Give Me A Break

Hello sports aficionados. I know, the Crystal Ball NFL season wrap up is long overdue, but fear not. Very soon it will be coming your way. Watching your team capture a championship will indeed keep a person thoroughly distracted. But progress has been made, to the point that the wrap up will be a bloated two part post. But before I spread the icing on yet another delicious NFL season, I’d like to take a moment and turn attention to baseball, and the current scandal rocking MLB, A-Rod and the dreaded steroids.

The details of Alex Rodriguez’s transgressions are well known at this point, so I shant rehash them here. No, what I want to talk about is personal responsibility and the lack thereof that permeates MLB. As this story exploded, we saw that A-Rod lacks any responsibility for his actions much like the now vilified Barry Bonds. These two are not in an exclusive club when it comes to that particular character flaw, but being the most visible, famous and possibly talented ball players of the past 10 years or arguably ever, they are the public face of the problem.

In this latest version of I’m the victim, Rodriguez had a myriad of excuses with which to deflect criticism and shift blame from himself. He started with the initial inquiry from the press, stating they would have to talk to the union regarding any steroid information. Nice. He followed that up with several interviews and press conferences, each seemingly disconnected from the previous and the excuses differing each time. Some of these are just classic lines of manure.

He stated that he only experimented with them. While the time period he used was over several seasons, it was only on occasion. Experimented? How dumb does he think we are? I had a cow when Bonds tried the “I didn't know what I was putting into my body” excuse. Note to all athletes, do not try this excuse, we are much smarter than you think. We know you guys are professionals and that your livelihoods rest on your body's ability to function at the highest levels. I know of no one that would take an unnecessary risk or ingest something unknown if their career hung in the balance, and no one I know uses their body to make a living.

In the same vein, in one statement he said it was only an energy booster that his cousin talked him into taking. I ask again, do you honestly expect us to swallow this? I do not think my cousins could convince me to swallow a multi-vitamin let alone allow them to shoot my rump full of some unknown substance. I reiterate, no one who makes their living based upon their physical abilities and well being would ever, EVER, unknowingly ingest or inject something into their bodies unless they knew 100% what it was and what it would do. This quote sums up my point best.

"Do I believe that Alex Rodriguez, who won't have a Snickers bar or a cookie, let his cousin inject him with something that he didn't know what it was? I find that really hard to believe." - Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman.

He blamed his usage on the pressure of living up to the huge contract he signed with the Rangers. Oh really? Well, you had no problem soliciting said contract, or squeezing every penny out of free agency that you could, or signing said contract. You obviously felt it justified to match your otherworldly talents, so why would you suddenly feel it necessary to take steroids in order to live up to this contract? Did you go through a crisis of confidence?

One of my favorites though was when he blamed his usage on naïveté and the stupidity of youth. Rodriguez tried to blame his behavior on such teenage adjectives as naïve, young, curious, silly and irresponsible and of course stupid. If he were a 17 year old minor league prospect trying desperately to make the show, I might buy that excuse. Might. But a 25 year old man, one who has played professionally for years and already made millions of dollars? Not a chance. Using youth, silly and naïve as excuses dies at 22. If you're doing something you know is wrong and illegal at 25, it’s because you're devious and a cheat, not young and dumb. Although the stupid adjective surely fits him now.

He blamed his lack of a college education as a reason he doped. This one blew me away. Rodriguez is obviously a very savvy businessman, perhaps as much as those in which he entrusts his image and brand. And let’s not fool ourselves, with how smooth and polished he is at all times he is a brand, one in which to be marketed to corporations and businesses. He knows his image as a clean cut uber player can bring in tons of endorsement deals as well plenty of financial and media opportunities long after he leaves the game. He knows baseball is a stepping stone, one that if he uses it correctly will keep him popular, in the limelight and rich well into old age. And trust me, just the fact that he hired a consulting firm to help him get through this crisis tells me exactly how intelligent he is. He knew what he was doing when he shot up, and he knows what he’s doing now to spin the situation in a positive way.

Trying to blame his “mistake” on the fact that he never acquired higher education is not only asinine, but also insulting. You do not have to go to college to be intelligent, or know right from wrong. I know many savvy, intelligent people that never attended a day of college. And they all know right from wrong.

He called the injections with his cousin amateur hour. I feel amateur hour applies to his lame excuses and sad explanations.

So why do these gentlemen like Rodriguez and Bonds feel they can do whatever they want and get away with it? Mainly because they do get away with cheating, although Bonds’ ship looks as though it may be taking on water as of late. There is no real punishment for using these illegal drugs either legally or professionally. You never hear of athletes busted for doping getting tossed in the clink. Heck I hardly hear about guys getting fined. And in their leagues they’re never severely punished. Maybe a fine, some lost game checks and a few games off and it all goes away. They never face serious punishment like say getting tossed for the season, having their contracts revoked or cancelled or even what should happen have their records tossed out the window.

And why does this attitude and stance continue to hold, despite protestations otherwise? It continues because lack of personal responsibility comes directly from the top of MLB embodied in one Bud Selig.

Mind you, I know Selig is far from the only one in the power hierarchy of baseball to take the blame. Donald Fehr and the players union are just as culpable for the mess that is MLB as Selig. I mean they’re the ones who worked to make the drug policy currently in place not worth the paper on which it’s printed. And they maybe even more to blame if those reports I’ve read that stated union officials would tip off players before drug tests are true. But Selig is in a class by himself.

Selig kept his head buried firmly in the sand for many years, no doubt knowing exactly what was fueling the 1998 home run chase. But he said nothing, as he knew he needed those ratings so very desperately. Baseball was still reeling from the disastrous strike of 1994, and anything that could save a ship he actively punched holes into was fine by him. But after his head was forcibly pulled from the sand and his eyes pried open, he acted as though he knew nothing of his behavior that had infected the game. Please. So with damage control in mind, he went on the offensive. And it was indeed offensive.

