The Tecmo Bowl Preview to Super Bowl XXII

As an homage to the greatest game in the history of sports, I feel as if I must chime in on the Super Bowl. As ESPN, SI and every other media facet (including E!, VH1 and TMZ) sets their wagers and picks, making themselves out to be football Miss Cleo’s, I take a different approach. As many know with the youtube generation, X-Box is the biggest thing since Jerome Bettis’s head, and the game of choice always seems to be Madden. You see on each channel the game simulation with different results….. blah.

I’m an 80’s baby, and nothing serves us more right now than vintage. You see it in the clothes we wear, the music we listen to and nearly every other facet of life. The D.I. makes a killing off of us. Therefore this year I have decided to bag my Madden prediction and go a much more classic route.

Ladies and gentleman……

There were another few reasons why I chose this game. a) It’s a hell of a lot more fun b) being a Giants fan this game stacks the odds in my favor (Tecmo Super Bowl was made in ‘91, the year the Giants won the Super Bowl). I know the Patriots are huge favorites to win this game, and even myself being a Giants guy, I have them picked as well (fan but a realist, yes). However this leads me to point c) this game boosts my confidence as a Giants to pull the greatest upset since the Miracle Olympic Hockey Team.

I didn’t do a play by play, but I’ll give you the NFL Tonight type highlights from each quarter.

*Note* All players names have been updated and changed in order to keep the authenticity of Super Bowl XLII. Also, to keep the game somewhat fair I played without cheating, crazy blitzes, and other such shenanigans.

1ST QUARTER

Giants win coin toss, decide to differ until halftime. NE chooses the ball.

Giants decide to gamble with an onside kick (Tynes), recovered by Madison Hedgecock. 1st and 10 NY Giants!

On the ensuing possession Jacobs fumbles at the NE 47, recovered by Shaun O’ Hara.

Ahmad Bradshaw 22 yd. run to the NE 38, 1st down.

Following the first down, Eli Manning goes 0-3 forcing a Lawrence Tynes field goal missing wide right.

Score: tied @ 0.

Change of possession

1st and 10 Kawika Mitchell sacks Tom Brady for a loss of 8.

Maroney 35 yd run on a sweep to the left side. 1st down NE.

On 3rd down Michael Strahan sacks Tom Brady for a 4 yd loss. Setting up a 42 yd Adam Vinatieri field goal.

Score: NE – 3 , NYG- 0
Change of possession

1st and 10 for the Giants Eli Manning completes and 80 yd TD pass to Plaxico Burress.

Tynes extra point good.

Score: NE – 3, NYG – 7.

END OF FIRST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

Tynes kickoff returned by Wes Welker to the Giants 37 yd line.

3rd and 7 Brady completes a 40 yd pass to Dante Stallworth. 1st down NE.

This sets up an Adam Vinatieri field goal, blocked by Justin Tuck, no good.

Score remains NE – 3, NYG- 7

Change of possession

Eli completes a 30 yd pass to TE Kevin Boss. 1st down NYG.

Next play Ahmad Bradshaw fumbles off a left side sweep forced by Teddy Bruschi. Recovered by Mike Vrabel.

Change of possession

On the first play of the drive Sam Madison intercepts a pass from Tom Brady intended for Randy Moss.

Change of possession

Eli Manning sacked by Mike Vrabel for a loss of 12.

Next play Manning completes a 75 yd. TD pass to Plaxico Burress on the last play of the first half. Tynes extra point is good.

Score: NE – 3, NYG- 14

END OF 2ND QUARTER

HALFTIME

3RD QUARTER

RW Mcquarters returns the kickoff to the NE 47 yard line.

Next play Brandon Jacobs breaks a tackle on goes right for a 43 yard gain. 1st and goal Giants.

Ahmad Bradshaw dropped for a 7 yard loss by Adalius Thomas.

On a bootleg pass Eli Manning completes to Ahmad Bradshaw for the TD. Tynes extra point is good.

Score: NE- 3, NYG – 21

Change of possession.

Onside kick by Tynes recovered by Kevin Boss.

Jacobs fumbles on a sweep to the right side, recovered by Asante Samuel, returned the Giants 20 yard line.

Change of possession

Kevin Faulk breaks a tackle on a dive play up the middle setting up a Vinatieri field goal (good).

Score: NE- 6, NYG- 21.

Change of possesion

Short kick returned by Aaron Ross to the NE 50 yd line.

Ahmad Bradshaw takes a sweep to the right side 50 yards for a TD on the very next play. Tynes extra point is good.

Score NE- 6, NYG- 28

Change of Possession

Wes Welker returns the kickoff to the Giant 40 yd line.

END OF 3RD QUARTER

4TH QUARTER

Kawika Mitchell sack Brady for an 8 yd loss.

