Monday, February 06, 2012
He's Da Mann!
Well, my numbers weren't completely off: Instead of 31-17, the final score was 21-17! I got the New England side of the equation, but the Giants didn't quite ring up the numbers on the offensive side as I envisioned. That said, the game played out as I thought, with respect to the winning quarterback. Eli is now the top dog in the Manning family. He led the team to a winning fourth-quarter touchdown -- as he did four years ago and as he has done all season. Eli now has two Super Bowl wins -- and gotten them in a quicker time than his more accomplished brother took to get one. He's also the only guy to have beaten Tom Brady twice in the postseason. To become elite, ya gotta beat the elite.
And Eli Manning is as elite -- and clutch -- as they come.
And given the respective ages of this team's core players on offense and defense, there's no reason why the Giants shouldn't be favorites at least to make it back to the NFC championship game next year.
Congrats, Eli. Congrats, New York Giants!!
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And Eli Manning is as elite -- and clutch -- as they come.
And given the respective ages of this team's core players on offense and defense, there's no reason why the Giants shouldn't be favorites at least to make it back to the NFC championship game next year.
Congrats, Eli. Congrats, New York Giants!!
Labels: Eli Manning, Super Bowl
Sunday, February 05, 2012
ELI-te Prediction
Thank goodness there aren't as many pre-game polls for football games as there are for presidential primaries and caucuses! Though, I guess, if you factor "predictions" into it, they come out about equal. In any event, I've avoided sports prognostication in recent months, but since there's a New York (Jersey?) team involved, I will break that streak. Especially given that there's a hated Boston-related squad lining up on the other side today.
Conventionally speaking, I think this actually won't be a close game. I'm thinking it will be about a two-touchdown margin (though it could be larger). And it's going to go the Giants way.
If anything, this match-up reminds me of one of the old late-80s, early-90s games where powerful AFC teams go storming into the Super Bowl and find themselves rather outmatched by their NFC counterparts. Remember three Denver blowouts? Remember one close Buffalo loss -- followed by three consecutive blowouts?
Things those Denver/Buffalo teams all had in common were great quarterbacks, explosive offenses and "finesse" defenses whose sins were often covered by the aforementioned QB/offenses. Frankly, that's what I see in this year's New England team -- which gave up more passing yardage this year than any team other than....drum-roll...the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, that would be a Green Bay team that lost to the New York Giants. (And yes, statistically, the Giants were only a few notches better, however they made up for it with a ferocious pass-rush -- especially later in the season when banged-up members returned). The Giants beat the Patriots earlier this year, in Foxboro, when Big Blue had several key contributors not playing -- and the Pats were at full strength. Today, the Giants are healthier than the Pats (sorry, Gronk) and they are playing better.
Arguably, more significantly, there's also a psychological factor at play here. All the pundits are talking about Tom Brady's "legacy" and the possibility of getting a fourth ring that puts him in a class with only Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Well, there's the other quarterback there -- the guy whose played forever in the shadow of his older brother. Indeed, even in a year where Peyton didn't play, he was one of the enduring storylines. Even into the post-season, all the headlines have been about Peyton's future in Indianapolis.
Tonight, Eli Manning has the opportunity to win a second Super Bowl, taking him past his forever-shilling brother and into the rarified air of multiple winners. Suddenly, Eli's no longer being compared to Peyton. Instead, pundits will have to compare him to Brady (who he'll have beaten 2-0 in the Big Game), Roethlisberger (whose 2-1 in Super Bowls) and Rodgers (who he's already beaten this playoff drive). Oh, and winning it all in Indianapolis? How sweeter can it get?
New York Giants 31, New England Patriots 17.
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Conventionally speaking, I think this actually won't be a close game. I'm thinking it will be about a two-touchdown margin (though it could be larger). And it's going to go the Giants way.
If anything, this match-up reminds me of one of the old late-80s, early-90s games where powerful AFC teams go storming into the Super Bowl and find themselves rather outmatched by their NFC counterparts. Remember three Denver blowouts? Remember one close Buffalo loss -- followed by three consecutive blowouts?
Things those Denver/Buffalo teams all had in common were great quarterbacks, explosive offenses and "finesse" defenses whose sins were often covered by the aforementioned QB/offenses. Frankly, that's what I see in this year's New England team -- which gave up more passing yardage this year than any team other than....drum-roll...the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, that would be a Green Bay team that lost to the New York Giants. (And yes, statistically, the Giants were only a few notches better, however they made up for it with a ferocious pass-rush -- especially later in the season when banged-up members returned). The Giants beat the Patriots earlier this year, in Foxboro, when Big Blue had several key contributors not playing -- and the Pats were at full strength. Today, the Giants are healthier than the Pats (sorry, Gronk) and they are playing better.
