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!

The Sports Gripe - What Ticked Me Off In 2010.

I have neglected The Sports Gripe for most of 2010, but not for 2011. I am just really ticked off at what's going on in sports and it's time to vent. Here are the top 5 things that pissed me off the most for 2010.

5. The self proclaimed "King" of the NBA LeBron James turned tail on the people of Cleveland as well as the team ownership when he made his grand announcement that he was signing with the Miami Heat for this season. James "The Jester" made his announcement in front of elementary school kids in New York which was a kick in the nuts to the Knicks and Nets as well. What really makes me sick is LeBron or should I say "LaBone" never even spoke to the Cav's owner to thank him for many great seasons and that he had decided to go with the Heat. What a bush league move.

4. The NFL has struck out against players leading with their helmets and giving head shots on tackles. The No Fun League is dishing out fines like Thom Greco dishing out grub at the soup kitchen. These fines have been particularly large when a quarterback is hit hard anywhere...period. This really ticks me off! Why do they wear helmets in the first place? Maybe to protect their heads? What a concept. As for the QB's, lets just put skirts on them along with some panties. All I have to say is what a bunch of babies. Pa Governor Ed Rendell is right, we are whipifying America.

3. It's not too hard to be mad at NCAA Football and especially the BCS. Once again this year they have showed their inability to rank teams correctly and to also match good teams together in the major bowl games. A great example of this is the Fiesta Bowl which pits Oklahoma against a hapless U-Conn team. Oklahoma is a 17 point favorite. This should never happen. Also, on New Years Day we have two 7-5 teams in Florida and Penn St. playing in the Outback Bowl. Why do two 7-5 teams deserve to play on January 1st? The answer is they don't. Boise St was 11-1 and they got exiled to playing on December 22nd in The MAACO Las Vegas bowl. It has become a joke at this point.

2. It was a very difficult decision as to who would be #1 for this year. There were two NFL players that just really sent me into an outrage and I had to decide who would be #1. Well, at #2 is Michael "Woof, Woof" Vick. This guy brutalizes dogs, comes back to football and is now being considered for the MVP. Are you freaking kidding me! I know many of you will say he did his time...to that I say FU! There is not enough time for what this clown did. He makes me sick. Instead of jail time they should have let a Pit Bull chew his nuts off! The thing that sickens me more is the ignorant Eagles fans took him right in. Kinda like a lost dog. WOOF, WOOF!

1. And of course our #1 is......BRETT FAVRE! Say it...BRETT FAVRE! This stooge has made a total laughing stock out of himself with his faux retirements. He claims this year is his last. RIGHT! He will bone the Vikings just like he did the Packers and Jets. It was good to see him pile driven to the turf by the Bears defense. Speaking of boned, he was just fined $50,000 for not fessing up to sexually harassing Jets employee Jen Sterger (seen on left). He allegedly sent her pictures of his wienie amongst other things. As you can see by the picture of this chick, you would send her pictures of your wienie as well. Next year I expect him to be wearing the silver and black of The R-A-I-D-E-R-S. By the way, fans of The Gripes were over at Chacko's Family Bowling Center on Tuesday night and NBC showed BRETT FAVRE 60 plus times throughout a game he did not play. Shame on NBC Sports. You make me sick!

There you have it, the 5 top things that sent me into an outrage for 2010 in sports. I know some of you are wondering why I did not include that senile old bastard Joe Paterno. Believe me, I will be lambasting him in 2011. By the way, I heard an interview with him yesterday on ESPN Radio and he could not even put a complete sentence together. More to come on JoePa.

The Gutless NCAA

Just last week, the NCAA powers to be showed exactly how gutless they were when they suspended 5 Ohio State players for selling sports memorabilia and taking discounts on tattoo's. Star Quarterback Terrelle Pryor and 4 other players were suspended for the first 5 games of next year. The Buckeye thugs sold Big 10 Championship rings and treasured "Gold Pants" pins as well as other items. I applaud the NCAA for actually handing down suspensions, however why were they not suspended for this years Sugar Bowl game on January 4th against Arkansas. I'll tell you why, because TV ratings would be down and the NCAA would lose precious dollars. If Pryor didn't play, Arkansas would win by 20 in a blow out. Instead the yellow bellied NCAA people suspend them for the first 5 games of next year which are against the Akron Zips, The Toledo Rockets, The Miami Hurricanes, The Colorado Buffalo's and The Michigan St Spartans. Not a real powerhouse of a first 5 games. Michigan State should be the only competition for the first half of their season. My guess is that Terrelle Pryor will somehow find his way back into the line up for that game.

The other problem that I have with this entire thing is don't all of these items that the players sold actually belong to them? Just because these guys have no dedication or allegiance to their team doesn't mean they can't sell these items to pay for a few tat's. However, the NCAA rules are clear and for now it is a violation. Maybe the NCAA needs to take a look at these types of things and rethink their rules a bit. Shit, they have the dumbest rule in all of sports. If a players knee touches the ground even if he has not been hit by an opponent, he is down and they play is over. Several times this year I saw a punter go down for a low snap and his knee hit the ground. By rule, he is down and the other team gets the ball. It is just plain stupid.

