I took my mom on a date this morning. See, the original plan was to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I even made her watch Knocked Up last night so that she would (hopefully) fall in love with the characters; or at the very least be somewhat familiar with them.
I get up early this morning to go, because duh! AMC Theatre has $5.00 movies before noon, and I decide to look up what time the movie is playing. About that time I see 10,000 B.C. is showing as well and we had been wanting to see that.
Guess where we ended up? I guess it's okay, though. I mean, no matter how close my mom and I are, there's still a little part of me that would be weirded out staring at a giant penis in my face for half a movie.
So, we watched Steven Strait and swooned over him as the chivalrous male. <3 Can I just say now that I've loved him (aka had the hots for him) since Sky High? Moving on.
10,000 B.C. is about a prehistoric man walking to the "ends of the Earth" to save the woman he loves, and other members of his clan. Don't kid yourself, though, it's ALL about the girl.
It starts out really slow and I was kicking myself for not seeing Sarah Marshall but just then it picked up and I found that I actually cared whether or not D'Leh (Strait's character) succeeded. The acting was so-so. The accents were horrid in most cases. The action scenes were pretty good and the dynamics between the characters completely won me over.
Overall - 4 squees. I can't award anything less for a movie where all the guys spend their time shirtless. =)
In 1996, the Cleveland Browns ceased to exist. No more did my favorite team exist. For a lot of Ohio sports fans, a gap now existed. The various teams from around the region got their pull, as young people turned to the Steelers and the Bengals. For some of us, the idea of turning to the lesser Ohio team and the arch-rival Steelers was upsetting. So I was forced to turn to other teams. I enjoyed watching the Oakland Raiders, but Jeff George always made me gag just a bit. Miami was popular with a lot of people. but I never jumped on that bandwagon. That left one team that interested me above the others, the Houston Oilers. The Oilers, despite being an in-division opponent to my Browns in the AFC Central, became the team I latched on to, despite watching them move to Tennessee and becoming the Titans. While I felt slightly hypocritical for rooting for a team that relocated, I couldn't help it. The man responsible? Eddie George.
Eddie George played for The Ohio State University, and like anyone who grew up in Columbus, I was a huge fan of
The McNair-George Combo became for me much like the Rice-Montana, Manning-Wayne, Aikman-Smith combo's that so wowed people in the 80's 90's and 00's. I could not think of one without the other. And watching them blaze through the late 90's was one heck of an experience. McNair as the always physical warrior, and George the plowman. They weren't the most exciting combo on the field, they could never match the Air Coryell's, the Greatest Show on Turf or the New England Spread, but the McNair-George combo got it done. And I loved it. Watching physical, smashmouth football was what I enjoyed most of all, and Steve McNair and Eddie George dolled it out. But now, with last week's retirement by the Raven (booo) Steve McNair, the duo has ended. Even in Baltimore, that despised team, I wanted George to do well. Although I wanted his team to be awful, I always hoped he would get another shot at a ring. And ever since the Titans locked McNair out of their facilities and summarily dumped the man who had given so much swet and blood for his team, I have despised Tenneessee.
So now, as McNair rides off into the sunset with 30,000+ passing yards, and over 3 thousand rushing yards, the most physical QB to have played the game will no longer grace the field. It was for the best, as he put it himself, his body couldn't take it. So I wish him the best of luck, and hope one day to see a bust of Steve McNair in the halls of Canton.
Thank you, Will Smith, for a monumental waste of my life. Normally, I enjoy Will Smith's movies and he's pretty much the main reason why I wanted to see this one. My instincts were screaming at me to back away slowly, nay, to run away as fast as possible. Did I listen; you ask? Pfft... do I ever?
Sorry if I am about to ruin this for you but let me just tell you, they make a huge deal through the first half of the movie about this bond he has with Sam (his dog) and then he kills the dog. I understand the reasoning behind it but still, don't get me attached to the dog and then kill him off. That's rude.
