Time to Move On.

Call the Friends. Get the Bungee Cords.

There are a couple landmark dates in the sporting season.  Pitchers and Catchers comes to mind.  Masters week Monday.  Today is one of the days for me, a little under the radar, important none the less.  The day after the Super Bowl is my official start of the winter sports season.  Around here, with the Eagles a month removed from being relevant, I think a lot of attention had already shifted away from the NFL, but for the sake of my own sanity I usually hold out on following the Flyers closely until the Super Bowl is in the books.  Oddly enough, the Flyers had a big game against Jersey, and they’re not the only option for your sports interest.  Where to move on to:

The Flyers.  I feel for Flyers fans.  Especially if there are Flyers fans out there that don’t like the Phillies.  If you didn’t get any joy out of that World Series, then it’s been a dark three decades.  It’s crazy there isn’t a Flyers fan under 40 that remembers a Stanley Cup.  This is not the Flyers team that is going to end the Cup drought.  The question is, how much are they going to tease the fans before the end of the season. They currently sit in a bunched bottom half of the Eastern conference playoff picture, and can’t afford another cold stretch before the end of the season.  Their come from behind win Monday night against Jersey was impressive, but important more in the sense that the Flyers need every point they can get.  It’s good news/bad news for Flyers fans.  They’ll be decent to watch for the remainder of the season, but it’s going to end that same old way…

Cliff Lee Microscope:  The Mariners announced that Cliff Lee had surgery to remove a bone spur from his left foot.  What a bone spur is, I don’t know, but I know it’s going to keep Lee out for the beginning of spring training.  Do we still care about Lee?  Oh, you bet we do.  Lee will be watched in this city just as closely as the Phillies themselves.  His season is going to permanently effect the impression of Ruben Amaro in this city.  The Phillies want Lee to be bad, or their own squad to be cruising to another title.  Anything in the middle, and we’ll be rehashing this trade into October.

College B’Ball:  This is your best option, if you can generate interest, or hang on for another month.  Locally, Villanova bounced back from a tough loss at Georgetown to win at West Virginia.  They’re back into a tie with Syracuse in the Big East, and seem firmly entrenched in the Top-Five.  The Georgetown game exposed some ‘Nova flaws, but the game Monday night, despite being rough around the edges, showed their strength.  It’s been a while since the Cats have lost back to back games, and there’s something to be said for that, especially in a power conference.  Between the Big East’s top four of five schools, the Big 12’s powers, Kentucky, Purdue and Michigan State this should be a wide open tournament.  Get ready to light that bracket on fire during the first weekend.

This Steve Stricker Problem:  Someone has stepped up in the absence of Tiger Woods.  It’s Steve Stricker.  He hasn’t shot over par this year, he picked up his 4th win since last summer, and he’s easily one of the most boring guys on Tour.  Phil Mickelson has no idea where his driver is going, and it’s the consistent play of Striker that taken him to the number 2 spot in the World rankings.  The Tour can survive through the Masters without Tiger, but any longer than that, and its going to be a long year.  Golf will go on obviously, but without Tiger Woods the sport is in for a major market correction.  Don’t expect Tiger at the Match Play, and in fact, the latest rumor has him debuting at the Tavistock Cup, which is a glorified corporate outing in March.  This year the event is at Tiger’s home track, Isleworth, and the media would be kept out of the gated community.   That’s not what Tiger needs, though.  Bay Hill or Augusta.  We’re hoping for one of those.

The Olympics:  Good theme music, cute skiing chicks, bobsled crashes, these things are important.

Sometimes…

America can make me a Little Sad.

I was driving home from watching the Super Bowl last night when I heard this announcement type thing on the radio.  It was a news tease, or some type of PSA, or I don’t know, but the woman said, “A study shows if you use the 5-second rule you may be putting yourself at risk.  Germs can attach to the surface of food in under five seconds.”  I nearly drove off the road.  You are telling me there are enough people out there who believe the 5-second rule is a real thing that an announcement becomes necessary.  For me it would have been tantamount to hearing, “stepping on cracks doesn’t break your mother’s back.”  Who are these people out there thinking, oh, the food’s good.  It was only four seconds.  It makes me a little sad to think about them.

