Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

American History and Black History Cannot Be Separated

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

No Justins, No Peace

Accountability, motherfuckers.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

A consequence of cucumbers

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

We still have time to mess this up!

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Come on, man.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

You are here: Home / Sports / Just Great

Just Great

by | 183 Comments

This post is in: 

The Ravens beat the Pats, which puts me at 0-8 for the playoffs. Not who I thought would win, but who I wanted to win, and I chose the loser in everyone. Two weeks hearing about the fucking Harbowl and the Ray Lewis swan song and comparisons to the Bus in Detroit. Just kill me now.

Now I have to root for the Ravens, which makes me sick to my stomach, because as much as I hate them, I can not allow the 9er’s to have the same number of SB rings as the Steelers.

Maybe this time after the Ray Ray posse kills someone at a Super Bowl party they will find the white suit.

Reader Interactions

183Comments

  1. 1.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    John — You can always take the advice from a couple of threads back and root for the meteor.

  2. 2.

    arguingwithsignposts

    I suppose rooting for a meteor strike is right out?

    ETA: and BSOSW beats me to the punchline.

  4. 4.

    Joel

    Why can’t you root for the Niners? Not that I’m going to root for anyone, but I don’t see why a Steelers fan would find it any easier to pull for the Ravens. That would be like me rooting for the Jets in the Superbowl.

    Ok, you can stop laughing now.

  5. 5.

    RobertDSC-iMac G5

    One of my people is a Niners fan. I’ll be happy for her if they win. Otherwise, I don’t give a fuck.

    /bitter Pats fan

  8. 8.

    DennisC

    I have come to the conclusion that I can become a millionaire by simply going to Vegas and betting every penny I have on the team I don’t want to win. Can’t remember the last time the team I was rooting for won a playoff game.

  9. 9.

    Persia

    Yeah, I like the Ravens well enough most of the time but I cannot stand the thought of them sucking Ray Lewis’ dick for the next two weeks. I’ll probably end up boycotting the game. Even Beyonce!

  10. 10.

    Mark S.

    Oh, c’mon Cole. Ray’s murdering days are over after this Super Bowl. Let the guy go out with a bang.

    So you’re going for the Ravens, eh? Might have to put a couple grand on the Niners.

  11. 11.

    Joel

    The good news is that the Lakers are still fucking awful, and that Dwight Howard is still full of shit. But I think I’m the only person here who cares about pro basketball, so alas.

  12. 12.

    FlyingToaster

    I had just put WarriorGirl to bed and came in to check on HerrDoktor; he was laughing disgustedly at “look, it’s the 2 minute warning and the Pats are down by 15”.

    I had joked at 5 that I was going to cheer for the comet.

    The pats-decorated baked goods at Stop&Shop are going to be ‘way discounted tomorrow; I suspect me and the girl will go buy cupcakes first thang, heh.

    Disclaimer: live in suburban Boston. Still root for Kansas City teams. HerrDoktor still roots for his hometown Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Cubs. Fuck the Krafts for supporting Romney.

  13. 13.

    Baud

    Just say no to the two-team system. Everyone knows there’s no real difference between the Niners and the Ravens. Root for a third-party team.

  14. 14.

    Debbie(Aussie)

    I know the 49’ers are from San Francisco, what about the Ravens? Is. SB pro or college(pardon my ignorance).

  15. 15.

    Obliterati

    Hey, remember that time Ray Lewis helped murder two people? Man, that was crazy, huh? What a great player.

  16. 16.

    Mark S.

    Oh, and can someone tell me why the Harbaughs are suck dicks? I haven’t been following the NFL a lot the past couple years and I don’t know a hell of lot about them.

  17. 17.

    Raven

    I’m going with tamales for the party. . .and maybe dazzle the fans with the big redfish filets. . .blackened!

  19. 19.

    The Dangerman

    In the Musial/Weaver thread last night, some sage person predicted:

    …we will have the Harbaugh Super Bowl in a couple weeks? The Niners should abuse the Falcons and the HSB looks like destiny.

    Of course, that same person thought the first game wouldn’t be close and the second one would be a nailbiter. Still, someone that sage (and, I hear, good looking and a helluva nice guy) has to be commended.

