Finally got to watch some Olympic highlights online. An embarrassing situation for the Canadians with their giant torch not emerging from the ground properly and Steve Nash standing there awkwardly. You gotta feel for them because of the huge pressure they were under to follow the Beijing opening ceremonies which was a combination of breathtaking, inspiring and horrifying.

Besides that doesn’t seem like I’ve missed any huge moments. Nothing like Lezak chasing down Bernard in the Summer Olympics swimming to help Michael Phelps win yet another Gold. Once we get the internet on Thursday I may just watch live streaming curling day and night. The inevitable USA vs Canada showdown in hockey should be on every television in every bar across the nation but chances are there will be old Pirates highlights on Fox Sports Net rather then any international coverage.

Most people I talk to are interested in the Olympics and show some level of pride if they’re told that America did well, but very few that I’ve spoken to have any passion towards it. They don’t seek it out in anyway or have an emotional attachment that I feel when watching highlights.

Sports truly are the men’s soap opera and the Olympics is sweeps week with all your favorite shows/characters/story-lines combined. U-S-A! U-S-A!

Let’s just keep piling on Tiger Woods. A news report from Wisconsin has a middle school band blaming Tiger Woods for only 80% of their students being able to afford a trip to Disney World. Their “top” fundraising/auction item was an autographed picture of Mr. Woods. Expected to raise $1,500, it only made $300. They’re saying his recent indiscretions caused the price to plummet.

I don’t blame Woods, I blame the school and the children for an awful fundraising strategy. Never put that many eggs in one basket, especially when it’s simply an autographed picture. Autographed pictures are like collecting baseball cards, there’s no real value in them except for reselling. They should’ve sold hoagies or candy bars, which is a proven fundraising tactic.

Now if they had a picture of Tiger Woods and one of his mistresses then those pictures could’ve sold to the highest bidding tabloid and then the band would be taking stretch Hummers to Disney World. Think out of the box kids.

The huge deal today is the gutsy questionable ridiculous call of going for it on 4th and 2 from their own 28-yard-line in last night’s Monday Night Football game against the Colts.

Now, the most important thing is if they were successful in making the conversion, there’d be less then a sparkler of the firework display the risk is getting today. This type of decision doesn’t play the odds. It’s the equivalent of hitting on a blackjack 19, because you want to win back your money now rather then later.

The networks are loving to be able to question the prodigal coach after he’s been defiant in answering media questions his entire career. This will probably linger for the next week or so and, hopefully, if he makes another questionable call and fails will cause a mutiny in the media about whether he has “lost his touch.”

The decision is the equivalent of a paper cut on the season but the blood is in the water and the media sharks are circling.

Right around the time my beloved Buffalo Bills fumbled away another shoulda-been victory, it was clear, this season is lost. It’s reached a point where even if we won it would be counter-productive because it would only hurt us in draft positioning come April where we can actually improve our team. Four of our top six defensive players (my own estimates) are injured, and our supposedly unstoppable no huddle offense has had no life. The only media attention we get refers to a countdown of when Terrell Owens will light the stadium on fire.

Which is why it is now time for my, sadly it seems annual, choosing of the “girlfriend” team to cheer for to finish out the season. I need a team to relate to, a team I can cheer for and still get something back in return. Let’s run down the candidates and what I’m looking for in a team.

No Frontrunners. It’s easy to jump on a bandwagon after it’s filled with riches, good food, and hot girls… and hay. Forget the metaphor. I’m a guy who roots for underdogs, I’m not going to jump on a squad when the team is already surging and high five the guys who have been with the team from the beginning. They deserve the extra space and recognition for sticking with the squad before the good times got rolling. That takes out all the undefeateds (Vikings, Giants, Broncos, Saints, Colts)

No Hope. The Bills have been awfully disappointing this year, but thankfully they still arn’t the worst team in the league. Why would I start caring about another team that would only break my heart more every Sunday? Yeah, doesn’t make sense. Get the winless or near-winless squads out (Titans, Chiefs, Bucs, Rams, Raiders, Browns, Lions, Panthers)

The Hate Runs Too Deep. Some teams I’ve just been so ingrained into despising that I’m emotionally incapable of feeling joy when a person wearing their logo or color combination does something positively. I can’t help it. If I won the lottery and the check had a Dolphins logo on it, I’d… well… I’d still take the money but I’d frown a little bit. In addition, the local frenzy for the Steelers is way too much for me to handle. I do not want to be just another black and gold face in the crowd. Also gone are the Cowboys because of two Super Bowls and Patriots because of this entire millennium thus far.

Snoozefest. If i’m going out of my way to announce loyalty for a team the remainder of this season, I want to make it worth my while. Boring games or ugly play isn’t something I’m going to enjoy watching. That’s why teams that are high in penalties (Ravens, Cardinals) or low yards per game offense (49ers, Jets, Redskins) won’t be making my list.

