Friday, December 31, 2010

The Winter Classic is the greatest thing since sliced bread scored a hat-trick in the 1946 Stanley Cup Finals

You know what I think is so unique about the Winter Classic game? It's played outside and in front of 60,000 fans.

Others think so as well. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, offered similar thoughts when asked about the Classic game that will be played tomorrow night at Heinz Field between the Penguins and Capitals. "Yeah, the thing that makes the game so unique is that it will be outdoors, and instead of only playing in front of 18,000people, there will be 60,000 fans screaming and having a good time."

Sidney Crosby felt the same way, "yeah, the thing that's so unique about the Winter Classic is it's played outside, just like we used to do it when we were kids back home on the frozen pond. Only it won't be just my buddies, there will be 60,000 screaming fans."

Others felt the same way as Sid.

Max Talbot: "Yeah, the thing that makes the Winter Classic so much different than the other 81 hockey games is that we'll be outside, just like when were were kids playing with our friends on the frozen pond. Only there will be 60,000 fans cheering us on"

Geno Malkin: "Yeah, young kid. Mother Russia. Cold. No Food for weeks. Practice! Practice! Practice! Against will. Frost-bite. No choice. Gun-point. Fear for life."

Yes, I think every kid should know what it's like to play a hockey game outside.

ea sports agrees. That's why they've developed "The 2011 Winter Classic video game" for the Nintendo Wii so kids can experience what it's like to play a hockey game outdoors.

There's no question, the hype surrounding tomorrow night's affair between the Pens and Caps is palpable at this point.

There's even more excitement for the Winter Classic than there is for the Steelers season-ending contest against the Browns on Sunday.

Some have wondered why. I mean, after all, the Steelers can earn an AFC North division crown and a first round bye in the playoffs with a victory on Sunday.

But the Winter Classic is just so darn huge. Again, some might wonder why. It's only worth two points just like any other hockey game. But those people would be wrong.

These two Winter Classic points are the two biggest points ever, and the winner of these two points will be just so much better for it.

Why, Troy Polamalu is listed as questionable for the game against the Browns on Sunday, but I'll bet if these two Winter Classic points were up for grabs, he'd surely play.

These two Winter Classic points are already bigger than the safety Dwight White recorded in Super Bowl IX against the Vikings.

If these two Winter Classic points were available back when Jonas Salk was still searching for a cure for polio, he'd probably use them to make his formula that much stronger.

Everyone knows Neil O' Donnell threw Super Bowl XXX with two pretty terrible interceptions. I'll bet if these two Winter Classic points were the prize, he would have played it legit.

I understand because of the excitement that has been generated by the 2011 Winter Classic, they are going to make yet another installment in the Indiana Jones series.

The next movie will reportedly be titled, "Indiana Jones: The quest for these two Winter Classic points."

There is no question that the Winter Classic has done wonders for hockey. And the Winter Classic ticket is the hottest in town.

But why play it January 1st? Why not move it to the end of the season? After all, it's the sports signature event. We're not even half way through the year and after this game is played, everything else will be anticlimactic. The only thing left would be the Stanley Cup Finals.

I say, move the Finals to mid-season and save the Classic for last. The Stanley Cup Finals are just a best-of-7 series to determine the league championship. Not only that, but the games are played indoors. A far cry from being outdoors.

Anyway, tomorrow will be a great day for Pittsburgh!

To all my friends out there, have a safe and happy Winter Classic!

Let's go Pens! Get these two points!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jessie Lynn is the number one ranked girlfriend in the world

I've been dating Jessie Lynn for the last two years and in my opinion, she's the best girlfriend in the world. There are many great girlfriends out there, but she is, by far, number 1.

I have my reasons.

Number 1: The Puppy dog face. She has the best puppy dog face that I have ever seen. And when she uses her whimper along with the puppy dog face, I can't say no to anything she wants. I try to say no, but there is just no use.

She has three puppy dog faces that she uses: Sad puppy dog face. Angry puppy dog face. And scared puppy dog face. All three are equally effective. Someday, they're going to score her a Porsche.

Number 2: She buys me things. I mean, good things. Why, right now, as I write this, she's buying me black shoes to go along with the black pants that I didn't know black shoes went along with. For years, I've been wearing brown shoes with black pants and never knew that was a fashion no-no.

She also buys me socks and underwear. Like Seinfeld said, most guys will wear their underwear until there is nothing but the waist-band left. And I have a pair of undies that are pretty damn close to that.

She also convinced me to wear a tie last week. Me! What's next? A suit?

She buys me excellent dvds. Let's see, there's The Road to Super Bowl XLIII, The Office season 2, Scrubs season 1, There's Something About Mary, Rocky, The Incredible Hulk season 5......I could go on, but that would take forever.

Number 3: She got me into watching Desperate Housewives. And now I'm upset that I'm way behind in the series and really want to find the time to catch up.

She also introduced me to the wonders that are Elf and Anchorman.

Number 4: She is really into sports. Of course, she loves the Penguins and Steelers. My kind of woman.

But she also thinks Tom Brady is a d**kwad, Ray Lewis is a jackass, the Flyers are nothing but bitches, the Capitals are bitches, Ovechkin is Obitchkin, the Penn State Nittany Lions suck, and the Cowboys suck mega-c**k.

I mean, how can she not be the best girlfriend ever?

Number 5: I'm sexy. I know, right? She's a keeper.

Number 6: She has improved my social status.

For years, I could never get into parties, but now, people say, "okay, you're invited, but only if you bring Jessie Lynn."

I have earned the respect of men. Before, the guys would mock me and they wouldn't want to be friends with me. They would say stuff like, "you suck at flag football, you suck at volleyball, you suck at cards, you can't play any instruments, your singing sucks, and your writing is totally lame. Why in the hell would anyone want to be your friend?"

But now when I tell them I'm dating an attractive 23 year old, they say stuff like, "Hey, you can be my friend. You can also be friends with my other guy friends and if you want, you can be our leader and teach us stuff. Here, want some money?"

I have become more desirable to women. Before, women would say stuff to me like, "you're ugly, you're not in great shape, you don't know how to dress, you're kind of going bald, and you're stupid. Why would I want anything to do with you?"

But when they find out I have an attractive 23 year old girlfriend, their attitudes change. Now they say stuff like, "wanna do me?"

I don't take them up on their offer because, after all, I have the number 1 ranked girlfriend in the world. It can only go downhill from there.

The first playoff game will be this Sunday in Cleveland

The Steelers are in a unique situation this Sunday. If they win their game against the Browns in Cleveland, they'll win the AFC North title, earn the number 2 seed, at least one home playoff game, and a first round bye. If they lose, they'll more than likely miss out on the division crown and fall all the way to the 6th seed and will not only have to play the following week, but they'd be on the road throughout the playoffs.

The Ravens, who are tied with the Steelers at 11-4, are at home against the hapless Bengals to finish the season so I doubt Pittsburgh would get any help from Cincinnati. And the Jets are playing at home against the even more hapless Buffalo Bills and hold a tiebreaker over Pittsburgh and would get the 5th seed if they finish with the same record as the Steelers.

This truly is a playoff game for Pittsburgh. The road to the Super Bowl is much easier for a team when they can stay at home rather than actually travel on the road. And when I say at home, I'm also referring to their actual homes during the wild card round. Yes, teams can make it to the Super Bowl from that wild card spot (heck, the Steelers did it just five seasons ago,) but the odds are much better for teams that earn byes.

A lot of people are worried about this game and think the Browns will have incentive because of the rivalry. The Browns, and their fans, would like nothing more than to knock the Steelers down a few pegs and do great damage to their Super Bowl chances for a second-consecutive season. Last year, Cleveland defeated the Steelers in a late season Thursday night contest that all but eliminated Pittsburgh from the playoffs. This year, they can make Pittsburgh's road to the Super Bowl a very hazardous one.