  23. 23.

    Kadzimiel

    This would never have happened if Obama hadn’t murdered the public option and then hidden the white suit….

    I wonder when Belichick is going to trade Brady for picks. That day’s got to be getting closer.

  25. 25.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @Joel: I usually wait until the playoffs until I get excited, going with the OKC Thunder to win it. I am more of a college b-ball guy myself. Looks like hockey fans are in a forgiving mood, if one believes the ratings and attendance.

  26. 26.

    sb

    @Joel: I care and I’m a Laker fan.

    And yeah… we in some trouble, though Howard should not have been thrown out; refs blew it big time.

  28. 28.

    Raven

    @Mr Stagger Lee: Me too except that my Illini were setting the world on fire, beat Butler, Gonzaga and Ohio State before heading down the shitter in the last three games.

  29. 29.

    The Dangerman

    @Joel:

    The good news is that the Lakers are still fucking awful, and that Dwight Howard is still full of shit.

    It’s Bizarro World for LA basketball; the Clippers are playing out of their minds while the Lakers may not make the playoffs. They should probably dump Howard for whatever they can get for him (since he will racing for a ticket out of town when the season is done).

    The Lakers have some idiots running the show now and, hell, I’m not sure who the GM is of the Clippers (and the owner is a well known dick); yet, the Clippers second 5 are better than many teams starters. It’s really rather, well, bizarro.

  30. 30.

    Schlemizel

    so just so I can decide which team I hate the most who are the murderers and rapists on the 9’ers? Serial spouse abusers? Gotta be a few of them, it is a football team after all.

  31. 31.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Mr Stagger Lee:

    Looks like hockey fans are in a forgiving mood, if one believes the ratings and attendance.

    Don’t mistake hunger for forgiveness. Fuck Gory Buttman and the NHL owners. But a good game of pro hockey is still a sight to see.

  32. 32.

    Kadzimiel

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Let’s be reasonable here. At least The Harbaughosity didn’t happen under The Decider.

    Clearly, God is displeased with his people. We need to find an escapegoat and fast!

  34. 34.

    sb

    @Mark S.: With Jim, that’s easy. Hell, Dan Patrick calls him a friend and says Jim’s an “ass”. He’s pissed off more than a few coaches after wins (see Pete Carroll and the guy who is coaching the Lions, forgot his name). “Ungracious” is a good adjective and that’s probably being too nice.

    As for John, I honestly don’t know.

  36. 36.

    Corner Stone

    @Kadzimiel:

    I wonder when Belichick is going to trade Brady for picks. That day’s got to be getting closer.

    Wouldn’t that be fucking awesome? If he stockpiled a couple 3rd round this year and a couple 4th round picks next year to trade for Brady?
    I would laugh and laugh and laugh.

  37. 37.

    Kadzimiel

    @efgoldman:

    I have heard rumors that Mallett actually is pretty darn good and has a deep ball that is impressive. Either way, I don’t see Brady ever being elite again. His timing has gone and his judgment looks shakier than I have ever seen it.

  43. 43.

    drew42

    The entire NFL playoffs this year has been just miserable. I may not even watch the Superbowl for the first time ever.

    Luckily, there’s NCAA basketball — and Syracuse is looking pretty damn good right now.

  44. 44.

    ulee

    The Ravens shall have Poe black armbands and will defeat the fortyniners. It is a sign of the apocalypse. The Raven sits at all our windowsills, as the fortyniners deny ther mortaliy.

  45. 45.

    Baud

    @sb:

    I liked the original. It had a certain philosophical “What is the true nature of a man” thing going on.

  48. 48.

    Persia

    @Kadzimiel: When he didn’t call time out just before the half, I knew the whole game was fucked.

    IMO, he’s never been quite as good since the injury way back when and his age’s showing at this point.

  50. 50.

    Green Caboose

    Let me guess, John Cole is a Yankee fan. I don’t care who’s playing, if one of the is the NY Wankers I’m rooting for the other team.

