Three And Out - Pro Bowl - So Over It!

sports.espn.go.com

Like most American football fans, you can never get enough.  With the Super Bowl looming, we all recognize that our days of enjoying football are once again coming to an end.  As always, it will be a long winter.  Yesterday’s NFL Pro Bowl was one more opportunity to catch a game before our long absence without this great game.  It’s amazing how I forgot how awful the Pro Bowl is.  It has been getting awful for a long time now but yesterday it truly reached its apex. 

Unlike other professional sports, the NFL just needs to let the game go.  Major League Baseball can actually put a pretty good game on and in recent years, the MLB All-Star Game has improved dramatically.  The NHL All-Star Game is also a pretty good game and getting better each year.  The NBA’s game is less than exciting but at least the pre-game activities and festivities are fun.  The NFL Pro Bowl is a joke and it needs to go away before it tarnishes what is otherwise a tremendous game. 

If anyone watched the entire game yesterday, they had to be a Mom or a Dad of one of the players because it wasn’t fit for watching for the day in and day out fan.  The game was pathetic.  There was no intensity to the game at all.  It was really like being in Hawaii where one can relax and do nothing.  Clearly, not one of the participants wanted to sustain an injury and as a result, no one played the game with any zeal at all.  It’s a shame to have all these great players on the field and see less than an appealing game.

One really can’t fault the players.  Who wants to spend the off-season nursing an injury or worse yet, sustain an injury that potentially could be career ending.  There just isn’t a point to the game anymore.  Out of all the professional sports, football is the least conducive to an all-star format.  Football is an injury-laded game and the idea of even one player sustaining an injury is one player too many. 

Hopefully, the Commissioner and the league will take a long, hard look at the Pro Bowl concept.  It’s time for it to be retired.  Choose the Pro Bowl roster acknowledging the year’s great players but let’s keep in on paper and forego the game.  On top of the game lacking intensity, many of the players beg off anyway because of injuries and just not wanting to take the chance of getting hurt.  When you’re down to the 3^rd, 4^{th or} 5^th player on the Pro Bowl depth chart, it only makes sense to kiss the concept goodbye. 

Yesterday’s game was embarrassing for the fans, the NFL and certainly the players.  Maybe the game worked years ago but not anymore.  When the fans boo the performance on the field and the announcers are trying to make light of it, something has gone seriously wrong.  Time to let it go.     

More Tragedy at State College-JoePa Dead At 85

thesportbank.net

I think for many of us we expected no less than a quick end for Joe Paterno once the Penn State sex abuse scandal unfolded and he was separated from his love, Penn State University.  Much like what happens when mates lose their best friend and life-long love, death often times soon follows.  The Penn State story and Joe Paterno's story is not over by any means.  For Joe Paterno, the pain and suffering of cancer, had to pale in comparison to what he felt about his separation from the school he loved and served all these years. 

Arguably, the greatest college football coach of all time, is now gone at 85 years of age.  His players are truly a testament to his greatness.  Not just the ones who ended up playing on Sundays in the NFL but the ones who live in communities across the nation.  These men learned many of the lessons of life, of character, of good will from the consummate teacher on the gridiron.  Joe Paterno's contribution to these men will live on and continue to influence both academics and athletics at Penn State University. 

Many believe that Joe's reputation as the shining light of college football was forever tarnished with the allegations and arrest of Jerry Sandusky, his long-time assistant coach and defensive coordinator.  That would be a shame.  There is no question that Joe Paterno made a mistake when his graduate assistant reported what he saw in the shower that day.  He should have followed up with his superiors, no question.  Why didn't he?  He trusted others to perform their duties and they failed.  Joe failed. 

I am sure that it hurt him immensely that he was fired in the fashion he was.  I am more convinced that failing to follow-up is what hurt him the most.  What robbed him of his will to fight the dreaded disease he contracted.  Fortunately for Joe, he will not have to suffer through what will certainly be an ugly and messy ordeal in the courtroom in the years ahead.  He will no longer have to hear everyone's commentary on what he should have or could have done to stop this dreadful and despicable experience at Penn State University. 

For me, I will remember the black hair, the thick glasses and white socks that roamed the sidelines at State College every Saturday in the fall.  I will remember the 409 wins at a Division I football school.  I will remember how happy I was when Joe and his Penn State Nittany Lions entered the Big Ten.  I will remember his signature wins bringing championships home to Penn State.  I will remember Linebacker U and all the special players who won them that reputation.  I will remember the man who I respected as the best of the best. 

