Brunch with your girlfriend. Laundry. Loading your iTunes. Reflecting on past Super Bowl glories. The two-week break before the Super Bowl provides opportunities for all kinds of enjoyment, on this the first Sunday Without Football. The sting of this day is taken away by the fact that we can look forward to The Biggest Sunday of Them All in seven days. Its as if the NFL has to wean its fans gradually off football; the break prevents the shock from being too great after the Bowl, since we have all gotten a taste today of the way Sundays will soon feel for many weeks. Suffice it to say that if you are sitting down to a plate of nachos and a beer to watch the Pro Bowl in a couple of weeks, you seriously need help letting go.
Superbowl.com provides a fun 5-question quiz which determines what team you should root for if still undecided. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it yet, definitely good for a few laughs. The quiz told me what I already know, that I will be rooting for the Bears Sunday. Although I must say its hard not feel like the Colts are destined to win this one. More than anything in their epic come from behind win over the Pats last Sunday, I was impressed by Peyton Manning’s fire after throwing the interception that put Indy in a 21-3 hole. As annoying as it is to have his “being a leader” constantly drummed into our heads by the media, you could see his emotion at that moment, and he really did manage to keep his team focused and competitive when lesser players might sulk their way through the next couple of plays.
This week I ask the question, what were the great indelible moments in Super Bowl History? I take a personal approach, adding where I was, and the circumstances of my viewing the game into the mix. Beginning with my understanding of those early legendary Bowls before my birth, I give you the epic Grind It Out Sports Super Bowl Magic Moments.
Super Bowl 1 (1967) Green Bay 35 – Kansas City 10. Legendary night of partying for seldom used Packers WR Max McGee, who had an amazing 7 catches and 2 TDs motivated by pure fear, not wanting coach Vince Lombardi to know how hung over he was. After hiding under the covers and then sneaking back to the bars after curfew, McGee was still buying drinks for young LA ladies as the sun was coming up, since he didn’t expect to see a single pass, having only caught 7 all season in what was to be his last year. An injury to the starting WR thrust McGee into the spotlight. Future Super Bowl eve partiers would not exhibit McGee’s ability to bounce back and be a hero.
Super Bowl 3 (1969) New York Jets 16 – Baltimore 7. The legendary guarantee and equally legendary lambchops of Mr. Kissing Suzy Kolber himself, Broadway Joe Namath. This is the first known “guarantee” in sports, magically coming true against huge odds, and thereby for a short time giving credence to the word. Today, a sports “guarantee” is nothing more than a really strong prediction, a lock of the week if you will. Hundreds of “guarantees” since then have been false, with no consideration to the guarantor, the fans.
Super Bowl 4 (1970) Kansas City 23 – Minnesota 7. “They’re running around like a Chinese fire drill”. The late great Hank Stram of the Chiefs, first coach to be miked up on the sideline, pacing the sideline in his arrowhead-logo blazer, slapping his palm with his rolled up program.
Super Bowl 7 (1973) Miami 14 – Washington 7. Dolphin kicker Garo Yepremian picks up a wild snap and suddenly his dream of being a quarterback in the Super Bowl takes over. Garo's wobbly wounded duck of a pass goes sideways and is scooped up by rthe Skins for a 49 yard touchdown run the other way. Second only to the tumbling ski jumper on the Wide World of Sports, this picture of futility was ironically the only blemish on a Dolphins Super Bowl win which cemented their perfect season.
Super Bowl 8 (1974) Miami 24 – Minnesota 7. My brother Andrew is born on this day. This not only inspires years of mostly futile support for the Dolphins in our family, but also represents the first sign of my brother’s strange control over the Vikings, on whom he bestowed a curse which will prevent them from ever winning the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl 10 (1976) Pittsburgh 21 – Dallas 17. The concentration of Steeler WR Lynn Swann leaping to touch a long ball also touched by the defender, planting his foot and leaping again to snare the tipped pass out of the air.
Super Bowl 11 (1977) Oakland 32 – Minnesota 14. Raiders coach John Madden, in his black shirt and blue polyester pants, his curly hair swooped into a big puff, being carried off the field by his players with a classic look of joy…which allows him to “Boom!” - break into broadcasting.
Super Bowl 12 (1978) Dallas 27 – Denver 10. The first super bowl I can really remember watching although I can’t recall any of the game. My only memory is the image of the big beard of Broncos QB Craig Morton. Gimme a break, I was 8. However this began an uninterrupted run of Super Bowl viewings.
Super Bowl 13 (1979) Pittsburgh 35 – Dallas 31. Lynn Swann again, this time leaping into the endzone for the deciding TD.
Super Bowl 14 (1980) Pittsburgh 31 - LA Rams 19. I remember rooting for the Rams and their plucky underdog QB Vince Ferragamo, who held a 19-14 lead coming into the fourth quarter. Another Bradshaw bomb for the Steelers, this time to John Stallworth was predicted by family friend Bob Z, whose confidence in the favorite Steelers underscores my first taste of the perilous road of rooting for underdogs.
Super Bowl 15 (1981) Oakland 31 – Philadelphia 17. Scruffy Raiders linebacker Rod Martin grabs his third interception of the day, deflating the Eagles for good.
Super Bowl 16 (1982) San Francisco 26 – Cincinnati 21. Heroic and gritty goal line stand by the Niners D denied the Bengals on four attempts inside the three yard line and tips the balance to SF.
Super Bowl 17 (1983) Washington 27 – Miami 17. Bruising Redskin menace John Riggins, who had bullied the Dolphins all game despite my inept attempts to will the defense to stop him, turns a fourth-and-one attempt into a 43 yard back-breaking fourth quarter TD.
Super Bowl 18 (1984) LA Raiders 38 – Washington 7. Most remember Marcus Allen’s amazing reversal of field for a 74 yard TD. The real play of the game was the interception by unknown Raiders DB Jack Squirek. Redskins QB Joe Theismann, who was backed up deep in his own end threw a little toss in the flat which Squirek turned into a flash of a pick-6, a TD that kept the Skins out of the game.
Super Bowl 19 (1985) San Francisco 38 – Miami 16. A blur of disappointment and Joe Montana on another day of high Dolphins hopes in which no play is remembered.
