bowlgiantsfan

Superdome Reopens

2006-09-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Many neighborhoods are still fetid swamps, but at least they can play football in New Orleans again: The 31-year-old Superdome reopens tonight before an international TV audience when the NFL's New Orleans Saints play the Atlanta Falcons on "Monday Night Football."

Billed as a triumphant moment for a devastated city, the game has taken on near-Super Bowl proportions, with performances by U2, Green Day and the Goo Goo Dolls; a kabuki drop — a large curtain dropped from a hanging rod — to honor 150 first responders who participated in relief efforts; and a coin toss by former President George H.W. Bush.
However, there won't be any buses to move the fans away from the stadium following the game.

Big Ten Football Previews – Ohio State Buckeyes Editor's Note ...

2006-08-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

Big Ten Football Previews – Ohio State Buckeyes

Editor's Note: This is the tenth in a series of my annual summer Big Ten football previews. Stay tuned for the next review at a time and date TBD...

Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

Past Predictions/Results:
2005 Prediction / actual: 8-3, 6-2 (T-1st), Capital One / 10-2, 7-1 (T-1st), Fiesta
2004 Prediction / actual: 10-1, 7-1 (T-1st), Rose / 8-4, 4-4 (T-5th), Alamo
2003 Prediction / actual: 11-1, 7-1 (1st) / 11-2, 6-2 (T-2nd)
2002 Prediction / actual: 11-2, 6-2 (T-1st) / 14-0, 8-0 (T-1st), National Champs
2001 Prediction / actual: 7-4, 4-4 (T-5th) / 7-5, 5-3 (3rd)

Returning Starters: 8 offense, 2 defense, 1 kicker

Key Returnees: QB Troy Smith, WR Ted Ginn, TB Antonio Pittman, FB Stan White, RT Kirk Barton, DT David Patterson, DT Quinn Pitcock, P A.J. Trapasso

Key Losses: WR Santonio Holmes, C Nick Mangold, OG Robbie Sims, DE Mike Kudla, LB A.J. Hawk, LB Bobby Carpenter, LB Anthony Schlegel, SS Donte Whitner, FS Nate Salley, CB Ashton Youboty, PK Josh Huston

Looking Back ... A few plays away. Much like Penn State, that’s how close and just how far away Ohio State was from taking the stage in the National Title game last season. There was the tough home loss to eventual champ Texas and a hard-fought road “L” at Penn State. That was how close the Buckeyes were to getting a shot at a second national title in four seasons. Not too shabby, eh? Last season’s team was built around a defense that fielded three of the NFL Draft’s first 18 picks in April. Ohio State landed five first round picks in all. The offense might have been the story late, but it was the defense that made the scarlet and gray a contender all season long, and that led the Buckeyes to yet another win over arch-rival Michigan.

Jim Tressel now has five seasons under his belt, and he has led OSU to three double-digit win seasons, a pair of Big Ten crowns, a national title and four, count ‘em, four wins over the despised Wolverines. All of it has Ohio State fans in a frenzy and ready to repeat all of the above in 2006. Given what the Buckeyes lost on defense, that may be easier said than done but so what if you give up closer to 20 points per contest (it was 15.2 in ’05) if you can score well over 30 points yourself (it was 32.7 ppg last season)? The Ohio State offense only got better as young stars like Smith, Pittman and Ginn all got on the same page. Imagine what an offense that did the damage that the Buckeyes did and returns several starters might do in ’06. 2006 might just see OSU gain those few extra plays needed to win the scarlet and gray yet another trip to the National Title game at the Bucks’ favorite January destination of late – Tempe.

Outlook - Offense ...There might not be a more potent group of starters returning in the Big Ten than what Ohio State brings back this fall. Top notch quarterback? Check. Unsung tailback? Check. A pair of wideouts that can make almost any football slinger better? Check, check. Folks, if Ohio State was as good as it was last season because of the defense, this year’s team will be in the same position because of the offense. Yes, it is that good. From the skill players to the trenches, this team might run circles around most of the opposition it faces. Brace yourself, a team that scored over 30 points in eight of 12 contests last year will be even better this season…

