The 10 Spot began humbly on June 21, 2004. It’s ending today on even more humbling terms, with a pink slip. And, if history is any guide, with a comment by DJ Chris linking the color pink to A-Rod. (That’s not a challenge, incidentally.)

We weren’t trying to bring about world peace or stave off a global financial meltdown. Which turns out to be just as well, because nobody else could do that either.

Rather, our stated goal was simple -- to provide a few chuckles by commenting on the sports news of the day. As longtime readers might recall, the initial format consisted of 10 short, numbered items. (Thus the name.) The topics ranged from the latest pompous athlete in trouble to reality TV to whatever else I could scrounge together to reach No. 10 before hitting “send.”

In May 2007, the format changed to a blog and my hat came off. The first comment of the brand-new blog was, “This format sucks.” It got better, I hope.

Well, this is the swan song for the Write Your Own Joke contest. I was laid off this morning, while sitting at this very desk eating a bowl of Fiber One cereal with a side of fruit. (Hey, I need my health now more than ever.)

So the 10 Spot will shortly go the way of my employment here at SI. Which is to say, into the wind. Still, it seemed churlish not to follow through with the results of the WYOJ contest. I also anticipate producing a “regular” edition of Friday LTLs, complete with a LOW. Perhaps next Monday will bring some sort of farewell edition, but that is still TBD. After that, your guess is as good as mine.

[UPDATE: This will actually be the final post for today. I just don't think I'll be able to summon the funnies for Lunchtime Laughs. My apologies. On the positive side, at least for me, that also means I will close shop on the Lock of the Week with a season record of 9-4 (.692). So if the season ended today -- along with, coincidentally, my SI career -- I'd get a first-round bye into the picking playoffs.]

Anyway, there were a lot of great entries, especially for the Burress/Pierce mess. Here we go:

Topic 1: “Giants LB Antonio Pierce will reportedly testify against teammate Plaxico Burress in front of a grand jury. __________.”

Winner: “Pierce will then enter the federal witness protection program; he'll be traded to the Lions and become completely anonymous.” (greybeard)

Honorable Mention:

“Giants' Coach Tom Coughlin is said to be red-faced over the whole affair, but that could just be the weather.” (Tim in NY)

Welcome to the December edition of the Write Your Own Joke (WYOJ) contest. As always, I will supply two potential set-ups from today’s sports news. Your job is to supply the punchlines.

Here they are:

Topic 1: “Giants LB Antonio Pierce will reportedly testify against teammate Plaxico Burress in front of a grand jury. __________.”

Here's some (small) inspiration heading into today's Write Your Own Joke contest:

• For the fourth straight year, the Knicks have been named the NBA’s most valuable team. No surprise there; the Knicks are obviously rolling in it. Why, they’re paying one female executive $11.5 million -- and she doesn’t even work there anymore! What princes!

• A 21-year-old hockey fan at Wednesday’s Senators-Thrashers game in Ottawa fell from the upper deck when he stumbled over a purse while carrying two beers back to his seat. Tragic story, really. Not because of what happened to the guy -- he’s going to be fine. But the beers didn’t make it.

The Mets and Citigroup have announced that the team’s new ballpark will keep the name Citi Field, despite the federal government’s $45 billion (and counting) bailout of the troubled financial institution. Citigroup agreed in 2006 to pay the Mets $400 million over 20 years for naming rights and insists it intends to follow through, thanks in large part to your money. You're some swell folks.

Then again, this question may not be resolved after all, given the way the Treasury and the Fed seem to change their mind almost daily on what to do with the $700 billion in Congress-approved bailout money. Two New York politicians have already suggested calling the stadium “Citi/Taxpayer Field.” We think that’s not a bad idea, but it could be catchier.

So just in case the Mets need a new name after all, here are some humble suggestions:

10. Bailout Bowl

9. Sold Down The Riverfront Stadium

8. Choking Confines