Thursday Night Football

I don’t know why, but Thursday seems like an odd night for a regular-season NFL game.  With options like The Office, why do you need a football game?  Especially when it’s available on a station that requires a bit of effort to get. 

But no one asked me, so I guess my thoughts really don’t matter.

What is a bit more interesting is the matchup for this Thursday’s game.  The Chicago Bears vs. Coach Mike Singletary.  Based on the previews, you’d think that Singletary will be on the field.  But “they” do have a point — many dedicated Bears fan would like to see the 49ers coach do well.  After all, he did the Super Bowl Shuffle despite his complete lack of dancing ability.  You have to appreciate that kind of a player.

Compare the wonderful memories of Singletary on the field with the reality that Jay Cutler isn’t Superman, and the past seems to be rosier than the present.  The thing is, Cutler has dealt with borderline unrealistic expectations since the 2009 Bears season started.  Add in the injuries throughout the roster, and you’ve got a disappointing season. 

It will be interesting to see how the Bears recover from the loss at home to Arizona…but I also look forward to seeing the guy on the other sideline…

Third Time a Charm?

Personally, I hate making decisions.  And I often second-guess myself.  So I can understand where Brett Farve is coming from as he makes his third entrance to the NFL. 

No. 4 will be wearing purple this time…a dramatic change from the green and gold of the cheeseheads or the east-coast version of green.  The Vikings welcomed Farve to practice today.

A couple thoughts…

First, it must be nice to be able to change your mind umpteen times about your career, and still have lots of people cheering for you as you walk into practice.  As I said, making decisions is not one of my strong points.  But when I change my mind umpteen times about even the minutia of life, like what I want to order for dinner, I get eye rolls and snickers from my friends.  No cheering from the masses.

Second, as TheWittyOne pointed out, it will be nice to have No. 4 back in the division.  She rightly pointed out that the Bears secondary missed him and his passes last season.  Now he can once again throw to them, and all is right with the world.

Team number 3…perhaps this will be all Farve has hoped for as his football career draws — with great hesitation — to a close.  I must say that despite his indecision, I have to respect the man.  I’m not sure what else he will come up with to prolong his career, but he’s a competitor.  He loves his game.  And he does his job well.

In the meantime, what’s the over-under on TDs to Ints for 4 and the Vikings?

Windy City Drama

It’s good to be a Chicago sports fan these days.  Or, at least, it’s exciting.  Or excruciating.  Depends on the moment/sport.

The Blackhawks took care of the Flames in a back-and-forth series on the ice, and although they are down in the 3rd period of the first game of their series with the Canucks, hockey fans have  lots to cheer for.  [Side note:  Would like to know why Vancouver's pro hockey team uses a derogatory term for their name.]

The Sox and Cubs have fans pulling out their hair much of the time (except for when they are winning).  And as the Cubs have just given away a game they led much of the time in the top of the 10th, I have nothing to say about them right now.  Wait — I think they just got an out.  That’s…never mind.

But the Bulls.  Talk about Drama.  Or DRAMA.  With the exception of an ugly Game 3, the Bulls have given the defending national champs all they can handle and then some.  [Side note: I am not a Bulls fan, but I do enjoy cheering for the underdog, especially against an obnoxious team like the Celtics -- see the previous post from TheWittyOne.  But Noah still drives me crazy.]  And as if four previous games didn’t have enough drama, take Game 6.  The Bulls were up.  The Celtics came back.  The game ended in a tie.  (Pause for shock.)  OT was back and forth.  It ended in a tie.  (Another pause for shock.)  In 2OT, the Bulls were up.  The Celtics came back on a 3 that shouldn’t have been allowed.  The Bulls failed to get a shot off.  It ended in a tie.  (Once again, shock.)  3OT included a missed dunk, a block and 2 missed free throws in the last 12 or so seconds, before the Bulls finally claimed a 1-point victory.

DRAMA. 

Let’s hope the Windy City gets to enjoy more sports drama in 2009.  Like extended playoffs for the Hawks and Bulls.  Playoffs for the baseball teams.  And a strong performance from the Bears and their new QB…and…

My Most Hated Things: A Musical Ode

I could put an explanation here: “To the tune of…” However, I’m guessing that all of you are sharp enough to figure this one out. If you aren’t, please email me and I will rewrite the penultimate verse to include you.

Special thanks goes to the Celtics fans who attended Saturday’s game, especially, and Monday’s game as well. Thinking about how I wanted to punch all of them in the face got me thinking about other sports things that I hate. These fans do not appear in this song, but they are the inspiration behind it.