Next, Will dies. He was being all noble (as Will Smith is apt to do) but still, really 100% necessary? He finds a cure and then blows himself up. How lovely.
Really the only parts of the movie I liked were the parts when Will sings "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and then tells the story about him to the chick. Other than that, I'd be insanely happy to have that 2 hours of my life back to watch something worth my time.
Overall - 1 squee. It's Will Smith. <3
As much as I worship and adore Dane Cook, I was just not impressed so much with this movie. I mean, it has its cute parts and all, but most movies do. I just feel that it could have been better. The storyline was pretty boring; Guys wife dies, he hasn't found anyone worth loving, guy meets girl, she's special, he falls in love, girl ends up being guys brother's girlfriend. It's one that anyone with half a brain cell could have seen coming.
All that being said, Dane Cook did his best. He's not an actor and so the fact that he could carry this off even remotely was pretty fantastic. I thought the middle daughter was overly dramatic and irritating and the girl (Dane's girlfriend/Dan's infatuation) could have been prettier (my shallowness shines through).
All in all, I give it 3 squees because Dan Cook was a hot bitch in it and he punched Dan in the face and blackened his eye. That, in itself is enough reason to rent a movie.
Been a while, I appologize. But lets jump right into the meat of the discussion, the NFL Draft. I'm going to avoid doing mocks, or giving generalizations, but instead I'll try to look at some of the sub top-15 prospects, and give my take on how they played, their strengths and weaknesses, and where they may end up going (and how they may end up doing). I'm going to start with one Felix Jones, runningback, Arkansas. Jones sat behind Darren McFadden on the depth chart for two seasons, but put up impressive numbers. He has had over 1,150 yards two seasons running. However, he has only carried the ball 387 times in his career. Two running backs put up the same number of rushing attempts this season in college football (Ray Rice and Kevin Smith), in fact over 120 runningbacks had more carries this season than Jones. Even in the NFL, a prototypical split-back like Julius Jones had 46 more carries this season than Jones.
With that being said, Felix Jones is no slouch. His nearly 3,000 yards as a backup is impressive, and Jones also returned kicks and punts, a demanding activity. With the return success of Maurice Jones Drew (another <6'0'' <210 lbs running back), its likely that Jones will get some views in returning kicks on the next level. Jones has also shown his stride to be great, he's able to really put the speed on when he needs it and use what height he has coming out of the pile. That being said, he needs to show he get hit and come back from it. He played in the SEC, which is a bonus, but he played in the Wild Hogs formation where he wasn't even the most focused target. He bounces off tackles rather than plowing through them, and makes a better outside guy than inside guy.
Jones impressed with a solid 4.47 40' and a great 20' drill. I think Jones will be a change of pace back, and if he can prove that he can catch in the NFL, a 3rd down back. Like Reggie Bush, and Adrian Peterson, Jones runs upright a lot. He has a whole lot of power coming from his legs and can move like lightning in the open field. But in the redzone or against tough front sevens, I think he will have problems. Jones will not be drafted to be a primary back, but he will probably be drafted 2nd-3rd round, maybe the first if a team like Dallas really wants him. Dallas would be fine to pair him up with Barber, especially given Dallas' plethora of picks and lack of need. A team like St. Louis or Kansas City could use him as well, as both teams need to lighten the load on their primary runner (who is a between the tackles guy). Unfortunately for both teams, they have more important needs, and secondary runners can be found in the later rounds.
My prediction is that Jones goes to Dallas, either in the late first, or early second. He will probably play out 4 years or so in Dallas, possibly earning the starting spot. But I do not think he will be able to lead a team in carries, at least not for a long time. Whever he goes, he will add an excellent special teams boost and a great split-back situational guy.
