Meeting My Uncle Again

I met my uncle for the first time since 2002 in the early hours of this morning.

I genuinely cannot recall a time, since he passed away in 2003, when I've dreamt about him. 

He was selling vacuum cleaners of all things. Not exactly. He was actually selling videos (video cassettes at that!) showing his technique of selling vacuums.

Just like in real life, he gave me some sound advice. I know it was all my subconscious creating the dream, but I choose to believe he really did come to see me.

It sure was good to catch up with him.

A £1 Punt (For One Reason, And One Reason Only)

I was just looking through my emails and came across one from Bet365 for today's NFL games.

They were offering some special prices for the Colts versus Commanders from Tottenham, which kicks off at 2:30pm BST. 

One stood out only because of what they called the bet builder.

It's Daniel Jones themed and requires the following:

1. Indianapolis to win straight up
2. Jones to have 275+ passing yards
3. Jones 3+ passing touchdowns

They're offering 10/1.

I like two of the three. However, they've named it 'Indiana Jones' and - seeing as I'm wearing my Daniel Jones 'Indiana Jones' t-shirt today - I am obliged to whack £1 on. 

Only £1!

The selection I can't see coming in is number three. There's guaranteed to be some rushing touchdowns - for both sides - on today's play sheets. 

Colts -4 Against The Commanders - Has It Lost Value?

I see the Indianapolis Colts are now four-point favourites to beat the Washington Commanders when they meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

That's a big drop considering the designated visiting team (they're both visitors imo!) were written up as +1.5 road dogs when early lines were published in May.

Checking in with what I wrote in Taylor's Pro Football Gambling Annual, if I had a fiver to bet on this game right now, I'd pass.

The previous eight meetings clearly favoured the Colts straight up. They have a win-loss of 5-3 (63%) in that category. They would have been a perfect punt as +1.5 dogs. Now, as four-point chalk? Not so much.

Value gone.

The last time the Colts played in London

I also have a dreadful memory of the last time Indianapolis played in London. I had them backed as a pick 'em against the Jaguars.

The Wembley Stadium game, which 'celebrated' its tenth anniversary yesterday, ended with Jacksonville 30-27 winners. 

It's safe to conclude with one assurance: I'm not taking the Colts. With that said, I don't find Washington +4 an appealing counter.

Daniels ruled out for London clash

Commanders' quarterback, Jayden Daniels, has been ruled out for a second straight week after dislocating his elbow against Dallas in Week 2.

A Marcus Mariota led Commanders upset the current Super Bowl champions last weekend. The 33-31 win over the Seahawks saw Washington +8.5 cover in the Beat the Champs betting angle. However, per the very same system, this week's game places the Commanders in the fade/come down spot.

For a more extensive look at this weekend's slate of games, and every other game for the remainder of the 2026 season, check out Taylor's Pro Football Gambling Annual.

Tomorrow's College Games (Updated)

Barring a late miracle, which is me deciding to ante up to buy a DAZN NCAA Football subscription,  I won't be able to catch the Oklahoma Sooners' visit to the Texas Longhorns tomorrow.

I've checked the menu of games available to Disney Plus customers and it's not on there.

That's a shame, I would have enjoyed being able to watch that game at 8:30pm BST. It would have been perfect because I will, for the first time this season, get to watch Notre Dame. Their game begins at 5pm for me.

The Fighting Irish, who are ranked third, head to North Carolina to take on Bill Belichick's Tar Heels. 

I've checked out the spread and total for the match I plan to watch. The visitors are -21.5 favourites. Those looking to bet on the Over-Under will find the totals line set at 46.5.

After last week's mess up, I don't intend to use the spreadsheet to place any bets. In fact, I don't intend to place any wagers at all. 

3/10 UPDATE - I was listening to a radio show last night and they mentioned Texas is on a bye this week. The Oklahoma game is on October 10th. First, what a rookie mistake by yours truly to not look at the dates when I asked Google for the next Texas game. Second, I’ll keep an eye on the Disney Plus menu for next week’s slate. I could very well get to see this one after all. Albeit a week later than I expected ha!

"Isn't It Too Early For Greggs Festive Bakes?"

I was browsing the news this morning, and came across an article about Greggs' Christmas menu.

'BAKE OFF,' exclaimed the article's headline. 'Greggs reveals Christmas menu launching TODAY - as it brings back pigs in blankets'.

Isn't it too early for Greggs Festive Bakes?

That was my thought upon seeing the teasing headline and its deck. After all, it is October 1st. Greggs usually brings out the main part of its Christmas special shortly after Halloween. Or am I mistaken?

Turns out my guess was correct. There seems to only be a limited amount of Christmas items launched today. Most are of the sweet variety. As the news website pointed out - there are pots of pigs in blankets available for those looking for a Greggs snack.

Something stood out in my browse through today's updated menu.

New to this year's range is a Sweet Mince Pie Roll.

Inside Greggs' Sweet Mince Pie Roll

The product contains 'sweet mincemeat, made from vine fruits, Bramley apples and candied orange and lemon peel' inside puffed pastry dusted with icing sugar.

I bought one shortly after reading the article. Mine was really nice. It slightly reminds me of McDonald's Festive Pie, but felt more decadent even if it doesn't have custard inside.