Super Bowl 20 (1986) Chicago 46 – New England 10. I obnoxiously offered my friend Eric Klopfer (a Pats fan) a 20 point spread on a $20 bet which allowed me to relish the Bears 46-10 victory in smug satisfaction. Who can forget the Fridge scoring that touchdown?
Super Bowl 21 (1987) NY Giants 39 – Denver 20. Giants WR Phil McConkey scoops up a floating tip in the endzone for a TD in a game punctuated by my Mom’s cousin Bob Lichman’s shouts of “little Joe from Kokomo” every time Giants RB Joe Morris touched the ball. Cousin Bob’s joy was my first taste of a fan rewarded for years of suffering and unconditional support.
Super Bowl 22 (1988) Washington 42 – Denver 10. 35 points in a Redskins second quarter blitzkrieg, which I still use as the yardstick for the most points you can possibly expect to score in a quarter.
Super Bowl 23 (1989) San Francisco 20 – Cincinnati 16. I’ll never forget Bengals lineman Tim Krumrie breaking his leg and the gruesome image of his massive limb bending so disturbingly where there was no joint. The game, a rare thriller, came down to that winning drive by Montana as the clock was ticking down, capped by the pass to John Taylor in endzone traffic.
Super Bowl 24 (1990) San Francisco 55 – Denver 10. This one-sided slaughter is memorialized by the Simpsons in which Homer wishes he could be John Elway. He envisions himself spiking the ball in the endzone with a Super Bowl TD, only to learn the score is now 55-10 Niners. D’oh!!!
Super Bowl 25 (1991) Giants 20 – Buffalo 19. Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood goes wide right on a chance to win the game as I am down on my knees in the TV lounge of my college dorm, praying for Big Blue. The sweet taste of victory celebrated with a massive bucket of a margarita at Houlihans.
Super Bowl 26 (1992) Washington 37 – Buffalo 24. In a legendary mishap, Buffalo RB Thurman Thomas leaves his helmet in the dressing room and doesn’t notice until the game is about to start. Thomas misses the first possession, which features two running plays, the Bills have to punt and never recover. Thomas only gets 13 yards on the day.
Super Bowl 27 (1993) Dallas 52 – Buffalo 17, and Super Bowl 28 (1994) Dallas 30 – Buffalo 13. These were the dark ages for the Super Bowl. My girlfriend Joyce remembers how annoying, unemotional and formulaic these games were without recalling the exact teams involved, as many casual fans have, she has blocked out the details. Team America against the bumbling Bills provided no foothold for anyone not specifically rooting for one team. The two years run together without any indelible memories save for one. Huge Cowboys end Leon Lett showboating with a recovered fumble gets stripped by a hustling Bills WR Don Beebe at the one inch line. The fact that these two dismal Bowls are remembered for a quirky sideshow of play which did not affect the outcome of the game is a fitting statement.
Super Bowl 29 (1995) San Francisco 49 – San Diego 26. Only three plays into the game, Niners WR Jerry Rice is gone on a 44 yard breakaway TD. I am watching the game in my Mission District apartment in San Francisco and the crackle of gunfire and explosives can be heard at the exact moment of this early TD, the excitement of the rout being on that early was indescribable. Later there is dancing on the streets, waving of flags and bouncing automobiles in a wild scene.
Super Bowl 30 (1996) Dallas 27 – Pittsburgh 17. In a crushing moment which doomed this game to be remembered for failure, Steelers QB Neil O’Donnell threw a ball right to Cowboy DB Larry Brown, I mean right to him. Inexplicable for the Steelers and anyone rooting for either a good game or the breaking of 11 years of NFC dominance. I was at a San Francisco Super Bowl party where, naturally, we were unanimously rooting for the Steelers. The hostess comes in at that exact moment with a tray of snacks and lets out a big cheer. It was the fourth quarter and she was so focused on the chips and dips that she hadn’t picked up which team was in what uniform yet, and thought Pittsburgh just grabbed the INT. Her errant cheer echoes into the sullen room.
Super Bowl 31 (1997) Green Bay 35 - New England 21. Fleet footed Heisman winner Desmond Howard answers a Pats TD by scampering 99 yards for a Packer TD on the ensuing kickoff, slamming the door shut on the Tuna and the Pats.
Super Bowl 32 (1998) Denver 31 – Green Bay 24. John Elway scrambling for a first down gets knocked 360 degrees in the air, spinning the Broncos to an unexpected victory. Odd to remember rooting for Elway and the Broncos to break the 12 year NFC run and to upset what I assumed would be a dynasty by Brett Favre that never came to be.
Super Bowl 33 (1999) Denver 34 – Atlanta 19. Hanky panky in the late night hours by Falcons safety Eugene Robinson has him arrested for solicitation of a prostitute. After being awarded the Bart Starr award for “high moral character” earlier in the day, Robinson, a married father of two, caps his Super Bowl eve by offering a female undercover cop $40 for oral sex. His bust reverberates through the pregame discussions and when Robinson gets toasted on an 80 yard Elway bomb, his fate is sealed as a Super Bowl villain who feel prey to the bright lights of the big game.
Super Bowl 34 (2000) St. Louis 23 – Tennessee 16. Titans receiver Andre Dyson stretches out for a game tying touchdown as time expires, only to be tackled a yard short of the endzone, capping a thriller. Not to disparage the ending but you could kinda tell he wasn’t gonna get it.
Super Bowl 35 (2001) Baltimore 34 – New York Giants 7. I hosted a snow covered cookout with Giants fans. At a certain point in the third quarter everyone had fallen asleep except me. I had to wake everyone up to see replays of Ron Dixon’s 99 yard kickoff return, which was the only Giants score.
Super Bowl 36 (2002) New England 20 – St. Louis 17. Pats Adam Vinatieri with that clutch 48 yard game winner. But ya gotta remember Brady on that last drive with no timeouts. Great game and I feel nostalgic for the days of the Pats as loveable underdogs.
