View My Seats

At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

The Governor of Pennsylvania Wants You to Finish Your Push-Ups

by

By far my favorite sports related story of the Blizzard of 2010 was Ed Rendell’s reaction to the NFL postponing the Eagles/Vikings game until tonight.  The Governor of Pennsylvania said, and I am not paraphrasing, “We’ve become a nation a wusses. The Chinese are kicking our butt in everything. If this were China do you think the Chinese would have called off the game?” For starters, I applaud Gov. Rendell for speaking his mind.  We live in a PC/cover your ass world and it’s refreshing anytime someone dare go near that line. However, with all due respect to the Governor, the Chinese would have definitely called off Sunday night’s game.

Now, while I can’t quite comment on the quality of snow removal machines in Sichuan Province, I can tell you that with all the snow and wind falling in Philadelphia Sunday night, it would have been next to impossible to reach Lincoln Financial Field. Not only that, but once you reach the stadium, where would you park your car?  Logistically speaking, unless all 80K ticketholders were traveling to the game on cross country skis, there would have had nowhere to put them.

So Governor Rendell, while the Chinese remain vastly superior in calculus, Americans will sit on their couches tonight and enjoy themselves some Tuesday night football live from Philadelphia, PA.

Share your views.

View courtesy of @TCtourMgmt

Statistical Analysis Shows a Correlation Between the Uniform and Winning

by

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?

View of the Day: November 11, 2010

by

Happy Veterans Day.  To all of our men and women who have served and are serving our country right now, thank you. Your honor and courage are greatly appreciated.

The Atlanta Falcons celebrated Veterans Day with a dramatic, come from behind 26-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.  After falling behind 21-20 late in the 4th quarter, Matt Ryan, with little over a minute remaining in the game, put together the signature drive of his professional career.  With :20 seconds left on the clock, Ryan connected with Roddy White for the game winning TD.  White, who was listed as questionable heading into the game, made his fantasy owners extremely happy once again, catching 12 passes for 138 yards and 2 TDs.

Many pundits regarded this game as a preview of Super Bowl XLV. I myself would not be surprised to see these two teams squaring off against one another in Dallas this February.

Share your views.  What did you think of the game?  Were you even aware that there was a Thursday night game this week?  Or, for those of you that do not get the NFL Network, would you just rather we didn’t discuss last night at all?

NFL Sunday Recap Week 7: The Near End of the Suicide Pool

by

If the Buffalo Bills were able to hold on against Baltimore and beat the Ravens, nearly every contestant in a weekly lock pool would have been knocked out of their contest.  In my league, nearly 2/3 of the remaining 39 participants were taken out by the Saints and Broncos.  I was one of the lucky 12 to take Baltimore and remain alive by the narrowest of margins.

And how long will the Super Bowl hangover last in New Orleans?  The Saints remain very unpredictable and may struggle to keep up with the emerging Atlanta Falcons.  I have no idea what to make of the Raiders 59-14 shalacking of Denver in Mile High.  Where did Darren McFadden’s performance (165 rushing yard, 4 TD’s) come from?  He hasn’t had a game like this since he was running the “Wild Hog” in Arkansas.  With Kansas City and Oakland running 1-2 respectively, the AFC West has turned over on its axis.

Who do people feel is the team to beat in the NFC?  Falcons?  Eagles? Giants? Seahawks?  Share your views.