4:57 p.m.: Halftime. My thoughts? Pittsburgh has controlled the game whenever it's had the ball. Arizona has taken advantage of the little mistakes the Steelers have made.
Ken Whisenhunt needs to find a way to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald. So far, the Steelers defense has neutralized the best player on the field. They have had at least two defenders shadow Fitzgerald the entire game, making it difficult for Kurt Warner to throw the ball his way.
Without Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have no chance.
And by the way, "momentum" in a football game is fake. What one offensive unit accomplishes or not accomplishes does not affect the other offensive unit. Maybe a defensive stop fires up the offense, but that adrenaline rush is short lived. Arizona still has a shot. It just has to figure out the Steelers defense, which not many teams have done this year.
4:51 p.m.: Talk about a game-changer. James Harrison shows us all why he's the Defensive Player of the Year, taking his interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
By the way, that's the longest play in Super Bowl history.
Amazing. Just when you think Arizona is about to at least tie the game heading into the locker room, Harrison makes the play, crushing any mojo the Cardinals had going into the half.
I still can't believe it.
4:47 p.m.: Larry Fitzgerald is in the stat book, finally catching a ball with 41 seconds left in the half.
4:31 p.m.: Steve Breston is so far the Cardinals' MVP.
4:21 p.m.: GET UP BEN PATRICK! This won't be a blow out just yet. Arizona 7 Pittsburgh 10.
4:20 p.m.: Anquan Boldin finally catches a pass for Arizona. Now if only Larry Fitz can get the ball.
4:15 p.m.: Matt Leinart makes an appearance.
4:12 p.m.: It's official. The Budweiser Clydesdales have officially jumped the shark.
4:08 p.m.: This is the time of the game where Cardinals fans say "It's not over yet. Arizona has the most explosive offense in the NFL. There's plenty of time left."
We shall see about that. If the Cards can get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald, then maybe they have a shot.
4:01 p.m.: End of the first quarter, Steelers 3 Cardinals 0. That was a pretty quick first quarter. That happens when Pittsburgh controls the ball for most of a quarter. They wear down a team, they run the ball, their pass routes are executed to the T. Not looking good for Arizona.
3:57 p.m.: Everything is going the Steelers' way. Roethlisberger had all kinds of time--almost 10 seconds--to throw that ball. How can no Cardinals' defender get to him on 3rd and 10?
And Larry Fitzgerald must be dying on the sideline. Penalties do not help against the best defense in the NFL.
3:43 p.m.: If I were the Steelers, I would have went for it. It's 4th and goal from like three inches away. Take your chances. If you don't score the TD, then you've got Arizona on its one-yard line, with the best defense in the NFL taking the field.
Where are your balls Mike Tomlin?
3:38 p.m.: I would be scared if I saw Ben Roethlisberger running at me. TD Pittsburgh for now, Arizona is challenging the play.
Whether or not it's a touchdown or three points on an ensuing field goal, the Cardinals have a problem on defense. And that problem is that Arizona has no idea what Pittsburgh is going to do.
And when they do guess right, the Steelers can still get four or five yards on every play.
3:35 p.m.: I feel sorry for Adrian Wilson, who has spent the last eight years with the Arizona Cardinals. It's like having George Bush in the White House for eight years.
3:28 p.m.: The NFC has now won 12 consecutive Super Bowl coin tosses.
3:26 p.m.: Stupid stat number one: The NFC team has won the last 11 coin tosses in the Super Bowl.
3:21 p.m.: Jennifer Hudson actually performs a pretty good national anthem. Let's get to kickoff.
Wait, Avon got commercial time?
3:11 p.m.: Not even LeBron James can save the Cleveland Browns.
3:09 p.m.: So the Steelers didn't get the memo to run onto the field after Al Michaels introduces them. But Arizona did.
2:58 p.m.: It's official. The Cardinals will lose. Matt Millen just picked them to win. I don't care about kiss of death from Cris Collinsworth. Millen is the true kiss of death.
2:45 p.m.: It's official: if Mario Lopez is the Minority Ryan Seacrest, then Tiki Barber is the Jock Ryan Seacrest.
2:43 p.m.: Troy Polamalu has his hair up. OMG!
2:36 p.m.: I've arrived at my friend's place for our Super Bowl party and my friend isn't home. But that's okay, time to turn on NBC's pregame show.
By the way, I think NBC's pregame is pretty good. It has to be if you have 20 people hosting it.
The piece I've liked so far is the history of the Gatorade bath, which apparently goes back to the Chicago Bears in 1984, the year before they won the Super Bowl. It's a nice (and predictable tradition).
On a side note, I remember an interesting story from my days covering Cal football for The Daily Californian. Now, this is all heresay, but apparently, in DeSean Jackson's final year with the Bears, he asked coach Jeff Tedford to change the Gatorade flavor because he didn't like lemon-lime. Cal changed the Gatorade player.
(On another side note, I think Journey's pregame performance sucked. Where's Steve Perry? That new singer wasn't that good.)
As for this Super Bowl, I still think Pittsburgh is going to win. Strike that, the Steelers SHOULD win. They have the better team, better defense and better coaching (in my opinion).
But destiny may be on Arizona and Kurt Warner's side. Liverpool did win today, and Liverpool wears red. So do the Cardinals.
My prediction: Pittsburgh 23, Arizona 17.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Three Main Events in less the 24 Hours, Part 2
10:00 a.m.: Liverpool, like I said before, deserved this match. It was a great game, if you were a Liverpool fan. So many chances for the Reds, they really should have more than the two goals from Torres.
And what about Torres? El Nino just unleashed himself in the last 10 minutes. He played well throughout, but if anyone deserved those goals for Liverpool, it was him. He was battling against Terry and Alex the entire game.
Now the Reds are back in striking distance, keeping the heat on Manchester United.
And for me, it's time to watch some Super Bowl pregame coverage. I'll be back for the game starting around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Until then, enjoy Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick and 18 other hosts on NBC's pregame coverage.
