St. Louis Sports Online

---

Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 note new time: (7:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) E-mail Mike at: hussonwgnu@aol.com

For sixteen straight nights, television viewers across the fruited plain have watched the annoying Regis Philbin give away the American Broadcasting Company's money to any individual who can correctly identify fifteen trivial facts on the game show "Who wants to be a Millionaire?".

My wife and I have also been viewing this phenomenon. We play the game at home blurt out the answers in the comfort of our living room. OK, we're hooked!

But, suppose for a moment, I would be a contestant on the show when it debuted last summer. After correctly identifying responses in the categories of nursery rhymes, rock and roll music, and old time television, Regis would ask me a sports question.

Confidently, I hear the question: "How many games will the St. Louis Rams win in their 1999 National Football League Regular Season?"

"Is it A-4 , B-5, C-6, or D-at least 8?"

I look Kathy Lee's partner straight in the eye and confidently say: "C-6 Games".

Final Answer? Yes!!

Well, you know what happens next: I go home with a supply of Rice-A-Roni, a case of Turtle Wax, and Regis second-guessing me that I should have used a LifeLine!! (Not to mention a long cold stare from my wife!)

Such is the saga of our home NFL football team. 1999 is an oddity for our Male Sheep. They will not have a losing win/loss record at the end of the season.

Not only that, if the proper set of circumstances fall into place this Sunday, the Rams could clinch the NFC Western Division Championship. At this writing, St. Louis has a two game lead for the best overall record in the conference.

These miraculous circumstances occurred, in large part, because of the Rams win in San Francisco in week eleven of the season. With that win, the Rams swept the 1999 series with the Niners.

When was the last time this occurred? Jimmy Carter was the President. Disco was the dance rage. Leisure Suits were available. Rocky Sickman was still an Iranian Captive. Jim Hanifan was the head coach of the Football Cardinals. Lou Brock just retired

Indeed, a long, long time!

But you have to give these 1999 Rams credit. Week by week, this team has defeated their opponents. Are they weak opponents? Of course they are. But these are NFL opponents nonetheless, and those outcomes go directly to the win/loss standings.

Each week, the skeptics are waiting for the team to collapse. It has not happened yet. Hence, you have to give the Rams credit and kudos.

With this success, the Rams are obviously feeling good about themselves. But are they feeling "too good" about themselves?

Check out some of the post game comments from the Blue & Gold locker room after Sunday's West Coast win: "They're the New Ninersand I love them because they can not get it done"-Todd Lyght. He continued: "They (49ers) can keep on skidding for the rest of the season. It would be fine with us".

"You can take a lot of joy out of pounding themIt is about time for them to eat some humble pie. It was their turn"-De Marco Farr.

"Get used to it"-Ray Agnew

During the game, Future Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Jerry Rice was taunted and trashed talked by far from adequate Defensive Back Dexter McCleon.

Sorry, guys, but I am going to have to step away from this verbal celebration.

MEMO TO OUR ST. LOUIS NFL TEAM. Congratulations on your first ten games. You have restored the enthusiasm of professional football in St. Louis. I can only imagine that after getting pounded by the same team season after season, you have the tendency to boast and talk. I am sure that it would make you feel very good inside.

But gentlemen, you have to remember that there are many skeptics in the local audience and throughout the fruited plain that still do not believe your success. Your schedule has been very weak. Your two losses were against road teams of at least equal ability. Although you could have won each of those games, the bottom line is that you did not.

This Sunday, the New Orleans Ditkas come to town in a game that you should win. That victory would produce a winning record in 1999 and perhaps a NFC West Championship.

One word of advice: please keep any bulletin board comments to yourself. There are plenty of bandwagon members of the local media that are printing and recording every quote you make. Please do not say or do anything silly.

A year ago, I wrote an article in this space entitled "Horrible". So far, 1999 has been anything but this. But like season, we learned that time does not stand still.

Gentlemen, you have a good thing going in 1999. We all hope it continues. Hopefully, your comments and/or actions on and off the field will not jeopardize this wonderful ride.

Incidentally, that is my Final Answer.