There we sat, a world of fans and football watches, casual observers and die hards alike. It was a moment of silence, a single moment in history when we knew not what to say. Tom Brady, hero of a hundred games and MVP, stepped back, and lobbed it deep. Here and now, the hail marry to end it all. It was simple, these were the Patriots. Moss was going to catch it, shake a safety and trot into the endzone. The cannons would sound, the confetti would fall and the champions would revel. It was all planned out, the hats were ready, the books printed the papers fresh off the press. It was all as was ordained. The Perfect Patriots, the champions of the world, the heroes of the NFL universe. We all were to bask in the perfection of their season. The perfect franchise, the greatest dynasty.
And then something happened, the ball fell to the ground, no flag, no mystery calls. Silence, for just a moment. New England was defeated, the monster lay slain. As one second ticked off, and then back on, the clock, the game ended. Three fourth quarter changes in the lead, one amazing helmet-pinned catch. Like the Tackle, and the Catch, this moment is forever. Eli Manning dropping back, the pressure, the pass the catch. It wasn't a touchdown, it wasn't the last play of the game, but it was symbolic of everything that happened this Sunday. It was improbable, impossible and no one believed it happened. I was on my feet, floored. And there you have it, 17-14, the Giants win. You'll hear the lamentations for a hundred years, and you'll remember that catch forever. But what does it mean?
18 and Done
No other Super Bowl, and no other team, seemed to be as ordained as this Patriots team was. From the brutal
Tom Brady holds the record for most touchdowns in a season by a quarterback. He is the youngest ever back to reach four Super Bowls, and until Sunday, he was the youngest ever Quarterback to win four Super Bowls. Randy Moss stood triumphant over Jerry Rice's 22 touchdowns, cruising his way to immortality as the man who made the Patriots perfect. Even the 'scrappy-do' of the Patriots, Wes Welker, whose amazing 11 catches tied a Super Bowl record, was ordained to become great. But then it all faded away. Perhaps it was karma, because the Patriots broke the rules. Maybe it was fate, because nothing perfect was built to last, who knows. Was this the Tower of football Babel? Did the gods of football strike down those impudent men, seeking to reach the unseen heights of perfection? They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Well, perhaps the road to failure this season was paved with perfection.
Now this season stands as a lament, a forgotten song. 19-0 is gone forever. The most potent offense in the history of football, stronger than the Browns of the 50's, more powerful than the Cowboys of the 90's or the Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis, this New England team was unstoppable. Moss was amazing, and when you shut him down, Stallworth stepped up. When neither was there, Wes Welker appeared to be a safety valve. We fans got to see one of the greatest teams in the history of sports play. Every pass was perfect, every down used and treasured. Brady's long list of accomplishments was dotted with perhaps the most perfect performance in playoff history, when against the Jaguars brutal defense he went 26 of 28 for three touchdowns and 262 yards. Lawrence Maroney appeared out of no where to give the Pats a run game, and suddenly, in the cold and in the 4th quarter and when it mattered most, the Patriots re-emerged into their traditional, no-nonsense self. And then, to finalize their season, they came up short. Perfection was just inches away, and they missed it. Back to Tantalus, stuck between the Super Bowl and perfection, both pulled away once more. Does the season end without meaning? In some ways, yes. 18-1 is nothing, not if that -1 came when it mattered most. But this season was amazing for the Patriots. let us not deny that this game was an upset. This New England team was the strongest team I have ever seen. But even the strongest team, can fail, that is why we watch the sport.
David slays Goliath
The Band is on the Field, the Kick is Good, the game is over. Victory, over defeat. The scrappy band of nobodies upset the giants. It's so sweet it could be a movie. But what does it mean? Beyond capping a miracle 11-road win season in which the Giants, picked by certain bloggers to not even make the post season and loose their head coach in the offseason, reached the Super Bowl, this game was it. This game was the Miracle on Ice, where the West beat the East, where the Giant fell and the little team that could managed to shock the world. This is why we watch the game, to see the unbelievable, the unexpected, and the amazing. Like Iron Mike Tyson going down, and the Titans coming up short, this ending was one for a lifetime. The Giants will be remembered not just as the winners of Super Bowl XLII, but as the team that succeeded where 18 others, including themselves, had failed.