Arguably, more significantly, there's also a psychological factor at play here. All the pundits are talking about Tom Brady's "legacy" and the possibility of getting a fourth ring that puts him in a class with only Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Well, there's the other quarterback there -- the guy whose played forever in the shadow of his older brother. Indeed, even in a year where Peyton didn't play, he was one of the enduring storylines. Even into the post-season, all the headlines have been about Peyton's future in Indianapolis.
Tonight, Eli Manning has the opportunity to win a second Super Bowl, taking him past his forever-shilling brother and into the rarified air of multiple winners. Suddenly, Eli's no longer being compared to Peyton. Instead, pundits will have to compare him to Brady (who he'll have beaten 2-0 in the Big Game), Roethlisberger (whose 2-1 in Super Bowls) and Rodgers (who he's already beaten this playoff drive). Oh, and winning it all in Indianapolis? How sweeter can it get?
New York Giants 31, New England Patriots 17.
Labels: Eli Manning, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Super Bowl, Tom Brady
Sunday, February 06, 2011
The Game
No real dog in this fight: The New York football teams were a combined 1-3 against the Packers and the Steelers in the past season (Jets, 1-1 against Pittsburgh, 0-1 vs. Green Bay and the Giants were 0-1 against the Pack). So, I'm going with a gut feeling that Green Bay is slightly better -- in particular, faster -- than Pittsburgh (aside from hoping that Ben Roethlisberger gets his ass handed to him).
So, let's call it GB 31, Pitt 28.
UPDATE: So, I got the Green Bay number, but missed the Steelers by one field goal (the 52-yarder they missed). Great game, however. As well as Aaron Rodgers played (and he did: If the Pack's receivers didn't have multiple cases of the dropsies, A-Rodg would have probably had close to 400 years), the decisive factor in Super Bowl XLV was Green Bay's defense. Considering what they did to the Jets earlier in the season (9-0, at home), I can't say that was such a surprise. However, that the Packers still managed to hold off Pittsburgh, despite losing both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields midway through the second quarter was quite impressive. And, in the battle of the defensive "hair-iors," Clay Matthews of the Pack clearly outplayed Troy Polamalu.
Oh well, congrats to MVP Rodgers who managed to help everyone forget about Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and all the other soap operatic mini-narratives that fueled the past season. How great that a great arm and a good work ethic can push all the other BS to the side.
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So, let's call it GB 31, Pitt 28.
UPDATE: So, I got the Green Bay number, but missed the Steelers by one field goal (the 52-yarder they missed). Great game, however. As well as Aaron Rodgers played (and he did: If the Pack's receivers didn't have multiple cases of the dropsies, A-Rodg would have probably had close to 400 years), the decisive factor in Super Bowl XLV was Green Bay's defense. Considering what they did to the Jets earlier in the season (9-0, at home), I can't say that was such a surprise. However, that the Packers still managed to hold off Pittsburgh, despite losing both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields midway through the second quarter was quite impressive. And, in the battle of the defensive "hair-iors," Clay Matthews of the Pack clearly outplayed Troy Polamalu.
Oh well, congrats to MVP Rodgers who managed to help everyone forget about Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and all the other soap operatic mini-narratives that fueled the past season. How great that a great arm and a good work ethic can push all the other BS to the side.
Labels: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
New York Goes Bowling!!
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Monday, February 08, 2010
Saints Go Marching In
Well, that's why I'm not a football expert!
But game was arguably decided in last minute of the first half and on opening kick-off of the second. Colts had owned the the last two minutes of the first half of games all season. Tonight, after stopping Saints on 4th down, bizarrely, they did three runs and punted the ball away. Saints drove, got a field goal -- and then did the brave onside kick to start the second half.
Even though the Colts went back ahead 17-13, the basic mental momentum changed. Colts never scored again and the Fleur de Lis was on its way.
I don't believe that winning a Super Bowl will magically make New Orleans recover (new mayor Mitch Landrieu will have a greater impact on that), but it's a nice story for a long-suffering franchise -- and a great comeback story for QB Drew Brees too!
Congrats all around!!
Labels: Super Bowl
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Super Bowl Prediction
Though why anyone would care what I think on this is beyond me! My hunch is it's going to be Colts rather comfortably -- by at least 10 (though it won't be the end of my world if Saints win). Of course, with a game like this, one can never discount the play of special teams. That means, I wouldn't be surprised if Reggie Bush breaks a long one (Indy gave up a TD to Devin Hester on the first play of the SB four years ago.
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Regardless, it's looking to me like it's going to be "Peyton's Place" rather than "(Sean) Payton's Place"!
Labels: Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Perfect Game Beats Perfect Season
"18-1...18-1....18-1..." was the chant going through the streets of New York tonight.
(Along with that always-dependable standby, "Boston sucks!")