9:52 a.m.: Torres gets his brace. Anfield explodes. Game over. Liverpool now only two points behind Man U.
9:49 a.m.: How is that not a card for Bosingwa? He kicked Benayoun in the back. That is worse than what Lampard did. Unacceptable by the referee. I guess he's just having a bad day.
9:48 a.m.: FINALLY!!! Finally for Liverpool. Finally for Fernando Torres. In the 88th minute, Torres takes an Aurelio cross and angles it in with his head for the first score of the match.
It's Torres' first goal at Anfield in nine months.
For Liverpool, it looks like they will secure the three points after dominating the game. They should win this game and they deserve this game, not because of Lampard's red card, but because the Reds have outplayed Chelsea the entire match.
9:19 a.m.: Here's the game-changer: Frank Lampard has been red-carded Mike Riley and Chelsea is now down to 10 men. Pretty bad call if you ask me.
Lampard going for a the ball against Liverpool's Xabi Alonson and it looks like he clips Alonso. It looked bad in normal speed, but not harsh enough for a red card. It was definitely a fould on Lampard's part, but the official should have kept the card in his pocket.
9:10 a.m.: Another dangerous chance for Liverpool, this time off a corner. Dirk Kuyt takes Gerrard's corner and flicks it across the six-yard box. Too bad no one was in the area or it'd be 1-0.
The pace has definitely slowed. Both teams need to pick it up.
8:49 a.m.: Halftime at Anfield and it's been a pretty good match. Liverpool has had so many chances, including Riera's golden one near the end of the half. There was no need to give (or try to) the ball back to Gerrard. All Riera had to do was slot that ball in and the Reds would be up 1-0.
Chelsea has had most of the possession, but hasn't put together a good series of passes to break down the Liverpool defense. The Blues have no good shots on goal. Liverpool should be happy with the way they've played. Now they just need to find the back of the net.
It's also been a little chippy. I love it.
8:32 a.m.: First real good chance of the match and it goes to Liverpool. Carragher finds Torres in the box, but Alex blocks the shot. Chelsea, on the other hand, has yet to find a good strike.
8:19 a.m.: Not only does Skrtel's name sound like he should be a Pokemon, he looks like one too. Just compare: here's a picture of Skrtel and here's one of Squirtle. They look like long lost cousins.
8:12 a.m.: Xabi Alonso with a stinging shot from distance. Cech could only get fingertips to push it away!
8:06 a.m.: Five minutes in and there has been more action than snow that has fallen at Anfield. So much back and forth, the pace is so frenetic; I wouldn't expect less from a Big Four match.
It also looks like Liverpool is going to give Chelsea hell the entire match. What Chelsea needs to do is stay calm and handle the pummeling attacks of Liverpool.
7:42 a.m.: I failed with the Aussie Open. I couldn't go five sets with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but they wouldn't either if they got six hours of sleep the night before and woke up 15 hours before their match without resting.
But I digress, it's time for Part 2 of this adventure and that begins with Liverpool hosting Chelsea at Anfield in 15 minutes.
Both teams need the three points in a desperate way. Reigning League champs Manchester United is five points up and has played one less game (after today's match) than the Reds and Blues.
Liverpool needs this a little more I think. They haven't been in top form as of late in the Premiership, drawing its last three matches. A win over superficial rival Chelsea would give them that boost and possibly help them get back in the race for its coveted 19th League title.
And what about Torres? El Nino just unleashed himself in the last 10 minutes. He played well throughout, but if anyone deserved those goals for Liverpool, it was him. He was battling against Terry and Alex the entire game.
Now the Reds are back in striking distance, keeping the heat on Manchester United.
And for me, it's time to watch some Super Bowl pregame coverage. I'll be back for the game starting around 3 p.m. Pacific Time. Until then, enjoy Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick and 18 other hosts on NBC's pregame coverage.
9:52 a.m.: Torres gets his brace. Anfield explodes. Game over. Liverpool now only two points behind Man U.
9:49 a.m.: How is that not a card for Bosingwa? He kicked Benayoun in the back. That is worse than what Lampard did. Unacceptable by the referee. I guess he's just having a bad day.
9:48 a.m.: FINALLY!!! Finally for Liverpool. Finally for Fernando Torres. In the 88th minute, Torres takes an Aurelio cross and angles it in with his head for the first score of the match.
It's Torres' first goal at Anfield in nine months.
For Liverpool, it looks like they will secure the three points after dominating the game. They should win this game and they deserve this game, not because of Lampard's red card, but because the Reds have outplayed Chelsea the entire match.
9:19 a.m.: Here's the game-changer: Frank Lampard has been red-carded Mike Riley and Chelsea is now down to 10 men. Pretty bad call if you ask me.
Lampard going for a the ball against Liverpool's Xabi Alonson and it looks like he clips Alonso. It looked bad in normal speed, but not harsh enough for a red card. It was definitely a fould on Lampard's part, but the official should have kept the card in his pocket.
9:10 a.m.: Another dangerous chance for Liverpool, this time off a corner. Dirk Kuyt takes Gerrard's corner and flicks it across the six-yard box. Too bad no one was in the area or it'd be 1-0.
The pace has definitely slowed. Both teams need to pick it up.
8:49 a.m.: Halftime at Anfield and it's been a pretty good match. Liverpool has had so many chances, including Riera's golden one near the end of the half. There was no need to give (or try to) the ball back to Gerrard. All Riera had to do was slot that ball in and the Reds would be up 1-0.
Chelsea has had most of the possession, but hasn't put together a good series of passes to break down the Liverpool defense. The Blues have no good shots on goal. Liverpool should be happy with the way they've played. Now they just need to find the back of the net.
It's also been a little chippy. I love it.
8:32 a.m.: First real good chance of the match and it goes to Liverpool. Carragher finds Torres in the box, but Alex blocks the shot. Chelsea, on the other hand, has yet to find a good strike.
8:19 a.m.: Not only does Skrtel's name sound like he should be a Pokemon, he looks like one too. Just compare: here's a picture of Skrtel and here's one of Squirtle. They look like long lost cousins.