Still Loyal. Despite this process of choosing a temporary “new” team, I will always stay true to my Bills. That’s why I would want to avoid any conflict of interest by eliminating any potential opponents we would face. While you probably will crush us when we play, I will still be hoping for a miracle win against the Texans, Falcons, and Jaguars.

Fans Know Losing Before They Know Winning. Who will I be sitting next to on this metaphorical bandwagon we keep referring to? I’d prefer to have a team that’s faced some down times in their history, so we could properly relate on our struggles. A team that’s had recent success, specifically the playoffs in the last three years, has not known the pain I feel. I don’t want to hear the Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks or Bears complaining. They’ve had their chances. Call me when a 10 year old watching your last playoff game, is now graduating high school without seeing another one.

The Finalists… This brings us down to two teams that meet our credentials. The Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers. Neither team was extremely hyped up this season, the Packers maybe slightly more, but both are performing well, the Bengals maybe slightly more.

Who wins the edge in star power? The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who was the fantasy world’s most hyped up and coming QB this year and has so far done pretty well, but besides that who comes to mind? Ryan Grant is a strong running back but he isn’t getting recognized out of Wisconsin. Greg Jennings? Donald Driver? Poll half of America and they’ll tell you Sterling Sharpe is still starting.

The Bengals have the ORIGINAL USC Heartthrob Carson Palmer along with the best showman in the NFL, Chad Ochocinco. Their last three games were all decided by a field goal, all of them by less then a touchdown and all of them either won or lost in the last minute of the game. They’re a tipped fluke of a ball from being 5-0 and being eliminated instead of the Broncos in our first credential.

The Bengals are coming off a 4-11-1 season, and have gone 110-193-1 since 1990. They know how to lose and can definitely appreciate each drop of winning they get. With their close victories, it’s tough to tell if they’re “for real” in the media’s eyes yet but I’m there, I’m ready.

For the remainder of the 2009 season, LET’S GO BENGALS!

Saw this quote on Bill Simmons’ column on ESPN.com:

“Being a Bills fan is like sending your girlfriend off to be a roommate on ‘Real World.’ Before the season starts you have this foolish hope that she won’t let you down. However, in the depths of your being, you know that a few weeks from now, you will be sitting on your couch, watching your beloved fumble away her clothes, getting touchdown after touchdown scored on her.”

Notorious ZIG13: so i’m on a shoot right now
Notorious ZIG13: only have about 10 minutes to chill
Notorious ZIG13: and i logged on to yahoo to check my fantasy baseball team
Notorious ZIG13: and the headline on yahoo is “North Korea warns that nuclear war is imminent.” Click on article to see accusations against United States.
Notorious ZIG13: and you know what i did
Notorious ZIG13: i looked at the headline for a minute, moved my cursor over it and then hurried and clicked on fantasy baseball
Notorious ZIG13: the good news is that ricky nolasco just got added to my team – the bad news…. i’m exceptionally less informed about the potential end of the world
Notorious ZIG13: god i love fantasy….
Notorious ZIG13: PEACE BITCH

Now that the tournament is upon us, time for us to start the chaos. I’ll admit, since I’m not in any pay pools, I’m not as obsessed with my bracket as I have been in the past. I’ll actually be rooting for every underdog. I’d love to see the final four filled with #16 seeds and the world in shambles.

My final four is as follows: Louisville, Missouri, Villanova, and North Carolina. I have Louisville over North Carolina in the Championship.

Not any huge upsets in the first round. My mandatory 12 over 5 pick is Arizona over Utah. Although, to be honest, I’m feeling big things for Western Kentucky over Illinois, but I won’t be changing my bracket this late into the night.

Only team I’m really rooting for is Syracuse, besides that let’s go seeds 8-16!

T.O.

’nuff said.

Our take?  At best, an opportunity in Buffalo would be used to help generate interest on the part of other teams.  But if no one else steps up, or if the Bills are willing to pay much more than any other team, T.O. could be getting his wish to play in New York, only not with the team that he originally wanted.

I think if hes willing to sign with us, go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? We miss the playoffs for tenth straight year? He destroys the team? Eh. At least we’ll finally get some SportsCenter time.

Source: PFT

Talk about the definition of a formality. Michael Jordan was so good at basketball that it became a phrase in itself. If you were good at something you were the “Michael Jordan” of it.

In addition to the greatest basketball player of all time, he may have been the best marketed player of all time. What other retired athlete do you know that has annual shoes, products and clothing lines still on the market? No other athlete can be synonymous with simply a symbol.

He was in movies, television shows, hosted Saturday Night Live… the list goes on. He is without a doubt the framework and era ushering beacon of the 21st century professional athlete.

I was never a huge Michael Jordan fan as a child, I was an underdog sort of guy, but you have to respect someone who changed the world as much as he did. Nobody else can ever claim that years after retiring, the sport is still looking for the “next” you. If he doesn’t get 100% of the vote, then why do they even have a Hall of Fame?

