I've seen many interesting blogs from different individuals trying to convince us that this Super Bowl will be great, the best ever, and one for the ages.  Doing so, trying to justify how good Seattle and Pittsburg are.  I agree that they are good solid teams that could give us a thrilling Super Bowl.  But, I caution you.  The history of past Super Bowls support the theory that many teams that make it...are not worth it of such recognition. 

The only certainty about this Super Bowl is that one team will win.  But, nothing about either team convinces me that it would rank high in Super Bowl history.  I'm not implying that I want to see New England and Green Bay in the Super Bowl every year either.  I just won't count my eggs before they hatch.  I've already seen writers call this a great Super Bowl. According to those media clowns, its supposed to be the best possible match up between all the teams that made the playoffs this year.  But, I know they would have said the same thing if it was the Giants against the Broncos.  They would have called a great rematch of Super Bowl XXI.  And, same would have been said about the Patriots against the Bears. 

I, unlike most people, won't be persuaded.  I will weigh in the facts about each contender and take for what it is.  Seattle didn't impress me because they play in what is known as the weakest division in football.  The game against Washington could have gone either way if a couple of plays would have gone in favor of the Redskinds.  And against Carolina, Delhomme played horribly.  He forgot that Ricky Proehl was on his team.  Forced passes into double coverage to Smith totally undermining Seattle's game plan.

The Steelers, a bit better all around.  They were a game away last year from the big dance so, I would regard them as favorites.  However, no one knows how the game would have ended if Carson Palmer didn't get injured from the start.  At Indy, they almost blew a comfortable lead.  Big Ben might be remembered by that tackle more so than his performance in Denver.  I won't even talk about the AFC Championship game... cause no one was surprised about Jake Plummer's performance.   

This could be a huge disappointment to many of us impartial fans whose team isn't in it.  Remember Super Bowls I & II when Green Bay embarrassed KC and Oakland. How about Super Bowl VI when Dallas walked all over Miami.  But Miami redeemed themselves 2 years later when they beat Minnesota.  And who could forget how awful Collins was when the Ravens destroyed the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.

What I truly hope to see is a match up that is worth the hype.  Similar to Super Bowl V where Jim O'Brien kicked a 32 yd field goal to win it for Baltimore with on five seconds left in the game.  Or Super Bowl XIII where a Steelers lead vanished in a blink of an eye...one more onside kick and who knows!!!  And, who could forget the most famous of all, the thriller of them all, Super Bowl XXV.  I'm not a fan of low scoring games but, I didn't mind this time around.  Two really good teams, The Bills were a high power offense, and the Giants a solid defense with great clock management on offense.

So, I do wish to see a great game, but I have doubts.  I know the Steelers and Seahawks' fans will disagree and understandably so, as you are bias.  However, those of us who could care less who wins, don't what 4 hours of mediocre performance.  I'll even take a low scoring game if it is a fight to the end.  I just hope we don't have a winner by halftime.

The Knicks are suffering the consequences of the NBA's chronic problem with the long list of over paid, unproven talent.  How could Isiah Thomas justify the money spent to bring a player like Marbury, James, Richardson, Crawford or even Curry?  What have they done so far?  The Knicks, on paper, are a solid Eastern Conference contender.  However, with a 13-26 record half way through the season, they are 13th in the conference and 5 full games the eighth and last spot in the playoffs.

What a mess?  How could you fix it?  There are a couple of scenarios that may save the Knicks and take them out of life support.

1- Get KG: Marbury needs a real go to guy.  They've played together in Sota and they like each other...yes they do!  I'll gladly give the any combination of Jerome James, Qyntel Richardson, Malik Rose and Maurice Taylor.  Even if they want all of them, take them.  But, keep Eddie Curry so that he could learn from KG and develops into a dominant center.  This will bring back some excitement back to the Garden, may be even a playoff berth.

2- Trade away: Get ride of players that haven't proven to be worth the cash.  I would start with Anfernee Hardaway and Jamal Crawford.  When was the last time Hardaway played more than 20 games in a season?  Poor Jamal!  Now that Larry Brown has completely removed any ounce of confidence he ever had, he isn't worth the mula he is getting paid anymore.   I know there are more of those players but, it's too hard for me and I don't want to cry.

