Let's talk Super Bowl...

I'll say it: I shut off the game midway though the 3rd quarter.

Say what you want. Don't care.

I got up Monday morning prepared to wear my Patriots shirt when I went out and about. Simply to show my support. (Which is a true sign of a fan. At work, I've seen people walk around in their Brady jerseys during the Playoffs and I'd laugh. Where the hell were they after the Pats lost to Seattle in Week 10?) Then, just for punishment, I watched the highlights over coffee.

Wait...WHAT?

Holy, Good God, DAMN!

Needless to say, I've spent a lot of time watching reaction and commentary videos on YouTube all week. And one of the biggest topics online is this...

 ...is he? Or isn't he?

First of all, prior to this game Brady had won 3 Super Bowl MVP awards, and I've never believed he should have gotten any of them. He didn't win those Super Bowls. 

Secondly, prior to Superbowl 51, every Patriots Super Bowl win was by less than 5 points.

Then came this game.

Looking at his performance, under such circumstances, there is NO doubt that he absolutely deserved the Super Bowl 51 MVP award. There's also no doubt that he is the best clutch quarterback to have ever played the game.

But GOAT? I would say yes, but with an asterisk.

Hang on and hear me out...

Rich Eisen made a very good point on his 2/6/17 broadcast of The Rich Eisen Show, which I will paraphrase:

Tom Brady is the Greatest Quarterback in the history of the NFL, but not necessarily the Greatest FOOTBALL Player of all time. 

Eisen went on to say that Jerry Rice is the Greatest Wide Receiver in football history and Jim Brown is the Greatest Running Back in football history. Since Eisen knows a hell of a lot more about football (and sports in general) than I ever will, I bow to his wisdom. 

But that got me thinking about what GOAT really means.

Can there truly be a GOAT in all of sports? Is Brady a better athlete than Serena Williams? Lebron James? Muhammad Ali? Yeah, Brady has five rings, but he's never won Olympic Gold. 

I think Eisen's point goes beyond football. Every sport has it's own expectations from those athletes who choose to pursue that sport, and a person who is great (or even good for that matter) in one sport doesn't automatically mean that s/he would excel in a different one. 

Can you see him throwing a baseball? Boxing? Swimming? Ice Skating? 'Cause I sure an hell can't.

So what is he? Tom Brady is THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK OF ALL TIME. 

You can call him the GOAT Quarterbacks, or the GQBOAT, or the GOATQB. Take your pick, but there is no debate.

Is it Sunday again?

...yes, it is...so naturally I have to work...

Let's see, what's happening today?

The Pats play Tampa Bay today at 1:00 at home...

...the 142nd annual Cumberland Fair starts today...

...and this was posted on twitter:

Now, I don't...tweet (or is it twit?), because to me it feels like stalking,

but these two would be on my top ten list of people to 'follow'.

(See, it even sounds like stalking...)

BUT - if I did tweet/twit - here's my Top Ten (in no particular order)...

and 

Football...Football...Football...

GAME DAY!

The season is upon us...so of course I have to work today...

In any case, today is Game 1 of the regular season, and the Pats play the Bills in Buffalo at 1:00.

First of all - never underestimate your opponent. 

We have no idea how the Bills are going to perform, especially with home field advantage.

Second - new blood brings new possibilities...and problems.

No one wants another Hernandez, but new members to the League may under perform in the clutch.

Third - why oh why do I have to work three of the four Sunday this month?

I was afraid of this...

...the defense...

...it's all about the defense...

...Belichick knows this...

...he's been trained as a coach in defense...

...they've got to make plays...

...or else.

Balls.

I'm back...

Okay, I know I've been out a while so let me spend this morning catching up with stuff...

A while ago, I talked about a Valiant Comics panel I attended at the 2012 Coast City Comic Con (which I will finish by the way) where I asked if there were any plans for a Unity-type event in the near future...

...I was told "not at the moment"...