Super Bowl 37 (2003) Tampa Bay 48 – Oakland 21. In another disturbing example of pre Super Bowl partying gone awry, Raiders pro bowl center Barrett Robbins goes AWOL in Tijuana the day before the game (in San Diego), losing track of where and who he was in an alcohol-fueled bipolar episode. Unable to attend team functions he is sent home before the game. Backup Adam Treu is pushed around by Warren Sapp and company all game, as the Raiders are defeated while wondering why their offensive anchor wasn’t there.
Super Bowl 38 (2004) New England 32 – Carolina 29. After a great game-tying drive by the Panthers with 1:08 left, play of the game was a boneheaded kick out of bounds by Carolina kicker Jim Kasay. Starting at the 40 after the ensuing penalty gave the Pats plenty of time to maneuver Vinatieri into position for another Super Bowl winning kick.
Super Bowl 39 (2005) New England 24 – Philadelphia 21. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb throws up before an attempted fourth quarter drive and is strangely flat and unemotional while attempting in vain to lead his team.
Super Bowl 40 (2006) Pittsburgh 21 – Seattle 10. Steelers cement it on a trick play as wideout and former QB Antwan Randel-El catches a lateral and flings it 43 yards for a TD to Hines Ward.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Pats Protected By Glowing Light
After the Patriots stunning performance against the Chargers, I am changing the name of this column to “Hang Around Sports” for just one week, as the Pats proved that being outplayed by a more talented team is no reason to go losing a football game all of a sudden.
I must admit how colossally wrong I was. Xs and Os are more important than the Belichick/Brady mystique and playoff record? What on earth was I thinking? Of course the Brady/Belichick factor is more important. Of course the Pats were not struck by lightning as I had predicted (perhaps due to the fact that the original New England Patriot, the loveable tri-cornered hat wearing Ben Franklin, actually invented the lightning rod). Of course the Pats amazing run would roll on in the time after Deion Branch and into the year 2007. Jabar Gaffney? Doesn’t matter. Brady, smirking in the postgame press conference, relishing the fact that he could somehow still be an underdog in the Fantasy Football obsessed perception of America, even though he always wins.
The Pats were surrounded by a glowing light all game; realizing this made me want to recant my prediction halfway through the first quarter. When they lost the ball they magically got it back. Brady has the ball come flying out and get tracked by an invisible force field into the arms of Matt Light (one of his Visa 5 layers of protection). SD gets the big interception by McCree with an 8 point lead and Troy Brown is able to stop time, calmly walk over and poke out the ball, and then allow the game, and their drive, to resume. I've seen stuff like that happen on "Heroes", but never before in football. Drives extended by headbutting penalties due to imps buzzing in Chargers' heads. Calling it "Brady/Belichick magic at work" is just man's attempt to explain the shielding light that seems to protect the Pats.
Martyball may not have been responsible for these turnover mishaps, but in the category of things you CAN control, the blame lies squarely on Martyball for the worst, most horrible call of the game. Talking about 2nd and 5, tie game, late fourth quarter. Ya gotta hand the ball to LaDanian, yes, again, just like you did on first down. Marty was unwilling to fully embrace the use of his deadliest and most dependable weapon. He put the ball in the hands of the rookie QB and allowed himself to get beaten on poorly thrown Rivers incompletions, and punted the ball away to Brady and Co. with the perfect 3:30 left, practically leaving milk and cookies in the endzone for them. I contend LaDanian could get you close enough on second down that you wouldn’t be stuck throwing again on third. It’s the playoffs, you go back to the well again and again if you have to.
La Danian lost his cool at midfield after the game – nice job defending the disturbing “dance” of your steroid abusing teammate. Shawne Merriman’s Roid Rhumba is a repeated, annoying taunt in the face of his opponents. It would seem to be the most basic rule of taunting that after you’ve done it ad naseum you can expect to have it done in your face when you lose. LaDanian’s call of “disrespectful” for this case of taunting back the taunter is way off, the only thing disrespectful is the final score being disrespectful to the San Diego fans. Take some responsibility for that instead of playing your sour grapes cards on the Pats organization.
Since I obviously have clouded judgment with my picks, and since I witnessed the Pats surrounded by the glowing light, I have to reverse what my picks would ordinarily be looking at the “Xs and Os”. Its apparent to me that the Pats will win the Super Bowl, beating the Bears in an 85 revenge bloodmatch.
Grind It Out Sports play of the weekend, however, comes courtesy of the Saints Deuce McAllister, when he plowed the pile forward for a TD, his body twisted in a J-shape and his helmet removed by the shifting continents, keying a courageous victory against a game Philly squad.
I must admit how colossally wrong I was. Xs and Os are more important than the Belichick/Brady mystique and playoff record? What on earth was I thinking? Of course the Brady/Belichick factor is more important. Of course the Pats were not struck by lightning as I had predicted (perhaps due to the fact that the original New England Patriot, the loveable tri-cornered hat wearing Ben Franklin, actually invented the lightning rod). Of course the Pats amazing run would roll on in the time after Deion Branch and into the year 2007. Jabar Gaffney? Doesn’t matter. Brady, smirking in the postgame press conference, relishing the fact that he could somehow still be an underdog in the Fantasy Football obsessed perception of America, even though he always wins.
The Pats were surrounded by a glowing light all game; realizing this made me want to recant my prediction halfway through the first quarter. When they lost the ball they magically got it back. Brady has the ball come flying out and get tracked by an invisible force field into the arms of Matt Light (one of his Visa 5 layers of protection). SD gets the big interception by McCree with an 8 point lead and Troy Brown is able to stop time, calmly walk over and poke out the ball, and then allow the game, and their drive, to resume. I've seen stuff like that happen on "Heroes", but never before in football. Drives extended by headbutting penalties due to imps buzzing in Chargers' heads. Calling it "Brady/Belichick magic at work" is just man's attempt to explain the shielding light that seems to protect the Pats.
Martyball may not have been responsible for these turnover mishaps, but in the category of things you CAN control, the blame lies squarely on Martyball for the worst, most horrible call of the game. Talking about 2nd and 5, tie game, late fourth quarter. Ya gotta hand the ball to LaDanian, yes, again, just like you did on first down. Marty was unwilling to fully embrace the use of his deadliest and most dependable weapon. He put the ball in the hands of the rookie QB and allowed himself to get beaten on poorly thrown Rivers incompletions, and punted the ball away to Brady and Co. with the perfect 3:30 left, practically leaving milk and cookies in the endzone for them. I contend LaDanian could get you close enough on second down that you wouldn’t be stuck throwing again on third. It’s the playoffs, you go back to the well again and again if you have to.
La Danian lost his cool at midfield after the game – nice job defending the disturbing “dance” of your steroid abusing teammate. Shawne Merriman’s Roid Rhumba is a repeated, annoying taunt in the face of his opponents. It would seem to be the most basic rule of taunting that after you’ve done it ad naseum you can expect to have it done in your face when you lose. LaDanian’s call of “disrespectful” for this case of taunting back the taunter is way off, the only thing disrespectful is the final score being disrespectful to the San Diego fans. Take some responsibility for that instead of playing your sour grapes cards on the Pats organization.
Since I obviously have clouded judgment with my picks, and since I witnessed the Pats surrounded by the glowing light, I have to reverse what my picks would ordinarily be looking at the “Xs and Os”. Its apparent to me that the Pats will win the Super Bowl, beating the Bears in an 85 revenge bloodmatch.
Grind It Out Sports play of the weekend, however, comes courtesy of the Saints Deuce McAllister, when he plowed the pile forward for a TD, his body twisted in a J-shape and his helmet removed by the shifting continents, keying a courageous victory against a game Philly squad.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Lightning Will Strike Pats
I have to give props to the Boise State Broncos for the most exciting moments in football for a long time. Imagine an old black and white football film from the 50s, the Boise St. players with their perfect hair listening to the coach on the sideline. “We’ve run the fumblerooski. And we’ve run the hook and lateral.” The coach is pacing. “Now we need a play to get this two point conversion.” Silence. Then, little Frankie pipes up. “Hey coach, they’ve never seen the Statue of Liberty play, have they?” The coach is puzzled, then his wrinkled brow melts into a mischievous grin. “The ol’ Statue of Liberty….”
Three brilliant trick plays in one game, all of which resulted in scores and all of which left the Oklahoma Sooners looking flat footed and stooge-like. Climaxing in the most perfect Statue of Liberty, the ball magically hidden behind Boise QB Jared Zabransky’s back after the “follow through” of his fake throw, grabbed by the RB for an easy walk to the endzone and a game winning 2-point conversion. The tricks provided a larger than life, courageous, nothing-to-lose victory which allowed the lowly Smurfturfers to capture the hearts and fancy of a nation. May the NFL deliver a fraction of that excitement this weekend.
In the words of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven: “Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more.” The Colts will be nothing more than a visitor scraping at the door of their abandoned city of Baltimore, and will be rebuffed by McNair and Co. The Colts fled their native Baltimore in a fleet of trucks loaded in secrecy, under cover of night, and were already in Indianapolis by the time anyone noticed. Now its time for the good people of Baltimore to savor some revenge. Ravens 27-Colts 21.
Philadelphia fans consider themselves “long suffering.” Go to a Phillies game in your Mets gear and you’ll quickly find the fans will gladly take out their suffering on you. Nawlins has suffered too, in life not sports and in a much more meaningful sense. They also have only won one playoff game ever. What gives? The rules of karma say the Phila underdog card gets trumped in the Big Easy by the strong arm and leadership of Drew Breezy, and a crowd that will be off the heezy. Saints 34-Eagles 27.
All the talk about New England is about the intangibles, the x-factors, the Brady factor, the Belichick factor, the Brady playoff record, the Brady sex appeal, the Belichick playoff record. Everything except the actual X’s and O’s. A few years ago Brady got his first playoff victory in the swirling snow, with a “tuck rule” call that robbed Da Raiduhs. Sunday, the streak of good luck will end, and Cali gets its revenge. La Danian lightning will strike the Pats, and QB Philip Rivers will be good enough. Brady can go back to complaining about the Deion Branch trade after they fall to earth. Chargers 40-Patriots 31.
The long layoff is not good for the Bears. Too much time to contemplate. The layoff wasn’t long enough to bring the return of two of their defensive stalwarts, Mike Brown and Tommie Harris. Rex Grossman will try “extra hard” and that right there will doom the Bears. Seahawks meanwhile, have some mojo working after the way they defeated Dallas. Seahawks 20 - Bears 17.
Three brilliant trick plays in one game, all of which resulted in scores and all of which left the Oklahoma Sooners looking flat footed and stooge-like. Climaxing in the most perfect Statue of Liberty, the ball magically hidden behind Boise QB Jared Zabransky’s back after the “follow through” of his fake throw, grabbed by the RB for an easy walk to the endzone and a game winning 2-point conversion. The tricks provided a larger than life, courageous, nothing-to-lose victory which allowed the lowly Smurfturfers to capture the hearts and fancy of a nation. May the NFL deliver a fraction of that excitement this weekend.
In the words of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven: “Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more.” The Colts will be nothing more than a visitor scraping at the door of their abandoned city of Baltimore, and will be rebuffed by McNair and Co. The Colts fled their native Baltimore in a fleet of trucks loaded in secrecy, under cover of night, and were already in Indianapolis by the time anyone noticed. Now its time for the good people of Baltimore to savor some revenge. Ravens 27-Colts 21.
Philadelphia fans consider themselves “long suffering.” Go to a Phillies game in your Mets gear and you’ll quickly find the fans will gladly take out their suffering on you. Nawlins has suffered too, in life not sports and in a much more meaningful sense. They also have only won one playoff game ever. What gives? The rules of karma say the Phila underdog card gets trumped in the Big Easy by the strong arm and leadership of Drew Breezy, and a crowd that will be off the heezy. Saints 34-Eagles 27.
All the talk about New England is about the intangibles, the x-factors, the Brady factor, the Belichick factor, the Brady playoff record, the Brady sex appeal, the Belichick playoff record. Everything except the actual X’s and O’s. A few years ago Brady got his first playoff victory in the swirling snow, with a “tuck rule” call that robbed Da Raiduhs. Sunday, the streak of good luck will end, and Cali gets its revenge. La Danian lightning will strike the Pats, and QB Philip Rivers will be good enough. Brady can go back to complaining about the Deion Branch trade after they fall to earth. Chargers 40-Patriots 31.
