Thoughts From My Desk February 12th Edition

There are a lot of topics I want to cover today, so I'll lump them together in one huge Super blog.

Texas to the Big Ten?: In a deal that would be a home run for the Big Ten and makes no sense for Texas. The Big Ten would bring in a huge amount of money and viewers for its network. Texas would lose some tradition and make them invest on more jets to get around to play its new conference foes. It would make the Big Ten the most powerful conference in College Football and maybe have us catch less crap from the media. I don't think it will happen. Missouri and Pitt seems like more realistic options for next year's expansion. But good job to the Big Ten for exploring all options.

Damon to the Tigers?: Not a good idea. When your trying to play youngsters, eat salary and cut spending, why would you sign a 36 year old Damon to play Center field? It would mean Austin Jackson would be in Toledo and the Tigers are paying Damon for 2 years, probably close to 14 million dollars. Sure the fan base would be happy, but its not a good move. He could fall apart at any time. Why not just bring back Sheffield at this point?

Culhane out at WMU?: Hooray! We lose a coach who's winning percentage is less than 40%. He came into the program when it needed some time off from scandal and was a young coach with NHL and WMU experience. Now, after failing to build on from last season, it looks like he is out. Let the courting of Ken Hitchcock begin!

Stallworth to the Lions?: Why not? He has paid his debts to society and seems genuinely sad about what he did. He had an accident. It was a very stupid decision sure, but what Mike Vick did was worse because it was done repeatedly. On the football side of things, he would be a nice comeback story and solid option at WR to replace Northcutt and Bryant Johnson if either are released (Bryant looked solid sometimes last year). Also, the Lions would get him on the cheap. Something will probably go down the next few days.

Bengals work out Pacman, maybe sign TO?: Both would be typical Bengal moves. Could TO take a backseat to OchoCinco? Could Pacman continue the "scrapheap" success the Bengals have had the last few seasons? This is a team that needs to keep their foot on the pedal if they expect to make the playoffs consistently.

You're Welcome! Super Bowl And Beyond

This week saw the crowning of a new Super Bowl champ and the real start to "March" Madness. Pitchers and Catchers report next week. Spring seems so close, even with that Snowpacolypse we just got here in Michigan.

1. New Orleans Saints- This was an easy one. The Saints won their first Super Bowl with an inspired effort. With how bad the Saints have been (probably up there with the Lions over the past 40+ years) they give hope to less successful franchises (and me) and New Orleans is loving it. To see a city and team rebound like they have is awesome. I love that Drew Brees got the MVP and played so well. He is a real comeback story. They gave the world a huge You're Welcome Sunday Night.

2. Illinois Fightin' Illini Basketball- Bruce Weber is a very good and underrated coach. He has his scrappy team playing so well that they have won three games in a row and now are in a tie for the Big Ten regular season title. They won a prime time game against the talented Spartans and beat the Badgers on the road. No ranked team has ever beaten Bo Ryan at home. Before last night. Trust me, the Illini will be ranked next week.

3. Washington Capitals- They just keep winning! Ovechkin is my choice for league MVP, and his Caps are playing better than anyone could have imagined. The core of talent (Semin, Green) is supporting Alexander the Great. I have a real hunch they will top the all time wins in a row record for the NHL and continue this success in the playoffs. Them and the new look Devils (Kovalchuck! Now they have offense!) are the best chance the Eastern Conference has of winning the Cup. These playoffs should be great this year, building on last year's success.

Super Bowl: Good And Bad

Yesterday's Super Bowl was a pretty good game besides the Colts not showing up after the first ten minutes. Great commercials, a perfect setting and the New Orleans Saints winning their first Super Bowl made this game one to remember.

First I'll be a killjoy. CBS did a great job. Jim Nantz and Phil Sims do a great job and could be the best duo in the business. But why was everybody so kind to owner Tom Benson? He almost kicked the team out of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, yet they treated him like a long suffering hero. I don't get it. If the Lions ever win a Super Bowl (I almost typed "when" then laughed and put if) and anybody is nice to the Old Man (William Clay Ford III, aka the life ruiner) afterwards I will throw my TV out the window and burn it. Luckily, my TV is safe at home as we type.