    Frankly, I love that the Pats got beaten – their fans have become as bad as Bankees fans in recent years. SF winning? Didn’t really care either way – I was rooting for SF, but only because I figured Atlanta would lose to the Pats as badly as Houston did. Now, I’ll enjoy a Super Bowl between two excellent teams who I don’t have a rooting interest for or against.

  51. 51.

    sb

    @catclub: As both Kobe and Duncan head to the end of their careers, however slowly (both playing very well right now), who would be on their “era” starting five? By era, I mean direct peer. You can’t put LeBron on their team–Kobe and Tim have six years on him. Common age players only.

    F-Duncan
    F-Kevin Garnett
    C-Shaquille O’Neal
    G-Bryant
    G-Iverson? Kidd? Others?

    Depending on that other guard position, you’ve got a helluva team there.

    60’s era team:

    F-Russell
    F-Baylor
    C-Chamberlain
    G-West
    G-Robertson

    I think the first team would match up.

  53. 53.

    Violet

    John, with your track record, seems like you should be pulling for the 49ers. Then they’ll lose.

  54. 54.

    mainmati

    As a former Pittsburgher who’s heart is always in Squirrel Hill and Oakland but who lives in the DC area now I actually are going to root for the 49ers mainly because Joe Montana was from my near hood (and Dan Marino and Marc Bolger actually went to my totally non-sports oriented high school).

  55. 55.

    Corner Stone

    Fucking Bro Bowl. I’m going to be watching History and H2 Channels for the next few weeks.

  56. 56.

    J. Michael Neal

    Gophers are 24-0. They tied the longest unbeaten streak in NCAA history. Amanda Kessel has 201 points 60% of the way through her junior season and 71 this year. Hopefully she’s okay, because she didn’t come out of the dressing room for the third period yesterday, though I’m pretty sure the ding came in the first so it was probably more precautionary; Sam Downey’s leg injury looked a lot more serious.

    And I’m crabby because I’m having trouble with Chapter 9.

  57. 57.

    Kadzimiel

    @efgoldman:

    I basically agree with you, although I would say that Brady will comfortably beat roughly 75% of all the NFL teams for the next two years. What I don’t see happening is the other 25% fearing him in the playoffs as they used to. I think Gronk might have made some difference, but Brady looked hurried and rattled for most of the second half, which leads me to think that this loss is more about Brady’s accelerating decline than anything else. I do wonder whether Belichick has run out of magic as well. I got the distinct impression that Harbaugh outcoached him after the half-time break.

  61. 61.

    Kadzimiel

    The most cheering thing to emerge from the evening is the vision of Dan Shaughnessy having to explain why he got things so badly wrong.

  63. 63.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @Corner Stone: They almost got rid of the Pro Bowl because nobody was willing to actually play the game. I think they need to get rid of that travesty.

  64. 64.

    max

    The Ravens beat the Pats, which puts me at 0-8 for the playoffs.

    I think I wound up 7-1. Not that I care all that much.

    Now I have to root for the Ravens, which makes me sick to my stomach, because as much as I hate them, I can not allow the 9er’s to have the same number of SB rings as the Steelers.

    I don’t get the Raven hatred. Baltimore is a generally inoffensive city (ever been to Indianapolis, the center of the Dead Tire State?). And I’m from Dallas, and I can totally understand why people hate Jerry Jones, but I can’t really figure the hate on the Ravens thing. Whatever, it’s a goddamn game.

    Two weeks hearing about the fucking Harbowl and the Ray Lewis swan song and comparisons to the Bus in Detroit.

    If it had been Atlanta and New England, it would have been the same kind of puke-inducing hagiographic crap. The time between the two Finals games and the Superbowl is an excellent moment to watch hockey. Because you can’t grab [insert announcer’s/sportswriter’s name here] tongue, yank it down and staple it to their chin so they’ll just shut the fuck up already. Really, one team is a good team because they staggered their way to the Superbowl, and the other team is pretty good too for same reasons, and any other details will be settled during the game, which will be won by one team or the other. There’s nothing intelligent you can add to that, which hasn’t stopped people who talk sports for one second, but should have.

    max
    [‘There are many rewards to cultivating a zen lack of attention to certain subjects, like the thing with the fake meth priest who dances Gangham-style at Notre Dame or whatever that was about exactly.’]