8:12 a.m.: Xabi Alonso with a stinging shot from distance. Cech could only get fingertips to push it away!
8:06 a.m.: Five minutes in and there has been more action than snow that has fallen at Anfield. So much back and forth, the pace is so frenetic; I wouldn't expect less from a Big Four match.
It also looks like Liverpool is going to give Chelsea hell the entire match. What Chelsea needs to do is stay calm and handle the pummeling attacks of Liverpool.
7:42 a.m.: I failed with the Aussie Open. I couldn't go five sets with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but they wouldn't either if they got six hours of sleep the night before and woke up 15 hours before their match without resting.
But I digress, it's time for Part 2 of this adventure and that begins with Liverpool hosting Chelsea at Anfield in 15 minutes.
Both teams need the three points in a desperate way. Reigning League champs Manchester United is five points up and has played one less game (after today's match) than the Reds and Blues.
Liverpool needs this a little more I think. They haven't been in top form as of late in the Premiership, drawing its last three matches. A win over superficial rival Chelsea would give them that boost and possibly help them get back in the race for its coveted 19th League title.
Three Main Events in less the 24 Hours, Part I
7:22 a.m.: I couldn't take it anymore. I fell asleep after Nadal scored that third set victory to go up 2-1 on Federer, and apparently Nadal won the whole thing.
And the match totally hinged on the last two games of the third set. Federer had multiple chances to take the set and crush Nadal's spirit. Nadal looked tired, drained and like he couldn't go on if he had lost that set.
But he won.
This is what my friend sent me on Facebook: "Nadal was unhuman. His heart, the way he plays the big points, his unfamiliarity with hard courts, even though he was physically drained... GOSH!!! Definitely one of the best matches I've seen, and it's up there with last year's Wimbledon final!"
It's too bad I missed a great ending.
3:27 a.m.: His body might be letting him down, by Nadal sure has some mental fortitude. Down love-40, Nadal fights back for the set. No one has been broken in the third set yet and now Federer serves to tie things up.
3:20 a.m.: Nadal might be tiring. He's missed some shots that he hasn't missed all game. Another two-handed backhand goes wide for him. If Federer continues to wear down Nadal, it might be over sooner than we all think.
3:17 a.m.: Nadal's called for the trainer. Apparently something's wrong with his right leg. But it doesn't look serious. Just a rub down. I don't know what that'll do either than relax the muscles. Hopefully it doesn't hamper him for the rest of the match. This might be a result of that long match Nadal had with Verdasco a couple of days ago.
3:02 a.m.: Apparently there were a couple of bugs on the court. Delayed the match by 30 seconds. Why couldn't we see the ball boys kill and clean up the bugs? It's not like the bugs were streaking.
2:51 a.m.: There have been some really close challenges today. That last challenge was just crazy. There was a hairline's breath between the ball and the line. Amazing.
2:38 a.m.: I love it how Federer gets "pumped" for matches against Nadal. Only a great rivalry and a great opponent can bring that out of the normally quiet Swiss. And the great rivalries will do that--bring out something extra--a little oomph added. All tied a 1-1.
2:10 a.m.: I wonder what it is about Nadal that Federer can't break him. It's like impossible. Is it Nadal's power? Or is it that Federer's slicing shots are neutralized because Nadal stays so deep and so fast along that baseline?
1:55 a.m.: Federer is not only a master with the racket, but he's a master of the challenge. If he could only be employed by the NFL and college football teams.
1:50 a.m.: What a stat: Nadal is 76-1 in majors after winning the first set. SEVENTY-SIX AND ONE! But the only loss has come on the hard court, in Flushing last year at the U.S. Open. So, if a trend is to be broken, Federer still has a shot.
1:21 a.m.: These long rallies cannot be fun for Nadal. He played Verdasco to five sets and five hours for the longest match in Aussie Open history. Nadal has to be gassed or will be gassed by the third set.
1:05 a.m.: BREAK POINT AGAIN! How does Federer only have a 14 percent success rate on break points against Nadal. That's crazy.
1:02 a.m.: The voice of tennis, Dick Enberg, just said "full-blooded stroking." Yeah, he did.
1:00 a.m.: My friend, who is watching the match with me, says that Nadal reminds him of Chris Pontius. Here's a picture of Nadal. And one of Pontius. You be the judge. Personally, I don't see it, but I'm not the one with alcohol in my body.
12:54 a.m.: Federer double-faults?!!! Nadal secures the break point?! Already?! Federer has too many unforced errors...already.
12:47 a.m.: I'm sure this will come up sometime in the match, but Roger Federer is not done yet. He's running out of gas, but he's not done yet. And my friends are so one-sided. Either they're for Federer or they're for Nadal. Why can't we just enjoy these two duke it out (hopefully at ever grand slam final) the next few years.
12:34 a.m.: Nice montage by ESPN showing the championship point from last year's Wimbledon final.
Let's just hope that John McEnroe isn't around to give Federer a hug if Federer loses this one today.
12:23 a.m.: I'm at the beginning of my adventure--the attempt to live-blog the three biggest sporting events this weekend.
It's currently 12:23 a.m. here in California and I'm minutes away from the Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. In about 7 and a half hours, Liverpool and Chelsea kickoff the biggest match of the Premiership weekend. And of course, in about 15 hours, Pittsburgh and Arizona kickoff Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
My goal is to capture my day as I try to follow all of these events. It'll be crazy, but wildly fun.
And oh, I've got my money on Federer. We've never seen Federer and Nadal go at it on a hard court major final. This is our chance and the conditions suit Federer well.
I say the old man still got's some left and ties Pete Sampras tonight/this morning for the most major titles ever.
The match is about to start, I'll see you in a bit.
P.S.: I've been awake since 8 a.m. this morning, making this a little bit interesting.
And the match totally hinged on the last two games of the third set. Federer had multiple chances to take the set and crush Nadal's spirit. Nadal looked tired, drained and like he couldn't go on if he had lost that set.
But he won.
