So the ending of another Football season comes upon us. [Turn away ladies, this blog is all about football. Except for a few of you.]
I have some thoughts that I must release. I will miss the analogies that aided and abetted many a sermon (not as many as I was tempted to use though.). The NFL started out in the mud from an ugly Player vs Owner battle, but the Shield (National Football League) managed to rise from the miry clay, because it is the best game. It pits speed against strength, skill against coaching, clutch against luck, veteran teams against upstart teams and rising stars against the guys headed back down the ladder. Where do I start? Ole Tom Brady, well, he is simply the best. Beauty overcame the beast (Ray Lewis&Co.) in this tough game of men that comes down to inches and split seconds (see: almost catch by Lee Evans or hook-shot by Billy Cundiff). They work hard and play hard all year, and then it comes down to clutch plays. A great year was had by guys like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, but even they fell short of the prize. Big Ben tried his best, and as Champ Bailey put it, "He's always injured when he plays." He got bested by the controversial (due to too much media attention) Tim Tebow who just wants to play football and represent Christ. The Indy Colts were exposed: without Peyton Manning they are a two-win team. Then there is little brother Eli who I'm assuming really can't get respect, because he looks like a third-grader. For goodness sake, the guy has a Super Bowl ring and is going for another. He plays in NY, give the kid a break. I really could go on and on, because it was a fun season. My boys got into Fantasy Football and we had some fun with that. Oh, I almost forgot, congrats to the Harbaugh brothers for making it to the AFC&NFC Championships. Pretty cool! I still don't know why one of these teams hunting a coach won't give Pops Harbaugh a call. Finally, I'm torn on how I want the Super Bowl to end. I'd like to see Tom Brady get one more ring and be done. I really don't like the Patriots, because I really don't like when one team just dominates like they have. But I love the intestinal fortitude with which Brady plays the game. I love the way he carries himself, and his story in college and in the pros to get to where he is. But I'm torn. I'm probably the only person that will make this next statement. I like Old Tom Coughlin, the coach for the Giants that everyone (often even his own team) loves to hate. Probably almost every week I heard how his job was in jeopardy. I kind of hope he wins the Super Bowl and tells the Giants he'll retire, or coach the Dolphins or something. I think it stinks that a good coach is said to be on the hot-seat every week...probably because he looks like he's mad all the time on the sideline. C'mon man, he's a good coach! Either way, I guess I want Tom to win. ---Now I'm done. No, I won't be watching the Pro Bowl, because that is too much like Reality TV.
