Are you ready for some hype?
Super Bowl week kicks off Monday, and prepare for more media coverage than ever before.
What of the matchup between the undefeated New England Patriots and the surging New York Giants?
The teams met in Week 17, when the Patriots pulled out a victory. Since then the wild-card Giants have knocked off three NFC Division champions - Tampa Bay (South), Dallas (East) and Green Bay (North).
The Patriots' pursuit of perfection has included physical victories over Jacksonville and San Diego. They'll find more of the same style of play against the Giants.
The Patroits were installed as double-digit favorites by oddsmakers, but it says here that this could be a very close game.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
U2 ... in 3D
Let's establish one thing - I am an unapologetic fan of U2, and I have been since my teen-age years in the early 1980s.
Thus, I'd waited in great anticipation for the Irish band's 3D movie, U23D. A USA Today review this past week called it "ground-breaking" and went on to say it has raised the ante for concert films.
U23D delivers on the hype.
The movie, basically a series of footage filmed during concerts from the South American leg of the Vertigo tour in early 2006, reveals remarkable detail, particularly the instrument playing. It's well edited and believably presented.
For those who cannot afford to or have been unable to find tickets to see a U2 show, this is an accurate, accessible show. For those of us who have seen them live (five times in my case), the film still provides a new look.
It's well worth whatever your local IMAX theater is charging for it.
Thus, I'd waited in great anticipation for the Irish band's 3D movie, U23D. A USA Today review this past week called it "ground-breaking" and went on to say it has raised the ante for concert films.
U23D delivers on the hype.
The movie, basically a series of footage filmed during concerts from the South American leg of the Vertigo tour in early 2006, reveals remarkable detail, particularly the instrument playing. It's well edited and believably presented.
For those who cannot afford to or have been unable to find tickets to see a U2 show, this is an accurate, accessible show. For those of us who have seen them live (five times in my case), the film still provides a new look.
It's well worth whatever your local IMAX theater is charging for it.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Stanley Cup Playoffs come early
The calendar says it's January, but it could just as well have be April, or more likely - May, at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday.
The intensity of the dislike between the Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings was evident from the start, when a staggering 34 penalty minutes, including two fighting majors, were called during the first period.
The West-leading Red Wings won the game, 2-1, in the sort of fashion that resembled the Stanley Cup playoffs more than a midseason game.
Detroit's puck-possession style of play and overall speed created more scoring chances, and thus more Ducks penalties. Detroit cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play for its first goal and scored its second on an odd-man rush that gained traction when Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin's stick broke.
Why was this a key game? Not only are the Wings way ahead of the field in the West (17 points) at the All-Star break, but the Ducks are gaining ground in the Pacific Division since the return of defenseman Scott Niedermayer.
It's also important to note that both of Anaheim's trips to the Sanley Cup Finals (2003) and (2007) included playoff series victories over Detroit.
The intensity of the dislike between the Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings was evident from the start, when a staggering 34 penalty minutes, including two fighting majors, were called during the first period.
The West-leading Red Wings won the game, 2-1, in the sort of fashion that resembled the Stanley Cup playoffs more than a midseason game.
Detroit's puck-possession style of play and overall speed created more scoring chances, and thus more Ducks penalties. Detroit cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play for its first goal and scored its second on an odd-man rush that gained traction when Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin's stick broke.
Why was this a key game? Not only are the Wings way ahead of the field in the West (17 points) at the All-Star break, but the Ducks are gaining ground in the Pacific Division since the return of defenseman Scott Niedermayer.
It's also important to note that both of Anaheim's trips to the Sanley Cup Finals (2003) and (2007) included playoff series victories over Detroit.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Tale of two title games
Who would have thought Week 2 of the NFL season would provide us a preview of the NFC and AFC Championship games?
But that's the case, and there are four very different storylines going into Sunday's matchups.
In the AFC:
The New England Patriots were widely considered the favorites to win it all entering the season. They've done nothing to change that, going a perfect 16-0 during the regular season and winning the Divisional playoff game against a tough Jacksonville time. Still, there are whispers they can be run on and that the elements and a fierce pass rush can slow their high-flying offense.
