Awesome blog post about Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's beard.
http://www.catsandbeer.com/sports/mike-tomlins-beard
http://www.catsandbeer.com/sports/mike-tomlins-beard
Showing posts with label pittsburgh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pittsburgh. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl TD ... Tecmo Bowl Style!
I ripped this off of my good friend Alana G's blog. It is a Tecmo Super Bowl version of Santonio Holmes game-winning TD grab in Super Bowl XLIII.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Not-So-Final Observations Of Super Bowl XLIII
First off, it was a great game. I had no dog in the fight but I found myself rooting for Arizona. I typically hate the Cardinals (that's my Redskins fandom remembering those old NFC East days).
Here are some other thoughts about the game.
-Kurt Warner is is awsome. Yeah, his team lost but he now owns the three best passing days in Super Bowl history. That is unreal no matter who you are.
-Santonio Holmes has become a star. I must admit that I haven't thought too highly of him as a great receiver. But Holmes came up big all game and especially that final drive. Ya know, the drive that ended on his amazing TD grab.
-The officiating was suspect. I'm normally not a guy that bangs on the refs. That is a bitch of a job. Still, there are a few calls I didn't understand. The roughing the passer call, a couple of the holds and the fact they didn't at least look at Kurt Warner's fumble. I can get the call on that one, but how in the heck did they not take a look at it.
-Arizona had this game. It's one thing to lose a game of this magnitude. It's quite another when you let it slip from your hands. Forget the fact that the Cards held a 23-20 lead with just over 2 minutes left. They could have had a 23-13 then if they had not let James Harrison return that pick for a TD. They could have had a 30-13 or 26-13 lead if they had coverted on some points on that drive.
-Bruce Springsteen is still The Boss. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan though I do have several favorite songs. But this was the first time in a long time that I actually watched the halftime show.
-The commercials weren't that funny. There were some good ones, but you can see the effect of the economy on our comedy.
-My Super Bowl feast was perfect. I don't do Super Bowl parties anymore because I want to watch the game. So my wife and I just create a small feast of grub for the two of us (and anyone that stops by). I had the bacon cheddar fries, buffalo wings, garlic wings, mozzerella sticks, chips and dip and my Pepsi (McGruber). We didn't even get to cook up the onion rings, spinach bites or pizza bites.
-Big Ben was indeed "big". I know Holmes was huge in that final drive, but Ben Roethlisberger deserved the MVP. He made some outstanding throws on that drive and spent the entire game buying time and making something out of nothing. He just eliminated all that talk about how bad he was in Super Bowl XL.
-Was this the chippiest Super Bowl? There were more personal fouls in this Super Bowl than any one I can remember. The pushing, shoving and fighting going on made this game look like it was between division rivals that are sick of each other. Oh, and how Harrison wasn't thrown out after decking the Cardinals' tackle is beyond me.
-Steelers Dynasty? I don't think it is, but what Pittsburgh has just done cannot be dismissed. With the youth of the team and the coaching staff (save Dick LeBeau), they can keep this up for a while. Pittsburgh has placed themselves up with the Dallas Cowboys as the ultimate Super Bowl franchise. The Steelers now have a record six titles and has now done it in two different eras. The Cowboys did something similar in the 1970s and early 1990s.
Here are some other thoughts about the game.
-Kurt Warner is is awsome. Yeah, his team lost but he now owns the three best passing days in Super Bowl history. That is unreal no matter who you are.
-Santonio Holmes has become a star. I must admit that I haven't thought too highly of him as a great receiver. But Holmes came up big all game and especially that final drive. Ya know, the drive that ended on his amazing TD grab.
-The officiating was suspect. I'm normally not a guy that bangs on the refs. That is a bitch of a job. Still, there are a few calls I didn't understand. The roughing the passer call, a couple of the holds and the fact they didn't at least look at Kurt Warner's fumble. I can get the call on that one, but how in the heck did they not take a look at it.
-Arizona had this game. It's one thing to lose a game of this magnitude. It's quite another when you let it slip from your hands. Forget the fact that the Cards held a 23-20 lead with just over 2 minutes left. They could have had a 23-13 then if they had not let James Harrison return that pick for a TD. They could have had a 30-13 or 26-13 lead if they had coverted on some points on that drive.
-Bruce Springsteen is still The Boss. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan though I do have several favorite songs. But this was the first time in a long time that I actually watched the halftime show.
-The commercials weren't that funny. There were some good ones, but you can see the effect of the economy on our comedy.
-My Super Bowl feast was perfect. I don't do Super Bowl parties anymore because I want to watch the game. So my wife and I just create a small feast of grub for the two of us (and anyone that stops by). I had the bacon cheddar fries, buffalo wings, garlic wings, mozzerella sticks, chips and dip and my Pepsi (McGruber). We didn't even get to cook up the onion rings, spinach bites or pizza bites.
-Big Ben was indeed "big". I know Holmes was huge in that final drive, but Ben Roethlisberger deserved the MVP. He made some outstanding throws on that drive and spent the entire game buying time and making something out of nothing. He just eliminated all that talk about how bad he was in Super Bowl XL.
-Was this the chippiest Super Bowl? There were more personal fouls in this Super Bowl than any one I can remember. The pushing, shoving and fighting going on made this game look like it was between division rivals that are sick of each other. Oh, and how Harrison wasn't thrown out after decking the Cardinals' tackle is beyond me.
-Steelers Dynasty? I don't think it is, but what Pittsburgh has just done cannot be dismissed. With the youth of the team and the coaching staff (save Dick LeBeau), they can keep this up for a while. Pittsburgh has placed themselves up with the Dallas Cowboys as the ultimate Super Bowl franchise. The Steelers now have a record six titles and has now done it in two different eras. The Cowboys did something similar in the 1970s and early 1990s.
Are We In a Golden Age Of Super Bowls? Steelers Win Wild Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23
I am 33 years old. I'm only telling you that so you can understand my reference points for this story.
When I was a kid through my teenage years and into my 20s, the Super Bowl was usually one of the biggest letdowns in sports. From 1984 (when Bruce Springsteen's Born In the USA came out) to 1999, most Super Bowls ended up as blowouts. Only the Niners-Bengals, Giants-Bills and Broncos-Packers matchups had me glued to my seat for most, if not all of the game.
So how lucky has this decade been? We had that amazing stop on the 1-yard line in the Rams-Titans game, the improbable upset in the Patriots-Rams tilt, a wild finish to the Patriots-Panthers and a close Patriots-Eagles game. Take a second look at the Colts-Bears Super Bowl and it was closer than you think. The last two Super Bowls (Giants-Patriots, Steelers-Cardinals) have featured two amazing finishes that saw the lead change a few times in the closing moments. The game has been living up to the hype.
Aside from the Ravens-Giants (blowout), Buccaneers-Raiders (blowout) and Steelers-Seahawks (boring and mistake filled), we have been treated to some of the greatest Super Bowls over the past ten years. I mean, remember when it used to be the big joke that the Super Bowl was sports biggest dog? We were seeing scores like 55-10, 52-17, 42-10, 38-16, 46-10 and 49-26. Sure, the final scores for the Redskins-Bills and Broncos-Falcons aren't that bad, but those games weren't in doubt either.
We've had six Super Bowls decided by 7-points or less this decade. In the prior 33 Super Bowls, only eight of them were decided by 7-points or less.
