I like listening to Mike & Mike, the ESPN show on weekday mornings. They often give their picks for upcoming football games, and do it in terms of "the odds." They talk about "the spread" and say things like, "I'll take Green Bay and give you the points." Or they'll take the points.

Here is my admission. I don't know what "the points" refers to, nor do I understand the concept of "the spread." I guess I'm just not a gamblin' man. I've never bought a lottery ticket, don't know how to play poker, and though I've "played the slots," it was a one-time thing in 1988, the only time, as an adult, I've been to Vegas.

What's more, I don't know if I WANT to know what the points and the spread are all about. All I care about is who Mike thinks will win, and who Mike thinks will win. Beyond that, they can takes the points against the spread all they want.