He dragged his feet admitting there was an issue. He waffled when it came to the Bonds situation. He piddled around installing a drug policy and drug testing, but thanks to the union and his spinelessness the plan put into place had about as much teeth and bite as an octogenarian. Now that his big program has only caught role players, and that we find out his biggest star was a user once too, Selig bristles as though his good work has been undermined.

When suggestions arise that Selig and his office are to blame for the Steroids era, Selig becomes defensive, talking about how he hates criticism of his office and of himself. He lays obviously difficult to prove claims that his office tried to institute change regarding performance enhancing drugs in 1995. Well I call shenanigans. If that were true, if he thought this issue was serious enough, he could have done something about it. The game was in a shambles already in 1995, perhaps Selig trying to be the white knight and save the sanctity of baseball’s records could have been just the thing to turn the tide in favor of ownership instead of players and maybe even get Donald Fehr’s pasty can tossed. He would have won it all and maybe even revived baseball in a way where questions still do not abound to this day.

Did the owners know about the doping? I have no doubt. Did they think it could be a problem? Most likely. Did they care? Absolutely not. They knew that baseball, if ever to recover from their horrible infighting-caused strike needed fireworks. What brings fireworks? Home runs. So what if a few guys shrunk their balls and swelled their heads, as long as they were powering the long ball and putting fannies in the seats, what’s a little cheating and soiling cherished records? So what if you tarnish the bedrock on which baseball stands; their records. Who cares, let’s get those turnstiles moving!

But if Selig really wants us to believe he tried to affect real change to a growing drug culture, he's full of the cream and the clear. And why shouldn't his office be held culpable and have criticism heaped upon it it? You’re in charge! Baseball, all it has been and will be, is in your hands. You shape the future and tend to the past. If something destroys either of those on your watch, you are the one responsible. That is the price that comes with being in charge. That may seem obvious to ordinary folks, but not to Bud. He just stands back, shrugging his shoulders as though he has no idea how we got here. But since public opinion seems to be against steroids, let’s make sure we condemn them. And he has been happy to condemn from his ivory tower, even going so far as to say in the press that A-Rod shamed the game. Mr. Selig, there’s a Mr. Kettle on line two he says you two have something in common. If Bud wants to play the shame game, fine we’re on. How about we look at the ways in which Mr. Selig has shamed baseball over the last 17 years.

- In collusion with other owners, he staged a coup on the commissioner, effectively ending true independent leadership within MLB.
- He proceeded to then run MLB under the guise of acting commissioner, a station he humbly took with zero sincerity. During this period, he claimed his executive council was searching for a new commissioner, a search which seemed about as in depth as O.J.’s search for the real killers. By being a team owner running baseball, questions abounded as to whose interests he served most, the game or the owners. By their full confidence in him, I’d say the pendulum leans in a certain direction.
- Because of owner and player greed and poor leadership at the top, Selig officiated over the first World Series cancellation due to a strike in MLB history.
- He instituted a revenue sharing plan and salary cap, long after the NFL had left MLB in the dust by doing the same thing that has resulted in the Yankees toting a $209 million yearly payroll for 2008 while the Marlins rock out with a $21 million payroll. Two thirds of MLB teams carry a payroll that sits under $100 million, and most of those have been losing clubs for some time. So much for competitive balance.
- Has turned the league from 30 teams into the Yankees, Red Sox, 4-6 potential contenders that rotate each year and 22 also ran teams that act as a farm club for the other 8.
- Turned a blind, and knowing, eye to the steroid situation in a desperate attempt to resurrect flagging attendance, plummeting ratings and low fan confidence and interest. Then when the drug situation hit the fan and the impact of these tainted records on the history of the game began to be questions, Selig blustered mightily regarding testing but enacted ineffectual measures. Although claiming to be proactive during the steroid allegations, his actions were merely reactive and sub par.
- Claims to have raised MLB revenue 400% during his tenure, but refuses to acknowledge that much of that increase came from heightened fan interest brought on by a prolific era of home runs fueled by steroids. If he’s going to claim big monetary gains, he had best say exactly how that revenue poured in.
- Despite the outrage by fans and the media, he acts as if his hands are virtually tied when it comes to the tainted records and their impact on the history of the game. Ford Frick certainly had no trouble slapping an asterisk on poor Roger Maris and the worst that could be said about Roger is he smoked.
- Actually acts in this manner during any crisis big or small. The most visible example was during the ridiculous tie during the All Star game. As officials went to Selig for advice and a ruling, Selig just looked out on the field exasperated, shrugging his shoulders as if to say, why are you asking me, how should I know what to do? For a man who claims to be in control and intimate with knowledge of the game, he certainly acts like a temp employee that derailed an assembly line, then when called on the carpet about it, acts like, what do you want me to do? I was just a temp and it's too much for me, you should have never given me this responsibility.
- Has let super star players and agents dictate salaries, the players union assure guaranteed contracts that have hamstrung small market teams control an ineffectual drug testing program, and ridiculous owners to kowtow to skyrocketing player costs and a sham of a salary cap and allowing a creation of a class system amongst the teams.

Now tell me who's shamed the game?

I’m not going to sit here and say I have the answers to fix baseball. Wait until July for that post. Right now I would settle for a real, honest step in the right direction. All I want is for A-Rod, Selig and the rest of the cheaters with ridiculous excuses, Roger Clemens I’m looking in your direction, to just be honest with us the fans and general public. I want them to stand up and take responsibility for their actions. I want them to act like men and have the buck stop there, instead of being overgrown boys trying to get away with sneaking cigarettes behind 7-11. I know, I'd have a better chance of wishing for a million dollars and getting it, but I can still wish. Santa never brought you everything from your Christmas list when you were kids, but that never discouraged me from adding the GI Joe USS Flagg aircraft carrier to my list for several years in a row. Here’s what I want them to say.

