Perfect Super Bowl Match-Up & More

Perfect Super Bowl Match-Up
“My Cardinals” are playing the Steelers in the upcoming Super Bowl. Let the hype begin.

For the next two weeks we are going to hear the talking heads break everything down, including what each player eats for breakfast and how that will affect his play. Nonsense.

Here is what is going to happen and why. The Steelers will win going away because their front seven will dominate Arizona’s offensive line.

How does 34-17 sound?

Two facts emerged once again during the NFL’s second season – anyone can get hot and make it to the big game and if you can keep an outstanding passer upright, you have a chance to win against a superior team.

Whatever happened to needing a signal-caller who just “managed the game?”

The Cardinals are a middle of the pack NFL team. However, they have an identity – they can throw the football, led by a pair of potential Hall of Fame receivers and the most underrated quarterback of our time – Kurt Warner. Over the next two weeks, we will be deluged with stories on how good Warner really is and how he has been under-appreciated during this career.

Nice of everyone to finally climb on board.

The same people who were ripping this guy several weeks ago when the Cardinals were being outscored late in the season in back-to-back weeks 82-21 by the Vikings and Patriots are now singing his praises.

If I showed you the video, you wouldn’t believe it. That’s why I will watch none of the next two week’s hype-fest, unless of course, I can’t locate any “House” re-runs.

As for the Steelers, they are simply very good – not great – but very good. And more importantly, they match up very well with the Cardinals. Arizona is about finesse. The Steelers are about muscle.

The ONLY way “my Cardinals” win is if their offensive line, as a unit, turns in a tremendous performance, and/or if Big Ben turns it over several times.

They won't and he won’t.

The Steelers will keep it simple – run the ball, take a few shots dowhfield and shut down the run on the way to punishing Warner and company.

Yes, I was Kurt Warner’s press agent prior to this playoff run, but I am also intelligent enough to know the Super Bowl will likely be a bad nightmare for him this time around.

He’s a statue, so if you can get to him, it will get ugly quick – much like what took place in the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

Regardless, we are pleased with the match-up.

The most stable franchise in sports today in a sports era of “no patience” and “immediate satisfaction” is about to win another Super Bowl. Meanwhile, one of the most inept franchises in all of sports finally gets a chance to play in the BIG Game.

I like it.

Here’s hoping I am off base with my analysis and the Cardinals play over their head and win.

Witnesses To Garbage
The other day, the Cavaliers lost on the road as LJ missed his final 13 shots from the field. The date of the contest and opponent are insignificant. Losses happen occasionally in the NBA for potential 60 win teams – especially on the road.

Its how they lost that bothered me – more specifically, what took place during the game’s final timeout and afterwards with seconds remaining and the Cavs down two.

Pay attention here, you won’t get this anywhere else.

Mike Brown was busy drawing a play designed to either tie the contest and send it to overtime or win it outright with a three-pointer. Meanwhile, LJ was barely paying attention and busy flapping his gums – especially as the huddle broke up after the timeout expired.

What followed made absolutely no sense if you are Mike Brown or if you have any basketball acumen (intelligence).

James proceeded to bounce the ball into the hardwood time and time again until finally launching a step-back long jumper that clanked off the rim as time expired.

We were all witnesses to this garbage.

That’s exactly what the defense was hoping for. What are the odds James hits a fade away – about 40%, at best?

The guy is shooting 50% from the field this year not because he can consistently make jumpers, but because he has continuously taken it strong to the hole, often resulting in dunks and layups for himself, or wide open looks from the perimeter for teammates off the James double and triple team.

LJ is not a jump shooter, never has been, never will be. Yes, occasionally he goes off from the perimeter, and gets 40 or more, but not on this night. Remember, he missed 12 STRAIGHT shots prior to that final paint-chipping effort.

Does anyone in their right mind believe Mike Brown and company drew up that play with the game on the line?

That choice was the worst option in James’ arsenal and he knew it. The guy has an amazing basketball IQ. Therefore, this was simply about ego. LJ wanted to test that basketball motto – “you are only as good as your last shot.”

Bad choice. Actually, terrible choice.

Someone should tell him so, but I doubt anyone has the stones to do so. The Cavaliers are afraid if the water temperature in the showers at the "Q" isn’t just right for LJ, he may skip town in 2010.

Here’s the difference between this observer and everyone else – I would be writing this same column HAD HE MADE THE SHOT. It was simply a bad option when better ones were available.

In hoisting that garbage, he undercut his coach (to those smart enough to notice) and showed a streak of selfishness/arrogance that occasionally rears its ugly head with LJ.

Here’s the point to all this – I don’t mind 23 occasionally taking bad shots during the flow of the game. He does it several times over the span of 48 minutes. That’s expected and tolerated with NBA superstars.

But when the game is on the line, I want better, Mike Brown expects better and his teammates deserve better!

Pete Carroll & Mark Sanchez
I still can’t get over Pete Carroll ripping his quarterback (Mark Sanchez) for going pro. I have never seen a head coach publicly undermine his player’s draft status like Carroll did.

Instead of privately voicing his concerns to Sanchez and his family, then going in front of the cameras and supporting the young man’s choice, he went out of his way to tell the world he didn’t think the kid was ready for the NFL.

I’m sure Sanchez and his family appreciated this selfless act by Carroll.

Poor Pete is upset he probably won’t win a National Championship next year because whatever hot-shot recruit he has taking snaps in 2009 will likely cost him a game or two.

Nice work Pete – you showed no absolutely no loyalty to your player and let everyone with good hearing know to never to get into a foxhole with you.