There isn’t a team with a better quarterback situation in the Big Ten. First, there is Troy Smith, the dual threat signal caller that has quietly become one of the nations’ best. Why quietly? Two words – Justin Zwick. Remember, not so long ago, Zwick was the next coming – at least as anointed when an incoming freshman. Zwick never completely materialized, in part because Smith became such an intriguing weapon. Just think, with a game under his belt instead of having served a suspension in the opener, Smith may have been able to lead OSU to a victory over Texas instead of a close but not cigar early season loss. Smith is widely thought to be the best of a strong lot in the Big Ten and with an experienced and hungry Zwick still on his heels, the Buckeyes are enjoying a great problem to have – two starting caliber players on the depth chart. Smith can run and throw and has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Zwick has adjusted to his role and is more than ready to step in at a moments notice. Both are seniors, which means players like Todd Boekman and Rob Schoenhoft might steal some of Zwick’s mop-up time, but no matter how you slice it, OSU can win this conference with its first or second string QB at the helm.

Much like at quarterback, it isn’t a one man show at running back either. Antonio Pittman quietly (notice the theme here?) put up 1,331 yards rushing to go with seven scores. The junior might be the most unheralded, big statistics producer for any of the big time programs in college football. He has a terrific blend of speed and power but doesn’t have to do it all himself, which means he can go full bore all the time. There is a stable of quality backing Pittman up, starting with sophomores Maurice Wells and Eric Haw. Both are more than capable of being the go-to back if something happens to Pittman. However, freshman Chris Wells might not give them a chance. Wells is considered by many to be the best incoming tailback in the country with size, speed and a nose for the endzone. Back to Pittman, he could be an all-league player this season if he can provide more scoring punch for the offense. Speaking of unheralded, is there a position in football that gets less spotlight than the fullback? And yet the lead blocker who is lucky to get a tote here or there or catch a screen pass on occasion is a main reason for the success of a running game. Senior Stan White is that guy for the Buckeyes. He is a tremendous blocker who will go mostly unnoticed due to a lack of carries and catches. OSU can go even bigger if they wish with Dionte Johnson. Either way, with Pittman leading the way, this will be one of the best running attacks in the Big Ten.

Some might think that losing a receiver like Santonio Holmes would be a big dent to a team’s passing attack. Those that do haven’t seen Ted Ginn. Ginn is easily the most electrifying player in college football. A cousin of mine, who plays at DII Ashland and was in the same class as Ginn told me I’d never seen anyone with his speed or ability, and he was right. Ginn is flat out a game changer. With the steady, speedy Holmes leaving early and sporting the colors of Super Bowl champ Pittsburgh, the go-to guy is Ginn. The nice thing is, he’s not alone. Anthony Gonzalez is quick, had tremendous hands and is not afraid to make the tough catch. He’ll fill Ginn’s role with Ginn moving to Holmes’ spot. The Buckeyes also have the luxury of four long, back-up receivers in senior Roy Hall (who will start in three receiver sets), sophomore Devon Lyons, redshirt freshman Brian Hartline and sophomore Brian Robiskie. While none evoke the fear that Ginn or even Gonzalez do, they each bring their own benefits the to table. One area that the Buckeyes will need to shore up is tight end. With the recent suspension of Marcel Frost, starter Rory Nicol is going to have to shoulder even more of the load. In the meantime, Ohio State will look to some other youngsters to help get more production out of the tight end position.

Of course the key to any good offense is to have a line that can be relied upon for pass protection and solid run blocking. It seems like it’s been a while since Ohio State has churned out a superstar on the offensive line but yet the unit quietly gets the job done and done well. This year will be no different and in fact this might be the best line of the Tressel era. Three seniors and a junior anchor the line, with a bevy of talented sophomores filling in the other slots and the depth chart. Dan Datish might be the most versatile player of the lot. He can play guard or center but is currently penciled in at center. Senior guard T.J. Downing could have a break through season and play on Sunday’s in the future. Senior Tim Schafer holds down the left guard position. While both are fifth year players, they will have to work hard to stave off sophomores Jon Skinner and Kyle Mitchum. Both are up and coming talents with size and offer OSU the luxury of depth at a position that is always giving and taking a beating. The best of the front five may be the tackles. Kirk Barton is a sure-fire NFL talent. The junior will hold down the right tackle spot. Sophomore Alex Boone will get the nod at left tackle, but the equally as imposing Steve Rehring will be right on his heels. The bottom line? This is another unsung unit that might not get a lot of praise but that will have a huge hand in any offensive success this team has all fall.

