The NFL - Who Needs It!

My heart is bleeding. It has opened up to spill blood for the billionaires and millionaires who run and play in the National Football League. My tears are flowing all over the floor and I can't stop crying! If you believe this one, I will sell you some swamp land in Florida! If you believe this one I have a bridge in New York that I can sell you! In reality, my heart is as stone cold as an ice cube and I have not shed one tear for the NFL and it's owners and players. It is like an iceberg because I have no sympathy for these slobs and their petty disagreements on how to split up the billions of dollars that they make every year on us fans. Yes, we pay the damn bills and guess who they are forgetting about? You got it, the fans! As of this past week, the owners have officially locked out the players which means the 2011-2012 season is in jeopardy. The players have dissolved their union which means they can individually sue the league in a court of law. This entire process of negotiations has deteriorated as fast as a snow ball on a hot august day.

So, what does all of this mean to us fans? What it means is that there is a great possibility that we will not be watching an NFL game this fall on our 52 inch high def TV's. It means Sunday will be spent out in the yard cutting grass and raking leaves instead of watching the game and drinking beer. It means empty taverns and lost revenues for their owners which may teeter them out of business. It means no NFL package for the cable and satellite companies. It means that we may be stuck watching a chick flick on the Lifestyle Channel. Kill me now! The avid NFL fan is simply screwed in this entire equation. Without us, this league would not even exist. Without the fans, most of these players would be back in the ghetto instead of driving a Rolls Bentley. So, what are we going to do?

Let me tell you what we are going to do. Number one and foremost, fans should boycott the NFL, all of its games and all of its products. Stop buying jerseys at $200 a pop. Turn in your season tickets and tell them to shove it! If the fans boycott the NFL it will send a loud message to the owners and players that this is our game, not theirs! What I don't understand in this entire process is why do the players have this much power? They are contracted to make a ton of money to play a game and in reality should be legally bound to do so. However, the players union is very powerful and they wield a big stick. A big stick that they should drive where the sun don't shine! Secondly, tell the NFL to go to hell and watch as much college football as you can. The college game is much more exciting than these overpaid pros anyway. Most of the college players are playing their guts out week after week knowing that they will never play a pro snap on a Sunday. Finally, boycott all of the sponsors of the NFL and stop buying their products. This will make it loud and clear that we are sick and tired of this greed and we are not going to take it any more! When it hits them all in the pocketbook they will know it! The pocketbook, that is the reason we are where we are today for this entire mess. If we stop supporting the NFL, they won't have all of this extra money to fight about. We the fans do have a voice and it must be heard!

My Picks For Super Bowl (Whatever The Freakin Number Is?

I was never much for roman numerals and hate the fact that the NFL uses these instead of real numbers. Speaking of real numbers, here is the real scoop on all of the numbers for the big game this Sunday.

Coin Toss (Heads or Tails)
You have a 50/50 chance here.....I like tails!

Coin Toss (Which Team Wins)
The NFC has won 12 straight flips....I like Pittsburgh the odds are in their favor! Plus, they are lucky as all git go.

How Many Times Will Joe Buck and Troy Aikman mention BRET FAVRE? Say it...BRETT FAVRE
The line is over or under 2.5 times....This is a sure lock win for the over I think they will mention him at least 12 times.

How many times will the dynamic Fox duo of nitwits mention the work Lockout?
The over or under line is 1.5 times.....Again, a sure lead pipe lock with the over. These two dunder heads won't spend half the broadcast on the actual game.

How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem?
The line here is 54 seconds....I am going under on this one. She may not even know the words.

Will Christina Aguilera wear a cowboy hat while singing the National Anthem?
A tough one.....I say no to this one. I really hope she wears ass less chaps.

How Many Times will FOX show Jerry Jones on TV during the Game?
The line is 2.5 times on this one. Since there are no cheerleaders I am going with the over. Fox has to give Cowboy fans something to look at.

