Having watched the Football League Show this evening (and texted in only to have my text not read out - and it wasn't that lass doing the texts either, but some bloke called Dave), I can safely say that it was never, ever a penalty. Not that it matters, of course, because Smithies made a brilliant save.
And I am also elated because Aaron Rodgers is only in his 2nd season, and already he's made the playoffs and the Pro Bowl. Favre didn't do that. He'll move mountains, you can be sure of it. How can you not, when you're on the best football team to ever exist? Also, I'm happy that Nick Collins and Charles Woodson made the Pro Bowl as well. Amazing players, great guys. So deserving, the entire team. I love 'em.
Rewind to 415PM on Sunday, Colts Game: It was a really piss-poor performance and hardly any of the starters played (even though most of them were healthy). This was to keep our starters safe for playoff games, and even though I understand the reasoning, I think it was a really terrible administrative decision. Fastforward to 902PM, Tuesday, my room: I've just heard on the news that one of our Indy congress reps (cant recall the name) is petitioning for the fans who attended the game to be reimbursed for such a crap performance. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was pissed about the game too, but the fans paid for a game, they got a game, albeit a terrible one. What's next, are they going to ask the Colts to reimburse fans for every time we lose a game? We're getting spoiled! Besides, we've been known to rest starters in the past when we've locked a playoff position. It sucks, but it's not that big a deal. I understand that he pretty much wants to send a message to the offensive coordinator and head coach, but maybe he should go back to Congress and focus on governmental decisions. Actually, I take that back. He's been in office for way too long a time. This sort of makes me embarassed to be in Indiana.
Congrats on Manning, Wayne, Clark, Saturday, Freeney and Mathis going to the Pro Bowl, Merc. However, the NFC will be more than happy to crush you.
We shall see, Obi-Wan. *creepy Darth Vadar voice* Seriously, though, I love the Pro Bowl. It's a chance for your favorite teams to combine, rather than go against each other. I'm personally looking forward to seeing Minnesota and Green Bay becoming the dream team with their combined 11 players. Woodson and Peterson will rule the field. And #18 ain't got nuthin on #4. I'm also excited to see how Aaron Rodgers does--first pro bowl in only 2nd season, plus playoffs equals impressive!!
Hey we're on the same side finally, Gigi. Let's bring down the AFC off their holier-than-thou pedestal!
Wild lost. They need to freaking shoot the puck. Have they improved since the Lemaire years? Yes. But still too much passing. Pathetic call on Brodziak tonight. I gave my friends a harder shoulder in jest than he gave the quacker tonight. Frustrating...I hate the ducks.
Yeah!!! *mega high-five!* We have this game, NFCers. We got this! Plus we've got the better track record in the PB. We've got more talent, experience and just plain ol' moxie than they do.
Pfft, everyone knows that the AFC rules the NFL. The NFC is just there so the top AFC team has someone to beat in the superbowl.
AFC will rout the NFC. Peterson will fumble at least 3 times, Brees will be resting for his superbowl appearence, and the other qbs will just be throwing pick-6s to Asomugha and Revis. Asomugha and Lechler both totally deserve their place, but Janikowski was robbed. He kicked a 61-yarder! Canada's Olympic hockey team was announced today. Some pleasant surprises, like Doughty making it and the overrated Calgary defense getting shutout, but some less pleasant ones as well. I think Hockey Canada will regret leaving out Stamkos, I can't believe they took Bergeron when he's incredibly fragile and not even the best centre on his team (who they left off!), and it's nearly impossible to root for a team that includes Corey Perry. Though I know next to no one will agree, I think the starter should be Brodeur, but if he shows signs of fading like he has in the last few playoffs, they should use Fleury. Still, Team Canada is, in my opinion, one of the top two teams in the tournament. I'm hoping it's them against Russia for the gold.
Actually since the Pro Bowl is before the Super Bowl this year, they've made it a rule that Super Bowl players can't play in the Pro Bowl. So if the Saints make it, the NFC team will lose several of its best players. Oh and the AFC team has Ray Rice. That'll get them the win.
Although I hesitate to agree (because he's not a Colt! Boo), I do. Ray Rice is an amazing runningback. I dont follow the Ravens terribly closely because they dont always air in my state (even though we're both AFC! No fair.), but I remember in our game against Baltimore, we hardly had an answer to him. I love Addai and Brown, but they're just not up to par with other runningbacks in the league. Although I have to wonder if this is a linebackers' issue, not RB...? MY POINT: Sorry, Gi; AFC just has better teams.