Wow, didn’t see this coming. Rodriguez decided to not take the path of others in flat out denying everything forever, but came clean and admitted that he used steroids.

I’ll be honest, I’ve not cared for Alex Rodriguez for a long time but to come out and admit wrong-doing makes me respect him more. You’ve been caught, come clean and try to move on with your life. I can’t say I’ll be rooting for him from now, but I definitely won’t be rooting against him.

“Coach, How do you ‘leave it all on the floor every night’? If you left it all on the floor the previous game, you have nothing left to leave. Therefore, if you are saying that your team regenerates this metaphorical ‘it’ then why is it such a compliment to ‘leave it all on the floor’ since it is a renewable resource?”

Just a couple quick thoughts on the Super Bowl in no particular order:

- I have several witnesses that had me accurately predicting the Super Bowl an hour before kickoff as follows, “The Steelers will dominate the entire game, the Cardinals will get a late score but the Steelers will win in the final minute 27-23.”

- There were several bad calls against Arizona, there were a couple should’ve been calls against Pittsburgh. None of these decided the game one way or another. Chances are there were plays and/or penalties all season that could’ve been or shouldn’t have been called and if those changed you may not be here. You take the good with the bad.

- The holding in the endzone was absolutely the right call and rightfully called.

- If James Harrison didn’t have that personal foul penalty he would’ve been a great choice for MVP. He destroyed Arizona offensive lineman Mike Gandy all night. The stupid penalty negated a dozen good plays he had and it was right to go to Santonio Holmes in the end.

- The final play of the game should’ve been reviewed. Kurt Warner’s arm, very well, might’ve been going forward. There is still a 99% chance that the game would’ve ended the same, but it would’ve been concluded with zero doubt.

- I rooted for the Cardinals until they took a 23-20 lead with 2 and a half minutes to play, and then I rooted for Pittsburgh on their final drive. I wanted my prediction (see above) to come true. I am selfish.

- I think Arizona will be a sexy pick next year to return to the Super Bowl and they will disappoint everyone by missing the playoffs.

- A couple strange “malfunction” moments in the half-time show… Bruce Springsteen, prior to the first song, stradling his microphone stand and holding it in a “That’s What She Said” position. Also, when he slid across the stage and his crotch flew into America’s living room in 3D.

- Speaking of 3D, I’m not into it. Has any technology not been advanced more then 3D glasses in the past 50 years? Seriously. People are wearing the same paper, cheap specs they wore in Grease.

- Best commercial, McGruger Pepsi commercials. They played a ton of them last night during Saturday Night Live and only one this evening. Definitely worth looking at. Too tired to look for the link myself, probably on Hulu. No commercials were outstanding, unbelievable SUPER BOWL type commercials. All of them seemed like they could air any other time and wouldn’t think twice about them.

- The First Prediction For Next Year’s Super Bowl Based On Absolutely Nothing: New England Patriots vs Dallas Cowboys

Just thought I should clarify my stated intentions to root for the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow.

As a Buffalo Bills fan, I understand what it is like to be a suffering fan. Years of heartache and despair. The Cardinals have the second longest drought in professional sports (61 years) for a championship. Only the Chicago Cubs’ 100 years have them beat.

I feel, that if the Cardinals win tomorrow, they will be satisfied. They will be happy. Their elderly fans will die happy. Their new fans will be rejuvenated. Arizona will rejoice.

Now, if the Steelers win, there will be celebration and joy. However, a month from now, they will be talking about the Penguins and the Pirates. It’ll just be the 6th trophy for the city. An amazing accomplishment, but it will not be cherished as much as the singular one in Arizona.

With these intentions stated, I also have always been one to root for the underdog. Cheer on those who need cheering most. I think the Cardinals are that team in this game. They are the sexy cinderella pick, but nobody would be too surprised if Pittsburgh beat them 45-6.

If the Steelers win, which if I had to put money on it I would pick them, I will be excited for the city. If Arizona wins I’ll be excited for them and probably never talk about it again. It’s a 24 hour decision that is gone by Monday morning.

Ideal scenario, Arizona plays well and leads the whole game but Pittsburgh wins on a last second score. It’ll give me excitement for cheering for the Cardinals the whole game and I won’t have to hear the negativity around the region the entire offseason. Just hope for a good game, some good commercials, great company, and amazing food.

Even though I’m not a Steelers fan, it’s interesting to read the history of such a nationally recognized movement. Read more about the history of the Steelers’ symbol.

On a side note, Myron Cope was truly one of the great broadcasters of the time. Also hilarious:

“I said, ‘I’m not a gimmick guy,’” Cope said in a December 2006 interview with ESPN. “One of them reminded me my contract was coming up for negotiation … and I said, ‘I’m a gimmick guy.’”