Grid Talk
Can someone give me a good reason to root for any particular team(s) tomorrow?
Yes, as a native New Yorker, I'm leaning toward the Jets against Pittsburgh, but if someone here can convince me there's a great Steelers story that will cause me to follow a certain special individual or that the Steelers have shown some sort of remarkable perseverance for one reason or another, have at it. Tell me about it.
I was rabidly rooting for the Jets to beat the Pats, but now that that's taken care of, I'm open to being swayed this weekend and for the Super Bowl.
I'd really prefer stories about the men on any these four teams -- some proof that someone has turned his life around or is a particularly good family man or works his tail off for a good cause.
Anything I should be aware of?
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Dec '10
Re: Grid Talk
Well, for starters, you need to know that both games are tomorrow; the Jets-Steelers game is at 6:30.
With Pittsburgh, it's mostly about defense. The much-maligned and fined linebacker James Harrison was an undrafted mega-find. He plays the real game and is certainly among the best at his position. Their offense has problems along the line that lead to Rothlisberger getting hit way too often. Also notice how, unlike Brady or Manning, Big Ben takes vicious hits that rarely get flagged. However, my favorite is Hines Ward at WR. He is intensly physical and strikes fear in defensive backs. He will flat knock people down and, as such, he helps protect the QB from defensive backs that try to blitz.
Re: Grid Talk
CJRun: Well, for starters, you need to know that both games are tomorrow; the Jets-Steelers game is at 6:30.
With Pittsburgh, it's mostly about defense. The much-maligned and fined linebacker James Harrison was an undrafted mega-find. He plays the real game and is certainly among the best at his position. Their offense has problems along the line that lead to Rothlisberger getting hit way too often. Also notice how, unlike Brady or Manning, Big Ben takes vicious hits that rarely get flagged. However, my favorite is Hines Ward at WR. He is intensly physical and strikes fear in defensive backs. He will flat knock people down and, as such, he helps protect the QB from defensive backs that try to blitz. · Jan 22 at 10:18am
Oops. Thanks, CJ. I guess that's wishful thinking on my part. A game tonight would be easier for me to stay up for! Will edit.
Jul '10
Re: Grid Talk
I was a lifelong NFL fan. When Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, went after families headed for bankruptcy for their premium seating contracts in 2009, I was done. A decent member of the community with a concern for his reputation would have cancelled the contracts rather than piling on families in trouble. I was at the other end of those pitches for upper grade seats and, where I didn't believe the terms presented and did not bite, others did and the fine print tooketh away.
Michael Vick's return pushed me to ambivalence already, along with the rising criminal element among the players in general. And Snyder's own "influence" with Prince Georges County government, preventing pedestrians from approaching the stadium on game day to assure his parking fees.
I never expect people to be angels, but there's a point where the entertainment value is impeded.
Hmmm. Maybe an app that attaches rap sheet popups to the NFL rosters. That could be fun.
Sep '10
Re: Grid Talk
The Green Bay Packers stand for Truth, Justice and the American Way. They are from a small town. I am a thoroughgoing capitalist but the fact that they are owned by the municipality means they'll always be associated with that place, so they embody a sense of place or terroir if you're an oenophile, what could be more conservative than that? The biography of their iconic coach Lombardi was written by David Maranis after he finished his book about Bill Clinton and he called it When Pride Still Mattered.
Jul '10
Re: Grid Talk
The Steelers quarterback is a rapist, reason enough to pull for the other side if not for the sad fact it's a New York team. So I have no rooting investment at all in this game. Should be a rock-'em-sock-'em contest with bodies flying all over over the place.
Dec '10
Re: Grid Talk
Sisyphus, Southwest Airlines can give you very reasonable roundtrips from BWI and the Jaguars would dearly love your patronage. They have a fabulous ownership-management team-coaching staff and are assembling a young group of aggressive "good guys" in the locker room. They are a reasonable contender for the playoffs, next season, and are fun to follow.
They have what are amongst the cheapest prices for seats in the NFL, probably so much cheaper than the 'Skins that airfare would be negligible. And, they have had the best team website (from the comments I've read) for years, adding to the experience. Check out the Ask Vics and flip back through the archives; he's a treasure that we are losing to Green Bay in two weeks. Forget Dan Snyder and embrace the teal and black!
I loves my Jags a bit.
Sep '10
Re: Grid Talk
Donald Driver was raised very poor, he talks about sleeping in cars and scrounging for food etc. and he's given a lot to charity. An exemplary character.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Driver
Dec '10
Re: Grid Talk
Ursula, I'm curious as to why you would root for your Jets against the Patriots and not against the Steelers? **In the nature of full disclosure I'm obviously a huge Pats fan**
Personally I'll probably be rooting for the Steelers, albeit reluctantly. Both are AFC rivals but after the horrid smack-talk the Jets engaged in, I suppose I have to root for the Steelers.
Interestingly enough, Pats and Jets fans used to both take solace in the fact that both teams were awful. Now that both teams are really good there has been animosity brewing.
