Alex Rodriguez: A-Fraud or A-OK?

So it's been a few weeks since Alex Rodriguez has admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs. There's been a ton of reaction and coverage about it, including a couple of good blog posts from by baseball-fanatic buddy Anthony. But nothing from me on this blog. Until now.

I was holding off on my opinion of the whole situation in an effort to hear the full story. First, there was just a report. Then, there was the Peter Gammons interview, which while shocking, was also lacking a ton of information (thanks Peter). Finally, came the long press conference in which A-Rod talked at length about the whole situation, revealing the "truth" about his involvement with the drugs and much more.

Let me start this way. I've always been a fan of Alex Rodriguez. He's never been one to stir up controversy. He has always seemed to go about his business and looking at his numbers, he's done a great job doing that. Of course, there are the occasional tabloid reports (Madonna relationship) and monumental collapses (every playoff series), but all in all, he is the best player in Major League Baseball and well on his way to becoming one of the best ever in the game. Whether he was in Seattle, Texas or New York, he has been consistent and that's good, considering he is the highest paid player in the game.

But now, things have changed a bit. He's admitted to cheating. Yes, cheating. In his press conference, when asked if he felt like he cheated, A-Rod said "that's not up for me to determine". Well, trust me, you cheated. A-Rod continues to explain that this was a mistake that he made because he was "young and stupid". Well, let's think about that. He took these drugs from 2001-2003. That means he was 25 to 27 years old! I'm sorry but in this day and age, that's not young. And you have to consider the fact that his first full season was in 1996. So he had played 5 full seasons in the big leagues before he felt all this "pressure to perform". Gimme a break A-Rod. Not buying it.

As far as his apology, I really do think it is heartfelt. He knows he screwed up and he knows the words "role model" won't be attached to his name anymore. But what I'm not so sure about is that he is telling the absolute truth yet. With Katie Couric, he claimed he didn't take P.E. drugs. That was a lie. With Peter Gammons, he claimed he didn't know the name of the drug. That was a lie. After this press conference, it's almost as if we have to choose what to believe now. The answer to this whole thing: put him on a lie detector episode of Maury. Promise we'll get the truth then.

And as my good friend pointed out, one has to wonder what exactly A-Rod wanted to do with that press conference. If he wanted to "come clean", fine. Reading from a prepared statement, OK. But to talk about his teammates and his admiration for them from a piece of paper kind of makes him look like a heartless idiot. And the whole 35-40 second emotional moment he took before taking questions, well, that seemed a bit staged. Whoever manages him could have done better than that. But whatever.

So where do we go from here? Well, A-Rod is no longer the best player in baseball that is clean. That distinction now goes to Albert Pujols. But as Johnny Damon will tell you, A-Rod could have done worse.

No doubt there will be a smattering of boos across MLB stadiums this year but he plays for the Evil Empire already so not like he isn't used to those already. He's still gonna make the Hall of Fame, though it won't be a unanimous vote. And he's still gonna put up monster numbers because drugs or not, the guy is flat out good. Case closed.

A-Rod says he wants to now help with awareness programs about steroids and other drugs. I'm all for that. It's the least he could do for giving baseball another black eye and giving kids one less world-class athlete to look up to. What may be the bigger story though than all of this A-Rod junk is that 104 of about 700 players tested positive. That's just sad. Kids grow up hearing cheaters never win. Slowly but surely, Major League Baseball is proving that wrong.

And you know, it's a good thing the NFL is gaining in popularity. And a good thing that the NBA is having a scandal-free season too because baseball is America's pastime and no thanks to all this, it's going to stay that way for the next generation.

What's Wrong With: The NBA Early Entry Rule

So it's been awhile since I could find something wrong with something in sports but the reason is two-fold. First, I really was enjoying every moment in sports from the Super Bowl to the Blue Jackets being in a playoff hunt. The second thing was that people like A-Rod and Phelps were such big stories that I got side-tracked on whether or not to do a blog post on them. That still may come but for now, back to what's wrong with sports.

