Leave it to the Rams to make some big moves on Christmas Eve with John Shaw stepping down and the promotion of Billy Devaney. Maybe Christmas Day will be a little quieter at Rams Park although it looks like San Francisco 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary is having a better holiday than Rams interim Jim Haslett. The Sacramento Bee is reporting that Singletary will be retained although his offensive coordinator Mike Martz will not return. And in respect to the holiday, we’ll refrain from comment on Charlie Weis managing to get Notre Dame past Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.

The Water Cooler
An abbreviated version today as we continue to look at Post-Dispatch reporters and their thoughts on some of the top stories of the year:

Tom Timmermann
The top story of the year was anything to do with the Rams, whose dreadfulness was worse than the Blues and more noteworthy than the surprising legs the Cardinals showed. The owner died, setting the stage for a sale — and possible departure — of the franchise and the team stunk, leading to the firing of the coach and the overhauling of the front office. In a year, we may not recognize the Rams. And in a few more, they might not be here.

Jeff Gordon
The demise of A-B. This will have a huge and unfortunate impact on local sports. Combine the adverse impact on the economy and the potential loss of long-term sponsorship and you have a catastrophe.