This is what my friend sent me on Facebook: "Nadal was unhuman. His heart, the way he plays the big points, his unfamiliarity with hard courts, even though he was physically drained... GOSH!!! Definitely one of the best matches I've seen, and it's up there with last year's Wimbledon final!"
It's too bad I missed a great ending.
3:27 a.m.: His body might be letting him down, by Nadal sure has some mental fortitude. Down love-40, Nadal fights back for the set. No one has been broken in the third set yet and now Federer serves to tie things up.
3:20 a.m.: Nadal might be tiring. He's missed some shots that he hasn't missed all game. Another two-handed backhand goes wide for him. If Federer continues to wear down Nadal, it might be over sooner than we all think.
3:17 a.m.: Nadal's called for the trainer. Apparently something's wrong with his right leg. But it doesn't look serious. Just a rub down. I don't know what that'll do either than relax the muscles. Hopefully it doesn't hamper him for the rest of the match. This might be a result of that long match Nadal had with Verdasco a couple of days ago.
3:02 a.m.: Apparently there were a couple of bugs on the court. Delayed the match by 30 seconds. Why couldn't we see the ball boys kill and clean up the bugs? It's not like the bugs were streaking.
2:51 a.m.: There have been some really close challenges today. That last challenge was just crazy. There was a hairline's breath between the ball and the line. Amazing.
2:38 a.m.: I love it how Federer gets "pumped" for matches against Nadal. Only a great rivalry and a great opponent can bring that out of the normally quiet Swiss. And the great rivalries will do that--bring out something extra--a little oomph added. All tied a 1-1.
2:10 a.m.: I wonder what it is about Nadal that Federer can't break him. It's like impossible. Is it Nadal's power? Or is it that Federer's slicing shots are neutralized because Nadal stays so deep and so fast along that baseline?
1:55 a.m.: Federer is not only a master with the racket, but he's a master of the challenge. If he could only be employed by the NFL and college football teams.
1:50 a.m.: What a stat: Nadal is 76-1 in majors after winning the first set. SEVENTY-SIX AND ONE! But the only loss has come on the hard court, in Flushing last year at the U.S. Open. So, if a trend is to be broken, Federer still has a shot.
1:21 a.m.: These long rallies cannot be fun for Nadal. He played Verdasco to five sets and five hours for the longest match in Aussie Open history. Nadal has to be gassed or will be gassed by the third set.
1:05 a.m.: BREAK POINT AGAIN! How does Federer only have a 14 percent success rate on break points against Nadal. That's crazy.
1:02 a.m.: The voice of tennis, Dick Enberg, just said "full-blooded stroking." Yeah, he did.
1:00 a.m.: My friend, who is watching the match with me, says that Nadal reminds him of Chris Pontius. Here's a picture of Nadal. And one of Pontius. You be the judge. Personally, I don't see it, but I'm not the one with alcohol in my body.
12:54 a.m.: Federer double-faults?!!! Nadal secures the break point?! Already?! Federer has too many unforced errors...already.
12:47 a.m.: I'm sure this will come up sometime in the match, but Roger Federer is not done yet. He's running out of gas, but he's not done yet. And my friends are so one-sided. Either they're for Federer or they're for Nadal. Why can't we just enjoy these two duke it out (hopefully at ever grand slam final) the next few years.
12:34 a.m.: Nice montage by ESPN showing the championship point from last year's Wimbledon final.
Let's just hope that John McEnroe isn't around to give Federer a hug if Federer loses this one today.
12:23 a.m.: I'm at the beginning of my adventure--the attempt to live-blog the three biggest sporting events this weekend.
It's currently 12:23 a.m. here in California and I'm minutes away from the Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. In about 7 and a half hours, Liverpool and Chelsea kickoff the biggest match of the Premiership weekend. And of course, in about 15 hours, Pittsburgh and Arizona kickoff Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
My goal is to capture my day as I try to follow all of these events. It'll be crazy, but wildly fun.
And oh, I've got my money on Federer. We've never seen Federer and Nadal go at it on a hard court major final. This is our chance and the conditions suit Federer well.
I say the old man still got's some left and ties Pete Sampras tonight/this morning for the most major titles ever.
The match is about to start, I'll see you in a bit.
P.S.: I've been awake since 8 a.m. this morning, making this a little bit interesting.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Super Bowl Eve (And there are more things that I'm worried about)
As a fan of the once mighty San Diego Chargers, part my says to root against the Steelers tomorrow in Super Bowl XLIII and hope that the Cardinals can put Pittsburgh back in its place.
But the NFL fan of me says that it'd be a travesty for the Cardinals--long the League's laughing stock--to win a Super Bowl period (and before Chargers). It's as if the Los Angeles Clippers or (godforbid) the Chicago Cubs ever won a championship (again in the case of the Cubs).
However, if the Cubs were in the World Series next year, I'd root for them to win it. A century is a long time to wait and if any professional team deserves it (if pro teams are deserving of our adulation) it's the Cubs.
But I digress.
This year's Super Bowl seems more muted than usual. Maybe it's because of the recession and the United States' troubling economy. Maybe because all of our country's excitement was zapped from a two-year long battle for the Presidency which ended in the party of all parties that was Inauguration Day for Barack Obama.
And then maybe it's because these are two teams you really can't hate, nor love, nor get behind. It's Pittsburgh and its Terrible Towels. It's Arizona and its...old retired people. And the game is in Tampa, which isn't the most exciting place in the world.
No, this game doesn't excite me. And no matter how much NBC or ESPN or even Ketih Olbermann hype this game up, I will watch it reluctantly (and with tired eyes).
With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer doing battle at 12:30 a.m. my time Sunday morning for the Australian Open Final and Liverpool and Chelsea going at it at 8 a.m. my time later that Sunday morning, I'm pretty sure that I'll be all but excited for the Super Bowl.
And if that's not enough, the two teams are really not that exciting.
The Steelers' quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) is as ho-hum as you can get, while Arizona's is a has-been that has found a renaissance (every old man is rooting for you Kurt Warner).