Good: Drew Brees and the shot of his son. It was very heartwarming. He also played amazing and shook off early game miscues to do very well. He earned that MVP award.

Sean Payton: Onside kick, great game plan, and your team brought it. Best coaching job in the Super Bowl this decade.

Saint's Defense: Really brought the heat and kept Peyton Manning off rhythm.

Joseph Addai: This guy always shows up on the Super Bowl

Snickers Commercial: Very funny, and who knew Abe Vigoda is still around?

E-Trade: Slowly but surely becoming a Super Bowl titan. Those babies are great actors.

Bud Light: Of course, they make excellent stuff.

Megan Fox: Ooooooooh yeah. What was she selling?

Dorito's Commercials: All of them were very good, especially the little kid. They have really delivered the last few years.

Bad: The Who absolutely sucked. They used to be so good. But now at the AARP Super Bowl Halftime Show Presented by Poligrip is getting bad. The Boss, Tom Petty, Prince and Paul McCartney did an awesome job. I don't think its very good to have half an old band play at the biggest half time of the year. I don't know who will play next year but I hope they actually show up.

Coca Cola's Commercials: The Sleepwalker was cool for about 12 seconds then I didn't care. The Simpsons one wasn't funny.

The Colts: Scored 10 points, then disappeared. Really disappointing from a sure fire winner. Peyton Manning played well, but not well enough and that interception was awful. Tony Dungy must work for DiGiorno's because he didn't deliver either.

Queen Latifah: Lame version of a great song. Poor America, The Beautiful.

Danica Patrick: She makes two many commercials which are basically the same thing every time. And she has one more Indycar win than me.

Pretty solid night overall, I went home and enjoyed my mother's cooking (her homemade hot wings are the best in the world) and enjoyed the game. After we have been spoiled the last few years, we get a two touchdown victory.

Mom's Super Bowl Picks

Now here are my Mom’s picks and her way of predicting who will win the Big Game later today. They are a little different than what you may see on some sports blogs, but she does have a better winning percentage than me. Happy Super Sunday!!!

I don't know why Weston asked me to write on his blog, but while we were waiting at the orthopedic surgeon's office we compared percentages. He had to pick more games than me, but he was at 12.6% winning percentage and I was at 50%. So I figured what the heck. I know absolutely nothing about the stats for any team or player. Weston remembers every stat for every team, player and sport since the Northside Nordic Vikings played the South Central Crusaders, but he can't remember to pick up his socks.

I feel some of my best memories were around horses. Watching the races on the Wide World of Sports and when my Uncle Bill would saddle up a horse and put me up and walk up and down the driveway. And I grew up in the era of the westerns. The Mannings seem like such a nice family as I said before which is refreshing in these times. Indianapolis is probably a nice city but I am definitely a small town girl.

I still don't know anyone on the Saints team except Drew Brees. I heard on TV he is very nice. The only information I have on New Orleans is what I've seen on cops. Women raising their shirts to get some cheap plastic beads, and guys using the streets as a restroom. Seeing how much you can drink and how many fights you can have. You only get one chance to make a first impression.

Colts 42 Saints 38

Super Bowl Preview Challenge: Part I

I had my mom pick the two championship games and she went 1-1 equally my win total for the playoffs. Now I will have her pick the Super Bowl as well, but this time I will go head to head to see who does better. I will also add my insight into the game. Also, I will start my video blog a little later. My knee injury has set my back in school and I need to catch up and get stuff together before I start because I want it to be good, not something thrown together.

We know the teams coming in to this game, two offense juggernauts with underrated defenses playing in the big game. They were the best teams in the regular season, undefeated for 14 games (Colts) and 13 games (Saints) and dominant in most of those wins. Peyton Manning has been the best Quarterback in the league over the last decade, and Drew Brees has put up ridiculous numbers for the last few years in New Orleans in Sean Payton's video game offense. This year the Saints added a running game to balance stuff out, and Darren Sharper has been a great leader and playmaker for a defense that was awful last year. Colt's rookie head coach Jim Caldwell has led the team to a remarkable season and hasn't missed a beat from Tony Dungy.