The Giants played the part of justice, blindly bringing about the end of a season of anger, frustration and hatred. The Pats ran up the score, they rubbed it in, they were cocky, superior and 'the best'. The Giants were an afterthought. Come on, the AFC Championship was the Super Bowl right? I myself considered not even turning the game on unless it came close. Boy was I wrong. The irony of all of this was, it wasn't like the Giants got lucky, or the ball bounced their way. Occasionally (like when a fumbled hand-off got flat out robbed by the Giants) luck titled for the Giants, but overall there was nothing spectacular. It was the Giants who first coughed up a turn over, and the Giants who failed twice in the redzone. It wasn't luck that let the 4-down linemen of New York abuse the Patriots O-line and for the first time since 1/2 of the Dallas game, make Tom Brady earn his plays. In the most impressive O-line, D-line battle I've ever seen, the Patriots flat out lost. The one tool that has forever been the key to the New England success, finally failed, and it failed gloriously.
The Giants defensive effort is the best I have ever seen. It was better than the 70's Steelers, who towered over lesser opponents and ground their way to 4 rings. It was better than the 85 Bears, whose defense not only stopped the Patriots, but put them in reverse. It was even better than the Ravens defense, whose supremely physical style set the standard for defenses in the modern league. The Giants, with young corners and old linebackers, managed to stop an offense that had not put up fewer that 20 points all season, and in fact had averaged 36.8 points per game. 37 points a game! And the Giants held this monster to 14. They did it by pressing the line, making (most) tackles and covering down the field. Brady got pressured, so Brady had to throw early. His receivers, so used to having the time to run routes, had to improvise, and too often it didn't work. 5 sacks and tons of hits left the Patriots breathless, and the Giants victors. So, I apologize to Tom Coughlin, who I disregarded, and Eli Manning, who I doubted. I was wrong, and never have I ever been more glad.
Really, there is only one image you need to see to remember this game forever.
It was the Great Escape, and the Catch IV.
It was Giants 17, Patriots 14.
And I loved it. This is why we watch the game.
Ok, I really just created this account to comment on other Vox accounts...
I have a Minnesota Wild blog over at blogger: 18568reasonswhy.blogspot.com (in case the link doesn't work).
So come visit me over there!
It's been last year since I wrote in this pitiful excuse for a hockey blog. Everyone is going crazy for their team, of course I do have a slight belief that going for the Habs may jinx them again. And then they will go down in flames last year a la "DAMN YOU MAPLE LEAFS".
And I've been busy, somewhere down the road I just needed a hockey break. Because it's not everywhere for me like others. And I've experienced the life of a casual hockey fan. And what can I say? It feels decent. I go out, do non-hockey things. Which is nothing different from any other day. The only improvement is that I have learnt to not fret about the outcome of a race, let alone a game.
In a way, hockeylessness has taught me about what I've really enjoyed in my life. And I love hockey greatly. I've met great people, and had greater experiences. The fact that my distance from hockey has made me solidify my experience as a fan of what must be expressed as a minority sport in the sunny Down Under. But I mustn't let it fool me. Because like every other experience, fantasy and reality collided and I found that I was struggling to believe in my faith in hockey.
But I have no real answer. So I'm back bitches.
Besides, I slipped up at the Big Day Out (an outdoor megaconcert) and told a guy I was an Oilers fan AND a Canucks fan. With no mention of the Habs. Hah, I am a hockey fan indeed.
I'll go into more detail about the league later, but let me just say I am very excited. And with the end of the NFL season, this blog will become even more active, this time covering the AAFL.
11:56 And here we go, starting in 4 minutes time, the draft begins
12:01 Van Halen's "Dreams", not a great way to start.
