January 2007 Archive
Super Bowl Party ideas from The Gourmet Grrl
Thanks to GourmetGrrl, a.k.a Laura Holmes Haddad, we can eat well on Super Bowl Sunday. Enjoy her recipes and tips!
The Menu
Let’s face it, when you’re cooking for a crowd, sandwiches are the easiest – and tastiest – way to go. For game day, serving food that can be eaten with one hand is even better, so watching and eating is that much easier (and clean-up is next to nothing). With both hot and cold sandwiches, everyone’s satisfied, and finishing up the day with ice cream sandwiches keeps the party going until the last touchdown. Tell your friends to bring the snacks and you’re ready to hit the couch for an afternoon of football.
Drink-wise, be sure to stock the ‘frig with your favorite beer. And why not serve something unexpected, like bubbles? Sparkling wine is a great, affordable choice. Try the new Foster’s Yellow or Pink bubbly from Australia or Cristallino cava from Spain, and toast your team in style. And for the drivers in the crowd, serve fun, non-alcoholic drinks like Izze Sparkling Juice and Jones Soda; they’re super tasty and come in sassy flavors.
Turkey Pesto Wraps
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup basil pesto
6 flour sandwich wraps
18 slices turkey breast (about 12 ounces turkey)
6 slices Provolone cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Make the pesto mayonnaise: add the pesto to the mayonnaise and mix well. Slather pesto mayonnaise on each wrap. Add three slices turkey and one slice cheese for each wrap, grind some fresh pepper on top, and roll up each sandwich.
Wrap the bottom half of the sandwiches in white deli paper (available at most grocery stores and warehouse stores like Smart and Final). Arrange them in a basket so guests can grab and go (back to the game, that is).
Note: Substitute chipotle mayonnaise for the pesto if you want a sandwich with a kick. Puree 2 or 3 canned chipotles in adobo (found in the international section of most grocery stores) and mix them into 1/3 cup mayonnaise.
Sausage Sandwiches with Onions and Peppers
Serves 6
Ingredients:
6 Italian sausages (pork, chicken, or turkey)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 red or yellow bell peppers, sliced thinly
2 medium yellow onions, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
6 French bread rolls
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, cook the sausages on medium heat for 8 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add the olive oil the saucepan and add the peppers and onions. Add the salt and saute on medium heat for about 5 minutes, until peppers and onions have softened. Add the sausage to the peppers and onions, turn the heat to low, and cook until sausage is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Cut the sandwich rolls in half and place one sausage in each roll. Add peppers and onions to each and wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil. You can make the sandwiches up to 3 hours ahead; reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
The beauty of these tasty desserts is that you can make them up to three days ahead. And if you’re short on time, just buy the cookies instead of making your own; no one will notice. Try and find soft cookies -- they make the sandwiches easier to eat!
Serves 8
Ingredients:
16 chocolate chip cookies (about 4 inches wide)
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 cup toasted, chopped peanuts or toasted, sliced almonds
1 cup chocolate sprinkles
Directions:
Pour the toasted nuts and the sprinkles into two separate wide, shallow bowls.
Lay 8 cookies out on a cookie sheet. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of ice cream on each of eight cookies and smooth down using a spatula. Place a second cookie on top and gently but firmly push down to secure the sandwich. Use a spatula or spoon to spread the ice cream evenly around the edges.
Roll each sandwich in the nuts and then the sprinkles.
Wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
Note: Play around with your favorite flavors. Try ginger cookies and lemon ice cream or frozen yogurt; chocolate cookies with mint chocolate chip ice cream; or sugar cookies with coffee ice cream. And switch up the nuts: toasted, chopped hazelnuts and toasted, chopped walnuts add a definite crunch and flavor.
Gear up for the Best Super Bowl Commercials!
Don’t you dare get up and go to the bathroom this Sunday! It’s Super Bowl Sunday which by the laws of pop culture means you have to hold your bladder for three-plus hours until the game is safely over, and there’s no chance of an overtime. When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday you’ll have to throw out what you’ve always known as a given, that commercial breaks are a time to relieve yourself. With approximately $2.6 million spent on a 30-second commercial during the game these days, it would be almost cruel to miss out on the creative genius behind these ads. More importantly, you’ll need to be able to participate in the important water cooler chat the next day.
I don’t know exactly when the commercial craziness started, but I do remember back in 1987, hearing the now-classic line, “I’m going to Disney World,” in response to the question to the MVP quarterback of the New York Giants, Phil Simms. “Hey Phil Simms, you just won the Super Bowl, what are you going to do now?”
That campaign has already gone down in history as one of the most brilliant ever. I remember looking forward to the end of the game (no matter how good or bad) just to hear this classic line (and see which player said it).
Every brand is looking for that slam-dunk experience but the competition to stand out is huge. The big question is how to distinguish your brand from the all the others. Some turn to humor, others to emotion and others to just shock value.
