Take that, Skip Bayless!
Jan. 30th, 2006 11:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rms10Skip Bayless has spent the last week whining about how boring the Super Bowl will be. Before that, he was whining about how boring the playoffs were after New England and Indianapolis both lost. But of all the annoying things he said in his most recent column, I was actually most indignant on behalf of the Seahawks. So I snapped, and sent him an email:
Whew! That felt good. And don't get me started on his treatment of the Steelers.1
----------
1Okay, since you ASKED, here goes. Sure, the Steelers had some "lucky bounces" against Denver. Roethlisberger threw two near-interceptions on the first drive, yes. But the reason they weren't interceptions wasn't just luck -- it was because the Steelers receivers kept their heads in the game and defended the defenders. (This is particularly clear on the second near-interception, in the end zone.) And yes, the infamous Tackle after the infamous Fumble against Indianapolis had some luck to it. But had Harper kept his head in the game, he would have run to the sideline and scored a touchdown. He didn't stay focused, but Roethlisberger did, and somehow managed to tackle him.
My point is that the Steelers have kept their heads in the game at all times, and have been able to make up for mistakes and bad officiating, unlike some other teams I could mention (Colts) (Patriots).
Of all your ridiculous statements in your 1/30/06 column about the Super Bowl, I'm most baffled by your statements about the unlikeliness of the Seahawks making it to the Super Bowl. Sure, the NFC West is a weak conference. But "if Vick hadn't regressed?" Michael Vick is one of the most overrated athletes in the NFL! "If the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys hadn't been forced to do battle twice in the East?" Last I checked, the Giants and the Redskins both made the playoffs, and lost. How are their playoff losses related to their tough regular-season schedules? Shouldn't that have made them tougher in the postseason? As it turned out, the playoffs showed that Eli Manning is overrated, the Redskins have no offense, and the Panthers are one-dimensional. The playoffs also showed that the Seahawks are by far the best team in the NFC.
As for your gripes about not seeing Brady or Peyton Manning in the playoffs -- hey, dynasties end eventually. Star quarterbacks choke on the pressure. Instead of bemoaning the lack of T.O. or Belichick in the Super Bowl, why not enjoy the possible beginning of a Seahawks dynasty, or the ascendancy of Ben Roethlisberger?
Whew! That felt good. And don't get me started on his treatment of the Steelers.1
----------
1Okay, since you ASKED, here goes. Sure, the Steelers had some "lucky bounces" against Denver. Roethlisberger threw two near-interceptions on the first drive, yes. But the reason they weren't interceptions wasn't just luck -- it was because the Steelers receivers kept their heads in the game and defended the defenders. (This is particularly clear on the second near-interception, in the end zone.) And yes, the infamous Tackle after the infamous Fumble against Indianapolis had some luck to it. But had Harper kept his head in the game, he would have run to the sideline and scored a touchdown. He didn't stay focused, but Roethlisberger did, and somehow managed to tackle him.
My point is that the Steelers have kept their heads in the game at all times, and have been able to make up for mistakes and bad officiating, unlike some other teams I could mention (Colts) (Patriots).
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 07:18 am (UTC)I think Seattle is going nuts. I'll be watching - it's kind of like going back to when I was a kid and I used to get my dad to explain it all to me, in between when he sent me to the garage on beer runs. Plus! It's the Seahawks first ever superbowl! My best college friends are from Pittsburgh, so we've been having fun with this. I don't really care who wins, I'm just happy for my friends who are thrilled about it.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 04:45 pm (UTC)And the Seattle fans are awesome. Too bad Seattle's going to LOSE in their first Super Bowl appearance! [/trash-talking]
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 05:02 pm (UTC)And if we do lose, there will still be a party, because the dedicated fans are used to always being a time that doesn't quite make it, and everyone else is used to just not really caring about the Superbowl because it's so far away. [/refusal to take the bait]
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 05:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 05:26 pm (UTC)God, I hate Novack. Why does he have to make Steelers fans look crazy? And I wish he wouldn't hint at the old economy-new economy bullshit, because Seattle is new economy, sure. I think Seattle is a city I could live in. But you can't just classify Pittsburgh as an old economy city, because it's evolving with the times and doing okay, unlike Cleveland and Detroit.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 11:32 pm (UTC)