12:04 They are really emphasizing the relation to college football, which I think is a smart idea. I can see a lot of SEC cities getting AAFL teams.
12:11 Ouch, pull off the attacks on the XFL. They are being very sure to differentiate this league from the others.
12:16 They are going over the team Alabama protected offense, almost no reason to look too deep in the draft. They've got a lot of talent, including two nasty linebackers in Saleem Rasheed and Eddie Strong.
12:27 Peter Warrick and Chris Leak on the same team. Leak will be a huge money maker for this team and this league, depending on his success, he could be the face of the AAFL.
12:30 So, Warrick's plan is to go from the AAFL into the NFL two-a-days. That would be very, very brutal.
12:38 Marcus Randall, forever remembered for one deep pass, is a protected player for Team Arkansas. The Bluegrass Miracle gets another shot. And apparently rumors are that Team Arkansas will draft an O-lineman #1 overall, which will be a smart move. Cleveland and Houston in the NFL both made the mistake of not going after a lineman with their first picks, and paid for it with ruined quarterbacks. I think we may see some very intelligent drafts, especially with the protected quarterbacks and half backs already slotted. Though someone will go after Eric Crouch.
1:03 It looks like Michigan may be the big defensive team. And man, they need to fix these audio problems.
1:04 First pick is in...
1:05 Team Arkansas selects- a really over dramatic coach... And- Zarah Yisrael, OL, Troy University. A great pickup, a huge o-lineman with a lot of potential and strength. Pretty much sets the tone for this team as a run based team with a big O-lineman with a lot of strength.
1:08 Tennessee- BRYAN RANDALL- Virginia Tech! I loved this guy in college, great pick up great player and an amazing athlete. That is a very, very good pick. Although that makes two potentials starting QB's in Tennessee, but I think Randall can win out.
1:12 Team Texas- QB Eric Crouch. No surprise, we knew he was going to get drafted early. Big risk, potentially big reward.
1:17 Team Florida QB Eric Kresser. Kresser was the Marshall slinger when Randy Moss was running in the ball, and Kresser knows the system, played briefly in Florida and won a national championship with that West Virginia team. Kresser is the third QB taken, the third in a row no less.
1:19 Team Michigan selects QB David Koral, UCLA. Koral played all sorts of different places, and its poignant that he ended up in Michigan. With all their defensive protections, its not surprising they went QB with the first round. Interesting first round thus far.
1:22 Team Alabama selects Josh Sewell, OL Nebraska- Great pickup. Another solid O-lineman goes, he played center, should be a solid guy to bolster that line. He's not a sexy pick, but O-line depth and support is always great. Alabama, without a lot of O-linemen, he will get to start.
1:24 Team Alabama part 2- Scott Scharff- Big guy, 6'5'' D-lineman from Stanford. With all the protected Linebackers, I wonder if they could move into two middle guys and run a 3-4? It wouldn't be an awful idea, especially with this offensive-themed league.
1:32 Team Michigan's head coach sounds drunk. But Braylon Edwards is picking their pick so I have to root for him. DE Rodney Wormley from Temple. 240 lbs, shorter, a speed rush guy, probably a solid pick. A lot of coaches like that pass rush, and I think Wormley will fill that roll.
1:35 Team Florida- Pitt D-lineman Thomas Smith. Another speedy guy, given that Florida is going to run the 3-4, I can't see him being a true 3-4 DE, so I'm thinking he'll play the hybrid position.
1:36 Team Texas- Freddy McCutcheon, DT San Jose State. 6'2'' 295, small but stout a solid DT prospect. I think he could move to the outside depending on his speed. With a limited roster size (42) I forsee a lot of D-linemen able to move both positions.
1:38 Team Tennsee- Virginia Tech D-lineman Tim Sandige. Double'en up on the Hokies. Sandige was a big old guy, 311 lbs and a whole lot of hurt. Great pick up and an awesome piece of a puzzle.