  65. 65.

    Mark S.

    @efgoldman:

    Heh, I watched that first Raven Super Bowl, so I can get thru this one. Dear God I hated that Raven team, with horrible QB and horrible analyst Trent Dilfer. But I will skip all the pre-Super Bowl hoopla. The last thing I need is more Trent Dilfer in my life.

  67. 67.

    Mark S.

    @sb:

    I’d take the team from the 60’s in a heartbeat.

    Now a team from the 80’s, with Bird, Magic, and Jordan, that would be pretty awesome.

  68. 68.

    Corner Stone

    @efgoldman: I hate reality TV but somehow I really love Pawn Stars.
    It’s so great. Their “expert” says it’s worth $5000 and the schmoo says that’s what he wants. Rick says, “Ahh, no. Not gonna happen. I’m thinking $2500.”

  71. 71.

    Kadzimiel

    @efgoldman:

    Whaddaya mean you don’t find the prospect of Katie Couric and Manti Te’o communing to be a deeply spiritual and philosophically rewarding prospect?! What are you, some sort of anti-American?!

  77. 77.

    Suffern ACE

    @Corner Stone: seriously? Sunday on history is Ancient Nostradamus Code. Watch nature shows instead. They show sexual congress sometimes on Animal Planet and Nat Geo Wild.

  78. 78.

    Cermet

    Cole, you need to root for SF! Keep your losing streak perfect. Was hoping for the Falcons so we could avoid the ‘brother bowl’ but Ryan croaks – big surprise. Flaco dosen’t croak, or at least a receiver, a rather big surprise.

    Also, the hate of the Ravens make sense – they tend to beat every other major team and ruin other peoples stupid belief that ‘their’ team is so tough (LOL.) People, these are rich to extremely wealthy players working for billionaires that demand we pay a ransom or they’ll steal away in the night (Baltimore learned the hard way but didn’t learn well enough.) Amazing, after poor Cleveland got suckered, the NFL was determined to give them another team; that never happened for Baltimore; they had to steal … and put down a near cool billion to make someone rich at taxpayers expense.

  80. 80.

    Jon

    Well, all of us Pelosi-lovin’ San Francisco libruls will be pulling for THE NINERS!

    Now go watch Sybil and Matthew die on Downton.

  82. 82.

    Captain C

    Quick Atlanta stat: their combined score in the first half of their two games was 44-14. In the second half, they got outscored by a combined 42-10. I’m now wondering if Mike Smith actively makes bad adjustments on purpose at halftime. I’ve never seen a playoff team wilt so badly so consistently from first half to second half.

  83. 83.

    Captain C

    @sb: I’d go with Kidd (or Nash) for the 2nd guard spot; you need someone to distribute the ball to those four scorers.

  85. 85.

    Mark S.

    @Comrade Luke:

    Oh Christ, if Phil Mickelson is hurting for money he’s either got a gambling addiction or a coke addiction. He’s made millions blowing it in major tournaments.

    And golf is about the only sport where you can make money as a senior.

  86. 86.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    My favorite part of the game is when Brady ran into the ref. He’s so used to the officials helping the Patriots, he just assumed he was blocking for him.

  87. 87.

    Omnes Omnibus

    God, this is awful. I shall root for the meteor. At least Downton Abbey was good. I still think we will find out that Mr. Bates actually killed his wife.

  90. 90.

    Captain C

    @efgoldman: I’ve always been amazed that Phoenix got a pro hockey team before it got its baseball team. Said baseball team is also the only Phoenix team to ever win a championship.

  91. 91.

    Cacti

    My anybody but Tom Brady Bowl wish came true. I’ve got nothing against either of the teams that made it.

    I cheer for former Miami Hurricanes, but each has them, and Gore has more Sundays left than Ray Lewis or Ed Reed.

    So, I guess I’m pulling for Baltimore.

    Also too, what a bitch move Brady to try and spike Reed on that slide.

  92. 92.

