Big Game Reaction

Since I've been a pretty lazy son of a bitch the past few days, I decided that I wouldn't do a pre-Super Bowl analysis, 'cause hell, that would be way to much work! And, yeah, I had a post saved that would have done the trick, yet going into Saved Drafts and simply hitting 'Post' would have been far too arduous. Damn. I guess I was in the Super Bowl spirit: the spirit of sitting on your ass all day watching a game while eating chips and other artery-clogging goodies.

So prior to the game, I picked the Steelers to win 27-20. And, yeah, they won 27-23. I should get some sort of prize, shouldn't I? Anyway, I thought people were getting too excited by the Cinderella Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Yes, the Cardinals have an explosive offense, but the Steelers have a legendary (yes, legendary) defense this year. Everyone was forgetting that defense.

I contemplated making the score more one-sided, yet I thought about Kurt Warner and Larry Fitz and I felt the Cards deserved a shot in hell. When the Steelers got up 10-0, early, I had twinge of satisfaction. Yet, I was absolutely shocked at the grit and determination Arizona soon displayed in the fourth quarter. The team does have something. Really well-coached and talented, and just needed to get the jitters out for a little bit (though it took three quarters).

From this revelation of seeing the grit the Cardinals, such a futile franchise, showed America, I found myself rooting for them in that intense fourth quarter. Yes, I was risking being wrong (I hate being wrong.), losing my streak in Streak for the Cash and also going against a prediction I uttered months and months ago ("The Steelers are gonna win it all"). I really wanted the Cardinals to win this one.

My heart was beating and I had a bit of sweat over my brow. I leaned forward in my chair. I am pathetic, aren't I? And when Fitzgerald scored that beautiful go-ahead touchdown, I think everyone got a tad worried, as plenty of time remained on the clock. The Steelers had time to score.

And they did. It was in the cards (no pun intended) for them, I supposed. They were the better team and the better team won. And, you know, it was bittersweet for me. You see, I have this tendency to pick against the team I want to win, so that if the team I want to win loses, I can still have the satisfaction fo getting to boast my correct estimation. It's great, yet bittersweet.

The season's over. I guess I'm ready. Ready to let go. Time to turn my full attention to basketball, be it NBA or NCAA. It was a hell of a Super Bowl with an incredible finish. The Steelers cemented themselves on the Mount Rushmore of great sports franchises (with the Celtics, Yankees and Canadiens, right?) while the Cardinals had, easily, their best season in Arizona. A landmark year for them.

At least Omar Epps is happy about it. And, God, he's wearing all Steelers colors? Good for him.