And, I have this reaction every once in a while.  People are just so clueless sometimes, you want to give them a little nudge.  They’re almost endearing in their idiocy.  Another example, I have a link on this page to a Fred Couples fan site.  There is a forum, it’s completely fan run, has nothing to do with Fred Couples personally.  All of this is fairly obvious if you look around for about ten seconds.  Despite this, someone will wander into the forum every once in a while, and write, “Dear, Fred…”.  Like this is Fred’s personal blog, and he’ll be getting right back to them.  Are they disappointed when he doesn’t respond?  Makes me sad.

Another thing, people who cannot communicate with ear phones in.  You know how many people walk around with guy pods in their ears now, and there’s always someone who can’t master their own volume.  They’re screaming at you, or constantly fiddling with their “ear buds”.  There’s nothing more depressing than seeing someone who clearly never had a Walkman growing up wrestle with some headphones.  I know you made a sweet mix, but you’re still in public.  Makes me sad.

I once encountered this little fella at a golf course.  He had way too many clubs in his bag, and he loaded them in a way that made the bag too top-heavy.  There’s a way to put clubs in a golf bag, and if you don’t know what it is, yes it makes a bit sad for you, but if you are open to help…well, then we can get somewhere.  This guy wasn’t open.  He put the bag on his shoulder, and all the clubs slid out,  because it was too top-heavy.  I tried to tell him this.  Put the longer clubs in the back of the bag.  No, he didn’t like that idea.  He was just going to put a cover on his bag so the clubs didn’t fall out.  Great.  So, the little guy loads up his bag again, snaps his cover on, and throws his bag over his shoulder.  The clubs can’t fall out of the bag this time, but the weight is still completely unbalanced, and the guy tipped himself over.  Honest to god, it happened.  So, now, I have to stand there and not burst into laughter because this guy is an idiot. He rights himself, and says, “You might be right.”  No sh*t.  Baffling how many people won’t listen to reason.  Makes me sad.

Feel free to share your own examples.

Is There Room For Ovechkin in the Discussion?

Ovechkin Toys With Opponents.

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but there was a hockey game on yesterday.  You could have caught a bit of it before the Super Bowl blitz started.  The Capitals hosting the Penguins in a match-up that is the NHL’s equivalent of Lakers vs. Cavs.  It was Crosby and Ovechkin, and when these two get together, the outcome rarely disappoints.  They are the sports two best players.  For the past few years Ovechkin has been touted as the better scorer, and Crosby the better overall player.  The proof of this supposedly lying in the Penguins Stanley Cup Title.  I’m not sure the quick descriptions of these players fit any longer, though.  Crosby has ramped up his scoring this season, and Ovechkin, despite missing 10 games with an injury is the league’s leading scorer.

The Capitals are the hottest team in all of professional sports.  They stared down a 2-0 deficit against Pittsburgh yesterday, watched Ovechkin tally a hat trick, and then won the game in overtime.  The Caps look like a juggernaut.  A team that will literally just run the opposition over.  Ovechkin has always been their lead dog, but the rest of the Caps have risen to new heights and perhaps allowed Ovechkin to start scratching at the surface of his peak potential.  Far from a one man show, the Caps come in waves, but when they need to change a game, tilt the ice in the other direction so to speak, like on Sunday, they look to number eight.

I wonder if it is time to start thinking of Ovechkin as one of the most dominant athletes in all of sport.  This discussion usually starts with guys like Tiger and Roger Federer.  The distinction between top athletes in team sports is harder to see.  LeBron or Kobe?  Manning or Brees?  Ovechkin or Crosby?  If you can’t say they’re clearly the best in their own sport, how could they be awarded the greater title?  I suppose it hurts Ovechkin’s case.  Team sport has seen its share of dominance, though.  I think of Gretzky and Jordan, can Kobe or Ovechkin, or even Crosby reach those heights?

I believe Ovechkin has a chance.  He’s never going to score the 212 points that Gretzky did.   He’s unlikely to win 4 or 5 Cups, though it is possible, but when you look at Ovechkin and realize he’s just 24 and not as his peak, the potential becomes limitless.   This season he’s scored 42 goals in 51 games.  He’s added 44 assists, and his plus/minus rating sits at a mind-boggling +41.   His plus/minus projects out to one of the most dominant seasons ever in that category, he’s going to score 50 goals for the third time in 4 years, and likely set a career high in points and assists, despite not playing a full 82 game season.

The stats are just complimentary to the discussion, though.  Much of Ovechkin’s dominance needs to be seen on video and not in a box score.  He’s a physical presence.  He imposes his will.  He’s certainly LeBron to Crosby’s Kobe.  There’s no doubt who is the stronger, more physical specimen.  There’s an inherent aggression to the way Ovechkin plays as well.  He’s always thinking goal.  There’s a palpable level of self-c0nfidence that dwarfs the other players on the ice.  I guess I’m saying there’s different ways to get to a similar stat line, and Ovechkin arrives in a more dominating fashion than any other athlete I’m watching these days with the possible exception of LeBron James.

It’s a shame Ovechkin plays hockey, and is relatively out of the national spotlight, because I think we’re seeing an evolution of what it means to be a great hockey player.  It’s happening right before our eyes, and no one is paying any attention.

(Photo by Peter Silver/OffWing Photo)

Who Ding Dat Dong Dang Dat Gonna Beat Dem Saints?

I'll Have a Bottle of the Manning, 2004.

So, in the end, after 21 grueling weeks, it is the Saints.  New Orleans beat Indianapolis 31-17 on Sunday to capture the Vince Lombardi trophy, a victory that will likely send the city of New Orleans into a month-long party.  They may have finally found something to upstage Mardi Gras, but more likely it will just be the perfect complement for a city that knows how to celebrate.  I can’t say the game went as I thought it would, although I did feel the Saints would be more competitive than most people.  It was a close game, but not the most exciting one, a few big plays highlighting what was mostly a lot of methodical offense.  I guess it was hard to be fully invested if you aren’t a Saints or Colts fan, but with the game in doubt until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, I couldn’t have asked for much more.  Some things I took away…

Both defenses played a little better than I thought they would.  This wasn’t quick strike offense.  Both sides moved the ball, but the drives were long, calculated, and featured a lot of short passing.  Both teams made decent attempts at establishing a running game, but they were throwing it when it mattered, and nothing was opening up down field.  The Colts defense had a great first half, and a great goal line stand.  The Saints defense capitalized on some momentum, and obviously had the huge pick-6 late in the fourth quarter.  This wasn’t smash mouth football by any means, but a solid effort by the defensive units, especially the Colts, whose offense let them down.

No one is ever going to question Peyton’s Manning greatness.  Sunday he threw a handful of amazing passes, dropped in with perfect touch that reminded you how good he is, but perhaps we got a little ahead of ourselves with Mr. Manning.  Not in the sense that he’s not any good, but the sense that it was a forgone conclusion the Colts were going to win this one.  You can’t bet against Manning.  That was a popular refrain.  Is Manning the best QB of all-time if he wins this game?  That would have been a big leap, and Manning still has years left, but this game (2nd half especially) was a reminder that Manning hasn’t always been ice cold under pressure.  He had his struggles.  Well documented ones, in fact.  Personally, I think Manning is just as good as ever.  This supporting cast at the skill positions I find to be a bit lacking, and maybe we finally saw that Sunday.

On the other hand, Drew Brees was perhaps not given enough respect.  Brees who had MVP numbers during the regular season, took home the Super Bowl MVP with a near perfect final 3 quarters.  Watching this game, what struck me most was how important accuracy is at the QB position.  Obviously, you need a minimum level of arm strength and athleticism, but there’s no substitute for putting the ball exactly where you want.  Brees and Peyton are both examples of that, but Drew Brees in the second half, couldn’t miss.