This week's isn't much of a surprise. I've never been a fan of the NBA early entry rule. In case you live under a rock, the way it works is that a player must be one year removed from high school before entering the NBA draft. The rule was changed two years ago to prevent high schoolers from jumping straight into the NBA, despite the success of numerous players such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.

Now initially, I was a huge fan of the move because I've always felt that the college experience is something everyone should have and that no 18 year-old man is ready intellectually to be given tens of millions of dollars, play basketball, and stay out of trouble. Sorry, just not gonna happen. But after about a month of thinking about the rule, it dawned on me. This is just dumb.

According to dictionary.com, college is defined as "an institution of higher learning, esp. one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training." But because of this rule, college is pretty much now just a Rent-A-Center. That's because high school kids who already have NBA talent are now just spending a year in college just to buy the time. So instead of coaches recruiting to build a program, they are now recruiting to build one good year.

Case in point: 2006-07 Ohio State Buckeyes. That season, OSU hailed by far the best recruiting seen to man. Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr, Daequan Cook and David Lighty. Plus, junior college transfer Othello Hunter. Needless to say, this team had the making of making a run at the title in their freshman year. Well, despite a slow start, the team gained momentum at the right time, advancing all the way to the NCAA Championship before finally falling to the defending champion Florida Gators.

Now as an OSU fan, I enjoyed the run but in reality, I knew it would be one and done. And that feeling sucked. To this day, I do not claim Oden, Conley or Cook as Buckeyes. Why should I? They simply came to OSU because they were forced to go somewhere. Then, they stayed for the exact minimum amount and left for "greener" pastures. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what they did in their time but they were enrolled at OSU for less than a year. That's a joke.

So it's time for a change. What should it be? Well, some think we should go back to the old rule. In some ways, I believe that because basketball is one of those sports where an 18 year old can compete against those with 10 years experience. But the change I really support is changing the NBA rule to the NFL rule. That means one must be 3 years removed from high school before being eligible for the draft.

So what will that do? Well first off, it allows coaches to build programs once again. And with the talent gap shrinking between the major conferences and mid-majors, it would really show what coaches are great recruiters and great teachers of the game. Also, it might persuade kids to actually graduate from college. Just think. Instead of a player like O.J. Mayo not going to classes for a year because he knows he's not staying, he has to stay 3 years. That means attending classes, maybe learning something. And who knows, maybe after 3 years, he thinks about staying for a 4th to get his degree. Or if he doesn't stay, he at least is just one year away and can go back after his NBA career like David Wesley and finish.

Maybe it's far-fetched of me to think that future NBA stars of tomorrow will stay and earn their college degree. But at least with 3 years of college, these guys will mature a bit. They will develop relationships. They will make connections. And again, they may learn something in a class or two. Of course, they will also have great times at an establishment and have hookups galore but those can happen at the professional level. So yeah,

All I'm saying is 3 years. 3 years to play under some of the game's best such as Coach K, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun. 3 years to mature as a man physically, socially and intellectually. 3 years to get an education in whatever they choose and not even pay for it. 3 years to enjoy what many call the best time of their lives. And hey, you can even make it 4. Is that too much to ask?

Best Super Bowl Countdown - #1

Well, after a week of making you wait (and getting way too caught up in other things to accidentally forget this), it is time to reveal my top Super Bowl since 1993. It shouldn't be much of a surprise when you consider the ones that have come before this. But before I do reveal the top Super Bowl, I want to reveal the bottom 3.

3rd Worst: Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
Dallas 52, Buffalo 17
-- Complete domination from the Cowboys (who I hated then and still do to this day). Only had one lead change. Buffalo QB Jim Kelly injured in 2nd quarter forcing backup QB Frank Reich to finish game. 3rd Super Bowl loss in a row by the Bills. Good halftime show though with Michael Jackson with 3,500 local children. Troy Aikman named Super Bowl MVP.

2nd Worst: Super Bowl XXXVII (2003)
Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21
-- Way too much pregame talk about Jon Gruden that didn't really matter. Only one lead change. Score was 20-3 at halftime and 34-3 during 3rd quarter. Raiders missed three 2-pt conversions. 3 defensive TD by the Bucs, including 2 interception returns for TD in last 2 minutes of game. 5 INT by Oakland QB Rich Gannon. Halftime show included Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting. Dexter Jackson named Super Bowl MVP.