A-Rod – “I was the best player in the game possibly even better than Bonds, and I figured if this stuff was giving lesser players an edge, then I wanted that edge too. I wanted to be beyond the best. Both to stoke my massive bank account as well as stroke my narcissistic ego.”

Selig – “I didn't like not getting my own way, so with other owners we destroyed the commissioner and for a while the office of the commissioner to get what we wanted. Then when my ineptness almost destroyed the game I professed to love so much I became desperate. When I saw there was a way to bring the fans back, even if it risked the integrity of baseball, the long term health of those who play it and the trust of the fans and players who came before me, I never hesitated. I turned a blind eye to the steroids. And now that it’s biting me, the players and the game in the ass, I've done my best at spin control and make half hearted yet showy attempts to "clean" things up. Although nothing will truly wash this stain away short of full disclosure, erasing tainted records, reestablishing the office of the commissioner by appointing someone outside the fraternity to properly manage MLB and my resignation in shame.”

Everyone knows these things to be true. Considering how many times both men, I’m sorry boys, have changed their stories, backtracked on what they said and blatantly lied the only story left is the truth. Of course, even that would be subject to massive amounts of spin as to why it never came out before.

But fear not gentlemen, I can help both of you. Here’s what you do. Just come out, admit the truth and when asked what took you so long to reveal to the world what we already knew, just say "because like any child getting caught, I did not want to get in trouble or suffer punishment. Plus I have a severely underdeveloped sense of personal responsibility because as you know, I am a massive douche bag.” Now would that really be so difficult?

The Crystal Ball 2008 The Super Bowl

Welcome to the Super Bowl Special! I’m so jazzed up right now; I think I’m emitting an electrical field. And we’ve got a good one this week. I’ve packed this week so full of fascinating stories, information, fun facts and general Super Bowl merriment I can barely contain myself. Oops, one is about to slip out early….

Like 3 years ago, Pittsburgh will go into the Super Bowl facing an NFC West team playing in their first one. And like 3 years ago, the Steelers will wear their road uniforms, this time not by choice. The Cardinals will have Arizona painted in their end zone above their team name; much like the Seahawks did in Super Bowl XL. But the comparisons do not end there.

In 1979, the NFC west Rams finished the regular season at 9-7. They were the first team, and since the last, to reach the Super Bowl with a regular season record of 9-7. The Rams did not win that game, they succumbed to……The Pittsburgh Steelers. Hmmm, I wonder if these markers will bode well for Pittsburgh.

It would seem Steeler mania has me in her tight grip and any chance for an unbiased column is now officially gone. Oh well, like I’ve ever been unbiased when it comes to Pittsburgh. Why change now?


Opening Kickoff

I’m not sure if you, gentle reader, knew this but Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt coached in Pittsburgh just two years ago and was at one point considered for Bill Cowher’s vacated position. This seems like such a big story, you think someone would have exploited it and driven it into the ground. Oh wait, everyone did. Sorry, my bad. I think I OD’ed on Super Bowl hype.


Who’s Who In the Big Bowl

So here we are, the Super Bowl. Let’s take a moment to introduce ourselves to our combatants.


NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are one of two charter members of the NFL still in existence, having formed in 1898 and becoming a charter member of the NFL in 1920. The team started their life in Chicago before moving to St. Louis before the 1960 season and then to Phoenix before the 1988 season.

The Cardinals have won two NFL championships, one in 1947 and one in 1925. The 1925 championship is surrounded by controversy as the team actually lost to the Pottsville Maroons, a team composed of coal miners. However, due to some obscure rules, the Maroons were considered in violation of league territory rules and stripped of the championship. The original Cardinal owners refused to accept the championship, but when the Bidwell family bought the team they happily accepted it.

The Bidwell family, much like the Rooney family, is one of the oldest in the NFL. Charlie Bidwell bought the team in 1932 and it has remained a family owned business ever since. However unlike the Rooney family, the Cardinals have not experienced the same level of success.

For most of their history, the Cardinals have been an NFL doormat, posting only 5 total post season victories in their history. Three of those victories came in this years post season. The team has had a spot of success, and some stellar players come through their organization including Hall of Famers Dan Dierdorf and Jackie Smith. It is not an exaggeration to say that this season is the apex of Cardinal success.

This incarnation of the Cardinals is led by former NFL MVP Kurt Warner, who will be going for his second Super Bowl victory. Only 5 Cardinals on their roster have Super Bowl experience, and 3 of those are former Steelers. While traditional wisdom would say that the Cardinal team will be experiencing the sensation of being just happy to be in the Super Bowl, the steady leadership of Warner and head coach Ken Whisenhunt will keep the team focused and on task in the biggest game in most players’ lives and the franchise’s existence.

The Cardinal fan base is not as large as many teams, but they are most definitely loyal. It takes a special kind of fan to back a team that has long been mired in mediocrity. But Cardinal fans can now rejoice no matter what should happen on Sunday, as finally they have hope for the future with their team. With Whisenhunt’s changes and leadership, the Cardinals look to be successful for some time.


AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are the fifth oldest team in the league, having formed in 1933 when Art Rooney Sr. purchased a franchise from the NFL for $2,500. Rumor has it Rooney purchased the team with gambling winnings. Considering The Chief’s love of the horse tracks, I tend to believe this rumor is true. The Rooney family has owned the team since its inception.

For the 37 years of their existence, the Steelers were not very successful, only garnering one playoff appearance. It was a common thought around the league that if you were traded to Pittsburgh, it was as punishment. The Steelers built a reputation as a hard hitting team, but not a winning team. They had numerous coaches, and some bad luck with talent evaluation. They let go both Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas, who both became Hall of Fame quarterbacks elsewhere.