    Captain C

    @Mr Stagger Lee: Maybe they could make it a 7-on-7 flag football game. No one ever seems to want to tackle or hit (which makes sense; why ruin your career for an exhibition game?).

  93. 93.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Jon: Every Sunday you feel it is necessary to do this. Is being an asshole natural for you or do you practice?

  96. 96.

    Corner Stone

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’m still trying to figure out wtf “downton” is as opposed to “downtown”.
    Needless to say, people who bitch about spoilers are bitches. Or is it bitchers?

  97. 97.

    FridayNext

    @Cacti:

    Funny. I just popped over to see what’s the what over at the Boston Globe and the second headline was about Suggs dissing the Patriots with that same line. They lose in the championship, their coach acts like a spoiled little child, and THAT’s their second most important story from the game.

  98. 98.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Corner Stone: Downton is the costume drama. Downtown is is a Petula Clark song. Does this help? And FWIW, I wasn’t bitching; I was calling Jon an asshole.

  99. 99.

    Ben W

    @sb: I’d maybe swap Nowitzki in for KG although they’re very close. For the other G you need a point, I’d go with Nash. I’d also pick the current team over the 60s, mostly because no one on that team could stop Shaquille in his prime.

  100. 100.

    Donut

    @RobertDSC-iMac G5:

    Packers fan, here. Father-in-law and Brother-in-law are from NoCal, and stoked as hell to see their Niners in the big game. Happy for them, even though the Niners shamed the Packers. Anyway, I want to see the team that knocked my team out win. In some weird way, it makes me feel better to know the best team beat ’em.

  101. 101.

    Captain C

    Another interesting random stat: This will be the 10th Super Bowl in which neither team has yet lost a Super Bowl, but the first (unless I miscounted) in which both teams have also won at least one SB previously.

  102. 102.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Donut: I go the other way. I want to see the Ravens win. They have never done harm to Green Bay. I was rooting for the Pats simply because they lost very nicely to Green Bay in SB XXXI. Fandom is weird.

  104. 104.

    The Dangerman

    @Ben W:

    …mostly because no one on that team could stop Shaquille in his prime.

    I saw Wilt with the Lakers; he was the strongest player of his time (and it wasn’t close) and he was probably stronger than Shaq in his prime. Basically, Wilt was Shaq 1.0, a pure stud (and later went on to prove it if his claims were true). Shaq would try one of his bull moves and Wilt wouldn’t have budged.

  107. 107.

    Narcissus

    “This week on Downton Abbey, the Dowager Countess gets her video-nasty on at the new pornographic-nickelodeon “for philanthropy”. Kramer discovers flagpole-sitting.”

  108. 108.

    The Dangerman

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    What about Bill Russell?

    Never saw him play, so hard to judge. As for his battles with Wilt, I think he got into Wilt’s head bigtime (and the Celtics were generally the better team). Wilt was the better athlete, Russell the smarter player; as for better basketball player overall, it’s Wilt, but it’s close.

    BTW, FWIW, the best basketball player I ever saw was Magic. Jordan was the better athlete, no doubt, but I’d take Magic in a heartbeat if I had to choose.

  109. 109.

    catclub

    @efgoldman: I was just thinking about an intervening era, which could have Bird, Magic, Jordan,
    Kareem? and Pippen. (I don’t think Jordan was six years younger than Bird and Magic, but now that I start counting….and Kareem is a lot older than both Bird and Magic)

    I really know very little about these comparisons, so I won’t mind if you make fun of them.

    I was just surprised when those first four were not there.

  110. 110.

    catclub

    @The Dangerman: “best basketball player I ever saw was Magic”

    I agree. I am far too young to know about that Oscar Robertson fellow,…but have heard things.

  112. 112.

    Lead pipe

    @Corner Stone: J
    I’m a lifelong Niner fan who is also not looking forward to the Harbaugh Bowl pre-game hoopla. Bad enough we’ve got two more weeks of the NFL glorifying an accomplice to murder. But the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard said about the Niners is:

    This SuperBowl makes me feel like Dallas is playing V Dallas

    How could you be so cruel?

  113. 113.

    eemom

    Now I have to root for the Ravens, which makes me sick to my stomach, because as much as I hate them, I can not allow the 9er’s to have the same number of SB rings as the Steelers.

