I must come clean...

So for the past few weeks I have been having a horrible case of writers block. Perhaps it’s because for me this is one of the worst times of the sports season. No NFL, no baseball, NBA season at this point doesn’t excite me and college basketball is still a few weeks away from getting really exciting. It is with that I have decided to talk about one of my favorite sports. Professional Wrestling.

I know what a lot of you are thinking. Professional Wrestling is not a sport. Perhaps not but I love it none the less. I am coming clean to the whole world. I love professional wrestling. I’ve loved it since I was 10 years old and still love it. I love the athleticism. I love the larger than life personalities. I love watching the athleticism and genuinely not knowing what is going to happen. I get this from friends though. “But Pat. It’s fake.” True it is scripted but you know what else is “Fake?” Friends, Seinfeld, Law and Order SVU, The Office. My other favorite shows.

When I was little I even dreamed of being a professional wrestler. This was until I told my dad and he said, “In order to be a professional wrestler you have to be strong and stupid. You’re neither.” I still don’t know if that was a put down or a compliment. I remember watching Bret Hart when I was little. When my step-dad almost ran our car into his in Memphis on vacation, it too this day is still one of the greatest moments of my life. Getting to meet him and get a picture with him was the greatest thing for a wrestling fan. I remember in high school slopping down in front of the TV every Monday night to watch wrestling. It was always hard when the Raiders were on Monday Night Football. Do I watch the Raiders or watch Sting propel down from the rafters.

When I got to college I would watch it every Monday night with my friend Matt. Getting to go to my first live event and see a show in person still rates as one of the greatest experiences I’ve had with my dad and step-dad. Now as I get older sharing this passion with my 2 nephews. Remembering what it was like to be that age and dreaming of performing in front of thousands of people. Trying these moves on my friends. Playing the video games and once in a great while getting to go to a live show. I can’t wait for the day when I can share this with my nephews and hopefully someday my child. I have baseball and football icons. I loved watching Reggie Miller. None of these “athletes” though will ever compare in the same way to me as these other sports heroes growing up. The Hulk Hogans and Bret Harts. Triple H’s and Rocks. Kevin Nash and Sting. Maybe wrestling is fake, but the excitement, tears and laughter I have had for 20 years is not.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

So the "Man" couldn’t do it. Life is good again. All I have heard recently is how Peyton Manning is the greatest football player ever. Not the greatest quarterback of this era but EVER. Friends, people on the radio, articles. Blah, blah, blah. Peyton is King. “The Saints are a great story but let’s be real. They have no real chance. Peyton is playing the greatest football of his career. Peyton will win this game and cement his legacy as the Greatest”. Not the Colts will win this game. Peyton will win this game.

And then this happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh5D_TMGwjk

I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy to see a quarterback throw an interception in my life. It’s not that I hate Peyton Manning. It’s not like he’s Eli. He’s a great quarterback. One of the best ever. I just get so tired of people thinking he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. He’s been great in the regular season. Maybe the best. But championships are not won in the regular season. They are won in the post season where Manning has not been very good. He won a Super Bowl. But you know what? He has the same amount of championships as Trent Dilfer. (That was for you Topher) Let’s look at his post season stats. He’s 9-9 in post season games. He’s thrown 27 touchdowns but has also thrown 18 interceptions. His QB rating in those games? 87.5.

On Monday I heard 2 people on ESPN radio talking about Peyton. One of them said, “So do you think this game hurt Peyton’s Legacy.” The other said, “Not at all. Peyton didn’t hurt his legacy at all in this game. He didn’t do anything to tarnish his legacy.” WHAT! 2 words. Tracy Porter. I know, I know. I just got done writing an article about how Brett Favre is the man even though he threw an interception at the end of the game. Big difference is I’m not getting paid tons of money from ESPN to tell it how it is. That radio personality should have at least commented on the fact that the score was 24-17 Saints with just under 4 minutes left in the game. That was a pretty big interception. Yet, this play didn’t hurt his legacy at all? That’s garbage. And the personality that didn’t mention the interception is garbage. Make me wanna puke.

My main point is this. Peyton is a very good football player. I would still stay he’s one of the best to ever play the game. But let’s be honest. He’s no Tom Brady.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODlL8azAEKo

Super Bowl Dream Teams

With the greatest sporting event of the year a mere 3 days away, I decided to put together my All-Star Super Bowl Team. I only used players who have played in the last 10 Super Bowls. I also picked players based on their overall play in those games. I would love your thoughts on players that I may have missed or that you disagree with. I would also love to know which team you would pick to win and what the score would be.



AFC OFFENSE

QB: Tom Brady
RB: Jamal Lewis
FB: Dan Kreider
WR: Hines Ward
WR: Deion Branch
TE: Doug Jolley
LT: Matt Light
LG: Alan Faneca
C: Dan Koppen
RG: Joe Andruzzi
RT: Max Starks


AFC DEFENSE
DE: Aaron Smith
DT: Casey Hampton
DT: Richard Seymour
DE: Dwight Freeney
LB: Mike Vrabel
LB: Ray Lewis
LB: Teddy Bruschi
SS: Troy Polamalu
FS: Bob Sanders
CS: Asante Samuel
CS: Charles Woodson

K: Adam Vinatieri
P: Chris Gardocki
RET: Jermaine Lewis

Coach: Bill Bellicheck

NFC OFFENSE

QB: Kurt Warner
RB: Thomas Jones
FB: Mike Alstott
WR: Terrell Owens
WR: Larry Fitzgerald
TE: Kevin Boss
LT: Walter Jones
LG: Steve Hutchinson
C: Olin Kreutz
RG: Chris Snee
RT: Jon Runyan

NFC DEFENSE

DE: Michael Strahan

DT: Warren Sapp

DE: Simeon Rice

LB: Derrick Brooks

LB: Antonio Pierce

LB: Mike Jones

LB: Karlos Dansby

SS: John Lynch

FS: Dexter Jackson

CB: Marcus Trufant

CB: Ronde Barber

K: Jeff Wilkins

P: Tom Rouen

RET: Ron Dixon

Coach: Tom Coughlin