There are no controversial wide recievers--just likeable ones in Larry Fitzgerald and Hines Ward.
And the best storyline coming into the game belongs to the awkwardness that comes from the head coaches. Arizona's Ken Whisenhut should have been Pitttsburgh's guy after Bill Cowher left, but the guys in suits picked Mike Tomlin instead. Oh the intrigue (and oh how you cannot discern the sarcasm in my voice).
But it is still the Super Bowl. Millions will tune in, throw a party and spend an entire Sunday forgetting about life for awhile.
Because in the end, the Super Bowl (and all of sport) is about that--distraction. It doesn't matter who wins. It doesn't matter who loses. It doesn't matter who is the game's MVP or if the game was a blow out or the second greatest game ever played.
Sport and the Super Bowl are a tool, a little bit of joy amidst a time of harrowing prospects. And that's why, even if this is the most boring Super Bowl in it's 43-year history, that's why people will watch. Even if they will (like I) reluctantly.
But the NFL fan of me says that it'd be a travesty for the Cardinals--long the League's laughing stock--to win a Super Bowl period (and before Chargers). It's as if the Los Angeles Clippers or (godforbid) the Chicago Cubs ever won a championship (again in the case of the Cubs).
However, if the Cubs were in the World Series next year, I'd root for them to win it. A century is a long time to wait and if any professional team deserves it (if pro teams are deserving of our adulation) it's the Cubs.
But I digress.
This year's Super Bowl seems more muted than usual. Maybe it's because of the recession and the United States' troubling economy. Maybe because all of our country's excitement was zapped from a two-year long battle for the Presidency which ended in the party of all parties that was Inauguration Day for Barack Obama.
And then maybe it's because these are two teams you really can't hate, nor love, nor get behind. It's Pittsburgh and its Terrible Towels. It's Arizona and its...old retired people. And the game is in Tampa, which isn't the most exciting place in the world.
No, this game doesn't excite me. And no matter how much NBC or ESPN or even Ketih Olbermann hype this game up, I will watch it reluctantly (and with tired eyes).
With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer doing battle at 12:30 a.m. my time Sunday morning for the Australian Open Final and Liverpool and Chelsea going at it at 8 a.m. my time later that Sunday morning, I'm pretty sure that I'll be all but excited for the Super Bowl.
And if that's not enough, the two teams are really not that exciting.
The Steelers' quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) is as ho-hum as you can get, while Arizona's is a has-been that has found a renaissance (every old man is rooting for you Kurt Warner).
There are no controversial wide recievers--just likeable ones in Larry Fitzgerald and Hines Ward.
And the best storyline coming into the game belongs to the awkwardness that comes from the head coaches. Arizona's Ken Whisenhut should have been Pitttsburgh's guy after Bill Cowher left, but the guys in suits picked Mike Tomlin instead. Oh the intrigue (and oh how you cannot discern the sarcasm in my voice).
But it is still the Super Bowl. Millions will tune in, throw a party and spend an entire Sunday forgetting about life for awhile.
Because in the end, the Super Bowl (and all of sport) is about that--distraction. It doesn't matter who wins. It doesn't matter who loses. It doesn't matter who is the game's MVP or if the game was a blow out or the second greatest game ever played.
Sport and the Super Bowl are a tool, a little bit of joy amidst a time of harrowing prospects. And that's why, even if this is the most boring Super Bowl in it's 43-year history, that's why people will watch. Even if they will (like I) reluctantly.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sport's Place in A Historic Day
The inauguration Barack Obama yesterday meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To many political pundits, Obama's first day on the job was the signal of a generational change; that the proverbial torch has been passed from the one generation of Americans (Baby Boomers) to the next (Generation X).
To the layman, Obama's election and taking office is the signal of renewed hope in the American spirit. Or maybe they too feel what the pundits feel.
And of course, to many, Barack Obama's election is the finality of a century's long struggle for true freedom and equality in the United States.
If you ask the sports world, that's what Obama's place in history means to them. Sure, there are those fluff stories about how Obama loves basketball.
But true reason why athletes and the sport world took a break to watch this historic moment in American history is because the Presidency seemed so far away for minorities in the United States. It was always that mountain top that many thought no African-American individual would ever get to.
ESPN devoted coverage of the inauguaration on SportsCenter. Athletes around the country spoke out as to why it was important to them. And it was pretty much the same message: we've broken the color barrier in sports, a thing done 62 years ago, but to see a black man in the Oval Office, that was only the biggest of dreams--at least that's what Dave Winfield told the Union-Tribune.
But sport is one of the truest and purest proving grounds. It's where race or religion or belief does not matter. And because of sport's seeming progressive nature, of course they had to remind the rest of the country that "we were first."
Yesterday, as the world watched Obama take the oath of office, it was as if the sports world was saying, "you're welcome."
It was the black athlete that first stood up against Adolf Hitler's hatred when Jesse Owens and Archie Williams took home gold medals from Berlin in 1936.
It was Joe Louis, Jim Brown and Ernie Davis who stood up to oppression in their sport. It was Muhammed Ali that help put the Civil Rights movement on his shoulders. It was Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul-Jabar who continued the movement, though quietly.
It was Larry Doby in the American League and of course it was Jackie Robinson before him in the National League.
These were the pioneers.
There should be no question as to why the sports world paused to celebrate Obama's achievment. Because as much as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson laid down the foundations of the Civil Rights movement, it was the black athlete that captured the hearts of Americans.
It was in sport, where equality has no pillars to hide behind, that showed everyone 62 years before, that yes we can. Yes, America can have no racial strife, no racial inequality, that everyone truly is the same.
That, yes, America can actually hold up to its founding principals and set forth what the founders meant to do.
To the layman, Obama's election and taking office is the signal of renewed hope in the American spirit. Or maybe they too feel what the pundits feel.
And of course, to many, Barack Obama's election is the finality of a century's long struggle for true freedom and equality in the United States.