Sorry about that, Pats.
My friend David Bernstein called this the best Super Bowl of our lifetimes. He may be right. I can't think of a better one recently. Hey, it's the first time in the modern era that an unbeaten team has been knocked off in the Big Game.
This was a game very reminiscent of Super Bowl XXV, when the Giants beat the offensive juggernaut Buffalo Bills, 20-19.
In a nice bit of irony, the Giants also did to the Patriots what the Pats did to the Rams during their first championship run: They kept the offense off the field and off-balance. They kept the ball out of Randy Moss' hands (though it looked for a while like Wes Welker was going to be the Giant-killer). They pressured Tom Brady like he hadn't been all year (and as they did to Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo and Brett Favre previously). Five sacks.
Eli Manning had the ball twice in the fourth quarter and delivered touchdowns twice. (Wow. Is this Archie Manning's revenge on the NFL, or what? After suffering with the horrific New Orleans Saints his entire career, his two sons win consecutive Super Bowls -- and consecutive game MVPs, to boot!)
Brady, meanwhile, had the ball with the game on the line and couldn't deliver. (Does he dump Gisele in the next couple of weeks -- or does she dump him?)
14-6>18-1
Wow.
UPDATE: Ten things we learned from the Giants' Super Bowl win. The Manning-escape-from-Pats-rush-and-throw-to-Tyree-who-made-insane-sky-high-catch is a play for the ages. It's that play that solidified the MVP for Manning. As two friends mentioned, otherwise, a great case could be made for Justin Tuck who had two sacks, a forced fumble and was in Brady's face all night.
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(Along with that always-dependable standby, "Boston sucks!")
Sorry about that, Pats.
My friend David Bernstein called this the best Super Bowl of our lifetimes. He may be right. I can't think of a better one recently. Hey, it's the first time in the modern era that an unbeaten team has been knocked off in the Big Game.
This was a game very reminiscent of Super Bowl XXV, when the Giants beat the offensive juggernaut Buffalo Bills, 20-19.
In a nice bit of irony, the Giants also did to the Patriots what the Pats did to the Rams during their first championship run: They kept the offense off the field and off-balance. They kept the ball out of Randy Moss' hands (though it looked for a while like Wes Welker was going to be the Giant-killer). They pressured Tom Brady like he hadn't been all year (and as they did to Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo and Brett Favre previously). Five sacks.
Eli Manning had the ball twice in the fourth quarter and delivered touchdowns twice. (Wow. Is this Archie Manning's revenge on the NFL, or what? After suffering with the horrific New Orleans Saints his entire career, his two sons win consecutive Super Bowls -- and consecutive game MVPs, to boot!)
Brady, meanwhile, had the ball with the game on the line and couldn't deliver. (Does he dump Gisele in the next couple of weeks -- or does she dump him?)
14-6>18-1
Wow.
UPDATE: Ten things we learned from the Giants' Super Bowl win. The Manning-escape-from-Pats-rush-and-throw-to-Tyree-who-made-insane-sky-high-catch is a play for the ages. It's that play that solidified the MVP for Manning. As two friends mentioned, otherwise, a great case could be made for Justin Tuck who had two sacks, a forced fumble and was in Brady's face all night.
Labels: New York Giants, NFL, Super Bowl, Super bowl XXV
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Pigskin Pick'em Playoffs - The Super Bowl
I was going to do a long post, completely overanalyzing the Super Bowl. Fortunately, the New York Giants have saved me the trouble by shooting off their mouths. For example (the following quotes are from the New York Post's website):
Or even better:
How about a quote from Giants chairman Steve Tisch, when asked to predict a winner? (quote from Northjersey.com)
All analysis of this game is moot. The Patriots will win, and it might even get ugly.
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As he pulled his car up to the Giants Stadium tunnel to unload his bags, [Plaxico] Burress was asked...a direct question: Are you ready to make history? "You better believe it," the towering Giants receiver said.
And then, as he entered the stadium and turned left toward the Giants locker room, Burress was asked for his prediction. Burress never hesitated, flatly stating "23-17."
He didn't identify the winning team. He didn't have to.
Or even better:
Next came Michael Strahan...The same question: Are you ready to make history? "Yes sir," said Strahan, who for 15 years has chased the dream of winning the Super Bowl.
"History will be ours."
How about a quote from Giants chairman Steve Tisch, when asked to predict a winner? (quote from Northjersey.com)
"I'm not going to give you the score...We'll have more points than they do. That's my score."
All analysis of this game is moot. The Patriots will win, and it might even get ugly.
Labels: NFL, Super Bowl
Monday, January 21, 2008
First and Already Too Long
Two weeks from now, which will people be more sick -- football or politics?
Matt Cooper's note suggests a third possibility: both equally.
