That Was The (Football) Weekend That Was

I am pretty sure that you are expecting my ruminations on the football weekend that just was, and that is just what you are going to get, but why, you are no doubt asking, am I leading with the picture above, albeit one of the more famous photos in American political history?

For you youngsters out there, this was taken on election night in 1948 when just about everyone thought New York Governor Tom Dewey (aka, The Man on Top of the Wedding Cake)  would defeat President Harry Truman and become the nation's 34th President.  As you can see, the Chicago Tribune even issued their early edition on election night proclaiming Dewey's victory.  Again for you youngsters, in 1948 there were no computers, exit polls, or Nate Silver.  As even the most history challenged among us surely know, Harry Truman won the election.

All of this is a lead in to summarizing the results of the predictions I made on Friday for the four NFL playoff games of the weekend.  I will save you the trouble of going and looking it up, but I went 1-3 on the weekend, and in my finest "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment, I made the following authoritative statement:

 Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49'ers

Aaron Rodgers vs. Colin Kapernick.  Need I say more?  Should be another easy win for the PACKERS.

Yeah.

I even misspelled Colin Kaepernick's name, a mistake that I will surely never make again.

Some quickie comments on the games themselves.....

• While I was rooting for Seattle against Falcons, I was delighted to see Pete Carroll get bitten on the ass when he called that time out to ice the Falcon kicker at the end of the game, only to see the kicker miss the field goal, which would have won the game for Seattle.  Given a second chance, the kicker made it, Falcons win, Seahawks lose, Pete Carroll looks like an first class dunce.  Maybe this will stop these "brilliant" coaches from  employing this insipid bit of strategy.
• Next time all you Steelers fans want to run Ben out of town for those inopportune interceptions in the Cowboys and Bengals games this season, think about that one Peyton Manning threw in OT in Denver on Saturday.
• Maybe it's time we stop ridiculing Joe Flaco's abilities as an NFL QB.  He really undressed Denver in the waning moments of regulation.
• Same for Matt Ryan in Atlanta.
• OK, that Denver game.  Tied with 31 seconds and two times out in your pocket, and Peyton Manning at quarterback, and John Fox chooses to nave Manning take a knee and go to OT.  Are you kidding me?  Don't you take at least one shot down field to try to get into FG position?
• (Did you notice that I said "times out" in the above bullet?  That, friends, is the correct plural of the term "time out" - you can look it up - but I don't think that there is a single sportscaster in America who doesn't mistakenly say "time outs".  The last guy I heard say "times out" was Ray Scott, and he stopped doing network broadcasts in the late 1970's and has been dead since 1998.)
• Getting back to Colin Kaepernick,   He was easily the most outstanding player of the weekend.  Wish he wouldn't strike that pose when he scores a touchdown, but he's just a kid, after all, and I'm a grumpy old man.  In any event, I can't wait to see him play again next Sunday.
• Only words I can use to describe the New England Patriots:  ruthlessly efficient.
• Of the eight teams playing this weekend, only the Houston Texans looked like they didn't deserve to be this far along in the Playoffs.
• I know that I am in a distinct minority here, but I don't mind the Harbaugh brothers. They are obviously good coaches, and I like it that they are emotional on the sidelines (as opposed to robots like Bill Bellichick and Nick Saben), and while I am not a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, I think it would be a cool story line to have brothers opposing each other as Head Coaches in the Super Bowl, although it would be a story that would be totally and completely beaten to death in the run up to the game.

In closing, let me weigh in on the controversy surrounding Brent Musberger's observations about Alabama QB A. J. McCarron's girlfriend.  Yeah, maybe it was creepy, and yes, he definitely went on too long with it, but he was broadcasting a game that had ceased to be a competitive contest, and he had to talk about something, right?  He got going and he just couldn't stop.  It happens, and who knows what YOU would do in front of a live microphone in such a situation.  The suits at ESPN who are reprimanding Musberger and apologizing for what he said, maybe ought to reconsider all the cleavage-and-cameltoe shots they give us of cheerleaders, especially the pole dancers who "cheerlead" for NFL teams, on the sidelines before they get too sanctimonious over Brent Musberger.