Off-topic, I just want to say that I love the playful comptetion. I love you guys. Okay, back to sports.
That's what I said, he'll be resting for the superbowl I also find myself in an awkward predicament for this weekend- on the one hand, as all fans should I have tremendous difficulty rooting against my team. On the other, a loss to Baltimore can effectively eliminate the Steelers and Denver. Maybe I'm best off hoping for a draw. Also, provided they are embarrassed by the Saints, I would not be upset to see the Chargers make the superbowl, because then Janikowski can claim his proper place in the Pro Bowl. Indeed, that could also have the fantastic result of Norv Turner earning a contract extension and torpedoing the Chargers until most of their key players are near retirement. The Leafs were terrible again tonight. I suppose I could write up another rant, but it boils down to the same points as always- lazy effort for the first two periods, and embarrassing goaltending. It is somewhat discouraging that two things which are very obvious have somehow managed to completely elude Burke- Ron Wilson needs to find a new career, and Vesa Toskala needs to find a bench somewhere in the East Coast league.
I'm playing out the different scenarios in my head concerning if the Vikings get a first-round bye or not. If they win, they'll get the bye. Green Bay can win their game and go on for the 2nd round against the Vikes. But if the Vikes lose, it's likely they'll get matched up with the Pack in the first round. And since the Vikes have been on a losing streak, they'll try their hardest to thrash Green Bay in the first round. Maybe it's better if they get a win and a bye, so they don't feel the need to prove themselves...... but will they fight even harder in the second round? Or will they relax a little more? It's hard to say.
It's the greatest weekend in sport: it's the day of the underdog, the day of the FA Cup third round! Town hope to cause a cupset against high-flying West Brom. Play a first team, play at our best, and we're more than capable of beating them. Especially if they play ex-England liability Scott Carson in goal.
Today we found out a new rule. It's perfectly OK for away team defenders at the Galpharm to hug our strikers on corners. Every set piece they had one big lad who spent his entire time holding back Jordan Rhodes. At least 4 penalties should have been given, and at 0-0 it would have changed the game. Why is it that we'd pretty much need to have a striker get murdered by a mad axeman before we'd get a penalty, where other teams get so many soft penalties it's untrue?
Tonight's game is against Calgary. I don't especially like Calgary, so hopefully the Leafs decide to do more than their pathetic 'effort' against the Oilers. As is usually the case, Canada vs. USA was the game of the tournament so far at the WJHC. I think a solid case can be made that the US outplayed Canada and were more deserving of the win, but then an equally strong case could be made the the Canadians were robbed of their last goal in regulation and it should never have gone to OT. Either way, the game ended in a shootout, which is a far from satisfying way of deciding the winner- for the same reason football doesn't come down to longest field goal contests and baseball games aren't decided by a home run derby. Much as it pains me, I'm somewhat rooting for the Americans to make the gold medal game. I think Canada will bring a stronger effort should they meet again, but their strong showing in the first game has to have given the US team a lot of confidence. Also, my apologies to American hockey fans for my team's general manager. His 2010 Olympic squad is... interesting. I'd thought the US could surprise- and they still can because Miller might be playing the best of any goaltender in the world right now- but I'm much less worried about them after seeing Burke's roster. That said, leaving off Anderson in favour of Quick just doesn't make sense to me. Komisarek should not be in the Olympics. His play has improved, but there were better options. As for the forwards, again I think there were better choices. Okposo, Gionta, Oshie, Zajac and even Gomez are all much better options than Drury who has been awful this year. Even the profoundly useless Jason Blake might be better.
I would feel sorry for Curtis Painter if I werent so angry at him. There's speculation that he'll be our quarterback after Peyton retires, too, which is scary. After all, this is our first year (that I can remember) even having a third-string QB, and Sorgi's out because he's been second-string for nearly ten years without change, so... That's just awesome. I'm glad the Pats lost though! As a Colts fan, I am a fan of any team that defeats the Patriots.
Ugh. We couldn't even beat bloody Reading. Absolute disgrace. Normally I'd be glad that (if we get through) we face Burnley in the next round, but damnit I'm not convinced that Liverpool can win the replay, or even beat Burnley if they do get through