Outlook - Defense ... As potent as the offense was last year, the defense carried this team to another double-digit win total. Fast forward to ’06 and the shoe is firmly on the other foot. The OSU offense is the strength of this year’s team. Does that mean the defense won’t have success or create the next superstar Buckeye defender? Hardly. The scarlet and gray always field a good defense and despite the loss of key players to the NFL, this season will be no different. Yes, new players or former role players will need to step up, but with a seasoned power like Ohio State, that is the norm, the expectation, not the exception.

The good news heading into this season is that despite losing three linebackers to the NFL the player that gave each of those ‘backers the opportunity to shine returns. Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock has the speed to play end but the strength and size to be one of the top tackles in the nation. With him bottling things up in the middle, the rest of the speedy OSU defenders can make the plays. He is joined inside by another player with end quickness and inside size – David Patterson. Patterson is a good run stopper but most notably gives the Buckeyes an inside pass rusher and someone the coaches can move around a bit to keep teams guessing. That leaves the end positions to senior Jay Richardson and sophomore Lawrence Wilson. Richardson is rangy but not all that quick and is in the mix more for his run stopping than pass rushing prowess. Wilson is a tall speed rusher that could develop into the next superstar. The depth chart isn’t anything to write home about, but there is a little bit of experience to mix with potential and up and coming talent. Tackle Joel Penton will see a bit of time as will end Vernon Gholston. Todd Denlinger and Alex Barrow round out the two-deep.

There was a boatload of amazingly talented linebackers in the Big Ten last season, but none as collectively disruptive and game-changing as the trio Ohio State sent to the NFL. Most teams would be scurrying to fill one of the positions vacated by that level of talent, let alone three, but not Ohio State. There is plenty of experience in the mix and incredible potential too boot. The anchor this year will be former Indiana starter John Kerr. The middle linebacker is a tough hitter that will finally get a chance to play after sitting behind A.J. Hawk. His backup Mike D’Andrea is another fifth year senior that if he had stayed healthy, might have been every bit as good as Hawk. He’ll also get one more go at making something out of what has been a somewhat frustrating career. Two speedy sophomores make up the other starting slots. Marcus Freeman has a world of upside with speed and size to drool over. James Laurinaitis is penciled in at the strong side for now, but he’ll have to hold off late recruit, heralded JUCO LB Larry Grant. Curtis Terry and Ross Homan make up the rest of what is another part of the depth chart filled with talent.

Much like the linebacking corps in front of them, all of the starters from last year’s secondary have moved on to the next level. Ordinarily, that would throw up major red flags, especially considering the fact that there are so many experienced pitch and catch combos around the Big Ten. However, thinking that of Ohio State is a mistake. When haven’t the Buckeyes replaced NFL talent with NFL talent? This year is no different. Four new starters, same potential. Perhaps the only concern is the youth. But then, if there is talent and it is fast and ready to play, who cares about the experience level? The elder statesman will be senior corner Antonio Smith. While a little on the small size (5-9) he is a good hitter and has great speed. He’s more likely to get picked on by opposing QBs given the size and speed of fellow corner, sophomore Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins is the next bit thing in the defensive backfield and could garner all-conference honors this season. Another pair of sophomores start at safety – Nick Patterson is another big, speedy DB and he’ll only get better as he works to hold off senior Brandon Mitchell for the free safety spot. Jamario O’Neal is a physical player, with – surprise, surprise – tremendous speed. Redshirt freshman Anderson Russell will push O’Neal for time. Donald Washington is probably the first corner off the bench, and he too provides size and speed to this group. New or not, look for the Ohio State secondary to shine as the season goes on.

Outlook - Special Teams ... Another strong, reliable place-kicker has moved on in the person of Josh Huston. Who wins the job is still somewhat up in the air between sophomore Ryan Pretorius and redshirt freshman Aaron Pettrey. Pettrey has the better leg but Pretorius was steadier in spring ball and looks to hold the job heading into the season. One area that isn’t a concern is the punting game. A.J. Trapasso had a solid first season and should only get better as he gets older. Also, how can you not mention the explosive return game? Ginn already has taken five punts back for scores and gobbles up return yards in droves.