In 1969, Dan Rooney, who had assumed day to day operations of the team from his father, made a decision that changed the Steelers fortunes forever in hiring Chuck Noll. Noll through the draft built a championship caliber team and starting in 1972, the Steelers began not only visiting the post season but winning. Since that season, the Steelers have sold out every home game to date. In the 70’s the team won 4 Super Bowls, a record at the time. Their 1979 team that won Super Bowl XIV was comprised of players that had only played for Pittsburgh. This was the last team to ever accomplish this feat.

Since then Pittsburgh has become a model of stability and success in the NFL. Since 1969, Pittsburgh has hired only 3 head coaches. The ownership knows when to grab talent, let it go, and when to give their coaching staff latitude to work through the tough times. The Steelers never fire a coach on knee jerk reactions. Since 1970, the Steelers have compiled a regular season record of 363-235-2 (.607) and an overall record of 391-253-2 (.607) including the playoffs, reached the playoffs 24 times, won their division 19 times, played in 13 AFC championship games, and won five of six Super Bowls.

After a recent ownership restructuring that took much effort to coordinate, the Rooney family now will continue to own the team for the foreseeable future. Dan and his son Art II put in much effort to make this happen, as they know the unique relationship the Steelers have with the city of Pittsburgh.

The Steelers inspire a rabid fan base that reaches around the world. Steeler fans have shown their loyalty and devotion not only in Pittsburgh, but in places such as the Far East, the peak of Mt. Everest and most recently the International Space Station. In any NFL city across America you can find multiple Steeler sports bars where the wide spread Steeler Nation converges on fall Sundays to watch their favorite team begin another march toward the playoffs.

The team is the heart and soul of the city of Pittsburgh. Their team colors are shared by the other professional teams in Pittsburgh, the Pirates and Penguins. Pittsburgh is the only city where all the professional teams have the same color scheme. But their colors are also shared with the city’s fire and police forces. The sense of community that the Steelers embody with its city is unparalleled with any other professional sports city in the country. And all players that come into the team learn the importance of this and are often found giving back to the community that gives back to them both in support, adulation and loyalty.


The Steel Pit

With no game performance to recap how about some of the more interesting stories and a few weird observations thrown in just for the heck of it?

ESPN made a case that the Pittsburgh Steelers may be the greatest franchise in all of sports. Far be it for me to argue with the sage wisdom of ESPN.

Let’s give it up for Dan Rooney and the Rooney family shall we? They have had quite the successful year. I love this family for the stability they have brought to this team, the NFL and all they do for the city of Pittsburgh. I thought this was a great article that captures the unique and special essence of this first family of Pittsburgh.

I love picture essays!

Upon arrival in Tampa, Tomlin took a note from his predecessors and recommended having fun while staying focused. This guy is so poised and wise for being so young. He makes me feel so woefully under-accomplished.

Ok, the fake tan, the bleach blonde spiky hairdo, the goatee; is it just me or is Jeff Reed trying to look like Guy Fieri?

For those outside of Steeler Nation, please read this article about the Terrible Towel. The article can help you understand the deep meaning and traditions of the towel, and how it adds to the sense of community to Pittsburgh. It means far more than a cheap promotional gimmick to Steeler fans and the city of Pittsburgh.


NFL The Alternative Universe

You get the impression that in thousands of homes in the Cleveland era, every time the LeBron James/State Farm ad comes on the television where LeBron says he’s signing with the Browns that grown men silently weep and whisper to themselves, “If only…”? Maybe that one’s just me.

Ok, it’s been a paradigm shift trying to accept the Arizona Cardinals, long a football wasteland, as a Super Bowl contender. But why have they been so bad for so long? Because their cursed!

And yes, many have noted how outnumbered Cardinal fans are in Tampa. But apparently, even Arizona is not much of a Cardinal hotbed right now. Yeesh, what does it take for all 46 of you Cardinal Fans to get fired up?

You’ve heard me say repeatedly the Cardinals are just Steelers West. Well, I’m not the only one who noticed.

Let’s go to the video replay! Here’s reason 10, 458 why I just love Steeler fans. And man, these kids are good!

I’m telling you, it’s Polamalu!

Look, Cardinal fans made a video too! I’m sadly embarrassed for them. I’d say act like you’ve been on the big stage before, but how would they know what that’s like.

For all of you out there who feel your team has the best fans around, and they show the most support I hate to tell you but you’re wrong. Not only are Steeler fans mobilizing to support the team for the game, they’ve been mobilized for months for a great cause spurred on by Aaron Smith.

I’ve heard the Cinderella story of the Cardinals compared to that of the Tampa Bay Rays. I like the comparison personally. I hope it ends the same way, with the Cinderella losing in the championship game to a team from Pennsylvania. Then the comparison would be perfect.

Peter King had a great piece about Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Sadly, I read about the betrayal of this man. Haley grew up around the 70’s Steelers. He worked as a ball boy and on the chain gang for the team. He started his coaching career with Bill Parcells in New York and began his work up the ranks from there. But when he had an opportunity to work for his first love, the Steelers, or for his first coaching employer, Bill Parcells in Dallas, he went with the long time enemy for less money. And then had to watch Pittsburgh win a Super Bowl in which he could have been integral. I’m sorry Todd, but Pittsburgh will dash your hopes yet again. Never turn down the Steel City, never.

I love how all week the NFL Network has been plugging NFL Rewind and a re-airing of the Super Bowl, to air next week. And the game has yet to be played. Something just strikes me as funny about that.

Being the designated home team, and once you see the Terrible Towels in the crowd you’ll know that’s a joke, Arizona chose to wear their red home jerseys. Pittsburgh will wear their road whites. Blast, wanted to see those snazzy black jerseys.

So who’s the better coach? You decide. I just wish there were a category comparing their favorite Pittsburgh restaurants. I’d like some recommendations.