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Matt Cooper's note suggests a third possibility: both equally.
Labels: GOP 2008 President, NFL, politcs, Super Bowl
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Resisting A Nice Bar With Nuts
So, the one ad I mention in my Super Bowl review is the one that becomes controversial. Less than 24 hours after the game, Snickers yanked its "manly" ad after complaints that it -- and particularly the "alternate endings" versions online-- was homophobic.
Once people referred to the concept of anti-Semitism without Jews. Here, we had a supposed example of anti-gay sensibility -- without any reference to gays.
My thought was when I saw the ad that ran during the game was that the joke is on guys who have a very narrow idea of what "masculinity" or "manhood" is supposed to be about: They are so scared they might not be manly, they start ripping out their chest hair. Dumb? Yeah, but hardly homophobic.
Anyway, this gentleman has the best sense on the need to rein in the PC horses:
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Once people referred to the concept of anti-Semitism without Jews. Here, we had a supposed example of anti-gay sensibility -- without any reference to gays.
My thought was when I saw the ad that ran during the game was that the joke is on guys who have a very narrow idea of what "masculinity" or "manhood" is supposed to be about: They are so scared they might not be manly, they start ripping out their chest hair. Dumb? Yeah, but hardly homophobic.
Anyway, this gentleman has the best sense on the need to rein in the PC horses:
Well I, for one, am a gay American — how, exactly, can one person be G, L, B and T anyway? — who has suffered a hate crime, and I am more disturbed by the gross overreaction of these overly earnest gay rights groups.Indeed.
The version of the Snickers ad that aired during the game was funny, if not exactly guffaw-inducing. Funny, as in funny ha-ha. Remember that, activists? This isn't Isaiah Washington cursing a gay colleage or Michael Richards unleashing a torrent of angry "N-words."
This was a silly ad for a candy bar in which two unattractive, middle-aged mechanics accidentally kiss and then have a comic overreaction. Do we really believe impressionable youngsters will learn life lessons from these two? They are the butt of the joke, after all, not gay people.
Let's not forget, too, that this same-sex kiss didn't just run in prime time, but on Sunday afternoon in the most-watched television event of the year. Long after the short ad spot is forgotten, a taboo has been broken, the "shock value" of a gay kiss has been lessened, and that's ultimately of more cultural influence than the mechanics' macho morality
Labels: advertising, gay, Super Bowl
Some Post-Super Bowl Thoughts
Now that the "big game" is over, time for a few ruminations on it:
MVP: If I could hand out an MVP award, I would give it to the Colts secondary. Maybe a co-MVP between Kelvin Hayden and Bob Sanders? If I have to choose only one player, then I give it to Bob Sanders, since he added a forced fumble to his interception.
If I had to choose an offensive MVP, I would take Dominic Rhodes, who had as many touchdowns as Peyton Manning (one), but no fumbles or interceptions (Manning had one of each). Add in 113 rushing yards, and Rhodes walks away with it.
REX GROSSMAN: Everyone's goat, for good reason. If the Bears start next season with Grossman under center, they are fools.
BEST COMMERCIAL: I liked the Doritos "Live the flavor" ad in the first quarter (link here).
HALL OF FAME SELECTIONS: How does Michael Irvin get in before Art Monk? They both played in three Super Bowls, but Monk did it with three different quarterbacks. Monk's career stats were better than Irvin's:
Just because Irvin toots his own horn louder doesn't mean he deserves it more.
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MVP: If I could hand out an MVP award, I would give it to the Colts secondary. Maybe a co-MVP between Kelvin Hayden and Bob Sanders? If I have to choose only one player, then I give it to Bob Sanders, since he added a forced fumble to his interception.
If I had to choose an offensive MVP, I would take Dominic Rhodes, who had as many touchdowns as Peyton Manning (one), but no fumbles or interceptions (Manning had one of each). Add in 113 rushing yards, and Rhodes walks away with it.
REX GROSSMAN: Everyone's goat, for good reason. If the Bears start next season with Grossman under center, they are fools.
BEST COMMERCIAL: I liked the Doritos "Live the flavor" ad in the first quarter (link here).
HALL OF FAME SELECTIONS: How does Michael Irvin get in before Art Monk? They both played in three Super Bowls, but Monk did it with three different quarterbacks. Monk's career stats were better than Irvin's:
Art Monk: 940 catches, 12,721 yards, 68 touchdowns
Michael Irvin: 750 catches, 11,904 yards, 65 touchdowns
Just because Irvin toots his own horn louder doesn't mean he deserves it more.
Labels: Super Bowl
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Yeah, Sure, Call it Super...
