Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Steelers beat the hated Ravens, 23-14.
I’m excited as hell, but the injury to McGahee kind of puts a damper on things. I just don’t know what you can do to stop that kind of contact, short of removing helmets from the game.
Apparently the Steelers sound crew played music during the McGahee hit, which apparently is never done, and pretty classless. I had no idea this was the case.
Nevermind. Here is the sound system blasting while Ben is carried off the field.
And that is at home.
Hope it is a good game, but I am really thinking that after two close games this season, we are looking at a game that will probably break wide open pretty early.
Not sure why I think that, but I do. Go Steelers!
*** Update ***
That was the worst half of football I have seen in a long time. Phantom and/or bad calls on both teams (WTF was up with that roughing the kicker call? What about that blatant late hit on Ben? And apparently you have to run ten yards before anything is consider “by rule” a catch), hideous clock management from the Steelers, and bizarre play calling from the Ravens. As bad as both teams have been, the refs were worse.
If this keeps up I am going to suggest we just give the Lombardi trophy to the Cardinals.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention Sweed’s apparent teflon hands (nothing sticks).
Eagles v. Cards.
I always root for the Eagles because they are from PA and I have a bunch of friends who are Eagles fans, but the Cards in the NFC championship is such a new thing. Plus Larry Fitzgerald is a freak.
Playoffs Open Thread- Winter Fowl EditionPost + Comments (156)
I am aware there is always trash talk in the NFL, but this just strikes me as stupid as all hell:
“His time will come,” Scott said ominously, still remembering how he barely avoided Ward’s crack-back block earlier this year and was mocked by Ward for ducking. “He’ll get his. He’ll come across the middle one day and someone will hit him or take out his knee. The guy will be fined and Ward will be gone. No one will even care. No one will send him any cards saying they’re sorry. Not to that guy. You reap what you sow.”
***On the same day in Baltimore, Ravens receiver Derrick Mason implied Ward best watch himself because Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis would be looking for him.
Solid thinking, Ed. First, they aren’t going to intimidate him, and nothing the Steelers say is going to intimidate the Ravens. These guys get so amped up that this nonsense is nothing but food for the press and the fans. Second, now that Ed has put this out there, you can be sure that should something happen to Ward, there will be retaliation. Third, should something happen to Ward, particularly in the manner described, the NFL would be forced to take action. Personally, I support a lifetime ban of premeditated intentional injuries like this, and that is even if the Steelers are the ones who do it.
I understand the need to trash talk, but this just sort of seems stupid.
Our media is simply a national disgrace. David Gregory on MTP just read statements from Boehner and other Republicans now intent on pretending to be fiscal conservatives, and then got all snotty with Rahm Emmanuel because some of the stimulus package is composed of things other than ‘shovel ready’ jobs. “is it a shovel ready job? But is it a shovel ready job?”
Here is a shovel ready job. Someone take a shovel and brain David Gregory.
For the life of me, I can not remember what the topics are today. I guess it will be like Christmas, but in January. Speaking of, this is a shot of what it looks like outside my place:
You can’t see the snow coming down, but it is, and that, my friends, is STEELER WEATHER.
Putting aside the stunning news that Krispy Kreme is joining Dunkin’ Donuts in the UPJ (United Pastry Jihad), the most surprising this morning is how many of you apparently liked Burn After Reading. Sorry, I love the Coen brothers, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, the Big Lebowski, the Hudsucker Proxy and O’ Brother are all genius, but Burn After Reading sucked. There was approximately one funny line, and that was the Mormon quip in the first 3 minutes of the movie.
Finally, I know I will get flamed mercilessly for this, and will be told that I simply don’t understand the historical significance, that I should just shut up because I voted for Bush and let people have their day, that my judgment is terrible and I should not be trusted, that I am just being harsh on Obama because I feel hoodwinked by Bush and won’t get fooled again, and blah blah blah, but the stuff this weekend feels like it has been over-the-top.
I can’t tell if it is just my general lack of enthusiasm for crowds, but there just seems to be a bit of unseemly gushing- this feels like Princess Di or something. I realize that the rise of cable news and 24/7 coverage means that it is going to be either the inauguration or some kidnapped blonde teenager, but I don’t know- it just seems excessive.
Again, I am not trying to downplay the historical significance of this, as several strands of history are all converging on Tuesday for a really amazing occasion. Nor am I unaware how elated we all are that Bush is leaving (and considering I played a role in getting Bush elected, I am thrilled that mistake is being pushed off center stage). And, again, I had no problem with Obama speaking in Europe, and never got my knickers in a twist about the columns at the inauguration, but this whistlestop tour, with all the mini events and the fawning media just seems to me to be too much. As low-key as Obama normally is, I am surprised he signed on to it all.
And because I’m not trying to ruin this for everyone and act like a wet blanket (especially because I am as excited as everyone else), and really am not trying to start another flame war, this is the last time I will say anything. Maybe I am just not remembering how big of a deal inaugurations were because cable news wasn’t as omnipresent in 2000, and it has been eight years since the last transition from one party to another and my memory has faded. Maybe I have just forgotten how much I hate pomp and circumstance.
First they came for Dunkin’ Donuts, but I said nothing because I preferred Krispy Kreme….
I’m a little late to this party, but it seems that some wingnuts (in fairness, not as many as I would have expected, given the enormity of Krispy Kreme’s crimes) are upset about the use of the word “choice” in Kripsy Kreme’s promotion of its Inauguration free donut giveaway:
President-elect Barack Obama promises to be the most virulently pro-abortion president in history. Millions more children will be endangered by his radical abortion agenda.
Celebrating his inauguration with “Freedom of Choice” doughnuts – only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion – is not only extremely tacky, it’s disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy.
A misconstrued concept of “choice” has killed over 50 million preborn children since Jan. 22, 1973. Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this “freedom.””
As of Thursday morning, Communications Director Brian Little could not be reached for comment. We challenge Krispy Kreme doughnuts to reaffirm their commitment to true freedom – to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and to separate themselves and their doughnuts from our great American shame.”
Obviously, this calls for sending Silly Putty to the corporate offices of Krispy Kreme.
(h/t Pandagon)
Update: The Red State Strike Force has fallen down on the job on this one — I can’t find a discussion of it on the site, nor did I receive an email about it. But I did run across a new logo that many Red State commenters are proudly displaying alongside their Strike Force logo:
