Super Bowl: The Movie

Today begins the week where all of us football fans (and non-fans) will be blitzed with all sorts of stories and angles about the Super Bowl, from stories about the superstars to features on the cousin of the gardner’s ex-wife who bumped into a former equipment manager for the Arizona Cardinals who once saw the Saints and Colts’ locker rooms.
Just for fun, if the Super Bowl were a movie, who would you cast to be in it?
Here’s a couple of my choices.

Colts QB Peyton Manning

Played by The Janitor from “Scrubs.”

Saints QB Drew Brees

Played by Luke Wilson

Colts WR Reggie Wayne

Played by WWE wrestler Kofi Kingston

Saints RB/KR Reggie Bush

Played by actor Omar Epps

Colts center Jeff Saturday

Played by Al Borland from “Home Improvement”

Saints head coach Sean Payton

Played by Ralphie from “A Christmas Story”

And finally, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell

Played by Nein Nunb, interim co-pilot of the Millenium Falcon

Feel free to add your choices.

Saints alive!

No, this isn’t about the upcoming Super Bowl, although that’s probably a more interesting topic. Instead, it’s my main impression of President Barack Obama’s first-ever State of Union address. If you missed it, you can read the full text of the speech by clicking HERE.
There wasn’t really anything surprising from Obama’s speech, mainly a repeat of the same talking points we’ve heard several times.
What struck me as mildly disturbing, however, is how the president points to government, particularly the federal government, as being the solution to everyone’s problems. What struck me as majorly disturbing was Nancy Pelosi clapping like a seal everytime the president cleared his throat.
Basically, what I heard was this:
Need a job? The government can get one for you.
Can’t afford college? The government can pay for it.
Can’t afford health care? The government can provide it for you.
Trouble paying the mortgage? The government will pay it for you.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility? If Obama’s plans come to fruition, what will happen to personal ambition to succeed?
I don’t think THIS is what the founding fathers had in mind when they drafted the U.S. Constitution.
In fact, government, at any level, tends to screw things up when it gets involved anyway. But the president is looking for government to be the savior of the United States. Not a good thing.
* I’ve also heard a lot of people talking about how good of an orator President Obama is, and how he delievers a good speech. Can’t argue there. During the 2008 presidential campaign, I was at an event at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and stood 15 feet away from Obama when he was a senator in a tough primary contest. He’s an excellent public speaker.
But being able to deliver a good speech doesn’t make one an effective leader.
Know who else were considered to be fantastic public speakers? Adolf Hitler. Benito Moussolini. Josef Stalin. Mao Tse-Tung. How’d they work out for the countries they led?
It’s important to listen to the words. It’s more important to watch what they do. I’m not saying Obama is looking to be a dictator or anything like that, but there are times when the words don’t match the actions.
* Getting away from bashing Obama completely, I will say I liked his emphasis on improving local community colleges. I know a lot of people look at their community colleges as glorified high schools, and if you’re one of those people, I’d encourage you to look again.
Many of these institutions have top-notch programs and are offering courses comparable to what you’d find in a four-year school.
Community college has also become an option for many students who can’t afford to head straight to a four-year school after high school. I think the president was on the money when he highlighted the need to strengthen these institutions.
* I noticed at least seven instances where Obama used the word “Washington” not in a geographic sense, but in the pejorative. He’s right when he says the American people are fed up with what’s happening in our nation’s capital. However, the president should realize he’s also a part of the establishment there.

The let’s hire the worst coach out there edition championship round picks

Before I get into this week’s picks, as a lifelong Bills fan, I am absolutely stunned that Buffalo hired Chan Gailey to be its next head coach. This guy wasn’t even good enough to be an assistant in Kansas City. Yes, we are now looking to cast-offs from the Chiefs for leadership. Ugh.
No that’s not a picture of Chan. I’m just trying to convince myself there have been worse coaches.
Anyhoo, on to this week’s NFL conference championship picks.

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts: Don’t look now, but the Jets seem to be for real, having knocked off two division champions to get to this point. The team is playing at a high-level of confidence thanks to head coach Rex Ryan. The runners run, and the defense looks like it can stop anyone. QB Mark Sanchez looks more poised than a rookie should, although he’s got a little ways to go before he can be considered one of the premiere quarterbacks in the NFL. The Colts have a premiere quarterback in Peyton Manning, who won his fourth MVP award. But the Colts aren’t just Manning. Their defense is a little underrated, making mincemeat of Baltimore’s offense in the divisional round. Manning also has a talented batch of receivers to throw two, which makes up for the lack of running game. I think the Jets can win this game, but in the end, experience has to count for something, and Manning and Co. have been here before. I’ll have to go with the Colts in a close one, 23-20.

Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints: These have been the best two teams in the NFC, although both stumbled into the postseason. Still, the Vikes and Saints proved why they were the top two seeds last weekend, with New Orleans crushing the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota punching the Dallas Cowboys in the mouth. This is an interesting matchup, with the Saints relying on their high-powered passing attack and big-play defense, while the Vikings pound you with their running attack on offense and a brutal defense. Minnesota also has a quarterback you may have heard of, some dude by the name of Brett Favre, who against Dallas reminded me of some guy named Brett who used to be a great QB for the Green Bay Packers. However, I’m going with the Saints in this one, because of the home-field advantage and that it seems like New Orleans has that “it” factor some teams have to get to the Super Bowl. New Orleans 30-Minnesota 24.

Last week: 1-3 Overall: 4-4

Giving the finger

I am a big fan of the Nintendo Wii gaming system, particularly because of the interactive game play. However, it appears there are hazards to playing certain games, as evidenced by my sprained finger shown above.
I was playing a game this morning with my youngest daughter, and part of the game requires the player to move the game controller in an upward motion. Of course, I didn’t realize where I was standing, and I wound up smashing my hand into a low-hanging light fixture. Sheesh.
I don’t know what’s more embarassing: getting an injury playing the Wii, or the fact that I was specifically playing a figure skating game.

Benny sez

“But, (to use a Piece of common Sense) our Geese are but Geese tho’ we may think ‘em Swans; and Truth will be Truth tho’ it sometimes prove mortifying and distasteful.”

Giving the face a rest

I love social networking sites. I also hate them at the same time.
That’s why, for at least a little while, I’m taking a self-imposed break from Facebook and the like (not Twitter since I do not, nor will I ever, become a Twit).
Sites like Facebook are great because they are a great way to reconnect with people you would otherwise not meet up with in real life.
Unfortunately, it also allows you to use it as a sounding board, and every once in awhile, I wind up using Facebook as my therapy couch, sometimes posting without thinking and coming off sounding like a total fruitcake.
Of course, Facebook or not, that last sentiment is probably debatable anyway.
So therefore, it’s time to take a break. There are plenty of other things to do … like concentrate on this blog and my “professional” site, The Venner Vox, which you should totally check out (I never pass up on a chance to plug that site).

The divisional round picks, the “man, I’ll always be second-best” edition

OK, what an interesting chair-gripping dud of a Wild Card weekend it was in the NFL. Except for the Packers-Cardinals epic on Sunday night, most of the games were flat-out stinkers, and I’d call them unwatchable except I really did like seing New England get their butts handed to them.

Onto the divisional round picks:

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints. With apologies to Terrell Owens, but this is the game for you to get your popcorn ready. Two high-powered offenses that can score from anywhere on the field get ready to lock horns. The Saints looked to be poised to run through the entire NFL regular schedule until their bid for unbeaten status was derailed by Dallas, and New Orleans finished on a three-game losing streak. You never know what the Cardinals will do, although Arizona looks to be just as strong as they were en route to last year’s surprising run to the Super Bowl. Saints QB Drew Brees is as good as any quarterback in the league, but few do it better than Cardinals QB Kurt Warner in the post-season. I look for the Cardinals to win this one, 34-28.

Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts. Don’t let the end of Indy’s regular season fool you; this team is good. Very good. There’s a reason why Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning won his record 4th NFL MVP award this year – because he’s the best. However, Baltimore for some reason seems to turn it up a notch in the playoffs even when they stumble and bumble through the regular season. Just ask New England, a team that got punched in the mouth by the Ravens at home, where the Patriots hadn’t lost a playoff game since 1978. However, the Colts are at home, a tough place to play, and have more weapons. That’s why I like the Colts to win, although it will be a tough contest, 21-16.

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings. Tough game to call. Dallas right now is playing the best football of any team in still alive, having closed out the regular season with two shutout wins over division rivals and literally kicking the snot out of Philadelphia in the wild-card round. The “best” label could have been applied to the Vikings at the beginning of the season because they played at a high level at every aspect of the game, but they’ve slid back a bit. Like the Colts, the Vikes are very tough at home. However, I can’t pick against Dallas right now, and I think they’ll win, 27-23, and praying that someone on the Cowboys’ D puts Minnesota QB Brett Favre into retirement for good.

