Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII is just two days away and that means its prediction/comment time for me. I have thought long and hard about this game and I have decided on my pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been phenomenal on defense all year long. The Arizona Cardinal have been phenomenal on offense all year long. Those two statements are what makes this Super Bowl so dramatic. You have opposites and that causes drama. The Steelers will become the all-time leader in Super Bowl wins if they can win this one with 6. Only the Dallas Cowboys and the 49er's are in company with those numbers . . . both have 5 like the Steelers.

The Arizona Cardinals were the highest scoring team in the National Football League this season. The 20 times that the highest scoring team has made it to the Super Bowl, they have won 9 times and lost 11. When you factor in the Steelers case, being that they were the defense that allowed the fewest points in the National Football League this season  - - - The teams who made it to the Super Bowl who allowed the fewest points are 12-4. Listen people, both teams have had 2 weeks off. Plenty of time to prepare, plenty of time to rehab, and plenty of time to get focused. If the Cardinals can get to "BIG BEN" and I think they will, then the Cards have a tremendous shot at winning this football game. Their front 7 is so under rated. They have been playing extremely well throughout this post season. Not to mention their first round draft pick, Cornerback Rogers-Cramarte (Tennessee State), who has just been outstanding. Going back to Arizona's front 7 . . . let me mention that they have only given up 107 rushing yards in the entire post season...  now thats serious. Hines Ward will be shut down because Cramarte won't let anything by him so that means Nate Washington and tight end, Heath Miller will have to step up. "BIG BEN" is not a rhythm quarterback . . . the Cards cannot let him scramble out of the pocket on third downs because he will hurt you. 

Can we all agree that this is a tension Super Bowl? So much drama and anticipation. Cardinals Quarterback, Kurt Warner has astounded the nation this season but he will have to be aware of the Steelers front 7 and pretty much their entire defense . . . what makes Pittsburgh's secondary so good is the fact that they just do their assignments. They are in sync at all times and that is what makes them tough to beat. However, I would be extremely careful if I were the Steelers defense because you do not want to blitz Kurt Warner. He is extremely good against the blitz. In fact, Warner was the 6th best verse the blitz this season. He can get rid of the ball fast and he is accurate when he throws it. Not to mention he has three receivers who have caught for over 1,000 yards a piece. 

For example, The Philadelphia Eagles 15 out of the 30 pass plays. Kurt Warner was 10 of 15 with no picks and 181 yards with the Eagles blitzing him. Now the Steelers defense has been prolific for the most part. They only allowed 10 catches for 92 yards combined against T.O., Plaxico, and Randy Moss . . . oh yeah and just 1 touchdown...that came week 14 (T.O.). 

That being said, I love Dick Lambeau just as everyone else does but I am not picking the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. Ike Taylor and the Steelers defense will be so focused on Larry Fitzgerald that Anquan Boldin is going to have a terrific game. I'll take Kurt Warner as MVP and Boldin a close second if not a "sharing MVP."               SCORE >>>>

Steelers-19

Cardinals-26

Well we are getting closer and closer to Super Bowl XLIII and my pick will be first seen on the blog by 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. I feel like we are haring too much about the two quarterbacks in this game and why not right . . . I mean they are a pretty big key to their perspective team. I have already posted about the two quarterbacks that you can READ below...

In this particular post I would like to talk about the Arizona Cardinal's wide outs : Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, and Larry Fitzgerald. This may be one of the best trifector of receivers we have ever seen in the National Football League. You never find a trio of receivers that have caught over 1,000 yards a piece in one season (Fitzgerald - 1,431 Boldin- 1,038 Breaston- 1,006). I think that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have a BIG PROBLEM covering these playmakers with the 3-4 defense they run. Yes, the Steelers have done what they needed to do all year and that is to make it "click." They all do their own assignments and it works. But when you have THREE athletes like this to worry about, it is unlike any other challenge a defense has faced such as the Steelers. 

Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston have combined for 26 touchdowns this season. That is about 60 percent of the Cardinals offense. They are a one dimensional  team...although Tim Hightower has played extraordinarily well in the post season. But the running game does not matter because I do believe the Steelers will shut down any run game that the Cards put out there. Going back to the three receivers, they WILL be an impact win or lose in the Super Bowl. Mostly, Boldin because I think the Steelers will focus more on the play of Fitzgerald.

When it all comes down to who wins the game and who doesn't ... I guarantee these triplets will have a SAY! The Steelers will have to rely on playing zone if they are going to win because if you blitz Kurt Warner, your going to get burnt when these three come out to play!

MY Quarterback Is Better Than Yours

Two quarterbacks that have winning records in the playoffs >>> Ben Roethlisberger 7-2 and a Super Bowl & Kurt Warner 8-2 No Super Bowl. Two people that are experienced. Two guys who have been there and done that. Two quarterbacks who played at "no name schools" - - - the two are not the Florida, USC, and Alabama guys. Big Ben, as they like to call them in the "Steel City" of Pittsburgh, went to Miami University (Ohio). Kurt Warner was an undrafted field general from Northern Iowa. 

At this point in their career who would you want? A quarterback who was released from the Green Bay Packers his first year there and on the verge of not making it anywhere. A quarterback who no NFL teams were willing to take a chance on so he went on to play in the Arena Football League later to be named first-team All Arena in both 1996 and 1997....also named 12th on a list of the all-time best players to ever play in the Arena Football League.......

ORRR.......

Would you want a guy that has proven himself since day one. A guy who won a Super Bowl (Pitt vs. Seattle 21-10) in just his second season under center in the National Football League. A quarterback who was named AP Offensive Player of The Year in 2004. A field general who did not have an offensive lineman that could play the game this year and he still willed the team to a Division Championship and an AFC Championship. 

Furthermore, this was Big Ben's first season where he played the full 16-game schedule. He completed just 59 percent of his passes which was down from the previous season where he completed 65 percent of his passes. Thanks to Allen Flaneca Roethlisberger did not have much of an offensive line whatsoever. I think Kurt Warner has been through more dramatic situations in his life, therefore making him the more experienced quarterback. Warner is going to try to set his spot in Canton, Ohio by winning this football game coming up this Sunday. 

Finally, I would love to take the guy who has already won a Super Bowl but I would take Kurt Warner right now. After watching him throughout the year, over and over...Warner does not telegraph passes. He's poise and accurate . . . and I just like him at this point. Warner beat 3 playoff teams in a row to get to this point...part of that is the coaching staff. When Arizona wins....don't ya think something is up...? Both of these quarterbacks are super stars now and much credit is deserved across the board. It is tough to pick from one of these two . . . but I will always go to the elderly before I go to a guy who is just starting to perform in his prime. Guess we'll see this Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII. 

Keep Yo Mouth Shut...

"My" number 2 rated (soon to be number 1 rated) Duke Bluedevils took on Gary William's Maryland Terrapins yesterday and crushed the Terps 85 to 44. This was the largest margin of vicotry for Duke in 164 meetings with the Terps. Duke showed the nationa that they were the absolute number one team in the nation come January 26, 2009 (Monday) when they do the new rankings. 

The story of this game was Maryland player, Greivis Vasquez, was quoted saying "That's my house," the junior guard said. "I love going in there. It's going to be fun." What a bold statement for such a mediocre player in the nation. Well guess what Vasquez it is not your house. You played a total of 28 minutes and had three turnovers to one assist and just four points. Your garbage man . . . sorry. Do not come into Cameron Indoor Stadium and say that it is your house because its not.

I think we all know who's house it actually is. Vasquez is an over hyped half white half tan dude who should have kept his mouth shut. It always fails for players when they make statements like this and guess what they usually get "ROLLED!" This was a prime example of stupidity. Maybe next time Greivis will learn his lesson or maybe not. Obviously, he is not a very educated person or he would have done it the first time...oh well hopefully he learned his lesson to not say anything about the team from Durham :) :) :)

Bad Taste

The Detroit Pistons played the Dallas Mavericks Friday Night and I had a chance to watch this game before I went to go see the movie "Revolutionary Road." The Mavs, who had lost five of seven coming into the game, came to Auburn Hills and showed that they are still a contender thanks to big Brandon Bass - - - who had 18 points ((not usual(Bass's season high)). 

