Pajama Pants Nation

The super bowl is over. So, now, I shall make my prediction. The Giants will play the Patriots.

How’d I do?

Before I pretend I’m going to add insight into the game, let me comment on something I read in the paper the day before the game. It seems that, although churches are allowed to have super bowl parties, they are not allowed to show the game on a large screen. I’m not sure of the actual dimensions or who gets to say what screen is allowable. But I have two thoughts on it:
1) I think the NFL would be better off worrying about for-profits showing the game. (Like bars.)
2) Why would you go to a church to swear at a television?

Now, onto the game. I don’t have an allegience to either team here. Not a big fan of the Giants. Not a big fan of the Patriots. However, aside from the cheating thing, I have great respect for the way the organization is run. Their philosophy (good scouting, team-oriented players, fiscal responsibility) is not uncommon in the NFL. What sets them apart is that they have the discipline to do it even at the most difficult times. Anyway, I wasn’t sure for whom I would root during the game. It became obvious, based on whom I was swearing at during the game, that I was rooting for the Giants. Congratulations, Giants. I was with you all along, although I may not of known.

Now, on to next season, where I won’t care one or or the other about the Giants and the Patriots unless one of the is going for a perfect season.

See, of non-Dolphin fans, I am unique. I like that the 1972 Dolphins celebrate the last undefeated team losing. (If they actually do. I’ve heard reports that their celebration is urban legend.) I like that they’re clinging onto their claim to fame. Some say they should “let it go” or “get over it,” or “whatever,” or whatever. I disagree. This year, along with records like career interceptions, Brett Favre broke the record for most touchdown passes in a career. Tom Brady broke the record for most touchdown passes in a season. Barry Bonds broke the record for most home runs in a career. In each case, the previous record holder congratulated the record breaker and wished him well. Forget that. I would have rather Dan Marino looked into the camera, gave Favre the raspberry, and said, “Nerds to you, cheeseboy! I’m still the greatest.” Miss Manners would not approve; I would. It’s great that they take pride in something like that. I would, too. So kudos to the 1972 Dolphins on still being the only undefeated NFL team in history.

And here’s hoping the 2008 Vikings or 2008 Raiders rob you of your celebration next year. (I do have my priorities, fellas!)

Great super bowl! See you next season!

Now, where do I go to sign up for fantasy baseball?

Okay. Since Stephanie doesn’t watch football with me, I have to vent online.

I was watching the Colts-Bucs game on Sunday and one of the announcers–I’m not sure which one–spewed this gem:
“The immeasurables of Jeff Garcia are off the chart.”

This is the kind of thing which announcers say when a storyline player’s statistics don’t match the claims of greatness bestowed upon the player by the announcers. Other terms used are leader, intangibles, and presence. In this case, the proper response is “duh!”

Immeasurable, according to dictionary.reference.com, means “impossible to measure” and “vast.” So, yes, those things of Jeff Garcia’s which cannot be put on a chart are not put on a chart.

I know it isn’t fair to make fun of a single comment made by someone who talks for 3 hours straight, but that one struck me as being a doozie!

In the news today is a story telling how Tim Donaghy pleads guilty to betting on games and taking cash payoffs.

This is, of course, not good.

What I don’t get is the hand-wringing and “how could this happen?” Some say its the worst thing to happen to sports because now the fans don’t know that the games are on the level.
The fans NEVER knew the games were on the level. Just ask anyone in Raider Nation.

Seriously, did no one notice that NBA superstars like Michael Jordan had their own set of rules? Did anyone notice that, when the 49ers were Super-Bowl good, their cornerbacks could mug the opposing receivers while if the opponents breathed wrong on Jerry Rice they’d be called for pass interference? Do you really think Roger Clemens pitches to the same strike zone as does Boof Bonser?

As a fan, the surest way to know my team has become an elite team is when the officials start making bogus calls in my team’s favor.

The difference between the tradition playing field tilt and Donaghy’s tilt is that Donaghy bypassed Madison Avenue. The league and its marketers didn’t get to decide which teams got it a little easier and which ones got the long touchdown pass called back on a holding penalty.