    Don’t take this the wrong way, but, imvho, there is something seriously wrong with you people.

  114. 114.

    Cacti

    @Lead pipe:

    I’m a lifelong Niner fan who is also not looking forward to the Harbaugh Bowl pre-game hoopla. Bad enough we’ve got two more weeks of the NFL glorifying an accomplice to murder.

    So, how’s Crabtree’s sexual assault investigation going?

  115. 115.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @eemom: Don’t worry; they will still have fewer NFL championships than Green Bay.

    ETA: Perhaps that isn’t what you meant? One doesn’t know why.

  116. 116.

    Ben W

    @The Dangerman: you make an interesting point: I’d assumed Russell would guard Shaq, and I don’t think he was strong enough to keep Shaq out of point blank range. I’ve seen a lot of Russell games and of course Shaq, but not enough Wilt. If Wilt really could stop Shaq on D, and have the strength to keep Shaq from pushing him far out of the paint, them I think those teams are really close.

  119. 119.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @Jon:

    Well, all of us Pelosi-lovin’ San Francisco libruls will be pulling for THE NINERS!

    Well, you’ve got a conflict, because Pelosi is a Baltimore girl. Born Nancy Patricia D’Alesandro, daughter of Tommy the Elder, Congressman and Mayor of Baltimore, brother of Tommy the Younger, also Mayor of Baltimore.

  120. 120.

    Ben W

    @The Dangerman: I love Magic and the Showtime Lakers and would still pick Jordan. Luckily, since the exercise is to assemble a team from a given era, we can have both! For the 80s, those two plus Bird, Hakeem, and Barkley.

  121. 121.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Donut: GB needs to strengthen both its D and O lines and get a true running game. If Benson can do it, cool. If not, let’s get someone. Rodgers can’t take forever being hit like he has been. And Raji and Pickett need some help. Guys that big need to rest a bit; after them, GB’s D-line is average at best on a good day.

  122. 122.

    ? Martin

    @Comrade Luke:

    my tax rate’s 62, 63 percent.

    Yeah, that’s bullshit. But retirement is cool – plenty of other deserving guys out there to collect a $5 million paycheck for playing golf.

  124. 124.

    salsify

    I am responding to Cole’s agony over the Raven’s win, I was hoping for a Pat’s win as well, as the dirty birds are a story line(Ray Lewis on camera) which is wearying. Pollard’s hit didn’t draw a penalty but that was nasty. Brady and company were hurt by injuries.

  126. 126.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @salsify:

    Brady and company were hurt by injuries.

    Weak. Injuries happen to every team every year. They happened to Green Bay this year. They also happened to Green Bay the last time they won the Super Bowl. So they don’t work as an excuse.

  128. 128.

    Donut

    @Ben W:

    Ahhh, Hakeem, he who bested both Ewing and Shaq. He was as good/better than any center, ever, IMO. He was up against those guys, David Robinson; and a lot of other really talented big guys who couldn’t stop him. Hakeem was fukkin smooooth. When healthy he could put up 25+ or more a night.

  129. 129.

    Captain C

    @? Martin: Even though I suck at it (I’m sure I could shoot a 68 at Augusta…in about 3 or 4 holes), I’d happily take 38% of $5 million to play golf for a year.

  131. 131.

    Jade Jordan

    @Obliterati:

    You should really read the trial transcripts. Two thugs with outstanding drug dealer warrants from Ohio run to Atlanta. They see mink coat wearing drunk guys, hit one of them over the head with a champagne bottle cutting him to the scalp (yep, deadly force). The mink coat crew fight back and win.

    During the trial a member of the entourage named Carlos who was not charged was identified as the one with a knife that did the stabbing. Jurors find them not guilty.

    You are able to defend yourself. Criminal idiot Bill Campbell (jailbird ex Mayor) holds a press conference, says stupid stuff, without knowing what happened and the rest is history.

  133. 133.

