The Crystal Ball 2009 Week 1 Coin Toss

The full blown week 1 version of the Crystal Ball will be out by Sunday kickoff time. I’m still trying to get into a new rhythm for this season, and already these short weeks are messing with my mind. However, considering the season actually starts tonight, perhaps a small taste is in order followed by the pick for tonight’s game. Anyone want to wager on who I think will win this evening in Pittsburgh?


The Steel Pit

Last evening I enjoyed the latest episode of my favorite TV series, America’s Game. Ok, I’ll be honest I’ve been waiting since February 2nd to watch this episode. And personally, it was worth the wait. Fantastic episode that featured Mike Tomlin, Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger talking about their adventurous and successful 2008 season.

A few things I took away from the program:

Troy Polamalu is, in my opinion, a genuinely nice, good and just well centered human being. We as a society should strive to be that kind of person. And perhaps it’s because of the person he is that he has been able to be so successful. Maybe if we were all more like that, we would all be more successful in many ways. Of course, if my observation is correct, Troy would humbly shrug off such compliments and say something like, I am just trying to do my best at living life.

Mike Tomlin is a no nonsense guy who is always prepared and remains calm no matter the situation. I think he will not be content as a head coach until he has a ring for every finger. He seems driven and motivated and wants to have those around who are the same. Plus, he’s got a pretty good sense of humor. Definitely the kind of guy I’d like to have a beer with and chew the fat.

Ben Roethlisberger is, well, Ben is Ben. Ok, yeah I still think he’s kind of a douche bag, but in a weird self effacing way. It’s like he recognizes it and just rolls with it in the same way William Shatner recognized he was the butt of jokes for his over acting, embraced it and turned it into a second career. But hey, I could be way off. Maybe at home with close friends he’s shy and introverted and writes poetry. Nah that would be what Troy does at home.

One other note I would like to share that I found immensely interesting. Tonight, when the Steeler offense takes the field, Pittsburgh will start two Super Bowl MVPs at wide receiver in Hines Ward and newly minted MVP Santonio Holmes. This will be the first time in the history of the NFL that this occurrence has happened.

Now, of all Super Bowl MVPs in history, there are only six wide receivers that have been thus honored. When you take into account the acrobatic Lynn Swann that means three of the six wide receiver MVPs in history have been Pittsburgh Steelers. Let me point that out again. Half of all six wide receivers that have won the Super Bowl MVP have been Steelers. You know, the Steelers, the team that lives and dies by the power running game? Half of their MVPs have been receivers. Is it just me or does that just boggle the mind?


He Said He Said

“If it happens to be there, I'm going to stomp all over that, man.'' - Titan running back LenDale White when asked if he would stomp on the Terrible Towel again.

Some guys just never learn, do they? LenDale, even if you win tonight, you’re setting yourself up for some bad mojo.

“What makes teams great, what makes games great? It's these opportunities that seldomly come, in the huge stage of the AFC championship game, and they have a rookie quarterback and they have a rookie coach on the sideline, and you're thinking, 'What a great time for them to come back and kick a field goal and beat their rivals that they've just lost [to] twice.' All these things are running through your head. That would be a great story for them.”

"But it didn't happen that way." – Steelers safety Troy Polamalu during America’s Game.

This is why you love Troy. When he said this, referring to the Ravens, he seemed happy and excited about the prospect of the potential story line for Baltimore. But when he delivered that last line, he seemed genuinely sad that they did not get that great story. Even though it meant he got to write another chapter in his amazing story, he felt bad they did not. I hope one day I can be half the man he is today.

“There are 31 teams that are America’s team, and 1 team that’s the worlds team. The Pittsburgh Steelers.” – Steelers legend Franco Harris on the NFL Network pregame show when asked who the true America’s team is, Steelers or Cowboys.

Wow, that certainly sums it up for me. Just call it, the Immaculate Sound Bite. Choke on that Cowboy fans.


On Tap This Week

As always, we shall make the quixotic attempt at predicting wins. There is no point spreads to consider or final scores to try to calculate. Just a simple, old fashioned who’s gonna knock the slobber out of each other, which is appropriate for tonight’s game. Before we begin, let us reset our counters from the previous season.

Last week 0-0
Season to Date 0-0

Does that record not look wondrous? So beautiful and pristine like the dawn breaking on a crisp winter morning after a snow fall. But like any fresh winter morning, the real fun is when you traipse through that snow, sled ride, snowball fight, build snowmen and generally muck up the landscape. So let’s muck it up.

Thursday

Tennessee (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)

What is there to say about tonight’s game? The Titans thought they were on their way to the Super Bowl, but never got there. Now they have to watch the Steelers celebrate the trophy they thought they should have won. You think that sits well with them? As for the Steelers, they want to have a better title defense this time around than in 2006, and they will be out to set the tone from the get go of the season. Plus, the Terrible Towel will enact its magical power to get revenge for the desecration by the Titans last season. With that in mind….

Steelers over Titans