The long layoff is not good for the Bears. Too much time to contemplate. The layoff wasn’t long enough to bring the return of two of their defensive stalwarts, Mike Brown and Tommie Harris. Rex Grossman will try “extra hard” and that right there will doom the Bears. Seahawks meanwhile, have some mojo working after the way they defeated Dallas. Seahawks 20 - Bears 17.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Seahawks are Wildest of Cards
Big Blue Folds. Did a desperate last charge by the Giants keep the game in doubt until the end? Or was Big Blue just doing enough to stall the inevitable, showing tantalizing flashes of talent before crumbling? The valiant Giants D rose up to stop the Eagles time and again, allowing New York to squeak into a 20-20 fourth quarter tie, but no further. This late tie, which represented the apex of the Giants 2006 season, occurred almost as all hope was lost, after numerous squandered opportunities. The Giants showed the skills which could have won the game, and also showed the mental chaos that mostly made winning impossible for them this year.
The images are ugly. Jeremy Shockey lifting the earpiece of Coach Coughlin’s headset to shout at him. Plaxico Burress whining and moping with his visor askew. Tiki Barber sitting by himself with that goofy grin. Worst of all, Eli Manning with his completely blank stare, looking like he had just been lobotomized. I understand he’s not a rah-rah guy but I was starting to get worried about the drool factor the way he was just staring into space. Announcer Troy Aikman, who himself can be quite a stiff, pointed out how Eli was off in another place, but really all the Giants seemed to be islands unto themselves Sunday.
Tiki certainly did not seem to be a man soaking up his last day of battle with his beloved teammates. I’m not sure what was giving him such a sarcastic grin, but he looked like a dude who had to go to a wedding with his ex-girlfriend two days after dumping her. Just sitting by himself with a smile that said “Hi, I’m smiling, but don’t talk to me, I was dragged here and I’m leaving right after the toast.”
Tiki certainly gave a winning effort in his finale, rushing for 137 and consistently picking up key first downs. But where was the pep talk to get his teammates riled up? Look at Jerome Bettis last year, so beloved that his retirement spurred the Steelers on to Super Bowl. You know the Bus had some inspiring words for his boys on the sideline. But alas, just another example of the perplexing aloofness of Tiki, who, unlike the Bus, I fear will never be seated among the Men of the Square Table.
For Giants fans, the end of the season brings more relief than sadness.
Seahawks Discover Clutch. Just as the Cowboys were about to kick a late go-ahead field goal, QB Tony Romo, who has been the holder for every Dallas field goal this season, was victimized by a slippery “K-ball”, which squirted out of his hands. NFL officials say a K-ball is a slicker version of the regular ball which is preferred by placekickers; Romo seemed to believe himself quite slick when he was implicated in a date with Jessica Simpson and seen engaging in pregame sideline flirtation with American Idol Kerry Underwood. Yet on Saturday the concept of extra slickness seemed to work against Romo as his strange inability to grip what would have been an easy field goal erased a probable victory for the Cowboys.
The shoestring tackle of an improvising Romo on the same play moments later at the Seattle 2 by a quick reacting and sure handed Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux prevented what apppeared to be a sure touchdown. This was one of many nice hustle plays that gave Seattle a chance to steal one, and suddenly give the Coffeetown Ospreys a long absent sense of close-game clutchness. Other key plays included the incredible 30 yard bomb from QB Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram, perfectly placed to the outside shoulder where the defender couldn’t get near it. They included two stellar TD grabs by tight end Jerramy Stevens, best known as the last Super Bowl’s inciter-of-Joey-Porter, who dropped key balls in the pigskin classic. Stevens may have learned from his foolishness as he maintained full concentration on the two difficult TD balls, and Hasselbeck had the true laser rocket arm on Saturday (and not Peyton).
The Seattle D contributed their share of big plays as well. Babineaux’s tackle of Romo was accompanied by the purse snatching executed by Seattle rookie Kelly Jennings, who committed a distract-and-grab theft at the Cowboy 10 on Terry Glenn (previously called a woman by his coach Bill Parcells) for a safety that missed being a TD by a shoelace. No less important was the gang tackle of Dallas TE Jason Witten half an inch from the first down to set up the Romo-botched field goal attempt in the first place. After their dismal Super Bowl, this collection of clutch plays in a game with “crazy” playoff type unpredictability showed a new, tougher Seahawk at the top of the totem pole. (Their fans hope).
My pick of 20-19 Cowboys certainly painted an accurate picture of how this game almost went down. So did my call that the game would be “characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness.” Actually one big drop, but it musta been painful for the Big D faithful to watch TO’s right hand not know what the left hand was doing once again, on what would have been a key, drive-extending third down catch in the fourth quarter. It seems fitting as well that Romo, exalted as “lightning in a bottle”, would fall to rookie goat and now will have his clumsiness repeated in slow motion forever in the annals of NFL Films dishonor. He not only had to get consoled by TO, he even felt compelled to issue the “I hate myself now” speech to the media. Ouch, how precipitous is the rise and fall of Romo.
Colts Toughen Up. My prediction of a 14 point Colts victory was dead on. The predicted 41-27 score, admittedly reflecting the conventional wisdom that the offenses would rule the day, was short three touchdowns on each side. Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was absent from the action with only 32 yards on the day – the man who set an NFL record this year for carries in a season had only 15 this game, won by the Colts 23-8. No one predicted that the much maligned Colts D would discover an ability to control the game with smashmouth play in the trenches. Time after time the Chiefs insisted on going back to Johnson, who would get stopped in the teeth of the defensive interior, until KC eventually trailed big and had to go the passing route. A comparison of the number of team first downs early in the third quarter were an unheard of 20-0 in favor of Indy. Statistically, it was the best defensive performance in Colts playoff history, eclipsing some heroic days in their glorious Baltimore past.
After the game a beaming Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney explained that no one outside their locker room believed the Colts could stop anyone. Freeney was a disappointing former sack machine for the Colts this season; after getting between 11 and 16 sacks a season over his first four in the league, in this his fifth season, he managed only a measly 5.5. On Saturday Freeney stuffed Johnson and the run all day and got to Trent Green for two big sacks. The Colts D was a laughtingstock this year and got runnup on plenty of times capped off by an embarrassing 375 running yards allowed in Jacksonville on December 10th. But on Saturday they were the dominant unit on the field, reminding us of one of the eternal mysteries of sports, that the ratio between skill and performance is impossible to predict on a given gameday, and that players are capable of unexpected acts of courage when backed to a corner.