THE WORST: Super Bowl XXXV (2001)
Baltimore 34, NY Giants 7
-- Not one lead change the entire game. 10-0 halftime lead. All 21 points scored in 3rd quarter scored in a span of 36 seconds (only excitement of game). Offenses combined for just 24 first downs (4 of them picked up by penalty). Giants QB Kerry Collins threw 4 INT. Giants only touchdown came on a kickoff return. Teams combined to go 5/30 on 3rd down. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl...somehow, Halftime show produced by MTV included Aerosmith, Britney Spears, N'Sync, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. Ray ("murderer") Lewis named Super Bowl MVP. Every football fan in America and around the world disappointed.

Alright, with that out of the way, here's my choice of the best Super Bowl since 1993:

#1 Super Bowl XXXIV
St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16
January 30, 2000
Atlanta, GA

Every Super Bowl has a favorite and an underdog. In this one, it was obvious who the favorite was. The Rams were known all season as "The Greatest Show On Turf" while the Titans were just the team that made it to the Super Bowl via the "Music City Miracle". But by the end of this game, what would separate these teams from Super Bowl Champs and Super Bowl losers would be a single yard.

The game started just as the Rams wanted. A nice long drive inside the Titans 20 yard line. But the drive didn't end well. Rams holder Mike Horan bobbled the snap, ruining a 35-yd FG attempt. The Titans responded with a solid drive of their own, going 42 yards. But normal surefire kicker Al Del Greco would miss a 47-yd FG, keeping the game scoreless.

The Rams would take advantage, again, driving into the red zone but instead of touchdowns, the Rams kept coming away with field goals. Jeff Wilkins hit 3 FG and had one blocked in the first half while the Titans would be slowed considerably by the Lovie Smith-coached Rams defense. And despite the Rams outgaining the Titans 294-89, the score would be a lowly 9-0 lead for STL. Fans were eager to see more offense and more excitement. Oh, that was coming.

After a Disney-produced halftime show that included Phil Collins and Christina Aguilera, it was back to football as the Titans looked to score their first points of the game. Tennessee would drive the ball 47 yards to set up another Del Greco 47-yd FG attempt. But just like the first one, this one was no good, thanks to Todd Lyght, who got his big mitts on it to block it to the ground. The Rams came out firing after the block. QB Kurt Warner hit WR Isaac Bruce with a 31-yd pass to begin a drive that would end with a 9-yd TD pass to WR Torry Holt and with 7:20 left in the 3rd quarter, the Rams were up 16-0 and by the looks of things, well on their way to winning Super Bowl XXXIV.

But the Titans were saving their best for the end. The Titans would respond with a 7-minute plus drive which included a 23-yd scramble by QB Steve McNair and a 1-yd touchdown plunge by RB Eddie George. The 2-pt conversion was no good but more importantly, the Titans were finally on the board, cutting the lead to 16-6. The Tennessee defense would stand tall and get the ball back and yet again, would drive down the field. In a drive that took more than 7 minutes, 13 plays and 79 yards, the Titans scored on a 2-yd TD run by Eddie George and all the sudden, the Titans had all the momentum and were down just 16-13 with 7:21 remaining.

The Rams knew they were in trouble and needed to get their offense back on track. But the Titans defense would have none of that. Warner and the Rams failed to pick up a 1st down, leading to another punt. The Titans only drove the ball 28 yds but it was enough to set up Al Del Greco for a 43-yd FG attempt. Del Greco's third FG attempt was the charm, proving the popular saying correct and tying the game at 16 with just 2:12 left. All the momentum was with the Titans. They had overcome a 16-pt deficit, becoming the first team in Super Bowl history to do so. The Rams had not been able to move the ball. But this is the Super Bowl. All of that meant nothing.

