...ker to decide the division not make it into the playoffs? It could have easily happened to the Steelers this year. But life came back to the team in the very late stages of the season and they were able to grab the last spot on the caboose. The dark horse was dismissed as "previously beaten" by Cinci, and the tone remained the same as the Steelers rode into Indy and stole the upset victory for a chance to play in the Championship game in Denver. By then the dark horse was getting a little more respect, and Denver was wondering what to expect. Their worst fear was to face a team that was in that zone, the unbeatable zone that propels teams to glory. Unfortunately for them, Denvers gut was right, and the Steelers smashed through Colorado and never looked back, handing the Broncos one of those old fashioned respect getter loses that finally cemented them as not only contenders, but favorites to win the big game over the Seattle seahawks. And it distinguished the boys in black as the only team to ever advance to the super Bowl from the lowest possible seed, 6th. The teams quarterback, Big Ben Rothlisberger, was a mere 22 years old but brought a record of 27-4 to the game. Ben also had a promise to deliver on, a promise he had made to Jerome Bettis who was seriously considering hanging up his cleats, after the previous years loss to the Pat's in Pittsburgh. Come back next year and we we'll make it all the way, I promise. Hines ward, super Bowl XL MVP, made similar promises, and was obviously troubled by the thought of a ringless Bettis ending his career on such a sour note.

To seal the deal the game was being played in Detroit, the town which conceived and gave birth to Bettis, and a town that was certainly waiting with open arms for her son to return in a blaze of glory. And glorious it was, a spectical I will never forget, a story line so perfect, the outcome had to be obvious from the start. A mere 4 hour drive from Pittsburgh, the crowd at the game that day was 90%-10% Pittsburgh ...more

November NFL Thoughts

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Picked up pieces from the sports betting weekend. A pro handicapper told me about an old betting angle started back in the 1970s which relates to the mid-point of the NFL season. According to him, people bet on any team that starts the season 2-6 or worse for the rest of the year, and against any team that starts 6-2 or better. This is not a formula for hitting 80% winners the rest of the way, but for sports betting grinders. I don't do that, but I can see reasoning behind the angle. You're going against public perception which means, in theory, youre getting a few extra points each week, as teams that that 2-6 are likely to be big dogs the rest of the way, while currently strong teams like the Colts and Broncos will be getting respect from oddsmakers. Just thought I'd pass...more

Premiership betting Review - 13 February 2006

...ivepool at Evens kept up the pressure with a victory at Wigan. Defender Sami Hyypia was the unlikely match winner after 30 minutes.

Arsenal and Bolton met for the second time in a fortnight and the match ended in a bad tempered draw. Kevin Nolan gave Bolton a shock lead after 12 minutes and the Trotters almost held out for an 11/2 win until Gilberto levelled the match in injury time.

Evertons moved up to tenth with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn. Goalkeeper Iain Turner was sent off after nine minutes and was replaced by another debutante in 19-year-old John Ruddy. However, th...more

Mike Holmgren owes Bill Cowher and NFL Fans an Apology

...Since when is it OK to totally snub the winner of an NFL game, let alone the biggest game of the year, the super Bowl? Well that's exactly what Mike Holmgren, the head coach of the Seattle seahawks, did on super Bowl sunday after his team lost the game. Not only did he not meet Coach Cowher, the longest tenured coach in the NFL, on the 25 yard line for a congratulatory handshake as scheduled, it was actually Cowher who had to go out of his way to find Holmgren. The moment finally took place in the seahawks locker room, so I can speculate on who pursued who. At a time when he should be enjoying his much deserved win, Coach Cowher was chasing down a sore loser, because Cowher knows how it works. The deal isn't done until the handshake. It's tradition, a tradition rooted in good sportsman ship. A tradition that Holmgren dismissed because he was angry. What a great example, what a wonderful role model he was to all of the kids watching.

In 1995, Cowher and the Steelers lost the super Bowl to the Dallas Cowboy's under similar circumstances. Bad officiating, lot's of "if'y" calls, touch downs that really weren't. But when the clock expired and the game was over, Bill Cowher marched right into the center of the field and shook the victor's hand and offered a few kind words. He didn't slither out of t...more

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