Can Arizona do it again? Or Will Pittsburgh win a record sixth Super Bowl?

Super Bowl XLIII may not feature an unbeaten team, but the intrigue and the build up, with a loveable underdog, is just as interesting.

Granted, the point spread is around seven points in favor of Pittsburgh, but there are still many who are doubting Arizona.  Both teams seek historic endings.

This would be Arizona’s first world championship. The importance of this can’t be underscored. This is the first time this franchise has done something meaningful in more than 40 years.

Then you have the Steelers, who are seeking a record sixth title. They are currently tied with San Francisco and Dallas with five apiece. A sixth title is akin to Yankee dominance in baseball.

You have the journeyman Kurt Warner, who has turned around not one but TWO franchises. He is 1-1 in the Super Bowl.

His counterpart, Ben Roethlisberger, has one title under his belt. But, it was obvious, and by his own admission that he wasn’t the reason the Steelers beat the Seahawks.

The key was Willie Parker, who had a coming out party. He’s healthy again, which could be bad news for the Cardinals.

Arizona has its own star in Larry Fitzgerald, who has supplanted himself in these playoffs as one of the top wide receivers in the game. He will need to come up big for Arizona to stay close.

But me saying that is a lot like what people have said about Arizona all along. They said the Cardinals couldn’t beat Atlanta. Then when they did, no one gave them a chance against Carolina.

After that blowout win, there was no way Philly would lose, especially after beating Arizona on Thanksgiving. But, of course, we know differently.

I’d love Arizona to win. It can win.

But Pittsburgh’s defense will be the key. That, and Parker will be able to have a good game.

It all boils down to a 24-14 Steelers win.

By the way, I would have Musa pick the game but he was way off his game when we stopped during college football. He went as far as to pick a Citadel upset over Florida. I knew then he was grasping at straws. Perhaps time away will help himthink clearly, so I might put his prediction up.

Update, Jan. 31, 8:30 p.m.: Well, Musa wouldn’t come to a decision. I asked several times and he wavered. I’m guessing he picked a tie, but we all know that’s not possible.

What say you?

Post from: Organized Chaos

The first Jerk of the Week for 2009 is New York Jets running back Thomas Jones. He threw quarterback Brett Favre under the bus after the Jets lost to Miami in the regular-season finale. Favre threw three interceptions and Jones, who thinks he’s the best running back in the league, said the veteran should have been benched.

Jones went on to say he was “ticked” and that the guys are all “playing for the Super Bowl.” Well, news flash Mr. Jones, you were officially out of the playoff race at halftime. Plus, Favre is the best option at QB. AND it’s the coach’s decision, so maybe you should have pointed your anger there.

Here’s the big fact: Favre made the Jets a better team. Yes, Chad Pennington went to Miami and helped turn the Dolphins into a playoff team, but Favre showed the ability to stretch the field with a stronger arm. Pennington is a good QB, but teams would have been able to stop the run more with him in the lineup.

So Mr. Jones, you should thank Favre for turning you into a better running back. You had more yards and more scores due to defenses needing to respect Favre. But instead of thanking him you chose to be a jerk.

I wonder how many yards you’ll have next season with the mighty Kellen Clemens as your QB? I’m guessing not as much as in 2008. Then you can stab him in the back when things aren’t going well.

You and those anonymous teammates have done nothing compared to what Favre has done. You were a castoff for Cedric Benson of all people. So, know your place and keep your mouth shut.

Dishonorable mention: Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans. You came out and said you should have been named the offensive rookie of the year over Matt Ryan. You said since you made the Pro Bowl then you should have earned the honor.

Well, playing running back is a lot easier than quarterback. Matt Ryan turned a franchise around. All you did, while having a good season, was provide a complement to LenDale White. And you failed to show up in big games later in the year.

Ryan was consistent and deserved the award. You did well, but maybe this will teach you to do what Mr. Jones hasn’t learned: to keep your thoughts to yourself.

Post from: Organized Chaos

The Juice was found guilty last week on several counts of armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas. The former Buffalo Bills running back, who was aquitted of murder some 13 years ago, told the court he thought he was doing nothing wrong in trying to retrieve stolen property.

Well, O.J., threatening someone with a gun and stealing is wrong in just about everyone’s book. We all know you have skewed view of right and wrong, but perhaps the at leats nine years you’ll spend in prison will jar your memory. He’ll be behind bars until he’s 70 and could be in longer.

Then there’s Plaxico Burress, who last week was suspended for the remainder of the season after shooting himself in a club. The often troubled wide receiver might not play with the New York Giants again, and he has no one to blame but himself.