3- New GM: Thomas had his chance but, he hasn't delivered.  His formula for success has the Knicks in such financial hart ship that it makes my back account look good.  I don't know what's easier to handle, the National deficit or the Knicks salary expenditures.  Who is spending more with nothing to show for? Isiah Thomas in NY or George Bush in Iraq?

I truly miss the Patrick Ewing years.  Times where success and excitement ruled the "Mecca" of basketball.  Now all you hear is "boos" echoing in the Garden...even Spike Lee is booing the Knicks.  I long for a day where I see the Knicks competing with Detroit, Miami or Indiana for supremacy in the Eastern Conference.  I just hope it happens before I get tired of waiting and jump ship.  Western Conference teams need love too, you know! 

This a classic sign of an older player nearing the end of the road and wanting to end on his terms.  The only difference is that, at 43, he is still a dominant pitcher and,no one knows how much is left on the tank.  Consequently, there are plenty of owner in the league willing to throw a great deal of money his way.  I would love to see the Rocket be dominant and leading a team, any team, to the postseason.  But, if I was an owner with some salary cap like the Texas Rangers, would I make an offer to bring him in?  I think the Rangers are more concerned with ticket sales, instead postseason play.  The Rocket might still be dominant but, he alone will not make the Rangers a postseason team.  The other pitchers acquired are not anything to brag about, so don't expect the Rangers to be playing in October next season.  On the other hand, they might fill up the Ballpark in Arlington this upcoming season with him there.

The Astros however, do have a chance to make the postseason.  I'm surprised they are not being aggressive enough to get him back on their rotation.  Houston is now a baseball loving town due primarily to the Rocket.  What are they thinking?  They are having problems deciding on Jeff Bagwell also.  I guess the front office doesn't believe in the leadership these players bring to the table.

When you hear the Rocket's last interview you can help but wonder, will he retire or will he thrill us with another great season?  Whatever he decides is fine with me.  He has earned the respect of the entire baseball world purely on performance.  I would be sad to see him retire but, I would be grateful for the memories. 

What a great show...starring Kobe Bryant.  Scoring a bundle of points day in and day out.  The fans gave him a standing ovation after an 81 point performance.  Phil Jackson took him out to allow the fans to cheer the freak show LA basketball is today.  This only adds to the misfortune of Bryant's civil lawsuit in Colorado, and scoring selfishly like this is definitely a great way of getting the wrong attention.  But, since it sells, he might regain some sponsorship back.

While awful for Bryant, this is great for the supporting cast because, it takes the spotlight away from Phil Jackson who doesn't seem to have the Lakers playing past the first round of the playoffs, if that.  It also takes the spotlight away from the rest of the team who has 11 of 15 players with a scoring average in single digits.  And, it takes away the spotlight from the front office that had a miserable time in the off season, acquiring nothing for the big bucks they dished out.

What if the Lakers would have lost the game?  Can we say disaster?  This is what the NBA's product is turning into.  Where is the pride, the love for the game and the respect to the loyal fans?  If I was Phil Jackson, I would have the team running laps in practice until they dropped dead.  What an embarrassment, you can''t call this a professional team.  I lost all respect for Phil Jackson.  A coach who I regarded as the best ever.  But, he's just a money hungry guy who was fortunate enough to have had talented players during his championship years.  It is more evident now that Michael Jordan ran the Bulls during those championships.  Shaq and Bryant were too much of a force to be stopped and would have won without Phil Jackson.  I should have known what type of man Phil Jackson was when he wrote his book, filling his pockets with money by disclosing private incidents and dirt on previously coached players.

Sorry LA, don't expect a championship any time soon...at least not while Phil Jackson is there.  His main interest is his girlfriend not the Lakers.  If he truly cared about the game, he would have accepted the Knicks coaching job.  His legacy would have magnified to unmatched levels if he would have turned the Knicks around, with the limited young talent available.  Instead, he returned to LA to be closer to Jeanie Buss, knowing that Kobe Bryant would relief him of any unwanted attention.  At least you have the Clippers in town who are 1.5 game head of the Lakers in the standing.