This is a trick question, of course.  Thanks to dark threats of relocation, NFL owners have extorted billions from cities, counties, and states for publicly subsidized but privately owned stadiums.  Some of them even made money selling naming rights to financial institutions that will be eating at Hank Paulson’s Bailout BBQ & Diner, so in essence they’ve found a way to get taxpayer money in several directions.

But I digress.  The NFL Channel, the league’s effort to keep all of those advertising dollars to itself, has a monopoly on Thursday night football, and tonight’s game selection will give you an idea of how well they’ve managed to turn this into a showcase for the league.  They have the Oakland Raiders squaring off against the San Diego Chargers, two teams that between them have seven wins all season and no hope of competing for a playoff spot.  Last week, the NFL served up three turkeys on Thanksgiving.   The week before, they scheduled the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers against the hapless Cincinatti Bengals.

They’ve just started the second quarter, and the Chargers are up 17-0, thanks to a Raiders fumble to set up one TD and a Raiders personal foul to keep another TD drive alive. Exciting!

Next week?  The 6-6 New Orleans Saints play the 6-6 Chicago Bears.  Maybe we’ll see a 6-6 tie.