Just when it seemed the Patriots had been done in by another bizarre reception, the Seahawks’ coaching staff outsmarted itself, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Not handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, "The Beast," was shocking, despite the pass-first philosophy of the modern NFL. He is such a huge part of the team’s persona. This was a rare instance in which a coach may have lost a game. It’s impossible to know if the there would have been a great goal line stand or a fumble, so it’s not a certainty that Seattle would have scored. Still…. I was reminded of the recent Super Bowl between the 49ers and Ravens, when San Francisco’s future Hall of Fame RB, Frank Gore, did not touch the ball once in the closing minute in four downs inside the Baltimore ten. I was also reminded of how it seemed Tom Landry often tried to outfox an opponent rather than allowing the talent of the Cowboys to decide the issue. I thought New England the better team. It dominated except for the last 30 seconds of the first half and third quarter. In the fourth the offense seemed to figure out how to better protect its QB, and Tom Brady was at his best. The Seahawks demonstrated uncharacteristic discipline until the final 20 seconds. Then their true colors appeared, showing how difficult it was to root for either of the teams. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots return to next year’s big bash. The rest of the AFC appears too weak to challenge them. The Seahawks will have a much tougher road, especially if they lose Lynch, who will demand budget busting big bucks. And a team will pay, despite the fact he is a anti-social creep. Kudos to the unsung players who stepped up dramatically for both teams. As for the halftime show, it was lively and very colorful. Typically, I fuzzed out during the ads, so none stood out. The NFL is to be commended for bucking society’s trend and emphasizing the importance of fathers, a not so subtle message to many of its players. My thanks to Adam and Sharon. I had a great time, even though I was the only invitee dumb enough to ignore the impending storm. Fortunately, the streets were merely damp and not icy on the way home, and I even bagged a decent parking spot should the weather allow the floating book shop to return mid week. My spirits were bolstered when I went out for my morning walk and found that it was pouring. I hadn’t seen such slop in ages. Hopefully, most of the snow will be washed away before it freezes -- fat chance, I know. The temperature is supposed to be in the 40’s on Wednesday. Maybe the sidewalks will be ice-free by then.
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Web Site:
http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
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