This is a guy who has missed countless meetings and training sessions. He’s been fined enough money to keep Wewahitchka running for a good four months and he thinks nothing of it.

Now, he shot himself in a club with a gun that was tucked away into his sweatpants. Yes, he wore sweatpants to a club.

Both of these guys can be put into the category of nimrod. They both had a full life ahead of them. And now it’s anything but.

O.J. could flash his smile anywhere and pick up and endorsement, and he basically got away with murder (whether he did it or not is not the point, but you’d think you’d keep your nose clean). Plaxico could do the same, plus he was making mega millions catching a football.

Now both are worthless. And they will have to rebuild reputations that have become tarnished. Good luck with that.

Dishonorable mention: United States automaker CEOs. You guys recently flew to Washington, D.C., asking for a bailout. Oh, and those flights came on company jets, which cost more than $20,000 per trip and each worth several hundred million dollars.

Imagine how many of the expected job losses you could save by selling these jets. Better yet, how bout giving up some of you $25 million salary.

Or, make better cars that have better gas mileage and won’t break down on the way to Walmart. Or, heck, make them more affordable. You know I saw an ad for an high-priced SUV, where the commercial had the fortitude to say the $12,000 you save is immense.

The final price tag was $57,000. Yeah, we’ll all be out to buy that in the morning.

Post from: Organized Chaos

Musa is trailing me and many have deduced it was the tape worm and not the near-death experience that gave him his powers. Either way, he’s down and looking to get back up. The season is drawing to a close and he has to make his move quick if he’s going to do it.

Here we go.

His college picks: South Carolina over Florida, Florida State over Boston College and New Mexico over my alma mater, Colorado State University.

His NFL picks: Chicago over Green Bay and Washington over Dallas.

My picks: Florida, FSU, CSU, Green Bay, Washington.

Musa’s football record last week: 1-4
Musa’s misc. record: 0-1 (presidential election)
Musa’s baseball record: 3-4
Musa’s football record: 20-20
Musa’s overall record: 23-25

My football record last week: 3-2
My misc. record: 1-0 (presidential election)
My baseball record: 5-2
My football record: 23-17
My overall record: 29-19

Post from: Organized Chaos

First, I don’t think he’s recovered from the election. He was way off, just like I said. Plus, I must have had some bad Sonic last night because I’m torn up, but you don’t need to know about that.

We’ll return with more picks next week.

Musa’s football record last week: 1-4
Musa’s misc. record: 0-1 (presidential election)
Musa’s baseball record: 3-4
Musa’s football record: 20-20
Musa’s overall record: 23-25

My football record last week: 3-2
My misc. record: 1-0 (presidential election)
My baseball record: 5-2
My football record: 23-17
My overall record: 29-19

Post from: Organized Chaos

You see, she’s an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan and would like nothing better than her team to defeat Florida on Saturday. However, she is a realist and knows the game won’t be easy to win. Plus, she works with a ton of Gators fans and she doesn’t want to hear about it if Georgia loses.

Musa may be cognizent of this fact as he took longer than usual to make the pick for the game. Well, here it is.

Musa’s college picks: Florida State over Georgia Tech, Texas Tech over Texas and Georgia over Florida.

His NFL picks: Houston over Minnesota and Dallas of the New York Giants.

My picks (and these are difficult): FSU, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Giants. (this could change the standings dramatically)

Musa’s football record last week: 2-3
Musa’s baseball record: 3-4
Musa’s football record: 19-16
Musa’s overall record: 22-20

My football record last week: 4-1
My baseball record: 5-2
My football record: 20-15
My overall record: 25-17

Post from: Organized Chaos

I’ll have his official presidential race selection in the near future. I aksed him to pick several weeks ago and the pick refelected the polls at the time. I’m not giving anything away, but you can guess who he picked. I’ll ask him again next week.

His college picks: LSU over Georgia, Alabama over Tennessee and Penn State over Ohio State.

His NFL choices: Pittsburgh over the New York Giants and San Diego over New Orleans in the London game.

My picks: Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Giants, San Diego.

Musa’s football record last week: 2-3 (he slumped in the college picks)
Musa’s baseball record: 3-3
Musa’s football record: 17-13
Musa’s overall record: 20-16

My football record last week: 2-3 (did better in college, but missed both NFL games)
My baseball record: 4-2
My football record: 16-14
My overall record: 20-16

Post from: Organized Chaos

Anyhow, here we go for more.

His college picks this weekend: Clemson over Georgia Tech, Oklahoma over Kansas and Vandy over Georgia.

His NFL choices: N.Y. Jets over Oakland and New England over Denver.