After the kickoff, the Rams went to the line, hoping to begin a long, scoring drive. Well, the drive wasn't long but it did end in a score. On the first play from their own 27, Warner launched a long pass to Isaac Bruce down the right sideline. Bruce caught the ball at the Titans 38 and then, turned on the burners, outracing the defense to the endzone. Just like that, the Rams recaptured the lead. With 1:54 left, they led 23-16.

But with such a quick scoring strike, it left plenty of time for the Titans offense to score. McNair and the Titans kept their cool, methodical moving the ball down the field. In the most crucial play of the drive, McNair avoided a sack and connected with WR Kevin Dyson for a 16-yd pass to put Tennessee at the the Rams 10-yd line with just 6 seconds left. With no timeouts, it would all come down to one play. McNair would get the snap, throw a quick pass to Dyson, who was running an inside slant. Dyson would make the catch in stride at the 3-yd line. However, Rams LB Mike Jones reacted quickly, getting ahold of Dyson around the 2-yd line. Dyson tried with all of his might to get out of Jones' grasp but after a long stretch, the football was one yard short. Time had expired. The Rams were Super Bowl Champions.

Kurt Warner was named the game's MVP for his stellar passing performance, throwing for a Super Bowl record 414 yards and 2 TD. And while there was no guarantee that the Titans would have won the game even by scoring on the final play of the game, it would have at least guaranteed the first-ever OT. All I remember is yelling at my TV saying "NO WAY!". And if every Super Bowl ended that way, then the world would be a better place.

Best Super Bowl Countdown - #2

Alright folks, we're down to the final two. If you like great Super Bowl endings, then you should know what two Super Bowls (post-1993) are in the top two spots. If you need a hint, both of the remaining selections involve Kurt Warner. But in what order you ask? Well, you'll just have to read and find out! My pick for best Super Bowl ever (post-1993) will be revealed before the Pro Bowl so make sure to check it out. But for now, let's go to the 1st runner-up.

#2 Super Bowl XLIII
Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23
February 1, 2009
Tampa, FL

There wasn't a lot of hope for this Super Bowl at the start. A lot of people anointed the Steelers the champ well before the game began. But it seemed as the game got closer, the Cards were given a chance. By time the game was over, it was evident that the Cards deserved more credit than they got.

It was a beautiful day in Tampa, FL for the 43rd edition of the Super Bowl. After an absolutely wonderful national anthem from Jennifer Hudson, it was on to the game. The Cardinals deferred, giving the Steelers the first possession. That may have been a mistake. The Steelers easily drove on the Cardinals defense, going 71 yards in 9 plays. On 3rd down and goal, Ben Roethlisberger looked to score on a 1-yd TD run. But AZ head coach Ken Whisenhunt has cancelled upon review, the call was overturned and ball placed at the 1-yd line. In a controversial decision, PIT head coach Mike Tomlin elected to kick the field goal, giving Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead that would stand for the rest of the quarter.

Just 51 seconds into the second quarter, the Steelers scored again. This time, they found the endzone. Gary Russell's 1-yd TD plunge capped off an 11-play, 69-yd drive in 5:12 that gave Pittsburgh a 10-0 lead. Questions were beginning to arise on whether Arizona would ever get in rhythm. Those questions would be answered quickly. On the ensuing drive, Kurt Warner helped drive the Cardinals 83 yards in 9 plays. That drive would end on a Warner to Ben Patrick TD that would cut the lead to 10-7.

After both teams had drive stall, the Steelers would get the ball with 2:46 on their own 16. Looking for more points before the half, the Steelers stayed aggressive. However, on 2nd down, Roethlisberger's short pass was picked off by Karlos Dansby, giving the Cardinals the ball at the Pittsburgh 34, ensuring themselves of at least a tie before the break right? WRONG. With 18 seconds left, 1st and goal on the 1, James Harrison stepped in front of Warner's pass and took it 100 yards the other way for a touchdown. It was the longest play ever in Super Bowl history but more importantly, gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead going into the half.

