Super Bowl XLIII Preview

Out of all the teams in the Wild NFC, who would have thought that the Arizona Cardinals (9-7) would be emerging as the champion? I certainly did not, especially after they lost four of their last six regular season games.

Anyone remember the infamous Patriots game? A game in which the Cardinals could not handle the snow and lost 47-7 to a non-playoff team.

Well, onto my analysis for the game..

OFFENSE:
Pittsburgh - The Steelers will be going into Tampa Bay relying on their young, but experienced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben has already won a Super Bowl, but he has been inconsistent all year. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a completion percentage just under 60 (59.9). The main concern for the Steelers should be the ability for Roethlisberger to hold on to the ball. By not throwing any interceptions, he should put the Steelers in a position to win. Pittsburgh will also be relying on the legs of their running back Willie Parker. Parker, who returned from injury a few weeks ago, was able to scamper for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns against a very good defense with Baltimore.

Arizona - When you think of the Cardinals offense, all first thoughts should be directed straight to their Wide Receivers. One of the best tandems in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make a deadly combination. Fitzgerald has been the star, though, already amassing 419 yards, an NFL Playoff record. He has also grabbed five TDs. At quarterback, Arizona will be staying with longtime veteran Kurt Warner. Already winning a Super Bowl with St. Louis, Warner knows how to deal with the spotlight.

Edge: Arizona Cardinals - Fitzgerald is just too good.

DEFENSE:
Pittsburgh - While the Baltimore Ravens certainly had a great year defensively, they have been totally outdone by Pittsburgh. The Steelers tout one of the best defenses that the NFL has seen since the 2000 Ravens. Up front, the Steelers rely on the big Casey Hampton to plug up any running holes. The linebackers are tough and fast, with James Farrior and James Harrison. Finally, you cannot forget about S Troy Polamalu, who will be trying to cause disruptions everywhere on the field.

Arizona - While the Cardinals boast some big names like Darnell Dockett, Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson, they have not played well defensively during the regular season. They have, however, turned it up a bit in the postseason. The defense has been able to hold teams under 25 points through the post-season, while their offense scores in the 30s.

Edge: Pittsburgh - who are we kidding?

COACHING:
Pittsburgh - The Steelers will be led by Mike Tomlin, who is in his second year at the helm. Tomlin took over when former-coach Bill Cowher decided to retire. Tomlin has found great success since taking over, with two division titles already. He has formed a bond with his quarterback, and brings a defensive intensity. A former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, Tomlin likes to suffocate the opponents before they have a chance.

Arizona - The Cardinals, on the other hand, will be led by another second year head coach: Ken Whisenhunt. The ironic part is, Whisenhunt was a leading candidate for the Pittsburgh job when Cowher retired. The job went to Tomlin instead and Whisenhunt opted for Arizona. Whisenhunt was a coach for five years in Pittsburgh, and knows much about their players and system. He also is a mastermind of trick plays.

Edge: Arizona - Can't go against a former Pittsburgh coach


PREDICTION - While Arizona has a great offense and coach, Pittsburgh's defense has been too good all year. Arizona will have trouble running the ball from the very beginning like they have against almost every other team they have faced. Their wide receivers are good, but Pittsburgh knows they will be trying to air it out and stop it quickly. The Cardinals defense is not good enough to win a close game, and as we've seen against the Ravens multiple times, Pittsburgh can lead game winning drives with ease.

Pittsburgh 24, Arizona 14.

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Joe Torre rip's Yanks in new book

Joe Torre, who was practically booted out of New York last off-season, has written a tell-all book with Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci called "The Yankee Years" and his set to debut on February 3rd.

The book supposedly bashes several Yankee's players, coaches and front office personnel including star third baseman Alex Rodriquez and general manager Brian Cashman.

"I think it's important to understand context here. The book is not a first-person book by Joe Torre, it's a third-person narrative based on 12 years of knowing the Yankees and it's about the changes in the game in that period," Verducci told the site. "Seems to me the New York Post assigned this third-person book entirely to Joe Torre and that's not the case. In fact, if people saw that Post story they probably noticed there are no quotes from Joe Torre in it. Joe Torre does not rip anybody in the book. The book really needs to be read in context."

"It's a much larger book about the Yankees," Verducci continued. "Not only how the game changed around them, but the growth of information analysis, revenue sharing, growth of intellect in front offices, changes in Red Sox ownership, the Steroid Era, etc."

ESPN and other media outlets have reported that the book goes into detail about how Rodriguez is "A-Fraud" and how Brian Cashman did not support him throughout the winter meetings with Owner George Steinbrenner.

The book is supposed to be a huge hit when it comes out, but it begs the question: Was it really needed?

If the reports are true, this book will go to damage multiple reputations and relationships. First off is Rodriguez's, but you also have to look at Torre.

Torre led the Yankees to four World Championships during his reign in NYC. He created a great dynasty that will be talked about for years. He also will be forever remember as one of the greatest to put on the pinstripes.

But now? By throwing his former team under the bus and exposing what shouldn't be exposed, Torre officially burned the bridge with his former employer. People also may look at this, as a cheap way to get back at a team that gave him the short end of the stick.

Maybe Torre isn't who we actually thought he was. While Torre may be rolling in the money after this debut, his creditials as one of the games greatest will surely be deteriorating.

