Deflategate: Simply Deja Vu For The Pats

It appears the New England Patriots have been in the negative spotlight for the past thirteen seasons. None of those seem more monumental than Deflategate currently.

It seems everyday since the AFC championship, new evidence and information has surfaced resolving this entire scandal. There are so many that want to see the Patriots buried. They have become the villain overtime.

This NFL team out of Foxborough, MA has at least six such incidents to their credit since 2002, most notably Spygate and the changing of the Tuck Rule. It's either the Patriots aren't learning or someone is out to get them, and their quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Bellichick.

Also, the NFL doesn't plan on any punishment until after the Super Bowl. Right now all that will appear to happen are fines and loss of draft picks. It doesn't seem long ago where the New Orleans Saints were torn apart in Bountygate and head coach Sean Payton was gone for a year. However the evidence was clearer.

The questions still remain: why does this keep happening to the Patriots? Also, will it end? Either the Pats have to clear their name forever, or face the consequences.

I am not taking a side as the evidence, while strong, isn't strong enough to doom them yet. I do know it has taken away from their ability to focus on their Super Bowl opponent: the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. Also, the public and the NFL fans need to know if this simply a constant stunt by the media to keep the Patriots relevant, to say that they can't win legitimately. Time will tell.

Do you think the Patriots were knowingly involved in Deflategate? How does New England keep their image clean moving forward?

Rivalries Can Actually Be Healthy

This is Super Bowl week, culminating with Super Sunday. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks should be a classic matchup.

Old school football fans remember when these two teams used to face each other regularly as part of the old AFC West before Seattle moved to the NFC. It was a bit of a rivalry, including all star players such as John Elway, Steve Largent and Cortez Kennedy, among others.

Rivalries can get heated, especially for the super competitive folks. However, they extend beyond sports, and can actually be good for overall competition, fan bases, and obviously business.

SPORTS:

Two of the best rivalries in all of sports are the New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox in baseball and the North Carolina Tarheels/Duke Blue Devils in college basketball. Both of these rivalries are intense, have lots of history, and the games often have championship implications. The same can be said for Auburn/Alabama and Ohio State/Michigan in college football, The New York Knicks/Boston Celtics in the NBA, and many others. You live for the days when these types of teams play each other.  Often houses, and even families,  are temporarily divided depending upon the magnitude of the games and fan bases. 

BUSINESS

There are also rivals in the business world.  Some notable ones are Google/Apple, Xbox/Playstation, Ford/Chevrolet, Nike/Reebok, and McDonalds/Burger King. It can get intense in these respective boardrooms as the executives and marketing teams want to stay ahead of their counterparts.  Like any other rivalry, it's almost natural to pick a side.

ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRITIES

There will always be certain yings and yangs in this realm. It became extreme and fatal in the 90s with Tupac and Biggie. Some rivalries that have been lesss fatal include Beyoncé/Rihanna, Michael Jackson/Prince, Adam Sandler/Ben Stiller, AC/DC/Metallica, Jay-Z/Nas, and even networks such as CBS/NBC/ABC, MSNBC/FOX news, and soap operas such as The Young and The Restless/All My Children. 

Paraphrasing a line from the movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby", having a good competitor can make you better. Katie Couric needs Diane Sawyer, the Today Show needs The Early Show, The View needs The Talk, American Idol needs The Voice. George Lucas needs Peter Jackson. LeBron James needs Kobe Bryant. Jimmie Johnson needs Matt Kenseth. The Beatles needed The Rolling Stones. The list goes on and on.

A friendly rivalry is usually fun and not hate filled. You want to be on your game and do your best. This rival can often be your greatest motivator. You compare each other constantly, always striving to do better.

So as you tune into the Super Bowl this weekend, remember that the game imitates life in many ways. We all want to be on the biggest stage of our careers or passions, and it always feels better to win.

2013 NFL Preview

The first preseason game of the NFL season, the Hall of Fame game, is now in the books. Training camp is in full effect, and the NFL is almost back.

Personally I don't pay much attention to preseason games except for fantasy purposes. I feel they are boring since the starters don't play much until the final preseason matchup.

Now how do you think your favorite team will fare? Here's a preview thus far on the best, rest, and the worst.

BEST:

It appears the NFC still has the superior talent,  although Baltimore is the defending champs. The 49ers, Falcons, Patriots and the Broncos are the superior teams currently. The entire AFC South minus the Jaguars is worthy of notice, as are the Bengals, Seahawks, Redskins and Packers.

THE REST:

It appears we have several teams that are sleepers or question marks. These include the Giants, Panthers, Saints, Vikings, Lions, Jets, and Chargers. You cannot leave out the aforementioned Ravens.  They have lost key pieces of their defense, including Ray Lewis. Many of these teams' successes will rely heavily on their QB play. The Jets have quite a tussle for QB. The Lions will need to fit Reggie Bush into their system with Stafford and Megatron.

WORST:

The Chiefs and the Jaguars will continue to struggle this year. The Browns, Raiders and Cardinals will be improved, but aren't expected to make any noise. Miami needs to rediscover a running game, Dallas has lots of adjustments to make, and St. Louis may be a year or two away. By mid-season, it will be clear who has given up and is playing for the chance to have Clowney in 2014.

I didn't mention every team, but the ones of particular note. May the 2013 season be an enjoyable one. I can't wait for it all to begin for real!

Super Bowl Time Once Again

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial holiday in America. Regardless of which two teams are playing, over 80% of Americans will have their eyes glued to a TV somewhere. This could be in their homes, a bar, or at a house party. Whether be the game, the commercials, or the halftime show, the Super Bowl is the most watched event of the year.

This “Super Sunday” has even become just as commercialized as any other holiday. Beer, pizza, potato chips, and chicken wing places are looking for a big payday, not to mention grocery stores and  local bars and lounges. Thousands of folks already have the day after scheduled off from work.

I have a love/hate relationship not with the Super Bowl, but Super Bowl parties and gatherings. I love, love football, and watching the Super Bowl is the pinnacle for me. However, certain parties annoy me at times. I don't drink, so there is often too much alcohol available and not enough regular drinks. Also, they might not have the type of food you want at a party, or charge a ridiculous price for a small portion of food. Also, this is the ONLY football game that many fans watch all year. When the party is held at a club, it can be even rougher. It's impossible to hear the game and commercials, let alone watch it. All of these people are asking dumb questions and saying obnoxious things during the game, and cheering loudly. I just want to watch the game, minus the interruptions. 

Furthermore, ladies, this is not the time for a fashion show. Leave the stilettos, leather pants, and thongs at home. Wear a T-shirt, a football jersey and some blue jeans. It's not that we don't appreciate the effort you put into looking sexy; it’s that our focus as men (and often hardcore football fans) is the game itself. Don't worry ladies, the game usually ends by 11pm.

Personally, I prefer being either by myself or with a small number of people, eating pizza, wings, cheese dip and chips and enjoying the game in peace. I will attend a Super Bowl party if it’s absolutely astounding. However, it’s hard to keep my attention off the game itself.

 

Perhaps I will simply throw a Super Bowl cookout in the near future with two viewing areas: one for everyone, another for the hardcore fans. Seems like a happy medium.

 

Have fun this Super Bowl Sunday and be safe!

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