Wanting and needing to make a statement in the third quarter, the Cardinals drove the ball to midfield. But on 3rd and 6, Warner fumbled the ball with Harrison recovering. But for the second time in the game, Whisenhunt challenged and the call was overturned. The Cards would punt away and take a sigh of relief. But the Steelers had more points on their mind. With the help of 3 critical AZ penalties (including roughing the holder!?), the Steelers ran off a 16-play drive spanning nearly 9 minutes. It would only result in another field goal because of a strong Cardinals defense but at the end of 3 quarters, Pittsburgh led 20-7.

It wasn't looking good for the Cardinals, whose offense couldn't muster anything on the stout Steelers defense. But with 11:30 left, Warner and the Cards went no-huddle. In just 8 plays, Arizona went 87 yards for a crucial score. The touchdown was scored on a fantastic fade pass to Larry Fitzgerald and with 7:33 left, it was a one possession game. After a 3-and-out by Pittsburgh, the Cardinals had a golden chance to take the lead. But despite getting to the PIT 49, the Cards could not sustain a drive and with 3:26 left, the Cardinals were forced to punt.

Thanks to a great special teams play, the Steelers began the drive on their 1-yd line. On 3rd down, it looked as if Santonio Holmes had made an amazing first-down catch at the PIT 13 but the refs had a different idea. One yellow flag changed the game when holding was called in the endzone. Result of the play was a safety. And just like that, the Cards went from having to use timeouts and stop the Steelers on defense again to scoring 2 points and getting the ball back with 2:58 remaining.

So now it was up to the Cardinals to take advantage. And that they did. On 2nd down, Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald on the run. With the safeties not in position, Fitzgerald raced 64 yards for the touchdown and just like that, for the first time in Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals had the lead. Could a team that has been the doormat of the NFL for so long finally win its championship game? Not if the Steelers had anything to say about it.

While the touchdown was exactly what the Cards wanted and needed, it may have come too quick. With two timeouts and 2:37 on the clock, there was plenty of time for the Steelers to score a touchdown or at least get into field goal range. Going no-huddle and shotgun every play, Roethlisberger began to lead what may be called the best improvised 2-minute drill in Super Bowl history. On 3rd and 6, he found Holmes for 13 yards. Two plays later, he found Holmes for 40 yards, all but guaranteeing the team of a least a tie. But the Steelers were not playing for OT. After a first-down pass went right thru the hands of Holmes in the left corner of the endzone, the Steelers huddled up and called the next play. Just like first down, the pas was to Holmes. But unlike first down, this pass was complete. Roethlisberger's pass went over the hands of 3 Arizona defenders and somehow, Holmes caught it, maintained possessions and got both feet in. And with 35 seconds left, the Steelers had stolen the lead.

The Cardinals though still had two timeouts and two receivers in Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin who can make a big play. But with 15 seconds left and at the PIT 44, Warner ran out of time in the pocket, as LaMarr Woodley forced a fumble that would be recovered by Pittsburgh. After a kneeldown by Roethliesberger, Super Bowl XLIII was over.

Santonio Holmes won MVP honors, thanks in part to his 9 rec, 131 yds, and TD and his heroics on the final drive. Meanwhile, Warner notched another great passing performance in the Super Bowl (he has the top 3 passing games), throwing for 377 yds and a TD. Fitzgerald finished with 7 rec, 127 yds and 2 TD. But despite the great stats, the underdog Cardinals fell short. The Steelers had won their 6th title, the most of any franchise. And this one may have been their most exciting.

Best Super Bowl Countdown - #3

The countdown of the best Super Bowls ever continues and today, we are down to the final 3. Again, we are looking at Super Bowls before 1993, since anything before that I don't really remember that well, if at all. So far, 2 of the Super Bowls have involved the New England Patriots. Well today, the trend continues.

3. Super Bowl XLII
NY Giants 17, New England 14
February 3, 2008
Glendale, AZ

It was looked at as a huge mismatch. The perfect Patriots, who steamrolled through all their competition, versus the Giants, the fifth seed in the NFC who just seemed to be playing good enough ball to make it this far. Oddsmakers had their mind set on who would win the game, crowning the Pats as 12-point favorites. But despite the fact that the Pats were the overwhelming favorite, the game still had to be played.

