I understand that Bill Belichick has never been a fountain of personality when it comes to press conferences, quotes, and the media. In fact, the answers to the majority of his questions are about as vanilla as the wardrobe he sports on the sideline.

Let’s face it, he lets his ego get the best of him, to the point that winning is the only thing that matters. It’s his competitive edge, which I get to some degree, as certainly he’s not alone in having that desire to succeed. Yet, tonight I saw Bill Belichick stoop to what I would call a new low. A new low that by far eclipsed some of his past antics. To quote Fat Albert, he’s “like school on Saturday… no class”… and quite frankly, I think that’s putting it nicely.

In the wake of one of the more shocking upsets in NFL history, the focus of the cameras were deterred from the elation and joy that was about to explode from the sideline of the New York Giants, after their stunning 17-14 Super Bowl XLII victory over the “Artist formerly known as the undefeated New England Patriots”. Instead, the focus was pressed back on Belichick, who was able to trash the opponent’s newly earned spotlight just enough for the world to notice. At least, it certainly caught my attention.

Once Tom Brady’s final attempt to reach Randy Moss (on a 60-yard Hail Mary pass) fell incomplete, New England’s fate was sealed, and its perfect season had vanished quicker than the ’72 Dolphins could pop open their champagne bottles.

Still, in the final frenzy, players and media began to scatter onto the field, including Patriots coach Bill Belichick, albeit prematurely. Belichick did manage to give a brief congratulatory message to Giants coach Tom Coughlin, only to have a confrontation with the officiating crew shortly thereafter, in which we can only assume that he was informed that there were still two seconds on the clock, and another play would need to be run. Instead of pushing his team back to the sideline and restore order to the game, Belichick instead stormed off the field, exiting before the game clock hit zero, leaving his players to clean up the shocking mess that he left behind.

Quite honestly, this left me in complete disbelief. While on the biggest stage in all of sports, Bill Belichick, a three-time Super Bowl champion, didn’t have the decency to honor his opponent, and have enough class to remain on the field for a few more seconds. Just a few measly seconds. That’s it, that’s all it took.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was a tough loss for Belichick and the Patriots. Losing a Super Bowl is never an easy pill to ####. This one no doubt was tougher after not only losing a chance at another Super Bowl title, but also at a perfect season… “Superfection” if you will. Still, that doesn’t make his actions right.

No one can take away what Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, and the rest of the New York Giants accomplished earlier tonight. New York’s performance was truly gutsy, inspirational, hard fought, and lucky, all wrapped into one Lombardi trophy-sized package. On a stage expected to present us with imminent perfection, the Giants instead created their own version of history, and did so in remarkable fashion.

No one can take that away from them. Even still, Bill Belichick and his classless actions certainly tried to in his own way. And as a fan of the game, that frustrated me.

Winning may be everything, but losing with dignity is definitely something as well. Someone please tell Bill Belichick that the next time they see him.


Photo Credits:
“Eli Pumped” – Via Fox Sports – Julie Jacobson / AP and “Belichick in Red” – Via Fox Sports – Paul Sancya / AP

Once again, the Super Bowl is upon us, and like many, I have decided to throw a party to celebrate the season’s final football game.  Like last year, I consulted my little black book to contact various sports figures and celebrities in the world to see if they would bless me with their presence.  Yet again, I got more excuses than there are days that Bill Belichick wears a hoodie.  As always, I’m in the sharing mood, and thought I would fill you in on some of the responses I received… **

Celebrity Excuses for NOT Attending My Super Bowl Party (2008 Edition)

O.J. Mayo – He was scared to accept my invitation.

T.O. – He cried when he heard that I didn’t invite Romo.

Roger Clemens – He told me my party was “hogwash”.  I don’t even know what that means.

Ellen DeGeneres – She balked when I said she couldn’t bring her dog.

Eddie Murphy – He couldn’t commit for such a long period of time.

Bobby Petrino – He said he would attend, but later changed his mind.

Nick Saban – I couldn’t get a straight answer from him either.  Something tells me he’s at the same party as Petrino.

Brett Favre – He used the same excuse that he did on me last year.  He couldn’t decide.  I think it’s an easier decision this year Brett.  I’m going to have French Onion dip this time.

Michael Strahan – Due to his team making it to the big game, he said he didn’t have a gap in his teeth… I mean, his schedule.  

LaDainian Tomlinson – He just said he was going to sit this one out.

Lindsay Lohan – She said she wouldn’t be caught dead there.  Hmm, interesting choice of words.

Britney Spears – She said she couldn’t get a sitter.  Uh huh, yeah… good one Brit… and you’re also performing at the next MTV Awards show too aren’t ya?!

Bob Stoops – He said he would love to come, but he never shows up for the big game.

O.J. Simpson – I told him he couldn’t bring any friends.

Reggie Bush – He’s apparently busy taking a lie detector test.

Miguel Tejada – He said he was spending some time with Reggie Bush.

Sammy Sosa – He gave me some kind of excuse about not being able to speak English.  Too bad his excuse was written in English.

Dana Jacobson – Her “No” response was laced with “F-bombs”.  One thing is for sure, I don’t think she’ll be at church on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kelly Tilghman – She said I live too close to a back alley.

Steven A. Smith – He apparently found out I write a blog.  I think you know his answer.

Kwame Brown – He said he was too busy underachieving.  I’m not sure if that was meant to be a joke or not.