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Madness in Maryland

If you haven't heard, the University of Maryland men's basketball coach, Gary Williams, is under heavy fire from an assortment of troubling events. The first would be the devastating loss to their "rival", the Duke Blue Devils, by a whopping 41 points last Saturday.

But the more troubling is his interactions with the athletics department at the university. On Monday afternoon, reporters asked Williams about former signees Gus Gilchrist and Tyree Evans decisions to not be at Maryland. Williams responded it is not his fault that the two players are not currently on the roster.

While those two players are now gone and talk should be put to rest, many bring up Williams' recruiting woes during hard times. After the Duke loss, Maryland let Boston College come from 17 behind to win at the Comcast Center Tuesday night.

The worst part of it all, is that Senior Associate Athletics Director Kathleen Worthington took offense to the comments made by the head coach.

Worthington called the Baltimore Sun and said: "I want to clarify the facts and the timing and the decision process of these situations. It was my recommendation that we not sign a release for Gus [Gilchrist]. I didn't want to release him. It was the head coach's decision. No one else released Gus."

After the Boston College loss, Williams certainly felt the pressure and lashed out a heated response."Kathy Worthington does not speak for me. She has never won a national championship. She has never done anything. She is an associate AD. She doesn't speak for me."

Since those comments, there has been no media contact by the players, the coach, or any athletic department officials.

The damage has certainly been done though.

There is much chatter about the job security of the once loved coach. He resurrected the men's basketball program after horrible NCAA infractions and the loss of all-time great Len Bias. He brought over ten straight NCAA Tournament Berths. He also brought the programs first Final Four in 2001.

And then he won the 2002 National Championship with gritty players like Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter.

Gary Williams is the face of the Maryland Terrapin basketball team. Many people across the country look at him like an elite coach. But for some reason, fans across the area feel like he has out stayed his welcome.

Those people are the ones going off on message boards, blogs, and other new media. Those people are the ones that love you the first day, hate you the next.

Maybe the momentum is building for Gary's exit. I for one hope that it is not.

Like said earlier, Williams is the face of the program. Working and talking with important Terrapin Club members monthly, I have realized what has really made this program.

Without Williams, their would be less revenue from donations and season tickets than ever before. The people that are donating and supporting the program are the ones that are in the stands until the buzzer.

These are the people that still savor the chance of going to the NCAA Tournament. They will look for every nook and cranny to get there. Finally, without these donors and supporters there would be no National Championship.

I agree Gary Williams needs to make changes in order to be competitive. The world of college basketball and recruiting changes by the week. Recently the NCAA mandated that 7th graders are official basketball recruits.

What I do not agree with are the cries for Williams resignation or termination.

As a sign said during the Boston College game:
"In Gary We Trust"

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The Boston Slump

After a terrific start to the seasons by the Bruins, the Celtics, and the Boston College Eagles things have come to a sudden halt. Whether it is the constantly gray days, or the emotional toll on the players, or the winter chill, but Boston sports teams have been having a rough start to the new year.

The Boston Celtics had the best start in franchise history and amassed a 19-game winning streak, the longest in team history. Going into the game on Christmas Day against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics were on an incredible high. They were playing well, and more importantly, they were wining games in which they weren't playing especially well. Then all the good things that had happened up to that point came crashing down. The Celtics played okay that day but didn't have anyone to take over in the 4th quarter. Pau Gasol was the man for LA in that situation and led the Lakers to the victory. That began the decline that is now the Boston Celtics. The team has lost 7 of 9, the most recent, last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs now have the lead in the Eastern Conference over the Celtics who are in serious need of a win. The team has clearly worn itself out in that incredible win streak and is now dealing with sloppy play, poor shooting, and many more turnovers than usual. The team needs to rally itself again around one win and take it from there. Ubuntu, the Celtics' motto of togetherness last season, is going to need to shine through again as the players regroup and right the ship.

Another Boston team, the Bruins had a wonderful start to the season. Many young players were stepping into the spotlight and playing extremely well. The goaltending was terrific, both from Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez. The team was leading the Eastern Conference and scoring as well as playing solid defense. They have just recently hit a small patch of ice along the road and lost two straight at home. The first, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Sabers snapped the Bruins 10-game winning streak and the first home loss since late October. Then, 3 days later, the Minnesota Wild came to town and downed the Bruins 1-0. The Bruins played well in these 2 losses but we unable to finish their chances and thus lost both. The Bruins have returned to their winning ways with a 3-goal 3rd period against the Ottawa Senators. The Bruins (64 pts) are still atop the Eastern Conference and are skating strong at the midway point of the season.

Even bigger news was the upset of the University of North Carolina Tarheels at the hands of the Boston College Eagles in college basketball. The Eagles shocked the nation and the then-#1 ranked Tarheels. Tyrese Rice led the way with 25 points for the Eagles in the win.

BUT, the next game the Eagles played was at home against the Harvard Crimson, which the Eagles lost 82-70. The story with the Eagles and Tyrese Rice seems to be inconsistency as Rice has had wonderful nights, such as against the Tar Heels and his tournament play his freshman season, and then the next night he will be abysmal and nonexistent. Rice had three points until the final 4 minutes of the game and finished with 14 as Harvard beat a ranked opponent for the first time in school history.

The New Year has not seen the best of Boston sports but the year is still young and there is plenty of time to regain control of the top spot for the Celtics, retain control of the top spot for the Bruins, and retain a ranking for the Eagles.

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