...well either I was outright lied to, or I gave someone the idea, because "Harbinger Wars" is coming in 2013.

According to an article in CBG (two, maybe three issues left and counting?) the storyline will involve Harbinger and Bloodshot, and bring more of the previous Valiant's characters back into play. But not X-O Manowar.

So while technically a cross-over, this isn't an all-out company-wide event. I call this a draw.

Am I Ready for Some Football...?

Heck yes I am.

I was sooo glad Denver lost I can't even describe it.

The 49'ers and Falcons play first today at 3:00. The Pats play the Ravens at 6:30.




I have to work today ('natch) but I'll catch the second half. The Pats' defense has stepped up, but all this talk about Brady is nuts. Each of their three Super Bowl wins was by three points. That's a field-goal, not a touchdown. Plus, in every game, the defense made plays and took the ball away. Now, Brady's a Hall-of-Famer no question. But he's not the reason the team has three rings. The team is the reason they've got three rings. Brady would be the first person to say that too. So the announcers and commentators need to open their eyes...and history books...and stop talking up just the QB. That's all I'm saying.

Damn this game's addictive.

What I don't understand is how my best friend, who started the game after I did (and has helped me out with all the SHIELD points) is like twenty levels ahead of me...

Schmuck was always lucky...

Indy 24...Pats 59

Well...well...

I thought the days of scores like this were over.

Truth is, both offenses were good, and both defenses were...not as good...but what made this game wasn't Tom Brady or Gronk - it was Edelman. His TD punt return in the second quarter woke the team up, and then the team stepped up.

And that's what the team needed all season. There's no question that the talent is there, more so than last year, but something needed to happen for them to open their eyes and say "we got this".

And here we are with a 7 and 3 record (along with the Broncos and Packers).

The season's still too close to call though, the Ravens are 8 and 2, the Falcons and Texans are 9 and 1, and the Bears, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Giants, Colts, and Steelers are all knocking on the door.

One thing I think we can call right now is that the Pats have clinched the AFC East (though it's not official yet).

Man I love football...

45 - 7...

They played the St. Louis Rams in England yesterday.

I missed the game - I was carving pumpkins with Adorkette.

So the Pats are 5-3 for the season. This puts them in first place in the AFC East (Miami is second with a 4-3 record...they've already had their bye week), and there are four teams right now with more wins: the Houston Texans, the New York Giants, the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons (who are still undefeated).

The Pats have their bye week this coming weekend, and they need the time to get their stuff together for the second half of the season.

They've proven that they can play well, and shown that they can play...not so well, so lets hope they spend their time wisely and beat Buffalo on Sunday, Nov. 11.

I'm going to miss that game too...there's a convention I have to attend.

But if they keep putting up points like this while I'm away, I'll keep doing what I did this morning and catch the highlights.

Patriots v Broncos...4:25 P.M.

This will be the first time the Pats face Peyton Manning in over a year.

I've never liked the whole "Manning vs. Brady" thing because both players are never on the field the same time.

I always saw it as "Manning vs. Bruschi". 'Cause Tedy was my guy.

My point is that the only thing that can keep either of the Mannings in check is the Pats' defense...which is looking better each week.

Will it be good enough? That's hard to say, because this is Manning's first year back...in a different franchise no less...and an "up and coming" Pats defense.

In other words - waters will be tested on both sides, and I honestly don't care how many points Brady and the offense put on the board.

I'll be focusing on how many points Manning et. al. don't get...

...and how many times he gets stuffed!

This must be what a Zombie feels like...

Had a hard day yesterday, worked my tail off but it felt like I had nothing to show for it.

Kind of like the Pats last night...

Anyway, Mrs. Adorkification's gone and built herself a Red deck "just to see how it plays", and I can't wait to have a game.

But it'll be a while because of our work schedules for the next few days at least.

Cruel...Cruel Monday.

Sunday...Sunday...Sunday...