So this has to be the golden age of Super Bowls, right? I'd be willing to bet that the Rams-Titans, Patriots-Rams, Patriots-Panthers, Giants-Patriots and Steelers-Cardinals are at or near the very top of the list of great Super Bowls. Over the last 10 years, six of the games have been decided by a TD or less; five have been decided by four points or less; five saw the winning team score the go-ahead points with under three minutes remaining; and three with less than 40 seconds left.
Forget the stats. The last decade has given us "The Tackle", Adam Vinateri's two game winning FGs in the closing seconds, David Tyree's catch and now San-Toes-Nio Holmes grab.
When I was a kid through my teenage years and into my 20s, the Super Bowl was usually one of the biggest letdowns in sports. From 1984 (when Bruce Springsteen's Born In the USA came out) to 1999, most Super Bowls ended up as blowouts. Only the Niners-Bengals, Giants-Bills and Broncos-Packers matchups had me glued to my seat for most, if not all of the game.
So how lucky has this decade been? We had that amazing stop on the 1-yard line in the Rams-Titans game, the improbable upset in the Patriots-Rams tilt, a wild finish to the Patriots-Panthers and a close Patriots-Eagles game. Take a second look at the Colts-Bears Super Bowl and it was closer than you think. The last two Super Bowls (Giants-Patriots, Steelers-Cardinals) have featured two amazing finishes that saw the lead change a few times in the closing moments. The game has been living up to the hype.
Aside from the Ravens-Giants (blowout), Buccaneers-Raiders (blowout) and Steelers-Seahawks (boring and mistake filled), we have been treated to some of the greatest Super Bowls over the past ten years. I mean, remember when it used to be the big joke that the Super Bowl was sports biggest dog? We were seeing scores like 55-10, 52-17, 42-10, 38-16, 46-10 and 49-26. Sure, the final scores for the Redskins-Bills and Broncos-Falcons aren't that bad, but those games weren't in doubt either.
We've had six Super Bowls decided by 7-points or less this decade. In the prior 33 Super Bowls, only eight of them were decided by 7-points or less.
So this has to be the golden age of Super Bowls, right? I'd be willing to bet that the Rams-Titans, Patriots-Rams, Patriots-Panthers, Giants-Patriots and Steelers-Cardinals are at or near the very top of the list of great Super Bowls. Over the last 10 years, six of the games have been decided by a TD or less; five have been decided by four points or less; five saw the winning team score the go-ahead points with under three minutes remaining; and three with less than 40 seconds left.
Forget the stats. The last decade has given us "The Tackle", Adam Vinateri's two game winning FGs in the closing seconds, David Tyree's catch and now San-Toes-Nio Holmes grab.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #1-3
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#1-PREDICTION: Okay, here is my prediction. I, personally, will be rooting for the Cardinals. They have the underdog factor, they are a team that you just really can't hate, I tend to root for the NFC (though not all the time) and I'm don't want to hear from the Steeler fans I work with.
Still, I think Pittsburgh will win. I've been saying that the Steelers can play a so-so game and still win. Arizona must play a really good game if they have a chance to win. I know that isn't "breaking anything down", but it is just how I view these things.
For the Cardinals to win, they obviously need to keep being effective on offense. Put pressure on the Steelers to score points. Keep Kurt Warner off his back and Arizona has a great shot.
#2-MIKE TOMLIN WANTS TO JOIN THE CLUB: If the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII, they will have done so with their third different head coach. Tomlin will join Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher as head coaches that led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl title. Only the Dallas Cowboys (Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer) can make that same claim. The Giants, Colts, Packers, 49ers and Raiders have all won Super Bowls with two different coaches.
#3-SUPER BOWL VIEWERS GUIDE: Go over to Awful Announcing to find out all the particulars of NBC's all-day coverage of Super Bowl XLIII.
#1-PREDICTION: Okay, here is my prediction. I, personally, will be rooting for the Cardinals. They have the underdog factor, they are a team that you just really can't hate, I tend to root for the NFC (though not all the time) and I'm don't want to hear from the Steeler fans I work with.
Still, I think Pittsburgh will win. I've been saying that the Steelers can play a so-so game and still win. Arizona must play a really good game if they have a chance to win. I know that isn't "breaking anything down", but it is just how I view these things.
For the Cardinals to win, they obviously need to keep being effective on offense. Put pressure on the Steelers to score points. Keep Kurt Warner off his back and Arizona has a great shot.
#2-MIKE TOMLIN WANTS TO JOIN THE CLUB: If the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII, they will have done so with their third different head coach. Tomlin will join Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher as head coaches that led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl title. Only the Dallas Cowboys (Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer) can make that same claim. The Giants, Colts, Packers, 49ers and Raiders have all won Super Bowls with two different coaches.
#3-SUPER BOWL VIEWERS GUIDE: Go over to Awful Announcing to find out all the particulars of NBC's all-day coverage of Super Bowl XLIII.
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #4-7
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#4-SUPER BOWL NEWBIES: As you know, Arizona is making its first Super Bowl appearance. This is the 7th Super Bowl in the last 11 years to feature a team making its debut in the big game. Those teams are the Cardinals (43), Seahawks (40), Panthers (38), Buccaneers (37), Ravens (35), Titans (34) and Falcons (33). Those newbies are 2-4 in the Super Bowl and none have been back since.
#5-RELOCATION IS FUN, KIDDIES: The Cardinals are yet another franchise to make a Super Bowl appearance after relocating during the Super Bowl era. The Colts (Baltimore/Indianapolis), Raiders (Oakland/Los Angeles) and Rams (Los Angeles/St. Louis) have all won Super Bowls in two different cities. Like the Cardinals, the Ravens (formerly Cleveland Browns) and Titans (formerly Houston Oilers) made their first Super Bowl appearance after their move.
#6-JOHN MADDEN HAS HIT ALL THE NETWORKS: John Madden will be the analyst for the Super Bowl on NBC. This means that Madden will have called a Super Bowl on each of the four major networks. He worked for CBS during five Super Bowls, FOX for three, ABC for two and now NBC.
#7-A BIRD OF ANOTHER FEATHER: The Cardinals join the Eagles (15, 39), Falcons (33), Ravens (35) and Seahawks (40) as the only bird-named Super Bowl participants. The Ravens were the only ones to actually win the game.
#4-SUPER BOWL NEWBIES: As you know, Arizona is making its first Super Bowl appearance. This is the 7th Super Bowl in the last 11 years to feature a team making its debut in the big game. Those teams are the Cardinals (43), Seahawks (40), Panthers (38), Buccaneers (37), Ravens (35), Titans (34) and Falcons (33). Those newbies are 2-4 in the Super Bowl and none have been back since.
#5-RELOCATION IS FUN, KIDDIES: The Cardinals are yet another franchise to make a Super Bowl appearance after relocating during the Super Bowl era. The Colts (Baltimore/Indianapolis), Raiders (Oakland/Los Angeles) and Rams (Los Angeles/St. Louis) have all won Super Bowls in two different cities. Like the Cardinals, the Ravens (formerly Cleveland Browns) and Titans (formerly Houston Oilers) made their first Super Bowl appearance after their move.
#6-JOHN MADDEN HAS HIT ALL THE NETWORKS: John Madden will be the analyst for the Super Bowl on NBC. This means that Madden will have called a Super Bowl on each of the four major networks. He worked for CBS during five Super Bowls, FOX for three, ABC for two and now NBC.