Overshadowed by the heroic defensive performance, but no less important, was Peyton Manning’s willingness to give up throwing the long ball and (after three INT’s) be content with a game plan of easy dumpoffs inside to the running backs and tight ends. Like many fans, Peyton didn’t even know his nemesis Ty Law was on the Chiefs until he intercepted two passes.
We’ve all seen Peyton get hubristic and try to do too much in the playoffs; perhaps this ability to manage the game in changing circumstances provides a different dimension. IF the Colts D dominates like that every game throughout the rest of the playoffs, then they will surely win the Super Bowl. IF, I’m saying, which is a big if. Was their performance an aberration or the sign of things to come? Look to GIOS for a prediction on the upcoming Battle of Baltimore this week, as the Colts return to the city they fled under cover of night, to face the Ravens.
Pats Dismiss Jets. My prediction called for a 20 point Pats victory and a dooming Pennington arm injury. Instead, a 21 point Pats victory was decided by critical arm mistakes by Pennington, the worst of which was a tipped backwards pass turned into 31-yard fumble return by the slow rumbling Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The 325 pound Wilfork missed three games with a bum ankle and was a surprise return for the game. He alertly scooped up an ignored live ball after Roosevelt Colvin tipped a pass Pennington threw backwards to the receiver standing slightly behind the line.
When Wilfork paused, puzzled as to the liveness of the ball he was holding, a jumping flailing Bill Belichick, who seemed to be auditioning for a role with Cirque de Soleil, told Wilfork, yes, you should indeed run, as the gyrating coach willed the big man down to the Jets 15 before the sleepy Jets D reacted. Call me crazy, but I’ve always been a fan of the forward pass. Not only does it close the door on the Pandora’s box of live-ball, backward pass troubles, but since forward is the direction you are trying to go, maybe you should throw that way, no?
The ensuing field goal following this Jets gaffe provided a decisive 23-13 Pats edge. Victory was sealed by Pennington’s Pick-6 opportunity handed to Pats DB Assante Samuel in the fourth which provided the final 37-16 advantage and crushed Gang Green’s weak comeback hopes.
Tom Brady was sneaky deadly, making no mistakes and throwing strikes to lead his team throughout. Yet one wonders, are the Pats good enough to go to San Diego and not get burned by the LaDanian Lightning? Predictions await.
The images are ugly. Jeremy Shockey lifting the earpiece of Coach Coughlin’s headset to shout at him. Plaxico Burress whining and moping with his visor askew. Tiki Barber sitting by himself with that goofy grin. Worst of all, Eli Manning with his completely blank stare, looking like he had just been lobotomized. I understand he’s not a rah-rah guy but I was starting to get worried about the drool factor the way he was just staring into space. Announcer Troy Aikman, who himself can be quite a stiff, pointed out how Eli was off in another place, but really all the Giants seemed to be islands unto themselves Sunday.
Tiki certainly did not seem to be a man soaking up his last day of battle with his beloved teammates. I’m not sure what was giving him such a sarcastic grin, but he looked like a dude who had to go to a wedding with his ex-girlfriend two days after dumping her. Just sitting by himself with a smile that said “Hi, I’m smiling, but don’t talk to me, I was dragged here and I’m leaving right after the toast.”
Tiki certainly gave a winning effort in his finale, rushing for 137 and consistently picking up key first downs. But where was the pep talk to get his teammates riled up? Look at Jerome Bettis last year, so beloved that his retirement spurred the Steelers on to Super Bowl. You know the Bus had some inspiring words for his boys on the sideline. But alas, just another example of the perplexing aloofness of Tiki, who, unlike the Bus, I fear will never be seated among the Men of the Square Table.
For Giants fans, the end of the season brings more relief than sadness.
Seahawks Discover Clutch. Just as the Cowboys were about to kick a late go-ahead field goal, QB Tony Romo, who has been the holder for every Dallas field goal this season, was victimized by a slippery “K-ball”, which squirted out of his hands. NFL officials say a K-ball is a slicker version of the regular ball which is preferred by placekickers; Romo seemed to believe himself quite slick when he was implicated in a date with Jessica Simpson and seen engaging in pregame sideline flirtation with American Idol Kerry Underwood. Yet on Saturday the concept of extra slickness seemed to work against Romo as his strange inability to grip what would have been an easy field goal erased a probable victory for the Cowboys.
The shoestring tackle of an improvising Romo on the same play moments later at the Seattle 2 by a quick reacting and sure handed Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux prevented what apppeared to be a sure touchdown. This was one of many nice hustle plays that gave Seattle a chance to steal one, and suddenly give the Coffeetown Ospreys a long absent sense of close-game clutchness. Other key plays included the incredible 30 yard bomb from QB Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram, perfectly placed to the outside shoulder where the defender couldn’t get near it. They included two stellar TD grabs by tight end Jerramy Stevens, best known as the last Super Bowl’s inciter-of-Joey-Porter, who dropped key balls in the pigskin classic. Stevens may have learned from his foolishness as he maintained full concentration on the two difficult TD balls, and Hasselbeck had the true laser rocket arm on Saturday (and not Peyton).
The Seattle D contributed their share of big plays as well. Babineaux’s tackle of Romo was accompanied by the purse snatching executed by Seattle rookie Kelly Jennings, who committed a distract-and-grab theft at the Cowboy 10 on Terry Glenn (previously called a woman by his coach Bill Parcells) for a safety that missed being a TD by a shoelace. No less important was the gang tackle of Dallas TE Jason Witten half an inch from the first down to set up the Romo-botched field goal attempt in the first place. After their dismal Super Bowl, this collection of clutch plays in a game with “crazy” playoff type unpredictability showed a new, tougher Seahawk at the top of the totem pole. (Their fans hope).
