I may have taken a two-week hiatus during the holidays from this update, but the Celebrity League takes no breaks. It doesn't recognize Christmas. Or Hanukah. Or Kwanza. It just keeps cookin'.

If you haven't taken a look at the league message board lately, please re-introduce yourself. The verbal barbs have been flying between Bill Simmons, Adam McKay and now Tony Potts. Here is an excerpt for the surf averse:

Serious question for McKay (Bill Simmons): Did Isiah actually pick your team for you, or did you just consult with him before the draft? I have heard conflicting reports on this.
12/21

Give me back my first round pick and you'd... (Adam McKay): ... look like Scott Layden. And if Shawn Livingston had been healthy to start the season you'd have chosen him in the third round and be 3 and 4. That's all that separates us, a quarter inch of knee tendon (okay, okay, and Brevin Knight)... mckay
12/22

Line for Simmons/McKay matchup this week (Bill Simmons): Simmons (-135.5) McKay
12/24

When Nazr Mohammed is the answer... (Bill Simmons): I don't even want to know the question.
12/28, in response to McKay's recent acquisition

For the past seven years I've complained... (Adam McKay): ... that Bush won't own up to any of the disastrous decisions he's made. So with that in mind, I admit it Mr. Simmons, my team blows. And I don't have Rumsfeld, Cheaney or Isiah Thomas to blame.
1/6

Well, why we're here (Bill Simmons): I'd like to apologize for being so excited about the Walter Herrmann pick and for not making fun of Kenny's team enough this season.
1/6

There seems to be a spirit of full disclosure... (Adam McKay): ... and responsibility spreading across the country. Obama is inspiring us all. There is no such thing as blame. Only honesty for the good of the whole. So with that in mind I'd also like to admit that Ferrell's team sucks as well.
1/6

oh damn who's in first??? alone??? (Tony Potts): By the way u all should know I don't like to talk trash but...lets just say I had this week circled on the schedual!!! Hope you enjoy it Bill...
1/7

It should be noted that Simmons beat McKay by 174 points, so he easily exceeded his own expectations. The back-and-forth has been hilarious, but Bill... Really? McKay? Simmons is 8-2 and holds second place while McKay sits alone in the basement at 1-9. There is becoming a recurring theme of Simmons bullying bad teams in this league, going back to last year and the lowly Kenny Smith. He's like the fifth grade bully roughing up the kindergartner for his lunch money. The minute that kindergartner's third grade brother comes around, Simmons will find himself a time-out corner to cry in.

So it's nice to see that Tony Potts has taken his shot at Simmons, even if he can't spell. We'll see if our bully Bill responds.

Simmons lost last week to Zach Gilford, dropping him to second place and giving Potts a lonely perch atop the standings. Let's get on to this week's predictions...

Tony Potts (9-1) vs. Bill Simmons (8-2)
Here it is! The featured game of the week. Potts finally gets his shot at Bill. He's had this week circled on the "schedual" for weeks, you know. Potts is the undisputed leader of this league, taking over the lead in both record and fantasy points. He may have caught Bill at a bad time, however, given Simmons has the two-game advantage. No gimmes for Simmons here, though, given the uncertainty of Dwyane Wade's health situation. It's going to be a battle, but Simmons (assuming a healthy Wade) has an advantage. He gets four games from five players, including Dwight Howard. Potts is getting four games from Gerald Wallace, Mike Miller and -- eh hem -- Keith Bogans.
Prediction: Simmons gets his ammunition. There will again be a tie for first place.

Zach Gilford (7-3) vs. Kenny Smith (4-6)
Don't look now, but Kenny Smith has moved from last to eighth place during the last few weeks. Seriously, don't look now. Kenny has a two-game advantage and Gilford is dealing with a day-to-day Luol Deng.
Prediction: Bah. Kenny loses.

George Lopez (6-4) vs. James Denton (3-7)
Once the team with the most fantasy points in the league, George Lopez took his lumps in consecutive weeks against Bill Simmons and Kenny Smith. He's rebounded with two big wins over Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac. I'd like to say Denton has a shot in this one, but I think it's time to start looking towards next week. Lopez brings a better roster and a three game advantage to the table. Also should be noted that Lopez completed a trade with Zach Gilford that netted him Shawn Marion in exchange for Andre Iguodala and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Prediction: Just too much. Denton is overwhelmed. He grabs his ball and goes home.

Donald Faison (6-4) vs. Spike Lee (3-7)
Faison is dealing with injuries to four players, including Brandon Roy. Spike has won two of his last three games. Perfect time for an upset? Maybe. Faison gets just 28 games this week, including only two from Carmelo. Spike has 31 games, including four from Nash.
Prediction: I can see Faison squeaking this one out, but I'm rolling with Spike.

Samuel L. Jackson (6-4) vs. Adam McKay (1-9)
Jackson won five games straight before running into the George Lopez wall. Even in a win, Jackson struggled again somewhat last week with 742 points (fifth best for the week). He is dealing with injuries to Michael Redd and now Tim Duncan, while getting only two games this week from Chris Kaman. McKay, meanwhile, has a one game advantage but a recent injury to David West to contend with. If Michael Redd doesn't play any games, McKay has a shot. If Duncan's injury is worse than originally thought, McKay may just pull this out.
Prediction: Nah uh. Not going to happen. Jackson wins.

Bernie Mac (4-6) vs. Will Ferrell (3-7)
The battle of the defeated. Bernie has lost five of six games and Ferrell has lost four straight (seven of eight) coming into this snoozer. Bernie inexplicably benched Kobe last week. This, my friends, is a case of over-thinking. Kobe had two games and was benched in favor of three games from Devin Harris and Mehmet Okur and four games from Rashad McCants. He would have lost anyway, so I guess it's good to know Bernie is thinking -- even if he's wrong.
Prediction: Something's gotta give. We'll give this one to Bernie.