Chiefs Spank Pats
I'm getting a little tired about writing how the Patriots blew yet another game, yet here I sit, doing exactly that. I'm sure the coaches and players are trying to figure out exactly what the problem is, just as much as I am, but come on, this is getting ridiculous.
The Patriots had a horrific first half, but a pretty good second half. They had at least two good opportunities to score another touchdown in the fourth quarter, and they blew both. This was probably one of the worst performances I've seen from Tom Brady. Four interceptions? Four?
At this point, I'm praying that somehow they don't make the playoffs, because I'm scared to see the drumming we'd take from Denver, Indy, Pittsburgh, and the like. Is it possible to take a knee for the rest of the season?
Happy Thanksgiving
As most people celebrate Thanksgiving today, I feel the need to mention the thinks I am thankful for today.
- I'm thankful for my very supportive and loving, if somewhat wacky, family.
- I'm thankful to Jim Minatel for giving me the opportunity to write my first book.
- I'm thankful for the people I've met and the relationships I've had in the past couple of years that have helped me grow as a person.
- I'm thankful for having a job that I enjoy, working with a bunch of people I really like.
- I'm thankful the Patriots won 3 of the last 4 Super Bowls, and that they did it twice by whooping up on Indy.
- I'm thankful for finally feeling like I have control over my life.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The Pink Locker Room
I don't know if anyone else caught this, but as I was watching SportsCenter the other morning, I caught a story about the University of Iowa's pink locker room that is used by visiting football teams. I thought it was hysterical. The story went on to explain how a former head coach was also a psychology professor who knew that color affected mood. He had the locker room walls painted pink believing that it would keep the opponents more passive.
As part of a renovation of the facility, the entire locker room, not just the walls, were painted pink. It's really pretty silly looking. However, as is typical, there were immediately people saying that the pink locker room is insulting to both women and homosexuals. These detractors say that painting the locker room pink is an attempt to immasculate the opposing team, and therefore is a slight at both women and homosexuals. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see it.
When it is clearly explained that colors have psychological affects on players...how can it be considered discriminatory or prejudicial toward any groups of people? I tend to think there are always people waiting to carry their flag of injustice into battle at the drop of a hat; I've seen it many times. But when does it become too much? When will we, as a nation, stand up and say "you know what? Get the hell over it!" There are so many more important issues to grapple with in this nation than pink locker rooms. We have children starving and living on the streets, people dying from hurricanes and tornadoes, and these people are upset over a pink locker room? Would that they were using their influence to help the people of this country instead of turning a non-issue into a three ring circus.
Eddie Guerrero, Dead at 38
One of the worst kept secrets of my life is that I really enjoy professional wrestling. Lately, wrestling has been pretty boring with only a few characters garnering any interest from fans. One of those was Eddie Guerrero.
Guerrero was an interesting story. He was brought to the states by WCW as part of their new talent initiative. During this time, numerous talented wrestlers from Mexico and Japan were brought in. As the league crumbled, more and more of them ended up in WWE. Guerrero went from a quiet character to a loud, obnoxious, but utterly very entertaining character.
Though he battled drug and alcohol addiction, he had finally turned his life around and reached the pinnacle of the industry by winning the world championship.
Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room this morning. No details about his death were available. Guerrero is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Oy Indy
Since I know you guys in Indy (you know who you are) are just waiting to rub this into my face, here's my post to allow you to do so. I will give the Colts credit, they were clearly the better team last night, as I suspected they were. Before the game I thought it would go one of two ways: it would be a close game that the Pats would win or it would be a blowout that the Colts would win. Cleary, the former was just wishful thinking.
Yes, the Colts proved that they can beat this year's Patriots. But let's be honest here, this year's Patriots aren't the defending world champions, not when you're missing so much of what made the team tick. Not playing last night for one reason or another were Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison, Ted Johnson, Roman Phifer, Tyrone Poole, Kevin Faulk, Patrick Pass, and Matt Light, all members of last year's Super Bowl team. Also not playing were several of their backups, including Chad Scott, Gus Scott, and James Sanders (all in the defensive secondary).
We here in New England need to face it, the Patriots are now the Kansas City Chiefs: they can win if they can outscore you, but they're not going to stop you on defense. Clearly, these are not the same guys who won the championship three of the last four years, and that's pretty depressing. As for Indy, does this make them the best team in the conference? No, because they still haven't faced any good teams (yes, I group the Patriots into the list of bad teams). Though winning against the Patriots may be a moral victory for the Colts, it shouldn't have been a surprise nor a reason to start planning their trip to the Super Bowl in February. The teams Indy needs to worry about this year are Pittsburgh and Denver. Sadly, I think the Patriots will make the playoffs to round out this foursome, but they won't go anywhere, not with this defense.
Patriots Win!
Yes, I'm a little bit late in my writing this week, but it's been really hectic lately. The Patriots won, I'm happy. But man, that game was brutal. The first half seemed to go on forever and I had severe doubts that the boys would be able to pull out a win. Patrick Pass ran so well I thought he was Corey Dillon in the first few series. Too bad he had to get hurt as well. You know we actually don't have a 100% healthy running back now? How crazy is that?
The defense definitely had a little swagger this week. They player fairly well (aside for Duane Starks, who in my opinion, should be replaced with a tackling dummy). Bruschi's return definitely had a positive effect on the defense, but there's still a long ways to go. I'm genuinely frightened for the Indianapolis game, knowing Manning's ability to make long distance passes effortlessly. I can hear it now, "..and Starks can't get to it again." Unless Randall Gay is back next week, I'm picturing a very, very long night for the Patriots and their fans (namely me!).
