The Frozen Wastelands of Late January Football

This Sunday marks the Conference Championships in the NFL. Only four teams remain. In the AFC there are the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the NFC there are the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. No matter who wins on Sunday and then goes to the Super Bowl, these games sound like they could've been from 40 years ago. There's no Jaguars, Buccaneers, Texans, or Titans. No Panthers either. There are four teams who all have storied legacy. To the Namath Jets of the 60s, to Bradshaw's Steel Curtain in the 70s all of these teams feel right. That's not to say I deny it when a newer team goes the distance, I just like it when the old school teams are able to march all the way to late January.

So what are my predictions?

NFC

I think Chicago playing at home will be too much for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. If Cutler plays smart and Hestor keeps giving him good field position they have a good shot at winning. Chicago defense will take care of the rest.

Chicago 24- Green Bay 14. Bears return to the Super Bowl after a four year absence.

AFC

I can't stand either of these teams. Coming from Indiana I'm a Colts fan. The Jets knocked out them out in the Wild Card game so I can't root for New York. I don't like the Steelers attitude. Especially James Harrison, he's a dirty player and I don't like the way he plays the game. Unfortunately, the Steelers do and that is why he is still on their roster. I'd rather see the Jets win because I think the Bears would have a better shot of beating them in Dallas. However, I think the Steelers will contain Sanchez and Rothlisberger will be too big physically for the Jets D to stop.

Pittsburgh 28- Jets 21. Steelers also return to the Super Bowl after a two year absence.


Next week I'll write up a little something something about the Big Game.

              

When Did Athletes Become Community Saviors?

This blog may seem out of date, but who cares. Recently the Nike Commercial below was released starring LeBron James. In the commercial, LBJ takes on his critics and asks them a simple question...

What should I do?



In the months following the Decision, the 90 minute press conference James gave in which he announced he would be leaving Cleveland and joining the Miami Heat organization, I've never waivered from my initial personal decision that he was right to leave.

One man, especially an athlete, should never be assigned the role of City Savior. Why was it James' job to save Cleveland? The man gets paid to pass basketballs, not laws. He is an entertainer... not a politician and should be treated as such.

Pick me out a Winner, Bobby

I don't want to end up like Roy Hobbs. You know Roy. The hero of the New York Knights, who for a season in his 40s shined on the baseball field like he did when he was young. A savior who with his bat, Wonder Boy, blew away fans and blew out light bulbs. Who made baseball something more than just a game. Who made every grown man cry, then rewind back to the beginning of the final scene to watch it twice, and then cry again.

Why wouldn't I want to be Roy Hobbs? Because I don't want to be in my 40s and meet my dreams. I want to be 28 and live out my dreams. I don't want to vanish during my formative years and succumb to lower expectations. I could blame that vanishing on my location. I live in the midwest, where it is common practice to push down dreams and go with the flow. To work jobs that are unfulfilling all the while saying "Everyone hates their jobs right?" To refuse our personal happiness and say it is noble to sacrifice. To be a martyr and say it is for the greater good. Let me blunt... this is crap.

Say it Ain't So

Offseason in football is the perfect time for players to do the following.

1. Sign with another team

2. Take a much needed vacation

3. Have an inappropriate relationship with a fan.

And as much as it saddens me when number 1 takes place, (Say it Ain't So, Jim Sorgi... you did a great job of warming the bench for Peyton), or how much I wish I had a shot at number 2 myself, (the sandy beaches of Florida never sounded so good), it is in number 3 that I am most surprised by... or should I say not surprised by.

We're all beggars

I had a dream last night I was in my car downtown waiting for Audrey to pay a bill. I noticed a beggar outside of the building. I tried not to make eye contact, looked away, and when I turned back he was literally on the hood of my car peering in. I woke up right then, disregarded the dream, and got out of bed. I turned on the computer, made a pot of coffee, and was wondering who won Game 2 last night between the Rockets and Lakers.

On my way to the computer to find out, I felt a gentle nudge to read the Bible. Not taking gentle nudges lightly, I sat down with the Bible. I prayed, with my hand on the book, that the word would speak to me about finding a job, a career, money, etc. One chapter came to mind at the end of the prayer, Acts 3, which was the book I'd been studying for a little while.

Save the Dog!

Today was the first real warm day of 2009, so Audrey and I packed up a backpack with tennis rackets, balls, and a water bottle. We went to the closest courts to pick up the game we left 8 months ago. Unfortunately, there were two other couples who had the same idea and therefore was no room for us. OK, there were two other courts, but we are so bad at tennis we didn't want to embarrass ourselves. So we waited... in the shade, by playing paper-rock-scissors, and even taking a short nap. Needless to say we weren't too happy and then finally we saw one couple wrapping things up. We stood and started over to the court. Suddenly a white truck pulled up and two dudes hopped out with rackets.

"Run Jake," Audrey cried.