But the fact of the matter is, rivalry or not, the Browns aren't in the same class as the Steelers. No matter what Cleveland's motives are for this game, the Steelers are a class or two above them and if they're the team we think they are, they should go into Cleveland and take care of business.

Super Bowl teams do not lose games like this. It's just that simple. Pittsburgh is a team with vast playoff experience and should really have no problem with the Browns.

With so much at stake for our Black and Gold, I expect nothing less than a three-score blowout on Sunday.

As I said, this truly is a unique situation. Usually, in cases like this, teams with 11-4 records already have their divisions wrapped up and are just fighting for seeding if anything. Even if a team loses the coveted bye week, they still get to play their wildcard game at home. That means revenue for the team owner and the local businesses.

The players and coaches aren't the only ones who recognize what's on the line this week, the Rooneys are probably feeling the pressure of this Sunday, as well. Don't think that Dan and the gang won't be a little upset if the team loses out on all the revenue that would be generated with at least one playoff game at Heinz field.

It's one thing for the fans and media to be critical, but it's quite another when your boss is upset that you took money out of his pockets.

Like I said, there is a lot at stake this week.

But at least the Steelers are already in "the dance." Their tickets are punched to the postseason regardless of what happens on Sunday. At least they'll still have a chance.

I'm sure teams like the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Giants would trade places with the Steelers in a heartbeat. Not only do those teams need to win on Sunday, but they need a TON of help just to make it to the postseason.

It's like with the Winter Classic game between the Penguins and Capitals this Saturday. Some people already have tickets and they're just worried about getting there and finding a place to park. They wish they had better seats, but oh well (Steelers fighting for that bye.) But I have a lot of friends that don't have tickets to the event and would gladly pay any amount just to get into Heinz Field and don't care where they sit. They'd gladly sell their teeth for a chance to be there (Bucs, Giants and Jags.)

From a fans point of view, I'd much rather see my team in the position that the Steelers are in this year than the position those teams are in. Those teams on the bubble are in the same position that Pittsburgh was in last year. And that's not a good place to be.

So no matter what happens on Sunday, at least the Steelers will be attending the postseason dance.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

NFL Fantasy Yearbook: The Story of the 2010 TJ and the Bear: Coming Out Of Hibernation

Highlights of TJ and the Bear's 5-9 2010 campaign included a season-sweep over the commissioner and a win over the D Bags in the last week of the regular season. A win that saw the team tally 136 points. The second highest single game total of the season in his league.

Thanks for reading NFL Fantasy Yearbook: the story of the 2010 TJ and the Bear: Coming Out Of Hibernation.

Feel free to read past NFL Fantasy Yearbooks:

2003. The Story of the 3-11 Bubby Bristers: Baby Steps.

2004. The Story of the 4-10 Edmund Nelsons: Heart And Hope.

2005. The Story of the 6-8 Juiced Up All-Pros: A Season On The Brink.

2006. The Story of the 7-6 Tenacious T: A Season To Remember.

2007: The Story of the 6-7 Tenacious T: Tenacious To The End.

2008. The Story of the 6-7 Tenacious T: Shattered Dreams.

2009. The Story of the 7-6 Tony Desire: Cool Brees.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

68% of the time, it works every time

Has there ever been a team that benefited more from a loss than the Steelers did with their 22-17 defeat at the hands of the Jets on Sunday?

Despite losing, they clinched a playoff berth, they rested Troy Polamalu, they didn't suffer any other major injuries, and they actually looked pretty decent on offense. And the loss did little-to-no damage to their prospects of earning a bye in the first round. Going into the game against New York, and with a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North with three games remaining, the Steelers needed to defeat either the Jets or the Panthers, and then knock off the Browns in the last week of the regular season in-order to clinch that number 2 seed and a bye. With the loss to the Jets, they simply must now win their remaining two games to accomplish what they want.

Nothing is ever certain in professional football and the team still could stumble and wind up as a wildcard going into the playoffs, but if someone would have told you before the start of the season that the Steelers would be 10-4 and already playoff bound and would only need to defeat a 2-12 team and a 5-9 team in-order to win the division and get a week off, would you be okay with it? I know I would.

I think now that the pressure is off with regards to making the postseason, perhaps maybe they'll play looser these last two games and win going away. I know there will still be pressure because that bye is so epic, but there is no pressure like having to fight your way into the playoffs, and they've already accomplished that.

Another concern for Steeler fans is the team's record against playoff-bound teams. Sunday's loss to New York dropped them to 2-4 for the season against teams that are more than likely heading to the postseason.

However, if you go back to the last two Super Bowl years, the Steelers were a combined 5-8 against playoff teams. The key to winning in the NFL is defeating the teams you're supposed to beat, and so far this year, they're 8-0 against teams that they were "supposed" to beat. They missed out on the postseason last year because they lost to the likes of the Raiders, Chiefs and Browns. Those pesky "supposed to" teams.

As I said yesterday, Sunday night's loss was a strange one. I was super-excited and felt like celebrating after I found out they clinched a spot in the "dance."

I had to keep reminding myself all day Monday that the team actually lost a tough game to the Jets.

But the team making the playoffs is just exciting for me because there is nothing like an NFL playoff game. Game-7's have their supporters, but a series isn't always going to make it to a 7th game. However, you know that an NFL playoff game is always going to be sudden-death.

For as crazy as I am watching an important regular season game, you can turn that up 19 notches for a postseason contest.

I love the week-long speculation and breakdowns. I love how the anticipation builds in the city with each passing day. I love the new songs that Steelers fans always seem to come up with. I love the Black and Gold rye bread that I see in the bakeries and supermarkets. I love trying to figure out where I'm going to place my Terrible Towel for the game, and once I decide where to display it, I don't touch it because, of course, I could jinx everything.

The NFL playoffs are simply fantastic. I've been on this planet for 38 years and this will be the 26th time they've made the postseason in my lifetime. That's 68% of the time. More than 2 out of every 3 seasons. You'd think I would almost be jaded by now. But it never gets old.

I can't wait!

Monday, December 20, 2010

This is probably the weirdest I've ever felt after a Steeler loss

The Steelers' 22-17 loss to the Jets at Heinz field came down to the very last play and could have gone either way. Like most Steelers games the past few years, you can point to a few plays that were the difference.

As usual, Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is getting a boatload of the blame. I find this baffling because I thought this was the best the offense looked since the Oakland game. Roethlisberger had plenty of time in the pocket against New Yorks' fierce pass rush. Big Ben passed for 260 and a touchdown with no interceptions.

And Rashard Mendenhall looked great. He rushed for exactly 100 yards on 17 carries. If I had one criticism of the play-calling, it would be that maybe Mendenhall should have gotten a few more carries. But that was a minor flaw.

The officials are also getting a share of the blame for not only the questionable helmet-to-helmet penalty on Ryan Clark that led to New York's only offensive touchdown, but for the many holding penalties that the Jets' secondary seemed to commit but weren't flagged for. Specifically, the pretty obvious one on the defender who grabbed Emmanuel Sanders on a play that looked like it could go for a score in the final minutes of the game. No flag.

And that brings me to the absurdity of the fans sometimes. How can you criticize Bruce Arians for his play calling when it was pretty apparent that the Jets' secondary was getting away with murder the entire game? If Sanders isn't held on that play, he probably scores and the Steelers would have won the game.

The gnashing of the teeth over Arians after every single game is getting downright ridiculous.