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers. As a Bills fan, I am required by law to officially hate the J-E-T-S, but as a football fan, I absolutely love the way they play defense and the way they run the ball. San Diego is the hottest team in the AFC as they are on an 11-game win streak. The Chargers are also on a mission, having been considered to be Super Bowl contenders for the past few years, and they know their window is closing. The Jets will prove to be a very tough opponent for San Diego, but I think the Chargers will prevail, 23-16.

Last week: 3-1; Overall: 3-1

Save us …

What does this countdown mean?
Hint: Check the banner. It was “Five” yesterday, now it’s “four.”

Where to go, and what to do …

I have to admit, I’m at a bit of a loss when it comes to this blog, and I’m not sure what I should do at this point.
Since I started the Venner Vox, my “official” blog at the Recorder, this site has really fallen by the wayside, to the point where I can barely update it once or twice a week.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m really stoked about how the Venner Vox is taking off since it launched after Thanksgiving (it’s getting around 1,000 hits a day now), and depsite what some may think, it’s been a pretty good place for online local conversation.
Of course, it’s meant sacrificing Krab-cakes and Football, because I know this version of the blog isn’t even remotely close to what it was when I took the original site down.
I don’t plan on taking this site down, because I do like having an avenue to write about stuff not really connected with my job. I just don’t know what direction to take.
Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful.

The picks, wild card rematch edition

The second NFL season kicks off this weekend, although it may be deja vu since the matchups are mostly rematches of the regular season finale.
Since part of this blog’s name is “Football,” I figured I’d go ahead and make picks for each week of the post-season for you to view, comment or make fun of.

Saturday
Jets at Bengals: One of the rematches of Week 17, which saw the Jets get into the playoffs by hanging one on the Bengals, 37-0. I don’t think the game will quite go this way on Saturday. The Bengals surprised everyone this year by winning the AFC North, especially since the division has the defending Super Bowl champs Pittsburgh Steelers and a good Baltimore Ravens team. But the Bengals have looked shaky at times and are probably the most unimpressive of the six division champs. The Jets, despite getting in the playoffs, are really not a good football team. They play good defense, but the offense is real spotty, especially with a rookie quarterback at the helm. Mark Sanchez will be a good NFL Q, but not yet. Still, I think the Jets’ D is capable of shutting down Cincy’s offense, so I’m going with New Jersey in this one, 23-14.

Eagles at Dallas: The Cowboys swept the Eagles this year, so logic says it’s next to impossible to beat a team three times in a season, although it has been done before. Dallas has also appeared to have gotten past its inability to win in December, and closed the season with shutout division wins over the Redskins and Eagles. However, even though they got beat down by Dallas, Philadelpha at one point was 5-4 and looking up at the Giants and the Cowboys before reeling off six straight wins. However, when they bring their “A” game, Dallas is about as good as anyone else in the league and may be the most dangerous NFC team in the playoffs. I think the Cowboys are out to make a statement, and I see them winning what may be the best game of the weekend, 31-26.

Sunday
Ravens at Patriots: New England won the regular season matchup, 27-21, although this is the only Wild Card game that’s not a Week 17 rematch. I still haven’t determined whether the Patriots are a good football team, because there were times this season that the team looked like the teams that won three Super Bowls in the last decade and their were other times they looked just like a middle-of-the-road franchise. Baltimore is the same way, and needed to win on Sunday just to get in. The Ravens’ D isn’t the same dominant force it has been in the past, although it’s still a very good unit. Baltimore’s offense has also been up and down, although it’s good enough to compete with a lot of teams. New England lost it’s key playmaker, WR Wes Welker, to a nasty knee injury against Houston, and that’s going to hurt them. In fact, that, and the fact that New England simply doesn’t have a great defense, will be the reason why Baltimore wins an ugly one, 22-16.

Packers at Cardinals: Don’t let Green Bay’s blowout of the Cards on Sunday fool you; Arizona had absolutely nothing to play for. I must admit, I’m a huge fan of Aaron Rodgers, and I think if he had some protection from his offensive front line and a decent running game, he’d be in the conversation when you talk about the NFL’s top-tier quarterbacks. Green Bay’s defense has also vastly improved over last year. The Cards, when they’re clicking, can score on anyone at anytime, and is also getting improved play from their defense. Unlike last year, when Arizona shocked everyone by getting to the Super Bowl, I think the NFC is ready for them. I think Green Bay’s defense can do enough to keep the Cards from scoring too much, and the Packers’ offense will be able to move the ball enough to pull this game off, 27-23.