The ’72 Dolphins – They had to go buy some more ice for the champagne.  They’ve been waiting so long that it was beginning to melt.  

Ohio State Football – I guess my joke about “not being able to get here fast enough” must have struck a nerve or something.

Florida State Football – I know about half the team was available, but they still aren’t coming.

Miami Heat – They simply informed me that they were stuck in the cellar and wouldn’t be getting out any time soon.

Kirk Herbstreit – His source told him the party would be a blast.  He’s apparently still a little gunshy, and therefore respectfully declined.

Adam Jones – He didn’t know if he was going to be in Baltimore or Seattle.

Erik Bedard – See Adam Jones.

Ben Roethlisberger – He said I wasn’t tall enough.  I’m 6’ 3”, but wait… why does that even matter?  Oh well, whatever… I’m too tired.

And finally…

Amy Winehouse – Plain and simple, she said “NO, NO, NO”.

It looks like another year featuring a celebrity-free Super Bowl party at my house.  Oh well, that means more French Onion dip for me.

** Disclaimer: In all honesty, I know none of these celebrities.  I also don’t even own a little black book.  Therefore, all of these excuses are fabricated, and meant to provide a clever spin on Super Bowl week.  The part about having a Super Bowl party… now that was true.  Enjoy the big game, and as always, thanks for reading.  - KP

All week on television, I keep hearing the “experts” chirping on and on as to how each believes that the Patriots moving on to the AFC Championship is a foregone conclusion, and taking care of the Jaguars was going to be a piece of cake. Therefore, I thought I would come in and not just throw that theory under the bus, but chain it up to the back of the bus and let it drag for a while. You see, not only do the Jaguars have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but also could find that history could possibly be on their side as well. To explain, let’s flashback to the NFL just over a decade ago…

And the Rest is History…

It was 1995, and the football world soon would learn that the city of Jacksonville, Florida was about to surprise many by joining Charlotte, North Carolina as the other city that year to be rewarded with an NFL franchise.

Unlike most expansion franchises of past and present, the Jacksonville Jaguars were immediately thrust into an eclectic mix of controversy, attention, and excitement. Right off the bat, the team not only was sued by the Ford Motor Company due to the similarity of the team logo (to that of the Jaguar car), the Jaguars also forced their way onto the NFL scene almost immediately by making the AFC Playoffs in only its second year of existence. This feat, of course, was matched by their youthful NFC counterparts, the Carolina Panthers. Yet, it wasn’t the way this team made the playoffs, but what they did once they got there that is pertinent. As you will soon see, the ’96 Jaguars have some eerie similarities to its 2007 counterpart.

On the Mark

The ’96 Jaguars were led by Mark Brunell, who at the time, was a slick-footed and mobile 26-year old quarterback. Brunell not only eclipsed the 4,000 passing yard plateau, but also had nearly 400 yards on the ground that year. David Garrard, the 2007 version of Brunell, while equally as mobile (nearly 200 yards during the season), is instead built like a tank, able to run over defenders like they’re a speed bump on the road. Furthermore, Garrard has made very few mistakes, tossing only three interceptions during 325 regular season attempts. Garrard’s mistake-free play and mobility is going to be key in competing with New England’s potent attack.

The “Who Are You” Crew

The Jacksonville receiving corps was a group of non-household names in 1996, yet featured players talented enough that they played themselves onto the NFL map. During the historic 1996 campaign, Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith established themselves in the NFL, as both eclipsed the 1,000 yards receiving mark that season. This year’s group of receivers in Jacksonville are once again not household names, yet possess enough talent to catch Garrard’s passes when the game is on the line. The Jags featured no 1,000 receivers in 2007, but successfully spread the ball out to players such as Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, Matt Jones, and Dennis Northcutt.

The Two-Headed Monsters

Having two feature backs on one team, also frequently referred to as the “two headed monster”, is a trendy and often used strategy in today’s NFL. The concept was infrequently used in the ‘90’s, but the Jaguars did implement it by using both James Stewart and Natrone Means during most games. Jacksonville’s 1996 two-headed monster combined for over 1,200 yards rushing. The 2007 version features veteran Fred Taylor alongside the youthfully talented Maurice Jones-Drew. Taylor and Jones-Drew combined for nearly 2,000 yards rushing this season.

The “Men of Teal”

On defense, the Jaguars are physical. A blue-collar group that consistently hits you in the mouth and tries to knock you off the line of scrimmage. Statistically, they’re not among the league’s elite, but they still cracked the top 15 in both 1996 and 2007. This stat was especially impressive for the 2007 team, who found themselves in a division with a trio of solid football teams, none of which ended the season with a losing record (Indianapolis – 13-3, Tennessee – 10-6, and Houston – 8-8). They’re a big, solid, and strong group, almost “Superman-like”. Therefore, one could easily refer to them as the “Men of Teal”, instead of the “Men of Steel”.

Elite and Greet

These two Jacksonville playoff teams (past and present) both were presented a meet and greet with the NFL’s elite team during that respective season. In 1996, it was the Denver Broncos, led by poster boy John Elway, who powered their way to a 13-3 regular season record. Alongside of Elway included a slew of other weapons, including RB Terrell Davis, TE Shannon Sharpe, WR Rod Smith, and WR Ed McCaffrey. In 1996, the Broncos were #1 in the NFL in total yards on offense, as well as #4 in total yards on defense. The 2007 counterpart is the story of the year in the NFL, that being the powerful New England Patriots, led by today’s poster boy Tom Brady. Vaulting their way to the first ever 16-0 regular season, the Patriots, run by head coach Bill Belichick, also featured their own arsenal of weapons, including WR Randy Moss, WR Wes Welker, ILB Tedy Bruschi, CB Asante Samuel, among others. Interestingly enough, like the ’96 Broncos, the ’07 Patriots were #1 in the NFL in total yards on offense, as well as #4 in total yards on defense.