My all time favorite Super Bowl commercial is the classic Budweiser Clydesdale horses (which will be in the mix again this year). Just hearing that music chokes me up. And, yes, I’m a softie, but who could forget the Coca Cola commercial where Mean Joe Greene is offered a Coke from a young fan, smiles and gives the boy his jersey.
This year we have the usual suspects, some unusual newcomers and of course some controversy. Here are some highlights. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Anheuser-Busch (A-B has purchased ten 30-second spots):
Clydesdale horses are back…yeah! We’ll also see astronauts and celebrities like Carlos Mencia, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a chess match between Don Shula and Jay Z.
Taco Bell:
Two lions will promote their new carne asada steak grilled taquitos with former Fantasy Island star (Ricardo Montalban) as the voiceover talent.
Pepsi:
The beverage company is sponsoring half-time show with Prince and giving away a $100,000 jewel-encrusted can during the first and second quarter.
Coca-Cola (back in the Super Bowl after 10 years):
They will air an animated spot called “Videogame.” No hints on what that means, yet.
Frito-Lay’s Doritos:
Doritos held a contest for amateurs to create their own 30-second spot and will air the winning spot (unedited). All the finalist spots were aired online, and viewers had the chance to vote on their favorites. All of the finalists will be flown to Miami to watch and see which one of their spots actually won.
Chevrolet:
Chevrolet held a contest for contestants to pitch their ideas. Both groups had the spots professionally developed and shot.
NFL:
The NFL also used amateurs to pitch new ads, which were then professionally shot.
CareerBuilder:
Remember the cute Chimps? Well, they’ve been axed. CareerBuilder is generating pre-Super Bowl buzz by phasing out the cute chimps with the new campaign set to air Super Bowl Sunday. These chimps didn’t do anything wrong, but CareerBuilder apparently wants to freshen things up. Wow, it’s not just a Man eat Man world, it’s a Man eat Chimp world, too.
Marriage Proposal, sponsor still unknown:
Here’s a new one: A man named JP (not his real name) plans to propose to his girlfriend on Super Bowl Sunday and has raised more than $2 million to do so. Apparently a number of companies are interested in taking part in this spectacle. If this actually airs, I hope for his sake she says yes. A marriage proposal in front of 100 million people? $2 million dollars. A “no” in front of 100 million people watching? Priceless!
Nationwide Insurance:
K-Fed….yes, it’s true. The guy just won’t go away. Nationwide Insurance has hired Kevin Federline to star as a wannabe rapper toiling in a fast food restaurant and dreaming of stardom. When I first started hearing some controversy about this spot, I naturally assumed it was because K-Fed, who as far as I can tell, has no brain, no soul and absolutely nothing redeeming about him, is extending his 15 minutes of fame on the biggest TV day of the year. YUCK! Alas, this is not the gist of the controversy. The National Restaurant Association is upset with the spots (not with K-Fed) because it demeans the profession of fast food workers.
Can’t wait to hear your favorites! So, remember, in order to avoid any unnecessary bathroom breaks, drink responsibly.
Top 10 Ways to Throw A Super, Super Bowl Party
1) Have a TV viewing room and a socializing room (believe it or not, not everyone is there to watch the game).
2) Go all out on decorations, no such thing as too much! 4funparties.com is a great site for all things football.
3) Serve food that’s appropriate to the time zone of the game. If you’re on the West Coast, the Super Bowl starts at 3 p.m., so there’s no need to worry about serving dinner. Just make sure that you have plenty of beer, soda, chips and more beer.
If you’re on the East Coast, the Super Bowl starts at 6 p.m., so make sure you have more substantial fare or at least the number to the local pizza delivery place.
4) A football pool is a must (Click here to learn how to set one up).
5) The commercials can sometimes be more exciting than the game, so have a TV in the bathroom. Even if you wait for a timeout to go to the bathroom, you won’t want to miss the $2-to-$3 million-30 second commercials.
6) Make sure you have comfortable couches and sitting areas. This is the one football game where (other than to eat and go to the bathroom) you won’t want to get up for three-plus hours. You don’t want to miss the football, the commercials or the halftime show -- it’s Prince this year! And, come on, who won’t admit that they’re kicking themselves for missing the wardrobe malfunction from three years ago?
7) Place crunchy snacks away from the TV. There's nothing worse than hearing someone crunch carrots and celery in your ear while you’re trying to listen to the commentators.
8) Beware of the guest that shows up in the third quarter and is clearly not interested in the game. He or she is only interested in the party -- not the game -- and may stay at your house way too long. If this is the case, the end of the game should be the queue for your kids to start throwing a tantrum, or if you don’t have kids, perhaps enter into a heated and uncomfortable argument (try talking politics and make sure to take whatever side your guest is not on).