Patriots Nation and Cardinal backers
Manny Ramirez and other dumb slackers
Media types whose “insight” is wanting
These are a few of my most hated things

Nibbling the corners and walking the batters
Pumping your fist like your stupid team matters
The Packers will cause my rage bell to ring
These are a few of my most hated things

The Astros, the Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers
I wish these teams would be flushed down the sewers
But playing the Pirates a victory brings
So they are not one of my most hated things

Headhunter Beckett and ‘roided-up freaks
Your lack of integrity gives me the creeps
Bill Belichick acts like he’s king
These are a few of my most hated things

Jeter and A-Rod and CC, that fatty
All Yankee players, oh so mercenary
You can’t buy a pennant, that surely must sting
These are a few of my most hated things

Tony LaRussa, that fraud Dusty Baker
All their excuses could fill up an acre
Did I mention the Cards, how their ass needs kicking!
These are a few of my most hated things

When the hate strikes
I don’t fight it
That isn’t much fun
I simply remember my most hated things
And then I go find my gun!

Pinch Me

Figures that it would take a once-in-a-generation event to bring me out of hiding. Wait, how long has it been since Luckman? Make that once in two generations.

If you do not like this trade, you are—quite simply—an idiot. Let’s just think about this for a minute. I’m actually glad we don’t have first round picks this year or next. Jerry Angelo cannot draft in the first round. The higher the pick, the more spectacular the whiff. The only things we get out of the first round are overpriced contracts for underperforming players, and guys who hold the future of the franchise hostage by monopolizing key positions. For many of the past several years, we’d actually have been better off just giving away our first round picks for free. So to get Jay Cutler for them is like highway robbery.

Franchise quarterbacks, particularly young franchise quarterbacks, do not grow on trees. You cannot bypass that opportunity, assuming that another one will present itself soon after. As we have seen, it doesn’t.

Even if we assume the best about Jerry’s drafting ability, history tells us that at least one of those two picks would fail to perform up to standard—maybe a complete bust, or maybe just an impressive disappointment. That leaves you with one good pick. Can you foresee any situation in which that pick would turn out to have a more dramatic and lasting impact than a 25-year-old franchise quarterback? I certainly cannot.

Welcome, Jay Cutler. When do the jerseys go on sale?

So Long, Farewell…

We wish you the best, Brett.  Assuming, of course, that you really do leave the field. 

I tend to think he really will stay at home when training camps start up this summer, mostly because this re-retirement was so understated compared to his retirement.

But say what you will about Brett Farve, you have to appreciate his career.  After breaking the collective heart of the Green Bay Packers with his first retirement, changing his mind in an ugly rejection trade deal, wearing another green #4 jersey, missing starts and the playoffs, and retiring again, he still has the admiration of the national talking heads and football fans. 

Those who make their living sharing sports opinions either mock his re-retirement because he changed his mind before (and the reason people pay attention to them is that they mock everything), or they praise his records and skills and mourn his loss on the field.  Some hope he will play again.

It takes quite a career to get that kind of response after the drama of the past year. 

But Brett is proving that he had the gaudy numbers (TDs and interceptions) and personality (see his commercials) to make it work, despite the drama.  And that alone deserves respect.

So adieu, Brett, and best wishes for life after football.

That Was Fun!

Super Bowl XLIII delivered.  Or at least, the game did.  The commercials weren’t all that impressive, but the game itself was all you could ask for, with a few extra flags thrown in.

The Cardinals proved they could play, and that their offense was legit, making up a 13-point deficit to take the lead in the 4th quarter.  And the Cards defense made a very impressive goal line stand. 

The Steelers proved they have a defense, which we knew, and that there’s a bit of offense in them, as well.  Their final TD drive was all you could ask for from a Super Bowl Champion team.

Plus, Carey Davis made a couple contributions to the Steelers, including the prevention of a near interception, and the Cardinals kicking game looked good.  That means the Illini held their own.

Oh, and the Illini men’s basketball team beat Iowa, too.  That’s not bad for one day.

XLIII

Super Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching.  And althouth TheWittyOne did an excellent job outlining the case for rooting for and against each team, I have a few thoughts to add now that the matchup is set.

I don’t follow the NFL as closely as some other sports, but I always like to have someone to cheer for in the big game.  Thing is, this year I’m torn.

Arizona Cardinals:  I tend to cheer for underdogs, and this underdog happens to include one of my favorite kickers — Illini Neil Rackers.  And did you know his long snapper is also an Illini?  It’s true.  So right there I have a couple reasons to cheer on the Cards.  Plus, I like Kurt Warner.  And I love that Arizona has excelled with him on the field and former USC BMOC on the sidelines.  I just can’t like Matt Leinart, and seeing his team do well without him is a source of glee.  But they are still the Cardinals.  That makes me think of a baseball team that I really don’t like.  In fact, the Cardinals moved to Arizona from that city.  They left Chicago for that city.  Ugh.