Past and Present Day…

The 1996 Jags team entered the playoffs as the #5 seed, eventually holding off the Buffalo Bills 30-27 during Wild Card weekend. That set up the Divisional playoff matchup with the high octane Broncos team, when the Jags shocked the world by eliminating Denver at home by the same score (30-27). Today, here we are yet again. The Jaguars are the #5 seed in the AFC. They enter Saturday night’s showdown with New England as a heavy underdog, barely escaping with a narrow 31-29 victory in Pittsburgh last weekend. The Patriots, led by NFL Passing TD record holder Tom Brady, have the heavy burden of trying to complete the unimaginable, a perfect season since the NFL expanded to sixteen regular season games. Ironically, the 1996 Jaguars eventually lost the AFC Championship game that year to the Patriots.

A Simple Plan

The New England juggernaut is hanging on by a thread. If you can’t see it, your judgment is clouded. The Eagles, the Ravens… all teams that are inferior in talent this year, yet had their chances. There is only so many times a team can keep eeking out victories. Maybe if Rex Ryan hadn’t called that timeout in Baltimore. Perhaps if Eli hadn’t tossed that late interception in New York. If only the Colts and Giants could manage to hold on to each of their fourth quarter leads. Sure, it shows talent and poise to keep on winning, but the question remains, do the Patriots have three more games like this in them?

Beating the Patriots, believe it or not, requires a simple plan. Limit your mistakes and eat clock. The Jaguars have the players to make this happen. Jones-Drew and Taylor need to do their best impression of Willis McGahee and Brandon Jacobs. Run hard, run strong, and run efficiently, keeping New England’s offense off the field as much as possible. Because, the Pats will score. Garrard and the offense need to be in regular season form. The defense needs to be themselves… physical, smack the opposition in the mouth, while wreaking havoc for players like Moss right off the line of scrimmage. The tangibles are there. Execution is the only thing left. And oh yeah, you will have thousands upon thousands of wicked-loud fans to deal with up there in Chowda-land. Pressure? Nahhhh…

Easier said than done, that much is true. Yet, not out of the realm of possibility.

In Conclusion

Most involved with this 2007 Jacksonville team weren’t placed in the exact situation as the 1996 team, but the franchise as a whole has been. A franchise that has consistently maintained the same format and structure throughout its existence, from its inception in 1995 until today. This 2007 Jaguars team can build off that, and feed off it. A team with similar makeup and strengths able to make the unthinkable happen. It can happen again. Now, the 2007 Jaguars are in a position to make their own history.

As we have seen during the season, a near flawless game is needed to knock off the Patriots, and teams that have came close, simply made too many critical mistakes down the stretch, eventually relinquishing the lead to Tom Brady and crew. If the Jaguars should need any motivation at all, Coach Del Rio should pipe in highlights of those feisty ’96 Jaguars, who derailed pretty boy John Elway and Denver’s offensive onslaught.

The “Men of Teal” are here, and don’t be shocked if they spoil New England’s Super Bowl pahhty.

In 1994, Prince changed his name to a symbol as a backlash to an ongoing feud with Warner Bros., basically due to the fact that he owed the company one more album on a contract under that name.  During the feud, instead of honoring the contract under the name Prince, he chose to change his name instead (*Thanks to "TheReturnOf" for correcting my original statement*).  Since the symbol he created had no actual pronunciation, people began to refer to him as “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince”.  In the year 2000, Prince was able to use his own name again, but kept the symbol around in various forms, notably seen in the form of his guitar and also the stage on midfield during Super Bowl XLI.

 

Over a number of years, Prince has been unable (or unwilling) to drop the symbol from his life.  By choice, this symbol has become a part of him and his career.  However, in the world today, many people get known for certain achievements, feats, and accomplishments, and as a result, take on certain nicknames, symbols, and so on.  These nicknames and symbols obviously can be both positive and negative in nature.

 

This idea is no different in the world of sports, as many players take on a series of nicknames, reputations, and symbols throughout their respective careers.  Specifically, I have come up with a list of symbols and nicknames (both positive and negative) for a number of players and people featured during Super Bowl XLI.  Amidst the Purple Rain… correction… Amidst the pouring rain in Miami, these were the individuals (along with their symbols), that in my mind, stood out more than the rest…

 

The Prince and the People

 

Prince

“His Symbol Lives”

Even though he has dropped the symbol as a name, Prince has kept the symbol alive, and it lives on with him.  During his Super Bowl halftime performance, I honestly don’t think that Prince was horrible, but he also didn’t steal the show either.  He did manage to hold his own while performing in the pouring rain.  I was also quite surprised that he actually didn’t play more of his own music, but instead chose to mix in other music from artists that included Jimi Hendrix and the Foo Fighters

. 

 

Dan Marino

“The Best to Never”

With Peyton Manning now out of the picture, Dan Marino has vaulted his way back as the unanimous choice for the best quarterback in the history of football to never win a Super Bowl title.  It is unfortunate for Marino, who had such an amazing career with the Miami Dolphins.