The story I want to talk about is the Pistons decision to get rid of Chauncey Billups. Billups was acquired by Denver while Allen Iverson came back east where he once played (Philadelphia). The Pistons are 20-18 with Iverson and they are at best, mediocre in the Eastern Conference. Detorit is also 3-7 in their last 10 games. Listen, I am not going to set here and say "I told you so...but I told you so." The Pistons are struggling to figure out what works with their team and who meshes in with the right group on the hardwood. I know Iverson is a scoring machine who is going to be a Hall of Famer most likely. Iverson is looking for his first NBA Championship and it does not look good right now for him in Detroit. 

The Pistons are now trying to see if Rip Hamilton, one of the most under rated players in the game today, can come off the bench and get production. We have seen now - - - after doing this twice...that it does not look like this is going to work. Listen....Rodney Stuckey is an uprising superstar but there was no reason to get rid of someone like Chauncey Billups, who is already a "PROVEN" superstar. I mean you can say that the Eastern Conference is weak and it is.....right now the Pistons would be the 5th seed with a 24-18 record. 

The Pistons are one of the most experienced ... if not the most experienced teams next to the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association. Piston's first-year coach, Michael Curry, has a rough road ahead of him if he cannot find the right mesh. There is no question the Pistons have the talent, experience, and motivation . . . but it is all up to Curry to get his team's chemistry in the right order. 

That being said....the Pistons will make the playoffs...there is no doubt in my mind (only because of a weak Eastern Conference). They'll sneak in as a 5 or 6 seed with 43 or 44 wins under their belt but this team is not going to be able to beat a decent team in a 7-game series when it comes playoff time if they cannot get their chemistry together. 

PISTONS=DISARRAY 

The 81 Point Anniversary

Today marked the day that Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors just three years ago (January 22, 2006). The 81 points scored by Kobe was the second highest total a player has ever went for in a National Basketball Association game. Bryant, who in my opinion is the best player in the Association, is probably the only player that could score 81 points in a game these days. The NBA scoring record for one game is Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 points in March of 1962. I think we will all remember Kobe's outburst for a long - long time. Both Bryant and Chamberlain had methotical nights that we rarely ever see in basketball. I do not think our/"my" generation will ever see anyone score over 65 points in a game.

If I have to "pick" any player that I would bet on to even come close to 81 or 100 points in a game...it would definitely be KOBE BRYANT. Lets face it...games like this do not come around often. It took a player 40 years to even come close to 100. 

There is no question that this is one of the best sports moments in my entire life that has occurred. Kobe is simply amazing. Some of the most astonishing plays have been created around Kobe Bryant. He is the only player that can get a shot off anytime he wants and he his so so clutch in the last five minutes of any ball game....oh yeah and he shoots about 95 percent from the charity strike at the end of a close game "cough cough" LE b R "cough" oN. Anyways.....Lastly, we should celebrate this day. I know I will never forget the day because it is one day before my mother's birthday....how will you remember????!!!...

The Presidential Inauguration

Just some short thoughts of my own....

I watched CBS's coverage of Obama's Inauguration and I thought the broadcast was extremely positive. The media really pulled toward high hopes and you could tell through the interviews that they did after his speech that people had a positive view toward the future. The Inauguration was spirited and you could feel the excitement throughout Obama's speech. Obama's speech was one of my favorite parts. The speech was inspirational and touching. I do not think people will remember the speech first. I think it will be the atmosphere that people remember first. The energy of everyone witnessing this event is what I think people will remember when we talk about this 25 years from now. Overall, the Inauguration was an exciting event to watch (I wish I could have been there). Obama has a thick task ahead of him. We are in two wars and our economy is down the drain right now. I have faith in Obama. As Obama said, "there is no excuses, we can do this..."

I'm not going to tell you whether I voted for him or not...but I will say this. My prediction - - - 5 years from now Obama will have made America a better place to live :)