Schedule:
9/2 – NORTHERN ILLINOIS
9/9 – at Texas
9/16 – CINCINNATI
9/23 – PENN STATE
9/30 – at Iowa
10/7 – BOWLING GREEN
10/14 – at Michigan State
10/21 – INDIANA
10/28 – MINNESOTA
11/4 – at Illinois
11/11 – at Northwestern
11/18 – MICHIGAN

Key Games: 9/9 – at Texas, 9/23 – Penn State, 9/30 – at Iowa, 11/18 - Michigan

Prediction ... This isn’t a slam dunk schedule for the Buckeyes by any stretch. Northern Illinois is perennially one of the better teams in the MAC, Texas is the defending national champion, and Cincinnati and Bowling Green are hungry, in-state schools looking to pluck off the team that calls itself the Ohio State University. Despite the potential pitfalls OSU faces OOC, I expect the Buckeyes to run through that slate unbeaten. In conference, Purdue and Wisconsin are off the slate, but Penn State and Iowa come on back to back weekends, there is a tricky trip to East Lansing and the annual battle with Michigan. I think the games will all be tight this year with a young defense, but expect the only black mark to occur when the scarlet and gray visit Iowa City. Other than that, another ten-win plus season and another trip to a BCS bowl keeps the Buckeye fans ecstatic.

OOC: 4-0
B10: 7-1 (lone loss at Iowa)
Overall: 11-1, T-1st in the conference, Orange Bowl berth

Remembering the '96 Super Bowl Packers

2006-08-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Green Bay Packers official website is starting to get into the 10 year anniversary commemoration of the Packers 1996 Super Bowl victory. There's an interesting article on little-known defensive back Chris Hayes. The article highlights his contributions and speaks to how the experience of being a Packer impacts his life to this day. A feel good story.

Kraft's the man

2006-07-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated has ranked New England Patriots owner #1 of all the 32 NFL owners.

It is hard to argue against that point now (3 rings in the last 5 years), but it would have been even tougher to find anyone who thought that in 1997. After his Patriots lost Super Bowl XXXI to Green Bay many blamed Kraft's refusal to give total control of the team to coaching legend Bill Parcells. Parcells (who was portrayed as a distracted coach, making dozens of calls to the New York Jets during Super Bowl week, in the book Patriot Reign) ended up leaving for the Jets after the Super Bowl. Kraft then faked a move to Hartford in an effort to strong arm Massachusetts politicians into helping finance a stadium. When the politicians called his bluff he pulled out of Hartford, alienating the state and leaving them for the Giants and Jets, Kraft finally announced he was building a new stadium in Foxboro.

Before long the stadium was under construction and Kraft organized a move to bring in Bill Belichick, who drafted Tom Brady in the 6th round and has helped to produce winners of Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.

Big Ben Hit Hard

2006-07-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday in which he was not wearing a helmet.

Roethlisberger remained in serious but stable condition after seven hours of surgery that ended at approximately 9 p.m. ET, according to Dr. Daniel Pituch, chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Mercy Hospital. His condition is not expected to change throughout the evening, Pituch said at a news conference.

"He suffered multiple facial fractures," Pituch said. "All of the fractures were successfully repaired. His brain, spine, chest and abdomen appear to be without serious injury. And there are no other confirmed injuries at this time."

The doctors declined to release further information at the family's request.

Before I get called insensitive or an asshole, let me say I hope Ben recovers fully and everything is alright. And not just because he's the QB of my favorite team, but because he's a human being and nobody needs to go through something like this.

And that's really quite the point. Nobody needs to go through something like this. As it's been said quite a few times over the past day, he plays a sport that requires a helmet. Last time I checked, NFL players can't run over 100 mph, and they don't weight a ton. Well, the things that hit you on the road, they are heavy, and they move fast. Ben my friend, you need a helmet when you ride that motorcycle.

I know he's 24, as am I, and I know at that age you think you are invincible and we do stupid things all the time. I'm well aware of that fact. But he has some pretty good examples of athletes who recently were in bike wrecks and came away pretty damaged. Need I mention Jay Williams and Kellen Winslow? He owes it to the Steelers owners, coaches, teammates, family members, friends, and himself to stay off the bikes and keep himself safe. You only get one shot at your NFL career, and it's going to be short enough as it is. Why risk everything to ride a bike? Like Terry Bradshaw told him last year, ride when you're retired.

Benny Boy, I hope you're alright and you recover quickly. But the next time you think about doing something like this, think twice.