My picks: Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, Jets, Denver.

Musa’s football record last week: 3-2 (hit all the college games again)
Musa’s baseball record: 2-3
Musa’s football record: 15-10
Musa’s overall record: 17-13

My football record last week: 1-4 (North Carolina was my only win)
My baseball record: 3-2
My football record: 14-11
My overall record: 17-13

Post from: Organized Chaos

Now it will be increasingly obvious to anyone that I wasn’t cheating with my picks this week when you see what transpired. Musa is getting really good at the college choices.

Musa’s college picks (he liked the upset): Texas over Oklahoma, OK State over Missouri and North Carolina over Notre Dame (not technically an upset).

His NFL picks: Miami over Houston and Carolina over Tampa.

My picks: Oklahoma, Missouri and NC (which means he’s tied me), Miami and Carolina.

Musa’s football record last week: 3-2 (hit all the college games)
Musa’s baseball record: 1-3
Musa’s overall record: 13-11

My football record last week: 1-4 (Atlanta was my only win)
My baseball record: 2-2
My overall record: 15-9

Post from: Organized Chaos

Read my past posts for the refresher on the method.

I guess he had the foresight about that Dodgers-Cubs series. Man, that’s depressing. The two worst games of the year all at the wrong time.

Anyhow, we both went 2-3 last week.

Picks after the jump:

His college predictions: Florida State over Miami, Ohio State over Wisconsin and Vandy over Auburn.

His NFL picks: Green Bay over Atlanta, Jacksonville over Pittsburgh.

My college picks: Miami, Wisconsin, Auburn.

My NFL picks: Atlanta (based solely on thinking Rodgers won’t play), Jacksonville.

Musa’s overall football record: 9-6.

My overall football record: 12-3.

Post from: Organized Chaos

Davis, the NFL’s version of a bad joke, fired Lane Kiffin this week. He went a few steps beyond that by holding a press conference, telling the media how bad of a coach Kiffin was, how he didn’t want to draft JaMarcus Russell (who may not pan out, mind you) and how he didn’t get along with Davis. He even had visual aids and read a letter he sent to Kiffin. At least he can read.

He did everything short of brining out the Easter Bunny to sing the Raiders fight song, which goes something like this I think: Oakland, fight on. Forge into battle strong. Lose all night long. Oakland, fight on. There’s more losing at the dawn.

I’d be amazed to find anyone who would get along with Davis. His press conference only made him look like more of a jerk. His days of glory are well behind him, yet he thinks he is still relevant in today’s NFL.

He’s old and needs to move along. Lane Kiffin has already and he’ll make one heckuva coach someday, just like that other guy Davis ran out of town, Mike Shanahan, who has defeated the Raiders more times than Plaxico Burress has been fined by the New York Giants.

It’s so wonderful that the Raiders are the laughing stock of the NFL. They haven’t been worth anything since the Tampa Bay Bucs destroyed them in the Super Bowl a few years back.

They are a joke, and it’s all because of Davis, who thinks he can still run a team by picking players, many that have been busts, coaches and strategy. Have fun in the basement.

Dishonorable mention: Greg LeMond. You know, you used to be the best American cyclist. That is until Lance Armstrong took the spotlight away from you. Now you cry foul, saying Armstrong is dirty, yet he’s never tested positive for any banned substance.

You confronted Armstrong, Mr. LeMond, but he was too smart and deflected your questions. Get over it. Stop being jealous. You had a nice run. Let Armstrong live his life, especially after all he went through.

Post from: Organized Chaos

Here’s the rundown of how it happens:

My cat, like all animals, likes a bit of attention and petting. He also likes to talk, though my wife believes he can’t understand us. That’s another issue.

I face him away from me and make sure he’s looking straight ahead. And yes, he actually does this. I pet him some then ask him the names of the teams that are playing.

Whichever direction he looks after I call his name is the team he picks. The first team name is to the left and the second is to the right. Pretty simple, eh?

His first weekend he was 4 for 5, hitting on Wisconsin, USC, Georgia and Dallas, while missing the Denver-San Diego game, though that had a controversial ending and really should have gone the way of the Chargers.

I have him pick three college games and two NFL games for the time being, with more in the future. I’ll pick against his choices and we’ll see what happens. I was 5 for 5 on the first picks.

His college picks for this weekend are: Georgia over Arizona State, Florida State over Wake Forest and Tennessee over Florida.

His NFL picks are: Philly over Pittsburgh and San Fran over Detroit.

My picks: Georgia, Wake Forest, Florida, Philly and San Fran.

What do you think?

Post from: Organized Chaos