3rd down Michael Strahan sacks and forces a Tom Brady fumble recover by Antonio Pierce for a touchdown. Tynes extra point is good.

Score: NE- 6, NYG- 35

Change of possession

Kevin Faulk returns the kickoff to the Giants 8 yd line.

On the following possession Kawika Mitchell records 3 solo tackles on off-tackle runs from Kevin Faulk and Lawrence Maroney.

On 4th down Osi Umenyiora sacks Tom Brady for a 3 yard loss.

Change of possession.

Brandon Jacobs scores an a 3yd run. Tynes extra point is good.

Score: NE-6, NYG- 42

Change of possession.

Kevin Faulk runs for a 15 yard gain. 1st down NE.

Tom Brady completes a 38 yard pass to Wes Welker. 1st down NE.

Aaron Ross intercepts a pass from Tom Brady intended for Dante Stallworth.

Change of possession.

Eli Manning completes a 60 yd TD pass to Plaxico Burress. Tynes extra point is good.

Score NE-6, NYG-49

Welker returns the kickoff to the Giants 10 yard line as time expires.

GIANTS WIN SUPER BOWL XXII!!!!!!

Game Stats

Rushing: NE- 16 rushes for 65 yards, NYG- 9 rushes for 91 yards, 3 fumbles, and 2 td’s

Passing: NE- 72 yards, NYG- 244 yards and 4 td’s

Stat Leaders:

Rushing: NE – Maroney w/ 34 yards, NYG- Bradshaw w/ 54 yards, a TD and a fumble

Passing: NE- Brady w/ 72 yards and 33% completions and 2 int’s, NYG- Manning w/344 yards, 85% completion, and 4 td’s

Receiving: NE- Stallworth w/ 41 yards NYG- Burress w/ 215 yards and 3 td’s.

Sacks: NYG- Kawika Mitchell with 3 (no sacks for NE)

*Note* There were no punts in this game.

Super Bowl XXII MVP: Eli Manning w/344 yards, 85% completion, and 4 td’s

Runners up: Kawika Mitchell and Plaxico Burress.

“Damn you fucked up like you’re favorite movie scene”

I’m a movie geek. Here’s a few of my favorite monologues.

I got my swagger back

The NBA season is now officially half over, and after a tumultuous December where the Jazz seemed to fall apart at the seams, they have finally battled back, with back-to-back statement wins over the Rockets and Spurs, and are now sitting at the top of the surprisingly competitive Northwest Division, jumping from being out of playoff contention to the 4th seed in the West.

Looking back during that losing streak there are a few sore thumbs that can be easily pinpointed on why the Jazz had their early season collapse. First off was the schedule; the Jazz had already played 19 of their 41 road games by early January (including a brutal eastern road trip). They were sluggish, sore and unfocused which led to the streak of 4th quarter collapses (the most brutal being the Bobcats loss). The locker room was divided and clicks were forming (much of this falls on the hands of Gordon Giriceck). Many of the 4th quarter collapses can be attributed to awful free throw shooting, which in a close game can determine nearly everything. Another huge factor was the team wasn’t healthy. Both Memo and Harpring missed significant time with injuries. But most importantly it was the lack of consistency on both sides of the floor. The Jazz on their best night are an average defensive team, and have trouble handling athletic, uptempo teams who push the ball and score in transition. Additionally the Jazz were figured out offensively; by this I mean that teams began playing a collapse zone defense. Anytime Deron, Hart, Brewer or others would get penetration the defense would collapse the middle, leaving the perimeter open for shots. Problem with that was, we couldn’t take advantage of these open looks and the majority of the time these possessions would end up in turnovers or missed shots. I began losing hope steadily and the thought of another run at the Finals looked more and more like a childhood fantasy.

However a glorious thing happened one night in Charlotte during that heartbreaking loss. Gordon Girisuck decided to shoot his mouth off to Coach Jerry Sloan, and those who know the Jerry and The Jazz know “homie don’t play that.” This ended up in a suspension and the glorious trade made for one Kyle Korver (or Cal Kover if you listen to Hot Rod Hundley). Since that trade the Jazz have gone 11-2, and look as if their focus and swagger is back at an all time high. Coincidence?

This whispy haired, bright-eyed bastard (I’ll leave out the Ashton comparisons) has been a huge reason for the Jazz recent success, and I see some significant changes in this team since he put on that powder blue jersey and knee-high socks. Can he be completely credited for the turnaround? No, but he has helped in a major way, for the following reasons.

1) Kyle gives the Jazz a legitimate outside shooter, therefore disallowing the aforementioned collapse defense. A few quick kick-outs to Korver from inside and the game can be completely changed in moments.

2) Kyle led the league last year in FT percentage. The Jazz have struggled from the line, and in a fourth quarter fouling situation, he’s the perfect guy to help maintain the lead.

