Thanks to the bit of anonymity that cyberspace allows, I am about to do something long in coming. It is said confession is good for the soul and I, dear friends am about to divulge a long hidden, deep, dark secret.

A fetish so perverse, so incredibly vulgar compared to societal norms that until now it has barely even been whispered to my closest of companions. Nothing run of the mill like a preference for feet with large big toes, or leather and whips. Oh no. Not for me. When I dance on the fringe of polite society, I stomp all over it wearing combat boots. You will never see my private depravity in a pop up ad. Nor will you find a place charging one dollar for the first minute, ninety cents for each additional minute of naughty talk about my hidden desire. A true fetish, at first glance my passion seems at best illogical and even borders on unfathomable to many. And so, my virtual stripping, the bare boned truth.

I THINK VINNY TESTAVERDE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST QB'S TO GRACE THE GRID IRON. Yes, you read that correctly. It all began during his Heisman days in Miami. It was solidified on a Monday night that morphed into a Tuesday morning one October in the late 90's. During perhaps one of the greatest performances in Monday Night Football history, Vinny Testaverde engineered a masterful second half comeback for the New York Jets who found themselves more than 20 points in the hole versus The Miami Dolphins. In a heart stopping fifteen minutes of slants, wide-outs and long deep passes, Testaverde not only insured my undying admiration, he converted this average sports fan into a stark raving, jersey collecting, stat memorizing, sofa vegetating, football aficionado.

I can hear it now readers, the cries of "interceptions" and "has-been" ringing through the ether but as far as guilty pleasures go, this one is not without some merit.

For over 20 years now, Vinny has come to me every fall. He hasn't missed one in decades and even if a Football Season starts Testaverde-less, it has never ended that way. When pretty boy NFL Virgin QB's make a team, it is Vinny on the bench teaching them how to lead with dignity and a work ethic even Protestants are envious of. Most recently, Tony Romo cited Testaverde as a major factor in his new found success with The Dallas Cowboys. If a veteran goes down, there is but one man to turn to for teams in a pinch. Right off his couch in playing shape, Vinny has saved more than a few troubled offenses. From his demanding off season workouts to his Balboa-esque conquering of injuries, Testaverde in his forties defies the limitations of age.

When Vinny is on, it's epic. Needles are thread, pockets are deepened and his textbook tight spiral can make a girl weep. A towering presence, in his 6 different NFL Team offenses, I have even seen Vinny throw an amazingly powerful block or two when things turn for the worse and the opponent ends up with the ball. He is excitement epitomized, no matter the jersey, as seemingly impossible passes hit receivers right in the numbers and non suspecting defenses are tricked by a bit slower than average but nonetheless effective Quarterback Sneak.

I had a wonderful opportunity a few years back to meet and talk at length with Coach Wayne Fontz (formerly of the Detroit Lions) at a weekend long charity event. In the course of conversation, Coach told me of his failed efforts to bring Testaverde on as QB for the Lions in his early days there. His respect and evident belief in Vinny's talent fueled my already raging blaze of fanaticism for my number 16.

Anecdotally, recently here in Dallas I was in attendance of a grade school football game at a church field. A parishioner of the church, Roger Staubach, happened upon a huddle of boys receiving inspiration from their coach prior to kick off. The coach asked Roger to say something to the boys and goaded him asking him if he'd like to play. Staubach's response was a well natured no, to which he added "I'm too old, but heck, Testaverde is still playing".

At 42 years old and looking forward to his 22nd season in the league, maybe my fetish for the true Italian Stallion isn't so crazy. After all, what woman wouldn't get her panties in a bunch for a man with that kind of staying power?