What a "nice" game: Sloppy, but exciting first-half (reminiscent of the Florida/Ohio State BCS championship game with the eventual losing team running back the opening kick-off for a touchdown -- and then being unable to do much on offense for the rest of the game); Manning overcomes his early jitters and manages the game; the Colts, amazingly turn out to be both the better rushing team AND the better defensive squad.
After years of halftime shows that wavered between T&A exercises (Janet Jackson's "Nipplegate") and musical acts for the Geritol set (Rolling Stones & Paul McCartney), The Artist Formerly And Once Again Known As Prince gave one of the best "live" performances (even allowing for the prominent backing tracks) ever: A mixture of classic hits -- starting off with "Let's Go Crazy", plus classic rock tunes ("Proud Mary" and "All Along The Watchtower" -- more Hendrix version than Dylan); taking the Foo Fighters "The Best of You" and making it his own -- and finishing up, of course, with "Purple Rain." We went nuts at my local bar.
The Man Upstairs must be a Prince fan, because while the players and the fans might not have liked the ongoing downpour during the game, it sure was fitting for His Royal Badness' finale. He may be in his 40s and he may have dropped the naughty stuff for God (Prince is now a Jehovah's Witness), but he proved that he can still "bring it" live, charismatic as ever, even in a huge football stadium, performing for millions across the globe.
And, then, the second half, it was just going through the motions: It was pretty evident from the middle of the first half that the Bears offense (Evil Rex showed up at quarterback) wasn't going to be scoring any points. Meanwhile, the Colts did just enough -- including two key interceptions (one returned for a touchdown).
After the game, with the Vince Lombardi trophy presented finally presented to the long-suffering Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, the coach once again made a comment that shows why he is so widely respected.
While CBS sports commentator Jim Nantz asked Dungy to speak to the "social significance" of becoming the first black coach to win the Super Bowl, Dungy adroitly stayed focused. I'm paraphrasing here, but he essentially said that while he was proud "on behalf of African Americans" to be in this role, he was even happier that he and Chicago's Lovie Smith had managed to make it to the Super Bowl coaching in a "Christian" manner without profanity or or negative behavior.
There you have it -- on the biggest televised event in America, the winning coach manages to make a statement that encapsulates the hot buttons of both sides of the political divide that has haunted the country since 2000: If you're living in a blue state, you've got to be happy that a proud black man finally coached a team to a Super Bowl championship; if you live in the red states, you should be pleased as punch that that man also testified to his Christian faith getting him AND the losing coach to that point.
Now, that is cool.
The ads, this year, to my mind weren't that memorable. My personal favorites were the Chevy ad with various celebrities singing verses from songs that mentioned Chevrolets, the bare-chested guys doing the car wash (just to get their hands on a Chevy); the Jim Gaffigan spots for Sierra Mist; and the subtle Coca-Cola salute to Black History Month (with its allusion to the Dungy-Smith event). None of them really had a "Wow" factor, but they were, well, pleasant. (The sole exception was the perversely clever Snickers ad with two heterosexual guys unnerved after they find themselves kissing after sharing a Snickers bar.)
In a sense, the ads fitted the game they sponsored.
UPDATE: Written last night after a long game (and a beer or two), this post -- particularly the blue state/red state passage -- could have been clearer: Generalizations are just that -- generalizations. I was speaking broadly about the stereotypical perception of a liberal "blue" state and a conservative "red" state. Obviously, there are people of faith living in blue states, folks very concerned about diversity in red states -- and combinations of both across the country.
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After years of halftime shows that wavered between T&A exercises (Janet Jackson's "Nipplegate") and musical acts for the Geritol set (Rolling Stones & Paul McCartney), The Artist Formerly And Once Again Known As Prince gave one of the best "live" performances (even allowing for the prominent backing tracks) ever: A mixture of classic hits -- starting off with "Let's Go Crazy", plus classic rock tunes ("Proud Mary" and "All Along The Watchtower" -- more Hendrix version than Dylan); taking the Foo Fighters "The Best of You" and making it his own -- and finishing up, of course, with "Purple Rain." We went nuts at my local bar.
The Man Upstairs must be a Prince fan, because while the players and the fans might not have liked the ongoing downpour during the game, it sure was fitting for His Royal Badness' finale. He may be in his 40s and he may have dropped the naughty stuff for God (Prince is now a Jehovah's Witness), but he proved that he can still "bring it" live, charismatic as ever, even in a huge football stadium, performing for millions across the globe.
And, then, the second half, it was just going through the motions: It was pretty evident from the middle of the first half that the Bears offense (Evil Rex showed up at quarterback) wasn't going to be scoring any points. Meanwhile, the Colts did just enough -- including two key interceptions (one returned for a touchdown).
After the game, with the Vince Lombardi trophy presented finally presented to the long-suffering Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, the coach once again made a comment that shows why he is so widely respected.