For NBC’s Super Bowl Coverage, the Football Night In America crew of Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Peter King, Tiki Barber and Jerome Bettis will be joined by Mike Holmgren, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Matt Millen. That’s 11 people in the studio for one game. Are they trying to provide coverage and analysis or field their own team?

For the 20th year, ESPN polled celebrities to see who they picked for the Super Bowl. This year they kind of dragged the bottom of the barrel, I mean who really is interested in Jerry Mathers’ prediction. And I had no idea Mamie Van Doren was still alive. Take a look and see the luminaries ESPN got to go on record. At the very least, imagining all these people at one cocktail party is enough to send you into either a horrified trance or hysterical laughter. Although it seems that Pittsburgh has this one in the bag. We have Ted McGinley, Jimmie Johnson and Paul Pierce on our side. Who’s backing Arizona? That’s right, Vanilla Ice, Dr. Joyce Brothers and the Brady boys.

EA Sports did a simulation of the game using their ultra popular Madden Football game. This year, after simulations the Steelers win 28-24. Here’s their statistical breakdown. How about we compare this next week with the actual game? I’m curious to see how accurate they are at simulating player performance.


Upon Further Review

I found myself having to defend Pittsburgh all week, as everyone and their mother has either been a life long Cardinal fan just now come out of the closet, or finds their playoff run showing them too strong for even the number one defense in the league to overcome.

There has been tons of talk about how Whis knows Pittsburgh and their team. I ask cannot that knowledge go both ways. Does Pittsburgh not know his offense and trickery? Do they not still have a few old playbooks lying around somewhere?

Plenty of talking heads have also said that Whisenhunt will be out to show the Rooney family they hired the wrong man. Now, Whis has not come out and said this, it’s merely conjecture. But I ask, cannot this feeling go both ways? Despite saying all the right things and that he doesn’t care, don’t you think it doesn’t ride on Tomlin that he’s 0-1 against Whisenhunt? You really think he wants to be 0-2? You don’t think he wants to prove the Rooney’s chose the right person over Whis and Grimm and reward their trust and faith in him?

The same talking heads have also said that Warner is the better quarterback and Big Ben may not do well in this game, based solely on Roethlisberger’s last Super Bowl. I think we all remember Big Ben’s last super bowl performance, and less than stellar is a kind way to put it. You think he doesn’t want to kick some major butt this time around, just to prove he is a big game quarterback? You think he’s sick of being excluded from the Banning/Brady greatest current quarterback argument? Everyone keeps talking about Warner and the Cards offense, but no one is talking about Ben except to mention his bad performance in his last Super Bowl. Something tells me he’s going to be working extra hard to prove he does belong in these conversations.

Personally, I think the real disrespect is going toward Pittsburgh. All I’ve been hearing is how Whis knows the team and will be able to fool them, how he’s the one with something to prove, how there is no way the Steeler defense can stop Fitzgerald, how Big Ben and the Steeler offense are pedestrian at best, how they will not be able to overcome the very hot Cardinal defense, how Warner’s big game experience will be enough to carry a completely inexperienced big game team to a title, how without Ward the Steeler offense will be nothing. If anything, the respect is now going to the Cardinals because everyone is trying to catch up from doubting them throughout January.

You think I’ve been drinking out of the Monongahela too much? You think I’ve gone crazy? You want proof? Watch any Super Bowl program currently airing, and there’s plenty, and watch everyone falling all over themselves about Fitzgerald. They talk about how there is no way the Pittsburgh defense can stop the Arizona passing game. A poll on ESPN to find out who America thought would win had Pittsburgh ahead by 2% 51 to 49 as of Wednesday. The real shocker was that over half the country had picked Arizona. By Thursday the overall poll changed to the Cardinals ahead by 2%. The bandwagon begins to fill up.

On NFL Total Access, Whis called out Rich Eisen for doubting his Cardinals, and not just Rich but everyone else on that panel almost fell out of their chairs trying to say that oh, no, no disrespect meant you guys are awesome. A Sports Nation poll on ESPN.com in the middle of the week showed that 62% of those who responded would rather have Larry Fitzgerald than troy Polamalu. People would rather have a receiver that has only come into his own in this post season and has yet to prove he can play on the biggest stage than a player who has proven he can play, has won a championship, and that the axiom that defense wins championships has been proven to ring true year after year.

Even former Steeler great and new Hall of Fame member Rod Woodson picked the Cardinals because he feels their passing game is too much for the Steelers. He made this choice despite the fact he was a cornerback and knows first hand that defense wins championships! He won his only championship as part of the 2000 Ravens, a team that had nothing more than a running game and a defense! Disrespect from your own, unbelievable.

Michael Strahan on Total Access stated he’d rather play the Steelers than the Cardinals, reasoning that the Cardinals have nothing to lose, would be dangerous and nobody believes in them. Uhhhhh, Michael, if you’d rather face the Steelers than the Cardinals, YOU believe in them.

Warren Sapp and Joe Flacco both picked the Steelers, but only to jinx Pittsburgh because they want the Cardinals to win.

Over at ESPN, Stuart Scott predicted the Cardinals to triumph in the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. I guess if you're going to go against the grain, go big. Emmitt Smith picked the Cardinals, but I suppose that's some loyalty to a team who paid him fat money for nothing. And Steve Young picked the Cardinals and predicted Warner will go down in history as one of the best post season quarterbacks. Considering right now Kurt has as many Super Bowl victories as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson, I'd hold off on the coronation just yet.

The fawning almost reached 2007 Patriot levels near the end of the week. And considering how everyone’s been pimping the Arizona offense, you would think they were the 07 Pats. But devoid of this joyous pick is the fact that no one mentions or wants to admit that 7 Arizona opponents managed to stop and defeat said offense this season, three times holding them under 20 points while their defense gave up over 30 points 5 times.