1:41 Team Arkansas Nicholas Rogers, D-lineman Georgia Tech. Fills out an entirely defensive second round.
Well, that's the first two rounds, I'll give you a wrap up sometime next week on the draft and let you know my take on the teams of this new league.
In the course of NFL history, there have been 6 'dynasties'. Now, dynasty is a word filled with a lot of meaning. A dynasty is more than just a great football team, a dynasty is a team that has a year-in year-out impact on the league, and wins consistantly. Perhaps the greatest sports dynasty of all time, the Boston Celtics of the the 50's and 60's, won 11 championships. Likewise the Yankee's of the 40's and 50's, or the UCLA Bruins of the 60's and 70's, were teams that defined and shaped the league in which they existed. Each team had its famous icon, its Babe Ruth, or Bill Russell; and each was defined and shaped by some dynamic and exciting coach, like John Wooden of the Bruins, or Al Arbour of the Islanders. In their own way, these teams shaped the modern world of sports.
But too often, the great dynasties of sports overshadow their competitors, with good reason. But for ever Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls team, there was also a Patrick Ewing lead New York Knicks, the teams that were great, but not great enough. And so, I'd like to dedicate this post, my first in a long time (sorry!) to those almost teams. In the NFL, the great dynasties are remembered like this:
1950's- Cleveland Browns (7 championship appearances, 3 wins) (Had to plug my Brownies!)
1960's- Green Bay Packers (6 championship appearances, 5 wins)
1970's- Pittsburgh Steelers (4 Championship appearances, 4 wins)
1980's- San Francisco 49ers (4 Championship appearances, 4 wins)
1990's- Dallas Cowboys (3 Championships appearances, 3 wins)
2000's- New England Patriots (4 Championship appearances, 3 wins)
These teams will always be remembered as the great ones, the definers of what it means to be football. But right next to them should be listed the following teams.
2000's- Philadelphia Eagles (4 NFC Title appearances, 1 Super Bowl loss)
1990's- Buffalo Bills (4 straight Super Bowl losses)
1980's- Denver Broncos (3 Super Bowl losses)
1970's- Minnesota Vikings (3 Super Bowl losses, 1 NFL Championship loss)
1960's- New York Giants (3 straight NFL Championship losses, plus 2 in the late 50's)
For every world champion team, these guys had one almost-world champion. Heartbreak and failure seemed to follow each franchise year in and year out. For each team, the chance to make the biggest win on the biggest stage eluded them. And, briefly, I'd like to look back on them and see how, and why, they failed. This is by no means a critique of those teams, but merely a mention to the forgotten heroes of the dynasties we well remember. From the Purple People Eaters to the K-gun Bills, these teams are the almost-theres.
The Philadelphia Eagles:
Divisional Titles: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
NFC Title appearances: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Super Bowl appearances: 2004
Perhaps no one better emphasized the new brand of the NFL than Donovan McNabb. He was, in one package, everything that you've come to expect in the 2000's NFL. He is a quarterback, the position everyone loves to hate. With new pro-QB friendly rules dominating the leauge, McNabb helped pilot the Eagles to 4 straight NFC title game appearances, and got them to the Super Bowl in 2004. He was famous, in commercials, a great athlete, and a public figure. In our world of 24 hour news shows, McNabb became a hot topic, be it race, athleticism or the failure to get it done, McNabb was the subject.
I fondly rememer watching McNabb put together a 14.1 second scramble against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night, and get a huge win over a division foe. But, along with McNabb, this team will always be remembered as the one Terrell Owens sank. Forgotten are guys like Brian Westbrook, Jeremiah Trotter, and Brian Dawkins, who made up the heart and soul of this near-dynasty. The Eagles were on the verge of greatness, but could never get their foot across that line.