What will be the Result of the First Coaches Challenge in the Game?
Another 50/50 shot.....I am going under the hood... "After further review, the play on the field stands.

Will Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas wear a Cowboys Cheerleader outfit?
Well, we can only hope so....However, I say no. That would be a sacrilege of some sort I think. Can you say, 'Wardrobe Malfunction"?

Who will the Super Bowl MVP thank first?
The choices are, Coach, Family, God, Teammates or no one....My odds are with the Big Man upstairs.

How many times will the refs huddle up and then pick up the penalty flag for a no call?
The over/under is 1.5 times.....I am going with the over again here. The head zebra for this game is Walt Anderson who is known for flying laundry especially on hard hits. Confusion will reign and the yellow laundry will fly.

And finally, the prediction that you have all been waiting for,

Who will actually win the Super Bowl?

Write this down.....Green Bay Packers 27 - Pittsburgh Steelers 17.

P.S.: If you are betting money, take The Steelers and the points.

It's Official - The Most Disliked Player In The Super Bowl

Well, its been made official. A recent poll was conducted by Penn Schoen Berland which concluded that Ben Roethlisberger is the most disliked player competing in this years Super Bowl. Big Ben is strongly disliked 3 to 1 over the rest of the entire rosters of players. This poll was conducted for all NFL players and Big Ben came in 4th overall behind Tom Brady (3rd), Michael Vick (2nd) and yes BRETT FAVRE (1st). That's right, say it....BRETT FAVRE! I was somewhat shocked to see that Tom Brady was more disliked than Ben Rapistberger. Go figure? Its no surprise that Big Ben is #4. Two rape allegations, a motor cycle accident that nearly cost him his life and rearranged his face as well as other past transgressions make him very unlikable.

This national poll also concluded that 78% of all Americans plan on watching this years game which means more dough, ray, me for the sponsors as well as the league. More fans will be rooting for the Packers according to this poll and men are looking forward to the game more than their anniversaries. OUCH! None of this is surprising to me since the only people who like the Steelers are their fans. They are like the NY Yankees. You either love them or you hate them. Most people hate them because Pittsburgh usually beats up on their favorite team. Steeler fans are die hard and will go to great lengths to support their team. They are at times overbearing, obnoxious and delusional. Their tunnel vision is colored black and yellow. However, all of this does not make them bad fans. They are the best fans a team can have. They support the organization to the death. They are no where near as bad as Philadelphia fans however. I had a friend pelted with eaten chicken wings at The Vet during an Eagles game a few years back. He thought that he might not make it out of town alive. Of course he was supporting his team and wearing Cowboys gear. I would think that was a huge error. Philly fans are the worst by far. Whether you love the Steelers and their sometimes out of control Quarterback, you have to admit that the polls don't lie and Ben Rapistberger is disliked by many including myself.

As we approach Super Bowl Sunday, I will post a few more Sports Gripe Shots and then on Saturday make my prediction on the game. I will actually make predictions on several facets of the game.

A Few Super Bowl Gripe Shots

As we near Super Bowl Sunday, I have to just get a few things off my chest. I have to slam down a few Gripe Shots to clear my head and to make me feel better about the big game coming up.

1. ESPN Shows True Colors - Black and Yellow: On Saturday, The Gripe went on the road to the Phoenixville Area to attend a soccer game. By the way, congrats to Lower Valley FC for their 2 wins over teams ranked much higher than them. Anyway, I was in the hotel room watching Sports Center on ESPN and had to run to the porcelain throne to blow my dinner. I sold the Buick a few times. All they kept talking about was the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ben Rapistberger. It was story after story until I turned it off because I couldn't take it anymore. The only time they mentioned the Packers was to refer to them as the team playing Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. Why? I'll tell you why, because they always pick a side and then ride that team like a rented mule to market. They are showing their true colors of Black and Yellow. The yellow being for yellow bellied.