I have give to Sean Payton credit.  The guy put himself into a position where he was going to face a lot of heat.  The decision on the goal line late in the first half, and then backing that up with an onside kick, it was extremely risky.  I don’t know many coaches who take that chance.  He looks like a genius in hindsight, but I imagine if Indy recovers that kick we might be having a different discussion.  I think it ultimately shows Payton’s belief in his guys.  Both on the goal line, and with the onside kick.  I don’t think it was fear of giving Peyton Manning the ball, he was looking for a chance to swing momentum, and believed that worst case his defense would hold, and they’d be down 13-6.  Still a one score game.  Of course, Sean Payton doesn’t have to worry about the what-ifs now.  He’s bought himself at least a 2 year grace period.

The commercials!  On the whole, I thought they were extremely weak.  Sorry effort by Doritos who had a lot of spots, and I thought Coke was a miss.  Budweiser didn’t live up to the standard they’ve set for themselves.  It wasn’t a great year for the spots, that’s for sure.  I think Go Daddy has run its course, and when someone typing things into a Google search bar is one of the best ads, you know you have problems.  Of course, E*Trade did step up to the plate with another great baby ad.  Another catch phrase, much like shank-o-potamus, this time “Milk-alholic”.  Not bad.  For those not entertained by the ads, perhaps you’ll enjoy this 60 second disclaimer for the physically not fit staying of mechanical bulls:

I guess that pretty much wraps up the NFL season.  Get ready for the draft, or something.  I want to give a thanks to my boys Kraft and Big Dub H for picking the whole season with me.  I think it was a pretty good time, pretty enlightening at points as well.  For sure.  Congrats to all the Derek Anderson winners,  Saints fans, and Vegas…because you know they made a killing.  Saints/Under.  Yikes.

We Got Flakes!

If you Have the Largest TV, You are Obligated to Invite Your Friends Over.

Well, the snow has begun to fall in Southeastern PA.  Just a few flakes here and there hinting at the impending doom to come.  If you’re reading this in the area, you may actually want to get to the grocery store.  You might have a craving for a gallon of milk tomorrow, you never know.  Me?  I’m fully stocked, don’t worry about it.  The snowstorm, whose size and ferocity we can only speculate at makes you think about moving to warmer climes, and also could throw a wrench into weekend plans.  It is after all, Super Bowl Sunday.  One of the great party days of the year.  There are required elements for a Super Bowl party.  Allow me to run through a few:

1.  You need a good television, but more importantly you need good seating.  It doesn’t matter how big the screen is if no one can see it.  All notions of interior design must be thrown out the window.  Whatever sacrifices need to be made, you have to maximize the number of butts you can put in front of the screen.  Also, if you live in a large house, think about 2 viewing areas.

2. You need gambling of some kind.  Start a pool, sell squares, whatever.  Historically, there’s a pretty good chance this game might not be a thriller.  A little side action will keep everyone interested.  This is a marathon, you don’t want your party to die on the vine in the third quarter.

3.  A secondary activity.  Only if you are going to be entertaining non-football fans.  My parents used to have a party, and they set up a jigsaw puzzle.  The people who came just to eat and get a little buzz on loved it, and it keeps them away from the game.  This allows football fans to avoid hearing questions like, “Who has the ball?”  It works better for everyone.  Invest in some board games.  Have a screening of the last season of Grey’s Anatomy.  Whatever.

4.  Food.  You want to avoid food that goes stale, or gets nasty.  Like you open a bag of chips an hour before the game, dump them into a bowl, an hour later you have a mess.  Eat what you want, but avoid the bowls of snacks.  Humble opinion.  Also, don’t forget dessert.  Nothing caps off some pizza, beer, wings, and salt delivery devices like a nice brownie.  Oh, yeah.  Also, overbuy drinks, go short on food.  Running out of drinks?  Nightmare.  Running out of food?  Unlikely, and people will get over it.

5.  Lastly, I’d warn people not to start too early.  You’re going to get tired of looking at these people in your house after a while.  An hour before kick off is fine.  3 pm, kind of inappropriate.

Everyone enjoy the weekend, the game, if you are in the mid-atlantic region enjoy the shoveling.  Take it easy, see you next week.

One Last Pick.

Y'All Think I'm a Let My Dough Freeze?