I have to work today...10 AM till 8:30 PM...

The Good - I only have to work this shift once every three weeks or so.
The Bad - My entire Sunday is gone.

So here's some random thoughts that will carry me through the day I feel like sharing...

The Pats face the Ravens in Baltimore for Week #3. 

It's a night game (8 PM start time) so I'll catch most of it.

We have a mouse in our house. 

We also have a cat in our house, which - unlike the mouse - is here intentionally.

You'd think the one would be killed by the other, but in reality not so much.

The cat treats it like a toy.

Tuesday will be a big day...

Mrs. Adorkification and I will be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. Since there is no "official" gift theme for that, we've decided to make it our Dance Anniversary.

As such, we've started taking lessons. Week 1: Fix Trot. The image above shows footing for the turn from the man's perspective...which is my biggest problem. We're practicing, and are having a lot of fun with it.

Have a good day...I know I won't.

New England 18, Arizona 20

I'm not sure how I feel right now.

I'm upset that they lost, but in truth they deserved to lose.

The defense stepped up. And I've been a fan of the defense ever since I heard of a guy named Tedy Bruschi.

"But Arizona put up 20 points."

Yeah they did, but they could have put up much, much more.

It'd be easy to point fingers at Tom Brady...who didn't throw the ball well...and Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski...who dropped the ball very well...but the offence as a whole dropped the ball.

There was less pass protection and not enough receivers getting open.

"But the Pats put 18 points on the board."

Yeah they did, and 12 of them came from kicker Steve Gostowski. And before we call him out for missing the game-winning kick let's remember...the offense needed a field goal to win.

Super Bowls have been won and lost to field goals...but that's the Super Bowl.

This is game two of the season, game one at home.

Troy Brown was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame...during Halftime...of this game.

If I didn't know better, this was the exact same roster that lost both of their last two Super Bowl appearances.

All in all, a bad performance.

But I will say that once the offense plays half as good as the defense did...or once the defense gets enough experience under their belts to turn opportunities into points...the Pats will be back to form.

Game 3 is in Baltimore, and of course I have to work, but I'll be listening as they gain momentum and (hopefully) get all their bugs out in time to make the playoffs.

Why yes, I am quite ready for some football...

It's that time of year again, and I'm soooo glad...

Granted, they lost three of their four Preseason games, but that's Preseason.

This first Regular Season game is away, against Tennessee. I have to work, natch, but I'll bring my mp3 to get updates.

My overall hopes for this year are as follows:

1) More wins than losses. There's a bunch of new talent that will need a year under their belts to acclimate to the NFL. Coach Bill is big on versatility, and that takes practice/experience. Plus, the nation rooting against the team this past Super Bowl still stings.

2) No Manning makes it to the damn Postseason, never mind the Super Bowl.

3) Tebow gets his shot.

4) The Colts make it to the Super Bowl...and win.

So we'll see.

GOD I've missed football...

WTF?

The first Patriots play of the Super Bowl

I’ve said before that the better team won the game, and I stand by that. My issue today is with the first play the Patriots Offense had.

Thanks to a well placed punt by the Giants, Tom Brady first got his hands on the ball inside his own 10-yard line. Getting in shotgun formation, Tom was standing in his end-zone when the ball was snapped. The offensive line disintegrated, and Giants defenders were closing in. Tom threw the ball before he was taken down, but the ball landed well beyond the reach of any Patriots receivers.

Then a flag was thrown for intentional grounding, which was the right call. In addition to the flag, the Giants bet two points for a safety, and the Giants then had the lead 2 – 0.

The commentators, both during the game and since, have stated that the rule is written that when a quarterback is called for intentional grounding while in the end-zone, it’s an automatic safety.

My question isn’t with the call, it’s with the rule.