9) Serve food in abundance, but keep it simple. Remember you’re not catering for an intimate dinner party. This is football -- everything is big and bountiful.
10) Even if you’re serving mostly beer during the game, keep some Champagne available for after the last play. If your team wins, it will be fun and celebratory to pop the cork and toast your team's win. If they don’t win, you can always crack open the Champagne and toast to next season.
For more great Super Bowl recipes and tips, check out The Perfect Game Plan for Throwing A Super Bowl Party.
Enjoy!
How the Super Bowl Started...
At the time it was played, the first championship game between the upstart American Football League (AFL) and the NFL back in January 1967 was not called the Super Bowl. The owners were not sure that the game would catch on, so the now-famous title was not used. The founder of the American Football League, Lamar Hunt, apparently came up with the name Super Bowl when he saw his children playing with a rubber ball called a Super Ball. The name caught on and, shortly after the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts in 1969, the moniker became the official name of pro-football’s championship game.
In 1960, Lamar, a Dallas businessman, established the American Football League (AFL) as a direct competitor to the NFL. Why would someone play for the upstart AFL? It’s all about the money, and the AFL offered much higher salaries. Big college stars such as “Broadway” Joe Namath turned down the NFL and chose to play for the new league.
In 1967, the two leagues decided to play a championship game. The first two years of this championship didn’t create that much interest, but in 1969, “Broadway” Joe, who played QB for the AFL’s New York Jets, made a proficient announcement that changed football forever. Joe loved publicity and was a true celebrity. In fact the Donald (as in Trump) probably learned a thing or two from Namath. Joe dated famous women, charmed the TV cameras and did commercials in women’s pantyhose (no offense to the Donald, but I don’t think any of us are prepared to see that!)
Before the infamous 1969 game, Namath guaranteed that the Jets would beat the much more established NFL Baltimore Colts team. At that time, fans of the NFL did not think much of Lamar's rival AFL, and therefore Joe’s boisterous claim infuriated everyone and created a lot of media attention.
“I guarantee it!” became a rallying cry, and when the Jets did beat the Colts, the AFL could claim parity with the NFL, and the championship game was a hit.
And, just to show you how far the Super Bowl has come since that infamous game in 1969, the halftime entertainment says it all. Back then fans were entertained by the Florida A&M University band while in the past five years alone, we’ve danced and sang along to U2, Sting, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and now in 2007, Prince. We’ve certainly come a long way, baby!
The Girls' Guide to the Super Bowl
Unless you’ve been living on a deserted island (or 6pm is your bedtime), you’ve at least seen part of a Super Bowl game. If you’re already a big football fan, you get it. You understand why this is the biggest game of the year, and why everyone on TV, radio and in newspapers is talking about it. But, if you are a football novice -- or worse a self-proclaimed “football widow" -- you may need an extra guide to get you through the next two weeks and get you excited about the Big Day.
Here’s what you need to know to maximize your enjoyment for what I consider the greatest day of the year. Forget New Year's Eve, it’s all about the Super Bowl baby!!!!
Logistics
Sunday, February 4th, 2007- Super Bowl Sunday
Game time: 6pm (ET)
The game takes place in Miami, Florida (one of the best places to play due to the climate, South Beach, hangin' out with next to no clothes on, etc... It’s no wonder this is the ninth time Miami has hosted a Super Bowl!
Fun Fact: Super Bowls generate an economic impact of, on average, $200 to $300 million for the hosting city, so it’s easy to understand why cities compete aggressively for the right to hold these games.
The Matchups
Indianapolis Colts
From 1953-1983, the Colts were based in Baltimore and called, appropriately, the Baltimore Colts.
Fun Fact: Robert Irsay, owner of the Baltimore Colts moved his team’s offices to Indianapolis in March of 1984 during a snowstorm in the middle of the night. As you can imagine, the town of Baltimore was not too pleased. In fact, the Colts' “other” most famous quarterback, Johnny Unitas, refused to ever acknowledge the Indianapolis Colts.
The reason I’m even mentioning this is because the last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl was in 1971 when the Baltimore Colts took on the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
Fun Fact: Super Bowl V, also called The Stupor Bowl (and the Stumble Bowl), was the first championship game since the merger of the AFL and NFL. Everyone was anticipating a great game to officially celebrate the merger. However, this game would go down in football history as one of the worst games ever played. There were six fumbles, six interceptions and one blocked field goal attempt. It was amazing that anyone actually won the game, but Baltimore held on to defeat Dallas by a score of 16-13.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears’ last appearance at a Super Bowl was in 1986 (Super Bowl XX), where they beat the New England Patriots. In fact, the 1985 Bears were so confident that they’d win the game; they recorded a rap video called the Super Bowl Shuffle.