Well, well well.  Here we are.  The Super Bowl.  You know, picking games is a lot like making a grilled cheese sandwich.  Anyone can do it, but there’s a subtle artistry to the whole process.  The difference between a good and bad pick, much like a good and bad grilled cheese is cavernous.  I know for a fact that I can make a good grilled cheese, but the NFL picks…I’m still building my confidence, I guess.  Without the blessing of a full slate to choose from, I didn’t exactly light up the playoffs.  What can I say?  Maybe I left the pan a little too hot.  Regardless, one last game sits in front of us.  As I learned from my physician friend, Dre, you have to step to the plate.  Colts vs. Saints, for all the glory….here we go.

GROSSY:  Playoff Record (4-6)

Saints (+4.5) vs. Colts.  Maybe the toughest game to pick all year.  I don’t know if it was the two weeks to think about it, or if I just don’t have a clue.  In the end, my initial feeling was Saints, and so I have to honor that.  A closer look reveals some interesting data.  The Colts are a tough team to bet against.  They haven’t lost when they fielded their full squad for 4 quarters, the have Peyton Manning playing at his highest level, and they trump the Saints in big game experience.   There’s a couple reasons, though, why I like New Orleans.  One, before Dwight Freeney got hurt, everyone had the Colts.  The entire world.  Since then, the line has dropped a 1/2 point or so, but I still think all the money’s on Indy.  The Saints can score, and I like getting points with teams that can score.  The undefeated thing (or however you want to look at it) means nothing, and the Colts haven’t been properly challenged in weeks.  They’re in for a fight.  The only thing I’m worried about is the Saints being “happy to be there”.  I think they have more focus than that, ding dong Manning family dead, get a camera on Kim Kardashian, call Ray Nagin tell him to prepare for chaos in the streets, Saints 34-30.

KRAFT  Playoff Record (3-7)

NO +5 over Indy  Going with my heart here, and hoping that NO shows up on offense.  The talk has been about how NO forces so many turnovers, but Indy protects the QB so well, Peyton doesn’t force the issue..etc.  The flip side is that NO actually has an offense, which is far different than Baltimore or the NY Jets, so hopefully they can put as much pressure on Indy’s D as they will be feeling from Manning & Co.  The scary thing is that Jim Caldwell could be a Super Bowl winning coach?  As a quick aside—how annoying is this obsession with classifying your fan base as a collective “Nation”?  The “Who Dat Nation” is apparently the city of NO?  That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.  Does that mean that I am part of the “3 Putt Nation”?  Can you print up T-Shirts that say “3 Putt Nation”?

BIG DUB H:  Playoff Record (3-7)

Big Dub Likes the Colts, 40-24.  His analysis will appear a little later in the day.

Devils Stick Fork In Division.

Kovalchuk's a Sniper.

Hey, think the Flyers could use some scoring?  I don’t know.  They got shut out by the worst team in the NHL on Wednesday night.  It was just one game, but the Flyers are prone to taking a hiatus on offense.  Somehow despite their democratic, sum is greater than the parts offensive style, the Flyers seem to take on scoring slumps in bunches.  Are they the only team with offensive shortcomings?  No, the Devils have had their share of troubles lately.  What’s the Flyers reaction?  They spit out clichés about working hard.  The Devils trade for Ilya Kovalchuk, one of the most dangerous scorers in the NHL.

This isn’t to make the case that the Flyers should have gotten Kovalchuk.  That would’ve been great, but I don’t think they were really ever factors in the deal.  The Flyers ineptitude with their cap, and penchant for giving players no trade clauses doesn’t give them much room to maneuver.  The kind of guys they would have had to move, Gagne, Briere…they would have had to waive their no-trade clauses.  To go to Atlanta?  Not happening.  So, Kovalchuk ends up in New Jersey, and we get another classic example of the Devils front office wiping the floor with the Flyers, something that’s been happening for about the last 15 years.

They do everything better up their in Jersey.  They realize you need a goalie.  They rebuild better.  They have better defensemen, better leadership, their young guys develop into better players, they have cap room, they don’t sit in first place complacently.  Yes, the Devils are in first place, and now they have a little more kick as they battle the Penguins down the stretch.  Of course, the obscenely hot Washington Capitals and the other worldly Alex Ovechkin also loom in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  The Devils match up a little better now.  The Flyers won’t be posing a threat.