It all comes down to execution. Like the pseudo-spike at the end of the first half when the Steelers were trying to trick New York into thinking they were going to "clock it," but instead Roethlisberger attempted a pass to Wallace who was open but the pass was off the mark. If that pass is on the money, Wallace would have scored a touchdown on the play and the game would have been totally different. Was that a bad call on Arian's part? No. It was just poor execution.

The play that BA seems to be getting the most flack for is the draw play late in the game that resulted in a safety. The Steelers were backed up near their own goalline trailing, 20-17, with less than 3 minutes left, and tried a draw with Mewelde Moore who was dropped in the endzone by Jason Taylor.

The 2-points proved to be critical as Pittsburgh needed to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal on that last-gasp drive that came up short. It might not have been the greatest call, but again, it all comes down to execution, and the Steelers offensive linemen missed assignments on that play. The Steelers were trying to trick the Jets into thinking they were in passing-mode. For those of you out there who criticize Arians for being too predticable? Well, you can't have it both ways.

Is Arians ever going to make it to the hall of fame as a coordinator? Probably not. But I do not think he called a bad game at all yesterday.

There were many other reasons why they lost that game. Like the defense giving up two scores after Pittsburgh had seized momentum. After the Steelers scored to tie the game at 7 in the second quarter, New York immediately marched down field and kicked a field goal to make it 10-7. And then in the 3rd quarter, the Steelers took the opening kickoff of the second half and methodically drove down and took a 17-10 lead on Mendenhall's two-yard touchdown run. It looked like they had taken control of the game. What happened? New York took the ball and, again, marched right down the field and tied the game. Sure, New York was aided by that call on Clark, but Sanchez was able to convert a couple of key 3rd down plays, and was able to avoid the Steelers' pass rush most of the night.

I know Pittsburgh only gave up 13 points on defense, and in all fairness, played a really good game without Troy in the lineup, but if you're going to criticize the offense, you have to place some of the blame on the defense, as well.

But, personally, I don't put the blame on the offense or the defense. I put it squarely on the shoulders of the special teams.

The Jets were a desperate football team heading into yesterday's game. They had just lost two games in a row, and people were starting to question whether they were a legitimate playoff team. The offense hadn't scored a touchdown since Thanksgiving. A quick start by Pittsburgh could have crushed the Jets' spirit.

But New York's Brad Smith returned the opening kick-off 97 yards and just like that, we knew it would be a game. The Steelers dominated the stats, but just like in the Kansas City game last season when the Chiefs returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, those 7-points proved to be the difference.

And that kickoff return effected the field position the entire game. Why? Because every time Pittsburgh kicked off the rest of the day, they kicked it high and short and I don't remember New York having bad field position at all.

With an offense that was struggling and a quarterback in Sanchez who was starting to doubt his own abilities, poor field position could have made the difference. Instead, New York always seemed to start their drives around the 30 or 35 yard line.

But enough finger-pointing. I think yesterday's game was very well-played and in all-honesty, the Steelers didn't suffer much from the loss.

In-fact, they actually clinched a playoff spot based on some strength of victory tiebreaker that they have over San Diego and Jacksonville. I don't understand it, but it's weird that Pittsburgh clinched a playoff spot and the Jets, who won the game, still need to win another one to clinch a spot. I don't think Baltimore is officially in either despite defeating the Saints. Just a strange day.

And that brings me to my weird feeling. After that close loss to the Jets, I was a little down, but not totally bummed. I wasn't too worried about them making the playoffs. Not with Carolina and Cleveland left on the schedule.

But when I found out that they had actually clinched a spot, I was happy. I don't ever remember being happy after a Steelers loss. You spend years watching sports and you think you've experienced it all until you actually feel "happy" after a tough loss.

After missing out on the playoffs in 2009, I'm just relieved that Pittsburgh is in. I didn't want to sit and watch another postseason without the Steelers, not after such a good start to the season.

So, losing to the Jets might have hurt the pride of Steeler Nation, but it didn't really damage Pittsburgh's chances of accomplishing what they want. They still control their own destiny and need only to defeat the 2-12 Carolina Panthers and the 5-9 Cleveland Browns in-order to clinch the AFC North and earn the 2nd seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Forget about what the Ravens do, it's all about the Steelers going out and getting the job done.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Ben Roethlsiberger as Stone Cold Steve Austin and Roger Goodell as Mr. Mcmahon

What I've always found funny about wrestling is how a heel or "bad guy" could do the most vile and despicable things known to man, but once be becomes a “good guy” everyone forgets about these dirty deeds even if they were only a few months prior.

Steve Austin was the most vilified heel in the WWF in like ‘96/’97. He did things like break Brian Pillman’s leg and if that wasn’t enough, he even broke into Pillman's home, looking to commit even more mayhem on Pillman's person.

Austin even took on the company’s number one good guy: Bret Hart. They fought every week and the fans hated Austin and loved Hart. Stone Cold didn't care who he hurt or how much he had to cheat. He screwed Hart at every turn.

He was a no-good Texas rattlesnake and would flip you off just because he felt like it. He even wrote a poem: "Tall people. Short people. People with glasses. Bottomline is I'll whip all your asses." What a no-good son of a bitch.

Vince Mcmahon, at this point, was a neutral television announcer who was just starting to publicly acknowledge his real life role as CEO of the WWF. Soon, he started to create storylines that utilized his position in the company.

Strangely, over time, the fans started to cheer for Stone Cold and they saw Hart as a crybaby and whiner. The anti-hero was in style in the WWF.

Vince Mcmahon capitalized on this strange phenomenon by making the double-switch. The two wrestlers would change roles in the course of one match.

In the greatest wrestling match I have ever seen, Bret "The Hitman" Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in an "I quit" match at Wrestlemania 13. Hart never made Austin say "I quit." Austin passed out from the pain, but in doing so, he officially became the most popular wrestler in the industry. In-turn, Bret Hart, one of the most popular wrestlers on the planet and the standard for wholesome good guy wrestlers, became a heel after he attacked Austin when the match was over.

Eventually, Vince started to become a more vocal owner and Austin challenged his authority on many occasions and the fans loved every second of it. Eventually Mcmahon became “Mr. Mcmahon” the heel owner of the WWF and he made it his goal to screw Austin at every turn.

The two would go on to have one of the most memorable feuds in the history of wrestling.

Back in the spring, there wasn’t a more hated athlete in the NFL, and maybe even sports, than Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. We all know the infamous stories involving him; no need to rehash them. Let's just say Ben’s actions turned most Steelers faithful against him. The fans vowed to stop going to the games if he was still with the team and there was an outcry for the Rooney family to trade Roethlisberger.

Around this time, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, still a pretty neutral figure in the sports world, was deciding what punishment he should hand out to the Steelers' star quarterback for his off-the-field behavior. Ultimately, he decided on a conditional 4-6-game suspension to start the 2010 season.

Most fans were behind this punishment, and some still wanted him kicked off the team entirely.

Ben served his suspension pretty quietly and he even seemed to grow up a little. As the preseason turned into the regular season, the fans hatred for the quarterback started to lighten a bit. Now, instead of people wanting him gone, most of Steeler Nation was counting the days until his return and hoped that Goodell would lessen his suspension to four games and maybe even two.

And once he returned from his hiatus on October 17th, instead of boos, he got a mostly warm welcome from the Heinz field crowd.

Around this time, Goodell started to become more strict with his rules on tackling in the league and his number one target seemed to be the Steelers, and James Harrision in particular. Harrison was repeatedly flagged for questionable personal fouls, and was fined week after week. Harrison was so frustrated, he even considered retirement at one point.

The fans started to resent Goodell and looked at him as a power-hungry dictator.

