands which I understand didn’t even hold horse racing on the biggest day of the year for Canadian horse racing but instead held some kind of motocross racing.

I’m sure the track will be just lovely tomorrow.

What kind of people are disposed to desecrating, destroying and defiling anything?

Which brings me, of course, to the aftermath of Wednesday night’s Game 7 between the Canucks and Bruins when thousands of people went on a rampage in downtown Vancouver.

What kind of perverse joy can ruining something bring? So you overturn a few cars and then people take turns demolishing them. And that’s fun?

Why? How?

Alcohol undoubtedly had a big part to do with it.

But did any of it ‘really’ have to do with Vancouver’s loss. Was it Canuck ‘fans’ that decided to go berserk all at once?

I doubt it.

I also doubt the constant, continual referral to the rioters as ‘fans.’

Or Vancouver’s police chief wording ‘anarchists.’ I doubt that’s even in the ball park here.

Would it have happened even if Vancouver had won?

I believe so. I believe that hundreds of people gathered knowing they were going to break store windows and then go on a looting rampage. I believe these same people came downtown fully expecting a riot. As someone mentioned it’s not as if the rioters and fools went home to get their molotov cocktails. They brought them with them. Ready for what they expected.

But, again, why?

I can understand a lot of things but this is one that has me completely baffled.

And I seriously doubt that they were ‘fans.’

More likely they were just idiots and fools spurred on by classic mob behaviour: egged on by others.

Hopefully there are enough photos and video to help identify the biggest fools.

Not so long ago, someone appeared to have ‘keyed’ my car. What joy can that possibly bring? What dark happiness or comfort can that possibly deliver.

Political riots I get. Riots over business malpractices I can understand. Rioting over something worthwhile, I can appreciate.

But your hockey team lost? And that’s a reason to riot? You got me there. But, again, I doubt it was real hockey fans. Just a bunch of kooks whose lives are obviously seriously debased.

Hopefully they catch some of them.

Unfortunately, sports and riots have always been close bedfellows. Edmonton saw it in 2006. Vancouver saw it in 1994. Soccer constantly has them.

But it still doesn’t explain one question. Why?

One guy wrote a poem which included the lines:

“For me the toughest part of all

Is managing just to hit the ball.

It doesn’t have to go a mile -

I’d be pleased with contact once in a while!”

Many said they stop counting after they get to 10 strokes. Even on Par 3s. Others said they had shot par for 18 holes…. after playing only nine. Some claimed scores of 150 and more. One said she can’t break 200. And that was without counting all the whiffs and the occasional foot wedges.

Another wrote that he rarely gets to play 18 holes because it gets too dark. Someone else said “Congratulations. Your search is over… I can throw the ball farther than I can swing it.”

Two said they managed to hit the ball backwards.

Others talked about how many golf balls they lose in a typical round. One person said he lost 20. In 11 holes. “Thank God it started to pour or it could have been a very expensive afternoon,” he wrote.

So, it’s tough slugging trying to come up with the winner. We do, however, have the list thinned down to 17. If you are one of the ‘lucky’ ones then you will be getting a follow-up e-mail asking for more information shortly. By next week we will have the list down to three and we will have those three people have their swings video-taped. For laughs as much as anything.

And then, finally, we’ll be able to announce the winner. Or is that the ‘loser?’

Stand in line, it’s looking like we have a lot of them. I’ve already received dozens and dozens of e-mails from golfers not afraid to wear that mantle.

I got one email from a woman who said she has only made one par in her life.

I got another email from someone who said their friends won’t let them play with them anymore. ” No one will golf with me anymore, not even 10yr old nephew. If I ever try to finish a hole it can be 15 to 20 strokes. “

Another e-mail was from a guy who said he swings like Happy Gilmour. Another said his swing looked like he was chopping wood.

Break 100? Most of these people would like to break 110. Or even 120.

That’s bad.

The problem is going to be deciding who is the worst of the worst.

Worm burners – seldom able to even get the ball airborne. Especially on chip shots.

They know every piece of forest. They are in the woods so much they are on a name-by-name basis with the trees.

One person said he wasn’t just the worst golfer in Edmonton but in Alberta. Someone else topped that saying they had to be the worst golfer in Canada.

Another wrote to say they can’t hit the ball more than 100 yards.

Another e-mailed ” Does the number 10 come into play?  That’s my score almost every time, even on the par 3’s.  Enough said.”

