Nicki fights back to win Round 15, but needs Rocky-style finish for Picks title

She's up against the ropes and has taken some serious blows in the 17-round fight.  Her ego is badly bruised, but her heart isn't letting her quit until the brutal fight is over.  She lands a big punch of her own in the 15th round, but her chances of winning appear hopeless without a miracle ending.  Nicole is the Rocky Balboa of the 2006 Sunday Football Picks.

Nicki's 10-3 record on Sunday showed she's still capable of kicking butt, but the weak fighter is staggering terribly in the Picks ring, and one more solid blow will knock her out for the season.  She trails first-place Mark by 15 games with just two rounds of Picks left, and she has to subdue D.J., Trevor, Blaine, QT and Ali at the same time.

Nicole's chance of becoming a champion looks as bleak as the odds for long-retired Rocky, who steps into the ring for the last time today (Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006) when "Rocky Balboa" opens at theaters across the country.  In this sixth and final installment of the Rocky series, the 58-year-old boxer accepts a challenge from the reigning heavyweight champion of the world after a computer-generated matchup between the two fighters gives Rocky the victory.

Just like the Italian Stallion, Nicki faces a frightening uphill battle that appears impossible to win.  She pretty much needs an unprecedented 27-0 record in the final two weeks while her six rivals fall flat on their faces.  Even if Nicki accomplishes that run of perfection, Mark only needs to go 13-14 to knock her out.  But never count out Nicole or never-say-die Rocky.

In his last official boxing match more than 20 years ago, Rocky faced the same intimidating odds as Nicole — maybe a million-to-one shot at best.  He was up against the ropes in Russia, being pulverized by boxing machine Ivan Drago.  But Rocky's thrilling comeback started with a big punch like Nicki delivered this week, and he persevered to somehow find a way to pull off the amazing upset.

When it comes to training techniques, Nicki doesn't like gulping raw eggs or taking swings at meat-locker punching bags, but she does like devouring deviled eggs and lashing out at meat-heads at her middle school.  She's not in Philadelphia to run up the famous art museum steps, but running up that Glenn Westlake staircase to orchestra every day might suffice.

Rocky's fate in his final boxing match is not yet known, and we'll also have to wait and see how Nicki's huge challenge turns out.  But it all starts with a fire and determination that continue to burn strong until the war is over.