In this corner, the Swami - yeah! In the other corner, the Guest Picker - boo! Or is that moo? Scott Coyle squares off against Swami today as the NFL season gets good. There' s no month like December, when some teams pucker and others kiss the playoff invitation which accompanies winning football.

But back to Coyle, a Temecula resident and sports fanatic. What caught the Swami's eye when sorting through the mountain of Guest Picker resumes was Coyle' s love of cows.

Or, at least their milk.

Back in the day - way back - Coyle was a milk man. Kids, ask you parents.

Coyle, 55, once plopped glass bottles of fresh milk each morning on doorsteps throughout San Diego. Among his customers was the Chargers' No. 21.

Kids, again, ask you parents.

Before the All-Everything LaDainian Tomlinson, standout quarterback John Hadl wore No. 21 with class and distinction.

"I had just got the job in 1972 and I went soliciting and sold his wife on the milk," Coyle said. "I brought them a quart of milk and said if John started drinking our milk, next year he would be something special. She laughed at that." The next year? The Rams were chucking as they acquired Hadl in the offseason and he threw 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in a Pro Bowl season.

Uh-oh. Why is the Swami, with his salt-and-pepper mustache, getting worried going against a guy with a milk mustache? Might he take a chug and start clicking like Hadl.

These days Coyle sells insurance to contractors or puts out contracts on insurance agents - Swami got bored with that part of his story. He rather have a good cry over Coyle and his spilled milk duringthat 30-year career.

WhatCoyle really likes doing is spending time with his six grandsons.

On Saturday, Coyle was in Laughlin, Nevada with the other blue-hair wonders to watch his grandson, Preston, 11, play quarterback for the Pee Wee Murrieta Razorhawks in the River Bowl against the Phoenix Sun Devils.

Preston scored the Razorhawks' lone touchdown in a 7-6 win - thank goodness that game doesn't count as Swami had some inside information to go with the Sun Devils.

"They have been more fun to watch than the Chargers and their offense is much more potent," Coyle said of the Razorhawks.

"Hopefully, the Chargers can get it right in Kansas City where they win about as often at the Aztecs get invited to a bowl game." Bowl, milk - hey, where's the cereal? Because his grandsons call Coyle "Pops", make that a bowl of Sugar Pops.

Nothing would be sweeter than making the milk man sour. So quit skimming the rest of the sports page and check out these picks:

- Chargers at Chiefs: (Chargers; Pops picks Chargers). Be careful of those tackles by Downfield Donnie!

- Falcons at Rams: (Rams; Pops picks Rams). Hopefully Hadl left behind a bottle of Pops' milk.

- Bills at Redskins: (Bills; Pops picks Redskins). With all the distractions, how will Redskins respond?

- Lions at Vikings: (Lions; Pops picks Vikings). Boss saw Pops' pick and now orders milk through him.

- Texans at Titans: (Titans; Pops picks Titans). Clash of the Titans? Far from it.

- Jaguars at Colts: (Jaguars; Pops picks Colts). Swami smells an upset? Or is that Pops' old milk bottles?

- Jets at Dolphins: (Dolphins; Pops picks Dolphins). Oh, thank heaven when they become 1-11.

- Seahawks at Eagles: (Seahawks; Pops picks Seahawks). Philly's moral victory from last week leads to a defeat this week.

- 49ers at Panthers: (Panthers; Pops picks Panthers). That seven-game home losing streak won't reach eight.

- Buccaneers at Saints: (Buccaneers; Pops picks Saints). Garcia's balky back, though, has Swami concerned.

- Browns at Cardinals: (Browns; Pops picks Cardinals). Tough call here - go with the kid Anderson over the elder Warner.

- Broncos at Raiders: (Broncos; Pops picks Broncos) . Coach Shanahan's hatred of the Broncos rivaled Schottenheimer's.

- Giants at Bears: (Giants; Pops picks Giants). Manning needs to rebound or answer to another last name.

- Bengals at Steelers: (Steelers; Pops picks Steelers). Oceanside High's field in better shape than Heinz Field.

- Patriots at Ravens: (Patriots; Pops picks Patriots). No doubting Thomas is eager to wallop old team.

- Swami: (Last week 9-4; overall 104-66); Guest Picker George Cordry: (8-5; GPs overall 102-68).