If you ask the sports world, that's what Obama's place in history means to them. Sure, there are those fluff stories about how Obama loves basketball.
But true reason why athletes and the sport world took a break to watch this historic moment in American history is because the Presidency seemed so far away for minorities in the United States. It was always that mountain top that many thought no African-American individual would ever get to.
ESPN devoted coverage of the inauguaration on SportsCenter. Athletes around the country spoke out as to why it was important to them. And it was pretty much the same message: we've broken the color barrier in sports, a thing done 62 years ago, but to see a black man in the Oval Office, that was only the biggest of dreams--at least that's what Dave Winfield told the Union-Tribune.
But sport is one of the truest and purest proving grounds. It's where race or religion or belief does not matter. And because of sport's seeming progressive nature, of course they had to remind the rest of the country that "we were first."
Yesterday, as the world watched Obama take the oath of office, it was as if the sports world was saying, "you're welcome."
It was the black athlete that first stood up against Adolf Hitler's hatred when Jesse Owens and Archie Williams took home gold medals from Berlin in 1936.
It was Joe Louis, Jim Brown and Ernie Davis who stood up to oppression in their sport. It was Muhammed Ali that help put the Civil Rights movement on his shoulders. It was Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul-Jabar who continued the movement, though quietly.
It was Larry Doby in the American League and of course it was Jackie Robinson before him in the National League.
These were the pioneers.
There should be no question as to why the sports world paused to celebrate Obama's achievment. Because as much as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson laid down the foundations of the Civil Rights movement, it was the black athlete that captured the hearts of Americans.
It was in sport, where equality has no pillars to hide behind, that showed everyone 62 years before, that yes we can. Yes, America can have no racial strife, no racial inequality, that everyone truly is the same.
That, yes, America can actually hold up to its founding principals and set forth what the founders meant to do.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Super Bowl is Set
First, thoughts still go out to Willis McGahee. That was a vicious hit and is a reminder of how awful the game of American football can be. Let's hope that McGahee has a speedy recovery.
But, otherwise, the Super Bowl is set and it might be a pretty interesting one, if you're willing to look pass that the Arizona Cardinals are going to Tampa (I, for one, may not, as referenced last week).
The Super Bowl pits strength versus strength this year. The NFL's top defense in the Steelers and what seems to be a reincarnation of the "Greatest Show on Turf" in Arizona with Kurt Warner leading the team. If that's not interesting enough for anyone to watch this game, then maybe they aren't true football fans.
Of any sport, the only one the really embodies the chess analogy is American football. What one does directly effects what the other team does. If the Cardinals go five-wide and spread the field, then look for the Steelers to matchup with more defensive backs. If you see Troy Polamalu coming in for a blitz, look for Arizona's center to change the blocking assignments.
It'll be a game of strategy in two weeks and one that should be fun to watch.
To the rest of the week:
Larry Fitzgerald is superman. Troy Polamalu is superman. Hopefully we get to see those two lineup against each other a few times in the Super Bowl. It probably won't happen, but we can always hope.
But, otherwise, the Super Bowl is set and it might be a pretty interesting one, if you're willing to look pass that the Arizona Cardinals are going to Tampa (I, for one, may not, as referenced last week).
The Super Bowl pits strength versus strength this year. The NFL's top defense in the Steelers and what seems to be a reincarnation of the "Greatest Show on Turf" in Arizona with Kurt Warner leading the team. If that's not interesting enough for anyone to watch this game, then maybe they aren't true football fans.
Of any sport, the only one the really embodies the chess analogy is American football. What one does directly effects what the other team does. If the Cardinals go five-wide and spread the field, then look for the Steelers to matchup with more defensive backs. If you see Troy Polamalu coming in for a blitz, look for Arizona's center to change the blocking assignments.
It'll be a game of strategy in two weeks and one that should be fun to watch.
To the rest of the week:
- Is this the end of the Baltimore Ravens as we know them? If Rex Ryan quits and takes the Jets job, and with an aging defense, what are the Ravens to do?
- I had a conversation with my friend who said that another friend doesn't value DeSean Jackson and says that Jackson is arrogant for no reason. Please. This TD grab yesterday shows why Jackson is the cocky bastard that we (and I) all know. Jackson, if you give him just an inch of space, is one of a handful of players that can take it to paydirt everytime he has the ball. So yes, he does have something to be arrogant about.
- Sorry Joe Flacco, Dan Marino is still the best rookie quarterback ever.
- I don't care if there was a huge banner in the stadium yesterday, but Arizona, you did not just "Shock the world." The world doesn't even care.
Larry Fitzgerald is superman. Troy Polamalu is superman. Hopefully we get to see those two lineup against each other a few times in the Super Bowl. It probably won't happen, but we can always hope.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Week That Was the Divisional Playoffs in the NFL
Super Bowl 43 is turning out to be quite possibly one of the most boring Super Bowls in recent memory. With the way the divisional playoffs went, if you thought that the Steelers-Seahawks title game from a few years back was boring, you've seen nothing yet.
Only three of the final four teams have the kind of buzz that brings the masses to their television sets on Sundays, and that's Pittsburgh.
If I were an NFL exec, I'm hoping that the Steelers beat Baltimore next Sunday, because whoever comes out of the NFC won't bring a massive following (or enough hype to give the Super Bowl huge ratings).
Maybe an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl may get people to their TV sets. Maybe Donovan McNabb still has the star power to draw the huge crowds. But, right now, I am not looking forward to next Sunday's championship games nor am I looking forward to February 1.
To the rest of the week:
It's too bad Tony Dungy finally retired. However, I think it's the right time--at least the right time to leave Indianapolis. The sun has set on Peyton, Dungy and the Colts. It's time to start anew and someone had to leave. And that someone had to be Tony Dungy.
Only three of the final four teams have the kind of buzz that brings the masses to their television sets on Sundays, and that's Pittsburgh.
If I were an NFL exec, I'm hoping that the Steelers beat Baltimore next Sunday, because whoever comes out of the NFC won't bring a massive following (or enough hype to give the Super Bowl huge ratings).