    Donut

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Rodgers practically willed the team to a substantial number of their wins this year, the defense was so pitiful. It’s not all players, IMO. I think the defensive coaching staff was stale and predictable, too. This year seems like such a waste, in a way. Rodgers had another amazing year, barely turned the ball over, totally dominant at times, but in the end this guy’s ability to close a game out was squandered, all because the D line sucked so bad.

  136. 136.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Donut: I am not sure I completely agree with you, but Caper did not make adjustments as quickly as one would like. I think personnel is a big factor; like I said above, I think the need to strengthen both lines. Still, it was a good season.

  137. 137.

    Ben W

    @efgoldman: probably. My plan to stop Wilt would be: Shaq tries to push Wilt out of the paint; if and when Wilt gets by Shaq, rely on help from Duncan, the best interior defender since Russell. Also, let’s not sleep on Tim Duncan here, he was terrifying.

  138. 138.

    Mnemosyne

    @FridayNext:

    Since I fortuitously married a man with zero interest in football (or, really, any sports), the closest I get to the Big Game is the Puppy Bowl (with kitten halftime show!)

  139. 139.

    Forum Transmitted Disease

    I wonder if Stabby Lewis will kill anyone on the field. Hope not.

    Best part of his Wiki profile is the last paragraph:

    Lewis is a Christian, and his commitment to his faith was featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2006. He has six children by four women.

    That’s some kinda commitment to the Lawd right there, folks.

  140. 140.

    Donut

    @Ben W:

    Exactly. All the hype went elsewhere and Hakeem stepped in and took over the league for two solid years. He was an all-around guy, too, could do a little of everything, and do all of it well. Not a lot of big giuys are as versatile.

  142. 142.

    RobertDSC-iMac G5

    @Donut:
    I can live with that, but I’d prefer that the Ravens not win. The lady I know who’s a Niners fan has always been good to me. so if her team wins, I know she’ll be happy. And that’s fine by me.

    I have history with the Niners since Steve Young is my favorite all-time QB (ahead of my guy Brady), and I grew up during the Montana days.

    My boss is going to give me crap for the Pats losing, but he’s got room to talk. He’s a Cowboys fan, lol.

  143. 143.

    FridayNext

    @salsify:

    Pollard’s hit didn’t draw a penalty but that was

    nasty.

    Agreed it was nasty. At first I thought it was a mutual head butt, but watching the replay over and over, it looks like it was the running back who lowered his head into Pollard. Unless there is some presumption that hits like this is always the defenses fault, it was a good no call.

  144. 144.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Donut: Hakeem also did it one year during Ramadan. Playing games while doing the sunrise to sunset fast – not an easy thing.

  150. 150.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Yutsano: English Cocker Spaniels kick every other dog’s ass. Of course, I am sentimental and listening to Highway Patrolman by Springsteen, so my judgment might be compromised. Beau was the best dog ever.

  151. 151.

    Ben W

    @arguingwithsignposts: it’s inexplicable: Duncan’s Spurs were so good, it seems like they should get more credit. I guess people bought the fundamentals = boring meme about Tim, but if you needed a 35/20 night from your star to win a playoff game, you had two choices in my lifetime: Shaq or Duncan.

  153. 153.

    handy

    @Ben W:

    If I needed a star to win a playoff game, I choose 90s era Michael Jordan. Every. Single. Time. And I’m saying this as a Laker fan who idolized Magic in my youth.

  155. 155.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @handy: but you don’t need a star to win a playoff game, you need a team to win a series. Jordan wouldn’t have been Jordan without the rest of that team.

    ETA: when has a team with a single superstar (not a superstar and at least two stars) won the championship in recent years?

  156. 156.

    tarylcabot

    Felt the same way John. Rooted for Houston because they had never been to the Super Bowl. Rooted (mildly) for the Falcons today because they had never won a Super Bowl. This will truly be a “hope they both lose” Super Bowl, though like you, i will mildly pull for the Ravens – in part to spoil the 49ers perfect record in the SB.

  160. 160.

    Radio One

    This year is pretty much the end of the road for Tom Brady and the Patriots. I don’t see them having a better year than this one anytime soon. I’ll root for the 49er’s in the Superbowl, because Bernard Pollard is still awful.

  162. 162.