#7-A BIRD OF ANOTHER FEATHER: The Cardinals join the Eagles (15, 39), Falcons (33), Ravens (35) and Seahawks (40) as the only bird-named Super Bowl participants. The Ravens were the only ones to actually win the game.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #8-11
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#8-MAKING FUN OF ARIZONA: Last year, I wrote this at FanHouse:
The Super Bowl will be held in Arizona, of course, who could use a good dose of good NFL football. The desert has become ... well ... a desert when it comes to the bounties of great football teams.Since the Cardinals arrived to Arizona in 1988, they've had exactly one winning season. In 1998, the Cardinals went 9-7 and made their lone playoff appearance in 25 seasons and winning their only playoff game in half a century. The Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals have won just 35% of their contests, had eight different head coaches.Obviously, the Cardinals have never seen an 16-win regular season like the New England Patriots. In fact, the "Phoenix/Arizona" Cardinals have never seen consecutive seasons that add up to 16 wins (you must go back to the 1983-1984 St. Louis Cards to find that). The 2007 New York Giants won 10 regular season games. The Cardinals haven't had a 10-win season since 1976.
#9-NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE UNDERDOG: Okay, the Arizona Cardinals aren't expected to win this game. For every one person that believes that, there are three more picking Pittsburgh. Don't let that bother you, though, Cardinals fans. We all know that NO ONE was picking the Giants to win last year's Super Bowl. Here is a short list of huge upsets:
Super Bowl III: The Baltimore Colts came in as 18-point favorites. They left watching the Jets' Joe Namath fulfilling his prediction of an upset.
Super Bowl IV: The Kansas City Chiefs spanked the Minnesota Vikings, despite being a 12-point underdog.
Super Bowl VII: Oddly, the undefeated Miami Dolphins entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs to the Washington Redskins.
Super Bowl XXV: The Buffalo Bills would begin their four game Super Bowl losing streak by succumbing to the Giants, who were 7-point dogs.
Super Bowl XXXII: The Denver Broncos, an 11.5-point underdog, ended the AFC's thirteen game losing streak by beating Green Bay.
Super Bowl XXXVI: These New England Patriots began their dynasty by beating the St. Louis Rams, who were 14-point favorites.
Super Bowl XLII: The 12-point dog Giants ended the Patriots perfect season with a magical game.
See, it can happen. Just because we all think one way doesn't mean we cannot be shocked. After all, those 2001 Rams were juggernauts who were former champions and were heavy favorites. They left without the trophy.
#10-BUT DON'T DISMISS THE FAVORITES: Yeah, there are upsets, but don't count on them. The favorite has won seven of the last 10 Super Bowls. In fact the favorite is 29-13 in the Super Bowl. Teams favored by at least 7 points are 18-6.
#11-DON'T WIN THE COIN TOSS: The team that wins the opening coin toss is just 20-22 in the game. That averages out to ... well ... the flip of a coin. However, the coin toss winner has been the Super Bowl loser in 9 of the last 12 games.
SB 42: Giants won the toss ... and the game
SB 41: Bears won the toss, lost the game
SB 40: Seahawks won the toss, lost the game
SB 39: Eagles won the toss, lost the game
SB 38: Panthers won the toss, lost the game
SB 37: Buccaneers won the toss ... and the game
SB 36: Rams won the toss, lost the game
SB 35: Giants won the toss, lost the game
SB 34: Rams won the toss ... and the game
SB 33: Falcons won the toss, lost the game
SB 32: Packers won the toss, lost the game
SB 31: Patriots won the toss, lost the game
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #12-15
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#12-YOUR OTHER VIEWING OPTIONS: Every year I like to look at the DirecTV guide to see what other networks put on opposite the Super Bowl.
FOX-Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: No other "trivia" show is more drawn out than this.
ABC-America's Funniest Home Videos then Wipeout!!!: Yes, Wipeout returns with new ways to watch people fall on their buttocks. And they are gearing for non-Bruce Springsteen fans.
ESPN-World Series Of Poker: Um, no.
ESPN Classic-When Billie (Jean King) Beat Bobby (Riggs): Just in case you needed a fix after the Aussie Open
ANIMAL PLANET-Puppy Bowl V: A staple at my house.
DISCOVERY-Jesus: The Complete Story: Call me crazy, but I tend to watch these things during halftime. I just need to get away from the game for a bit.
ESPN-World Series Of Poker: Um, no.
ESPN Classic-When Billie (Jean King) Beat Bobby (Riggs): Just in case you needed a fix after the Aussie Open
ANIMAL PLANET-Puppy Bowl V: A staple at my house.
DISCOVERY-Jesus: The Complete Story: Call me crazy, but I tend to watch these things during halftime. I just need to get away from the game for a bit.
HISTORY CHANNEL-God vs Satan: Like the Steelers, God is a 7-point favorite
DIY-Bathtastic!: Let's do up the place I will be relieving myself of bacon cheddar fries!
DISCOVERY HEALTH-627 Pound Woman: AKA "The woman who showed up to the Super Bowl party just for the food"
VH1-Sober House: My wife's guilty pleasure
HBO-Meet The Spartans: For people who thought "Don't Mess With The Zohan" was smart comedy.
SHOWTIME-Bratz Movie: This will shut up the kids
VERSUS-World Extreme Cagefighting: Blood is cool
NBA PASS-Clippers vs Wizards: The NBA needed some time to slip this clunker in so nobody would notice
#13-LIST OF SUPER BOWL NO-NAMES: Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.
Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.
Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.
Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.
Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).
Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.
Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....
Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).
Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.
Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.
#14-THINGS NON FOOTBALL FANS CAN SAY TO BLEND IN: Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because ... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. I've also come to find that there are actually guys out there that get dragged to Super Bowl parties because of their women (that's sad). Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a wuss, I'm here to help. Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time the rest of us don't make fun of you once you leave. Just print this out, study it and you will at look somewhat less wimpish around the real men at the Super Bowl party.
"The Cardinals just need to limit turnovers and control the clock if they want to pull the upset."
"Kurt Warner is back to his MVP form!"
"It's amazing that Big Ben could win his 2nd Super Bowl in four years."
"You just gotta convert those third downs!"
"Don't sleep on Willie Parker!"
"Troy Palumalu in unbelievable!"
"Third and long? I'd blitz."
"Pittsburgh couldn't go wrong with either Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt"
"I got a few bucks on this game."
"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"
"Larry Fitzgerald has had one hell of a postseason!"
When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"
"You think Brett Favre is gonna retire?"
"It's nice to see Edgerrin James playing well."
"Hard to believe Arizona is in the Super Bowl instead of the Super Bowl being in Arizona."
#15-SUPER BOWL TRAPPINGS:
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson. Second straight year an American Idol contestant will sing the Star Spangled Banner (Jordin Sparks did it last year). This has to be quite a gig considering everything she's dealing with right now.
Halftime perfomer: Bruce Springsteen. I wonder if Glory Days will be used for any promotional items? Oh, it has!
Pregame entertainment: Journey. Good news for all those Steve Perry fans
Home team: Arizona Cardinals. The NFC champ is the home squad in odd-numbered games.
DISCOVERY HEALTH-627 Pound Woman: AKA "The woman who showed up to the Super Bowl party just for the food"
VH1-Sober House: My wife's guilty pleasure
HBO-Meet The Spartans: For people who thought "Don't Mess With The Zohan" was smart comedy.