In the meantime, since his return, Big Ben Roethlisberger has taken a severe beating. He’s had his foot fractured, his nose broken and has taken at least one questionable hit a game without once drawing a flag. When Ben complains to the refs, they just shrug their shoulders and say, “hey, he was just trying to tackle you.” Dangerous Danny Davis would be proud. This has earned Roethlisberger the respect of not only his teammates, but the fans and public.

Roger Goodell has effectively turned one of the most despised athletes in recent memory into a hero in a matter of months. And in turn, he’s become one of the most hated sports executives in recent history.

So, if this was a wrestling show, Ben Roethlisberger and Roger Goodell would meet in a Hell in the Cell match at Wrestlemania. But since it's a reality show, they could meet up on center stage if the Steelers win the Super Bowl.

If that happens, will Goodell actually give the Steelers the Lombardi trophy or will he award it to the runner-up on a technicality?

Monday, December 13, 2010

The New England Patriots are scary 2007 good right now

For the first half of the 2010 season, I thought the New England Patriots were yesterday's champions. Sure, they were 6-2, but they were pulling out some tight games. Games that maybe they shouldn't have won like against the Ravens in overtime.

Nothing wrong with winning close games. Great teams do it all the time. But the Patriots had just traded Randy Moss and reacquired Deion Branch. Looked to me like they were trying to reach back to the past to find some current glory. And some of their new offensive weapons were guys named Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. And forget about the defense. I couldn't name one guy on that unit and they were giving up their share of big plays and points.

They ended the first half of the season by getting spanked by the Cleveland Browns, 34-14, and I was more convinced than ever that New England was a former champion who had seen its better days.

I remember a Steelers game from many years ago. It was in 1987 and the Steelers were putting one on the San Fransisco 49ers. The Niners were a dominant team in the early-to-mid 80's, winning a couple of Super Bowls, but it looked like maybe their dominance was ending. In fact, I remember the tv announcer saying something like, "The sun might be setting on this great 49er's era." They still had Montana, and Jerry Rice was just coming into his own, but the 49ers were three years removed from their last Super Bowl parade. The sun did look like it might be setting on their greatness.

Well, San Fransisco went on to win the Super Bowl in 1988 and 1989. So much for that sun set.

And that brings me back to New England. Just when it looked like they were going to fade into the background of the NFL, they came into Heinz field in week 9 and totally outclassed the Steelers, 39-26.

They have not looked back since. Offensively, they haven't scored less than 31 points since that Cleveland fiasco, and now the defense that appeared to be a weakness is starting to catch up to the offense.

In the last two games, the Patriots have rolled over two playoff contenders by a whopping total of 91-10. That's pretty scary, and it's giving me flashbacks to New Englands's 2007 campaign.

They went undefeated in the regular season and racked up 589 points offensively. Their average margin of victory was almost 20 points a game.

I know we all rejoiced in the streets when the Giants knocked off the Patriots in the Super Bowl that year, but that New England team was still one of the most dominant of all time.

As a diehard fan, I had no confidence that my Steelers would be able to do much against the Patriots in the postseason in 2007. Especially after Pittsburgh went to New England and got totally owned late in the year.

After that disaster at Heinz a few weeks ago and as impressive as New England has looked in recent weeks, I'm beginning to feel that way again.

I'm not saying that the 2010 Patriots are as good and dominant as the 2007 team and they certainly have their flaws, but relative to the rest of their 2010 competition, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone can stop them this year.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

It's like the NFL is trying to "ice" the fans

This past Sunday night, I was watching the epic Steelers game against the Ravens. As usual, it was a very vicious and hard-hitting affair.

The Steelers had just given the ball back to Baltimore with a little more than 4 minutes left in the game. The Ravens got a quick first down and with the Steelers trailing, 10-6, I feared that they were about to be swept straight into the wildcard bracket of the AFC playoffs.

But just like that, there was Troy, like Superman with luxurious hair, blitzing around the left side, nailing Flacco and stripping him of the football simultaneously. Lamarr Woodely scooped it up and went rumbling down inside the Ravens' ten yard line. The entire course of the game had changed. The Steelers were now minutes away from taking the lead and stealing a very important game.

What did I do when this very pivotal play transpired? I sat there motionless because I was unsure whether or not Flacco's arm was moving forward when he was separated from the ball.

My girlfriend wasn't worried about such things. She screamed for Woodley to "GO BABY!" which I should have been doing. But I did nothing because I assumed John Harbaugh would throw out the challenge flag and everything would be under review.

Same thing happened the week before. Shaun Suisham, the Steelers' new placekicker, had just won a very important overtime game in Buffalo with a 40plus-yard field goal and I didn't move a muscle when the ball went through the uprights because I was waiting for the officials to blow their whistles and call the play dead. I was sure that Buffalo's coach had called a timeout to ice the kicker. There was no time out.

Two perfectly good reasons to let my emotions loose and I didn't do it because the NFL has conditioned me to "wait and see."

It's not just with reviews and timeouts, it's with penalties, too. The Steelers have been penalized so much in recent games, I just assume that everything will be called back.

And the networks don't make it any easier with their graphics. I think on both FOX and CBS, the color they use to alert us of a penalty is the same as a touchdown: yellow. Who's bright idea was that? Maybe the "flag" graphic is on a different part of the screen than the "touchdown" graphic, but when you're going nuts after a big score, you can't remember any of that. I can see them using yellow for a penalty, but why can't they pick a different color for a touchdown? Any other color would be fine.

Back to instant replay. How did the NFL manage to survive so many years without it? I say that with a sarcastic tone because, off the top of my head, I can only think of a handful of plays that might have been reversed had there been instant replay at the time. Like the Immaculate Reception in 1972, Rob Lytle's fumble in the 1977 AFC championship game, Butch Johnson's touchdown reception in Super Bowl XII, or the hotly debated play involving Houston's Mike Renfro in the 1979 AFC title game.

The NFL managed to survive all those years with very little controversy, right?

However, they didn't have has many camera angles in those days. I'm sure there were countless plays that would have been overturned had the games been covered like they are today. I've watched a lot of old NFL games, and there were numerous receptions that should have been incomplete passes and vice versa.

I don't expect them to make any changes with instant replay. It's always going to be with the game. And I like it much better with the challenge system than the way it was in its original incarnation back in the 80's when a play could be challenged at any time. And it wasn't the referee passing judgement, it was some masked official up in a luxury box.

I just hate having to wait and see if a play will count. Two years ago, when most Steelers fans were going nuts during Troy's "pick six" in the AFC championship game, I was wondering if Lamarr Woodley was flagged for going low on the quarterback when Flacco was attempting to pass. And that yellow piece of whatever in the endzone didn't help matters any.

The only thing I wish they would change is that stupid rule where a coach can call a timeout right before a field goal attempt.

I hate that rule!

Don't get me wrong. I won't deny a coach his right to call a timeout from the sideline, and he should have a right to ice the kicker. However, I don't think he should be able to call a timeout right as the ball is being snapped.

I don't know if there is a real solution to that other than forbidding a timeout call after the play-clock is inside five seconds or something.

I kind of miss how things were in the old days. Remember how the 1995 AFC championship game ended with that Hail Mary pass that was nearly caught as time expired?

Imagine having to sweat out a booth review for that. I think the entire city of Pittsburgh would have imploded from the anticipation.

Are the days of the innocent "GO BABY!" gone forever?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Wannstedt out as PITT head coach

In what was said to be a mutual decision between he and PITT athletic director Steve Pederson, Dave Wannstedt resigned as head coach of the football program today and will reportedly assume a role as assistant to Pederson.