    Librarian

    Actually, Jon, you don’t have to root for anybody. You can always, oh I don’t know, not watch the super bowl. Watch Downton Abbey instead.

  163. 163.

    Amir Khalid

    A new work of music, composed by birds, has been premiered at an art gallery in Liverpool. It’s titled Bird Sheet Music. But that might not be the right spelling for the second word.

  165. 165.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Any time I pick a team to win it’s almost a guarantee that they will end up losing, usually pretty badly. With that in mind and John not wanting the 49ers to win…

    I’m rooting for the Ravens. :p

  166. 166.

    The Dangerman

    I get the Jordan love, but did he ever play the 5 when his Center went down? Oh, yeah, and that was in the Finals (clinching game if memory serves and, yes, I’m far too fucking lazy to look it up). A 6’9″ PG that could post up and won the MVP of the All-Star game … after he retired. MJ should thank Magic and Bird because, in the 70’s, the NBA was going into the toilet. Finals were on tape delay in that era until Magic came along.

    Jordan was the best 2 ever, but the most important player on the floor is the 1. Best ever? Magic.

  167. 167.

    LurkyLoo2

    Gold Diggers against the Angry Birds it’s going to be a great Super Bowl. Go NINERS!!!!

    I remember the first superbowl the 49ers won with the great catch from Montana to Clark. Woohoo

  168. 168.

    Studly Pantload, the emotionally unavailable unicorn

    And in other news, Studly Pantload (rumored to be an emotionally-unavailable unicorn) is still sore enough about the Broncos that he remains mad at football and doesn’t care who wins.

  169. 169.

    FortyFuckingNiners

    John’s just pissed not only do the Niners have a chance of getting 6 rings, they’d also be undefeated doing so.

  170. 170.

    FortyFuckingNiners

    @LurkyLoo2:

    I remember the first superbowl the 49ers won with the great catch from Montana to Clark. Woohoo

    That was actually the NFC Championship game against Dallas, but since that catch launched the Niner’s dynasty..it was just as good as winning the Superbowl. Superbowl XVI we won rather handily.

  171. 171.

    Cassidy

    Maybe this time after the Ray Ray posse kills someone at a Super Bowl party they will find the white suit.

    Because we have standards dammit and only root for the super Bowl team that has a serial rapist as it’s quarterback.

    Did I get that right?

  174. 174.

    Joy

    John – you and me both on the Harbowl and Lewis swan song. I can’t bear to watch it. They are the biggest whiners in football right now. I am rooting for the 9ers though. Baltimore and Ray Lewis have never been favorites of mine.

  175. 175.

    befuggled

    @FortyFuckingNiners: Super Bowl XVI, the one after the Clark catch, was the game against the Bengals with the goal line stand that the 49ers won 26-21. You’re thinking of any of their non-Cincinnati Super Bowl wins.

    Not that anyone’s paying attention at this point.

  176. 176.

    redshirt

    The Patriots were a different team before/after Talib went out. Wrote in notebook “Game over”.

    Trade Brady! He’s done! Blow it all up!

  181. 181.

    different-church-lady

    @Cacti:

    Also, also too, might I just mention that Bellycheat and Tom Lady are ringless since Spygate.

    You might just mention that.

    One might also mention, however, that they have been to two Super Bowls since then, which is more than you can say about 30 other teams in the league, and they have been to three Conference championship games, which is also more than you can say about 30 other teams, and won two of those three, which is more than you can say about that 31st team.

    One also might mention that 27 other teams are ringless since spygate. Clearly the repercussions were deeper than anyone thought.

    One also might think that you were going for the easy taunt rather than some kind of insightful assessment of football talent.

  182. 182.

    JWL

    “..I can not allow the 9er’s to have the same number of SB rings as the Steelers”.

    I understand, no hard feelings. It’s pretty much why David Tyree will always be an honored name in my house. As you well know, neither Terry Bradshaw or Joe Montana ever lost a Super Bowl.

  183. 183.

    Kolohe

    I’d rather be a dude hanging out in a club with Ray Lewis in it than a woman hanging out in a club with Big Ben in it.

Comments are closed.