While CBS sports commentator Jim Nantz asked Dungy to speak to the "social significance" of becoming the first black coach to win the Super Bowl, Dungy adroitly stayed focused. I'm paraphrasing here, but he essentially said that while he was proud "on behalf of African Americans" to be in this role, he was even happier that he and Chicago's Lovie Smith had managed to make it to the Super Bowl coaching in a "Christian" manner without profanity or or negative behavior.
There you have it -- on the biggest televised event in America, the winning coach manages to make a statement that encapsulates the hot buttons of both sides of the political divide that has haunted the country since 2000: If you're living in a blue state, you've got to be happy that a proud black man finally coached a team to a Super Bowl championship; if you live in the red states, you should be pleased as punch that that man also testified to his Christian faith getting him AND the losing coach to that point.
Now, that is cool.
The ads, this year, to my mind weren't that memorable. My personal favorites were the Chevy ad with various celebrities singing verses from songs that mentioned Chevrolets, the bare-chested guys doing the car wash (just to get their hands on a Chevy); the Jim Gaffigan spots for Sierra Mist; and the subtle Coca-Cola salute to Black History Month (with its allusion to the Dungy-Smith event). None of them really had a "Wow" factor, but they were, well, pleasant. (The sole exception was the perversely clever Snickers ad with two heterosexual guys unnerved after they find themselves kissing after sharing a Snickers bar.)
In a sense, the ads fitted the game they sponsored.
UPDATE: Written last night after a long game (and a beer or two), this post -- particularly the blue state/red state passage -- could have been clearer: Generalizations are just that -- generalizations. I was speaking broadly about the stereotypical perception of a liberal "blue" state and a conservative "red" state. Obviously, there are people of faith living in blue states, folks very concerned about diversity in red states -- and combinations of both across the country.
Labels: ads, Lovie Smith, NFL, Prince, Super Bowl, Tony Dungy
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Why black coaches are important
I have talked before about how having two black head coaches in the Super Bowl is not important from a football perspective. But from a societal perspective, it is important for one simple reason: intelligence.
One of the flaws in recent "black culture" (for lack of a better phrase) is a de-emphasis on intelligence. Too often, blacks who are successful in intellectual fields tend to be ignored as "oreos" (black on the outside, white on the inside). Condi Rice and Clarence Thomas are fine examples, although their conservative views are used to excuse any racial slurs used against them by liberals, thereby neutering them as potential role models.
Unfortunately, where are the liberal black role models? Barack Obama might eventually become one, but he is not there yet. That leaves us with people like Cynthia McKinney, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson, who only serve to reinforce a "blacks as victims" mentality. If you are doomed to be a victim all your life, what good will intelligence do you?
There are also too many stories of young blacks having educational success, only to be accused of being "sell-outs". This is how the "blacks as victims" mentality plays out within the black community.
This leaves limited acceptable success paths for black youths: entertainment (which is irrelevant), athletics (but God help the white person who says blacks are somehow superior athletes, even though the black community accepts this), or ultra-liberal politics (where they will be ignored by the mainstream, thereby reinforcing the "blacks as victims" since no one takes them seriously). Mind you, many blacks choose other career paths, and have success in them. But they get ignored when they try to promote other means to success, since they must have been "sell-outs" to have accomplished what they have.
But this is where Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith can make an important contribution.
While NFL head coaches normally come from a football background, harking back to athletics as an acceptable success path, these men have to be intelligent to have success, as defined in the NFL by winning the Super Bowl.
Sunday night, one of these two men will be unofficially crowned as the most intelligent man in professional football. Not the fastest, not the strongest, not the most entertaining, and we won't even know what his politics are, nor will we care. But he will be smart, and THAT is the most important role model for black youths.
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One of the flaws in recent "black culture" (for lack of a better phrase) is a de-emphasis on intelligence. Too often, blacks who are successful in intellectual fields tend to be ignored as "oreos" (black on the outside, white on the inside). Condi Rice and Clarence Thomas are fine examples, although their conservative views are used to excuse any racial slurs used against them by liberals, thereby neutering them as potential role models.
Unfortunately, where are the liberal black role models? Barack Obama might eventually become one, but he is not there yet. That leaves us with people like Cynthia McKinney, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson, who only serve to reinforce a "blacks as victims" mentality. If you are doomed to be a victim all your life, what good will intelligence do you?
There are also too many stories of young blacks having educational success, only to be accused of being "sell-outs". This is how the "blacks as victims" mentality plays out within the black community.
This leaves limited acceptable success paths for black youths: entertainment (which is irrelevant), athletics (but God help the white person who says blacks are somehow superior athletes, even though the black community accepts this), or ultra-liberal politics (where they will be ignored by the mainstream, thereby reinforcing the "blacks as victims" since no one takes them seriously). Mind you, many blacks choose other career paths, and have success in them. But they get ignored when they try to promote other means to success, since they must have been "sell-outs" to have accomplished what they have.
But this is where Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith can make an important contribution.
While NFL head coaches normally come from a football background, harking back to athletics as an acceptable success path, these men have to be intelligent to have success, as defined in the NFL by winning the Super Bowl.
Sunday night, one of these two men will be unofficially crowned as the most intelligent man in professional football. Not the fastest, not the strongest, not the most entertaining, and we won't even know what his politics are, nor will we care. But he will be smart, and THAT is the most important role model for black youths.
Labels: black coaches, Lovie Smith, Super Bowl, Tony Dungy
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Football! Football! Football!
There is so much going on in the NFL, I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with the end: the Super Bowl.
SUPER BOWL XLI: Contrary to what the Media is hyping about being important in this game, the first two black head coaches in a Super Bowl, the truth is there is a more significant factor being overlooked from a football perspective: both of these coaches come from a defensive background.
Tony Dungy was a defensive player who eventually became a defensive assistant coach. Lovie Smith was a linebacker coach with Tampa Bay (under Dungy) before he became a head coach.
This is significant because if you look at the recent history of Super Bowl winners, most of the head coaches have come from defensive backgrounds: Bill Cowher and Bill Belichick, winners of 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls, both came from defensive backgrounds. Jon Gruden was the only offensive coach to win in that period, and he inherited a great defense from previous head coach (TA-DA!) Tony Dungy. Gruden also had a great defensive coordinator in Monte Kiffin.
Once again proving the old cliche: Defense wins championships.
Who will win this Super Bowl? I have to lean towards the Bears. While the Colts have played better defense during the playoffs, the Bears have been playing great defense all year. Add in the superior special teams of the Bears, and the Colts have their work cut out for them.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Certainly one of the great games in NFL history, although it didn't look that way in the beginning.
The interception by Tom Brady at the end was strange, as it looked like he was throwing directly to Marlin Jackson of the Colts. Sadly, it was common for a lot of interceptions I have seen this year (most of Peyton Manning's interceptions during the playoffs were like this). This comes from teams relying on timing patterns too much, instead of the quarterback actually looking for the open receiver. This gives a huge advantage to a zone defense when the receiver doesn't run the pattern which the quarterback is expecting.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Aside from the one catch-and-run by Reggie Bush, it was a snoozer.
The Saints achilles heel was turnovers, pretty much what it has been all year. Not counting the safety they gave up, the Saints turned it over 4 times. The Bears did not have a single turnover. Add in the fact the Bears dominated time of possession, and the Saints are history.
BILL PARCELLS RETIRES: Like we didn't see this one coming?
Seriously, I am glad he did. I hope he gets back into broadcasting. I think Parcells brings more to football by his analysis than he does by coaching.
As for the Cowboys? Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting a rumor that the Cowboys will go with Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as their next head coach. But you might want to take that rumor with a grain of salt, since Schefter also reported back on January 20th that Parcells wasn't retiring.
RAIDERS GO KIFFIN: The Raiders are hiring the youngest head coach in NFL history, 31 year old Lane Kiffin, formerly the offensive coordinator at USC. Lane may be better known to pro fans as the son of Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
As a Raider fan, I am pleased. The Raiders have had much more success with young head coaches, from John Madden to Jon Gruden.
THE STEEL CURTAIN GOES TOMLIN (DOWN): Anytime a team hires a new head coach, there is always some risk involved. But the Steelers seem to get it right more often than not.
With the hiring of Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as the Steelers next head coach, and even with Tomlin's solid credentials (the Vikings defense was one of the NFL's top defenses last season), I can't argue with Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Rooney stuck with Bill Cowher even when many so-called experts thought Cowher should be fired.
CARDINALS GET WHISENHUNT: In contrast to the Steelers success, there is the Cardinals. They seem to have the anti-Midas touch when it comes to head coaches. Even though former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was considered one of the top head coaching prospects this year, I have to take a more skeptical view of him since the Cardinals hired him.
The last successful Cardinals coach? Vince Tobin took them to the playoffs in 1998 with a 9-7 record, where they lost in the Divisional Round to the Vikings, 41-21. Prior to that, you have to go back to 1984, when they went 9-7 under Jim Hanifan (they missed the playoffs). That's either a lot of bad coaching, or a lot of bad teams. In my opinion, it is a combination of both.
If Whisenhunt can turn the Cardinals into a consistent winner, then Arizona fans should build a 40 foot statue of him. Personally, I think he will be coaching somewhere else in five years. If he is successful, then he is too smart to be in Arizona, and he will leave for more money at a better franchise. Most likely, he won't be able to turn the lemons of Arizona into lemonade, and he will be fired.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BENGAL ARRESTED: I can't make this stuff up. From NFL.com:
Sorry, but I ran out of Bengals jokes a few months ago.