 

 

 

Kevin Federline

“The Self Deprecator”

Even though it is glaringly obvious to me that Kevin Federline went through with making the Super Bowl commercial strictly for money, it is still commendable that he was able to participate in a commercial that not only made fun of his life and career (or lack thereof), but also one that was aired during a time when the majority of the country would be watching.

 

 

 

Jim Gaffigan

“The Beard Comb Over Guy”

C’mon admit it, there are going to be people that recognize him on the street, and scream “Hey!  You’re the Sierra Mist guy with the facial hair comb over!”  In all seriousness though, Jim Gaffigan is actually a very funny comedian, and I would recommend seeing him live sometime if you have the chance.  Hopefully he won’t be typecast in this most recent role.

 

 

The Rain Soaked Bears

 

Rex Grossman

“The Goat”

Listen, Rex Grossman is not solely responsible for the Bears losing Super Bowl XLI, but he certainly didn’t help either.  Overall, one must recognize that after the opening kickoff, the Colts dominated this game.  Grossman certainly played poorly at times, tossing up balls that appeared “up for grabs”, and struggled getting on the same page with his Center during snaps.  But you can’t blame Grossman for losing this game.   The Bears were just flat out beat on Super Bowl Sunday.  However, Rex is still playing the role of “The Goat” among many critics, and taking much of the blame for the Chicago loss.  Whether this result takes him away from the starting QB job for the Bears remains to be seen.  This Super Bowl performance and symbol could stick with him for some time, as Brian Griese and Kyle Orton are already waiting for their chance at the Bears starting QB job.

 

 

Devin Hester

“The King of Kickoffs”

Move over Dante Hall.  Step aside Chad Morton.  There’s a new kid in town, and that is rookie Devin Hester.  Hester was brilliant all year, but his official coming out party was on Super Bowl Sunday, not only because of the shear fact that he was able to return a kickoff for a touchdown on the opening play of the game, but also because he was able to do it on the grandest of stages.  Hester is going to be the key to Chicago’s success for many years to come.

 

 

Brian Urlacher

“The Wrecking Ball”

Urlacher was all over the place during this contest, and did everything that he possibly could to keep the Bears in the game.  I decided to refer to him as “The Wrecking Ball”, as whenever Indianapolis was moving the ball or trying to make something happen, Urlacher was there to break through and destroy the opportunity for the Colts.  Urlacher single handedly kept the Colts from pulling away on multiple occasions.  This symbol will not go away any time in the near future, as there is no doubt that Brian Urlacher will continue to frustrate offenses for years to come.

 

 

Ricky Manning, Jr.

“Mr. Invisible”

Was it me or was Ricky Manning, Jr. never even mentioned during the game on Sunday?  Many thought he was going to be a key contributor in Super Bowl XLI, but if you ask me, he wasn’t even a factor during the game.  After checking the stats, I noticed that Manning Jr. had only two tackles the entire night, and I don’t even recall him being a part of any key plays on defense.  Ricky Manning Jr. is a force to be reckoned with, and this symbol will only sit with him for a short time.  Once next season starts, it will quickly fade away.

 

The Champion Colts 

 

Marvin Harrison

“Plastic Man”

For background, Plastic Man was a popular comic originally created by Quality Comics, and later bought out by DC Comics.  The title character is basically unbreakable, and has the ability to bend into all kinds of different shapes and positions, which is basically how I see Marvin Harrison, especially after Super Bowl XLI.  Harrison is certainly not the biggest guy in the game, but he is one of the more talented players.  Over the years, Marvin has also managed to somehow avoid injury.  Many have stated that this is due to his extreme diligence with exercise and stretching routines.  At this point, I’m thinking that people didn’t realize his bulldog mentality until the Super Bowl, when his leg was bent into a very awkward position early in the second half.  I thought for sure that he had some kind of leg injury or knee sprain, but he later fended off the trainers, limped some, and was back in the game shortly thereafter.  The name can also take on a different meaning when it comes to Harrison’s ability to make acrobatic catches on the sidelines, which require him to maintain possession of the ball while keeping his feet inbounds.

 

 

Bob Sanders

“The Spark”

Some critics mentioned that Bob Sanders’ return from injury would be huge for the Indianapolis defense, and I personally wondered how one player could make such a difference for a unit that was in shambles against the run, and struggling across the board.  However, those critics were 100% correct, as Sanders was without a doubt the spark that the Colts needed.  Upon his return, Indy stepped up their game going into the playoffs, throughout the playoffs, and in the Super Bowl.  Sanders himself also stepped it up, making a few nasty hits, forcing a fumble, and having an acrobatic interception during the big game on Sunday.  Therefore, I have given Bob Sanders the title of “The Spark”, for what he provided his team late in the season.

 

Dominic Rhodes

“Rip Van Winkle”

In the story by Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle sits down by a shady tree, and later falls asleep for what would turn out to be twenty years.  Rhodes has been around for years with the Colts, and has filled in and played his role when necessary, whether backing up Edgerrin James in recent seasons or splitting time with Joseph Addai this past year.  However, he stepped it up to a new level during Super Bowl XLI.  Rhodes had not had a 100-yard rushing game since the year 2001, and in Super Bowl XLI, he carried the ball 21 times for 113 rushing yards and a touchdown.  Therefore, I like to call him the “Rip Van Winkle of the NFL”, as it is almost like he returned from a long deep sleep, and just at the right time.