Anyway, a thug is always a thug and we see rules violations all of the time. Look at Reggie Bush. Christ, it took the NCAA 5 years to hand down a ruling on Bush. By the time they made him give his Heisman back he really didn't give a crap because he was making millions in the NFL and still is. Speaking of the Heisman, an NCAA rules violator, Cam Newton won that award this year. The most prestigious award in college sports has become a total joke. Cam's father solicited bribes from people for the services of his son. That is a total violation of then rules and it was swept under the NCAA carpet. It appears that the NCAA has a closet full of brooms as well as some skeletons.

Brett Favre

It has been some time that I posted up a sports Gripe. Believe me, I have had many but time was not on my side as the Rolling Stones would say. Anyway, I am going to make time for 2011 and Gripe the hell out of what's going on in sports and there is no better way to start up than with our old pal....BRETT FAVRE. Say it...BRETT FAVRE! This once worshiped football god in Green Bay has quickly gone from hero to zero. To recap his sored history, you have to go back to 2007 when he hung The Pack out to dry because he couldn't decide whether he wanted to retire or not. The folks in Packer land gave him a deadline and then told him to take a hike. Big Brett was then traded to the Jets after a brief retirement. J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! He played for the Jets for a short time and then retired again. Retire you say! NO! He then signed with the Vikings and is there as we speak, Kinda! Not that this was enough, while with the Jets, Photo Favre allegedly sent racy pictures of himself to a Jets Game Hostess. The NFL has been investigating this for over two months now. Anyway, last year Favre led the Vikes to the NFC Championship game only to throw an interception near the end of the game which sealed it for the Saints. At this time, we all thought, he has got to retire now. NO, he goes into the possible retirement mode over the off season and can't make up his mind. So just before preseason training, the Vikings send a few players down to Favre's compound in Mississippi to beg the QB to come back. After preseason training is over, Favre decides that he is coming back and is quickly made the starting QB. That must have really pissed Tavaris Jackson off. Anyway, he struggled through the 2010 season with elbow tendinitis, broken foot bones, a lacerated chin and now a bum shoulder. On December 1st after getting totally pummeled into the turf the previous night, Favre told reporters, " I am done, I am done". I can tell you this much, stick a fork in me because I am done with BRET FAVRE. Say it, BRETT FAVRE! Good riddance to him. What a joke he has become. I guess some guys just don't know when to quit or should I say retire. Next year I expect him to be suited up for the Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.

The NFL - The New Felon League

The National Football League is on the verge of having to change it's name due to the antic's of it's current and past players. The new name will be The New Felon League. The latest felony charges are currently being placed on ex New York Giant Linebacker Lawrence Taylor. LT as he was known by in his playing days is being charged with the 3rd degree rape of a 15 years old girl. Now it has to be known that the girl was a runaway who was being controlled by a pimp, not that that should make a difference. C'mon LT, didn't you know she was 15 years old? Yea, yea, we all know she looked like she was 21! Also, the girl was also allegedly beaten during the rape. LT must have thought she was a Dallas Cowboy quarterback! This is nothing new for Taylor. LT, a football icon and one of the NFL's greatest defensive players, has a history of drug abuse and other run-ins with the law. He has tested positive for cocaine several times during his NFL career and has been arrested for buying cocaine from undercover police officers. Of course, he is in the NFL Hall Of Fame. What great character this guy has! By the way, Lawrence Taylor's wife said it was a "set up". I think he was all hopped up on coke and wanted to get a little "piece".

Speaking of "set ups", let's talk about one of the current New Felony League superstars. Of course that would be Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben as he is called has "gotten off" on his second sexual assault charge in 2 years. I use the words "gotten off" because he did in more ways than one and the girls did not. Anyway, here is what the victim reported to police on Big Bens latest night club endeavor. Upon arrival at the nightclub, the accuser claims her arm was grabbed by one of Roethlisberger's staff. The person grabbing her arm has apparently been one of the NFL-player's hired bodyguards. Telling the accuser to "sit on a stool", the bodyguard then disappeared out of the room. After a period of time, Roethlisberger allegedly came into the room and, after having zipped down his pants, exposed himself to the young lady. (She then changed his knickname to "Little Ben") At this point, she claims that she told him that "it wasn't OK". At this point in time, the accuser tried to leave through a nearby door. The door was not an exit, however, and would have led the woman into a restroom. She apparently repeated her previous statement, "it was not OK," a number of times before Roethlisberger is alleged to have had sex with her. In the end, she states that Roethlisberger "then left without saying anything. At least he didn't roll over and go to sleep. He does that on the football field.

I have to say, the NFL needs to really clamp down on these guys before they become the NBA. The list of players with murder, rape, assault, spousal abuse and DUI's is like a smorgasbord of crime. What the hell are these guys doing? They have the world by the short hairs. They make tons of money, they have lots of fame and they play a game they love. I don't get it? Then again, maybe these are the reasons that they think they are above the law. The New Felon League could be the new name of the league soon unless these guys live up to the expectations that fans, ownership and other players have for them.