I'm not sure what being an assistant would consist of for Wannstedt. Maybe helping with recruiting, but I don't know how much clout an ex-coach would have on the recruiting trail. Especially a head coach who didn't have the greatest tenure with the program.

Wannstedt could never quite take the football program where so many people thought he would when he took over before the 2005 season. After a few frustrating years, it looked like the team had turned a corner with that improbable upset of West Virginia at the end of the 2007 season.

I know I thought they did. I couldn't wait for 2008 and beyond. You know how sometimes your favorite show will have a popular couple that everyone wishes would get together? It's the "will they or won't they" element that's been a part of so many shows over the years. Think Ross and Rachel from "Friends" or Jim and Pam on "The Office."

Every fan of the show wonders if the two people will ever become romantically involved. The producers and writers build up to it. They come close a few times, and you're just waiting for the payoff. It's great theater. They tease and tease, and then, bam! Out of nowhere, they start kissing, and it makes for a fantastic season finale.

You can't wait to see how the next season will play out. Unfortunately, often-times, the episodes where the two popular characters are a couple are the most boring and unsatisfying.

That's kind of how it was with Wannstedt and PITT. Every fan wondered if he had what it took to make the program into a consistent contender and that 2007 upset of WVU seemed to trumpet the arrival of the football team as a force to be reckoned with in the Big East for years to come.

Sadly, Wannstedt and the Panthers never wore their label as "Big East powerhouse" very well. They never lived up to the expectations. They came close, but never got the job done.

Now, PITT is in the market for a new football coach. I think the program has come far enough that they will not have to start totally from scratch.

And I don't think they have to necessarily get a "PITT man" to be the guy.

Why is that always so important? They need to go out and find the best man for the job regardless of whether he is a PITT alum or a Penn State guy. That's right, I said it.

Heck, Chuck Noll was born in Cleveland. I think his relationship with the Steelers went pretty well.

Today's events tell me that the athletic department really is serious about elevating the football program and it will make for an interesting head coaching search.

The Ten Greatest Super Bowls Of All-time

I know I've posted this list before in various blog entries, but I just wanted to put them all on one post so they would be easier to find. Plus, we're getting closer to the postseason and I just love reliving stuff.

Enjoy:

I really do love football. It is by far my favorite sport. I especially love the National Football League AND the Super Bowl. The first sporting event I remember watching as a 7 year old was Super Bowl XIV between my Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams.

As you probably know, the Super Bowl is America's number one sporting event, a sort of unofficial holiday. As Beano Cook once said, "Soon we will be exchanging gifts."

I've always found the event to be quite fascinating. You have the two best teams in the National Football League facing off in front of the entire world.

The game can make or break a player's legacy. It can instantly make someone a Hall-of-Famer or forever label someone a "loser." I think just getting there is a tremendous accomplishment for a franchise and for its fans. I still have fond memories of the Steelers playing in Super Bowl XXX even though it was the only time the Steelers ever lost the big game.

People who don't have any interest in sports whatsoever will sit down and watch this gala event even if it's just for the commercials or halftime show.

There have been 44 Super Bowls played and the first two weren't even officially called Super Bowls at the time. Initially, the game was called the "World Championship Game." It wasn't until the third year that "Super Bowl" became the official name.

The first 4 Super Bowls pitted the NFL champion against the champion of the rival American Football League. The two leagues agreed to merge in 1970 and beginning with Super Bowl V the champion of the American Football Conference has played the champion of the National Football Conference to determine the winner of the Super Bowl.

Since I love this game so much, I've decided to make a list of the ten greatest Super Bowls ever played.

I have two criteria for this list: The quality of the game and the historical significance. Every game on this list has at least one of the criteria and some even have both!

So sit back and enjoy. Feel free to agree or disagree. After all, it's only my opinion.

10. Super Bowl VII
Date: January 14Th, 1973
Location: Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, California.

"PERFECTION"
The Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins, 14-7.

This game wasn't the greatest Super Bowl ever played, but it was significant because, with the victory, the Dolphins achieved a perfect 17-0 record and have been the only team to accomplish that mark in the modern era. Some teams have come close, most notably the 2007 New England Patriots, but the Dolphins are still the only team atop the undefeated mountain. The Dolphins were actually the underdogs in this game which I find pretty interesting. Their counterparts, the Washington Redskins, were the oldest team in the league and dubbed the "Over the Hill Gang." This game might be most notable for Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's ill-advised pass after a blocked field goal attempt late in the game. Garo's pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown which gave the Redskins some life. But with the help of their "No-name defense" the Dolphins held on to cap their historic year.

9. Super Bowl I
Date: January 15TH, 1967
Location: Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles Califorina.

"THE FIRST"
The Green Bay Packers over the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10.

Again, this wasn't a great contest, but it was the very first Super Bowl ever played. The NFL's Green Bay Packers were the best team in football in the 1960's, winning 5 NFL titles. They would also go on to handily defeat the Oakland Raiders in the second Super Bowl establishing them as the first Super Bowl dynasty. This game was simulcast by NBC and CBS, something that never happened before and hasn't happened since. CBS held the rights to broadcast NFL games and NBC had the rights to the AFL which led to the rare joint-telecast. Ticket prices were also quite noteworthy. Today, people have been known to pay 4-figures for a ticket. Back then, however, tickets for the contest were selling for as low as $6. Pretty amazing. The NFL would later name the Super Bowl trophy "The Lombardi Trophy" in honor of Green Bay head coach Vince Lomardi, the architect of the Packer dynasty.

8. Super Bowl XXXII
Date: January 25Th, 1998
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California.

"THIS ONE'S FOR JOHN!"
Denver Broncos 31 Green Bay Packers 24

This is the first truly great Super Bowl to make the list, and my favorite of all the non-Steelers Super Bowls that I've watched. This game had pretty much everything: back-and-forth action, migraine headaches and a first down for the ages. The Packers were the defending Super Bowl champions and were favored by 11 1/2 points. Up until that point, the Broncos had a pretty pedestrian Super Bowl history, appearing in four but losing all by pretty large margins. Quarterback John Elway was the captain of three of those Denver debacles and at age 37, was in the last years of his career. Bret Favre, on the other hand, was in his prime and considered by many to be the best qb in the game. Also, NFC teams had a dominating 13-game winning streak over the AFC in the Super Bowl and most of the games were very lopsided. Things were expected to hold true to form for both the Broncos and the AFC in SBXXXII but with the help of stud running back Terell Davis and a pretty good defense, John Elway went on to claim the one thing that eluded him: The Lombardi Trophy. This game is probably best remembered for Elway's helicopter-esque flip after being hit by two Packers while diving for a very important first down. Another minor little tidbit was the migraine headache that Terrell Davis got after forgetting to take his medication. Denver coach Mike Shannahan had to use Davis as a decoy for part of the game until his symptoms cleared. Davis went on to score the winning touchdown in the final minutes to secure the championship for the Broncos.
I believe this game deserves to be on the list not only for the great play, but for what it meant for John Elway's legacy. Had he retired without winning the Super Bowl, he would still be a Hall-of-Famer, but he would be in the same class with guys like Dan Marino, Dan Fouts and Jim Kelly. Quarterbacks who were great, but could never win the whole thing. Elway played one more year and went out with a bang as the Broncos repeated as champs winning Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway was named game mvp and with two rings, could be put in a class with guys like Bradshaw, Montana and Starr.

7. Super Bowl XIII
Date: January 21st, 1979
Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida.

"TEAM OF THE DECADE"
Steelers over the Cowboys, 35-31.