SHOWTIME-Bratz Movie: This will shut up the kids
VERSUS-World Extreme Cagefighting: Blood is cool
NBA PASS-Clippers vs Wizards: The NBA needed some time to slip this clunker in so nobody would notice
#13-LIST OF SUPER BOWL NO-NAMES: Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.
Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.
Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.
Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.
Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).
Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.
Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....
Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).
Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.
Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.
#14-THINGS NON FOOTBALL FANS CAN SAY TO BLEND IN: Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because ... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. I've also come to find that there are actually guys out there that get dragged to Super Bowl parties because of their women (that's sad). Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a wuss, I'm here to help. Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time the rest of us don't make fun of you once you leave. Just print this out, study it and you will at look somewhat less wimpish around the real men at the Super Bowl party.
"The Cardinals just need to limit turnovers and control the clock if they want to pull the upset."
"Kurt Warner is back to his MVP form!"
"It's amazing that Big Ben could win his 2nd Super Bowl in four years."
"You just gotta convert those third downs!"
"Don't sleep on Willie Parker!"
"Troy Palumalu in unbelievable!"
"Third and long? I'd blitz."
"Pittsburgh couldn't go wrong with either Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt"
"I got a few bucks on this game."
"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"
"Larry Fitzgerald has had one hell of a postseason!"
When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"
"You think Brett Favre is gonna retire?"
"It's nice to see Edgerrin James playing well."
"Hard to believe Arizona is in the Super Bowl instead of the Super Bowl being in Arizona."
#15-SUPER BOWL TRAPPINGS:
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson. Second straight year an American Idol contestant will sing the Star Spangled Banner (Jordin Sparks did it last year). This has to be quite a gig considering everything she's dealing with right now.
Halftime perfomer: Bruce Springsteen. I wonder if Glory Days will be used for any promotional items? Oh, it has!
Pregame entertainment: Journey. Good news for all those Steve Perry fans
Home team: Arizona Cardinals. The NFC champ is the home squad in odd-numbered games.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #16-19
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#16-SUPER BOWL DATES: Here are just a few dumb notes about Super Bowl dates. Super Bowl XXIX was the only Super Bowl that was played on the same day (29) as the Roman numeral of the game. January 26th is the most popular date for a Super Bowl as a record four games have been played on that date. And, if you go in order from the earliest date (January 9th) to the latest (February 6th), the only days to not have held the Super Bowl are January 10, 19, 23 and February 2.
This will be the second Super Bowl held on February 1st.
Jan 9-XI
Jan 11-IV
Jan 12-III, IX
Jan 13-VIII
Jan 14-II, VII
Jan 15-I, XII
Jan 16-VI
Jan 17-V
Jan 18-X
Jan 20-XIV, XIX
Jan 21-XIII
Jan 22-XVIII, XXIII
Jan 24-XVI
Jan 25-XV, XXI, XXXII
Jan 26-XX, XXVI, XXXI, XXXVII
Jan 27-XXV
Jan 28-XXIV, XXX, XXXV
Jan 29-XXIX
Jan 30-XVII, XXVIII, XXXIV
Jan 31-XXII, XXVII, XXXIII
Feb 1-XXXVIII, XLIII
Feb 3-XXXVI, XLII
Feb 4-XLI
Feb 5-XL, XLVI
Feb 6-XXXIX, XLV
Feb 7-XLIV
#17-THE CARDINALS RED GLARE: The Arizona Cardinals are designated the home team and will wear their home red uniforms. That means the Steelers will wear all white. In Super Bowl history, Pittsburgh is undefeated in their white unis. In fact, the team that has worn white uniforms has won the last four Super Bowls (Giants, Colts, Steelers, Patriots).
Arizona is trying to become the first team to win a Super Bowl while wearing a red uniform since the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX.
#18-STILL HAVEN'T WON ONE: I mentioned before than there are now five franchises that have never appeared in a Super Bowl (Lions, Browns, Jaguars, Texans and Saints). But there are nine others that have never won the Super Bowl in any of their appearances. They are Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks. The Bills and Vikings have lost four games apiece; the Bengals and Eagles have each lost two. The rest lost on their only trip. An Arizona loss puts them on this list.
#19-SUPER BOWL UNDEFEATEDS: On the flip side, if Arizona wins then they will join a list of four other franchises to be undefeated in Super Bowl play. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens each won their only trip to the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances.
#16-SUPER BOWL DATES: Here are just a few dumb notes about Super Bowl dates. Super Bowl XXIX was the only Super Bowl that was played on the same day (29) as the Roman numeral of the game. January 26th is the most popular date for a Super Bowl as a record four games have been played on that date. And, if you go in order from the earliest date (January 9th) to the latest (February 6th), the only days to not have held the Super Bowl are January 10, 19, 23 and February 2.
This will be the second Super Bowl held on February 1st.
Jan 9-XI
Jan 11-IV
Jan 12-III, IX
Jan 13-VIII
Jan 14-II, VII
Jan 15-I, XII
Jan 16-VI
Jan 17-V
Jan 18-X
Jan 20-XIV, XIX
Jan 21-XIII
Jan 22-XVIII, XXIII
Jan 24-XVI
Jan 25-XV, XXI, XXXII
Jan 26-XX, XXVI, XXXI, XXXVII
Jan 27-XXV
Jan 28-XXIV, XXX, XXXV
Jan 29-XXIX
Jan 30-XVII, XXVIII, XXXIV
Jan 31-XXII, XXVII, XXXIII
Feb 1-XXXVIII, XLIII
Feb 3-XXXVI, XLII
Feb 4-XLI
Feb 5-XL, XLVI
Feb 6-XXXIX, XLV
Feb 7-XLIV
#17-THE CARDINALS RED GLARE: The Arizona Cardinals are designated the home team and will wear their home red uniforms. That means the Steelers will wear all white. In Super Bowl history, Pittsburgh is undefeated in their white unis. In fact, the team that has worn white uniforms has won the last four Super Bowls (Giants, Colts, Steelers, Patriots).
Arizona is trying to become the first team to win a Super Bowl while wearing a red uniform since the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX.
#18-STILL HAVEN'T WON ONE: I mentioned before than there are now five franchises that have never appeared in a Super Bowl (Lions, Browns, Jaguars, Texans and Saints). But there are nine others that have never won the Super Bowl in any of their appearances. They are Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks. The Bills and Vikings have lost four games apiece; the Bengals and Eagles have each lost two. The rest lost on their only trip. An Arizona loss puts them on this list.
#19-SUPER BOWL UNDEFEATEDS: On the flip side, if Arizona wins then they will join a list of four other franchises to be undefeated in Super Bowl play. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens each won their only trip to the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances.
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #20-23
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#20-SUPER BOWL LOGO: The Super Bowl logo features the two main colors of blue and green. The colors represent the regional waterways and landscapes of the Tampa area. The eight yards on the logo represent the champion of the 08 season.
#21-CARDS AND STEELERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE: This will be just the third Super Bowl that will be played between teams who have been around since the pre-expansion era (1960). The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams met in Super Bowl XIV and the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears met in Super Bowl XLI. It is interesting that the Rams (Cleveland), Colts (Baltimore) and Cardinals (Chicago) all played their Super Bowls in their relocated cities.