Weekend Recap

2006-07-10T18:26:00.001-07:00

Time to dust off the old tradition of the Monday morning weekend recap, to shake off the mothballs and see if it still fits over my hips without straining.

Friday night was a night out with the Sydney Photobloggers, dinner at "Super Bowl" in Chinatown and then a stroll for gelati.

The Sydney Photobloggers mob outside Gelatissimo in Chinatown, click the pic to go to Flickr and see who's who.

The post-gelati plan was for a visit to a burlesque show, but Morgan and I were both a bit weary and wanted to have an early start to Saturday so that we could go bushwalking. I know, I know, I built up all that expectation about going to a burlesque show only to disappoint you. There were about a half dozen brave souls who continued on, to all accounts the show was lots of fun. Risque but not sleazy.

On Saturday Morgan and I went bushwalking in the National Park. It was a cool but clear day, and by the time we walked inland a bit and out of the cool coastal breeze it was warm and lovely. We did some of the coastal walk and saw a few water spouts in the distance, our second encounter with whales this migration season. We finished the day with really good pizza and settled in at my place for a night of DVDs with Bodhi and his daughter Ashley. I could not believe how much The Brothers Grimm sucked. Yikes.

Sunday morning Morgan and I took a stroll through Newtown to find suitably retro gear to wear for the retro bowling night the Sydney Photobloggers are having next weekend. The brief is 60's/70's but as it turns out my retro bowling shirt and 'letterman' jacket will put me more into the 50's than 60's. I guess I can always explain that I'm a late adopter... Having said that, I'm pleased with what I'll be wearing and I already owned most of it, which is a plus. Morgan picked up some really cool second-hand gear, and should look really good.

So here I am, Monday morning. I'm a bit pissy because all of my work mates have called in sick, not showed up, or emailed me to say they are working from home. It's just me here folks. Of course everyone has been saving up their queries all weekend, so the phone hasn't stopped. I'm working for a charity that deals with the frail aged, and sometimes the phone calls are hard work. Aaargh!

Weekend Recap

2006-07-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Steelers receive their Super Bowl rings

2006-07-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this time next year I'll be posting Buc ring # 2. But in the meantime, congratulations to the Steelers on #5.

2006-05-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Pasadena City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the ballot aimed at luring a team to the Rose Bowl.

It proposes giving the league rights to play at the stadium for 25 years in exchange for a 500-(m) million dollar stadium renovation, 500-thousand dollars a year in rent, and other considerations.

City Councilman Chris Holden says passing the measure would relieve Pasadena of paying 200-(m) million dollars for renovations he said are needed at the Rose Bowl.

But the initiative is opposed by West Pasadena residents, preservationists, and other city leaders, including Mayor Bill Bogaard.

Meanwhile, a committee of N-F-L owners heard stadium presentations last week from Los Angeles, Anaheim and Pasadena.

They could decide later this month whether to approve a Southern California franchise.

2006-04-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

bowlgiantsfan new articles for Sunday, April 16, 2006Super Bowl legacy is pain for some, promise for others (Detroit News)
M ore than two months after Super Bowl XL, I was beginning to wonder: With the daffodils in bloom and winter's last blasts over, what had that blowout in Ford Field really wrought?

VFW delivers food to Northport Veterans Hospital on Super Bowl (Massapequa Post)
For the eighth year in a row, VFW Post 7763, Massapequa Park, fed 200 patients at the Northport Veterans Hospital on Super Bowl Sunday. Hero sandwiches, salads and sodas were provided. Shown in the photo, left to right, are Vanessa Smith of the V.A., Commander Richard Begandy, Past Commanders Stephen Piller, Robert Duffy and Alan Arcery and members John Bruder, Roy Solvang and Ed Feltman.

Drum corps 'Super Bowl' marching into Rochester (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
The Drum Corps Associates World Championship is returning to Rochester after a 10-year hiatus. The annual competition is considered the "Super Bowl" of drum corps contests and could draw 14,000 people to the city.

Keaton makes pitch for Pirates to spend money (Kansas City Star)
Perhaps sports fans in Pittsburgh deserve a bad baseball team because they can still bask in the Steelers winning the Super Bowl.

NFL Network growing in stature, popularity (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Super Bowl XL was the third covered by the NFL Network, which may be around for at least 40 more.

