The Dugout - January 21
Super Bowl XLIX
(That’s 49 for those of you wondering)
Put it in the phone calendar, the Seattle Seahawks will look to defend their title against the dynasty of the New England Patriots in Arizona on February 2nd (NZT).
The last team to win back to back Super Bowls? The New England Patriots in 2004-05. And here we have Tom Brady, still getting it done a decade later. Seattle have managed the impressive feat of somehow still playing the ‘Nobody Believed in Us’ line even as defending champs while New England have a possible legacy-defining match. They won three of these early in Brady’s career but lost their past two opportunities. It’s only the third time in 21 seasons that the number one seeds will meet in the decider.
But they couldn’t have gotten there in any more contrasting ways. The Seahawks needed an incredible, unbelievable comeback to make it happen, compared to the Patriots who cruised all the way through their Conference Final.
Green Bay 22 – 28 Seattle
This game was a mess almost from the very beginning for Seattle. The managed to pick off Aaron Rodgers nice and early but returned the favour right back. That was the first of four interceptions thrown by Russell Wilson in the game, plus there was a fumble lost by Doug Baldwin. Green Bay didn’t quite take advantage of their complete dominance, settling for a few field goals, but at half-time they led 16-0. A fake field goal turned into a thrilling touchdown for Seattle before an actual field goal had Green Bay up 19-7. With just over five minute remaining, Wilson threw his fourth pick. At this stage his line read: 8/22 for 75 yards, 0 TDs/4 INTs. That’s as bad as it gets.
Yet then he’s able to rush in a TD, before his side somehow recover an onside kick that Green Bay had a clean play at, then he leads them down the field for Marshawn Lynch to give them an unthinkable lead on the ground. A two-point conversion is successful. Aaron Rodgers is still able to get in position for Mason Crosby to tie things with a field goal but Wilson hits Jermaine Kearse in the first possession of OT for the touchdown and the win. Absolutely ridiculous.
You have to praise the Seahawks for never giving in, for being brave enough to gamble and good enough to take their chances. The Packers, meanwhile… this one will hurt. They blew it in immeasurable ways. It’s hard to find a massive comeback that isn’t balanced by an equally big choke. This one certainly was.
Indianapolis 7 – 45 New England
Not much to say about this. Certainly not after the first game. New England scored on their second drive. Indy looked like they could move the ball too, but missed a field goal on their second go and it was all Pats from there. It was only 17-7 at the break, though even that was too much. The Pats rolled ‘em in the second, Brady throwing 3 TDs and LeGarrette Blount running it 30 times for 148 yards. It was the second biggest blowout win in AFC title history.
How To Celebrate Making the Super Bowl, Part 1
Dance your ass off like Rob Gronkowski.
How To Celebrate Making the Super Bowl, Part 2
Steal an idle police bike and ride it around the stadium like Michael Bennett.
Decision Time for the Denver Broncos
It was clear that for the Broncos it was Super Bowl of bust this season. They busted. So now what?
First thing first, John Fox was immediately fired after getting pumped by the Colts. Fox has had an outstanding level of success with this team, though there are arguments that perhaps Peyton Manning does more than his share of running this team. And against the Colts he was completely out-coached (by Chuck Pagano, no mean feat). So who do they chose to replace him with? Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak was last seen as Offensive Coordinator for the Ravens this year, and has formerly held that role – and played quarterback – for the Broncos as well. He spent almost 8 years as head coach of the Houston Texans, winning a couple of AFC South titles but was sacked in 2013 after starting 2-11 having been stuck with a mentally broken Matt Schaub as his QB.
Possibly the biggest bridge to cross, however, is the status of Peyton Manning. He played injured during that Colts game, so that offsets some of his completely awful performance. But does he still have it in him to lead a team all the way? That probably depends on his motivation. If Peyton’s playing then he’s playing to win… but there’s a strong chance that maybe he decides he’s happy with all he’s achieved. That he settles for his health and retires. You don’t just replace a guy like Peyton Manning. Well, the Colts did, but y’know, that was different. The Broncs don't exactly have a first overall pick at their disposal.