#22-FUTURE SUPER BOWLS: Just a reminder about upcoming Super Bowls. XLIV will be played in Miami. This will be the first time since Super Bowls XXI and XXII that consecutive Super Bowls will be played in the same state. Those Super Bowls were played in Pasadena and San Diego, CA, respectively. The only other time it has happened was when Miami hosted both Super Bowls II and III.
Super Bowl XLV will be played in the Dallas Cowboys new stadium. Super Bowl XLVI will be played at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.
#23-KURT WARNER IS THE NEXT CRAIG MORTON: Warner will be making his third Super Bowl start and will become only the second QB to start for two different organizations. Warner made his other two starts as a member of the St. Louis Rams. The only other man to do that is Craig Morton, who started for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V and Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
By the way, only six quarterbacks have started more Super Bowls than Kurt Warner: John Elway (5), Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Roger Staubach and Jim Kelly (4). His three Super Bowl starts tie him with Troy Aikman, Fran Tarkenton and Bob Griese. All of those men, aside from Tom Brady, are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I'm sure Brady may get there, too. The jury is still out on Warner.
#20-SUPER BOWL LOGO: The Super Bowl logo features the two main colors of blue and green. The colors represent the regional waterways and landscapes of the Tampa area. The eight yards on the logo represent the champion of the 08 season.
#21-CARDS AND STEELERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE: This will be just the third Super Bowl that will be played between teams who have been around since the pre-expansion era (1960). The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams met in Super Bowl XIV and the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears met in Super Bowl XLI. It is interesting that the Rams (Cleveland), Colts (Baltimore) and Cardinals (Chicago) all played their Super Bowls in their relocated cities.
#22-FUTURE SUPER BOWLS: Just a reminder about upcoming Super Bowls. XLIV will be played in Miami. This will be the first time since Super Bowls XXI and XXII that consecutive Super Bowls will be played in the same state. Those Super Bowls were played in Pasadena and San Diego, CA, respectively. The only other time it has happened was when Miami hosted both Super Bowls II and III.
Super Bowl XLV will be played in the Dallas Cowboys new stadium. Super Bowl XLVI will be played at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.
#23-KURT WARNER IS THE NEXT CRAIG MORTON: Warner will be making his third Super Bowl start and will become only the second QB to start for two different organizations. Warner made his other two starts as a member of the St. Louis Rams. The only other man to do that is Craig Morton, who started for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V and Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
By the way, only six quarterbacks have started more Super Bowls than Kurt Warner: John Elway (5), Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Roger Staubach and Jim Kelly (4). His three Super Bowl starts tie him with Troy Aikman, Fran Tarkenton and Bob Griese. All of those men, aside from Tom Brady, are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I'm sure Brady may get there, too. The jury is still out on Warner.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII: #24-27
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#24-BOTH QBs HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE: This is the first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXIX that features two starting quarterbacks that have won Super Bowls before. Kurt Warner won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and Ben Roethlisberger won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers.
The interesting thing about Super Bowl XXIX is that both starting QBs had won Super Bowls as backups. Steve Young had a couple of Super Bowl rings backing up Joe Montana with the 49ers and Stan Humpries won a Super Bowl ring with the Redskins as Mark Rypien's backup.
The last Super Bowl to feature two starting QBs that actually started and won previous Super Bowls was Super Bowl XVIII. That would be the Raiders Jim Plunkett against the Redskins Joe Theismann.
#24-COIN TOSS MEMORIES IN YEARS THAT END IN "9": The coin toss for Super Bowl XLIII will feature Roger Craig, John Elway and Lynn Swann. Those men won Super Bowls in 1989, 1999 and 1979, respectively. Joe Namath, who won the Super Bowl in 1969, will be part of the postgame presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy.
#25-ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE SECOND TO CHICAGO CUBS: The Cardinals' last NFL championship was 1947. Their 61 seasons since their last title is the second longest drought in major professional US sports. Only the Chicago Cubs' 100 seasons since their last title is longer.
#26-ITS GOOD THAT NO ONE ACTUALLY ISN'T TALKING ABOUT THIS: Mike Tomlin will be the third African-American coach to lead his team into the Super Bowl. The first two, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, met two years ago in Super Bowl XLI.
#27-NBC NEEDS FIVE HOURS: NBC will have a record 5-hour pregame show before the Super Bowl. Why? I mean, I know they have 72 people on camera during their Sunday Night Football coverage during the season. I guess they need to get all of them good air time on Super Bowl Sunday. By the way, this will be the last Super Bowl shown in an analog broadcast.
#24-BOTH QBs HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE: This is the first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXIX that features two starting quarterbacks that have won Super Bowls before. Kurt Warner won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and Ben Roethlisberger won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers.
The interesting thing about Super Bowl XXIX is that both starting QBs had won Super Bowls as backups. Steve Young had a couple of Super Bowl rings backing up Joe Montana with the 49ers and Stan Humpries won a Super Bowl ring with the Redskins as Mark Rypien's backup.
The last Super Bowl to feature two starting QBs that actually started and won previous Super Bowls was Super Bowl XVIII. That would be the Raiders Jim Plunkett against the Redskins Joe Theismann.
#24-COIN TOSS MEMORIES IN YEARS THAT END IN "9": The coin toss for Super Bowl XLIII will feature Roger Craig, John Elway and Lynn Swann. Those men won Super Bowls in 1989, 1999 and 1979, respectively. Joe Namath, who won the Super Bowl in 1969, will be part of the postgame presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy.
#25-ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE SECOND TO CHICAGO CUBS: The Cardinals' last NFL championship was 1947. Their 61 seasons since their last title is the second longest drought in major professional US sports. Only the Chicago Cubs' 100 seasons since their last title is longer.
#26-ITS GOOD THAT NO ONE ACTUALLY ISN'T TALKING ABOUT THIS: Mike Tomlin will be the third African-American coach to lead his team into the Super Bowl. The first two, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, met two years ago in Super Bowl XLI.
#27-NBC NEEDS FIVE HOURS: NBC will have a record 5-hour pregame show before the Super Bowl. Why? I mean, I know they have 72 people on camera during their Sunday Night Football coverage during the season. I guess they need to get all of them good air time on Super Bowl Sunday. By the way, this will be the last Super Bowl shown in an analog broadcast.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #28-31
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#29-NBC IS BACK! NBC will be televising the Super Bowl for the first time since 1998. The network has shown 15 Super Bowls (CBS has shown 16). From 1993-1998, NBC has shown four of the six Super Bowls.
#30-TAMPA IS BACK! Tampa will be hosting their 4th Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XVIII, the LA Raiders smoked the Redskins 38-9. Super Bowl XXV was the classic Giants-Bills game. Ten years later, the Ravens beat the Giants 34-7 in their Super Bowl title.
#31-SUPER BOWL MVP'S IN CANTON: Winners of 20 Super Bowl MVP awards have gone on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have Bart Starr (twice), Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Fred Biletnikoff, Randy White, Terry Bradshaw (twice), Joe Montana (three times), John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Troy Aikman, Steve Young and John Elway. Other winners, like Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ray Lewis can look forward to seeing their busts in Canton one day (that hikes the number up to 26). Granted, not all winners of the Super Bowl MVP award go on to anything much. Guys like Larry Brown, Harvey Martin, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, Mark Rypien, Deion Branch and Jake Scott have also won the award and the Hall is no where in their future.