Maybe an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl may get people to their TV sets. Maybe Donovan McNabb still has the star power to draw the huge crowds. But, right now, I am not looking forward to next Sunday's championship games nor am I looking forward to February 1.
To the rest of the week:
- There's Tim Sullivan of the Union-Tribune spouting off the obvious...again. However, this time, rightfully so. Pass rush and a lack of a running game has plagued the Chargers all year. It finally bit them in the ass in what was a miracle of a run that was the last five weeks. But now the season's over and A.J. Smith has got to address those problems.
- BTW...not even the 2006 edition of LaDainian Tomlinson could have ran behind the 2008 San Diego Chargers offensive line. The line is the problem, not LT or Sproles or Hester or even Michael Bennett.
- What happened to Carolina? How did the Panthers implode like that?
- I guess it wasn't a Happy Birthday for Jake Delhomme.
- The Giants looked ordinary against Philadelphia.
- And we all knew that Tennessee was a fraud. C'mon. Kerry Collins? Really?
It's too bad Tony Dungy finally retired. However, I think it's the right time--at least the right time to leave Indianapolis. The sun has set on Peyton, Dungy and the Colts. It's time to start anew and someone had to leave. And that someone had to be Tony Dungy.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Who's Number 1?
Sixteen writers in the AP Poll and one lone coach (of course it was Utah's Kyle Whittingham) gave Utah No. 1 votes in the final polls of the year.
(I know this is a couple days late, but hey, better late than never).
Of course, this is the perpetual problem with the current system and one that many want to change with a playoff system.
Naysayers of the BCS system want a true number one team crowned at the end of the year. No ifs, ands or buts. No questions. No whatifs. No maybe-this-team-should-be-at-the-top. They want a playoff. They want it bad and they looking at the Utes' undefeated season (capped with that win over Alabama) and the debacle in the Big 12 as the rallying cry.
Guess what. That playoff ain't comin', no matter who says they want one (Barack Obama may be able to fix all the troubles in the world--or at least promise he can--but can't fix college football).
Sure Utah had an undefeated season, but really, a team from the Mountain West who's best win came against an uninspired Crimson Tide, that should be the No. 1 team in the country?
And don't give me that "oh the Mountain West is really good" bullshit. The mid-majors were overrated this year. Everyone of them. Except the Utes.
And what about Texas? Should the Longhorns not be considered? Why didn't any coaches break from the AFCA and vote for UT? Because the AFCA threatened to not count votes by coaches who didn't vote for Florida.
Should Utah be No. 1? No, but I would have voted for them. Because, at the end of the day, we all knew that there was no way that the Utes were going to be named No. 1 in the country.
(I know this is a couple days late, but hey, better late than never).
Of course, this is the perpetual problem with the current system and one that many want to change with a playoff system.
Naysayers of the BCS system want a true number one team crowned at the end of the year. No ifs, ands or buts. No questions. No whatifs. No maybe-this-team-should-be-at-the-top. They want a playoff. They want it bad and they looking at the Utes' undefeated season (capped with that win over Alabama) and the debacle in the Big 12 as the rallying cry.
Guess what. That playoff ain't comin', no matter who says they want one (Barack Obama may be able to fix all the troubles in the world--or at least promise he can--but can't fix college football).
Sure Utah had an undefeated season, but really, a team from the Mountain West who's best win came against an uninspired Crimson Tide, that should be the No. 1 team in the country?
And don't give me that "oh the Mountain West is really good" bullshit. The mid-majors were overrated this year. Everyone of them. Except the Utes.
And what about Texas? Should the Longhorns not be considered? Why didn't any coaches break from the AFCA and vote for UT? Because the AFCA threatened to not count votes by coaches who didn't vote for Florida.
Should Utah be No. 1? No, but I would have voted for them. Because, at the end of the day, we all knew that there was no way that the Utes were going to be named No. 1 in the country.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
FOX Asks "Where Did All the Offense Go?"
Update 11:02 p.m.: I'm watching ESPN's coverage right now, and it's the same stuff. Thanks sports media for making the whole world think that after Florida and Oklahoma breezed threw some powderpuff defenses that last month of the season, that both offenses are supposed to continue like a well-oiled machine. Right.
Florida won, as I predicted (though it isn't on record. You'll just have to ask my friends).
Not much to say about the game besides that Tim Tebow is a pretty good football player, Percy Harvin is amazing and Sam Bradford might have the softest touch in the college game (that's a good thing).
The game was pretty much ho-hum, which can be a pretty good characterization of all 34 bowl games this year, collectively. Collectively, this bowl season wasn't extraordinary. But that's a post for another day.
What I'll always remember from this BCS National Championship Game is FOX's team (play-by-play guy Thom Brenaman, color guy Charles Davies and the in-studio crew of Chris Rose, Eddie George, Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson) kept harping on the fact that both the Gators and Oklahoma were scoring at a lower rate than they normally do.
It's as if the entire FOX crew was expecting a 42-41 shootout. Please.
Look at what teams Florida and the Sooners have played the last couple of months. Oklahoma's last five opponents before the BCS title game was Mizzou, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Nebraska.
The Gators played Alabama, Florida State, The Citadel, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The only quality defensive team in that group of 10 teams is...Bama.
Everyone else (even the Red Raiders) is a defensive pansy.
So when the best two teams, with two pretty good defenses, get together for the championship game, you--FOX--still expect a shootout? Really? And for godsakes, the Gators played THE CITADEL and dropped 70 points on them.
I didn't expect to see a 7-7 game at half. But I for sure didn't expect to see 48-46.
C'mon FOX, at least pretend to show some professionalism.
(There Will Be No) Extra Point:
My friend brought up a good point after the game. He wonders what does Urban Meyer think about Utah's 13-0 season and if the Utes should be given consideration as the No. 1 team in the country.
We both came to the conclusion that, given the circumstances, Meyer has to say Florida has to be given the No. 1 spot in the AP poll, even though he was saying different when he took Utah to a BCS win a few years ago.
