Quick hits.

When is a hockey tournament not a hockey tournament? When it's hosted by Maine and has a field of the host, Quinnipiac, Lake Superior, and New Brunswick. That's right, the mighty Varsity Reds of the University of New Brunswick. Look, I know a lot of schools have exhibition games against Canadian universities, but in a tournament? Come on!

And it's not like Quinnipiac or Lake State are blowing anyone away. Quinippiac may be the cream of the MAAC, but that still puts them at roughly the same level as UMass. Maybe Providence. And Lake State's only felt the sweet caress of a winning record twice since Jeff Jackson left the school after the 95-96 season.

Let's just say that the Black Bear Classic was no Lefty McFadden Invitational.

Pats Suck! Now this was the team we were all expecting last year. Just with a shorter QB.

I only hope that they spend the week off watching the Denver-Miami game film in preparation to face the Broncos. The Fins won the game by (a) running the ball- something the Pats have decided to give up on, and (b) showing some guts. Jay Fiedler finished the game with a broken thumb, for cryin' out loud! No one in Foxboro is allowed to complain until they finish a game playing with a fractured digit.

How much does it suck to be a New York sports fan? Yanks out of the playoffs, Giants lose to the Falcons, Jets lose to, well, anyone, and the Knicks may just give the 9-72 Sixers a run for their money. Rangers and Islanders are sitting on the bottom of their conference in the NHL.

You can almost hear people asking how long it is until spring training.

IRS to use debt collectors to get back taxes I know this is only going to add to the people who trumpet the IRS as the ultimate big government bully. In most cases, I'd agree with that sentiment. But there are $200 billion in uncollected taxes out there, and as someone who files regularly and pays when required, I'd like to see that money come into the coffers. We can work on all the other problems with the IRS after they get their money.

Worst Slogan Ever Sadaam Hussein is running unopposed in a presidential referendum. His campaign slogan? "Yes, yes, yes, Sadaam." Didn't Gary Bauer use that?

The Baath party is hoping to improve upon the 99.96 percent of the vote won in the last election in 1995. Perhaps they should study the Illinois returns from the 1960 presidential election.

Snoop Dog off the wacky tabacky In an interview with Access Hollywood, Snoop Dog says he's no longer smoking weed or drinking gin, but is getting high on life instead. Good for him. But will he have to give back his Stoner of the Year award?