#32-THE FIVE WORST SUPER BOWLS: 1-Super Bowl V: This one was nicknamed the "Blunder Bowl" for good reason. There were 11 turnovers in the game with the Colts ... who won ... committing seven of them. The Dallas Cowboys were called for 10 penalties. This game sucked so bad that the MVP award was given to Chuck Howley ... of the losing Cowboys (the only time the Super Bowl MVP played for the losing team). Sure, Jim O'Brien kicked the game winning field goal at the end of the game ... but even that was set up by a turnover.
2-Super Bowl XII: Dallas was in yet another sloppy game. Good thing that the Broncos were sloppier (Denver turned the ball over eight times ... and completed just eight passes). Denver QB Craig Morton was horrible -- he completed just four of 15 passes for 39 yards and four interceptions. Yikes! There was also lingering questions about the IRS checking into his tax returns. Both teams combined for 20 penalties.
3-Super Bowl XL: It was a ho-hum game that's only excitment came on an Antwaan Randle-El touchdown pass to Hines Ward. That's pretty all the Steelers had: three big plays that ended up with TDs (the above play, a Willie Parker 75-yd TD run and an awkward pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Ward). Seattle shot themselves in the foot with bad penalties, bad red zone efficiency and turnovers. The game is one of the most controversial as many people felt that the Seahawks had a lot of bad calls go against them. Big Ben's QB rating is the lowest by any Super Bowl winning quarterback.
4-Super Bowl XX: The Bears dominated and we all loved seeing the Fridge plop into the endzone. Still, this looked like an exhibition game against a local high school team than a Super Bowl. Chicago dominated this game with their defense and made Pats QB Tony Eason look foolish (he is the only starting QB to not complete a pass). There have been several blowouts in Super Bowl history, but this is the only one where the losing team looked like it had no business being there. The saddest thing is that Walter Payton didn't get a shot at running in a TD. Jim McMahon snuck in a TD twice and the Fridge got a shot ... but not Walter. A shame.
5-Super Bowl VII: The one where the Dolphins completed the perfect season? A dud. Miami is the only team to be shut out for an entire half and still win the game. The Phins got out to a 14-0 lead before halftime and hung on for the win. If not for that botched field goal attempt (where Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's "pass" was picked off by Mike Bass and returned for a TD), the Redskins would've been the only team shut out in Super Bowl history. That score, with 2:07 left in the game, is the longest it has taken for a Super Bowl team to score.
#29-NBC IS BACK! NBC will be televising the Super Bowl for the first time since 1998. The network has shown 15 Super Bowls (CBS has shown 16). From 1993-1998, NBC has shown four of the six Super Bowls.
#30-TAMPA IS BACK! Tampa will be hosting their 4th Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XVIII, the LA Raiders smoked the Redskins 38-9. Super Bowl XXV was the classic Giants-Bills game. Ten years later, the Ravens beat the Giants 34-7 in their Super Bowl title.
#31-SUPER BOWL MVP'S IN CANTON: Winners of 20 Super Bowl MVP awards have gone on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have Bart Starr (twice), Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Fred Biletnikoff, Randy White, Terry Bradshaw (twice), Joe Montana (three times), John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Troy Aikman, Steve Young and John Elway. Other winners, like Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ray Lewis can look forward to seeing their busts in Canton one day (that hikes the number up to 26). Granted, not all winners of the Super Bowl MVP award go on to anything much. Guys like Larry Brown, Harvey Martin, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, Mark Rypien, Deion Branch and Jake Scott have also won the award and the Hall is no where in their future.
#32-THE FIVE WORST SUPER BOWLS: 1-Super Bowl V: This one was nicknamed the "Blunder Bowl" for good reason. There were 11 turnovers in the game with the Colts ... who won ... committing seven of them. The Dallas Cowboys were called for 10 penalties. This game sucked so bad that the MVP award was given to Chuck Howley ... of the losing Cowboys (the only time the Super Bowl MVP played for the losing team). Sure, Jim O'Brien kicked the game winning field goal at the end of the game ... but even that was set up by a turnover.
2-Super Bowl XII: Dallas was in yet another sloppy game. Good thing that the Broncos were sloppier (Denver turned the ball over eight times ... and completed just eight passes). Denver QB Craig Morton was horrible -- he completed just four of 15 passes for 39 yards and four interceptions. Yikes! There was also lingering questions about the IRS checking into his tax returns. Both teams combined for 20 penalties.
3-Super Bowl XL: It was a ho-hum game that's only excitment came on an Antwaan Randle-El touchdown pass to Hines Ward. That's pretty all the Steelers had: three big plays that ended up with TDs (the above play, a Willie Parker 75-yd TD run and an awkward pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Ward). Seattle shot themselves in the foot with bad penalties, bad red zone efficiency and turnovers. The game is one of the most controversial as many people felt that the Seahawks had a lot of bad calls go against them. Big Ben's QB rating is the lowest by any Super Bowl winning quarterback.
4-Super Bowl XX: The Bears dominated and we all loved seeing the Fridge plop into the endzone. Still, this looked like an exhibition game against a local high school team than a Super Bowl. Chicago dominated this game with their defense and made Pats QB Tony Eason look foolish (he is the only starting QB to not complete a pass). There have been several blowouts in Super Bowl history, but this is the only one where the losing team looked like it had no business being there. The saddest thing is that Walter Payton didn't get a shot at running in a TD. Jim McMahon snuck in a TD twice and the Fridge got a shot ... but not Walter. A shame.
5-Super Bowl VII: The one where the Dolphins completed the perfect season? A dud. Miami is the only team to be shut out for an entire half and still win the game. The Phins got out to a 14-0 lead before halftime and hung on for the win. If not for that botched field goal attempt (where Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's "pass" was picked off by Mike Bass and returned for a TD), the Redskins would've been the only team shut out in Super Bowl history. That score, with 2:07 left in the game, is the longest it has taken for a Super Bowl team to score.
43 Stops To Super Bowl XLIII: #32-35
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#32-CAN WE GET A PUNT RETURN? There has never been a punt returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. However, there have been three blocked punts that have been returned for scores.
#33-SOME MORE STATITUDE: Here is another piece of trivia for you. There has been at least one successful field goal in 40 of 42 Super Bowls. Teams that have been shut out for one half (either the first or second) are a combined 1-18. The lone winner was those 1972 Dolphins who went scoreless in the second half of Super Bowl VII.
#34-DON'T TRAIL BY DOUBLE DIGITS: Teams that are facing a double-digit deficit are 1-37. A couple things are interesting about that stat. First, the only team to come back from a 10-point deficit and win is the 1987 Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII. The Skins trailed 10-0 before scoring the next 42 points. That makes that Super Bowl the only one where both teams faced a double digit deficit. Also, it is quite amazing that 37 of 42 Super Bowl have seen one team go up by at least 10 at some point in the game.
#35-FIVE BEST SUPER BOWLS: Here are what I believe are the five best Super Bowls, ever. You can debate this all you want (which is fine), but these five were all great games with exciting finishes and are memorable in one way or another.
1-Super Bowl XXV: This was a great matchup in every way. With a backdrop of war, this game had all kinds of emotion as the game began (thanks, Whitney). That vaunted Bills offense against the stuffy Giants defense. The lead changed times on four occassions. In the end, an old guy like Ottis Anderson ate up the clock and Scott Norwood missed the only time the winner of the Super Bowl came down to the final play (even if Vinatieri missed those Pats FGs, the games would've went into overtime). Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick's defensive gameplan for this game in enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2-Super Bowl XLII: Yes, the Giants take the top two spots. Their amazing run just to get to the Super Bowl and matching the undefeated Patriots blow-for-blow. Eli Manning's escape and David Tyree's catch has become one of the top plays in Super Bowl history. Second biggest upset ever.