Each passing day some other big name former or current player, analyst, columnist or reporter picks Arizona, saying usually well they’re the underdog and someone has to pick them. But so far that’s everyone! SI.com revealed their Super Bowl predictions by their NFL writers, and 6 of the 10 picked Arizona to win. One of the dinks who picked Arizona even said the Cardinals will be underdogs for the 4th straight game, a role in which they are comfortable. Uhhhhh not to point out the obvious, but if 6 out of 10 are picking Arizona how exactly are they underdogs? It sounds like they’re the favored team to me.

Look, I get the attraction to the underdog. It’s always fun to root for the underdog. You compare them with their seemingly superior opponent and you want to see them do the unimaginable, the inconceivable, and the unbelievable. Who doesn’t like seeing David beat Goliath. Heck, our country was built on the underdog beating the big bully. Any other year, I’d probably be there too rooting on Arizona. I was last year when the Giant underdogs whipped the Patriot bullies. And it was SWEET.

Casual fans and fans of teams other than Arizona and Pittsburgh need someone for whom to root. And with the fun, joy and ingrained sense of rooting for the underdog we have in this country, everyone’s jumping on their bandwagon so fast I wonder if their shocks and axles can support the weight.

The Cardinals have come this far standing on motivation that no one has given them a chance and disrespected them. Heck, not many people even picked them to win their first playoff game, and that was at home! But can Whisenhunt continue to play this disrespect card? The team is the NFC championship victor; people are lining up to throw accolades upon them. It’s hard to say how disrespected you are if people respect you. Not only is everyone giving them a chance, many are outright picking them to win. So how do you play the us against the world card when the world jumps in your corner? It’s a good angle to get you to the Super Bowl, but Whisenhunt had best have something better up his sleeve. Because right now, the only team that can pull the disrespect card successfully are the supposedly favored Steelers. And their defense really does not need much more motivation.


Super Bust Recap

Patriots 45 – Cowboys 10

Oh, what a game it was! The city of Las Vegas crackled with excitement as the two teams took the field.

The Cowboys showed up first in all their glory. Tony Romo spent pregame and most of the first quarter sitting in a chaise lounge with a drink in one hand and Jessica Simpson in the other. Apparently Tony thought he was still on vacation. Unfortunately, this did nothing for Cowboys chances. Nor did the fact that occasionally Jason Whitten would come over to Romo, whisper something in his hear while they pointed at TO and then both of them would laugh uproariously.

It didn’t help either that TO spent most of the game wearing a sandwich board on which he had written “Please Look At Me” upon.

Despite these obvious chances to pull his team together, Wade Phillips spent most of the game wandering the Cowboy sidelines looking for a popcorn vendor. According to his post game interview he figured it might inspire TO.

There was a Pacman Jones sighting, but not at the game. He was turned away numerous times from the Spearmint Rhino. I cannot imagine why.

The Patriots on the other hand came out playing inspired football thanks to the return of Tom Brady. However, a close up camera shot late in the third quarter revealed that it was not really Tom under center, but Matt Cassel wearing Brady’s uniform. No Patriot player seemed to notice, but Belichick wore an expression of triumph and cunning through the entire game. It would seem he felt no one had noticed his latest subterfuge.

An actual Tom Brady sighting was discovered several hours after the game at the wedding coordinator office of Mandalay Bay. Perhaps Giselle wants to lock this one up before he bores of her too.

Back on the field, the Patriot defense had a field day with Brad Johnson in the first quarter and Romo for the rest of the game. They held the mighty Cowboy offensive attack to three points through three quarters. Those three points came on a fluke 65 yard field goal when Jason Garrett mistakenly sent out the field goal unit instead of the punt team.

Unfortunately, the Patriot defense gave up a touchdown drive to the Cowboys at the end of the 4th quarter. Romo and Company got the ball with a little over two minutes left and marched right down the field. With 35 seconds left, Romo threw a fade to Owens for a touchdown. I guess for the Pats, old habits die hard.

Mercifully for Belichick, this time the touchdown meant nothing and New England walked away with yet another meaningless win. After the game, the coaches met at mid field where Belichick grunted something at Phillips, who responded with a request for a hot pretzel.

Jerry Jones could not be reached for comment, as it turned out he was trapped in a tanning bed for the entire game.


He Said He Said

"I have two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl and I won't miss the Super Bowl.” – Steelers WR Hines Ward

Did anyone doubt he would play? I know it has been fun conjecture all week, but we’re talking Hines Ward. The man revels in inflicting pain, like he’d miss a chance to do it on a world stage.


“People ask me [if Ward will play Sunday], and I want to smack them. First of all, it's the Super Bowl. Second of all, it's Hines Ward. He's going to be out there and he's going to be just fine." – Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

See, I told you so. And Ben sees Hines all the time, so he should know.


"I'm catching 5 to 10 deep balls from both sides every day until the Super Bowl. I'm going to go over that every day, because it was something that I wanted to do. It seems to be the only thing that I drop -- a couple deep balls. So why not attack it every day?" – Steelers WR Limas Sweed

Uhhhhh, Limas you may want to practice getting up after a missed catch too. Those timeouts do not grow on trees.


"Man, I played really bad and that kind of eats at you. I do want to play better than I did. The first time, my play didn't help the team win. It almost helped us lose it. This time, I'm not going to say it's all on my shoulders, but if I turn the ball over and play poorly, it's not going to help our offense, and it's not going to win this game. '' – Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on his previous Super Bowl performance

Didn’t I mention he might have some motivation for this game? I wonder where I got that theory….


