NEW YORK – Rex Ryan, the controversial head coach of the NFL’s New York Jets, showed a flash of humility last Sunday when he decided to finally eat his words and recant on promises for a championship season. In an exclusive interview with The Flipside, Ryan tucked his napkin into his shirt and began to chow down.

“I’m the one to blame here,” Ryan said between mouthfuls. Criticism from the local media arose when, once the Jets’ playoff hopes were finished, Ryan opened the spice cabinet and brought out some salt and butter.

Gang Green’s season was officially over with a loss to the Miami Dolphins in week seventeen. “I’ve tasted da feet…I mean, defeat, before…but this was a tough one to swallow,” the coach remarked. “They…I mean, it…left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth.”

At one point in their 2011 campaign, the Jets were 8-5 and on the cusp of being one of the NFL’s elite. Unfortunately for them, Ryan was on that cusp with them, and it subsequently cracked and collapsed.

Some members of the New York faithful are even blaming Ryan for throwing in the towel before the Jets were out of contention. Ryan, however, asserts he did not throw in the towel, brandishing a barbeque-and-ketchup stained napkin as he chewed his salted words: “I have it right here. Clearly not thrown in.”

“Once again, I apologize for letting down my team and the fans,” concluded Rex as he stuffed his face with three years’ worth of words. The Jets will look to wrestle their way out of adversity next year with a big 2012 season. With the 1,500 pound Ryan on their side, it’s tough to imagine them losing.

CHICAGO – Rumors began circulating today that the NBA lockout may soon be lifted, reminding fans across the nation that professional basketball still exists. If the meetings between league officials and the players’ union continue to progress, the 2161-2162 season will be salvaged and NBA games will take place for the first time in 150 years.

The lockout began in 2011 and was expected to last for a few months. However, talks broke down between the two sides, and season after season was canceled, forcing players to look elsewhere for employment. Many got jobs as high-school basketball coaches, others were hired to “reach shit on the top shelf.” LeBron James, the league’s most prominent and polarizing star at the time of the lockout, shocked the country when he decided to attend Northwestern University as an undergraduate in the fall of 2030; he claimed to have chosen the school because “it didn’t have a fourth quarter.”

With all of these players passing away decades ago, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would really care about the NBA. Media analysts say that even if the league makes its return this winter, it will have a tough time competing with major-market sports like hover-NASCAR.

Still, legal representatives of both the players and the league will meet again today to discuss things like a minimum salary for robots and dunking on zero-gravity courts. “It’s nice to see everyone cooperating and working towards bringing professional basketball back on top,” said NBA Hall-of-Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who’s still alive for some reason.

In related news, Brett Favre spoke to reporters Monday about another potential NFL comeback. The 192 year-old Pro Bowl quarterback recently retired for the 40th time.

EVANSTON – Northwestern students are eagerly anticipating the annual Money, Food and Clothes Weekend, which will take place this year from November 11-13.

The money, food and clothes will be flying and driving from all around the country, some even traveling overseas to reach campus.  The money, food and clothes will accompany students to this weekend’s home football game against Rice; a few commodities will sit in on Friday afternoon lectures.  These valuables will also ask their students if they have been wearing their winter coats and if they have been eating well.  Some may take it a step further and clean up dorm rooms, even asking to meet with a professor or a dean.

The money, food and clothes will be invading local hotels over the next few days, and will undoubtedly introduce themselves to other students’ money, food and clothes.

“It’s gonna be a great weekend,” said Weinberg freshman Clarence MacMillan.  ”I’m definitely stoked for the food; a nice meal in town beats eating at Plex again.”

Not everyone is in good spirits, though. Sentiments like “I specifically went to college to get away from them!” and  ”Yeah, I miss my money, food and clothes, but can’t I just see them over winter break?!” have been overheard around the university.  

As Medill sophomore Erica Meyers put it, “I’m poor, I’m hungry, and I’m cold, but that doesn’t mean I want to hear another story about what Greek life was like thirty years ago.”

Still, the general consensus around Northwestern is that Money, Food and Clothes Weekend will be welcomed with open arms.  University President Morty Schapiro may have summed it up best when he noted that, “Sure, they can be annoying sometimes, but the bottom line is, it will be nice to see them. You love your money, food and clothes!”

CHICAGO – Clarence MacMillan, a member of the class of 2015, tried to complete last week’s Chicago marathon while dancing. The Weinberg freshman was seen fist-bumping and electric-sliding his way through the first two miles before a fellow contestant explained about what a complete asshole he looked like.

“Everyone on Facebook was talking about signing up for Dance Marathon, I thought I would give it a shot,” he said. “They mentioned something about thirty hours, and like, come on bro, I knew I could easily beat that time.”

MacMillan’s friends noticed that something was unusual about his preparation the night before the race when instead of fueling up on carbs and getting his gear ready he begged them to “teach him how to Dougie.” Other runners were similarly confused when Clarence began practicing the Macarena in the designated stretching area. One participant in line for water even overheard the freshman asking for a six-pack of Busch Light, saying, “Come on, guys don’t dance sober!”

Adler began the marathon by awkwardly moving his feet and bobbing his head, the go-to mating call of seventh-grade boys. He proceeded to do the jerk, Cotton-Eye Joe and kick-line for ten minutes. About a quarter-mile in, MacMillan casted an invisible fishing rod, attempting to reel in a bystanding girl on the sidewalk.

Eventually, the Northwestern student was stopped by a fellow runner, Chicago resident Brian Burbank. After the situation was explained, MacMillan blushed and walked away, ending his valiant effort.

“Suuuuuuuch a freshman,” Burbank remarked.  

BOSTON – Major League Baseball’s investigation of the New York Yankees has finally concluded, with the official report ruling that the Bronx Bombers are still total douchebags.

This examination came at the request of the Red Sox, who would not stop bitching about their historic September collapse.  Believing that the Yanks fixed their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, team representatives sent a formal request to commissioner Bud Selig, who was pleasantly surprised to learn that the playoffs had started.

Tensions were running high throughout all of last week. Following the Yankees/Rays game, Boston general manager Theo Epstein spoke out, bringing allegations of under-the-table dealings on the part of the New York management.

“They clearly threw the game. That was such a dick move,” Epstein remarked.

Northwestern alumnus and Yankees skipper Joe Girardi was quick to counter the accusation, explaining to reporters that he was simply honoring New York’s “proud century-old tradition of selfish assholery.”

“I wasn’t raised to fix games! It’s not in my DNA!” said Girardi. “We were a lock for the playoffs, so we stopped playing our stars. By God, when the Yankees fuck Boston over, we fuck ‘em over right,” he said.

The results of the investigation were released publicly last night.  Upon hearing that Boston planned to appeal the decision, Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez addressed the media.  “Sucks to suck!” the once-relevant infielder shouted.

When asked who should be responsible for the nightmarish end to the season, Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia spoke to the press from a high-chair.  Pedroia said, “you’ve gotta tip your cap to those guys, this team will definitely bounce back, it is what it is,” and other annoying baseball cliches. Sources say the All-Star second baseman had been drinking since the third inning.

The investigation also exposed a shocking new development to sports fans across the country: For the first time in decades, the Baltimore Orioles have been demonstrated by field researchers to actually exist when baseball matters. In response to learning this, Orioles’ slugger Nick Markakis said, “Wait, seriously?! Who would’ve thought?”