3-Super Bowl XXXIV: Not only was this a surreal matchup (remember that St. Louis and Tennessee weren't NFL cities six years earlier), but some cat named Kurt Warner was shredding up this game. The Titans staged one heck of a comeback (they were down 16-0) to have it ripped away from them on a bomb to Issac Bruce. Also, it had one of the greatest endings any football game could ever have.
4-Super Bowl XXIII: There were so many game changing moments in this one. Remember that the only times the 49ers led this game was at 3-0 ... and after Joe Montana's pass to John Taylor at the end of the game. Cincinnati had this one, but Super Joe took it away.
5-Super Bowl XXXVIII: The problem with this Super Bowl is that the 1st and 3rd quarters sucked. However, the 2nd and 4th were just outstanding! In the fourth quarter alone, there were 37 points scored ... which is a Super Bowl record for points scored in a quarter. It was just the second to have five TDs scored (the Redskins did that by themselves 16 years earlier). And it ended with an Adam Vinatieri field goal with :04 left. Oh, and we got a little nipple action at halftime.
#32-CAN WE GET A PUNT RETURN? There has never been a punt returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. However, there have been three blocked punts that have been returned for scores.
#33-SOME MORE STATITUDE: Here is another piece of trivia for you. There has been at least one successful field goal in 40 of 42 Super Bowls. Teams that have been shut out for one half (either the first or second) are a combined 1-18. The lone winner was those 1972 Dolphins who went scoreless in the second half of Super Bowl VII.
#34-DON'T TRAIL BY DOUBLE DIGITS: Teams that are facing a double-digit deficit are 1-37. A couple things are interesting about that stat. First, the only team to come back from a 10-point deficit and win is the 1987 Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII. The Skins trailed 10-0 before scoring the next 42 points. That makes that Super Bowl the only one where both teams faced a double digit deficit. Also, it is quite amazing that 37 of 42 Super Bowl have seen one team go up by at least 10 at some point in the game.
#35-FIVE BEST SUPER BOWLS: Here are what I believe are the five best Super Bowls, ever. You can debate this all you want (which is fine), but these five were all great games with exciting finishes and are memorable in one way or another.
1-Super Bowl XXV: This was a great matchup in every way. With a backdrop of war, this game had all kinds of emotion as the game began (thanks, Whitney). That vaunted Bills offense against the stuffy Giants defense. The lead changed times on four occassions. In the end, an old guy like Ottis Anderson ate up the clock and Scott Norwood missed the only time the winner of the Super Bowl came down to the final play (even if Vinatieri missed those Pats FGs, the games would've went into overtime). Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick's defensive gameplan for this game in enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2-Super Bowl XLII: Yes, the Giants take the top two spots. Their amazing run just to get to the Super Bowl and matching the undefeated Patriots blow-for-blow. Eli Manning's escape and David Tyree's catch has become one of the top plays in Super Bowl history. Second biggest upset ever.
3-Super Bowl XXXIV: Not only was this a surreal matchup (remember that St. Louis and Tennessee weren't NFL cities six years earlier), but some cat named Kurt Warner was shredding up this game. The Titans staged one heck of a comeback (they were down 16-0) to have it ripped away from them on a bomb to Issac Bruce. Also, it had one of the greatest endings any football game could ever have.
4-Super Bowl XXIII: There were so many game changing moments in this one. Remember that the only times the 49ers led this game was at 3-0 ... and after Joe Montana's pass to John Taylor at the end of the game. Cincinnati had this one, but Super Joe took it away.
5-Super Bowl XXXVIII: The problem with this Super Bowl is that the 1st and 3rd quarters sucked. However, the 2nd and 4th were just outstanding! In the fourth quarter alone, there were 37 points scored ... which is a Super Bowl record for points scored in a quarter. It was just the second to have five TDs scored (the Redskins did that by themselves 16 years earlier). And it ended with an Adam Vinatieri field goal with :04 left. Oh, and we got a little nipple action at halftime.
Monday, January 19, 2009
43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII: #36-39
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#36-AFC LOVES FEBRUARY: The Super Bowl will be held on February 1st. Since the first February Super Bowl in 2002, the AFC is 5-1 in those games ... but the NFC has won the last one.
Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots beat Rams on February 3, 2002
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots beat Panthers on February 1, 2004
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots beat Eagles on February 6, 2005
Super Bowl XL: Steelers beat Seahawks on February 5, 2006
Super Bowl XLI: Colts beat Bears on February 4, 2007
Super Bowl XLII: Giants beat Patriots on February 3, 2008
#37-STEELERS EAT NFC WEST FOR DINNER: Here is a rather interesting tidbit: Of the four NFC West teams, Pittsburgh will have faced three of them. The Steelers beat the Rams in Super Bowl XIV and beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Now they will face the Cardinals. Oddly enough, the only NFC West team they haven't faced is the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners, along with the Steelers and Cowboys, have won more Super Bowls than anyone else.
#38-SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN: The team who scores first in a Super Bowl is 27-15. However, the team who has scored first has lost five of the last seven Super Bowls.
*Teams who score at least 30 points are 21-1.
*Teams that score the first TD are 30-12.
*Teams leading at the half are 32-8 (there have been two ties)
#39-THERE IS AN EXTRA VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY OUT THERE: Excuse this one taken from my FanHouse post but it is rather interesting:
There have been 41 Super Bowls to date ... yet there are 42 Vince Lombardi Trophies (given to the Super Bowl winning team) out and about. How is that?
Well, that little ditty comes to light after the recent passing of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. Frontiere's husband, former-Colts and Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom, is the reason behind the story:
However, when Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom, Frontiere's late husband, traded the Colts for the Rams in a franchise swap in 1972, he decided he wanted to keep the Lombardi Trophy the Colts won in Super Bowl V. When Super Bowl VII took place in Los Angeles, Rosenbloom told the Colts he was going to put on a display of Super Bowl trophies and asked them to bring it to the West Coast. They did. There was no display, and Rosenbloom never returned the trophy. After the Colts complained to the league office, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had a duplicate made for the Colts, which remains in Baltimore (it was originally shipped to Indianapolis when the team moved but a deal was struck and it was returned to Maryland). The original Super Bowl V trophy? It presumably was in Frontiere's possession and now belongs to her heirs.
So, there are two Vince Lombardi trophies awarded for Super Bowl V ... yet neither are with the franchise that won it. The original was in St. Louis with Frontiere with the other in Baltimore, the Colts old digs. Meanwhile, Indianapolis can only show off the trophy they won two years ago.
#36-AFC LOVES FEBRUARY: The Super Bowl will be held on February 1st. Since the first February Super Bowl in 2002, the AFC is 5-1 in those games ... but the NFC has won the last one.
Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots beat Rams on February 3, 2002
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots beat Panthers on February 1, 2004
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots beat Eagles on February 6, 2005
Super Bowl XL: Steelers beat Seahawks on February 5, 2006
Super Bowl XLI: Colts beat Bears on February 4, 2007
Super Bowl XLII: Giants beat Patriots on February 3, 2008
#37-STEELERS EAT NFC WEST FOR DINNER: Here is a rather interesting tidbit: Of the four NFC West teams, Pittsburgh will have faced three of them. The Steelers beat the Rams in Super Bowl XIV and beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Now they will face the Cardinals. Oddly enough, the only NFC West team they haven't faced is the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners, along with the Steelers and Cowboys, have won more Super Bowls than anyone else.