“Even on the Monday of Super Bowl week, the Steelers fans are already in town. I never cease to be amazed at Steelers Nation. They travel, they're vocal, and they own absolutely nothing but clothes in a black-and-gold color scheme. They were outside the tent the league constructed to hold the Steelers news conferences at the team hotel, hooting and hollering for their guys, and drowning out Mike Tomlin's answers to reporter's questions. And there are still six days to go before game day.” – SI.com’s Don Banks early in Super Bowl week.

Wait Don, I think I have a burgundy velour shirt somewhere and a gray dress shirt so it’s not ALL black and gold.


"If you ask me how it feels, I'm going to say 'It feels good' or 'It feels great.' If you ask me a yes or no question, you're going to get a yes or no answer. If you want me to elaborate on something, you've got to ask me a question that I can elaborate on." – Steelers OLB James Harrison to media day personnel

I’m not sure which I found funnier, this little pre interview speech from Harrison or the interview with NFL Network’s Deion Sanders during the media session where James looked as though he might tear off Prime Time’s head for asking stupid questions. Yup, the interview.


“What do I do that is the typical quarterback thing? I hold onto the ball too much, I run around too much, I take too many hits. Nothing I do is typical.” – Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger during media day

Hmmmm, you win, how’s that? Oh, that’s what a typical quarterback is SUPPOSED to do. My bad.


"That's the thing about the Steelers of the '70s and '80s, they went out and finished games. They went out and won the Super Bowl. So we're going to be measured on how we finish this game. That's what puts you down in the history books, how you finish.” – Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley

Hmmm, he gets it big time! Hello new long term Steeler!


“But other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart." – President Barack Obama

YEAH! We have the power of the executive branch on our side! Take that Woodson!


“It's not even close, folks. Because, a) he can run a 4.35 [40-yard dash], and, b) he covers the field better than any safety -- maybe not better [against the pass] than Ed Reed, but his ability to play down, play the run, play the blitz ... he's just a savage beast. That's Hall of Fame stuff to me. There are great NFL players, and there is Troy." – Cris Collinsworth on Troy Polamalu

And that’s from a former Bungle!


“I’m trying to win it every single year. I’m pissed we didn’t win it last year. That’s my mentality. And anybody that’s in this business that says that’s not their mentality, they’re lying.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on being asked about making the Super Bowl in only his second year.

Quote of the week? Try quote of the year! I echo everyone in Steeler Nation when I say, I LOVE this guy!


Ring around the Rosie

Oakland – Surprise, surprise still no one has been hired. There was talk that Tom Cable would be named head coach, but nothing substantial came from that. Mr. Davis, allow me to give you some advice. If someone actually wants this job, GIVE IT TO HIM!

Kansas City – Scott Pioli has yet to name a new head coach, but rumors abound that KC is waiting until next week to talk with Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley.


Idiot of the week

Well, this week things were far too quiet for a real idiot to emerge. I mean, everyone kept their traps shut during media day and all subsequent interview times. No one, so far, has tried to pick up a hooker that we know of or went on a smack binge. I hesitate to say things have been dull, but they have been mostly idiot free. Even TO did not show up anywhere with a film crew in tow.

Luckily for me, and you, someone always manages to stand up and show the world they’re an idiot. This week we honor Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan managed to make the interview rounds in Tampa, including Total Access and Rome Is Burning, where at least 2-3 minutes of his interview were dedicated to him pimping AXE hair products. The first time I saw it I couldn’t believe it. I mean I’d seen subtler product placement on The Biggest Loser. But when he’s yakking with Rich Eisen about it later the same day, I figured the electrifying rookie found out how much fun, and profitable, it is to be a corporate shill. Except that the plugs were not subtle, nor interesting, and just sad and annoying.

So Matt, for selling out so fast, being less subtle with your sales pitch than a hammer to the head, and for plugging such a douche baggy product, you are an idiot.

And Michael Strahan, I heard you on Total Access too. And you only missed out on winning because you were promoting Subway sandwiches, which is a slightly better product. And that’s all that saved you!


Scandalous!

If anyone may recall, two years ago I put forth my time tested formula for determining the Super Bowl winner. All you have to do is look to the latest scandal sheet. To put it succinctly, I determine Super Bowl winners based on who has a scandal, started a scandal, is embroiled in a scandal or on the cusp of one. And by my definition, a scandal is anything off the field that takes away from the team itself, puts all the focus on one player or anything that may disrupt a team from properly preparing for the game.

It does not even have to happen on the eve of the game, one can blow up during media day, which is a great way to determine the scandal of the Super Bowl. If it happens beforehand, even better determination, since that is all anyone will want to talk about during media day, especially to the player in question and to all of his teammates. This kind of distraction can impair preparation and even cause disharmony in the locker room, which is exactly the kind of thing that a team looking to win it all does not need leading up to the game.

So far with my methodology, I am two for two. I picked the Colts because Tank Johnson’s adventures before Super Bowl XLI, Colts victory. I picked the Giants because of Randy Moss’ activities and the Patriots’ Spygate nonsense, Giants victory. So, what do we have this year to help determine the game? As media day was quiet, and both teams thus far well behaved, the pickings have been slim.

On the Pittsburgh side, the best so far has been Santonio Holmes’ admission that as a youth he sold drugs. His reasoning for revealing this story is that he wanted to use the platform of the Super Bowl, and the increased media attention, to share his tale as a cautionary story. Is this scandalous as it happened years ago and the intentions behind revealing it are seemingly positive? Not really.

There was also the story of tight end Jonathan Dekker, on injured reserve since August, being arrested for obstruction of justice. Since I never saw anything but a blurb on this, I doubt it even counts as a story.

Obviously, the Arizona distraction is the non distraction of the Boldin/Haley argument. In case you’ve been away from a television for the last two weeks, Boldin blew up at Haley during the Cardinals game winning drive, obviously upset that he was not on the field. Haley argued right back and the Fox cameras got it all nicely framed for the national television audience. Now, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Haley and Whisenhunt have all stated it was nothing more than two competitors fired up during a big game. Kurt Warner even said this kind of thing happens all the time, and he even gets into it with Haley from time to time.

