Super Bowl - 2011

Good Morning!

I'm writing from the frozen tundra of Chicago where my internet presence has been a bit spotty so my apologies.

So, this weekend is the Super Bowl in Dallas. Here's what you can chat up:

> the Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Green Bay Packers. These are two storied and "smaller" town franchises. They reek of tradition and legend.

> 2 great quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger for 'burgh, Aaron Rodgers for the Packers. The edge may have to go to Roethlisberger because he's already won two Super Bowl rings.

> However, Rodgers has been playing like a champ. He has good footwork, is willing to opt for the short pass (gains of 6, 7, 8 yards) instead of forcing the risky long bomb pass down field. As a result, the Packers have been consistent.

> The Packers also have had a HUGE number of players lost to injury this season, yet they keep winning.

> Pittsburgh knows about loss: their QB Roethlisberger didn't play for the first 4 games of the season b/c of legal issues off the field and the Commissioner suspended him. Now that Ben is back, they've been playing well. It doesn't mean that Roethlisberger hasn't still been the target of some comments.

> Let's talk defense because both teams have great defensive coordinators and star players. First, Dick LeBeau of the Steelers is a master of shutting teams down. He'll have his work cut out for him against the Packers. Look for Troy Polamalu (paw-la-MALL-ooh), (he of the long flowing hair) who is the emotional heart of the franchise, to be in the middle of the action throughout the game.

> Dom Capers leads the Green Bay defense and their star is Clay Matthews. BTW, also wears long golden locks. Matthews is just the latest in a family line of NFL warriors. He's fast, strong and when he hits, players feel it into the next week. Capers has also developed different looks and schemes for teams this season that have just left teams absolutely confused.

> Finally, something to watch for. Aaron Rodgers has suffered 2 concussions this season. Not good. If by chance he suffers one in the game this Sunday, he'll be out so his offensive line is going to have to show up BIG this weekend.

So, enjoy and chat it up!

p.s. special thanks to Emilio to the nudge about the posting!

AFC and NFC Champions. Bears Down, Pittsburgh's Bound

Hello friends,

Sorry for the post-lunch edition. Let's get right to what you can chat about:

> First the NFC Championship, Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers. This was a story of two halves, 3 Bears quarterbacks and Green Bay's ability to persevere.

> Green Bay beat the Bears on their home turf.

> They came out and QB Aaron Rodgers stunned the crowd by having the Packers in the end zone within the first 6 minutes.

> On the other side of the ball, Bear's QB Jay Cutler was hurt and pulled from the game. Back up Todd Collins was ineffective but, surprise! Caleb Hanie, the Bear's 3rd string QB, came in in the 3rd quarter nearly pulled off an upset! His interception in the 4th quarter ended the comeback though.

> The question that's floating around today is whether Jay Cutler was hurt badly enough and couldn't re-enter the game. Throw that out topic out and you'll have plenty to talk about besides Hanie, Rodgers and rest.

Now to the AFC with Pittsburgh taking on the hot NY Jets.

> Pittsburgh beat the Jets last night in the 'burgh but this too was a game of halves. The Steelers scored all of their points in the first half, holding the Jets to just 3. The Jets really started to move the ball and score in the 2nd half.

> NY had a chance to pull off the win but it's tough when a veteran QB like Ben Roethlisberger is in the game.

> Roethlisberger has been in these "win or go home games before" and in waning minutes of the 4th quarter, knew he needed 1 final first down. It wasn't easy, but he got it and it showed how clutch = money = reliable he is in the big games.

Get ready for the Super Bowl in 2 weeks. We'll have lots to chat about before hand. It should be a great game.

Talk. It. Up! And enjoy!

Super (Brrr) Bowl

Seriously. Seriously?

The NFL announced today that the 2014 Super Bowl will be held in...New Jersey. Yup. I said it. The NFC and AFC champs will play in the new OPEN AIR Meadowlands Stadium. ESPN: "It will be the first open-air stadium in a cold-weather region to host a Super Bowl."

Today, start your sports conversations with, WHY? Then move onto, WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE? IS THIS GOOD HISTORY THAT THE NFL IS MAKING? DO YOU WANT TO SEE A SNOW BOWL (not unlike a torrential rain in Miami a few years back when the Colts clobbered the Bears in the Super Bowl.)

(Ahem) Sorry for the shouting. Discuss.