Their opponent, the San Diego Chargers, struggled to a 1-3 start, including a Week 2 blowout loss at Foxboro, Mass. The natives were restless, and Coach Norv Turner was in the cross-hairs. After reaching 5-5, they righted the ship, largely on the legs of RB LaDanian Tomlinson and QB Philip Rivers, whom Turner has stated is the key for San Diego going deep in the playoffs. LT and Rivers are ailing going into the AFC Championship, but no one gave the Chargers much of a chance again the defending champion Colts either.
The pick: The Patriots are too tough. I'm not convinced the Chargers can score enough points to overcome them. But it should be a close game.
In the NFC
The New York Giants players were ready to mutiny under "oppressive" Coach Tom Coghlin, or so the stories went heading into the season. An 0-2 start, including a Week 2 loss to the Packers in East Rutherford, N.J., didn't help. However, that Packers game was close until midway through the third quarter, and both of these teams are radically different from September. The Giants have become a cohesive group under Coghlin, Eli Manning is slowly maturing into an upper-echelon quarterback, the multi-headed running game is effectively wearing defenses down and the pass rush is masking a below-average secondary.
Sure Brett Favre has had a Hall of Fame career for the Green Bay Packers, but why come back to a team that was 4-8 at one point last season? More Packers fans were fearful of him tarnishing his legend. Then a funny thing happened. The Packers won four in a row to close 2006. Then they got off to a 10-1 start this season. The real key was the emergence of RB Ryan Grant, obtained from the Giants at the end of preseason for a sixth-round pick, as a balance to what has developed into a dangerous passing attack under the revitalized Favre. Often overlooked: the Packers have a punishing defense of their own.
The pick: The Packers have better personnel at more positions than the Giants, especially at the most important one - quarterback. Homefield advantage in Green Bay cannot be understated. Favre would have to completely implode and Manning would have to play the game of his career for the Giants to win.
But that's the case, and there are four very different storylines going into Sunday's matchups.
In the AFC:
The New England Patriots were widely considered the favorites to win it all entering the season. They've done nothing to change that, going a perfect 16-0 during the regular season and winning the Divisional playoff game against a tough Jacksonville time. Still, there are whispers they can be run on and that the elements and a fierce pass rush can slow their high-flying offense.
Their opponent, the San Diego Chargers, struggled to a 1-3 start, including a Week 2 blowout loss at Foxboro, Mass. The natives were restless, and Coach Norv Turner was in the cross-hairs. After reaching 5-5, they righted the ship, largely on the legs of RB LaDanian Tomlinson and QB Philip Rivers, whom Turner has stated is the key for San Diego going deep in the playoffs. LT and Rivers are ailing going into the AFC Championship, but no one gave the Chargers much of a chance again the defending champion Colts either.
The pick: The Patriots are too tough. I'm not convinced the Chargers can score enough points to overcome them. But it should be a close game.
In the NFC
The New York Giants players were ready to mutiny under "oppressive" Coach Tom Coghlin, or so the stories went heading into the season. An 0-2 start, including a Week 2 loss to the Packers in East Rutherford, N.J., didn't help. However, that Packers game was close until midway through the third quarter, and both of these teams are radically different from September. The Giants have become a cohesive group under Coghlin, Eli Manning is slowly maturing into an upper-echelon quarterback, the multi-headed running game is effectively wearing defenses down and the pass rush is masking a below-average secondary.
Sure Brett Favre has had a Hall of Fame career for the Green Bay Packers, but why come back to a team that was 4-8 at one point last season? More Packers fans were fearful of him tarnishing his legend. Then a funny thing happened. The Packers won four in a row to close 2006. Then they got off to a 10-1 start this season. The real key was the emergence of RB Ryan Grant, obtained from the Giants at the end of preseason for a sixth-round pick, as a balance to what has developed into a dangerous passing attack under the revitalized Favre. Often overlooked: the Packers have a punishing defense of their own.
The pick: The Packers have better personnel at more positions than the Giants, especially at the most important one - quarterback. Homefield advantage in Green Bay cannot be understated. Favre would have to completely implode and Manning would have to play the game of his career for the Giants to win.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
NFL wild-card weekend
A quick peek at questions surrounding this weekend's NFL wild-card games.
Much is made of how hot a team is entering the playoffs, and none is hotter than in the NFC than the Washington Redskins. But can they go into Seattle, one of the more difficult places to play, and knock off the Seahawks? Washington's formula should appear familiar to Redskins fans - run the football and stop the run. Seattle, meanwhile, has adopted a pass-first mentality on offense and features a smallish, though fast, defense.