Super Bowl star Hines Ward meets mixed race Korean children (phillyburbs.com)
SEOUL, South Korea - Beaming Kim Gwan-woo couldn't hide his excitement at getting to meet Super Bowl star Hines Ward, a hero that the 7-year-old Korean boy wants to emulate.

QB donates Super Bowl rings to La. Tech (CBS Sportsline)
Steelers great Terry Bradshaw donated his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame ring, Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, Hall of Fame bust, four miniature replica Super Bowl trophies, and a helmet and jersey from one of his Super Bowl victories to Louisiana Tech.

Las Vegas posts busiest ever February for visitors (KRNV)
Chinese New Year and Super Bowl parties helped to make February the busiest on record for Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says the area attracted 2.8 million visitors, up 0.9% from a year earlier.

NFL Football Schedule 2006 (KWWL-TV Iowa City)
NEW YORK - April 6, 2006 - The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, marquee teams, storied rivalries and sibling rivalries highlight NBC’s return to the National Football League as the NFL today announced its 2006 slate of games.

Postseason berth on line (Denver Post)
When the Colorado Crush plays the Kansas City Brigade today at Kemper Arena, team owner John Elway will meet a former Broncos teammate and they can compare Super Bowl rings.

2006-04-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

bowlgiantsfan new articles for Tuesday, April 11, 2006Super Bowl scam trial set (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
WORCESTER - A man accused of selling $255,460 in phony tickets to Super Bowl XXXIX will testify in a federal trial that he was an unwitting participant in the scam with a Hudson man who was his business partner.

Two-time Super Bowl winner Clack dies (CBS Sportsline)
Jim Clack, a guard on two Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers teams in the 1970s, died Friday of heart failure. He was 58.

Super Bowl champ Steelers to kick off new NFL season (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The National Football League announced its 17-week, 256-game regular-season schedule, which kicks off on September 7 with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Miami Dolphins.

Holmgren still upset over Super Bowl calls (The Arizona Republic)
Nearly two months after his Seattle Seahawks lost the Super Bowl, Mike Holmgren is still feeling the pain. Especially about the officiating.

Dolphins owner expecting a Super year (Miami Herald)
''They play the Super Bowl here next year, and I'll be damned if we're not the ones playing in our own stadium.'' -- Dolphins receiver Chris Chambers

Bradshaw donates rings to alma mater (USA Today)
Steelers great Terry Bradshaw gave his old school a big gift Monday. Bradshaw donated his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame ring, Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, Hall of Fame bust, four miniature replica Super Bowl trophies, and a helmet and jersey from one of his Super Bowl victories to Louisiana Tech.

Bradshaw Gives Memorabilia To Alma Mater (Washington Post)
Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw donates his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame ring, Pro Football Hall of Fame ring and other memorabilia to Louisiana Tech

Some free agency results familiar (USA Today)
Centers averaging $6 million on new contracts and guards $7 million? Well, that's new. The New England Patriots losing players who were crucial to their success in the Super Bowl? Also a different look.

Super Bowl MVP Ward embraces heritage on trip to birthplace (MSNBC)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward was nervous for the first time in his life as he prepared for a trip to the land of his birth. He also looked forward to learning more about his heritage.

2006-04-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

bowlgiantsfan new articles for Sunday, April 02, 2006Raiders Watch
I haven't done any football posts since the Super Bowl, though I have been intending to do a Raiders rundown since they parted ways with coach Norv Turner. Turner's brief, lamentable tenure in Oakland demonstrated -- inadvertently, ...

Gruden trying to Get Phil more active with Bucs.
It is not every family tree that produces a Super Bowl winning quarterback let alone two, but that could happen for the Simms; If Chris Simms becomes the quarterback that his father once was. I think the Buccaneers are on the right ...

Beethoven, the Met and a Real Life Rags to Riches Story
playing in the Super Bowl. Number two. Erika Sunnegardh is forty years old. She has been trying to break into the opera big time for ... in the final four minutes of the Super Bowl. With his team down by six points, even. Number four. ...

Vinatieri to donate Super Bowl cleats for scholarship fund / Photo
Vinatieri previously gave the foundation the cleats he wore during Super Bowl XXXVI, against the St. Louis Rams, and during the "Snow Bowl" 2002 playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. The cleats that will be donated Friday were worn ...