For a fan base that has been tortured by the Devils for some time, it hurts to see them get Kovalchuk.  The Devils for the most part play defense, have the best goalie ever, and spread the scoring out.  This is what the Flyers do, minus the goalie and defense.  I don’t remember a Devils forward that put fear into your heart.  Certainly, they had good players, but never one of Kovalchuk’s ilk.  They’re aren’t many to go around.  Note the Flyers perennial lack of such a player.

Like I said, I never was expecting Kovalchuk to land in Philly.  That he ends up in Jersey, is just a cruel twist.  It sure would have been nice to be in the running, though.  And, the events are just another sign that the Flyers are getting out-worked on levels besides the ice.  Trade deadline scoring help?  The Flyers look for guys in their 30s or first round busts.  Paging Tony Amonte.  I shudder to think who might end up here this year.  Mike Modano?  Todd Bertuzzi?  I’m sure the Flyers have some first rounders to throw away.

PGA Trots Out Its First Legitimate Field.

Please Disregard All Previous Comments About Sweater Vests.

I don’t want to jinx the event, but you might see a decent leaderboard this week at Riviera.  The combination of a few things has brought together the best PGA Tour field of the year, and not only that, but there is new Tiger speculation.  We’ll get to that in a bit.  With the Euro Tour’s glamorous run through the Mid-East coming to a close, and several players finally ending their winter breaks, there’s a chance we might not be saying, “Who?” on Sunday.  Anthony Kim makes his debut this week, Padraig Harrington is in the field, Adam Scott, Ryo Ishikawa, Angel Cabrera, Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Vijay, and of course Fred will be there, holding it down.  You may remember Freddie in contention last year until he nudged one off the hosel on 18, and Mickelson went back-t0-back.  Actually, you probably don’t remember that, but I do.

Riviera, perhaps more than any course on Tour seems to be a place where the same guys always perform well, and the same guys do not.  It’s the course where Tiger’s never won.  Hard to believe there is still one around.  Mickelson’s won back-to-back.  Mike Weir, KJ Choi, Rory Sabbatini, Robert Allenby, there’s usually the same group of names at the top of the board.  I guess the old track takes some getting used to, and some players never quite get it.  Even back in the day, Fred and Corey Pavin traded off victories here, and both still play the course pretty well.  With the tournament just barely underway, Sabbatini is already off to a good start.  Not great news for a Rory hater like me, but not surprising either.

There was no resolution to the groove issue at the meeting the Tour held this Tuesday, though it did seem to bring about the end of the cat fight between Phil Mickelson and Scott McCarron.  McCarron apologized, and Phil said he was just trying to make a point.  He’s taken the Ping wedges out of his bag this week.  I’m not sure if anyone will put them in play this week, but I’d expect the reactions will be a little less dramatic.

And, lastly, on Tiger.  The people who reported he was in the rehab clinic in Mississippi are saying that he is set to be released.  With that, official speculation can begin about his return.  A report surfaced yesterday that Tiger would debut at the Match Play in a couple of weeks.  It’s the  event where Tiger returned from his leg injury last season, and match-play offers a less severe microscope for your game.  At the time people were surprised that Tiger would come back at a tournament where it could have been one round and done.  I don’t think that will affect his decision this year either, but it seems like a quick turn around.  He’ll have to commit by next Friday, which wouldn’t leave him much time to get that game back in order.  I feel like this is an optimistic prediction, and he’s probably more likely to come back at Doral, Bay Hill or even Augusta.   We shall see.

My Only Oscar Thought.

Great Movie.

So, they expanded the Oscar Best Picture nominations from five films to ten.  The movies nominated for best picture often don’t cross my radar, or should I say, at best I see 2 out of 5.  Ten nominees seems more inclusive, and I actually thought The Hangover got nominated.  I really did.  Then I just looked it up, and spent 10 minutes making sure I was wrong.  No Hangover, and I wouldn’t have been behind that movie for Best Picture anyway, despite the fact that it was very funny.  Wouldn’t an Oscar nomination almost take away from a comedy at this point?  It’d have to hurt your street cred.  A comedy nominated for Best Picture would be like a Will Smith album.

