tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post1996578325914717013..comments2023-09-27T11:02:14.264-04:00Comments on YACKETY YAK: A coupla football thoughts...Anonymoustachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-62151559379460590192008-11-21T14:27:00.000-05:002008-11-21T14:27:00.000-05:00I agree with you on the "fan" thing and amen to yo...I agree with you on the "fan" thing and amen to your theory. Just threw it out as a word to denote, "one who supports certain teams with a passion," (a-hem) not to get all semant-icky back at you.<BR/><BR/>But seriously, you're right, fandom can be hateful and it does bleed into society... indeed a topic worthy of a future rant. But just from a football standpoint, I know a fellow bartender who hails from Buffalo who told me it's a police record fact that on nights when the Bill's lose, reports of domestic violence go up markedly. Now that's sick. I can only imagine the police blotter the night kicker Scott Norwood went wide right!<BR/>Later, Man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-6858044612079801672008-11-21T13:48:00.000-05:002008-11-21T13:48:00.000-05:00Dude,That's a great story! I could only dream of h...Dude,<BR/>That's a great story! I could only dream of having a Steeler bar three doors up from me. And you found a civilized one, no less---I've seen more than my share of fans that I could do without when watching a game. <BR/>BTW, not to get all semantic on you but I don't consider myself a fan of anything---I have teams that I support with passion, but I associate 'fan' with people who get irrational and lose objectivity. I have this theory that the bleeding over of the 'fan mentality' into all aspects of life is a major cause of the deep social and political divide we see in this country---but that's another rant for another day.<BR/>Anyway, back to the Steelers---since I get to see almost only the nationally telecast Steeler games, I haven't seen that much of Russell. When you say he's got Jerome potential, now I'm getting my hopes up. We already have Moore who, in my estimation, is somewhere between a Westbrook and a Meggett. He is a great change of pace from a bruiser and can break a game wide open with one run. Parker himself was kinda like that to Bettis, right? Of course, the bruiser is what we don't have---or so I thought. If Russell can be a mainstream bruiser back, I will reassess (upwardly) my hopes for this season.<BR/>Many thanks for the update.Anonymoustachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-30532059898170298942008-11-21T12:20:00.000-05:002008-11-21T12:20:00.000-05:00Anonymoustache:I did see the game and yes, they di...Anonymoustache:<BR/>I did see the game and yes, they did give it to Russell as we'd advised. And not just near the goal line which you saw on the highlights where he scored, but on a fourth and short during the drive which he got with pure power through initial contact. He also made some tackles on special teams, and returned a kick on special teams that got us to mid-field by flat out running over a (forgive me for this) "would be tackler". The man really earned his paycheck last night but I wish they'd give him even more because I swear this guy really can do it all. One thing I know for sure, besides him being a potential Jerome to eat up the clock in the final minutes of a game, he'd be a lethal threat with the dump-off out in the flat. He has surprising speed to go with that power and desire. <BR/><BR/>But all in all, after a sluggish start, (which I'm sure you heard), it was a damn good win after all was said and done, and after only three lousy days rest. Ben was most efficient, no picks, and is looking more and more like his old (young?) self. Now it's nine days rest to get even healthier and that's the only fucking upside to a Thursday night game.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, I have to share something here which as a Steeler fan I think you'll enjoy...<BR/><BR/> I don't work on Thursday nights which means I did have the opportunity to go to a bar and catch last night's game. (Again, fuck you NFL Network!) But I also thought, damn, this is the Bengals and we're the Steelers with the no.1 defense in the league... is this really worth a mid-week hangover? But ah, at 8:15 the primal call echoed across time and space and rang into my undecided psyche... "Here we go, Steelers, here we go!" <BR/><BR/>So there I went.<BR/><BR/>In two minutes flat I had exited my apartment, was down onto Second Avenue and there, (I shit you not) what to my wondering eyes should appear just three doors up from my building, in front of a relatively new drinking establishment? Just a twelve-foot inflated Pittsburgh Steeler, that's all. I repeat, "three doors up"... a goddam black and Gold blow-up doll. (What the fuck?) <BR/><BR/>It turns out it's been a Steeler bar all this year and I never paid attention since I head the other direction to watch the games. And what a find! It was a civilized, not-packed-to-the-gills-sound-cranked-way-up-pep rally from hell. Just a great joint with, (in addition to "normal" people), about twenty or so intelligent, well-behaved Steeler fans. And, AND, get this... comely waitresses all wearing skin tight Steeler t-shirts. Fucking ridiculous, right? And I was gonna stay home and be (to steal your great word) the epitome of "pussification".<BR/><BR/>I met the guy and his wife who donated the blow-up mascot and who are pretty much responsible for turning the place initially into a Steelers bar. They couldn't have been nicer and more fun to be with and they'll be visiting me Behind the Stick tonight. Good stuff, huh? <BR/><BR/>And more good news (hey, ya' learn somethin' every day). I learned you can actually watch a football game on Thursday fuckimg night without appreciably bumping the value of Jack Daniels stock. I don't feel any worse for the wear today.