Fun Fact: The famous Super Bowl Shuffle chorus went “We’re not here to start no trouble; we’re just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle.”
What people will be talking about leading up the game:
The Coaches
Lovie Smith, the coach of the Bears, is good friends with Tony Dungy, the coach of the Colts. Smith used to work under Dungy when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only are they great friends, but they will be making history because they will be the first African American head coaches to ever lead their teams to a Super Bowl.
The Quarterbacks
Colts QB, Peyton Manning finally has the monkey off his back by proving that he can perform in the post season. With that said, a Super Bowl win would secure his place as one of the all-time greatest QB’s. The other great QB who never won a Super Bowl was Miami’s Dan Marino. It certainly didn’t hurt him but, we’re still talking about it.
Bears QB, Rex Grossman is not in the league of “greatness,” yet. He still has many critics that say he is OK, but it’s the Bears’ defense that is winning the games.
Keys to the Game
It’s all about the Colt’s offense (ranked 3rd) against the Bears’ defense (ranked 5th).
Entertainment
The Halftime Show
Prince (does it get any better than that!?!). OK, so maybe Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” provided some great water cooler talk three years ago, but Prince is “The Man,” and expect him to have a professional, well choreographed and no-less-than-awesome performance.
Commercials
I don’t know if there is any other day of the year (even including the Academy Awards) when you will see some of the coolest TV commercials ever made. Stay tuned and as the information comes in, I’ll put together a list of the most anticipated commercials airing on Super Bowl Sunday. Often times, particularly if it’s a boring game, the commercials get all the attention. Here's a hint about what's to come: Britney Spears' ex, Kevin Federline is slated to make fun of himself in one -- nope, doesn't get much better than that!
For more Super Bowl know-how, gear up on the basics:
- Football 101: Running Backs
- Football 101: Tight End
- Football 101: Wide Receivers
- Football 101: Special Teams
- What Is First and Ten?
January 22, 2007 at 02:15pmWater Cooler Chat: It’s Colts-Bears on Super Bowl Sunday!
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
Throughout the first half of the Colts-Patriots AFC Championship game last night, I started to truly believe Peyton Manning was right in his joke about G-d being a Patriots fan. After all, who has ever in their life seen a play like the one in the first quarter where the Patriots' left guard, Logan Mankins, scored a touchdown by pouncing on a fumble from Tom Brady’s handoff attempt. Three Colts players fell on the ball only to have it squirt into the endzone where the guard fell on it for the touchdown. I’m calling this the “immaculate fumble,” and it was a fitting way to start what would become a game for the ages.
After a 21-3 deficit prior to the half, I started to think the Pats had it locked up (particularly since the Big Guy upstairs was obviously on their side). But low and behold, Peyton and the Colts (sounds like a rock band, no?) found some rhythm and managed to score on a field goal before the half.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Colts decided they needed their own inspired fumble, and this time their center, Jeff Saturday, recovered the ball and scored a touchdown to tie the score for the first time in the game. Have you ever seen a game where two offensive linemen have scored touchdowns? I’m pretty sure this was a first ever.
With a beautiful drive led by Peyton in the final minute of the game, the Colts finally pulled ahead for the win (38-34)with the largest comeback ever for a championship game. You really couldn’t script a better ending (assuming you’re a Colts' fan).
Now everyone can stop pestering Peyton about his post-season play. Apparently, Manning admitted to saying a little prayer at the end of the game when Tom Brady had the ball with less than a minute left. It obviously worked. Now, Peyton will have to think of a new ending to his joke.
Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints
Even though the New Orleans Saints might have been the sentimental favorites in yesterday's NFC matchup with the Chicago Bears, Rex Grossman and particularly the Bears’ defense proved that they’ve got what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl. The Bears ran away with the game in the second half for a 39-14 win over the Saints.
One of the most interesting plays of the game was an intentional grounding play called on Drew Brees in the endzone. The Saints received a safety, which meant that the Bears received two points. It’s a pretty obscure play, but apparently the Bears' defense knew exactly what was going on by the way they were celebrating with the safety sign. If only Brees had run outside the pocket (area between the tackles), he would not have been penalized.
The Bears are now in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1986 when they were doing the “Super Bowl Shuffle” (1985 season), and the Colts will be there for the first time since 1971. With the Bears' coach Lovie Smith and his good friend Colts' coach Tony Dungy facing each other on Super Bowl Sunday, we will witness history being made. An African American coach has never made it to the Super Bowl, and now we will see these two friends squaring off against each other February 4th. You’ve got to admit, this is way better than Desperate Housewives!
Stay tuned for my Girls Guide to Super Bowl Sunday... coming soon!
January 22, 2007 at 06:33amVote! Vote! Vote!