I’m no expert, but if a quarterback is called for intentional grounding anywhere else on the field, the threatening defensive players do not get credit for the sack. This makes sense, because a sack is defined by tackling the quarterback while he has the ball. Therefore, either the quarterback has the ball and is tackled – a sack or the ball is thrown prior to the tackle – a possible intentional grounding.

One or the other.

Calling intentional grounding negates a safety because the ball can’t both be thrown away and tackled with the quarterback in the end-zone in the same play.

Think what you will, but if Eli did the same thing I’d be making the same argument.

My hope is that someone comes to their senses and changes the rulebook accordingly before next season.

NY Giants 21...NE Patriots 17

I saw the game, for the first time through my computer at nbcsports.com.

I didn't mind not seeing all the ads, and I'm not upset about the final score.

The Giants were the better team.

My problem was I thought I was watching NBC, not THE NY GIANTS CHANNEL.

I remember when the great John Madden was a commentator, and he talked about players, coaches and strategies for both teams. He was fair, funny, and almost always right with whatever he said.

Listening to the commentators during this Super Bowl made me feel like the game was already decided, the team already won. Eli Manning is his own Dynasty and the Patriot Regime was over.

All this before the end of the first quarter.

Enough Already.

I realize that this is how the sponsors and the NFL want the Super Bowl to be played: Down to the wire, with the game in the balance. When was the last time one team had a ten point lead going into the final quarter?

So give the Giants their due, and congrats to the better team.

But I save my respect for after the game is over, not before it even starts.

So when again is The Avengers movie coming out?

SUPER BOWL XLVI

So the Pats play the Giants in what people are calling The Rematch.

It's been all over the news and I'm sick of it.

First of all, the Pats have a Dynasty. Whether they win or lose today, it doesn't matter. They have a Dynasty.

Second of all, no amount of interviews and sound bytes are going to help either team win. They need to be left alone to train and prepare for the game.


Third, I'm going to enjoy the game watching it live while my wife makes me food...all afternoon...because she loves me.

She's even going to let me yell and scream!

GO PATS!!!

The Super Bowl Rematch Awaits...

So...I guess the Pats won...and the Giants...so we're going to listen to two weeks worth of reliving the Pats defeat 4 years ago!


I can't complain too much though, the Pats are in the Super Bowl after all.

But is it me, or have their victories been squeakers? A 7 point margin or less in the really important games.

Nail-biting events to say the least.

In a way, I'm glad I missed them play the Ravens, because I would be hoarse right now. And I'm not sorry I missed Mick Jagger...sorry, Steve Tyler...hamming it up.

But to be honest, I'm scared a little bit by the upcoming game.

God, I miss Tedy Bruschi.

Football...Football...Football

Football is my sport of choice.

Hockey is a close second because it was the sport I watched during my years at BU, and because my daughter and I catch at least one Portland Pirates game every season.

Basketball and Baseball are more fun for me to actually play instead of watch, but I am a fan of movies based on these sports such as Major League, Teen Wolf, A League of Their Own, White Men Can't Jump, and Field of Dreams. I have yet to see Hoosiers, but I think I'd like it.

Anyway, the AFC and NFC Championship games for the 2011-2012 NFL season are today...

...and I have to go to work.


One thing I hate about sportscasters is that they put up or mention stupid statistics during the game. Stats like "The last time this quarterback led his team to victory in this stadium in an AFC Championship game was 1955," and such.

I always feel that any mention of stuff like that will jinx the game.

So I won't mention stats...I'm going to state facts:

1) The Pats won their first of three Super Bowl rings the same year I started working for the corporation I still work for now.

2) Ever since I changed branches within that corporation, the Pats have either not made it to the Super Bowl, or lost.

3) Regardless of the season, almost all Pats games I missed due to working ended as victories.

4) Adam Vinatieri earned every ring he has...except the last one. (The COLTS Adam? Really?)
and
5) Tedy Bruschi should be hired by the Pats...as a member of the Defense coaching staff.

Okay, so the last two weren't facts, but they should be.

GO PATS!!!