Their team had been built for immediate success. Building with free agents, that has to be the case as FAs demand more money and are older and suddenly there goes all your financial flexibility. If Peyton retires then that clears up plenty. If not, then it’s hard to see how they can afford the re-sign free agents like DeMaryius Thomas, Wes Welker or Rahim Moore – let alone the rest of their 12 impending unrestricted FAs. That’s what happens when you spend big money on guys like Aqib Talib and Demarcus Ware.
There’s a lot of work to be done to keep this team competitive. Most important of all is convincing their future Hall of Famer-QB to have another spin.
Stuff That Happened In The NBA
It was Martin Luther King Day and the NBA did some lively things to commemorate the great man.
With KD & LBJ having injury plagued seasons, it’s starting to look like the MVP race will be between James Harden and Steph Curry. Harden just had his NBA-leading 4th 40 point game of he season. LeBron, Dame Lillard (an outsider in the race himself) and Klay Thompson are next and they all only have 2 such games. But Steph Curry is top 10 NBA this season in scoring, assists and total three-pointers. It’s a pick-em at this point.
The Knicks finally won a game, snapping a 16 game skid. It’s a relief but it’s no consolation. Yo, check out Amar’e’s hat, though.
You know who is putting together a fine win streak? The Atlanta Hawks. Mike Budenholzer has been the coach of the season by a distance (sorry Steve Kerr, you have more to work with anyway), and his team is yet to lose in the year of 2015. 13 on the trot as it stands.
Russell Westbrook doesn’t really do interviews well.
But DeAndre Jordan really likes Tupac.
And Lance Stephenson doesn’t care for his bobble head.
Boom.
NBA Power Rankings:
- Golden State Warriors
- Atlanta Hawks
- Portland Trailblazers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Dallas Mavericks
- LA Clippers
- Washington Wizards
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- San Antonio Spurs
Strawberry Outfields
That title doesn’t really make sense, I just thought it was funny. New York Mets outfield legend of the 80s, Darryl Strawberry, has been involved in a few controversies in his life. For some boring legal reasons or something equally accountantly, 40% of his team option for 1990 (around US$700k) was deferred and is due to be paid out with 5% interest over around two decades between 2011 and whenever the thing is settled. Or something like that. But Strawbs hasn’t been paying his alimony and so the IRS seized the contract rights and have auctioned them off to the highest bidder. Said highest bidder remains anonymous, but bid around $1.3m. That money will be paid out in 223 monthly instalments and with interest the total could hit $2m, so not a bad investment. Plus, you get to collect The Strawbs money. No word on what the man himself is up to, poor fella.
Quote of the Week:
“We’re on to Seattle” – Bill Belichick
Runner Up Quote of the Week
Good Week:
Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals) – The Nats are just as big winner too. They add a proven great pitcher to an already impressive lineup, although it’s Scherzer who’s getting $200m over the next 7 years. Ka-CHING!
Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks) – A triple-double against Philly was the highlight of a dominant little stretch for the Hawks’ big man. He’s hit 33 of his last 41 field goals, with plenty of rebounds and assists to boot. Oh, and an Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.
Bad Week:
Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts) – Look, he’s got a long way to go, and he’s making progress every year. Luck is now legitimately one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL but this was a game to forget. 12/33 for only 126 yards, with no TDs and 2 INTs. He was 1/11 targeting 10+ yards. He’s never beaten the Patriots now in 4 games (including postseason).
Mike McCarthy (Green Bay Packers) – Son, you got out-coached. Badly. That was a complete disaster.
Player of the Week:
Beast Mode (Seattle Seahawks) – Also known as Marshawn Lynch. In trouble for having golden cleats, in trouble for crotch-grabbing ingame, Lynch came through for the ‘hawks when it mattered. 157 yards and a TD on the floor, plus a massive 26 yard reception to set up Rusty Wilson’s rush TD.