This was the first repeat match-up in Super Bowl history (the Steelers and Cowboys met in SBX with Pittsburgh winning, 21-17.) Super Bowl XIII was a very well-played contest with a lot of memorable moments. The lead changed hands three times in the first-half with Pittsburgh taking a seven point lead at the break. This game is probably best known for the touchdown that never was. Late in the 3rd quarter with Dallas down, 21-14, Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith dropped an easy pass in the endzone that would have tied the score at 21. Dallas had to settle for a field goal and Pittsburgh pulled away with two quick scores in the 4th quarter to go up, 35-17, with 6 minutes left. Much like he often did in that era, Roger Staubach (Captain Comeback) rallied the Cowboys late, but unfortunately for Dallas, they came up four-points short and Pittsburgh became the first team to win 3 Super Bowls, earning them the rightful claim of "Team of the Decade." The Cowboys were the defending champions and also going for their 3rd title. The Steelers went on to repeat as champions the following year, and with 4 titles in 6 seasons, became arguably the greatest football dynasty of all-time. Had the Cowboys won this game and claimed their 3rd title, who knows what would have happened the following year, and more importantly, who knows how history might have judged them. Maybe they would have been considered the greatest dynasty of all-time.

6. Super Bowl XLIII
Date: February 1st, 2009
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida.

"LORD OF THE RINGS"
Steelers 27 Cardinals 23.

Pittsburgh controlled most of the game taking a 20-7 lead into the 4th quarter. However, quarterback Kurt Warner, a Super Bowl veteran, and all-world receiver Larry Fitzgerald, almost single-handedly brought Arizona back with two late touchdown connections giving the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with 2:37 to go. Fortunately for Steeler Nation, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger marched Pittsburgh to the promised land and hit receiver Santonio Holmes with the game-winner with 35 seconds to go giving the Steelers the 27-23 victory. Holmes' acrobatic, tip-toe catch helped earn him mvp honors and is considered one of the greatest catches of all time. The Cardinals, making the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, were only the second team to make the show after finishing the regular season with a 9-7 record. Interestingly, the Steelers also played the first 9-7 Super Bowl participant when they faced the Los Angeles Rams in SBXIV. In addition to the "Ben to Ten" game-winner, this game is also known for linebacker James Harrison's marathon-like jaunt at the end of the first half, also known as the "Harrison Hundred." With the Cardinals driving and looking to take a 4-point lead into the lockerroom, Harrison picked-off a Kurt Warner pass and zigged and zagged his way 100 hundred yards for a Steelers touchdown and a 17-7 lead. The play is regarded by many as the greatest play in the history of the Super Bowl. Some have said it's the greatest play in the history of the league. This victory gave the Steelers franchise a record 6Th Lombardi trophy, setting a new standard of excellence.

5. Super Bowl XXXVI
Date: February 3rd, 2002
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana.

"THE BIRTH OF AN UNEXPECTED DYNASTY"
The New England Patriots over the St. Louis Rams, 20-17.

The Rams were favored by 14 points in this game and nobody really gave New England much of a shot. The Rams and Patriots actually played one another during the regular season with St. Louis winning the game rather handily. The Patriots were unexpected AFC champions defeating the Raiders in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game and then beating the heavily favored Steelers in the AFC championship game. St. Louis, led by all-pro quarterback Kurt Warner, was going for their 2nd title in three seasons. New England built a 17-3 second-half lead with the help of Ty Law's 47 yard interception return for a touchdown and quarterback Tom Brady's touchdown pass just before the half. The Rams came back with two late scores, including Kurt Warner's touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl to tie the game at 17 with 1:30 remaining. Just when it looked like we would have the first overtime in a Super Bowl, Brady marched the Pats down the field and set up Adam Vinatieri's 48 yard field goal as time expired. This would mark the first time a Super Bowl ended on the game's final play. Super Bowl XXXVI was the first one played in February has it had to be pushed back a week due to the September 11th attacks. I find this game pretty intriguing because, much like Super Bowl XIII between Dallas and Pittsburgh, it changed the legacy of both franchises. A victory for the Rams would have given them their 2nd title in 3 years making them a dynasty of sorts. Instead, the Patriots surprising victory launched their dynasty as they would go on to win 2 more championships over the next 3 seasons and become the last team to win 3 Lombardi trophies in a 4 year span. New England's legendary playoff-run and Super Bowl triumph helped make Tom Brady a superstar. Just a 6th round draft-choice out of Michigan, not much was expected from Brady when he became the starter in 2001 after Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury. Brady parlayed his initial success into a hall-of-fame career and one of the top one or two quarterbacks of this era. The Rams franchise really hasn't been the same since this game, plummeting to the doldrums of the NFL in recent seasons. Kurt Warner went on to play with the Giants and then the Cardinals where he led Arizona to a surprising Super Bowl appearance before his team suffered another heartbreaking loss.

4. Super Bowl XXIII
Date: January 22nd, 1989
Location: Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida.

"JOE MONTANA: COOL, COMEBACK KID"
The 49ers over the Bengals, 20-16.

This was the second Super Bowl meeting between these two teams and only the 3rd rematch in Super Bowl history. San Francisco was expected to dominate this game much like they did in their first Super Bowl victory over the Bengals following the 1981 season, but things didn't go as planned. Despite two very high-powered offenses led by quarterbacks Joe Montana and Boomer Esiason, the two teams traded field goals in the first half and went into the locker room tied at 3. They traded field goals again in the 3rd quarter, but Cincinnati's Stanford Jennings returned a kick-off 97 yards for a touchdown giving the Bengals a 13-6 lead. The 49ers answered immediately and capped off a game-tying touchdown drive with a Montana to Jerry Rice touchdown in the 4th quarter. The Bengals took a 16-13 lead with 3:20 left on Jim Breech's third field goal of the day. Montana then marched his team 92 yards, hitting John Taylor with the game-winning touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining. San Francisco claimed their third title of the 80's. Jerry Rice was named game MVP with a record 215 receiving yards and a touchdown. Montana also set a record with 357 yards passing. This was the only great Super Bowl of the 80's. In the decade's 8 Super Bowls prior to XXIII, the average margin of victory was 21 points. And the come-from-behind, game-winning march by the 49ers was the first one in the history of the contest. 49ers head coach Bill Walsh went out on a high note as he would retire following this game. Despite this, San Francisco repeated as Super Bowl champions the following season, clinching their 4th title and becoming one of the greatest teams of all-time.

3. Super Bowl XLII
Date: February 3rd, 2008
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.

"18-1"
The New York Giants upset the New England Patriots, 17-14.

Super Bowl XLII was supposed to be a coronation for the New England Patriots who simply dominated the 2007 regular season, outscoring their opponents by nearly 20 points a game. New England set records on offense with 589 points and 75 touchdowns. Quarterback Tom Brady set a record with 50 touchdown passes and wide receiver Randy Moss, acquired in the offseason for a 4th round draft pick, also set an NFL mark with 23 touchdown receptions. The Patriots came into the game 18-0 and were looking to become the first team to have a perfect season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins went 17-0. The New York Giants took a different path to SBXLII struggling early in the year before recovering to make the playoffs as a wildcard with a 10-6 record. Led by Eli Manning, an effective running attack and a dominating defensive line, the Giants became just the third team to win three-straight road games to reach the Super Bowl. The two teams actually played eachother in the last regular season game which the Patriots won, 38-35, to cap their undefeated regular season. Ironically enough, the Giants were Miami's last regular season opponent in '72. Despite the offensive weapons on both teams, the game was a defensive struggle. New York sacked Tom Brady five times during the game and the Giants offense could only muster 5 first downs in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The Giants managed to take a 10-7 lead late in the contest before Brady led the Patriots to the go-ahead score, hitting Randy Moss with a six-yard touchdown pass with 2:42 left in the game. New York wouldn't be denied, marching towards their destiny with an 83 yard drive for the ages. Key plays were Brandon Jacob's two yard run on 4th and 1 and an Eli Manning to David Tyree reception that will go down in history as one of the greatest plays of all time. On 3rd and 5, Manning escaped the grasps of a Patriots' defender and stayed alive long enough to unleash a pass 32 yards downfield. Tyree out-jumped Patriots' safety Rodney Harrison for the ball and cradled it against his helmet as he fell to the ground. Later in the drive, from the 13 yardline, Manning hit receiver Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining. The Giants captured their 3rd Super Bowl trophy in franchise history while the Patriots had to settle for a "disappointing" 18-1 record. As the 2007 season unfolded, the Patriots were so dominant that a victory in this game would surely have stamped them with the label of "Greatest Team in History." Not only that, they would have matched the Steelers of the 70's with four titles in a six year span. The 2007 postseason was a coming-out party for Eli Manning, who finally lived up to being the number one over all selection in the 2004 draft and got out from under his older brother's shadow. Eli matched Peyton Manning's Super Bowl triumph of a year earlier making the Mannings the first siblings to win Super Bowls back-to-back. The Giants were the first wildcard team from the NFC to win a Super Bowl.