 

 

Kelvin Hayden

“The Darkhorse”

Replacing an injured Nick Harper in this game on defense, Hayden filled the role of “Darkhorse” for the Colts.  Hayden answered that role in a positive way with a play that sealed the victory for Indianapolis, as he intercepted a pass by Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter, barely avoided the sideline, and weaved his way down the field eventually landing in the endzone for a touchdown.

 

 

 

Peyton Manning

“The Stuart Smalley”

For years, a countless number of critics said that Peyton Manning was a great player, but couldn’t get it done during the big games.  He just wasn’t good enough in the clutch.  He took the criticism, but continued to work hard, and was seen by many as a very likeable and marketable player.  Therefore, in my mind, I put a stamp on Manning as “Stuart Smalley”, a fictional Saturday Night Live character who is most famous for the quote “I’m good enough, I’m strong enough, and doggone it, people like me”.  At times, Manning can even slightly resemble the demeanor and actions of Smalley.  Now, after finally winning the Super Bowl, in regards to Manning, you could tweak that phrase to say “I’m good enough to win, I’m strong enough to win, and doggone it, I’m a winner”.

 

In Conclusion

 

Overall, I certainly would not rank Super Bowl XLI among my top five games of all time, but it certainly was one that generated some interesting stories, while also consisting of significant entertainment value.  The weather was unfortunate for not only those that traveled to see the game in person, but also for the players who spent so much time and effort to get to their first ever Super Bowl, only to have the weather not cooperate.  Either way, it was a very impressive performance by the Colts, and a hard earned victory for Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the entire Indianapolis organization.  From this game, many of these players took on new symbols and reputations in my mind.

 

Throughout time, people of all walks of life are likely to take on a series of reputations, symbols, and various things that they are known for.  This happens everywhere, from musicians, to athletes, and so on.  It could even happen to you.  Let’s just hope for your sake, if it does happen, it is something that you can live with, just in case it sticks with you forever.

 

Are the 2006 Bears really the 2001 Patriots in disguise?  What exactly do I mean by this?  To explain, let me first start by traveling back in time, five years to be exact.

Do You Remember?

It was February 3, 2002, exactly five years ago to the day.  The year 2002 was certainly a different time in the NFL.  Heck, it was also a completely different time for our country.  The Patriots had not yet established themselves as one of the league’s most dominant teams.  More importantly, the September 11th tragedy was still very fresh in our minds (not that it still doesn’t exist in our thoughts today).  In honor of the fallen heroes, the Super Bowl XXXVI logo was changed to resemble something more patriotic.  Maybe that would spell doom for the Rams, as they were the team that had to face the Patriots, who in some ways became the sentimental favorite because of the September 11 attacks.

Do you remember this game, and where you were?  OK, so it was only five years ago, and maybe I shouldn’t be so dramatic, as I remember exactly where I was that night.  On that day, I was actually living in Boston, and over at a friend’s place for a laid back Super Bowl party.  Believe it or not, no one in the entire apartment was a die-hard Pats fan.  Most of them were Penn State alums, and therefore Eagles and Steelers fans.  Everyone in our group had gathered for the company, and of course, because the Super Bowl is just another good reason for “twenty somethings” to party.  However, no one in that group would be ready for what was going to happen next.

Super Bowl XXXVI: The Line

 

The high-powered Rams came into this Super Bowl as a 14-point favorite over the New England Patriots.  Fourteen points!  No doubt, the city of Las Vegas was buzzing when that line came out for the “Big Game”.  Everyone and their mother had the Rams in this one.  Don’t even tell me otherwise, unless you were a “glass is not just half full, but overflowingly full” Patriots fan.  And believe me, not many people in Boston have that mentality, but you couldn’t really blame them, especially not during that time.  The Red Sox had not broken the curse yet, and the Patriots had not begun their recent NFL dynasty either.  The city of Boston is extremely passionate about its sports teams.  And I mean passionate.  If I wanted to know the result o####ame for a Boston team, I wouldn’t have to watch the news, or read the paper.  You can just read it on every person’s face that next day when traveling to work.  Boston lives and breathes local sports… so much that the local news programs never even run a sports ticker that features other teams besides their own.  At least, I have never seen one, except for the extended Sunday sports show that airs.

 

Shock and “Law”

 

Super Bowl XXXVI had begun, and it was off to a slow start.  The only first quarter score was a long field goal by Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins.  While St. Louis was leading 3-0 in the second quarter, the lead could have been much larger due to a few squandered opportunities by the Rams.  Next, the momentum would begin to shift, and the game would start to slowly turn into New England’s favor.  Who else but big play cornerback Ty Law to spark the New England run?  Law intercepted Kurt Warner in the second quarter, returning it for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 7-3 lead.  Another Rams turnover late in the first half would give New England the ball back.  Tom Brady would lead the Pats down the field for another score with less than a minute to go in the first half.  The result was a 14-3 halftime lead for the Patriots, and a stunned country.  Even still, I can guarantee thousands of people were thinking… “It’s only halftime, the Rams offense is too potent to keep under wraps for the entire game”.  At least, that is what I thought as I was watching the halftime show. 