The Oscar Nominations....and Snubs

The Oscar nominations announced yesterday are more notable for who was NOT nominated than who was.

"Lincoln" led the way with 12 nominations.  No surprise there.  I'm going to go way out on a limb right now and call a win for Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor.  You don't need to be Nate Silver to call that one.

Next with 11 nominations was "Life of Pi." I have seen the previews to this one several times.  It appears to be about a kid stranded on the ocean in a small rowboat with a wild tiger on board.  Sure, that kind of thing happens all the time.  Kind of like that movie a few years ago where James Franco cut off his own arm.  Nothing in that preview makes me want to see this movie.  Nothing.

The biggest story, as I mention in the title was who did not get nominated.  Big name directors with Best Picture nominated movies did not get a Best Director nomination - Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) , Katheryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty), Quenton Tarentino (Django Unchained), and, most regrettably, in my opinion, Ben Affleck (Argo).  I don't get the snub of Affleck.  Seems to me that much of the Hollywood establishment holds it against Affleck that he is popular, once dated Jennifer Lopez and, thus, was a paparazzi target for many years, and he made some poor choices in acting roles (notably, "Gigli") early on in his career.  All I know is that in the past couple of years, he has directed three movies - "Gone, Baby, Gone", "The Town", and "Argo" -  that are among the best movies that I have seen in that time period.

Instead, some guy named Michael Haneke gets nominated as Best Director for a movie named "Amour".  This is a French language movie about an aging couple nearing the end of their lives.  Sounds fun, huh? It doesn't open in Pittsburgh until sometime next month.  I guess that when all is said and done that maybe seven or eight hundred people will actually go and see this movie across the USA.  This is the kind of movie that the Academy showers with nominations every year to prove that it, the Motion Picture Academy, is all about art, and not necessarily about what people actually like to see, and  Ben Affleck misses out on a nomination that he surely deserves.

Lots more on the subject of the Oscars in the weeks to come.

NFL Playoff Predictions - Part II

Before getting to my playoff predictions for the NFL Divisional Round games this weekend, let me recommend an article from this weeks Sports Illustrated (Alabama football on the cover).  It is the feature article at the end of the magazine call "Hello, My Name is Thomas, and I'm a Falcons Addict" by Thomas Lake.  In the article, author Lake recounts his lifetime, going back to 1991, of experiences as an Atlanta Falcons fan.  Even if you could not care less about the Falcons, this is a good read because, as Lake begins the article, he "could just as easily be writing about your favorite team.  You are loyal and unwavering.  Your team is your birthright, your fate, and you would never jump on anyone else's bandwagon.....Imagine our story, then, as a stand-in for yours - as an ode to a lifetime of hope and disappointment.  There is nothing more human than falling short."  Hey, us Pirates fans, we can relate!

I would also recommend Steve Rushin's "Point After" column on the last page.  Good stuff.

So, on to the predictions, short and sweet, after a solid 3-1 effort last weekend.  As I did last week, predictions will be largely based on the teams' quarterbacking strengths.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos

The Ravens win last week over the Colts was my only miss, but that ends in Denver on Saturday.  Andrew Luck could not take advantage of what has not been a great Ravens defense this season.  Peyton Manning will not have such poor luck tomorrow.   The BRONCOS to win fairly easily.  The big question:  Will Roger Goodell be on hand to give Ray Lewis a good-bye hug?

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49'ers

Aaron Rodgers vs. Colin Kapernick.  Need I say more?  Should be another easy win for the PACKERS.