#38-SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN: The team who scores first in a Super Bowl is 27-15. However, the team who has scored first has lost five of the last seven Super Bowls.
*Teams who score at least 30 points are 21-1.
*Teams that score the first TD are 30-12.
*Teams leading at the half are 32-8 (there have been two ties)
#39-THERE IS AN EXTRA VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY OUT THERE: Excuse this one taken from my FanHouse post but it is rather interesting:
There have been 41 Super Bowls to date ... yet there are 42 Vince Lombardi Trophies (given to the Super Bowl winning team) out and about. How is that?
Well, that little ditty comes to light after the recent passing of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. Frontiere's husband, former-Colts and Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom, is the reason behind the story:
However, when Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom, Frontiere's late husband, traded the Colts for the Rams in a franchise swap in 1972, he decided he wanted to keep the Lombardi Trophy the Colts won in Super Bowl V. When Super Bowl VII took place in Los Angeles, Rosenbloom told the Colts he was going to put on a display of Super Bowl trophies and asked them to bring it to the West Coast. They did. There was no display, and Rosenbloom never returned the trophy. After the Colts complained to the league office, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had a duplicate made for the Colts, which remains in Baltimore (it was originally shipped to Indianapolis when the team moved but a deal was struck and it was returned to Maryland). The original Super Bowl V trophy? It presumably was in Frontiere's possession and now belongs to her heirs.
So, there are two Vince Lombardi trophies awarded for Super Bowl V ... yet neither are with the franchise that won it. The original was in St. Louis with Frontiere with the other in Baltimore, the Colts old digs. Meanwhile, Indianapolis can only show off the trophy they won two years ago.
43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII: #40-43
The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#40-REMEMBERING 1944: Due to World War II, some NFL teams combined rosters in order to field a team. Most people remember the Steelers and Eagles merging in 1943 to form the "Steagles". Well, in 1944, the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers merged for form the Chicago/Pittsburgh Cardinals/Steelers. Yes, the two teams that will be facing off in Super Bowl XLIII were once one franchise.
#41-ARIZONA DOES KNOW ABOUT RECENT SUPER BOWLS: Last year, the Super Bowl was played at the Cardinals home field in Glendale. Arizona has become only the second stadium to host a Super Bowl one year and then send their team to the Super Bowl the very next season. Super Bowl V was played in Miami and the Dolphins went to Super Bowl VI. It doesn't count since their home wasn't the Rose Bowl, but Super Bowl XVII was played in Pasadena and the Los Angeles Raiders went to Super Bowl XVIII
#42-STEELERS HIT SEVEN, HOPE TO HIT SIX: The Steelers will be making their 7th Super Bowl appearance. Only the Dallas Cowboys have been to more (eight). With a win, the Steelers will become the first franchise with six Super Bowl championships. They are currently tied with the Cowboys and 49ers with five.
#43-ZONA'S OFF THE LIST: You probably know by now that the Arizona Cardinals will be making their first Super Bowl appearance. That means only the Browns, Jaguars, Texans, Lions and Saints are the only NFL teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl.
#40-REMEMBERING 1944: Due to World War II, some NFL teams combined rosters in order to field a team. Most people remember the Steelers and Eagles merging in 1943 to form the "Steagles". Well, in 1944, the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers merged for form the Chicago/Pittsburgh Cardinals/Steelers. Yes, the two teams that will be facing off in Super Bowl XLIII were once one franchise.
#41-ARIZONA DOES KNOW ABOUT RECENT SUPER BOWLS: Last year, the Super Bowl was played at the Cardinals home field in Glendale. Arizona has become only the second stadium to host a Super Bowl one year and then send their team to the Super Bowl the very next season. Super Bowl V was played in Miami and the Dolphins went to Super Bowl VI. It doesn't count since their home wasn't the Rose Bowl, but Super Bowl XVII was played in Pasadena and the Los Angeles Raiders went to Super Bowl XVIII
#42-STEELERS HIT SEVEN, HOPE TO HIT SIX: The Steelers will be making their 7th Super Bowl appearance. Only the Dallas Cowboys have been to more (eight). With a win, the Steelers will become the first franchise with six Super Bowl championships. They are currently tied with the Cowboys and 49ers with five.
#43-ZONA'S OFF THE LIST: You probably know by now that the Arizona Cardinals will be making their first Super Bowl appearance. That means only the Browns, Jaguars, Texans, Lions and Saints are the only NFL teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sportz' Useless Conference Championship Picks
I must admit that I've had a bad time picking these playoff games. I have gotten exactly two right out of eight games. That's 25% to you and me.
Still, I gotta pick the AFC and NFC title games that will be played later today.
EAGLES OVER CARDINALS: I'm going to not trust Arizona again. I mean, it's worked so well thus far. I just love the way Philly is playing defense right now and they have the secondary that can at least slow down that Cardinal passing attack. The key will be Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook dominating on offense. Philly 31-27
STEELERS OVER RAVENS: Baltimore is just too beat up right now. They've played two tough physical playoff games and are a little worn out right now. For once, the Ravens defense won't be the best on the field. Pittsburgh 20-14
And there you have it. An all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.
Still, I gotta pick the AFC and NFC title games that will be played later today.
EAGLES OVER CARDINALS: I'm going to not trust Arizona again. I mean, it's worked so well thus far. I just love the way Philly is playing defense right now and they have the secondary that can at least slow down that Cardinal passing attack. The key will be Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook dominating on offense. Philly 31-27
STEELERS OVER RAVENS: Baltimore is just too beat up right now. They've played two tough physical playoff games and are a little worn out right now. For once, the Ravens defense won't be the best on the field. Pittsburgh 20-14
And there you have it. An all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Can Pennsylvania Be the New New England?
Right now, people who live in the Keystone State are having quite the sports year. The Philadelphia Phillies are your World Series Champions, the Pitt Panthers are the No. 1 ranked team in the college basketball polls and both the Eagles and Steelers are favored to win their respective conference championship games.
Can Pennsylvania be the next New England?
Remember that New England has had a great run of late. The Red Sox have won two World Series since 2003, the Patriots have three Super Bowl titles and four appearances since February 2002 and the Celtics are defending NBA Champions.
It remains to be seen, but if both the Eagles and Steelers win this Sunday then the Vince Lombardi trophy will be in PA.
Both are the anti-Seattle. Seattle has watched the SuperSonics bolt for Oklahoma City, the Seahawks fall into the tank, the Huskies football team put up an 0-fer and the Mariners have been among the worst teams in baseball.
Can Pennsylvania be the next New England?
Remember that New England has had a great run of late. The Red Sox have won two World Series since 2003, the Patriots have three Super Bowl titles and four appearances since February 2002 and the Celtics are defending NBA Champions.
It remains to be seen, but if both the Eagles and Steelers win this Sunday then the Vince Lombardi trophy will be in PA.
Both are the anti-Seattle. Seattle has watched the SuperSonics bolt for Oklahoma City, the Seahawks fall into the tank, the Huskies football team put up an 0-fer and the Mariners have been among the worst teams in baseball.
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