 

As it would turn out, that is exactly what would happen, but not until the fourth quarter.  After blowing a comfortable two touchdown lead late in the game, the Patriots got the ball back in a game that was now tied at seventeen apiece.  With only a handful of seconds on the clock, the Patriots decided to try to sustain a drive, instead of downing the ball and settling for overtime.  Brady was masterful running the two-minute offense, and the result was the Patriots getting the ball just barely into field goal range for Adam Vinatieri.  This would be only the beginning of Vinatieri’s legacy in the NFL.  Adam nailed the 48 yard field goal, and sealed a 20-17 victory for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.  Back in Boston, at the party I was attending, the roar began, starting slowly, and later becoming a loud and continuous thunder of cheers and screams, as the city of Boston celebrated through the night.

 

Present Day: Super Bowl XLI

 

Today marks a similar time with that of five years ago, at least from a football perspective.  The line on this game is not nearly as steep as that of Super Bowl XXXVI, yet the Colts are still emerging as a somewhat heavy favorite.  Currently, the spread is seven points, in favor of the Colts (half of the spread from five years ago).  However, a poll on the Fox Sports website asks who will win the game this weekend, and currently, 61% of the people who voted chose the Colts (with only 39% voting for the Bears).  At the time of review, the poll was just under a total of 825,000 votes.  Similarly, in my recent “Stupid Pill Survey”, I asked the same question, and got responses, but from a much smaller audience.  The results were similar, however, with the Colts raking in 69% of the vote, and the Bears having only 31%.  But do these numbers alone argue enough towards the point that the Super Bowl XLI matchup is similar to that of the game between the Rams and Patriots?  Not quite in my mind, so let’s look into it a tad bit more by comparing the teams from today, with those of the past. 

 

NOW (Bears) and THEN (Patriots): The Underdogs

 

In many ways, the 2006 Bears remind me of the 2001 New England Patriots. There are a few examples that I find to be more glaring than others, and I have included those below.

 

Quarterbacks

Chicago Bears - Rex Grossman

New England Patriots - Tom Brady

 

You might think that I’m crazy to even begin to compare Tom Brady and Rex Grossman, but think about it for a minute before you jump down my throat.  If you recall back to Super Bowl XXXVI, Brady was still a first year quarterback (he replaced the injured Bledsoe), and while he came in and stabilized the offense, leading the Patriots to a number of victories (12-3 to be exact), Brady was still just a virtual unknown in the NFL.  Grossman is also getting through his first full season as a QB, due to a number of injuries in previous years.  Sure, Rex has caught a great deal of criticism from the fans in Chicago, and also throughout the NFL.  Either way you slice it though, Grossman wins games.  He is 15-3 as a starter this season, and while he has struggled at times, he often does just enough to help his team win the game.  Overall, Grossman and Brady are/were two quarterbacks playing in their first full seasons, and leading his team into the Super Bowl.  Both were relatively unknown during his first time reaching the Super Bowl.  The similarity is definitely there.   

 

Wide Receivers

Chicago Bears – Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian

New England Patriots – Troy Brown and David Patten

 

Neither of these two teams has/had superstar Wide Receivers on its rosters, but all were fairly consistent.  Muhammad was the closest thing to a well-known receiver, as he has had a few consistent years with the Carolina Panthers.  Each team also has/had an existing deep threat, as both Patten and Berrian have the breakaway speed to allow for a big play, therefore also stretching out the opposing defense.

 

Special Teams

Chicago – Robbie Gould and Devin Hester

New England – Adam Vinatieri and Troy Brown

 

How ironic that I mention Vinatieri in this section, and how he will also play in the latest Super Bowl, but this time, for the favorite.  Either way, Vinatieri was obviously a big part of key Special Teams play for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.  Robbie Gould, a former Penn State graduate, has been a very clutch player for the Bears this season as well.  In addition, other parts of these Special Teams groups were key in leading each of these two teams to many victories.  Devin Hester has been a fiery rookie that has sparked the Bears this year, and Troy Brown was key in returning a few touchdowns for the Pats five years ago.  There is no doubt that Special Teams is key to increasing the chances of an upset victory, and the Bears of today are nearly flawless on Special Teams.

 

Defensive Standouts

Chicago – Brian Urlacher and Ricky Manning, Jr.

New England – Tedy Bruschi and Ty Law

 

This isn’t to say that the Colts and Rams of five years ago did not have playmakers on defense, but more so stating that the defense of the Bears and 2001 Patriots stepped it up on many occasions, when the Colts and Rams relied more on its offenses to overpower teams.  In particular, the playmaking ability of Urlacher and Manning Jr. are most notable, though others such as Mark Anderson, Adewale Ogunleye, and Tank Johnson could all step it up.  Five years back, New England had similar talent, not only including Tedy Bruschi and Ty Law, but also Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, and Lawyer Milloy.

 

NOW (Colts) and THEN (Rams): The “High Octane” Favorites

 

On the other side, the Colts of 2006 and Rams of 2001 are also very similar in my mind.  Both of these teams are powerful offensively, featuring a number of different weapons all over the field.  In particular, I felt that these particular positions (mentioned below) were the best examples for comparison:

 

Quarterbacks

Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning

St. Louis Rams – Kurt Warner

 

Peyton Manning is not only one of the best quarterbacks in the game today, but also one of the best all time.  Kurt Warner, though not much in the game today, was at the top of his game a few years back when playing with the Rams.  It certainly didn’t hurt that Warner had a plethora of weapons around him, including future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk and big play receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. 