2. Clear A Few Things Up - I have been told over the past week or so that I have been too hard on Big Ben and his cohorts in Pittsburgh. Maybe so. As much as I don't like the Steelers, I will say that they are a top notch franchise with a great owner and a will to win. Frankly being a fan of the Packers, this game scares the hell out of me. Pittsburgh always seems to find a way to steal a game away just when it seems to be over. Whether its by sheer will or a bad call, very often things go their way. Enough, I am making myself sick. I had to stop the Steeler Fans from their whining somehow!

3. Strippers Wanted - Jim Litke of The Associated Press wrote in his column today that nightclub owners in the Dallas area have the call out for an additional 10,000 strippers. I thought traffic was heavy getting out of the valley over the weekend. Oh boy, what kind of trouble will this stir up over the next few days? I think Ben will be staying in Houston for the next few days!

4. The Pro Bowl - Finally, I watched about 7 plays of the Pro Bowl last night and confirmed it is one of the worst football games to ever be played. I actually may have watched 10 or 12 but dozed off after 7. I watched receivers jogging through their routes, defensive lineman lallygagging to the QB and running backs hitting the holes with about as much intensity as a ball of cotton hitting the ground. The game just plain stinks! Why on earth would anyone watch this? Reruns of Buffy The Vampire Slayer are better!

Now that all of those things are off my chest, I can move forward with my Super Bowl game predictions which you can get here on Saturday Morning.

WHAT, No Cheerleaders?

This year will be the first time in the 45 year history of the Super Bowl that there will be NO CHEERLEADERS. This is very strange considering the game is being played at the home of the world renowned Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Neither the Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers employ cheerleaders for their football teams along with Da Bears, Lions, Browns and the NY Football Giants. These are all long time franchises that seem to have no need for the bosomy bouncy gals. As for Green Bay, it's just too cold and they could not be scantily dressed so what's the use. As for Pittsburgh, it is cold most of the time as well and they would get in the way of those Terrible Towels. The NFL has also stated that they will not bring in "ringer" cheerleaders either. At first thought I would think, what a crock of crap! No beautiful babes on the sidelines? However, after further review, why do we need them? If you are at the game your can't hear them, see them or need them to lead a cheer. For the Super Bowl they are not going to entertain the crowd at half time because The Black Eyed Peas are going to take care of that. I think I will eat and drain the dragon at half time. It appears that there are several reasons for not having cheerleaders which means there will be a void of strutting beauties not bending over on the sidelines. There is one other reason however as to why no cheerleaders. You know what's coming here. All young beautiful women in the Arlington Area have been locked down because "Little Ben" is coming to town. Anyone with estrogen in their system is on high alert! The NFL failed to mention this reason. As I sit here and ponder this development, I think of only more camera shots of Ben Rapistberger to make up the difference. Actually, I say bring in the ringers so we don't have to see more camera shots of the reconstructed face of Ben. I know I will miss the jumping, rolling, writhing and butt thrusting. What about you?

Alert: Arlington just raised the alert to Def-Con 2.

Rapistberger Loose In Texas

The big Superbowl story today centered around Pittsburgh Steeler Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and how loose he is going into preparations for the big game. I would think loose is the wrong word to use here because if he really gets loose on Arlington, Texas we will most likely see another rape accusation crop up. The media in their wisdomful way has once again elevated a criminal from the NFL to hero status. If you have had your head buried in the sand like an Ostrich (do they really do that?) then you are unaware of Ben "The Rapists" antics with young girls in bars. According to these two young women he forced himself on them and then sent them on their way. Of course he was never convicted! The NFL initially suspended Rapistberger for 6 games and then "got soft" and lowered it to 4 games. The fans in Pittsburgh were demanding he be traded!

Well, how things have changed. It is amazing how winning heals all wounds in sports especially in Pittsburgh. That is in part due to the brainwashing by the sports media and the pea sized brains of many sports fans. Shit, if the media didn't talk to "Little Ben" who on the Steelers could they talk to? So far he has been humble and cooperative with the media which is a change of pace for him. I would suspect his PR person coached him well. If he was rude and elusive to the media the rape accusations would come up quickly and maybe they should. I would be shocked to shit if it does. Anyway, batten down the hatches and get ready for two weeks of sickening interviews with Rapistberger. I know the Arlington Police force will be on Def-Con 5 after the game is over especially if Pittsburgh wins.