Best Super Bowl Commercial
Since the 1984 Apple commercial introducing the Macintosh, Super Bowl commercials have been a huge marketing event. This year, my vote for best commercial goes to Budweiser for the Cyldesdale American Dream.

The Ticket Reserve & Yabbage
That is a pretty unclear explanation of what they actually do so here is an example of how I would use it: The 2007 (next February) Super Bowl is being played in Miami, and right now nobody has a clue who will be playing in it. ...

Staubach, Aikman bring star power to NASCAR
He's not the least bit worried that Hall of Fame Racing, owned by former Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, will meet the same fate. "They know the history of all the predecessors," said ...

Does This Sound Right To You?
The government levied a larger fine for a brief glimpse of Janet Jackson's nipple during the Super Bowl in 2004 ($550000) than it did in 2001 when 13 Alabama miners were killed in an explosion.That doesn’t sound right to me. ...

Who are those masked Baby killers, anyway? The Super Bowl Saturday ...
The Super Bowl Saturday of college basketball turned out to be like one of those old-school Super Bowls - the ones that didn't quite live up to the hype. Mercifully, the games weren't '79 Michigan State-Penn or '03 Kansas-Marquette bad. ...

The 2002 City of New Orleans Mayoral Race: A Historical Review
(the day before New Orleans-hosted Super Bowl XXXVI) C. Ray Nagin, D 38323 (29%) Richard Pennington, D 31259 (23%) Paulette Irons, D 24557 (18%) James "Jim" Singleton, D 17503 (13%) Troy Carter, D 13898 (10%) Vernon Palmer, D 3442 (3%) ...

Things you will NEVER hear a Southerner say ...
I've got two cases of Zima for the Super Bowl. 10. Little Debbie snack cakes have too many fat grams. 9. Checkmate. 8. She's too young to be wearing a bikini. 7. Does the salad bar have bean sprouts? 6. Hey, here's an episode of "Hee ...

Play Ball!
The long, fallow period between the Super Bowl and Opening Day of baseball season is finally over! Hallelujah, my friends! Eternal optimism reigns in cities across America. My baseball heart has two loves: ...

NFL Preseason National Schedule
New Indy kicker ADAM VINATIERI boomed a 48-yard field goal with no time left to lift the New England Patriots over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI (20-17). For St. Louis, SCOTT LINEHAN will make his NFL head-coaching debut after helping ...

Another Looney Sport/Birth Story
Remember the Pittsburgh Steelers fan who was going to put off her birth if it conflicted with the Super Bowl? Well, she has a kindred spirit. Angela Finnegan, of England, delayed her Caesarean section so her husband, Christopher, ...

World Cup intensifies Adidas - Nike 'football war'
Businessweek magazine tracks the hugely expenisve "football war" between adidas and Nike: The World Cup's global TV and Web audience is bigger than the Olympics' or the Super Bowl's -- 28 billion in-home viewers worldwide. ...

World Poker Tour Champion Alan Goehring tells us when to hold 'em ...
Last year, the 41-year-old Wisconsin native won the Poker Tour (WPT) Championship--the Super Bowl of poker--and its $1011886 pot. He got there by leaving the financial world of New York to slum on the beaches of California, ...

Along with many other things, the World Cross Country ...
Just go ask Peyton Manning when next he'll have such a clean run to the Super Bowl. Returning to Fukuoka, the Moroccans, led by bronze medallist in the men's short race by my namesake Adil ("It's not a chesterfield! ...

HELLO... ANYBODY HOME? CALLING THE JSO NOT GHOSTBUSTERS
I was told by two people at the Jax Public Library that when the Super Bowl came to town, the city took $30-Million from the librarys budget to help out with the big game. I bet the JSO got some of that money for private duty security ...

Tagged... AGAIN!!!
An autographed Joe Montana plaque thingy is also there, along with Peter Max's poster for Super Bowl XXX. 11. Seen anything weird lately? Maybe. The government told me not to talk about it. 12. What do you think of this quiz? ...

i don't know how i missed this...
... wrestling.... this weekend in chicago is not only the start of baseball season. it's also time for wrestlemania. what? yes pro-wrestlings super bowl is in town. how surreal. i did a check on stubhub (a ticket resale web site-this is ...

Super Bowl

2006-02-23T22:44:00.000-08:00

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday (sometimes "Super Sunday"), which over the years has almost become a de facto American national holiday.