Pittsburgh Steelers:  The “Stillers” won a place in my heart by drafting Illini Rashard Mendenhall in the first round last year, and although he suffered a season-ending injury in his first start, that doesn’t change the fact that the Steelers chose him.  And their fullback is Illini Carey Davis, who was bounced all over the NFL as a free agent, but seems to have a home in Pittsburgh.  Plus, I like defense.  (I did grow up cheering for Da Bears, after all.)  But Big Ben just doesn’t inspire me.  I haven’t really taken the time to move past the reckless motorcycle thing, although he seems to have settled down quite a bit.  And their colors mirror those of my favorite college team to hate.  It’s hard to cheer for anything resembling Iowa. 

All that said, I’ll root for a really good game and good commercials.  I’ve found enough to like about either team that I should be satisfied no matter who comes out on top.

On Their Own Terms

In the world of sports, athletes and coaches are under intense pressure, and they can fall from favor pretty quickly. Stepping away from anything you’ve poured years of your life into isn’t easy, but more people in sports seem to be pushed out than allowed to walk on their own terms.   But there seems to be a right way and a wrong way to go out — even on your own terms. 

Take Brett Favre.  Had he walked away after last season, as he at one point said he would, the media would have spent much of the season singing his praises as one of the legends of the game.  But he decided he wanted to play — even when the Packers said they didn’t want him.  Farve returned on his own terms, playing for the Jets, but now his legacy will forever be tainted by the break with the Packers and an injury that led to a sub-par end of the season for the Jets — and walking papers for his coach.

On the other hand, take Tony Dungy.  His retirement from coaching has been mourned, and his contribution to the game has been lauded from all corners.  He walked away on his own terms, for reasons that were very clear to him, and leaves a bright legacy behind him.

Both these men will be remember for years for what they brought to the NFL, but today it seems that Tony has a better understanding of what it looks like to work on his own terms.

Who To Root For? 2009 Edition

Now that the Eagles have dismissed the Giants, in a game that might have been decided the day Plaxico Burress (or Plaxi-pad, as my brothers and I prefer to call him) shot himself in the leg, and the Cardinals, Ravens and Steelers have dispatched the Panthers, Titans and Chargers, it is time for what has become an annual tradition. We must evaluate which team a football fan with no obvious rooting interests should support. Let’s take the four contenders in turn.

The Case For The Cardinals: Given how many times he’s resurrected his career, let’s just say it’s fitting that Kurt Warner vocally espouses Christianity. Gotta have at least some support for a guy who doesn’t quit. This has been a year for turn-arounds in a league noted for turn-arounds, but maybe Arizona’s is the most impressive of them all. This is the first modicum of success the team has achieved since they moved west, which technically means that the Arizona Cardinals have never been good—ever. Makes a purported turn-around story like the Ravens look pretty insignificant, seeing as how that team won a championship less than a decade ago. The Cardinals have put together two impressive, complete wins the last two weeks. One could make a strong case that they’ve been the best team in the playoffs, though the Steelers might argue that they shouldn’t be handicapped by their 50% smaller sample size. The NFC West was such a disaster this year that perhaps the Cardinals are the only thing keeping the division from collapsing under the weight of its own failures.

The Case Against The Cardinals: Playing well the last two games doesn’t exactly erase those two embarrassing mail-in jobs that they did at the end of the season. The Cardinals got fat off a weak schedule and, rather than challenge themselves to make the most of each game, made it clear they weren’t interested in doing anything beyond what was absolutely necessary (read: not a whole lot). The team had real troubles selling out their first playoff game, at one point in danger of a local blackout. If even their own fans don’t care, why should we? They share a nickname with a certain baseball team from St. Louis.

The Case For The Eagles: With two respected veterans (McNabb, Westbrook) and a little rookie spice (Jackson) on offense, a defense with more schemes than your average cartoon villain, and a pretty reliable kicker, the Eagles have almost inarguably the most balanced team in the playoffs. If you want to talk about best body of work for a QB over the last 7-10 years, and you’re sick of the Manning-Brady-Favre trinity, there’s a case to be made for Donovan McNabb. OK, Brady’s post-season success blows the other three away, but half-drunk guys in bars need something to argue about. The Eagles have been a pretty consistent playoff presence over the last few years (nice if turn-around story overload has left you lusting for consistent competitiveness) but have the best in-season turn-around story of the four (nice if you haven’t quite overdosed on that aspect just yet). Should the Eagles win the Superbowl, that would mean that the two biggest titles in professional sports simultaneously reside in Philly, which would officially kill—at least for the time being—any claim that Boston or New York has to being the best sports town in America. And anything that allows us to hear less from those two blowhard fanbases (and from their blowhard mouthpiece, ESPN) is always good in my book. The Eagles would be one-half of a historic #6 vs. #6 Superbowl matchup, which would be a nice counterpoint to last year’s theme of New England’s Inevitable Coronation (actual results of that story notwithstanding).