Ok, I know we said we were closing the Sunday Night's Sexiest poll on January 18, but due to technical difficulties, we are reopening the voting until Wednesday, January 24. Don't let your favorite player down! Vote now! If you're just tuning in, check out the nominees. Also, the finalists you see below with the least amount of votes in the regular season were cut from this round.
Vote now!
January 19, 2007 at 06:17pmPlayer Interview: Chargers' Shawne Merriman
Thanks to San Diego Chargers’ running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, everyone who followed the Chargers' loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional playoff game and read the news in the past week has now heard of the Chargers’ linebacker, Shawne Merriman. After the disappointing end to the game and to the Chargers’ season, one of the Patriots taunted the Chargers by doing the Shawne Merriman “Lights Out” dance in the middle of the field. Tomlinson was so upset he had to be restrained from starting a brawl. He then mentioned this “classless” act on post game interviews.The fact that Shawne even has a name like “Lights Out” sends shivers up your spine and makes you envision what it must be like to line up across from him. According to Shawne’s website , he was given the name “Lights Out” when he was a sophomore in high school and knocked out four players in the first half of his high school football game. You can read more about Shawne’s impressive football accomplishments at this site as well.
Unfortunately for all San Diego Chargers' fans, Shawne’s season is now over, but he was nice enough to find some time to answer some of our questions. Enjoy!
What do you find most attractive about a girl?
I think that a girl's personality is the biggest attraction.Whom do you admire most?
My grandmother and my football coaches were the most influential people in my life.What is your favorite food?
Any kind of pasta!What is your favorite music?
RapHow would you describe your personality?
I am really laid back.What is your idea of a perfect first date?
My perfect first date is when I find out that the girl likes a lot of the same
things I do.Where are your favorite hot spots?
Stingeree in San DiegoWhat is your biggest turn-on?
I like when a girl stays physically fit.What is your biggest turn-off?
Someone who is unfit and doesn’t take care of themselves.What is your favorite magazine?
People or Fortune.Do you have a ritual before a game?
Before a game, I always look in the mirror and see if I have anything on my uniform.What can we find in your car?
You can find “Lights Out” all over the inside of my car. You can also usually find an energy drink.Speaking of that, what is your favorite car?
My favorite car is the Phantom.What is your biggest flaw?
ImpatienceJanuary 17, 2007 at 09:04amLast Chance to Vote for Your Favorite Player!
With the Super Bowl just around the corner, it's coming down to the wire to vote for your favorite player in our Sunday Night's Sexiest competition. Don't let your team (or player!) down. Voting officially closes tomorrow, January 18.
January 17, 2007 at 03:31amWater Cooler Chat: And then there were Four
This was a huge weekend in the NFL. One of the truly exciting things about football is single elimination in the playoffs. With eight teams playing this past weekend, four are out and four are still alive and kicking. After the AFC and NFC championship games this Sunday, we’ll be ready to start planning our Super Bowl celebrations.
Here’s the recap of the weekend’s playoff games:
Indianapolis Colts over Baltimore Ravens (15-6)
My husband gave me a hard time when I wrote last week that Indy QB Peyton Manning was “arguably” one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He took issue with the word “arguably” believing that there’s no room for argument, Peyton is one of the best. My point, which I’m sticking with, is that unless Peyton proves himself in the post season, he will always have an asterisk by his name. Don’t get me wrong, I love Peyton. He’s a class act and no question one of the best quarterbacks in the regular season. And, he’s so fun to watch. I never TIVO past one of his Visa commercials. I just want him to prove himself in the post season and (is this too much to ask) to help his team win the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning and the Colts did pull out the win over the Ravens, but it was pretty painful to watch. With four quarters and no touchdowns, the game felt like it was moving in slow motion. Both teams looked as if they were playing to prevent themselves from losing as opposed to pulling out all stops and winning. Peyton completed only 15 out of 30 pass attempts with two interceptions. The good thing about the post season though is the slate is now washed clean and the Colts will have a fresh start next weekend in the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots. Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning…doesn’t get any better!
New Orleans Saints over the Philadelphia Eagles (27-24)
What a difference a few hours makes. The late game on Saturday pitting the feel good team of the season, the New Orleans Saints, vs. the unlikely (due to a replacement QB) Philly Eagles, did not disappoint. As boring as the Colts/Ravens game was, this game was nail biting fun.
The Saints’ running backs, Deuce McAllister and rookie Reggie Bush, brought the Superdome to its knees with inspired play that lifted this team to its first NFC championship, a place that no one would have ever expected after last season.
The Saints now travel to Chicago to take on the Bears.
Chicago Bears over the Seattle Seahawks (27-24 in OT)
Chicago QB, Rex Grossman certainly took a lot of heat in the last few weeks. Fans and non fans everywhere criticized his erratic play and his idiotic claim (after his teams’ regular season loss to the Green Bay Packers) that he did not study the game plan hard enough because he assumed he’d be sitting out for most of the game. The bottom line is that he played well enough against the Seahawks to pull out the win, but will that be enough to get his team to the Super Bowl? We’ll find out next weekend against the Saints.