It's something I will try again whenever I next buy lunch (or dinner!) from Greggs. I suppose that'll be whenever the company brings out the Festive Bake for Christmas 2026.

Other items on Greggs' early Christmas menu

As well as the Sweet Mince Pie Roll and pot of pigs in blankets, Greggs customers can also find mince pies, Christmas fruit cake slices and caramel shortbreads on the Christmas range.

They've joined some of the products available for the Halloween and November 5th seasons. For example, there's a pumpkin-shaped chocolate biscuit and 'Bonfire Toffee' muffins. 

Another Wrestling Question On Pointless

'They had a question about your wrestlers on Pointless this evening'

That was what one of my friends told me last night. I had to investigate immediately.

As I suspect some are aware, but some might not be, Pointless is a weekday evening game show on BBC One. The best way I can describe it is it's like a reverse Family Feud/Fortunes in that one hundred people have been asked the same questions. The aim in Pointless is for the quizzers to give answers that score the lowest amount of points. That's either by giving an answer not many of the 100 polled have given or - even better - a response no one has offered. The latter would be  'pointless'.

The couple who make it to the final round then get to answer a final question and hope that one of their three responses is pointless.

Pointless' WrestleMania-themed Question

Last night's finalists were given a choice of answering a question about 'Wrestling'. One of the categories was 'WrestleMania Main Eventers'. They had to give three names of people who starred in the closing match of any of the past forty-one WrestleManias. For what it's worth, and it is worth a lot to me (but that's another story!), they could have given any of the names who have headlined the Saturday night cards of two-night Manias. 

After conferring for their allotted one minute, the ladies opted to go with Jake Paul, The Undertaker and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin as their three answers.

Jake Paul was an incorrect answer because he has never main evented a WrestleMania. Neither has his brother, Logan, who is the WWE star in the family.

The Undertaker, regarded as one of the main characters in WrestleMania history due to his lengthy undefeated streak, was not a pointless answer. Eleven members of the panel knew him.

Of the three names given, and considering he's arguably one of the biggest names in modern wrestling history, I expected Steve Austin to get the majority of points. Surprisingly, only one of the one hundred pollsters gave Austin as an answer.

ONE!!

As the contestants were making their selections, I wrote three answers of my own down. I went with Mr T (headlined the first WrestleMania alongside Hulk Hogan against 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff), Sid Justice (main evented WrestleMania VIII and XIII) and 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted Dibiase (WrestleMania IV).

Some WrestleMania-themed Pointless Answers

Once we knew the contestants had failed to find a pointless answer, Michael Ball - who was sat in the researchers' seat (or whatever it's called!) - showed a few of the pointless answers on the screen. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III), Becky Lynch (WrestleMania XXXV), Kurt Angle (WrestleMania XIX) and Shawn Michaels (WrestleManias XII, XIV, XX and XXIII) were highlighted. However, Ball ran off a list of other names like Bianca Belair (Saturday of Mania XXXVII) and Ronda Rousey (WrestleMania XXXV). He also named all three of my selections and botched the pronunciation of 'Dibiase' as he did so. Fair. I'm sure I would have done the same had that name been new to me.

Wrestling questions have featured on Pointless a few times over the years. Most have been resulted in a lot of British wrestlers from history being acknowledged. 

The only Brit who would have been a correct answer, for last night's question, would have been Drew McIntyre. 

The Scot was in the main event of WrestleMania XXXVI, which was held inside WWE's Performance Center during the Pandemic. McIntyre won the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar in the main event but also defended the strap, with a win over The Big Show, in a dark match immediately afterwards.

Curiosity has me wondering if McIntyre was a pointless answer or not. That's something I'm going to try and find out.

Stay tuned.

More About Pac

I'm watching last night's episode of WWE Raw as I write this post. It opened with a graphic of Pac (Benjamin Satterley), who wrestled for the company - under the alias of Adrian Neville - during the mid-to-late 2010s.

More news of the death came out last night. Pac was found parked up in his rental car outside a restaurant in Illinois close to O'Hare Airport. 

Law enforcement suggests there was no indication of foul play or trauma and the death didn't appear suspicious. 

William Regal's tribute to Pac

One of the things which struck me over the past day and a bit was a post William Regal wrote on TAFKA Twitter a fortnight ago. I had read it initially, but the words were far from my mind yesterday morning when I wrote the post.

Regal took to the social media platform to say he was on a plane returning home from Mexico and happened to have bumped into Pac on the journey.

The former pro wrestler, who now works in a senior role at WWE, had glowing words for Satterley. It stood out to me back when I first read it because Regal was writing about a person who worked for the opposition.

That, itself, should explain just how much of an impact Pac had with people both inside and looking in on the pro wrestling business.

Other words about Pac

There were so many posts and tributes written about Pac yesterday. I thought Newcastle United showed class by offering condolences. However, the words which really made me smile came from AEW referee - Bryce Remsburg - who wrote the following:

It was cool to read of Pac giving Newcastle United shirts to Remsburg's children (the photo evidence appeared in the post). I also found it brilliant that Pac gave those kids Kinder Eggs.

For those who don't know, Kinder Surprise is banned in the USA due to a 1938 law which prohibits non-edible products being concealed inside confectionary products.

I've been aware of that silly law for quite a while. Realising Pac was a Kinder smuggler brought a chuckle at this unhappy time.