 

 

Wide Receivers

Indianapolis Colts - Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne

St. Louis Rams - Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt

 

There is no need to say much here, but simply that each of these two teams have significant weapons at the Wide Receiver position.  The Rams still have both Bruce and Holt today, and at this point, Holt is the primary target, when Bruce was more so the number one guy five years ago.  Harrison is considered the number one receiver in Indianapolis, but Reggie Wayne is equally as lethal, and could be a number one on many other teams in the NFL. 

 

Running Backs

Indianapolis Colts – Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes

St. Louis Rams – Marshall Faulk

 

Yes, I agree it is a stretch to compare the combo of Addai and Rhodes to that of the Marshall Faulk of 2001.  Faulk is sure to be a Hall of Famer some day.  While Addai is only a rookie, his speed and power, combined with the talent of Rhodes, make for quite a nasty running back tandem that can not only rush for significant yardage, but also block and catch as good as Faulk.  Overall, it adds up to a significant backfield talent that will cause fits for the opposing defense, whether it is the Patriots of 2001 or the Bears of today.

 

The Broad Spectrum

 

2006 Bears and 2001 Patriots

If you look at the overall statistics for the 2001 season, the Patriots did certainly not dominate in any category.  You may analyze the stats and say that this was not a superior defensive team.  However, if you were to dive into the games more closely, you will see that New England won a lot of close games, especially late in the season (can anyone say “Tuck Rule”?).  Most of these victories were thanks to Special Teams and Defense, partnered with consistent offense.  I remember the Patriots being a team that ran a very methodical offense; tossing out several “dink and dunk” passes, as they traveled down the field.  Those 2001 Pats never won a game easily, but they won nevertheless.  That is how I see the Bears of 2006.  While Chicago did score a ton of points on the year, many of those were early season blowouts.  More so, it was the Chicago defense and Special Teams unit that stuck out in my mind.  Robbie Gould was fantastic filling in the kicking duties.  Devin Hester was “lightning in a bottle”.  The Bears have been overlooked, mainly due to the fact that they play in the much weaker NFC conference this year, and also due to the fact that they played in a weaker division featuring the Lions and a Vikings team that struggled down the stretch. 

 

2006 Colts and 2001 Rams

In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Rams and their high-powered offense expected to bring home another Super Bowl championship to the city of St. Louis.  Everyone expected this to happen.  There were just too many weapons to stop.  However, somehow the Patriots got it done.  Five years later, the Indianapolis Colts are in a similar situation.  The Colts have Peyton Manning, a two time MVP, along with a number of other weapons on offense.  What will happen with Peyton and the Colts has yet to be determined. 

 

In Conclusion

 

The AFC was without a doubt the power football conference this year, featuring teams such as the Chargers, Patriots, Ravens, and Colts.  The Colts were the hot team in the playoffs, as they managed to take out the Patriots, Chiefs, and Ravens along their way, before punching a ticket to Super Bowl XLI.  Because of this, many critics are already penciling in the Colts as Super Bowl Champions. 

 

However, on paper, tomorrow’s Super Bowl looks eerily similar to that of Super Bowl XXXVI, which featured a powerful, weapon-filled, heavy favorite Rams team playing against an upstart New England Patriots team.

 

My main point of this post is to check back to NFL history and think before you go and believe that this one is “in the bag” for the Indianapolis Colts.  On paper, the game may look to favor the Colts. Even looking at the teams on paper may make the game look like the Super Bowl of five years ago.  When it all comes down to it, the game just has to be played, and all in all, the team that makes the fewest mistakes and executes the best will win. 

 

So I ask you again, are the 2006 Bears really the 2001 Patriots in disguise?  Do the 2006 Colts remind you of the 2001 Rams?  There are definitely some similarities between these two Super Bowls. 

 

Tune in tomorrow to find out what really happens.

 

I recently had an interview with Punxsutawney Phil, who is the famous groundhog that informs everyone whether there will be a prolonged winter or not.  According to the tradition, on Groundhog Day (February 2), if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If Phil does not see his shadow, an early spring is expected. 

As it also turns out, Phil is quite the sports fanatic.  He mentioned that whether he sees his shadow (or not) doesn’t just predict the weather.  Phil informed me that not only does him seeing his shadow determine the weather forecast, but it also tells us a great deal of sporting results for the upcoming year.  What are they?  Well, you’re in luck, as Phil has authorized me to pass along a few of these sport related results over to you.

Today, Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow.  Once again, that means that we should expect an early spring this year.  Thankfully we will not see an additional six weeks of winter.  Well, thankfully to some, but likely not the avid skiers.  In addition, Phil also passed along that NOT seeing his shadow ALSO means the following:

 

0 additional wins for Anna Kournikova

(We didn’t need Phil for that one – I told him I think she retired anyway – He said “Who cares, we have Sharapova”)

 

1 more year for Brett Favre

(Damn, he’s good…  that was just announced today – He wouldn’t tell me if the Pack would make the playoffs though)

 

1 more hitter in baseball batting .400

(He refused to tell me who, when, and for which team – I joked it would be Bonds going 4 for 10 with 396 walks)

 

1 “Missing Person Sign” with David Duval’s face on it

(Not sure if this was a joke or not – Phil sure has a mean poker face)

 

1 more chance for Coughlin to succeed in New York

(He said the guy was lucky to get that opportunity)

 

1 top draft pick saved for the Philadelphia Flyers

(“Easier than shooting fish in a barrel” he said)

 