2. Super Bowl XXV
Date: January 27th, 1991
Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida.

"WIDE RIGHT"
The New York Giants defeat the Buffalo Bills, 20-19.

Super Bowl XXV was a contrast in styles between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants. The Bills, led by quarterback Jim Kelly and running back Thurman Thomas, used a no-huddle offense to rack of the most points in the NFL in 1990. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Giants, led by strong-willed head coach Bill Parcells, countered with a ball-control, time-consuming offense. With that offensive philosophy and a very stout defense, New York led the league in fewest points allowed in 1990. The Bills were a 7-point favorite in this game and were expected to give the city of Buffalo their first Super Bowl title. The Giants were a cinderella story of sorts despite their 13-3 regular season record. They lost a late-season game at the Meadowlands to Buffalo and lost starting quarterback Phil Simms in the process. Simms was replaced by career back-up Jeff Hostetler for the remainder of the season. Hostetler managed the Giants to an upset victory over the heavily favored San Fransisco 49ers in the NFC championship game. San Fransisco was going for their 3rd straight Super Bowl victory. Despite the Bills potent offensive machine, the Giants controlled the tempo of the game and were only down 10-3 mid-way thru the 2nd quarter. A turning point in the contest came when Hostetler was sacked in the endzone for a safety by Bills' defensive lineman Bruce Smith. Hostetler kept his head on the play and didn't cough up the football as it looked like he would. Instead of being down, 17-3, the Giants only trailed 12-3. After a free kick and a Buffalo punt, the Giants got the ball back with 3:43 left in the half and drove down field and scored a touchdown to make it 12-10 at intermission. The Giants got the ball to start the second half and went on a record-setting, clock-eating touchdown drive to take a 17-12 lead. The Bills explosive offense finally bounced back and Buffalo scored on Thurman Thomas' 31 yard touchdown run on the first play of the 4th quarter. New York responded with another time-consuming drive which ended with a Matt Bahr field goal and a 20-19 Giants' lead. With 2:16 remaining, Kelly marched the Bills down field and put them in position to kick a game-winning 47 yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for the Bills, Scott Norwood's kick sailed infamously wide-right. The Giants captured their 2nd Super Bowl title in five seasons. This game was played during the Gulf War and is fondly remembered for Whitney Houston's incredible rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Despite New York's victory, the legacy of this game is probably most shaped by Scott Norwood's failed kick. Starting with Super Bowl XXV, Buffalo played in 4-straight Super Bowls and this was their best chance at a title. The Bills suffered lopsided losses to the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys in the following three Super Bowls. Sadly, nobody really talks about what a tremendous accomplishment it was for Buffalo to make it to the Super Bowl 4-straight seasons. Instead, they have forever been labeled "losers."

1. Super Bowl III
Date: January 12th, 1969
Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

"WE'RE GONNA WIN THE GAME, I GUARANTEE IT!"
The New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, 16-7.

Super Bowl III was hardly a great game, but the reason it's number one on my list is because of its historical significance. At the time of the game, the AFL and the NFL were separate entities with their agreed upon merger still two seasons away. The NFL was viewed as the superior league, and very few could make a case for the AFL being on par. The first two Super Bowls were lopsided affairs in favor of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. The Colts only loss in the 1968 season was to the Cleveland Browns and they avenged that loss by pounding the Browns, 34-0, in Cleveland for the NFL championship. The Jets were 11-3 in '68 and they narrowly defeated the Oakland Raiders for the AFL crown. The Colts were installed as 18-point favorites and it wasn't expected to be much of a contest. But led by charismatic quarterback Joe Namath, the Jets used an effective ball-control offense to build an early 7-0 lead on running back Matt Snell's 4-yard touchdown run. Baltimore still had plenty of chances to control this game but turned the ball over 5 times, including 4 interceptions deep in Jets' territory. The most damaging of those interceptions was at the end of the first half. The Colts tried a flea-flicker play that completely fooled New York and left Baltimore receiver, Jimmy Orr, wide open near the end zone. Colts' quarterback, Earl Morrall, didn't see Orr and tried to complete the pass to a different receiver only to be intercepted as time expired. The Jets continued to control things in the second half, using three Jim Turner field goals to take a 16-0 lead into the 4th quarter. Colts' head coach Don Shula decided to replace the struggling Morrall with legendary quarterback, Johnny Unitas. Unitas didn't have much better luck, although he did lead Baltimore to a late touchdown, but all that did was make the score look more respectable. The Jets had pulled off the miracle upset and Joe Namath was named mvp. Namath's famous quote, "We're gonna win the game, I guarantee it!" is arguably the most famous pre-game quote in sports history and, even more than the dramatic upset, is what Super Bowl III is remembered for. The win by the Jets did so much for the AFL and showed everyone that the league was finally on the same ground as the NFL. I believe Super Bowl III is the reason why the event has become so popular. It became the spectacle it is today when Joe Namath issued that famous guarantee and followed through with the upset win.

Oh well, this concludes my list of the Ten Greatest Super Bowls of All-time. I hope you enjoyed it.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Well, look at it this way: Everytime Sepulveda injures his knee, the Steelers win the Super bowl

The Steelers went into Baltimore last night and won another pivotal late season game against Ray Lewis and company. It was eerily similar to the 2008 game in Baltimore when Pittsburgh escaped with a last-second, 13-9, victory and clinched the AFC North division and a bye in the playoffs. In fact, the 13-10 score was nearly identical.

They did the same thing in 2001 when they went into Baltimore late in the year and clinched the then AFC Central division with a, 26-21, victory over the defending Super Bowl champions. Last night's victory didn't clinch the division for the Steelers, but they took a one-game lead over the Ravens heading into the last month of games.

As is usually the case when these two teams get together, last night's battle was like a heavyweight fight. And if I was scoring on points, the Ravens would have been ahead comfortably. They roughed up the Steelers pretty good the entire game. Ben Roethlisberger, already suffering from an injured foot, had his nose busted, Rocky-style, when he was hit in the face by Haloti Ngata. No penalty was called on the play, by the way. Heath Miller was knocked out of the game in the second half with a concussion when he was struck in the head while attempting to catch a pass. He was defenseless, but no penalty was called. Whatever, we're used to it, right?

Also, Daniel Sepulveda was lost for the year with an injured knee and Flozell Adams left the game with a high-ankle sprain.

Nevertheless, Pittsburgh kept the game close at 10-6, and staggered Baltimore with a flurry in the 12th round when Troy Polamalu stripped Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco of the ball and Lamarr Woodely returned the fumble to the Baltimore 9 yard line.