Jul '10
Re: Grid Talk
CJRun: Sisyphus, Southwest Airlines can give you very reasonable roundtrips from BWI and the Jaguars would dearly love your patronage. They have a fabulous ownership-management team-coaching staff and are assembling a young group of aggressive "good guys" in the locker room. They are a reasonable contender for the playoffs, next season, and are fun to follow.
They have what are amongst the cheapest prices for seats in the NFL, probably so much cheaper than the 'Skins that airfare would be negligible. And, they have had the best team website (from the comments I've read) for years, adding to the experience. Check out the Ask Vics and flip back through the archives; he's a treasure that we are losing to Green Bay in two weeks. Forget Dan Snyder and embrace the teal and black!
I loves my Jags a bit. · Jan 22 at 11:11am
You make a heck of a case. The Snyder thing is so dark, even Joe Gibbs could not overcome. Knew a guy from Jacksonville once, real salt of the earth, and my visits to Florida have always been interesting. Hmmm. Maybe a little house hunting.
Jun '10
Re: Grid Talk
Ursula: I have no big dog in the Jets-Steelers fight, being a Broncos fan (yes, I'm depressed: Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Peyton Hillis: enough said). But for some completely irrational reason, I've disliked the Jets (and Rex Ryan gives me further reason to do so). On the other hand, I'm old enough to remember the Steel Curtain, Chuck Noll, and above them all, Franco Harris's immaculate reception.
They won by being tough and good: and that's the tradition they are continuing. So I'll be putting all my smack into rooting for the Steelers. (And I'm not a NY hater: love the Giants).
But in the end, this feels like the Packer's year.
Edited on Jan 22, 2011 at 11:50amDec '10
Re: Grid Talk
Personally, I hope it's a Bears-Jets superbowl and Obama's cheerleading and general insufferability grates on the New York media elite.
May '10
Re: Grid Talk
When in doubt, I root for the black head coaches--in this case Tomlin of the Steelers and Smith of the Bears.
This is caused, in part, by my revulsion at the "Rooney Rule," which forces NFL teams to interview minority candidates regardless of whether the teams are actually interested in those particular candidates. The league couldn't have devised a more perfect attack on the dignity of blacks if it tried, as so often blacks are ostentatiously and condescendingly trotted in for interviews while all parties involved pretend the process is legitimate.
Only time and success on the field will turn the tide in minority advancement, which is as it should be, and which explains why I'll be rooting for the Bears and Steelers.
And when I grow up I wanna be just like Colt McCoy. Go Browns.
Jun '10
Re: Grid Talk
And Obama gets interviewed about his favorite Bears players? Can't wait for that. I hope someone is briefing him so that he can actually have a coherent answer this time around.
Jun '10
Re: Grid Talk
Dave Molinari
And Obama gets interviewed about his favorite Bears players and that he's been a fan all his life? Can't wait for that. I hope someone is briefing him so that he can actually have a coherent answer this time around. · Jan 22 at 12:53pm
Sep '10
Re: Grid Talk
Paul Ryan is a huge Packers fan.
Re: Grid Talk
Well, I have a general anti-Boston thing. I'm a New Yorker, and I never felt so oddly hated for that simple fact than when I visited Boston or the Boston area. The hatred for the Yankees/Mets/Giants/Jets -- as well as for all things NYish (tourist places, restaurants, etc.) is sort of the like the odd, misplaced hatred that the left has for Palin, Bush, etc. I kind of get people not liking Palin, but I don't get the deep, crazy-eyed thing. I kind of get how people can love their Red Sox, but I don't get the crazy-brained passion that causes people to plaster their car with anti-Yankee bumperstickers, etc.
So, in response to that bizarre locale-based hatred, I root against Boston teams, as a rule. Yes, convoluted reasoning, but that can fly when it comes to sports.
However, I make an exception for the Celtics. I like them.
Dec '10
Re: Grid Talk
Scott, I think you may be misunderstanding the Rooney Rule. In the first place, it's a requirement the owners make of themselves, not something forced upon them. In the second, the only requirement is an interview of a single minority prospect.
It's the third aspect that is important, though, and it has to do with training and experience. The hiring of a head coach is a horrendous process and the interviews are brutal. This is an attempt to build up a pool of minority prospects that have been through the process, so that perhaps on their second or third opportunity they will be better prepared. The Rooney Rule worked for Tomlin (scroll down to Brent from MT), the guy you're rooting for, hired by a Rooney, the guy they named it after.
May '10
Re: Grid Talk
Who's the guy in the hat?
Sep '10
Re: Grid Talk
I can agree with a tepid "in like" with the Jets. If you want a plucky underdog to root for Green Bay is far easier (for me). However, if the Jets make it to the Superbowl through arguably three of the best teams of the last decade only to lose!!!!!!!!!!
Now that would be delicious.
Go Green BAY
Re: Grid Talk
The photo, from the wiki football page, is, apparently, Richard Lindon (seen in 1880) [who] is believed to have invented the first footballs with rubber bladders.