New England Patriots over the San Diego Chargers (24-21)
Some QBs just make it look so easy. There was something about Pats QB Tom Brady that made you watch the game and just kind of know that the Pats would pull out a win. Perhaps it was the fact that they’ve won the Super Bowl 3 out of the last 5 years. Or perhaps, it’s as Peyton Manning likes to joke, “G-d is a Patriots fan”. It’s kind of a long joke so I won’t tell it here (besides, I’m “arguably” (get it “arguably”) the worst joke teller on this planet) but, my husband heard Peyton tell this joke at a business conference. Apparently, Peyton knows how to tell a joke because the entire crowd was hysterically laughing at this self-deprecating punchline. It’s kind of hard to dispute this theory though when one of the key plays in the Pats/Chargers game was a Tom Brady interception that led to a Charger fumble which led to a Brady thrown TD and a two point conversion. A field goal a few minutes later sealed their fate. I guess we’ll know the true answer to Manning’s joke next weekend when the Pats take on the Colts at home.
As usual, there’s always more going on than just the game, and after the Pats won, the classy and normally quiet Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson, stormed over to the center of the field when he saw an unidentified player doing a dance on the Chargers logo. In the news conference afterward, Tomlinson criticized Pats coach Bill Belichick for “perhaps” allowing his players to act in this disrespectful manner.
Here’s the schedule for Sunday. Remember, this weekend will determine which teams will battle each other in the Super Bowl, February 4th.
NFC Championship
New Orleans at Chicago 3:00 pm. (ET)
AFC Championship
New England at Indianapolis 6:30 pm. (ET)
Remember; don’t forget to vote for the Sunday Night Sexiest. Your last day to vote is Thursday January 18th.
January 16, 2007 at 06:45amSunday Night Sexiest Finals Coming to a Close
Hey Gals,
Remember to cast your final vote for this season's Sunday Night's Sexiest. The voting will close on January 18th. If you're just tuning in, all season I nominated six of the high-profile players (three from each team) from the Sunday night game each week. I tried to profile a few players whom you will definitely see on the field during the game. The following guys are the winners from each week. Congrats to you all for getting here, but there has to be a winner, so please vote now!January 12, 2007 at 08:18amPlayer Interview: Packers' William Henderson
This week, Green Bay Packers' fullback, William Henderson lets us in to his personal life. Henderson has been with the Packers for 12 years and is known as the consummate workhorse. As a fullback, his responsibilities are to block, take handoffs from the quarterback and occasionally catch passes. With Henderson’s work ethic and professionalism, he has come to be a real leader on the team. Read through Henderson’s answers -- I guarantee he will change your view of the typical football player.What do you find most attractive about a girl?
Her eyes. It’s the only feature of a woman that really doesn’t change over the course of time. If you fall in love with a woman’s eyes, you’ll fall in love with the part that won’t change. And that’s always the most expressive feature of her body.Whom do you admire most?
I admire my kids the most. Their youthful energy always amazes me. They can always turn a rainy day into a fun time in the mud. You’ve got to love that youthful excitement. Everyday is an adventure as a child.Who is your biggest influence?
My mom and dad. My work ethic and my moral fiber were all directed from their influence. And I think from the perception of most people, I’ve turned out to be a pretty decent person.What is your favorite hobby other than football?
Other than football, my creative side comes out. My favorite hobbies are artwork and design. Right now I’m working on my dream house and am designing it myself.If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go?
Right now, living in Green Bay, any warm place would do! But, I would love to go down to Brazil and be in Carnivale.
What is your favorite movie?
Anything with Sydney Poittier. As of recent, I am a Bad Boys fan. I think the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence duo are fantastic. I’m putting the posters up in my theater right now.What is your favorite food?
Keep it simple. Sloppy Joe’s and fries. Not just any fries, crinkle cut. Can’t get fresh crab up here, but I love crab cakes from back home in Virginia.What is your favorite music?
R&BWhom are you closest to and why?
My kids. It’s unbelievable, unprovoked love. They’ve got me!How would you describe your personality?
Non-confrontational. I just like to take it easy, and keep it as simple as I can.What do you do to relax?
Go for a run by the water, by any body of water.Are you superstitious and if so, what is one superstition?
Yes, you don’t step on cracks. That old saying of you don’t step on cracks or you’ll break your mama’s back… I’m a mama’s boy, so I never wanted to do anything to harm my mom.What is your perfect first date?
Picnic on the beach or a bike ride through the park. Again operating on the KISS rule (Keep It Simple Stupid!). Dinner and a movie, just want to enjoy the conversation if I can.Where are your favorite hot spots?