How many times has Polamalu done this for the Steelers? He's just an absolute blessing to watch every week and builds on his legendary reputation every time he emerges from the phone booth and saves the day.

The Steelers knocked Baltimore down for the count when Ben Roethlisberger hit Isaac Redman for a touchdown pass on third and goal to take a 13-10 lead with 2:51 to play.

Baltimore never got off the mat as Flacco threw an incomplete pass on 4th and 2 from the Steelers' 31 yardline with about 30 seconds remaining. Curiously, the Ravens elected to go for it rather than attempt the long, game-tying field goal against the wind.

I know Ben Roethlisberger didn't play his best last night, but whatever respect he was lacking from his teammates and the fans had to be earned with his gutsy performance. I can't imagine trying to go through a day's work with a fractured foot and a broken nose, but there was Ben last night having to dodge Terrell Suggs and the rest of the Ravens' fierce pass rush for 4 quarters. The win marked the 6th straight time the Steelers have defeated the Ravens with Big Ben under center, and he is 7-2 overall in his career against Baltimore.

You can say what you want about Roethlisberger, but he has "it" and it was on display last night. There aren't too many quarterbacks in the league who could have done what Ben did with the injuries he sustained. Yeah, the defense gets the nod for saving the day, and Redman gets a ton of kudos for his determined run to the goalline through many defenders, but Roethisberger is a special kind of player, and I'm glad that I'm able to watch him work his magic game after game. You can call him many things, but while you're at it, you better call him a winner, as well. That's what the man is.

And what more can be said about Shaun Suisham? Two more 40plus yard field goals, pushing his total to 6-for-6 with Pittsburgh and 13-straight overall. And he even did a great job filling in on punts after Sepulveda went down. Daniel couldn't have placed some of those punts any better than Suisham. He even downed one inside the five that, unfortunately, was nullified due to a penalty on Keenan Lewis. It's like clock-work. Every 8 years, the Steelers hold a kicking tryout and come away with quite a gem.

What a rivalry this has been between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. I know the Ravens are the former Browns, but for my money, these two teams are battling the way the Steelers and Houston Oilers went at it in the late 70's and early 80's. They're just so similar and it's reflected in the scores. Five of the last six games have been decided by 3 points, and the other one was decided by 4. You'd think just once one team would get the best of the other with a two or three score victory, but it just never happens.

Last week, Suggs called it the best rivalry in sports, and right now, at this very moment, it probably is.

The games are generally low-scoring and usually not very pretty, but they sure do pack a lot of action into the low-scores. I'm not one to say, "they play football how it should be played!" I think there are many ways to play the game of football that are very compelling, including high-scoring, finesse contests, but the Steelers/Ravens brand of football is pretty cool, and always a treat. It's easier to say after a win, of course.

So far this year, the Steelers and Ravens are tied at 1 game a piece. I say so far because I think there will be a rubber match in January.



Sunday, December 5, 2010

PITT to play Kentucky in the "Why couldn't this be for the basketball National Championship bowl"

According to a close source (my girlfriend), the Panthers will play the Kentucky Wildcats in the BBVA Compass bowl on January 8th in Birmingham, Alabama.

Believe it or not, when I heard this news, I was kind of happy. But not the happy that you're thinking of. I'll give you an analogy:

This Tuesday, I have a dental appointment, and I'm going to find out if I need a root canal or if there is no hope for my damaged tooth and it'll have to be extracted.

I'm hoping for the root canal.

The BBVA Compass bowl (formally the Papa Johns bowl) against Kentucky might not seem like much, but in this analogy, it's the root canal to the painful and bloody extraction that would be the Beef'O Brady Bowl against Southern Miss on December 21st.

At least it's against an SEC team. Sure, maybe not a sexy SEC team, but if PITT pulls the game out, Big East fans will use it to totally talk trash and rip the SEC on blogs and message boards. And at the end of the day, that's really all that matters.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

PITT defeats Cincinnati a year too late

The PITT Panthers ended their 2010 regular season with a 28-10 win at Cincinnati over the Bearcats.

It was the first time PITT has beaten Cincinnati in three seasons. The Panthers may have won, but unfortunately, they lost out once again in the Big East. The Panthers can lay claim to a part of the Big East championship, matching Connecticut and WVU with 5-2 conference marks, but they don't get the big prize.

That will go to Connecticut, who beat out both PITT and West Virginia for the BCS berth. UConn owns tiebreakers over both the Panthers and the 'eers.

It's unclear what bowl PITT will now play in, but from most accounts, it'll either be in the Beef 'O Brady bowl on December 21st to face Southern Miss or the BBVA Compass bowl on January 8th to face Kentucky.

Today's victory over Cincy was cool. Dion Lewis regained his form and rushed for 261 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. It was a nice way to end the season.

However, the PITT program, and their fans, would have gladly exchanged today's triumph for a win over the Bearcats last season.

That would have been MUCH cooler.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Nothing wrong with being a die hard fan

I was reading a blog earlier from a local personality who said he just doesn't "get it" when he sees grown men and women wearing replica jerseys of their favorite teams or players. Whether it be a football jersey, a hockey sweater, etc.

I've heard this before. Some people think it's silly to wear jerseys, and that's fine. But at the same time, I don't think it's wrong, either.

Someone walking around with a replica Steelers jersey on is no different than someone else wearing a t-shirt of their favorite band. If there is a difference, please, point it out to me.

There is also a sentiment by some people who assume that anyone who is a die hard sports fan is a drunken idiot who has nothing else to fill the void in his or her life and they throw all of their energy into supporting their favorite team.

It's no secret that there are people out there like that, but they are in the minority. Those people at games who get into fights with fans of other teams, they don't represent the majority of sports fans. Just like everything else in life, the idiots get all the attention. They don't represent most of us.

If someone is getting into fights at sporting events, chances are, they're probably showing the same behavior in other areas of life, when sports aren't even involved. Don't blame the sport just because some jackass decides to act up while attending a game. Blame the person.

I have plenty of friends who wear their Steelers jerseys proudly on game-day and they're not drunken idiots. They're just showing their love and support for their team. Do they get excited when the Steelers do something great or upset when they do the opposite? Of course, so do I. I jump up and down, I pound the floor, I even swear, but when the game is over, so is my goofy behavior. I see nothing wrong with that. Now, if I go and slap my girlfriend or break a window because the Steelers lose a game, then maybe I have a problem. But, chances are, it would be in my character to do that kind of stuff with or without the Steelers to cheer for. Don't blame the Steelers. Don't blame football. Don't blame the alcohol. Blame me.

If you can't figure out why people live and die for their teams, why they pull out their replica jerseys and wear them proudly, you're just not a fan, and no explanation will do.

If you do understand why people find great joy in their team winning or sorrow in them losing, then you are a fan and no explanation is necessary.

Being a die hard sports fan is totally unique to any other aspect of life. Where else can you invest so much emotion into something that you don't really have any physical involvement in? There is nothing.

You might get some of that from a tv show, band or movie. But if you go and see your favorite band in concert, there is a pretty good chance that you'll leave their fulfilled. Same thing when you turn on your favorite show. You know it's going to bring you joy.

However, the great thing about sitting down to watch a game is you have absolutely no idea how you'll be feeling in three hours.

I haven't broken out my replica Hines Ward jersey all season, but you better believe I'll be wearing it proudly when the Steelers take on the Ravens Sunday night.

I cheer for the Steelers because doing so gives me emotions that are totally unparalled to anything else I do in my life. And I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It's called being a sports fan. Like I said, if you're not a sports fan, you just wouldn't understand.