1 more Caddyshack sequel, with him starring in it

(He promised me NO Jackie Mason this time – I swore him to it and told him it was a gopher in the movie, not a groundhog – He didn’t care)

 

2 more double-digit win streaks for the Phoenix Suns

(He described them as “filthy” – he meant it in a good way though)

 

2 additional weeks of injury for Grant Hill of the Magic (Poor guy is keeping the Orlando medical centers in business)

 

2 more tangles between Pedro Martinez & Don Zimmer

(We had a good laugh over this one – Ahh, “Zim”… the spirit was willing)

 

3 more consecutive victories for Tiger Woods

(He said he was “earning his stripes” – I told him that joke just wasn’t going to cut it)

 

3 more complaints to hockey officials by Brendan Shanahan

(He offered some cheese with his “whine”)

 

4 more teams tanking NBA seasons in order to increase chances of drafting Greg Oden

(I also inquired about Kevin Durant, believe me)

 

4 more free agents signed by the Chicago Cubs

(He asked if they had already received permission to expand the team roster – that usually doesn’t happen ‘til the playoffs)

 

5 more tackles for Brian Urlacher in Super Bowl XLI

(That “filthy” word came up again, and I agreed)

 

5 more accusations directed at Barry Bonds

(“’Nuff said” was his response to this one – I just nodded and smiled back at him)

 

6 more weeks of jail time for the “Jailbird” Bengals

(Ditto to the Bonds response – We both agreed that we feel bad for Carson Palmer, Marvin Lewis, and the Cincy fans)

 

7 more dropped balls for T.O. next season

(He wouldn’t tell me for what team though, no matter how much I begged)

 

9 million additional luxury tax dollars for the New York Yankees (He said the Red Sox may catch them if they keep trying to trade for big dollar veterans)

 

11 more assists for Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins

(He told me the ‘Pens were back – I asked if the Pens would always be back to Pitt… he didn’t answer)

 

13 more consecutive winning sets for Roger Federer

(I asked him if he would be the best ever, he wouldn’t answer that one either)

 

17 more goals for Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals

(He said eventually this guy would lead the Caps back to the playoffs… and soon)

 

 

19 additional at bats for Sammy Sosa

(He made some joke about this making it a grand total of 21 for the season)

 

21 more yards rushing for Joseph Addai in Super Bowl XLI

(He said he is one of the untold stories of the Super Bowl, and that the focus has been on many others)

 

42 additional missed free throws for Shaquille O’Neal (He said the guy needs to start shooting underhand)

 

That is all the information that Phil was willing to give me unfortunately, but he did mention there were more locked in his vault.  Maybe I can get more out of him next year.  He also informed me that these numbers do not always mean exactly what the team or individual will have by year’s end, but instead that “him not seeing his shadow” has affected the overall final numbers in that way.  Quite uncanny, I must say.  I never knew the little guy had so much power.  Never get on his bad side that is for sure!

 

Finally, I bet your local Meteorologist can’t provide numbers like that!  Next time you are looking for sports news and local weather, give Phil a call.  Then again, he also wanted me to mention that his number is unlisted.  Good luck anyway… and Happy Groundhog Day!

Super Bowl XLI is not too far away, but if you are like me, the off week is crawling.  In order to get by until Super Sunday, I needed a way to entertain myself.  What better way than to brainstorm song parodies to the tune of the upcoming Super Bowl?  I decided to take the lyrics of songs from today and yesterday, and rewrite them to describe more about a few of the key players of Super Bowl XLI.

Parodies are one of the biggest forms of flattery today, and overall a unique and creative way to express yourself regarding a particular topic.  Before I proceed in listing out my own Super Bowl parodies, I feel it is necessary to briefly discuss one of the greatest musical parody artists of all time.  I ask you, who is the master of having the ability to spoof any song across any genre?  Only one person in particular comes to my mind, and that is Weird Al Yankovic.

 

The Father of Modern Musical Parody: Alfred Matthew “Weird Al” Yankovic 

 

Born on October 23, 1959, Weird Al Yankovic is one of the most underrated entertainers of our time.  No really, I’m serious.  Yankovic has the ability to take pop culture and mesh it into all kinds of different musical parody, spanning over decades.  Whether country, rap, rock, or even easy listening love songs, “Weird Al” can transfer the song into something of his own.  Among the list of Yankovic’s more memorable songs include “Fat”, “Smells Like Nirvana”, “Another One Rides the Bus”, “Amish Paradise”, “Eat It”, “The Saga Begins”, and most recently, the hit song “White and Nerdy”.  Overall, Weird Al Yankovic has been recording parodies since the late 1970’s, and continues to do so today.

In honor of Yankovic and other artists of musical parody, I have put together a few parodies of my own.  In particular, I have decided to focus my parodies on NFL players, mainly those playing key roles in Super Bowl XLI.  Specifically, I chose Rex Grossman, Bob Sanders, Thomas Jones, Brian Urlacher, and Adam Vinatieri.  I have also included a list of honorable mentions, or songs that I considered piecing together, but they were never completed. 

 

Super Bowl XLI Parodies (Full Songs)

 

Rex Grossman

Quarterback - Chicago Bears

Bears QB Rex Grossman, who has often been referred to as “Sexy Rexy” in Chicago, was injury free for the first time in his young NFL career.  After many inconsistent performances late in the season, Grossman began to lose support from the Chicago fanbase, likely eliminating the “Sexy Rexy” nickname craze throughout the Windy City.&nb