"Steeling" the Big One

I suppose it makes the most sense to just jump right in and begin discussing the event that every sports fan is no doubt talking about today. No, not the Superbowl...the Chicago Cubs momentous signing of pitcher Jason Simontacchi. Whoo-frickin'-hoo.

At least now I finally have an understanding of the Cubs offseason goal. While other teams (read: White Sox) are actually signing baseball players who are physically able to, you know, play baseball, the Cubs are content with trying to stockpile as many pitchers who are coming off of major arm surgery as possible. Perhaps Wade Miller and Simontacchi can share rehab tips with the perpertually injured Kerry Wood...

Hey, I think I read somewhere that Paul Kilgus just had an elbow ligament replaced and that Mike Morgan had his shoulder operated on. Quick, somebody tell Jim Hendry to have some contracts drafted! Stat!!

Anyway, in case you didn't know, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 to win the Superbowl and, yes, it was I who predicted that the Seahawks would win the game. Well, I was wrong. You see, it seems as though I forgot to read my own past "Random Thoughts" posts about the Big Ten. The formula is really quite simple: Pittsburgh + "homegame" + pathetic "feel good" story about Jerome Bettis playing in his hometown that is supposed to make me feel like all my dreams can come true = Seattle loss.

Now, I am not crying foul as many Seahawks fans are. Do I honestly believe that the Seahawks lost the game as a result of poor, one-sided officiating? No. But, hey, let's call a zebra a zebra. The officiating in that game was terrible.

Should DJax have been called for pass interference for his push-off? Hard to say, but it is notable that the call went to the Steelers. Did Big Ben truly get in the end-zone on his scramble? Once again, tough call that went in favor of the Steelers. What angered me most about that play was the fact that replays show that the Line Judge originally called it no-TD (check the replay for his arm going into the air). I agree that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the call made on the field, which made the official's change of heart that much more agonizing for Seattle's 12th man (whoops, I better not say that lest be sued by Texas A & M).

What about the phantom holding call on Seattle that erased a play that would have given Seattle first-and-goal from the 2-yard line? At least, after watching that play and call, I now know where Stevie Wonder went after he finished signing during the pre-game show.

There are many other poor calls that I could mention (i.e.: the Steelers got away with blatant holds on two third down conversions), but a special mention must go to the officials' personal foul call on Bald Matt for "blocking below the waist." What in the heck was that? The guy was making a tackle!

You know, TiVo is going to end up costing a lot of referees, umpires and curling officials their jobs (wait, has TiVo hit Canada yet?). Suddenly Questec doesn't seem like such a big deal...

So, ultimately, did the officiating cost Seattle? Well, I picked them, so, sure, i'll grasp the easy excuse.

Anyway, thank goodness that Jerramy Stevens made his infamous comments and "motivated" Joey Porter. Three tackles, zero sacks, zero meaningful plays. I'd hate to see what Porter would have done if Stevens had not rattled his cage. He may have turned into Todd Johnson.

Unanswered question...what is more suprising, that so many NFL coaches are clueless when it comes to strategy when down by two scores with under two minutes to play or that Al Michaels and John Madden made an insighful comment about the cluelessness. Look, it is real simple. Don't waste valuable time in a (most often) fruitless attempt to get the TD first. Kick the dang field goal!!! Mike Holmgren's idiocy will forever me immortalized since it occured during the big game that is played in between series of increasingly-unmemorable commercials (although I loved the one where the hot chick gets creamed...ooh, probably a bad choice of words there), but such stupidity has run roughshod over the NFL.

Okay, the truly most suprising part of the whole thing was the fact that Madden was able to get through a full two-minutes of game time without mentioning Brett Favre or tough-acting Tinactin.

Did I mention that I had Pittsburgh 1, Seattle 3 in my office Superbowl Squares pool? KICK THE DANG FIELD GOAL!!!

So, let's sum up the whole game as succiently as we possibly can...Jerome Bettis is from Detroit. The end.

With the football season officially over, I suppose that it is time to focus the majority of our energy on the upcoming Madness. If you do not like college basketball, (a) what in the heck is wrong with you...I mean, at least watch the Big Ten games for the all-too-infrequent Erin Andrews sightings; and (b) you are in the wrong place (but continue to read, of course...you never know when a witty Jody Davis reference will be made and you certainly do not want to miss that).

Rushing the court has become a hot button issue in college basketball with the students' seeming need to storm the court after every game. I know that many have a problem with it, but I really do not. The students are just having fun and, as long, as they do not pose a threat to the players or officials (who, given that it is a home game, they would be more likely to lavish with gifts), I say let em' rush. Look, just give the officials time to grab their canes, or seeing eye dogs or whatever and then challenge your friends to a little game of who can look like a bigger idiot.

With all the talk of rushing the court, however, an important question has arisen. What is the proper protocol for de-rushing the court? Anyone see the Illinois loss to lowly Penn State on Saturday night? The aftermath of Illinois' loss to lowly Penn State had to be one of the funniest things that I have seen in a while. After the Illinois loss to lowly Penn State, the fans, thinking that Rich McBride had sunk a game-winning three-pointer, rushed the court. Well, it turns out that Illinois did lose to lowly Penn State and the fans were forced to de-rush the court. Rule of thumb: you should never rush the court if you are an Illini fan and your team lost to lowly Penn State. Especially when the loss to lowly Penn State occured at home. I mean, why would you rush the court after losing to lowly Penn State.? I think you will agree that rushing the court after losing to lowly Penn State makes no sense. Illinois students: you just lost (to lowly Penn State), get back in your seats, or go study, or go count your NCAA Championships, or something. On second thought, strike that last option...

Have a great day.