Keep your eyes peeled here for more Superbowl Gripes and my game prediction next Saturday.

Super Bowl XLV

The scene is set and the teams have been determined. For the NFC it will be the long time NFL franchise and legendary Green Bay Packers. The history of Lombardi, Starr, Horning and Nitchkie. The Ice Bowl. On the opposite side are the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Another team steeped in history. Bradshaw, Swann, The Steel Curtain and Franco Harris. The Immaculate reception. Both teams fans can boast of a great season. Here are a few quick hits on this years Super Bowl.

1. The game is at Texas Stadium in Arlington, Texas home of The Dallas Cowboys. Sorry Jerry they didn't make it. Not even close. Anyway, it is a domed stadium and both teams play out doors in the cold most of the time where football is meant to be played.

2. Texas Stadium has Matrix Synthetic Turf while both the Packers and Steelers play on natural grass. The surface football was meant to be played on.

3. Texas Stadium is in the deep south while both teams are from the North, Green Bay being from the extreme northern US.

4. Of like opponents during the season (Jets, Falcons, Dolphins, Patriots and Bills), Pittsburgh was 4-2 while Green Bay was 3-3. Both teams lost to New England. Go figure? The Steelers scored a total of 124 points against the like opponents while giving up 108 points. The Packers scored 155 points and gave up 98 points.

5. The Steelers have 4 players (TE Heath Miller, DL Casey Hampton, LB James Harrison and LB LaMar Woodley named to the 2010 Pro Bowl roster. The Packers also have 4 players, QB Aaron Rodgers, FS Nick Collins, LB Clay Matthews and CB Charles Woodson on the roster.

When you look at all of these stats it seems like we have two evenly matched teams playing next Sunday. So what does all of this mean? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Not a god damn thing. It's all a bunch of useless minutia for our tiny little pea sized brains. However, FOX Sports will overload us with more stats than we can absorb over the next 2 weeks. We will be so sick and tired of the Super Bowl by next Sunday that the drama of the game will seem boring at best.

Over the next 12 days, I will be Gripping numerous times leading up to the Super Bowl. By the way, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be broadcasters for the game. I am going to have a blast beating the crap out of them here at The Sports Gripe.

NFL Playoffs - I'm Sick And Tired Of...

As the NFC and AFC Conference Championships quickly approach, I just have to tell you that I am getting sick and tired of a few things that ESPN and it's "so called experts" are regurgitating our way every day. Here is a quick list of helmet to helmet Gripes that I have.

1. Enough already with the talk about Troy "Boy" Polamalu. Every time I hear his name I want to run to the toilet to pray to the porcelain god. This guy runs around the field like a maniac jumping on piles or plowing down players who are being held up by other defensive players. He leads with his helmet all the time and never gets called. Watch him on Sunday and you will see exactly what I mean. He is WAY OVERRATED! This year in big games against good teams (2-Ravens, Falcons, Saints and Patriots he had only 1 interception and 24 tackles with 4 of these being assisted. In the last playoff game against the Ravens he had no interceptions and only 2 tackles. This year he has feasted off of teams like the Browns, Titans, Bungles, Raiders and Bills where he accumulated 5 of his 7 INT's. Enough is enough! My digestive system can't handle it anymore.

2. All of the talk on ESPN Radio as well as the networks about the Jets and why all of a sudden they have become mutes concerning the game this Sunday is really ticking me off! Actually, who the hell cares! The game is played on the field not in the media. I will say this however, the Jets trash talked their way into the heads of the Patriots last week and won a close game. This weeks opponent is much different which means a different approach. STOP the talk about not talking. Nobody gives a rats ass about this.