My pick of 20-19 Cowboys certainly painted an accurate picture of how this game almost went down. So did my call that the game would be “characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness.” Actually one big drop, but it musta been painful for the Big D faithful to watch TO’s right hand not know what the left hand was doing once again, on what would have been a key, drive-extending third down catch in the fourth quarter. It seems fitting as well that Romo, exalted as “lightning in a bottle”, would fall to rookie goat and now will have his clumsiness repeated in slow motion forever in the annals of NFL Films dishonor. He not only had to get consoled by TO, he even felt compelled to issue the “I hate myself now” speech to the media. Ouch, how precipitous is the rise and fall of Romo.
Colts Toughen Up. My prediction of a 14 point Colts victory was dead on. The predicted 41-27 score, admittedly reflecting the conventional wisdom that the offenses would rule the day, was short three touchdowns on each side. Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was absent from the action with only 32 yards on the day – the man who set an NFL record this year for carries in a season had only 15 this game, won by the Colts 23-8. No one predicted that the much maligned Colts D would discover an ability to control the game with smashmouth play in the trenches. Time after time the Chiefs insisted on going back to Johnson, who would get stopped in the teeth of the defensive interior, until KC eventually trailed big and had to go the passing route. A comparison of the number of team first downs early in the third quarter were an unheard of 20-0 in favor of Indy. Statistically, it was the best defensive performance in Colts playoff history, eclipsing some heroic days in their glorious Baltimore past.
After the game a beaming Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney explained that no one outside their locker room believed the Colts could stop anyone. Freeney was a disappointing former sack machine for the Colts this season; after getting between 11 and 16 sacks a season over his first four in the league, in this his fifth season, he managed only a measly 5.5. On Saturday Freeney stuffed Johnson and the run all day and got to Trent Green for two big sacks. The Colts D was a laughtingstock this year and got runnup on plenty of times capped off by an embarrassing 375 running yards allowed in Jacksonville on December 10th. But on Saturday they were the dominant unit on the field, reminding us of one of the eternal mysteries of sports, that the ratio between skill and performance is impossible to predict on a given gameday, and that players are capable of unexpected acts of courage when backed to a corner.
Overshadowed by the heroic defensive performance, but no less important, was Peyton Manning’s willingness to give up throwing the long ball and (after three INT’s) be content with a game plan of easy dumpoffs inside to the running backs and tight ends. Like many fans, Peyton didn’t even know his nemesis Ty Law was on the Chiefs until he intercepted two passes.
We’ve all seen Peyton get hubristic and try to do too much in the playoffs; perhaps this ability to manage the game in changing circumstances provides a different dimension. IF the Colts D dominates like that every game throughout the rest of the playoffs, then they will surely win the Super Bowl. IF, I’m saying, which is a big if. Was their performance an aberration or the sign of things to come? Look to GIOS for a prediction on the upcoming Battle of Baltimore this week, as the Colts return to the city they fled under cover of night, to face the Ravens.
Pats Dismiss Jets. My prediction called for a 20 point Pats victory and a dooming Pennington arm injury. Instead, a 21 point Pats victory was decided by critical arm mistakes by Pennington, the worst of which was a tipped backwards pass turned into 31-yard fumble return by the slow rumbling Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The 325 pound Wilfork missed three games with a bum ankle and was a surprise return for the game. He alertly scooped up an ignored live ball after Roosevelt Colvin tipped a pass Pennington threw backwards to the receiver standing slightly behind the line.
When Wilfork paused, puzzled as to the liveness of the ball he was holding, a jumping flailing Bill Belichick, who seemed to be auditioning for a role with Cirque de Soleil, told Wilfork, yes, you should indeed run, as the gyrating coach willed the big man down to the Jets 15 before the sleepy Jets D reacted. Call me crazy, but I’ve always been a fan of the forward pass. Not only does it close the door on the Pandora’s box of live-ball, backward pass troubles, but since forward is the direction you are trying to go, maybe you should throw that way, no?
The ensuing field goal following this Jets gaffe provided a decisive 23-13 Pats edge. Victory was sealed by Pennington’s Pick-6 opportunity handed to Pats DB Assante Samuel in the fourth which provided the final 37-16 advantage and crushed Gang Green’s weak comeback hopes.
Tom Brady was sneaky deadly, making no mistakes and throwing strikes to lead his team throughout. Yet one wonders, are the Pats good enough to go to San Diego and not get burned by the LaDanian Lightning? Predictions await.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
"Tired" Tiki Wakes Up Giants
So, you know, up until now I had stayed out of the prediction business, and obviously the result of Sunday’s Giants game demonstrates why I am writing this blog and not sipping champagne in a hot tub in Vegas right now. A scaled down game plan took the ball out of Eli’s hands, and called for repeated 50-yard Tiki Barber runs to make up the entire offense. This obviously was a brilliant game plan from newly minted coordinator Kevin Gilbride, since Tiki was gliding through the Skins defense like a furious little waterbug. By extension, its also evident that Tom Coughlin made a brilliant decision to sack previous coordinator John Hufnagel, for whom the blame obviously lies for the Giants ineptitude against New Orleans.
Could this circular logic somehow extend to a playoff victory over Philly? To answer this question I once again turn to the abstract areas of karma and psyche coming into the big game. The Eagles were not supposed to be there without the leader and face of their franchise, Donovan McNabb. Now that their hopes are lashed to the resurrected arm of Jeff Garcia, you’d think they would need some type of positive emotional contribution from the flightless head Eagle McNabb. Yet the loudest talking McNabb at the moment is his Mama, who suddenly isn’t just telling him to eat his Campbell’s soup and annoying his teammates. In Mama McNabb’s blog contribution to her dear son’s website entitled “Bittersweet” she lets the Iggles fans know her true feelings:
"We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl (sic)…but oh oh if they win the Superbowl (sic) without my son what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last season’s fiasco….Well, lets wait and see, bittersweet."
Oh oh indeed! How you gonna let your Mom talk smack to the rest of the team and to the fans like that! How could Mama McNabb, who diligently spoons out big bowls of canned soup to her extended Eagle family, not have a big bowl of love for Garcia, who should be her number two son right now, and the rest of the gang? Perhaps this heaping portion of Chunky Beef is all she can offer despite a fan base which paid for her house one can at a time.