The Colts must avoid letting up too many big plays. Accept that you will give up some big plays to the Saints on offense and defense and go from there. Manning is smart and will prepare well. If the Colts can find any running game (similar to when it came alive against the Bears in the last Colts Super Bowl) it will help keep Brees on the sidelines. With Dwight Freeney either out or severely limited it means the Colts must sit back and play coverage, because I don't think they will be able to hit home on any pass rush.

The Saints must keep their foot on the pedal and don't let up the aggression on offense, defense or special teams. They need to use the emotion of being here and play loose. They looked vulnerable to a couple of bad teams and need to get off to a quick start. They have to hit hard and try to get to Manning and get him off his rhythm. Someone will have to step up on offense besides Brees to be a leader and help get this team a win.

Despite the Cinderella story Saints winning and beating Favre and Warner in the playoffs, I don't see them winning. The Colts are too well rounded and prepared for this. They have experience and smarts and should take home the Lombardi trophy.

Colts 28 Saints 21

You're Welcome!

This week leading up to the Super Bowl is one of the most over rated in sports. The media day is worthless and both teams know who to shut down by now. The strategy doesn't matter if you don't execute. Sometimes a interesting story comes by, but for the most part I just sit and wait for the Super Bowl. After Sunday, college basketball really starts to take off and the madness begins a little early. Even pitchers and catchers report in a few weeks. Now here is the You're Welcome!

1. Jimmy Howard- When I said that the Red Wings had to give this kid a chance in a put up or shut up opportunity, I didn't think he would play this well. But he is putting up big time save numbers on a regular basis and keeping the Wings in games they should have lost. He may not be the long term solution, but he is at least keeping the Wings in the playoff race, keeping the goaltending position warm for Ozzie in April.

2. The NFL- Not only did you sell out the Pro Bowl this year (doesn't happen very often) it got the highest ratings ever for the Pro Bowl. I think we can account that to having it the week before the Super Bowl. Having it be in Miami helped too. I don't see why a city with no NFL (and is never going to get one) should have the Super Bowl. The NHL wouldn't put an All Star game in Kansas City and the NBA wouldn't put one in Baltimore, so why does the NFL? Although some of the best players didn't play people still watched. Now I think it should go one step further, and have the game the Saturday before the Super Bowl. How would that weekend look?

3. Wisconsin Badger Basketball- The Kohl Center is one of the toughest places to play in the nation. Tom Izzo has never beaten Bo Ryan there. They don't even have a very good student section and they still keep winning at home. The Badger 1950's style of offense can give any team a hard time and they play so fundamentally sound that it is hard for any team to win. The Spartans still are a top 5 team (hopefully Kalin's ankle is ok) but the Badgers are the second best team in the Big Ten.

NFC North Stereotypes Itself, Chicago Bears Don't Learn

The Chicago Bears have hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator, to jump start a struggling attack and have Jay Cutler realize his true potential. Only they forgot he didn't work out with Detroit or San Francisco and while being the Head Coach in St. Louis Martz couldn't win the big one with a very talented team. This hire will do nothing but waste the talent of Matt Forte, who will see his carries reduced even more. He does have some of the skill set of Marshall Faulk, but Chicago's offense does not have the wide receiving talent that the Rams did so the it may limit an already tough offense to master.

I saw the Lions run this offense for two years, and although it kept us competitive in a lot of games, it helped us lose many more. We had zero running game and Kitna was repeatedly sacked and pressured into make terrible throws. The turnovers were too much for most teams to overcome and the Lions lost often. The Bears have more talent overall, but with an aging defense and offensive line, can they afford to expose their weaknesses so much? The answer is no. With rumors of Rod Marinelli being the Bear's new defensive coordinator it is obvious Chicago wasn't paying attention when the Lions lost all those games.

The NFC North has a nasty habit recycling players and coaches. This is just a prime example of it. Bernard Berrien played with the Bears, then the Vikings. Culpepper with the Vikings then the Lions. Favre with Green Bay then Minnesota. Kevin Jones was released by the Lions, then picked up by Chicago. There are more examples that will prove my point further. In the division that refuses to change, I suppose borrowing players from one another is a good way to keep your systems intact.