Trash-talking is an integral part of the sports experience, both as a participant and a fan. Some people would prefer that people just shut up and play the game. Let me go on record as saying that those same people probably think that curling is an excellent spectator sport. Curling is boring as hell, and sports would be much less awesome without trash-talking.

In the final week of the 2006 NFL regular season, the Detroit Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys 39-31. Lions quarterback Jon Kitna – who probably should have known better than to talk trash about anyone since he is an employee of the most pitiful North American pro sports franchise of the past decade – took the opportunity to disparage the ability of Cowboys defenders Bradie James and Terence Newman.

In a Seattle radio interview after that game, Kitna said, "We didn't feel like their interior linebackers were very effective. There were some times that we were watching on film before we played Dallas that we really felt like No. 56 ... sometimes I don't know that he knew where he was at." He also claimed that Newman wasn't as talented as Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant.

Bradie James was the "No. 56" that Kitna referred to, and he didn't forget the remarks. "I don't know him and don't want to know him, but he's going to get to know me," James said earlier this week. "He talked like we weren't ever going to play them again. We're going to be ready."

As for Newman, his response has been somewhat bolder and is the main reason I'll be watching the Lions-Cowboys rematch on Sunday: "Basically, what it boils down to is you've got to watch what you say. Your mouth can't write checks that your ass can't cash ... He better just hope I don't blitz off the edge because I've got 15, 25, 30 (thousand dollars) however much it would be for a fine. I've got that much for one fine. Revenge will be sweet, definitely."

Kitna is well-known as a devout Christian, so he might want to pray for some angelic blockers to protect his back this Sunday. As for how I think the game will turn out, this seems like a good time to quote Mr. T's character, Clubber Lang, from Rocky III. "Prediction? Pain."

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