The New York Giants pay a visit to Tampa Bay, which largely has rested its starters the past two weeks. The Giants played the Patriots tough in Week 17 and have not followed their recent trend of falling apart down the stretch of seasons. The thinking here is the Bucs' fortunes will depend largely on the health of QB Jeff Garcia, and there is not much recent evidence to indicate the wellness of his back. On the flip side, how will Giants QB Eli Manning respond to the Bucs' defense?
The AFC features a pair of rematches, and both should be brutally physical games.
Jacksonville won at Pittsburgh three weeks ago, and many observers expect a repeat. How will injuries affect the Steelers, who have lost two starting LTs and RB Willie Parker since the Jaguars defeated them? The Jags make no secret about how they plan to win again - running the football.
San Diego escaped Tennessee with an overtime victory last month, but a lot of bad blood was stirred up in the process. Four players received fines for their actions in the game. Both teams insisted this week that is behind them. The Chargers seem to be hitting their stride at the right time, having won six in a row. The Titans won four of their final five regular-season games. Tennessee, however, has two big injury concerns (literally): run-stuffing DT Albert Haynesworth and QB Vince Young. How will their status affect this game?
Much is made of how hot a team is entering the playoffs, and none is hotter than in the NFC than the Washington Redskins. But can they go into Seattle, one of the more difficult places to play, and knock off the Seahawks? Washington's formula should appear familiar to Redskins fans - run the football and stop the run. Seattle, meanwhile, has adopted a pass-first mentality on offense and features a smallish, though fast, defense.
The New York Giants pay a visit to Tampa Bay, which largely has rested its starters the past two weeks. The Giants played the Patriots tough in Week 17 and have not followed their recent trend of falling apart down the stretch of seasons. The thinking here is the Bucs' fortunes will depend largely on the health of QB Jeff Garcia, and there is not much recent evidence to indicate the wellness of his back. On the flip side, how will Giants QB Eli Manning respond to the Bucs' defense?
The AFC features a pair of rematches, and both should be brutally physical games.
Jacksonville won at Pittsburgh three weeks ago, and many observers expect a repeat. How will injuries affect the Steelers, who have lost two starting LTs and RB Willie Parker since the Jaguars defeated them? The Jags make no secret about how they plan to win again - running the football.
San Diego escaped Tennessee with an overtime victory last month, but a lot of bad blood was stirred up in the process. Four players received fines for their actions in the game. Both teams insisted this week that is behind them. The Chargers seem to be hitting their stride at the right time, having won six in a row. The Titans won four of their final five regular-season games. Tennessee, however, has two big injury concerns (literally): run-stuffing DT Albert Haynesworth and QB Vince Young. How will their status affect this game?
NHL Winter Classic was just that
The NHL is onto something.
Tuesday's outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Orchard Park, N.Y., home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills was a hit with players, coaches, fans and TV viewers. The game drew the NHL's highest ratings in 12 years, and it was a captivating spectacle for those who tuned in.
Neither snow, sleet or sometimes shaky ice conditions dampened the enthusiasm surrounding the event. I would like to see this become an annual event, possibly replacing the All-Star Game - as ESPN.com's EJ Hradek has suggested.
Based upon the favorable reviews and ratings, I don't think there is any question the Winter Classic will return.
The question is where next? Traditional hockey markets such as Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, New York, Boston, Chicago and Minnesota seem like the most likely candidates. All have pro-quality outdoor venues that could be converted, as Ralph Wilson Stadium was.
The Winter Classic is a great way for hockey to showcase itself while returning to its roots.
Tuesday's outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Orchard Park, N.Y., home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills was a hit with players, coaches, fans and TV viewers. The game drew the NHL's highest ratings in 12 years, and it was a captivating spectacle for those who tuned in.
Neither snow, sleet or sometimes shaky ice conditions dampened the enthusiasm surrounding the event. I would like to see this become an annual event, possibly replacing the All-Star Game - as ESPN.com's EJ Hradek has suggested.
Based upon the favorable reviews and ratings, I don't think there is any question the Winter Classic will return.
The question is where next? Traditional hockey markets such as Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, New York, Boston, Chicago and Minnesota seem like the most likely candidates. All have pro-quality outdoor venues that could be converted, as Ralph Wilson Stadium was.
The Winter Classic is a great way for hockey to showcase itself while returning to its roots.
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