At the Intersection of Sports and Culture
Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes
Two clues.
#1: This view will no doubt make my father in law very happy.
#2: “Bryce” was the 3rd most popular name for newborn boys born in the Midwest during late March 1998.
Also, December 7, 2010 marks the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It’s important that we continue to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to those who lost their lives and those who went on to serve in our Armed Forces during WWII. click for answer
About a half hour before kickoff last night, VMS contributor and lifelong Jets fan Dave asked if we could record and later post our in game commentary. In the spirit of our friendship, and for the sake of time, I have decided not to share the details of our conversation. Needless to say, Dave went to sleep a very, very disappointed young man. It’s true pal, the final score was really 45-3.
1. New England Patriots (10-2): Pats are now undefeated, 1-0, when honoring Tedy Bruschi at halftime. Please keep this in mind Mr. Kraft.
2. Atlanta Falcons (10-2): Am I alone in thinking that Chris Berman sounds soooooo 2008 when he refers to Matt Ryan as “Matty Ice”?
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): I wonder if Al Michaels has accepted the news that Ben Roethlisberger’s nose was in fact severely disfigured.
4. New Orleans Saints (9-3): When do the Saints and Falcons play each other again?
5. Chicago Bears (9-3): Is there a better home field advantage come mid/late December than Soldier Field when the Bears are winning?
6. Green Bay Packers (8-4): Anyone giving away tickets to Pack @ Gillette Stadium on 12/19?
7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): Joe Flacco may in fact be their weak link.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4): Michael Vick, most dangerous QB in the 2010 playoffs?
9. New York Jets (9-3): I’m brimming with anticipation for Mike Francesa’s excoriation of Rex Ryan for his decision to challenge the spot on a 4th and 1 on the 45 yard line in the first quarter when he would eventually decide to go for it anyway. Please don’t let me down Mike!
10. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4): May as well be the Giants or Jaguars.
As always, please feel free to share your views.
Before getting to the main course, a few quick words regarding the Sunday Night football appetizer between the Ravens and Steelers. That was an incredibly entertaining football game. Definitely worth staying up for. Ben Roethlisberger’s nose has never looked better.
Speaking of the playoffs, tonight’s Patriots/Jets game in Foxboro has some serious postseason implications. I would put my readiness level for this game somewhere between DEFCON 4 and 5. I haven’t been this excited for a regular season game since Jimmy Chitwood’s return from self imposed exile. My wife and I are expecting our first child next month and I can tell you that this would be a bad evening to go into early labor. I have been waiting for this game to start since the moment I woke up this morning. It’s a good thing I’m not under some sort of performance review because I was really bad at my job today.
Furthermore, I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself until kickoff at 8:30. I’m all caught up at work so no need to stay in the office. Went to the gym this morning so don’t need to exercise. Christmas tree is up so scratch that off the list. We don’t have a dog so there is nothing at home that I can take for a long walk. I guess the house could use a little cleaning but that can always wait until the weekend. So really, I have nothing to keep me occupied except my own thoughts and that is always dangerous. A caller on the WFAN just named Mark Sanchez this generations Joe Namath. Ughhhhhh. Never easy being a Pats fan in the Tri-State Area. Radio silence begins now. New England 27-14. GO PATS!!!!! Share your views.
Count me down as one of the many people who enjoy a good throwback uniform. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore the creamsicle throwback uniforms today during their 28-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. Longtime Tampa fans probably did not enjoy seeing their team wear the old “orange and white” as the franchise was absolutely abysmal during the first twenty years of existence until becoming the “Pewter Pirates” in 1996. Still, for fans like myself, seeing teams wearing retro uniforms brings me back to my childhood when life was much simpler and primary colors ruled supreme.
Which reminds me, as a Patriot fan I can tell you that no one, I repeat nobody, thinks their current uniform is better than the old red/white/blue Pat the Patriot. Ask my dad, who, without fail, will call me anytime the Pats are wearing the throwbacks and tell me that they ought to switch back permanently. Although, like the Buccaneers, maybe there is a connection between the uniform and winning as New England wasn’t consistently good until changing into their current unis. Come to think of it, the Patriots recent success might also have something to do with the coach and quarterback. In either case, is it Monday night yet? Share your views?
I took a family outing to Fairfield, CT today to watch the Sacred Heart Pioneers take on the Wagner Seahawks in a battle of Northeast Conference foes. The game went into overtime where Wagner would eventually defeat SHU 73-68.
As the picture indicates, plenty of good seats were still available at tipoff, which is too bad because the basketball was entertaining and the setting quite intimate. I would have expected a much larger crowd for a Saturday afternoon. Maybe everyone was watching college football on television or out buying a Christmas tree. Either way, people are missing out on a good time. Share your views.