Any part of a beach in Aruba. Stingray city in the Cayman Islands. South Beach, FL or in a hot tub at any ski resort.What is your biggest turn-on?
Confidence and the ability to have a conversation.What is your biggest turn-off?
Smoking cigarettes.Who is your favorite athlete?
Muhammad Ali. He was the most heralded athlete in the world, yet he was always more than willing to go out and autograph anything for a fan.What is your favorite magazine?
Playboy. I like the articles…I really do!Do you have a ritual before a game?
Yes, I sleep in front of my locker for about 30 minutes with my legs in the air on my bench seat.What is your favorite car?
My ’68 Chevelle Convertible.What can we find in your car?
A football in the back seat and usually a pair of cleats so I can always be ready to practice.What are your favorite toys?
My Boyd Bears collection. It’s a collection of teddy bears and collectible stones that I’ve had since college.Who is your favorite designer?
Art-wise, it’s got to be Robert Coin. He is an Italian designer. He’s along the line of David Yurman.If you could invite any 3 people (famous or not) out to dinner tonight who would it be?
Jesus, my mom and probably Bobby Kennedy.What is your biggest flaw?
I am too nice. I don’t know how to say no. but I’m working on it.Can you just be friends with a girl?
Yes.January 08, 2007 at 01:30pmWater Cooler Chat: Wild Card Weekend Is Wild
I’ve always said football is one big soap opera, and this weekend did not disappoint, though it was cringe worthy to watch. Let’s start with what everyone will be talking about this week:
Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks
After a close game with a decent showing by Dallas QB Tony Romo, it all came down to a field goal with just over a minute left. It was supposed to be a routine kick, 19 yards -- no biggie. In a second that will haunt Romo for the rest of his life (I know that sounds dramatic, but if you listened to his post-game interview, you felt the hurt), Romo fumbled the ball as he was trying to line it up for his kicker Martin Gramatica. Granted the field was slippery, but with a routine kick, this was clearly the Cowboys game to win. After the Romo fumble, Seattle walked away with a 21-20 victory in this bizarre outcome. Seattle now faces Chicago in the next round of the playoffs.Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
Speaking of field goals, after a close game, it all came down to the field goal in the Eagles vs. Giants game as well. Fortunately for Philly’s kicker David Akers, he will sleep well knowing that his kick led his team to a 23-10 win over the Giants.The Eagles are one of the feel-good teams of the season. When their star QB Donovan McNabb was placed on the injured list, they looked to their backup Jeff Garcia. Garcia came in and rallied his team to a wild card birth -- and now to the second round of the post season with a match up against the other feel good team, the New Orleans Saints. See, isn’t football all warm and fuzzy.
Note: This was most likely Tiki Barber’s last game with the Giants, but we will definitely see him in the announcing booth next season. And, there will be lots of talk of Giants' coach Tom Coughlin’s tenure with the team. He says he’s coming back, but who knows. Stay tuned.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
There is just something really cool about watching a seasoned team and a seasoned QB playing in these high-pressured games. Somehow they just make it look easy. The Pats have won 3 out of the last 5 Super Bowls, and Tom Brady has been with them throughout. He came in to the game against the Jets with such confidence that even though he’s been a little shaky lately, I knew he’d lead his team to a win. He did with a 37-16 trouncing of the Jets.Prior to the game, and all season really, there was talk of the Pats coach Bill Belichick still fuming over his former assistant Eric Mangini accepting the head coaching job at the Jets. There seemed to be a cold front between them all season, which just added to the drama leading up to this game. Belichick appeared to have no hard feelings at the end (obviously because he won) and hugged Mangini. Let’s hear it again... ahhhhhh.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Indy’s QB Peyton Manning is arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but he's going to need to show us more in the playoffs. He led the Colts over the Chiefs in a 23-8 win but certainly not because of his stellar play. With 3 interceptions, this was not his best game. Fortunately the Colts defense rallied to the win, and Peyton now has another chance against Baltimore this weekend to try and prove himself. Now that Eli is out of the playoffs, the Manning parents have only one son to root for, so let’s give them a happy 2007!Playoff Game Times
January 13th, 4:30pm (ET), Indianapolis Colts at Baltmore Ravens
8pm (ET), Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans SaintsJanuary 14th, 1pm (ET), Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
4:30pm (ET) New England Patriots at San Diego ChargersPlease don't forget to continue to vote in the finals of the Sunday Night's Sexiest contest. Remember, it's not whether you win or lose on the field, but how you fare in the SNS finals that counts!
January 08, 2007 at 06:55amSunday Night's Sexiest Finals
This weekend the best NFL teams will match up against each other in the first round of the playoffs, and you know what that means -- yes, you guessed it -- it’s time for the Sunday Night’s Sexiest Finals.