3. Just before the playoffs started, ESPN announcers were bashing the cheese out of Aaron Rodgers and how he has not won a playoff game. To this I say. "Go screw yourselves". Aaron Rodgers is a top notch QB with a gun for an arm and a good set of legs to scramble with. He understands the game and is great at reading defenses. Since when does one man win a game? NEVER! Shut the hell up and quit bashing this guy. I think they should be taking a few pot shots at Jay Cutler who is much more inferior to Rodgers. Speaking of inferior, how about Mark Sanchez? He can't make a completion over 20 yards. The Jets are lucky to be playing Sunday with this guy at QB. He is another USC quarterback who flounders in the NFL. He can join Leinart and Palmer in the group of lousy USC QB's.

4. Let me tell you I am sick and tired to death of Pittsburgh Steeler fans. They are almost as bad as Philadelphia Eagle fans. They are loud and boastful and frankly they make me sick. I just threw up in my mouth writing this about them. They travel in packs like roaches in a row house in Philadelphia. Give me one of those Terrible Towels so I can wipe my ass.

5. I have also had enough talk about Ben "The Rapist" Roethlisberger. This guy should be in the crow bar hotel. He dodged not one but 2 rape convictions. Why are they putting this scumbag on a pedestal? Yea, he is big and he is strong, but what the hell? He is another mediocre quarterback like Terry Bradshaw. The idiot almost killed himself on a motorcycle a few years ago. The announcers for the Steeler/Jets game will send us all to the toilet to spew from both ends. I better go out and buy a few extra rolls because I will need them.

There it is, a few Gripes for the Championship games. I'm sure I will have more when the refs hand the Steelers the game with another defensive holding call on an interior lineman. That call last week against the Ravens was a joke. That may have been the first time I saw that call in my lifetime watching football. That call rivaled the roughing the snapper call last year in a Notre Dame game I was watching.

University of Gutless Bastards

As most of you know, Auburn QB Cam Newton was in trouble with the NCAA for his father trying to solicit money for Cam signing a letter of intent to attend their university. The gutless, yellow-bellied NCAA found that there was a violation and basically did nothing to "Fig" Newton other than hand him the Heisman Trophy. Also, 5 Ohio St players were found guilty of profiting from college football by selling several items like pins and jerseys and were suspended for the first 5 games of 2011. They were not suspended for their bowl game which they won. A fan of the Sports Gripe, Dave Check was sifting back through some college football stories and brought this to my attention which immediately sent me through the roof. Back in December, Kentucky QB Mike Hartline got all bombed up along with a Kentucky cheerleader and got arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Public Drunkenness after an argument broke out between him and another person. First off let me give him a two thumbs up for drinking with a cheerleader. Shortly after, Kentucky suspended the 5th year QB for the rest of the year including their bowl game thus ending his career. This got me thinking about 1988 when Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz suspended his starting backfield for the USC game for missing the team breakfast. This game was between #1 and #2 with the winner going to the National Championship game against West Virginia.

So, where are we going with this one? I'll tell you, right into the shitter. Schools like Auburn and Ohio St are nothing but football factories. All they are concerned about is the dough, ray, me....money! If either of these schools had anything in their sacks, they would have suspended their players for the bowl games. Ohio St tried to cloud the punishment with telling everyone that they sat down with these players and made them commit to returning for the 2011 season or they would sit out the bowl game. That sounds like extortion to me! In fact, that sounds like a contract to play and that is a total violation of NCAA Rules. Will the cowards at the NCAA react to that? NO! College football is in jeopardy of sinking to an all time low for the love of the money, not the love of the game. Whenever anyone mentions a playoff they quickly respond with it would extend the season and jeopardize the education process of the players. Are you kidding me! The season is extended every year with the addition of bowl games and TV contracts. The National Championship game will be played on Monday, January 10th this year. To sum this mess up, money talks and certain schools walk. Its a crock of bullshit and college football fans everywhere are getting tired of it!