Super Bowl XLIII is officially in the history books and should go down as one of the better Super Bowls in the Big Game's history. I think there are two ways to look at this year's game. 1) It was a sloppy affair for three quarters filled with missed tackles and plenty of penalties but saved by an incredible final quarter that featured several lead changes, an Arizona offensive barrage, and an incredible answer to that in the form of Pittsburgh's final drive. 2) It was a game filled with so many great moments that you will be hard-pressed to pick just one in the future when someone asks you what you remember most from Super Bowl XLIII.
My view falls somewhere in between numbers one and two. There is no debating this was a sloppy affair. Arizona racked up nearly 100 penalty yards and left tackle Mike Gandy was called for holding three times. The Cards then gave the Steelers a score in third quarter, sustaining the Pittsburgh drive with three personal foul penalties. And neither team was moving the ball consistently as their scoring drives surrounded some big-time defensive stops. But there were moments that absolutely took your breath away. James Harrison returning an interception 100 yards for a TD and the longest play in Super Bowl history. Larry Fitzgerald being practically non-existent for three quarters before almost single-handedly willing the Cards to the title in the fourth. Kurt Warner staying calm and focused, rallying an offense that wasn't even supposed to be his. And, finally, the sheer beauty of Ben Roethlisberger proving he is one of the best, taking the Steelers on his back and driving them to victory...delivering the picture-perfect winning TD pass to Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes with just 35 seconds remaining. I can't even describe how incredible Holmes' end zone grab was. Just look at the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated and you'll get the picture.
We have truly been blessed as football fans the last two seasons. Super Bowl XLII last season needs no recap. Everyone knows the story of the mighty Patriots failing in their quest for perfection, courtesy of an improbable David Tyree catch and the will of Eli, Plax, Strahan, and the rest of the Giants. Now we get a game that may not have had as many subplots but was certainly not short on compelling football. The Tyree catch will always stand out as the indelible image of last year's Big Game but I think the overall football game was better this year in Tampa. Either way, we can only hope that next year's Super Bowl keeps the string of great games going.
Finally, congrats to the Steelers for winning their record sixth Lombardi Trophy. Congrats to Mike Tomlin, who I greatly respect, on becoming the youngest head coach to ever win a Super Bowl. And congrats to Ben Roethlisberger on winning his second Super Bowl ring. Big Ben more than made up for his lackluster performance in Super Bowl XL and proved he indeed belongs among the NFL elite.
Some random news & notes:
-The #1 ranking in men's college basketball seems to be a revolving door this year. Granted, the regular season #1 ranking always sees some change but it feels like this year has seen more than most. Off the top of my head I can recall seeing UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Pitt, and now UConn at the #1 spot in the past few months. If this constant shifting is any indication, we could be in for an incredible month of March Madness.
-Henrik Zetterberg signed a 12-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings last week, ensuring he'll finish his career in Hockeytown and that he'll probably succeed Nicklas Lidstrom as team captain after the All-World defenseman retires. I know he has had some back and knee problems but I think Zetterberg will hold up just fine and continue producing at a high level. Detroit better hope so. Just ask the Islanders about Rick DiPietro and the 12 years left on his mega-deal.
-The Mountain West Conference has submitted a proposal that would give the league an automatic BCS bid. Personally, I could write a whole column on this and probably will at some point. But for now I'll leave you with this. The number of Mountain West teams that finished in the BCS Top 16 this year: 3 (Utah: #6, TCU: #11, BYU: #16). The number of Big East teams that finished in the BCS Top 16: 1 (Cincinnati: #12). Pac-10: 1 (USC: #5). Think about it. Oh, and Utah was the only BCS team that played all of its non-conference games against Division 1-A opponents, and won them all.
-LeBron and his Cleveland Cavaliers currently sit at 39-9 (1st in the East) with a perfect 23-0 home record. Throw in his Garden triple-double (with 52 points, 11 assists, & 10 rebounds) and the great play of Mo Williams as the #2 option and you have what seems to be a pretty legit Cavs outfit. Only time will tell on this one.
-A quick look back on my Royal Rumble Picks. I finished 4-for-7. Not bad, not bad at all. Edge won back the WWE Title from Jeff Hardy (Got it!). John Cena retained the World Title against JBL (Got it!). Melina defeated Beth Phoenix for the Women's Title (Got it!). Randy Orton won the Royal Rumble Match (Got it!). Here are my three misses: Jack Swagger retained the ECW Title against Matt Hardy (I had Swagger losing the belt.). Rey Mysterio entered the Rumble at #1 (I had Triple H entering first.). Triple H was the last man eliminated (I had The Undertaker as the last man out.).
-I'm not much of a tennis fan but I have to say this. How can you not be impressed with Serena Williams dispatching Dinara Safina in just 59 minutes to win the Australian Open???
-David Beckham is having such a good time playing for AC Milan that he wants his loan to become permanent. Becks is currently the property of the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS. Becks finally revealed his true feelings after several weeks of swirling rumors. This just proves how much of a joke MLS truly is.
-The college baseball season is set to get underway in just a few weeks. LSU is the preseason #1 in two of the three major polls (Collegiate Baseball/AP & USA Today/ESPN Coaches'). Texas A&M is the Preseason #1 in the Baseball America poll. No worries, though, LSU is #2 in that poll.
-Congrats to Washington Capitals' winger Alex Ovechkin for scoring his 200th career goal last night against the Los Angeles Kings. Ovechkin becomes just the fourth player in NHL history to reach 200 goals in his first four seasons. The other three men on that list: Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, & Mario Lemieux.
-Congrats to Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt on becoming the first Division 1 coach, men's or women's, to reach 1,000 wins. Her Lady Vols dispatched Georgia, 73-43, last night to get Summitt that career milestone.
-Finally, North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow passed away last week at age 66, after a long and public battle with breast cancer. The Hall of Famer leaves an incredible legacy that extends far beyond the basketball court. I don't think my words can do her life justice. So here's a YouTube clip of her accepting the Jimmy V ESPY Award for perserverance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn3K2JY9GvE
Until next week.
-Meech
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