In case you haven’t been following the Sunday Nights’ Sexiest from the beginning, every week during the season, we nominated three high-profile players from each team playing on Sunday night and voted on which one wins the weekly sexiest award. After our highly competitive season, we now have 10 finalists (we had to drop the four finalists with the least amount of votes, so you will not see Adam Vinatieri, Deion Branch, Philip Rivers or Julius Jones in the voting list below).
Don’t let your favorite player down, vote now. Good luck to all!
January 04, 2007 at 05:52amWater Cooler Chat: 'Tis The Season to be Jolly (For Some)
It’s amazing that during the last week in December where most people are physically and mentally checked out of their jobs and partaking (read imbibing) in the festivities of the season, football kicks it up a notch. This is the most exciting week of the entire year. In college, we marvel at some surprising and heroic bowl games, and in the pros we celebrate or cry -- depending on whether our teams are heading to the playoffs.
I was on vacation with the family this past week and only got bits and pieces of games, but the ones I saw are absolutely worth discussing. And, in one of my proudest moments as a mom, one of our new friends at the hotel we were staying at came over to me after the Giants-Redskins matchup to marvel at the fact that my 5-year-old daughter plopped herself down beside him to watch the game on the big screen TV in the hotel playroom. Of course, all she really knows about football is the Eli-Peyton controversy, and she seemed a little more interested in her Polly Pockets, but nevertheless, I’m hoping she’s on her way to becoming part of the next generation of female fans.
I don’t have room in this column to talk about everything that happened this past week in the college BCS (Bowl Championship Series) games and the pro matchups, but here are my favorite stories:
College:
Fiesta Bowl
Thanks to a stunning, and I repeat stunning, 43-42 Boise State win over Oklahoma, Boise State completed the season with a perfect record. Ohio State, who plays Florida on Thursday in the BCS title game that will actually determine the best team in the country, is the only other team with a perfect record. For anyone who actually saw this game, the last minute will go down in history as one of the best in football. Oklahoma looked as if it had the game wrapped up when Boise State came back on fourth and 18 with a beautiful hook-and-ladder play (the quarterback, Jared Zabransky, threw the ball to his receiver, Drisan James, who pitched it to Jarard Rabb, who ran into the endzone for a touchdown). That was it. They were on a roll, and with a two-point trick play conversion at the end of the game to tailback Ian Johson, the stadium erupted. As if this wasn’t already looking like a feel-good movie, Johnson proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend at the end of the game. I wonder if he would have popped the question if his team had lost. At least now they’ve got a great story to tell their kids.
Rose Bowl
This year, the Rose Bowl featured USC and Michigan. Prior to the game, Michigan moaned that they were the best team in the country and should be playing Ohio State. Wahh, wahh, maybe they should have focused on winning more than on whining. USC trounced them 32-18. Of course, now USC claims they should be the best team in the country... and so the story goes.Sun Bowl
I have to mention Oregon State and Missouri (Mizzou) in the Sun Bowl. At the end of a very close game, Oregon State was all ready to go into overtime on an extra point attempt (which is usually a given). Missouri decided to call a time-out to review the touchdown play. In those few minutes, Oregon State’s coach decided to lay it all on the line and go for a two-point conversion (which is a heck of a lot riskier). If they make it, it’s called a gutsy play, and if they miss it, it’s called an incredibly stupid play. Good job Oregon State coach Mike Riley on your gutsy 39-38 win.The Pros
- The big news prior to Monday morning was the Denver Broncos meltdown (with a potential playoff birth on the line) to a seemingly inferior team (my San Fran 49ers). With the Denver loss, the unlikely Kansas City Chiefs gained a playoff birth. Unfortunately, the Broncos now have to put it all in perspective when their cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in his stretch Hummer early Monday morning after a night out at a club. It appeared to be a drive by shooting, but no one (as of yet) can figure out a motive.
- Running back, Tiki Barber goes out on top. Not only did he lead his team (the Giants) to a playoff birth against the Philadelphia Eagles (huge rivalry even if it wasn’t a playoff game), but he reportedly signed a $10 million dollar, four-year, on-air deal.
- I thought about making a New Year's resolution to try and avoid talking about T.O., but that’s no fun, so let’s just hope that he can help bring the Cowboys some spark after their embarrassing 31-39 loss this weekend against the worst team in the league, the Detroit Lions.
- The following teams are the only ones still in the playoffs, so if your favorite team is not listed here, please refrain from any conversations about them unless it’s to discuss their prospects for next season or if their quarterback starts dating Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears.
New England Patriots
New York JetsIndianapolis Colts
Kansas City ChiefsSan Diego Chargers
Baltimore RavensSeattle Seahawks
Dallas CowboysPhiladelphia Eagles
New York GiantsChicago Bears
New Orleans Saints
January 02, 2007 at 04:10pm