<BR/><BR/>And finally, in closing (and I shit you not on this one this one as well), as Polamalu intercepted at the very end of the game... wild hair flying, feet going like pistons changing directions at least six times, actually trying to return the fucker the full ninety yards to make up for that heinous theft of last Sunday's finish... I stepped out into the cold New York air and what do I hear behind me back inside? A ringing, triumphant chant of, "HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!" <BR/>It doesn't get any better in the regular season...<BR/>Best,<BR/>Scribbler50Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-22044731158286824092008-11-21T07:32:00.000-05:002008-11-21T07:32:00.000-05:00Scribbler50:I notice that they did give it to Russ...Scribbler50:<BR/>I notice that they did give it to Russell at the goal-line. Gotta love it. Wish I could've seen the game.Anonymoustachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-75064793398929683702008-11-19T13:13:00.000-05:002008-11-19T13:13:00.000-05:00Scribbler50:Good point about the refs paying the S...Scribbler50:<BR/>Good point about the refs paying the Steelers back for protesting the pussification of the game. Unprovable, but I'd tend to agree that there was some of that going on too.<BR/>BTW, penalizing players post-game for tackles that weren't penalized during the game is total fucking bullshit. It's one thing if you noticed that one guy was crushing another's stones or gouging out his eye when the ref wasn't looking---but for a play like a tackle, either call it then or just STFU.<BR/>Also, as re "this shit every week makes ya' wonder", I just think that the quality of refereeing has just gone down. <BR/>Agreed re Russell. The only way Moore should get it at the goalline is if they throw a pass to the flat. Although why you'd do that at the goalline is beyond me---it's just begging for a pick-6. Or you could give it to anyone and ask James Harrison to play fullback---he'll clear a path. The fucker is a beast (Silverback is a great nickname) and I'm so fucking glad he's on our side.<BR/>If, after what happened to Philly last week and the Bangles flapping their gums all week at Hines, the Steelers have a letdown then they don't deserve to go to the playoffs.<BR/>Finally, the NFL has begun its official slide from being the top dog of sports with steps like the NFL network games, taking MNF off network etc. The NFL is still way ahead of other sports but these moves are stupid. I think they'll end up losing a lot more if they keep this shit up than the few extra dimes they get in the short-term. I hate the Thursday night game concept anyway---the NFL network deal only pisses me off even more.Anonymoustachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-33334635502068133072008-11-19T11:52:00.000-05:002008-11-19T11:52:00.000-05:00As for your kid gloves theory about let's coddle t...As for your kid gloves theory about let's coddle the Chargers since Frank and Jesse in stripes almost ruined their season, I think you have a valid (albeit unprovable) point. There does seem to be a "Jesus Christ, we owe these guys" group-think going on. But what about the other side of the ball last Sunday? What the fuck was the group-think going on there? Was it, "Jesus Christ, we owe these guys too", for all their public denouncement (by Troy, Hines and Silver Back to name just three) shouting for the world to hear, "Can we take off our fucking tu-tu's and just play football?"<BR/><BR/>The Steelers were tagged 13 times for 115 yards. The Chargers... 1 time for 5 fucking yards. C'mon!!!<BR/><BR/>James Harrison (aforementioned Silver Back and NFL player of the week, by the way) was held on almost every other play. Not one call. And that's just the beginning. Just like your kid glove theory, I can't prove mine either nor like you do I think there's a co-ordinated striped cabal afoot, but damn, this shit every week makes ya' wonder.<BR/><BR/>And unrelated to the above... can we give the ball to Garry Russell from now on when it's third and goal from the one? No offense to Moore but we might not see a ping pong ball returned across the line of scrimmage. AND.. most important, let's not have a let-down tomorrow against the "on any given Thursday" Cincinnati Bengals. (Fuck the fan-robbing NFL Network!)<BR/>Best,<BR/>Scribbler50Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-63609828251372371832008-11-18T22:53:00.000-05:002008-11-18T22:53:00.000-05:00CPP,Sure. And yes, football has almost always been...CPP,<BR/>Sure. And yes, football has almost always been played successfully at the lines---both lines. Which is why even a mediocre fucking douchebag like eli manning, having a killer o-line and RBs and a murderous d-line, is probably gonna end up as a multiple SB winner (this was going to be my rant in the next post by BTW).<BR/>But anyway, how is SD's line so dramatically different/inferior from previous years? It's worth noting also that Rivers' completion % and rating is as good as it has been. <BR/>Sure, on def Merriman is hurt, but come on! Titans have been playing without VandenBosch for weeks now. <BR/><BR/>Aside--I think SD's defensive problems started back when they let the (aging but still good) great LB and tackling machine called Donnie Edwards go, not when Merriman got hurt.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, Fisher does have great linemen, but he manages to get more out of a team than most coaches I have seen.<BR/><BR/>Norv Turner is a good OC under the appropriate head coach. As a head coach himself, he is a fucking disaster. Just like Wannstedt. And Martz. And, well, you get the idea.<BR/><BR/>Pittsburgh also has its share of O-line blues, as well as RB problems, this year. Still, they're managing to keep their heads above water while playing a brutal schedule. SD has the same kind of talent-- possibly better at key positions-- play in a really weak division and yet are 4 and 6.<BR/><BR/>Norv Turner would put adrenaline to sleep, that is all. He is such a huge wet blanket that if they walked him out a bit away from the coast he may be able to put out the wildfires all by himself.Anonymoustachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127790092879080620.post-18143224813653788472008-11-18T22:48:00.000-05:002008-11-18T22:48:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoustachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087423180514517335noreply@blogger.com