Yeah, the Sopranos, blah blah blah. Everybody talks about it. ‘I love it!’ ‘I hate it!’ As former Nets great Derrick Coleman once said, ‘whoop dee damn doo.’ Of course people are watching it! And of course everybody’s got their own take on how it’s going to end. I’ve heard some pretty far out things, from the notion that the newly radicalized AJ will join with the two guys that Tony reported to the fed who eats at the meat store to become a terrorist, to the possibility of Artie Bucco killing Tony with some poisoned gnocchi.

But after tonight’s episode, it’s pretty clear that the show is heading for a New Jersey versus New York bloodbath. And I gotta be honest – I have a lot riding on it. Because the story of Tony Soprano is not unlike my story in a way. The guy from Jersey, trying to co-exist with the big city across the water. Just trying to find a way for everybody to get along. But time after time he (I) get nothing but attitude and grief from NYC blowhards who think they’re God’s gift to the planet. Telling everybody how they think it is.

But now it’s NJ versus NYC, straight up. I plan on watching next week’s final episode like I’m watching a basketball game. I will be doing a dance every time one of the NY mob eats lead, and moaning whenever a Jersey mobster turfs out. I will wear my lucky hat. And so maybe Tony dies in the end. He deserves to in the big picture. But here’s to hoping he goes out in a blaze of glory, taking as many of those arrogant NY goons as possible with him Especially that one creep with the lazy eye. That guy keeps showing up in my nightmares.

Tom.

PS – Yes, I know this is stupid.