Without a spiritual compass the Eagles will drift off course. Grind It Out Sports predicts a similar high scoring affair with more of "Tired" Tiki’s magical Disney swan song somewhere over the rainbow sunset. Also look for former GIOS goat Mathias Kiwanucka to get his giant paw in Garcia’s grill at some point, and maybe pounce on a loose ball or two. Expect to see Plaxico Burress complain a lot and yell a lot more when he scores a touchdown. 38-29 Giants.
Rest of the Wild Card Weekend Predictions
This week’s “we’re not lucky, we won” speech from KC Chiefs coach Herm Edwards rivals his “you play to win the game” speech while with the Jets for its simplicity and ability to say nothing while really saying nothing. Nonetheless, KC has to be feeling that there are red horseshoes and red rabbits’ feets dancing in the air right now. Meanwhile the Indianapolis Clots have seen their team mojo coagulate at the end of the season. Two teams headed in opposite emotional directions, and one quarterback that will appear in more than half of the commercials. However on the field, Peyton’s ability to tear his way out of a giant stretchy football while getting pelted with showers of Gatorade Rain will depend largely on his defense’s ability to corral Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Look for Johnson to get three touchdowns, and Peyton to get four. Add to that a few field goals, a Joseph Addai breakaway run, and a high pitched teenage barista getting his face burned by the espresso maker like 25 times before this shooting match is over. 41-27 Colts.
Mangenius and the Jets against his mentor Bill “the sweatshirt” Belichick…will the pupil teach the teacher again? More importantly will there be another snub at the handshake? Anyone who has been to a crowded bar in Boston can at least partially understand how impossible it must be to think clearly surrounded by screaming inebriated Pats fans. Look for these Jets to get re-routed with four turnovers and a Chad Pennington arm injury when he tries to throw an impossible pass while being sacked. Tom Brady will have an impeccable quarterback rating and his biggest play will be something modest, a 12 yard scamper, a shovel pass, a great screen. Rookie Laurence Maroney will run free and score twice and Chris Berman is guaranteed to sing “Bony Marony” while giving the highlights. 23-3 Patriots.
In a battle between the crestfallen and the downtrodden, untested Tony Romo faces the formerly effective, decisively non-winning Super Bowl participant, Matt Hasselbeck. Dallas-Seattle will be characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness, as well as enough interceptions to have the cardiologists of both overweight coaches nervous. But in the end the Seattle fans will end up as misty as the weather yet again. With Parcells, Cowboys are likely to have a few bullets left in their wild west holsters when this nail biter winds down. 20-19 Cowboys.
Could this circular logic somehow extend to a playoff victory over Philly? To answer this question I once again turn to the abstract areas of karma and psyche coming into the big game. The Eagles were not supposed to be there without the leader and face of their franchise, Donovan McNabb. Now that their hopes are lashed to the resurrected arm of Jeff Garcia, you’d think they would need some type of positive emotional contribution from the flightless head Eagle McNabb. Yet the loudest talking McNabb at the moment is his Mama, who suddenly isn’t just telling him to eat his Campbell’s soup and annoying his teammates. In Mama McNabb’s blog contribution to her dear son’s website entitled “Bittersweet” she lets the Iggles fans know her true feelings:
"We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl (sic)…but oh oh if they win the Superbowl (sic) without my son what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last season’s fiasco….Well, lets wait and see, bittersweet."
Oh oh indeed! How you gonna let your Mom talk smack to the rest of the team and to the fans like that! How could Mama McNabb, who diligently spoons out big bowls of canned soup to her extended Eagle family, not have a big bowl of love for Garcia, who should be her number two son right now, and the rest of the gang? Perhaps this heaping portion of Chunky Beef is all she can offer despite a fan base which paid for her house one can at a time.
Without a spiritual compass the Eagles will drift off course. Grind It Out Sports predicts a similar high scoring affair with more of "Tired" Tiki’s magical Disney swan song somewhere over the rainbow sunset. Also look for former GIOS goat Mathias Kiwanucka to get his giant paw in Garcia’s grill at some point, and maybe pounce on a loose ball or two. Expect to see Plaxico Burress complain a lot and yell a lot more when he scores a touchdown. 38-29 Giants.
Rest of the Wild Card Weekend Predictions
This week’s “we’re not lucky, we won” speech from KC Chiefs coach Herm Edwards rivals his “you play to win the game” speech while with the Jets for its simplicity and ability to say nothing while really saying nothing. Nonetheless, KC has to be feeling that there are red horseshoes and red rabbits’ feets dancing in the air right now. Meanwhile the Indianapolis Clots have seen their team mojo coagulate at the end of the season. Two teams headed in opposite emotional directions, and one quarterback that will appear in more than half of the commercials. However on the field, Peyton’s ability to tear his way out of a giant stretchy football while getting pelted with showers of Gatorade Rain will depend largely on his defense’s ability to corral Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Look for Johnson to get three touchdowns, and Peyton to get four. Add to that a few field goals, a Joseph Addai breakaway run, and a high pitched teenage barista getting his face burned by the espresso maker like 25 times before this shooting match is over. 41-27 Colts.
Mangenius and the Jets against his mentor Bill “the sweatshirt” Belichick…will the pupil teach the teacher again? More importantly will there be another snub at the handshake? Anyone who has been to a crowded bar in Boston can at least partially understand how impossible it must be to think clearly surrounded by screaming inebriated Pats fans. Look for these Jets to get re-routed with four turnovers and a Chad Pennington arm injury when he tries to throw an impossible pass while being sacked. Tom Brady will have an impeccable quarterback rating and his biggest play will be something modest, a 12 yard scamper, a shovel pass, a great screen. Rookie Laurence Maroney will run free and score twice and Chris Berman is guaranteed to sing “Bony Marony” while giving the highlights. 23-3 Patriots.
In a battle between the crestfallen and the downtrodden, untested Tony Romo faces the formerly effective, decisively non-winning Super Bowl participant, Matt Hasselbeck. Dallas-Seattle will be characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness, as well as enough interceptions to have the cardiologists of both overweight coaches nervous. But in the end the Seattle fans will end up as misty as the weather yet again. With Parcells, Cowboys are likely to have a few bullets left in their wild west holsters when this nail biter winds down. 20-19 Cowboys.
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