Now, I tend to believe that it really is nothing but two ultra competitive guys going at it during a heated moment of the game. It happens all the time in all walks of life. So alone I really do not think it’s much of a distraction. What is, however, is the fact that all those involved, and many others not, have had to answer questions about it all week after the game and all the way through media day. When you have to talk about how it will not be a distraction, it’s already a distraction. By design or by mistake, right now the biggest story about the cardinals is Boldin and guys tend to get sick of one player taking all the attention, especially for very selfish reasons. That in my book is one player making things all about him, and that is a full blown distraction.


On Tap This Week

Ok, the yapping is done, the debates are over. It’s time to find out who really is the best.

Last week 1-1
Playoffs 3-7
Season 167 – 107

Each week in the playoffs thus far I’ve won only one game. I only need to continue that streak for one game more.


Sunday

Pittsburgh (14-4) vs. Arizona (12-7)

Everyone in Pittsburgh wants a six pack. And this time, we’re talking about six Lombardi trophies.

Pittsburgh is now old hat to the big game and the core players know what it takes to take this final step to a championship. The next day after AFC championship it was business as usual at Steeler headquarters and veterans were telling the young guys and new hires who were not around for the last Super Bowl the work needed to be put in to win it all. But telling people something and execution are two very disparate things.

This comes down to the unstoppable force against the immovable object, Arizona’s offense against Pittsburgh’s defense. Didn’t we do this last year? The big talk of course is how Pittsburgh will stop Warner, Fitzgerald and company. If you listen to enough analysts, you would be convinced that Larry Fitzgerald is a genetically created human being formed from the DNA of Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, John Stallworth and Raymond Berry. And Kurt Warner is the greatest quarterback ever to step onto a football field, ever. Now these cats are good, but they’re not that good. Remember, seven teams shut them down this season. But the one point I hear hammered repeatedly is that if Pittsburgh blitzes, Warner will burn them with the hot read.

However, Pittsburgh rarely blitzes. Most analysts are lazy, and they assume that when Pittsburgh sacks the quarterback, it’s because of a blitz. Not so. Pittsburgh’s defense actually rarely blitzes. What they do is alternate who rushes the passer and who drops into coverage. By mixing up who is rushing and from where, offenses get confused and lose blocking assignments. Even if they pick up the typically 4 people rushing, the other 7 defensive players are all in coverage, closing off routes and zones. Opposing quarterbacks then have to drag out the play longer in order for a receiver to become open, and by the time one does one of the 4 rushers have reached the quarterback. That’s how the Pittsburgh defense is successful. The Eagles blitz and big blitz often. Against the Cardinals, often you saw 5, 6 even 7 people rushing the quarterback. A quarterback like Warner can sniff that out and get rid of the ball fast, thus resulting in a big play. That’s how the Cardinals made it here, exploiting blitzes. Pittsburgh does blitz, but not nearly as often as most think.

But I think the better question is how Arizona will stop Big Ben. The Cardinal offense and Steeler defense are both excellent, and most likely will cancel each other out. But the real battle will come down between the Steeler offense and Cardinal defense. Of course when this matchup is discussed, we often hear about Pittsburgh’s inconsistent offensive line, Ben’s sack numbers and the late blooming running game or Arizona’s resurgent defense and their turnover prowess in the post season. So who wins? The numbers give the edge to Pittsburgh’s offense, and I think reality does too. Arizona’s defense has been better, but it’s also young and too opportunistic. They tend to take chances that so far have paid off. But against a more disciplined team they could pay for trying to make a Sportscenter play.

Also I keep hearing about how the Cardinals are on a roll, are now hot at the right time and have built up momentum. So what? Pittsburgh has been dealing with teams with momentum all month. Firth, they faced the red hot Chargers who went on a four game winning streak just to make the playoffs and then took care of the streaking Colts. Nope, the Steelers had no problem there. Then they squared off against Baltimore, who had built a similar winning streak and were also red hot. Once again, Pittsburgh had no problem. Now they enter a showdown against an Arizona team who is on an historic winning streak and running white hot. Should I think anything else will change?

Pittsburgh needs to win this game more than Arizona. They need to restore order to the NFL, order in which top seeded teams defeat lower seeded teams. Order in which dynasties exist and dominate. Order in which bandwagon fans and hack sportswriters are once again swept under the rug or ridiculed for their lack of knowledge, foresight and common sense. Order in which the axiom of Defense Wins Championships rings true once again.

I could continue on schemes, analysis, unit and player comparisons and mystic signs from the beyond until the cows come home. But I need none of that to tell you who will win. Arizona themselves determined that the day they left Phoenix for Tampa. The Phoenix mayor and Cardinal mascot had the audacity to desecrate the Terrible Towel. You think this does not damn them to status of Super Bowl loser? Oh, evidence will point otherwise.

In 2005, after a win in Pittsburgh, Bungles receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh shined his shoes with a Terrible Towel. When they faced Pittsburgh in the playoffs that year, they lost Carson Palmer to injury and the game. And since, they’ve headed back down the black hole to NFL obscurity. The Ravens tried to do that this year too. They lost to Pittsburgh three times, most notably in the AFC Championship game. And after a game against Pittsburgh this year, a game they won, several Tennessee Titans gleefully stomped on the Terrible Towel. After that game, they lost their regular season ending game and their only playoff game, two games in a row. Coincidence, I think not.

So with that knowledge, this game is an easy pick.

Steelers over Cardinals


Coming next week we’ll have a big game recap, a look at the newest Hall of Fame inductees, including former Steeler great Rod Woodson, a look at the upcoming draft, Pro Bowl news and a cursory glance at the horrible, desolate off season.