The Case Against The Eagles: History says that Philly fans can be at least as insufferable as NY or Boston fans, given the right circumstances. So maybe we don’t want a replacement for either city in the best sports town category. Maybe we’d rather just spread the wealth around. The Eagles were a part of perhaps the season’s single ugliest game: a gutless tie against the lowly Bengals, after which McNabb famously admitted he didn’t know NFL games could end in a tie. Should a team with no grasp of such fundamentals be rewarded? Keep in mind that there’s a bye week before the Superbowl. That potentially means three more weeks of Andy Reid growing that beard. By that time, it will probably have climbed off his face and attacked several small villages.

The Case For The Steelers: Like the Eagles, they’ve managed to stay pretty competitive in the ever-changing NFL landscape. Why should being good be more impressive if you got bad first? Isn’t staying good desirable? (Call it the WWE Theory. When my brothers used to watch wrestling and some roided-up freak was billed as the “8-Time WWE Champ”—as though the number of times made it more of an accomplishment—I’d always say the same thing: “If they didn’t keep losing the title, they wouldn’t have to keep winning it back.”) They have had the best overall season of any of the four remaining teams. Once again, consistency and a complete effort must count for something. If I were suddenly forbidden from rooting for the Bears, I’d root for the Steelers. Similar atmosphere, similar values, similar work ethic. Big Ben has evolved from the moron who messes up his head by crashing his bike to the guy who plays despite getting his head messed up by opposing defenses and still doesn’t complain. I respect that. Mike Tomlin is a stand-up guy and also one of the better looking head coaches in the NFL. I respect that too. If I have to pick one defensive player from the remaining teams, I’d probably pick Ed Reed. But if I get to pick a unit, I’ll take the Steelers hands-down, no disrespect to the Ravens or Eagles. Their offensive stats don’t look all that impressive, until you consider that those stats were amassed while their quarterback played flat on his back the entire season…

The Case Against the Steelers: …although that’s because their o-line allowed more sacks than all but the stalwart trio of Detroit, San Francisco and Cincinnati. Poor execution of the basics is always a major strike against a team, even if they managed success in spite of that. And those throwback uniforms? An unfortunate fashion choice.

The Case For the Ravens: They have a rookie coach who engineered a strong turn-around, but didn’t get a single coach of the year vote. They have a rookie quarterback at the helm, but he didn’t get a single rookie of the year vote. OK, the Flacco one we kind of get, seeing as how his big contribution was not screwing up. But still. They probably didn’t get the respect they deserve, and it might be fun to see them tell the haters to suck it. Their defense is undeniably impressive, but the offense showed it can pick things up in hostile environments even when defense isn’t having their best game (see: 37-27 and 33-24 victories at Cleveland and Dallas, respectively). Here’s a team that works together. Along with the Eagles, would be half of that #6 vs. #6 matchup. With the Orioles bad and their hockey and basketball franchises nonexistent, it stands to be a long year for the residents of Baltimore if they don’t get something good out of this NFL season. And should any of them think about switching loyalties, the nearby prospects of the Nationals, Redskins and Wizards aren’t much better (but how ’bout them Capitals?). Of the three bird teams, the Ravens have probably the best mascot. Ravens are smart but scrappy, durable and even a little nasty if they need to be. Eagles are patriotic and Cardinals are red. Whoopee. According an informal panel of several females and two heterosexual males, Joe Flacco is the best looking quarterback in football right now.

The Case Against The Ravens: They’ve lost twice to the Steelers. Maybe third time’s the charm, or maybe after two failures you don’t deserve a third try, at least not this season. Not entirely certain I can support a team that wears purple. I mean, I guess it’s nice to see someone break away from the standard sports uniform color palette, but there’s got to be some limits. What’s next? Hot pink?

Conclusion: This field doesn’t present one overwhelming favorite, but that also could be a good thing since it increases the likelihood of an acceptable Superbowl champion. Only a Cardinals victory would rank as a true disappointment. I could quite easily see myself supporting either a Steelers or Ravens or Eagles victory. I’ll probably wind up supporting whoever wins the Ravens-Steelers game, but so long as their opponent is the Eagles, we’re guaranteed a positive result.