In order to win, the Giants knew they needed to keep the potent Pats offense off the field, they needed long drives. That's exactly what they did to start the game, taking nearly 10 minutes to drive 63 yards in 16 plays to score a field goal and take a 3-0 lead. In fact, the 9:59 drive is the longest in Super Bowl history.

But once the Patriots offense got the ball, they did what they did best all season: score. Tom Brady led the team to the 1-yd line when the first quarter ended. The two possessions were a Super Bowl record for fewest in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, the Pats punched it in for 6 when Laurence Maroney ran it into the endzone to give New England a 7-3 lead. The rest of the 2nd quarter would be dominated by defense. The Patriots defense picked off Eli Manning while the Giants stayed tough, and held the Pats scoreless, leaving the league's best offense with just 81 yds in the first half.

After a less than impressive halftime show from Tom Petty, the third quarter began with lots of buzz. Unfortunately, the game action didn't pick up. Neither team scored in what was a lackluster third quarter for both teams. But when the 4th quarter began, the best action began.

To start it off, the Giants drove 80 yards on just 6 plays, capped off by a Manning to David Tyree TD pass that gave the G-Men a 10-7 lead. Could the Giants stop the Patriots from staying perfect? In the words of Lee Corso, "not so fast".

Brady and the Patriots had an answer, as they had in Super Bowl XXXVI and XXXVIII. After both teams swapped possessions, the Patriots went on a 12 play, 80 yard drive in 5:12 that ended with Brady finding his favorite target, Randy Moss for a touchdown. So with a mere 2:42 remaining, the NFL's best team in the regular season had a 14-10 lead. Just 2;42 away from finishing 19-0 and being forever called the best team in NFL history.

But Manning and the Giants refused to give in. In the biggest game of his career, Manning drove the Giants with poise down the field, moving them closer and closer to the endzone. But nothing was better than what happened on 3rd and 5 with 1:15 left. Manning, in what seemed like slow motion, escaped a sure sack to find David Tyree, who made what may be called the best catch in Super Bowl history. The little-known receiver caught the ball with the use of his helmet to gain 32 yards and secure a first down for the Giants.

After a sack on 1st down, the Giants used their final timeout with :51 seconds left, truly putting the game in Manning's young hands. But Manning looked more like his older brother. After a 12-yd gain to Steve Smith on 2nd down to gain another set of downs, Manning made the throw of his life. Manning threw a perfect fade pass to Plaxico Burress in the left corner of the endzone. Burress reeled it in and with 35 seconds remaining, the Giants had 1 17-14 lead.

But fans knew better than to think this one was over. Brady took the field, hoping to stage one more big game comeback. But this time, it was not to be as the Giants defense stood tall. After a 4th-down incomplete pass and with one second on the clock, Bill Belichick ran across the field to shake the hand of Tom Coughlin. After a final kneeldown, it was officially over. The Patriots had lost for the first time all season and the Giants were Super Bowl Champs.

Eli Manning earned MVP honors and deservedly so for his performance on the final drive and pretty much all game. 2-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady played well too, going 29/48 for 266 yds and a TD but alas, it was not to be. The Giants had pulled off what may be forever called the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

Alright, we're down to the final two games. Odds are, you know what they are but in what order are they? You'll have to come back to find out.

Best Super Bowl Countdown - #4

I know, I know. You miss the NFL already. We all do. Plus, we all know the Pro Bowl doesn't even really count as football. But the one good thing is that while we all wait for next season, you at least have my Best Super Bowl Countdown. Today, it's time to reveal #4 and while some may feel this one should be higher, I'm gonna keep it right where it is.

4. Super Bowl XXXVI
New England 20, St. Louis 17
February 4, 2002
New Orleans, LA

Just 5 months after the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history, there seemed to be more talk about Super Bowl security and subdued celebrations in New Orleans than about the game. But by the end of this Super Bowl, all the talk was about the game.

The Rams were the overwhelming favorites, having come off a Super Bowl win two years before and having the best offense in the NFL. They showed it off early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st quarter. But then came the turnovers.