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SUPER BOWL XLI: Contrary to what the Media is hyping about being important in this game, the first two black head coaches in a Super Bowl, the truth is there is a more significant factor being overlooked from a football perspective: both of these coaches come from a defensive background.
Tony Dungy was a defensive player who eventually became a defensive assistant coach. Lovie Smith was a linebacker coach with Tampa Bay (under Dungy) before he became a head coach.
This is significant because if you look at the recent history of Super Bowl winners, most of the head coaches have come from defensive backgrounds: Bill Cowher and Bill Belichick, winners of 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls, both came from defensive backgrounds. Jon Gruden was the only offensive coach to win in that period, and he inherited a great defense from previous head coach (TA-DA!) Tony Dungy. Gruden also had a great defensive coordinator in Monte Kiffin.
Once again proving the old cliche: Defense wins championships.
Who will win this Super Bowl? I have to lean towards the Bears. While the Colts have played better defense during the playoffs, the Bears have been playing great defense all year. Add in the superior special teams of the Bears, and the Colts have their work cut out for them.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Certainly one of the great games in NFL history, although it didn't look that way in the beginning.
The interception by Tom Brady at the end was strange, as it looked like he was throwing directly to Marlin Jackson of the Colts. Sadly, it was common for a lot of interceptions I have seen this year (most of Peyton Manning's interceptions during the playoffs were like this). This comes from teams relying on timing patterns too much, instead of the quarterback actually looking for the open receiver. This gives a huge advantage to a zone defense when the receiver doesn't run the pattern which the quarterback is expecting.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Aside from the one catch-and-run by Reggie Bush, it was a snoozer.
The Saints achilles heel was turnovers, pretty much what it has been all year. Not counting the safety they gave up, the Saints turned it over 4 times. The Bears did not have a single turnover. Add in the fact the Bears dominated time of possession, and the Saints are history.
BILL PARCELLS RETIRES: Like we didn't see this one coming?
Seriously, I am glad he did. I hope he gets back into broadcasting. I think Parcells brings more to football by his analysis than he does by coaching.
As for the Cowboys? Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting a rumor that the Cowboys will go with Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as their next head coach. But you might want to take that rumor with a grain of salt, since Schefter also reported back on January 20th that Parcells wasn't retiring.
RAIDERS GO KIFFIN: The Raiders are hiring the youngest head coach in NFL history, 31 year old Lane Kiffin, formerly the offensive coordinator at USC. Lane may be better known to pro fans as the son of Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
As a Raider fan, I am pleased. The Raiders have had much more success with young head coaches, from John Madden to Jon Gruden.
THE STEEL CURTAIN GOES TOMLIN (DOWN): Anytime a team hires a new head coach, there is always some risk involved. But the Steelers seem to get it right more often than not.
With the hiring of Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as the Steelers next head coach, and even with Tomlin's solid credentials (the Vikings defense was one of the NFL's top defenses last season), I can't argue with Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Rooney stuck with Bill Cowher even when many so-called experts thought Cowher should be fired.
CARDINALS GET WHISENHUNT: In contrast to the Steelers success, there is the Cardinals. They seem to have the anti-Midas touch when it comes to head coaches. Even though former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was considered one of the top head coaching prospects this year, I have to take a more skeptical view of him since the Cardinals hired him.
The last successful Cardinals coach? Vince Tobin took them to the playoffs in 1998 with a 9-7 record, where they lost in the Divisional Round to the Vikings, 41-21. Prior to that, you have to go back to 1984, when they went 9-7 under Jim Hanifan (they missed the playoffs). That's either a lot of bad coaching, or a lot of bad teams. In my opinion, it is a combination of both.
If Whisenhunt can turn the Cardinals into a consistent winner, then Arizona fans should build a 40 foot statue of him. Personally, I think he will be coaching somewhere else in five years. If he is successful, then he is too smart to be in Arizona, and he will leave for more money at a better franchise. Most likely, he won't be able to turn the lemons of Arizona into lemonade, and he will be fired.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BENGAL ARRESTED: I can't make this stuff up. From NFL.com:
"Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph was arrested early Monday and charged with possession of marijuana, the ninth Cincinnati player arrested in the last nine months.
The arrest came three weeks after coach Marvin Lewis promised to get tougher on player misconduct, hoping to stop a series of arrests that has embarrassed the team and drawn the attention of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Joseph was arrested on U.S. Route 42 in northern Kentucky. He lives nearby in Union, Kentucky. The Boone Country sheriff's office arrest report said Joseph was the passenger in a vehicle driven by a woman who had a suspended license, was driving slowly and weaving."
Sorry, but I ran out of Bengals jokes a few months ago.
Labels: Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl
