BOSMA’S BREAKDOWN
by Tony Bosma
The Super Bowl has become a national holiday. Like Christmas, it is being exploited and advertised to the point that you can’t escape it. Now, there is no reason to ever want to escape football – it’s the best sports entertainment on television since Stone Cold Steve Austin left the WWF. However, the endless media cycle and repetition of the same commentary has me to the point where I’d like to kick every ESPN football analyst and finish them off with a Stone Cold Stunner. But like the rest of you, I’ll refrain, and continue to watch like a zombie no matter how many times I’ve heard the same analysis.
Here are the five Super Bowl story lines that need to end before I lose my mind:
1. Peyton Manning may or may not be the greatest quarterback of all time
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Manning has won one Super Bowl, four MVP’s and plenty of NFL records, but while he’s still playing it’s too early to give him the greatest-of-all-time title. At least wait until AFTER the Super Bowl. If Manning grabs a second title he’ll give the media even more incentive to call him the greatest, and at that point we can have the conversation. I’ll have an in depth look at the best playoff quarterbacks of all time after the Super Bowl and will highlight where Manning stands amongst the greatest playoff quarterbacks of all time. Until then, just enjoy the game.
2. Dwight Freeney’s injury will or will not affect the Colts chances because (fill in the blank)
If you haven’t heard, and I don’t know how that would be possible, Freeney suffered a 3rd degree ankle sprain in the AFC Championship. He’s been limited in practice and his status is questionable for Sunday. The back-and-forth about how this injury will affect the Colts has been nauseating. All you need to know is that Freeney is the best defensive player on the Colts roster. To think that his not playing won’t hurt the Colts chances of winning would be insane. Take this one at face value… without Freeney, the Colts defense is even more mediocre. That’s not a good thing.
3. If the Saints win, Reggie Bush will propose to Kim Kardashian
Look, I’m all for mixing in a little Kardashian with my sports coverage here and there (for the eye appeal), but this has absolutely nothing to do with the Super Bowl. Am I going to be mad if NBC pans the camera over to Kardashian’s suite when Bush scores a touchdown? Of course not. But the only large badunka-dunk any analyst should be talking about this week are those that belong to offensive and defensive lineman. If I want Kardashian news, I’ll head over to TMZ or secretly glance at the TV while Alex Brady is watching some celebrity news show.
4. The Saints are underdogs and have come so far
I know, I know, I know! I was alive when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area and I know how much the Saints mean to the city. The more they play the “poor New Orleans” card, the more it takes away from how good the Saints actually are. I’ve watched them and they’re not 5-point underdogs like Vegas seems to think. They are a great story and a really good team and they don’t need any sympathy – nor does the city of New Orleans. They are a collectively strong community and we don’t need to hear how much this means to them… it’s pretty obvious for the fact that no one, other than Colts fans, will be upset if they win.
5. Archie Manning is rooting for the Colts and not the Saints, a team he played for and a city that idolizes him
Put it this way… if your son is playing in the Super Bowl, or any game for that matter, and you don’t root for him, you just gained Michael Lohan status as Worst Father of the Year. It’s quite clear who and why Archie is pulling for the Colts. Archie reproduced a dynasty of quarterbacks in the New Orleans area, but he can’t be expected to root against them. If you are offended by his choice, please don’t have children.