The Buffalo Bills
Divisional Titles: 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Conference Titles: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Super Bowl Appearances: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
When one thinks of th
In 1992, the chance came again, and after the largest comeback in NFL history against the Houston Oilers, only to be destroyed by the Cowboys. The chance at revenge came again when the Bills took to the Cowboys in 1993, but again came up short. Imagine how different things would have been if that kick had gone through the uprights instead of wide right? By their fourth trip, the curse of the Bills was real in the minds of the players and fans, 4 straight losses was too much, and the greatest dynasty that never was faded into the background.
The Denver Broncos:
Divisional Titles: 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989
AFC Championship Appearances: 1986, 1987, 1989
Super Bowl Appearances: 1986, 1987, 1989
The 1990's would be the turning point for this franchise, but the 1980's was a stretch of futility for the Denver Broncos.
1989 was all about the defense. With a great D-line and tough corners, the Broncos hoped to turn the tables and get a win. Unfortunately for the Broncos, the 49ers were ready. Jerry Rice and Joe Montana cruised over the Broncos and won by a resounding margin, 55-10. Elway couldn't get anything going and turned the ball over constantly. With a young running back, and very little help in the receiving corp, Elway's attempt to win the game himself failed. But for Broncos fans, this didn't hurt too much, beacuse by the end of the next decade, the Broncos showed up to play, and defeated the Packers and Falcons to win two rings before retiring.
Minnesota Vikings:
Divisional Titles: 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
Conference Titles: 1973, 1974, 1976
Super Bowl Losses: 1973, 1974, 1976 (Also lost 1969)
Led by Fran Tarkenton, John Gilliam, Churck Foreman and the great Alan Page, the Vikings were the almost team of the 1970's. In an era dominated by the Steel Curtain, the Vikings with their Purple People Eaters, were one step behind. The Vikings dominated their division, but struggled to get out of the conference, winning only 3 (appearing in 4). Unfortunately for the Vikings, when they did get to the big game they struggled. Despite having an awesome defense, Larry Csonka had 145 yards and 2 touchdowns, carrying the Dolphins to a Super Bowl win in 1973. The very next year, the great defense of the Steelers came up against the Purple People Eaters, and came up victorious. This time it was Franco Harris who had the yards, and the Steelers dominated both sides of the line. Despite having the hall of fame O-lineman Ron Yary, the Vikings couldn't get started, and the Steelers struck first with a safety. With one last shot at victory, the Vikings came up against the Raiders in Super Bowl 11, and once more, the Vikings came up flat loosing 32-14 to the Black Hole.
New York Giants:
Conference Titles: 1961, 1962, 1963
Championship Losses: 1961, 1962, 1963
After "The Greatest Game Ever Played" in 1958, the Giants looked ready to roar into the 60's as one of the most dominant teams in the young NFL. With an offense led by the hall of famer Y.A. Tittle, and Del Shofner, the Giants came ready to play. In 1961 the Giants collapsed in front of the Green Bay Packers, loosing 31-0. The very next year Green Bay repeated and squeaked by the Giants with a second win. To round out their three years of loosing, the Giants fell to the Bears 14-10. After this loss in 1963, the Giants would go 23 years without a championship appearance, and then win two, drubbing both the Broncos and Bills enroute to their third appearance this year.
~~
So, we must ask ourselves briefly, what makes a dynasty a dynasty? Its not just success, because lots of teams get to the top only to come up short. And its not just championships, because Denver won two in the 90's, and are rarely considered the team of the decade. Why these dynasties come together seems complicated, but there are some trends. The Patriots won two Super Bowls on the leg of their kicker, the same player who cost the Bills their first shot. The Cowboys drilled the Bills in their first two meeting, leaving the Boys to win 3 Super Bowls and the Bills to loose four, the Giants were destroyed by the Packers twice as well. When Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw suffered, the rest of the team stepped up, John Elway did not have that luxury with his Broncos. And sometimes, despite having all the pieces in place and the team reved up and ready, like the 49'ers of the 80's, you just come up short and never get to reach that final goal.