PE.com - Professional Sports: Super Bowl

USC's Polamalu as 'Mean Joe' Greene Sunday

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:18:15 -0800

Courtesy of wearesc.com poster Alan Smithee, here's a quick preview of USC alum and Pittsburgh Steelers all-pro safety Troy Polamalu reprising this Sunday of "Mean Joe'' Greene's iconic Coke add in an earlier Super Bowl.

Here's the link: http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69978

What's the future of MoVal star with NY Giants?

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0800

New York Newsday is reporting that star New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has no intention of going anywhere when his contract is up at the end of the season. But if Jacobs were to re-sign with the Giants, it likely marks the end in blue for Moreno Valley's Derrick Ward, the team's No. 2 running back, the paper reports.

Here's the part of the story that discusses Ward, the Valley View High product, and his future:

Ward is also a free agent after this season and it's unlikely the Giants will be able to satisfy both backs. And they know it, the paper reports.

"It hurts," Jacobs said of knowing that this is the last year he and Ward will play together. "I love Derrick like a brother and we treat each other like brothers. It's going to be tough to see each other depart no matter who goes."

Belated thoughts from Super Sunday

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:35:56 -0800

Soup or sundae?

Actually, we had chowder: Patriots (New England clam), Giants (Manhattan clam) and Undecided (chicken/corn for those who didn’t like the swimmers). ...

Marie Callender's said they stopped making Boston Cream pie, so we settled for Banana Cream and a Chocolate Mousse cake (from Trader Joe’s) that was simply to die for. ...

With that as the foundation of the spread you’d think I would have come away with a better taste in my mouth after the Big Game. And if you like defense and hate the Patriots and love a dramatic finish and think it’s OK if the best officials in the game – supposedly – miss a few calls that 97.5 million of the rest of us saw than you are clearly among the majority who walked away gushing about it being one of best NFL championship games ever.

Not me. Sorry. Yes, even 11 days later, there remains a sour taste in my mouth about that one. ...

Super Bowl: Stoic Pats

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:59:26 -0800

There were probably more tears among Patriots fans than within their own ranks. With some exceptions, athletes have a way of dealing with losses better than fans. If anyone expected the Patriots to come to the interview area in emotional ruins, forget it. They felt they played hard, but got beat by another very competent team that had a very good night.
Defensive back Asante Samuel did say, "Everyone is down and heartbroken," but for the most part they sounded like they will sleep tonight.
"We'll regroup and come back and try again next season," said Tom Brady, in a Mr. Matter of Fact voice after the game.
Maybe it helps if you have Gisele Bundchen to console you.

Super Bowl: No cheering

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:45:43 -0800

At the end of the game, I was in the media workroom, for quicker access to postgame interviews. You don't want to be fighting through 70,000 people from the upper deck to be able to hear the Giants gloat at the end of the game, or to see the Patriots try to put a philosophical spin on the most heart-wrenching loss of their lives.
Anyway, when Burress caught the game-winning TD pass, a bunch of professional journalists cheered. Veyr unusual. There are strict "no cheering in the press box" rules and writers are very good about sticking to it. Of course there are always some less-than-professional people in press areas, including tech people, staff workers who don't know any better, and hangers-on. But at least three or 4 of the weaker cheers were from BOSTON writers! Very strange.
The Patriots have not endeared themselves with their home town media over the last few years -- Belichick being a particular unsympathetic character -- and a Pats loss seemed to be just fine with them.

Super Bowl: Belichick's quick exit

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:36:54 -0800

Coach Bill Belichick and a large portion of his team didn't stick around to watch the official end of their season, running off the field with 0:01 showing on the clock. In the coach's abbreviated postgame interview session he ignored or didn't hear someone ask him why he left early.
Not that Belichick runs any danger of sullying his reputation. People think he's a grump and personality-challenged just because of stuff like that, and that's why a lot of people were no doubt happy to see the Patriots lose the game.

Super Bowl: G-men defense

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:36:45 -0800

Stating the obvious, the Giants defense is handling the Patriots offense much better than anyone else has all year. The Pats have 81 total yards at half, and even the slow-poke, self-stopping New York offense has amassed 139 yards.
Hard to imagine them doing it all game, but we'll see....

Super Bowl: Pats crowd

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:33:13 -0800

There is plenty of cheering for both sides, but you'd have to call it slightly more in the Patriots favor. I'm not sure if it's really a New England crowd, or just a whole bunch of people who want to say they were at the historic 19-0 game.
It's 7-3 Pats at halftime, and they may not be watching 19-0.

Super Bowl: Wall of noise

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:27:39 -0800

One thing a Super Bowl stadium won't tolerate is quiet. Piped in music, narratives, plugs -- all at maximum volume -- make this one of the noisest places on the planet. When the the football game begins, including the cheering, it's a relief to the ears.
There are 2 reasons it's almost impossible to make a cell phone call. You can't hear, and with thousands, apparently, narrating the proceedings to someone, it's hard to get a signal out anyway.

Super Bowl: He goes wide right again...

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:08:07 -0800

Three and a half hours before kickoff, the stadium is already buzzing with workers and media. Just to make sure you don't go unentertained, though, the big screens are already showing past Super Bowl highlights and interviews. I went to find my seat -- I'm in an "auxiliary box" which means I'm at one of the temporary rows of tables in the corner of the upper deck -- and they were showing the Giants-Bills Super Bowl from -- hey, don't make me look it up -- like 1990 or something. I got there just in time to see Bills kicker Scott Norwood miss his 47-yard field goal to end the game, a 20-19 New York victory.
It reminds you how ridiculously indelible some Super Bowl moments become. That was Norwood's moment in history, forever.
And it could happen to someone else today. The game isn't just made for heroes.