I am thankful this Sunday in January that Joe will not have to suffer through the agony and pain of the Sandusky court hearings.  I am thankful for Joe Paterno and all he did for Penn State University, his players, the students and the community of State College.  His legacy will live on at Penn State and his contributions to his university and to the college game will forever be remembered and cherished.  Go with God Joe. 

Terrific Tim Tebow - One More Time!

Love him or hate him, one can't deny that it is incredibly exciting to follow the rollercoaster ride of the Denver Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow. "Tebow" or "Tebowing It" will soon find their place in Webster's Dictionary as an expression of overcoming all odds. Every week throughout the entire NFL season, Tim Tebow has been the lead story. Win or lose, excel or disappoint, Tebow led Sports Center. The radio sports talk world is all abuzz with Tebow this, Tebow that and Tebow everything.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending upon how you view all this, Tim Tebow has become the most polarizing figure in all of sports. Tiger Woods no longer holds the distinction. It's all Tebow's today. The analysts love to criticize his throwing motion. His poor performances. Some folks love to be critical of his on-the-sleeve Christianity. Like I said, people either love him or hate him. His jersey is the number one seller of all NFL jerseys. It was long before his recent popularity. On Sunday night after Tebow and his Mile-High City Broncos defeated the Steelers, Tim Tebow set another record of note.

This record was 9,420 tweets per second on Twitter. Tebow is the poster boy for the National Football League right now and it is unlikely no matter what he does going forward in these playoffs will he fall off anytime soon. Tebowmania is alive and well, not just in Denver, but across the United States of America.

Tebow was indeed the clear hero in the win over the Steelers. He passed for over 300 yards, had no turnovers, rushed for a touchdown and passed for two winning the game on the first play of overtime. Didn't have to rely on his kicker to win this game. In the end, all of this Tebow madness is all about someone believing in God, himself, his teammates, his coaches and even his fans. He loves the Lord and is not afraid to share it. What is there not to like about this hard-working, All-American boy. Reminds you of Captain America, the comic book hero and recent box-office winner.

Can Tebow prevail one more time this weekend? Will the sky open up as Denver visits New England for Round 2 of the playoffs? Will Tebow be the hero or the goat? Having lost to the Patriots only weeks ago, Denver is the underdog as usual but I'm not sure anyone is betting against Tebow. He has been the most remarkable story of this year's NFL season. I, for one, am excited and like everyone else in America, will be tuning in to cheer him on or watch him fail. That's America. Love him or hate him - David versus Goliath. Let Tebowdrama unfold in Northeast.

 

 

Opening Weekend - NFL Playoffs



profootballzone.com

It has been a terrific NFL season from start to finish with many interesting stories, games, surprises and stars.  From the labor dispute to Tim Tebow's extraordinary run in Denver, 2011 will be remembered as one of the most fascinating years in NFL history.  Another year of the quarterback or lack thereof with record-breaking performances by Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.  Outstanding rookie quarterback seasons for Cam Newton and Andy Dalton.  The injured Peyton Manning and the Andrew Luck draft sweepstakes. 

Amazing, that we could be talking about Peyton Manning playing for somebody other than the Indianapolis Colts next year.  Who would have thought?  The hapless Bengals making the playoffs anytime, let alone with a rookie quarterback.  The potential for some incredible games in this year's playoffs is significant.  A New Orleans, Green Bay match-up could be about as exciting as it gets.  Then again, maybe Tim Tebow gets hot again in Denver.  You never know with the NFL.



austin.culturemap.com

My picks for Opening Weekend:

Cincinnati vs. Houston           

            The Bengals have been in nearly every game they have played this year, a remarkable feat for a team playing with a rookie quarterback.  The Texans are tough and have been playing well but I am picking the Bengals to pull the upset.

Detroit vs. New Orleans

skinnypost.com

            This game could break the NFL scoring record with so much offensive firepower.  I like Drew Brees and he is really lighting it up over the last month.  I just can't see the Lions being able to stop Brees and the Saints. 

Atlanta vs. New York Giants

            If one has learned anything, never bet against the Giants.  Eli Manning has a way of coming up with just the right performance at just the right time.  Atlanta is playing well but I believe the Giants will pull one more out of their helmet. 

Pittsburgh vs. Denver

Tebowing has not worked very well the last three weeks and the Broncos go into the game against Pittsburgh having lost their last three games.  If the Steelers can even score 17 points, they will win this game.  However, if Denver's defense can hold Pittsburgh in check on offense, look for Tebow to pull one out for the Mile High City.  I pick Tebow to upset the Steelers. 

There you have it.  Let's hope Opening Weekend doesn't disappoint. 

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