With 8:47 left in the 2nd quarter, Kurt Warner's pass was picked off by Ty Law, who took it 47 yards the other way to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. Then, before the half ends, Ricky Proehl catches a pass for 15 yds only to fumble it away to the Pats. Tom Brady took advantage of the turnover, leading a 5-play drive capped off by a TD pass to David Patten to give the Patriots a 14-3 halftime lead.

After an inspirational and emotional halftime show by U2, it was back to the action and just like the first half, the turnovers were killing the Rams. Another Warner INT led to Patriot points as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 37-yd FG to extend the New England lead to 17-3.

The upset of all upsets looked to be well in hand but Warner and the Rams weren't going down that easily. The Rams drove all the way to the Patriots 3-yd line until being forced to 4th and goal. Rams Head Coach rolled the dice and went for it. But it didn't pay off as Warner fumbled and Tebucky Jones took it in for another Pats score. BUT, there was a flag. Holding on the defense and an automatic first down. 2 plays later, Warner scored and trimmed the lead to 17-10.

The score invigorated the Rams D, who shut down the Pats offense and gave their offense a shot to tie the game. And that they did. With 1:51 left, the Rams' passing attack showed its stuff, scoring in just 21 seconds and tying the game at 17 with 1:30 left.

The Patriots got the ball back but the belief was that the team that scored all of its points on turnovers and had no timeouts would just play for overtime. But Brady and head coach Bill Belichick had a different idea. Despite not being able to stop the clock with timeouts, the Pats drove with confidence and ease, completing 3 short passes to get to the Pats 41 with 33 seconds left. After a few incomplete passes, Brady fired a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown to move into Rams territory. Next play, he found Jermaine Wiggins for 16 yards and all the sudden, the Pats were in field-goal range.

So with 7 seconds left and no time to take a chance to get more yards, the Patriots put the game in the hands, or should I say, the leg of Adam Vinatieri. The South Dakota native lined up the 48 yarder. The snap was good. The hold was good. The kick was perfect. And the game was over.

It marked the first time ever that a Super Bowl was won on the final play of the game. The underdog Pats had pulled it off in thrilling fashion. Despite a less than spectacular stat line (16/27, 145 yds, TD), Brady earned MVP honors. And even though the Rams outgained the Pats 427-267, it was the Pats that left the Big Easy as the big winners of Super Bowl XXXVI.

So we're down to the final 3. What's next? Find out tomorrow right here.

Best Super Bowl Countdown - #5

On the heels of what was an amazing Super Bowl, I am counting down the 6 best Super Bowls since 1993, the first one I really remember. Next up on the list...

5. Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England 32, Carolina 29
February 2, 2004
Houston, TX

There was a lot of excitement for this game in the 2 weeks leading up to it. But for 26 minutes and 55 seconds, that excitement turned into boredom. That's because it took that long, a Super Bowl record, for either team to score. But once Tom Brady hooked up with Deion Branch with 3:05 left, the floodgates opened.

The Panthers responded with an 8-play, 95-yard drive capped off by a 35 yard TD reception from Steve Smith with 1:05 left. But the Pats had a counter-punch, connecting on a 52 yd catch from Branch that led to a 5-yd TD catch by David Givens. But Carolina wasn't done yet. A Pats squib kick backfired after a 21-yd run by Stephen Davis to set up a John Kasay FG to end a wild final 3:05 of the first half.

After an entertaining halftime show (wardrobe malfunction anyone?), the 3rd quarter looked a lot like the 1st: slow and scoreless. But these two teams left all the best action for the end. Antowain Smith scored two plays into the 4th quarter to make it 21-10 NE. The Panthers pounced though, scoring on a Deshaun Foster 33-yd TD run with 12:39 left. In a surprise move, they went for 2 and missed, leaving the score at 21-16.

The Panthers weren't done there. After New England marched to the Panthers 9-yd line, Reggiwe Howard picked off Brady's 3rd and goal pass. Two plays later, Jake Delhomme threw a Super Bowl record 85-yd TD pass to Mushin Muhammad and all the sudden, Carolina was ahead 22-21. The 2-pt conversion again no good.