Florida won, as I predicted (though it isn't on record. You'll just have to ask my friends).
Not much to say about the game besides that Tim Tebow is a pretty good football player, Percy Harvin is amazing and Sam Bradford might have the softest touch in the college game (that's a good thing).
The game was pretty much ho-hum, which can be a pretty good characterization of all 34 bowl games this year, collectively. Collectively, this bowl season wasn't extraordinary. But that's a post for another day.
What I'll always remember from this BCS National Championship Game is FOX's team (play-by-play guy Thom Brenaman, color guy Charles Davies and the in-studio crew of Chris Rose, Eddie George, Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson) kept harping on the fact that both the Gators and Oklahoma were scoring at a lower rate than they normally do.
It's as if the entire FOX crew was expecting a 42-41 shootout. Please.
Look at what teams Florida and the Sooners have played the last couple of months. Oklahoma's last five opponents before the BCS title game was Mizzou, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Nebraska.
The Gators played Alabama, Florida State, The Citadel, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The only quality defensive team in that group of 10 teams is...Bama.
Everyone else (even the Red Raiders) is a defensive pansy.
So when the best two teams, with two pretty good defenses, get together for the championship game, you--FOX--still expect a shootout? Really? And for godsakes, the Gators played THE CITADEL and dropped 70 points on them.
I didn't expect to see a 7-7 game at half. But I for sure didn't expect to see 48-46.
C'mon FOX, at least pretend to show some professionalism.
(There Will Be No) Extra Point:
My friend brought up a good point after the game. He wonders what does Urban Meyer think about Utah's 13-0 season and if the Utes should be given consideration as the No. 1 team in the country.
We both came to the conclusion that, given the circumstances, Meyer has to say Florida has to be given the No. 1 spot in the AP poll, even though he was saying different when he took Utah to a BCS win a few years ago.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Week That Was Wild Card Weekend in the NFL
There is definitely still a buzz in and around San Diego about the way the Chargers advanced to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday.
It's not a hangover. It's an actual buzz. The city, the county, hell maybe all of southern California are still drunk off of what was quite possibly the greatest game ever played (in San Diego).
And it's too bad that when games this good happen--when there is so much surrounding the game, all the little intricacies and dramas, storylines and arcs--it's too bad that professional journalists have a deadline of a few hours after a game to get their work in, because there's so much to talk about, that often--in the best games--professional journalists become mediocre.
These beat writers and sports columnist always fall short in the biggest of games.
Take the Union-Tribune's two sports columnists. Nick Canepa and Tim Sullivan were so excited and so for a loss for words that they decided to write about everything in their two columns. There was so much to say that the two writers were constricted by their inch counts.
Even the great Michael Silver was dumbfounded and his piece was a mash-up of three different columns (at least that's what it read like).
This game will probably go up there in the annals of Chargers as one of the great ones--right up there with the win over Miami in 1982, or the two wins in the 1994-95 NFL playoffs that sent San Diego to the Super Bowl (a 22-21 win over the Dolphins and a 17-13 victory over Pittsburgh).
But if the Chargers continue to roll and somehow reach Tampa, Florida on February 1, this game should not be seen as the beginning of an incredible run. That win came on Dec. 4, against the hated Raiders, on a Thursday night, when San Diego was 4-8 and the season looked like it was over.
That game won't be remembered, because it was just another blow out.
But the win on Saturday--take it from the professionals who struggled to write about the game--no words can be used to really describe it. And no words are really needed.
To the rest of the weekend:
Of all the guys that NBC could have hired to embellish its football coverage on Football Night, it hired Matt Millen. Does anyone even believe a thing that comes out of his mouth, regardless if it's football related or not?
It's not a hangover. It's an actual buzz. The city, the county, hell maybe all of southern California are still drunk off of what was quite possibly the greatest game ever played (in San Diego).
And it's too bad that when games this good happen--when there is so much surrounding the game, all the little intricacies and dramas, storylines and arcs--it's too bad that professional journalists have a deadline of a few hours after a game to get their work in, because there's so much to talk about, that often--in the best games--professional journalists become mediocre.
These beat writers and sports columnist always fall short in the biggest of games.
Take the Union-Tribune's two sports columnists. Nick Canepa and Tim Sullivan were so excited and so for a loss for words that they decided to write about everything in their two columns. There was so much to say that the two writers were constricted by their inch counts.
Even the great Michael Silver was dumbfounded and his piece was a mash-up of three different columns (at least that's what it read like).
This game will probably go up there in the annals of Chargers as one of the great ones--right up there with the win over Miami in 1982, or the two wins in the 1994-95 NFL playoffs that sent San Diego to the Super Bowl (a 22-21 win over the Dolphins and a 17-13 victory over Pittsburgh).
But if the Chargers continue to roll and somehow reach Tampa, Florida on February 1, this game should not be seen as the beginning of an incredible run. That win came on Dec. 4, against the hated Raiders, on a Thursday night, when San Diego was 4-8 and the season looked like it was over.
That game won't be remembered, because it was just another blow out.
But the win on Saturday--take it from the professionals who struggled to write about the game--no words can be used to really describe it. And no words are really needed.
To the rest of the weekend:
- Arizona Over Atlanta: It's nice to see that franchise get a home playoff game and win. And it's was nice to see that wiley vet--the former NFL MVP and grocery store bagger--Kurt Warner, flex his muscles and get that team the win. And I was totally surprsied about how much Edgerrin James played after what he said about the Cardinals on Friday. I guess the lesson is throw the team under the bus and then get more carries.
- Sunday Games: Were boring. But I will tell you that Cam Cameron has got to be assistant coach of the year (if the award exists), taking a rookie quarterback (who played Division I-AA football at Delaware!!!) and making him a playoff winner. And everyone has to be excited to see the Philly-NYG matchup next week after the Eagles disposed of the Vikings.
Of all the guys that NBC could have hired to embellish its football coverage on Football Night, it hired Matt Millen. Does anyone even believe a thing that comes out of his mouth, regardless if it's football related or not?
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