Anyway, with 10 nominees, I should have seen a couple of these, right?  Well, how’s 4/10 grab you?  You know what they say about 4 for 10.  That’s right.  It gets you in the Hall of Fame.  I’ve seen Inglorious Basterds, Up (stay hard in the yard), The Blind Side, and tonight I watched The Hurt Locker.  I’d imagine good old Up has no chance.   Blind Side was uplifting sports flick at its best, but not a Best Picture.  Inglorious Basterds was an extremely good movie, I think I talked about it briefly a few weeks ago, but The Hurt Locker in my humble opinion was better.  It may not be the best script, Tarantino’s for Basterds was brilliant, but it was a great movie.

I hadn’t heard of this movie until a month(?) ago.  I heard the title and assumed it was part of the Saw series or something, but when I was told what it was actually about, I knew I wanted to check it out.  It was well worth it.  I don’t want to ruin anything if you haven’t seen it, but it’s two solid hours of suspense following an explosives diffusion team in Iraq.  There’s a ten-minute sniper standoff that is so enthralling it could have gone on for an hour.  The actors are not mainstream stars, but they give great performances, making you wonder about the nominations in some of the other Oscar categories, but I’m hoping The Hurt Locker gets its recognition as a film.

How can I say that without watching the six others?  Well, I’m just going to say it.  I don’t care about Avatar, 3D glasses, or your Titanic poster that’s been in your bedroom for years.  I’m sure that movie hits a  Lord of the Rings level of schweet, but not much else.  The Hurt Locker.  I’m taking a stand.

Remember when the AFC blew?

Tony Eason Didn't Complete a Pass for the Pats.

Sports Illusrated counted down the 10 worst quarterback performances of All-Time.   The list is like a history textbook for the Derek Anderson award.  All bad quarterback performances are funny, but what stuck out most for me when I looked at the list was, the AFC was terrible for a while.  Just awful.  The Super Bowl for over a decade was a joke.  It’s kind of hard to imagine that now with the way recent games have gone.  A nice mixture of the conferences, a balance in the overall level of talent.  Back when I was cracking my Super Bowl cherry the AFC was essentially a laughing stock.  The first game I remember watching was the Pats getting crushed by the Bears.  The AFC would lose the next 11 Super Bowls after that as well.

And, they weren’t just losing.  They were getting pummeled.  46-10, 52-17, 55-10, the list goes on and on.  The NFC won 13 straight, 11 of those by double digits and many by three, four or five scores.  I wish I was a little more aware of what was being said at the time.  This was so ridiculous that I probably would have been calling to get rid of the conference playoff structure.   If the Giants and Niners are the best teams, or the Redskins and Cowboys, why waste that game in the NFC title game?  Why watch Denver or Buffalo be the sacrificial lamb each and every year.

The case of Buffalo, I mean, four straight losses is an impressive feat.  Their fans have suffered permanent damage I would imagine.  Perhaps they can take some solace in the knowledge that some of those teams weren’t that good.  They were just the best team in the AFC.  Not saying a lot.  To that point, maybe it’s time for Cleveland Browns fans to let some things go as well.  The Drive, the Ernest Byner fumble?  Those hurt, but you were just going to get blown out in the Super Bowl.  What’s the big deal?  So, Elway beat you.  It saved you from further padding the Super Bowl stats of Joe Montana.

I guess the idea of keeping some type of parity in the league is a good one, if it can avoid the 1985-95 AFC scenario.  In some ways I’m glad I was a kid.  The Super Bowl was mostly just a night where I tried to see how much soda I could drink.  The game was kind of a secondary spectacle.  Maybe it felt that way because the result was practically a foregone conclusion.  Of course, I know not all these games were projected to be blowouts.  I think the Bills were actually favored when they lost to Dallas by about a 100.  Makes you wonder what people were thinking.  Talk about gambling trends!  I would have been pounding the NFC all those years.

So, considering we’ve had about 50/50 success with exciting Super Bowls lately, I think we should all be pretty thankful.  I this year will be another good one.  If this was 1988 we’d be getting ready for Peyton to throw a few picks, and the Saints to drop a 56-13 on Indy’s head.