Brady and the Pats though had a comeback ready. A 68-yard drive would end with a Brady pass to LB Mike Vrabel of all people for a TD and the lead. The Pats tacked on the 2-point conversion and were up 29-22 with 2:51 left.

But that's not all. No, not by a longshot. In a game that kept rocking back and forth, the Panthers mustered up another scoring drive, capped off by a Delhomme TD pass to Ricky Proehl. After a Kasay extra point, Super Bowl XXXVIII was tied at 29 with 1:08 left.

But of all the big plays in the game, the biggest may have come on the ensuing kickoff when Kasay's kick went out of bounds, giving the Patriots great field position at their own 40. Five plays later, Brady found Branch for 17 yards to set up Adam "Big Game" Vinatieri. Like he had just two years ago, Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal from 41 yards out.

The 37 points scored in the final quarter were a Super Bowl record for any quarter. The MVP went to Brady, who went 32/48 for 352 yds and 3 TDs. Delhomme in a losing effort played well too, going 16/33 for 323 yds and 3 TD. The Patriots had won their second Super Bowl in 3 years and deserved every bit of it after this wild affair.

Tomorrow, I'll reveal my 4th favorite Super Bowl. I hope you'll check back and see it. Until then, hope your Super Bowl XLIII hangover is slowly going away.

Super Bowl XLIII In Review and Countdown

When the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 18th, solidifying a Cardinals-Steelers Super Bowl, I was about as excited as hearing that George W. Bush was re-elected. Honestly, I didn't see much hope in the Super Bowl. It was a simple case of a experienced team with a superior defense going against, well, the Arizona Cardinals. Need I say more?

But as the days went on, I slowly started thinking harder about the game and like Barack Obama, I started to become hopeful. (Alright, no more politics, promise) I think what sold me on the promise of this Super Bowl was the fact that the Cardinals were coming into the game as hot as the weather in Arizona. And that bodes well for any team.

Fast forward to now, a day after Super Bowl XLIII, and what we had Sunday night was one of the best Super Bowls ever. Yes, ever! Since I don't claim a favorite NFL team, all I ask for from a Super Bowl is a close game that I will enjoy. Well, this game was close and was enjoyable. Of course, it was slow at times and the halftime show sucked as usual but this game had it all in the actual game.

Just think about it. It had the longest play in Super Bowl history, a 100-yd INT return by a linebacker from Kent State University (Go MAC!). Two huge goal-line stops by a defense that was considered the worst of the two. A thrilling comeback by the underdog, scoring 16 unanswered points to take the lead with a little more than 2 minutes left. And then, what all of us football fans love, a game-winning drive capped off by an amazing play.

In my mind, two of the top 10 Super Bowl plays were in this game. But was this Super Bowl the best ever? That will be debated from now until Super Bowl XLIV. But I'm willing to throw my opinion into the ring.

I've ranked the top 6 Super Bowls since 1993, the first Super Bowl that I truly remember. So where does Super Bowl XLIII rank? Time to find out.


6. Super Bowl XXXII
Denver 31, Green Bay 24
January 26, 1998
San Diego, CA

The big storyline coming into this game was the QB matchup. Future Hall of Famers Brett Favre and John Elway, going for a Super Bowl title. Favre had just won his first the year before while Elway was still winless in the Big Game.

The NFC came into the game winners of the last 13 Super Bowls and the Pack Attack were the favorites. But it was the Broncos that jumped out to a 17-7 lead, thanks to an Elway TD run. The Pack would tie it at 17 and later, tie it at 24 in the 4th quarter, setting the stage for John Elway to lead his team to victory.

But it was Terrell Davis who stole the show, who rushed for 157 yds and scored his Super Bowl record third rush TD to give Denver a 31-24 lead with 1:45 left. After one last Denver defensive stand, that was all she wrote. The Broncos were Super Bowl Champs. And in the words of owner Pat Bowlin during the trophy presentation, "This one's for John!"

So what are the next 5? You'll find out over the next 5 days. See ya then.