The Super Bowl as I Saw it

(AP Photo/John Bazemore & Andy Lyons/Getty Images/Courtesy of ESPN)

We are set, Super Bowl XLIV, the Big Game. The Indianapolis Colts will take on the New Orleans Saints in what is the highest seeded matchup in the Super Bowl since 1994. I picked both of these teams to make it to the big game (because I am always right) and while my pick was unoriginal, it did have to weather the storm because many people picked the Vikings (because of that QB up-north) and many people picked the Jets (because everyone thought it would be fun to just hop on a bandwagon with no wheels as the Jets were way overmatched.) But me, I stuck to my guns and it payed off.

But enough about last weekend, we have one more game to play (actually 2, we have the Pro Bowl next weekend, what is up with that?) and with that one more game, we have a clash of what I believe to be two similar football teams. They both have great quarterbacks with loads of playoff experience, they both have high-powered passing games and don't particularly focus on the running game, they both have lack luster defenses in terms of Super Bowl caliber teams, and they both are really used to winning (Saints 15 wins, Colts 16 wins).

Probably the most intriguing matchup is at quarterback. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are considered by many (including me) as the two best QBs in the NFL. But while the matchup is intriguing and will be fun to watch, to make any comparrisons between the two is like comparing Ferraris to Lamborghinis, people are just fans of their aesthetic features and their performance is very similar.

Super Bowl XLIV will come down to the match-ups that everyone isn't excited about watching. New Orleans and their defense that gives up a lot of yards but does get turnovers versus Indianapolis' defense which is the quintessential example of a "bend but sometimes break" defense. As the saying goes, "defense wins championships". The problem: It looks like neither team is going to win a championship. The Colts ranked 18th during the regular season in total defense while the Saints ranked 25th.

The problem for the Saints will be, can they get the turnovers like they did against the Vikings. It will be harder for New Orleans to get to Peyton Manning then it was for them to get to Brett Favre (I mean that QB up-north).

The problem for the Colts will be can they sustain a consistent rush to put pressure on Drew Brees and can they stop the Saints running attack of Pierre Thomas and a newly found Reggie Bush? The Saints don't necessarily have to deal with this as much as the Colts do, as the Colts rank dead last in the NFL in rushing. The last team to make it to the Super Bowl and rank last in rushing was way back in 2009, when the Arizona Cardinals made it to the big show and lost on the final drive to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But will this Super Bowl turn out for the Colts like it turned out for the Cardinals last year? Many may think that they are completely different match-ups with many differences. Before you completely write off this attempted comparison take a look at these apt similarities. Both teams had somewhat new head coaches, they both had playoff tested QBs, and they both had similar situations with their running games.

The X-factor for the Colts will be can they get the running game going (like they sort of did against the Jets) and can they avoid turning the ball over. For the Saints, it will be, can Reggie Bush become a factor as a running RB. We all know he can be a threat in the passing game (the Colts also know this), but can he put it between the tackles and have the same success that he had against Arizona. If Reggie Bush can get it going in the running game, I don't think Indianapolis has enough to stop both a great passing game and a great running game.

With all of these points, it is time for me to make my Super Bowl XLIV prediction. I think the game will be close and lower-scoring than people think. In the end I am sticking with my early season prediction and picking the Saints, 24-21. Remember all of the factors I presented when making your Super Bowl predictions and no matter who wins the game, this should be one of the best match-ups we have seen in quite a long time. Enjoy the game and go Saints!

Read More

A 'No-Brainer'? Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself...

(Getty Images/Courtesy of ESPN.com)

With only a few weeks away from the NBA All-Star break, fans and players are preparing for what should be one of the biggest All-Star games in NBA history (or that's at least what we've been told). Unfortunately though I will have to go another year without seeing Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, or someone actually deserving of the starting PG spot for the East. East starting PG Allen Iverson said Friday,

"Should I worry about what those people say or concentrate on the million-plus people that voted for me? To me, it's a no-brainer. My fans want to see me play and they have the right to put in who they want to put in the game."

A 'No-Brainer' you say? Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself; While fans currently have the right to vote on who they please to have play in the All-Star game, these people are the only ones who are currently, No-Brainers!

So the question begs... Should fans have the right to vote for the All-Star teams? And if not, how should the voting be structured? Currently half the vote is determined by the fans while the other half is determined by the coaches. Fans may vote as many times as they like and for whomever they like regardless of production. 7-time All-Star Tracy McGrady will not make an appearance in this year's game, but if the fans had their way he would be, as he was second in fan voting among guards, only behind Kobe Bryant. Funny thing is, it would have been the first jersey McGrady put on all season, due to the fact he hasn't played one second!

But back to Iverson, it isn't the fact that he has ruined any chance of a meaningful playoff push with any team he's been on post 2007, or his mediocre stats which aren't worth comparing to Rondo or Rose, but it's the fact that he has no remorse for stealing the starting spot in the All-Star game. It's one thing to take it and run, but Iverson actually tries to justify why he should be playing.

"They voted me in, and it's an honor. I don't want to disrespect them by not participating in the game."

Allen, you aren't disrespecting your fans, you are disrespecting everyone who deserves that spot, which according to your stats, is about half the Eastern Conference.

Now I am not saying Iverson should step down or do anything like that. And the fact is he isn't disrespecting anyone, or should he have any remorse for taking anyone’s spot. But the way we fix this is simple, END FAN VOTING FOR THE ALL-STAR GAME. Let it be determined by players, coaches, and select media personnel, you know, people who actually know what they are voting on. I am an Iverson fan, have been since day 1. He is probably one of if not the best players in NBA history for his size. But numbers are numbers and those who have worked hard for the honor of being represented in the All-Star game, should get that opportunity and no obsessive fan club with a million different ballot names should take that away from the ones who have earned it.

Read More

Terrelle Pryor Heisman Candidate Video 2010

Terrelle Pryor Heisman Candidate Video 2010 is a sequel to the first video created by PaulCo Productions. Now in his junior year, Terrelle Pryor will try to become Ohio State's 8th Heisman Trophy winner. Pryor has received much criticism for his performance in his first two years at Ohio State. As the nation's highest touted recruit in 2008, Pryor came in immediately as Ohio State's starting quarterback. With the best game of his career against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Pryor's stock has shot up as of late and is now considered, by many, as a Heisman candidate next season. Will he live up to all the hype? Only time will tell...

Check out the video!

Read More