“I can’t seem to stop loosing at least 8 balls every time I go out on a par three Course,” read another e-mail On a Par 3 course? Now that’s bad.

The winner is going to receive free lessons for the summer from one of Canada’s top golf instructors, Cam Martens of the Windermere golf course.

“I once played at a golf range and my  hit an oncoming car on the other side of the highway while practicing – is there anything more awful than that! Please I need some golf lessons so that I can be allowed to play golf in a golf club and not be a danger to other people on the road and elsewhere in the community either walking or playing… It really sucks to be me!”

Or how about this poor soul: ” Last summer I shot par for 18 at Legends, the issue was I only did nine holes. “

This was a good one too: “

Once I had a amazing drive of the tee;

The beer cart girl was about 5feet to my left and 5feet ahead of me.

I lined up my drive, smiled at the girl and took my most impressive swing

The drive was shanked hard left, just missed the rear bar on the beer cart, just missed the girls head and went right

threw the windshield. “

How about someone who said he hit a drive that went backwards!?

” I can throw the ball farther than I can swing it,” wrote another.

Anyway, you get the idea. So if you think you can top these stories email me at cstock@edmontonjournal.com.

You just might win the title of Edmonton’s worst golfer. And then we’ll see if Martens can work his magic as we follow your story through the summer in The Journal.

I left Edmonton this past Friday for what was supposed to be a round at each of Kananaskis Country’s  award-winning courses and then a third at one of my favorite courses anywhere, Stewart Creek. The sun was shining. I was meeting three friends I went to junior high, high school and university with in Calgary. What could go wrong?

Then the phone rang.

“Bad news,” said Cam. “It’s snowing in Kananaskis.”

Again, I thought. Can’t be. End of May. Almost June and snowed out.

“Worse news,” said Cam. Kananaskis is closed. They got six inches of snow.”

Now what?

This is the fourth time I’ve tried to play Kananaskis in the last several years. Only once did I succeed. The other three times it was either snow or rain that closed the course.

“You want more bad news?” said Cam.

More? Was this one of those good news/bad news jokes.

“No joke. Stewart Creek got snow too.”

The boys, however, were still going to show up at Canmore where Cam has a condo on the 3rd hole at Stewart Creek. At least we could still have a few pops and reminiss about the good old days.

But something amazing happened. In between Kananaskis and Stewart Creek there’s a course called Brewster’s Ranch. Remarkably, even though the Ranch is only a couple of good 3-irons from Kananaskis there was no snow.

Better, the greens and fairways were fantastic. It’s a bit of a quirky little course with 260-yard Par 3s including one that’s a dogleg right. But there are some very nice holes too.

Tight though. Like Sundre tight with tree-lined narrow fairways. Hit it straight or take at least a bogey. At least.

So we played there on Saturday and afterwards played tennis in Canmore where the snow had all melted and it was even warm enough to wear shorts.

Unfortunately, the tennis results were no different and I think John the Miller and I now owe Cam and Al 15,000 beers. Or something like that. It goes back to all-night tennis sessions we used to play under the lights in Calgary and bet cases of beer on the outcomes.

Cam and Al got better. We seem to have gotten worse.

Then we went back to the condo and watched the snow melt. Which, remarkably, it did letting us play Stewart Creek on Sunday morning.

As usual, fantastic.

Kananaskis, on the other hand, remains a mystery.

One of these days…. Or, more likely, one of these years….

If I wasn’t there I’d be at Northlands where they are throwing a party in the Playbook Lounge. If the opening kickoff is returned for a touchdown somebody wins $50,000. If the second half kickoff is returned for a TD someone wins $25,000. Not bad odds.

As for the Big Brothers & Sisters Part at the Showhome located at 108 Balmoral Cove in Sherwood Park, Edmonton Eskimo receiver Kamau Peterson will be hosting the event. Tickets are $25 for one or $100 for 10, $200 gets you 30 tickets.

I used to be a a Big Brother. My wife was a Big Sister. It’s a great cause.

The website is is www.bigbrothershomelottery.org

 Researchers have found that after just 18 months of spending time with their ‘Bigs’, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters – compared to those children not in the program – were:

 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

27% less likely to begin using alcohol

52% less likely to skip school

37% less likely to skip a class

33% less likely to hit someone

They also found that the Littles were more confident of their performance in schoolwork and getting along better with their families.