All in all, a bad day for the Harbaugh Family.  A discount double-check, if you will.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have to be the most underestimated, disrespected 13 win, Number One seeded team in recent NFL history, and I'm going to add to it.  Russell Wilson and the Seahawks just seem to be on a roll, so I'm calling for the SEAHAWKS  to keep it going and head to the NFC Championship game next week.  Although, I will say this, if I'm going to be wrong on any of my picks for the weekend, as I no doubt will be, perhaps this will be that game.

Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots

I am guessing that the Patriots will not undress Houston as badly as they did last month on Monday Night Football, but, really, does anyone think the Patriots will lose this one?  Maybe Tom Brady gets hurt in the first quarter, or maybe Gillette Stadium blows up like Heinz Field did in the Batman movie.  That's the only way the PATRIOTS lose this one.

As always, watch, but don't bet.

Sanctimonious Sportswriters

Is there a more self-important and sanctimonious bunch than sportswriters who vote on membership in various Halls of Fame?  In recent weeks the Buster Olneys and Jayson Starks of the world have been pontificating on how that would be casting their Hall of Fame ballots, and I can only imagine the follow-up pieces that will be forthcoming in light of the results of this year's balloting.  No one rides a higher horse than does Peter King when he talks about voting for the Football Hall of Fame.  In his blog this morning, Dejan Kovacevic was in high dudgeon when he stated that sportswriters who cover athletes should not be put in the position of casting votes for MVP, Cy Young, and Hall of Fame membership while at the same time saying he will continue to cast his votes for such awards and will do so when he gets his 10 years in with the BBWA and can then vote on the HOF. Huh, DK?

Members of the College of Cardinals who elect the Pope don't take themselves as seriously as these guys.

The only people who may be even MORE sanctimonious are the current members of the HOF who today are quoted about how glad they are that Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, and their ilk have been turned away in the balloting.  The story I read today quoted Al Kaline, Rich Gossage, and Dennis Eckersley to the effect that "we don't need theses guys in our club."  I wonder if these guys would ever swear that they never, ever took an amphetamine during their playing days?

At least Gaylord Perry had the good taste not to be issuing such a judgement.

The BBWA Throws a Shutout

The big baseball news today, of course, is that the Baseball Writers of America elected no one into Baseball's Hall of Fame for this 2013 class.  This is the first time that this has happened since 1996, and it is most noteworthy today because this is the first year of HOF eligibility for noted PED users Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa.  These men, who have racked up some mind-boggling statistics in their careers finished with, respectively 206 (36.2%), 214 (37.6%), and 71 (12.5%) of the votes.  As you no doubt know, 75% of the vote is needed to gain induction.

(As an aside, I will once again quote my friend Fred Shugars who today postulated that many of these same BBWA members who have shunned Barry Bonds today, no doubt took part in voting him seven MVP Awards over the course of his career, and in many of those MVP seasons, the whispers of Bonds possible PED use were well known.  I would like to hear some of those writers explain those MVP votes of several years back today.)

I am not sure where I stand on this issue.  Part of me says, Yeah, no way that these cheaters should ever go into the Hall of Fame.  Another part of me buys the argument that says, Hey, we'll never really know who was dirty and who wasn't in the PED era, so let's forget the pretense and vote these guys in if we think that they are worthy.   Even the Hall of Fame itself seems to be unsure how to go, as this picture of some label copy that I took on my last visit to Cooperstown in 2011 attests:

Keep in mind that the institution in Cooperstown is called the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.  Personally, I am glad that the Museum part of the institution (as opposed to the Hall of Fame where the plaques are displayed) recognizes all historic and noteworthy players.  Thus, when you visit there  you will see that Pete Rose is the all-time leader in hits, and that Joe Jackson has the third highest batting average of all-time, just as you will see that Barry Bonds has the most career home runs.  I am glad that no asterisks are attached, and that no attempt has been made to vacate these records.  As the sign above says, only the perspective of time - and that may be 50 years from now - will enable us to really see the big picture of this era.

I also know from having visited Cooperstown five times that the Hall of Fame is the economic engine that drives this charming little village, and no weekend is as important to the Village of Cooperstown than Induction Weekend.  This year there will only be three inductees voted in by the Veteran's Committee (or whatever they are calling that committee these days): Umpire Hank O'Day, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, and 19th century player Deacon White, all of whom are dead.  I can't imagine that the Hall of Fame as a business enterprise can be happy about the fact that only three dead guys are going to be honored at their big party this summer, and that guys who do get elected in the future will only be guys who may get in there by default only because somebody has to go in there.  That can't be good for business.

And in a side comment, many of us Pirates fans have to be disappointed that in his first year of eligibility, Jose Mesa received not a single vote and will now forever be removed from the ballot.  Those of us who recall the glory days of 2004-05 (aka, Years 12 and 13 of the Losing Streak) and those 70 saves that Jose racked up for the Bucs have to be bitterly disappointed.  Cleveland Indians fans, no doubt will have a different perspective on Mesa's shunning by the BBWA.

First Book of the Year: "Ike's Bluff"

My first book of 2013 is in the, er, books.  It is the one you see here, "Ike's Bluff" by Evan Thomas.  

The book focuses on the eight years of the Eisenhower Presidency, and if you are a fan of our 34th President, as Thomas obviously is, you're going to love it.  Ike is painted in glowing terms by Thomas as being kind, sage, cagey, almost a saint when compared with all the President's men (to coin a phrase) that surrounded him, not to mention those who were opposed to him (Jack Kennedy was "callow", Lyndon Johnson was a showboating grandstander {not that there's anything wrong with being a Grandstander}, and there are other numerous examples throughout).   Curiously, Thomas glosses over what many consider two of Ike's failings:  his foot-dragging on Civil Rights, and his failure to stand up and confront Joe McCarthy.

The main thrust of the book is that while all those around him were very casual with the idea of using nuclear weapons to solve the problems that confronted the world from 1953-60, and I will say that this notion is a truly frightening part of this book, Ike kept a cool head and never allowed any situation to escalate to such a level.  His greatest legacy was the wars that were never fought.  No small thing.

The other frightening thing about this book was the state of Ike's health.  A heart attack, serious gastric surgery, and a stroke right in the middle of the administration.  I wish my Dad was still around so I could ask him about how this was reported in 1950's news media.  I cannot imagine a 21st century President having the same such health issues and being either (a) reelected, as Ike was, or (b) being allowed to continue in office given the news coverage, and the political pressures, that would be brought to bear upon such a situation.

When reading in this book the name John Foster Dulles, Ike's Secretary of state for all you youngsters out there, a quote from a college teacher of mine kept coming to mind.  It was back in 1972, and the course was in US government, and the teacher was retired military guy who insisted on being addressed as "Colonel".  At some point during the course, the name of John Foster Dulles came up and the Colonel described him as "a man to whom many of the world's current problems can be directly traced."  I always loved that quote.

A good book for history buffs, and I certainly learned a lot by reading it,  but be aware it may not be the most objective book you'll read on the subject.

A Football Overdose - Most of It Not Very Good

In the 72 hour period that ended shortly before midnight last night, I watched six football games.  I wish that I could say it was all great football, but alas, when the Cincinnati Bengals, Tino Sunseri, and an over-matched opponent in a Showcase Game are involved, you are going to get your share of clinkers.  

Taking them in order.....

• Pitt gets thumped by Old Miss in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  Pitt was never in this one, and Tino Sunseri played to form.  Again, I feel bad for the kid, he was a serviceable QB in his years at Pitt, but he was never great, and he never seemed to improve.  It is a damning indictment on the Pitt coaching staffs (note the plural noun here), particularly on Dave Wannstedt, that they were unable to recruit someone, anyone, who could mount a challenge to Sunseri in the past three seasons.  Perhaps the best thing that can be said about this season is that the same coaching staff will be returning in 2013.  Continuity has not been Pitt's strong point in recent years as you know.  In retrospect, the results of the Compass Bowl proved to be grim foreshadowing of what was to come two nights later in the BCS title game.
• The Houston Texans defeat the Cincy Bengals.  Andy Dalton struggled, the Bengals failed to score an offensive touchdown, and the Texans just did scrape by with a win.  The epitome of the ineffectiveness of the Bengals came at the end of the game, with their season on the line and facing a fourth and eleven situation, Andy Dalton completed a six yard pass (this after badly overthrowing a wide open receiver on third down for what would have been the game winning touchdown).  Best line about his one came form Tony Kornheiser on PTI when he said that this game looked like it belonged on a cable access TV station.
• Packers defeat Vikings.  As soon as it was announced that Christian Ponder was inactive and that Joe Webb, who had taken all of three snaps for the Vikes all season would be playing, well, I'd have probably been best served by watching a DVD of an old movie instead.  Aaron Rodgers was dominant, and Webb answered the question on the minds of Steelers fans everywhere:  Yes, it is possible to have a backup QB play and look worse than Byron Leftwich.
• Ravens over Colts.  This one was dominated by CBS's constant pandering to Ray Lewis after 17 seasons and one beaten homicide rap.  The sight of Roger Goodell giving Lewis a big Man Hug before the game was particularly unsettling.  If I'm James Harrison or Ben Roethlisbergher, I am on the phone demanding the same sort of Commissioner Absolution and hugs from Roger before the home opener next season.  Andrew Luck runs out of rookie mojo and fails to lead Indy to a touchdown, a storybook season for the Colts ends, and football fans across America are condemned to at least one more week of Ray Lewis sycophantry.
• Seahawks over Redskins.  The best game of the NFL weekend, as the Seahawks dominate and Russell Wilson wins the Rookie QB Sweepstakes, although you might want to put an asterisk next to Robert Griffin III's name here.  Griffin was obviously an impaired player as he took the field, and that no doubt affected his performance.  Lots of questions being asked in Washington and elsewhere as to whether or not RG III should have been allowed to take the field in this one.  Football fans can only hope that Griffin will be healthy and ready to go at the start of next season.
• (An aside on Russell Wilson.  How do you feel if you are a Cleveland Browns fan?  At the draft in April, the Browns selected 28 year old Brandon Wheedon over Russell Wilson.  Wheedon showed some promise as he led the Browns to a 5-11 season.  Wilson is a strong Rookie of the Year candidate and his Seahawks are still playing football.  Wonder what they're saying on the talk shows in Cleveland.)
• Alabama thrashes Notre Dame, 42-14, and it wasn't as close as the score indicates.  Brent Musberger, when he wasn't making creepy, leering comments about A.J. McCarron's girlfriend, had the best line right before halftime when he said "if this was a fight, the referee would stop it."   Yeah, that's a hoary old cliche, but right on the money.  The Crimson Tide was certainly awesome last night.  I can't believe that Notre Dame is as bad a team as Alabama made them look last night, but you have to believe that if they played 10 times, 'Bama would win probably eight or nine times.  They are that good.
• All that said about Alabama, why does Nick Saben always look like he's in the middle of prepping for a colonoscopy?   Does the guy ever smile about anything?  I was fully expecting his post game interview to include him talking about where his team let down and on what they'll need to work on after he reviews the game tape.  College  football coaches are hard people to like.
• And speaking of college football coaches, Bill O'Brien, after a brief flirtation with the NFL, and a reported $1.3 million dollar raise, courtesy of a well heeled booster, will remain at Penn State in 2013.  His comments about being "committed to Penn State and his players" and that he's not a "one and done guy" would have sounded a lot more meaningful had they come BEFORE the NFL dalliance and the million dollar raise.  Also, note that O'Brien never said anything about beyond 2013, so expect this same dance to occur next year about this time.