3) His defense is surprisingly better than advertised. He’ll never be a 1st team all defensive player, but he is aggressive and can frustrate shooters (see the Milwaukee game with Michael Redd).

4) He seems like a good locker room guy who follows Sloan’s orders and buys into the team philosophy.

Although Korver has been a huge boost for the team getting back on track, he is not the only reason. Throughout this winning streak, especially the last week and a half, AK has been playing his best basketball in years. Don’t believe me, check his stats. Last night he was 9/10 from the field, and when you’re 4th offensive option is hitting 90% of his fg’s, that’s usually going to translate into a win. Furthermore, Williams is playing the best ball of his career, seeing him dominate in Stockton fashion by running the offense to perfection is enough to make me giddy. Whether he’s hitting shots, driving the lane, running the pick and roll or making bullet passes, Deron has been completely taking over games at will. Also, Harpring has been given a clean bill of health and his minutes are no longer restricted. This gives the Jazz a huge boost off the bench. I’ve said all along that Harpring could play on any team in the NBA, due to his aggressiveness, tenacity and all out hustle. He’ll never be a marquee type athlete but his grit helps keep this team together. Complimenting all of these, the Jazz have been playing much better defense, (last week they set the season steals record twice with 15 against the Kings and Spurs) and have been fighting back instead of collapsing late. It’s as if they have found a new sense of toughness, and are now throwing the punches instead of just taking them. Lastly, the schedule has been in our favor; the majority of Jazz games in January have been at home and the Jazz are 18-3 in the ESA, and have rallied of 10 wins in a row. Trust me, the ESA is the hardest arena to play in as a road team, from the raucous fans to the confidence the team has at home.

I see good things happening in the future. Hell, even ESPN’s John Hollinger (the Jazz hater) has them 3rd in his power rankings. Up next are the Knicks, and then another eastern road trip against the Wizards and Grizzlies. All of which are winnable games and would be ideal for the Jazz to get some key road wins.

*Note* I left out Boozer in the keys to the turnaround b/c of how solid he has been all season. We all know what to expect from him; a double-double nightly, and during this win streak his defense has improved. I can’t wait to see him in an All-Star uniform in a few weeks.

All we need now is for Memo to find that money shot again (no homo).

“Six pairs of kicks is my definition of twelve steps.”

The Air Jordan VI Carmines!

I have been waiting patiently for a pair of VI’s now for years. The only pair I ever owned were in first grade (I was 6 when they first released in ‘91, 80’s babies stand up) so this to me is a great treat. The quality from the pics look decent, although the leather once again looks cheap. This however won’t do me justice until I actually see them in person. Jordan has been known to release great sample pics then shortcut there way to an awful final product. I’m crossing my fingers, otherwise they’ll be just another disappointment added to the list.

“Talk shit and get two holes in your tongue like number VI Jordans” – Copywrite

Enough!!!

As most of you know, I am a HUGE sports guy. Huge enough that I am doing my best to pursue a career in sports (journalism and broadcasting). My theory behind this is; if I can no longer play sports at a competitive level, then I might as well make a living covering them. This leads me to my next point, the constriction and overall bullshit of stories leading up to the Superbowl (ie Tom Brady’s ankle). It frustrates me to high hell that the media is playing this up to be more than what it really is. The glorification of such an insignificant event is enough to make my blood pressure boil. Therefore stories such as this really shouldn’t exist. It is all in part to ill preparation and a lack of headlines that crap like this is around, and by now the media is just beating a dead horse.

Additionally you are an idiot if you believe Tom Brady will not be playing at a maximum level come Sunday (and this is coming from a die hard Giants fan). The boot was not serious and I believe it was nothing more than an elaborate hoax. All I can hope for is Michael Strahan to come off the end and bury Brady into the turf and really injure his ankle. With that said I think the Pats win a surprisingly close game (I’m a fan, but I am also a realist).

Obama for ‘08

I feel that, like most Americans, I have been much too apathetic about following the presidential race. My goal for myself in the last few weeks is to get myself caught up on the candidates. Luckily this semester I have had more down time than usual, which has been fantastic in the sense of me attaining this goal. I have done a lot of reading, and so far, my decision is leaning towards Barack Obama. The more I read and research, the more I am continually impressed.

I agree with the high majority of his stances on the major issues of this election. Especially his stances on health care, the economy, foreign policy, and most importantly, the war in Iraq. You can read about those here.

I understand the argument of Obama being too inexperienced to be president, but I strongly disagree. It is my opinion that the United States need a fresh start, and Obama is the man for that job. I forgot the exact quote from Thomas Jefferson but it was something along the lines that the more a man is involved in politics a certain corruption is inevitable and continuously grows. Therefore, along with other factors, I think his inexperience is not a valid argument, and he is the best candidate to represent my vote.

*Update* I am even more excited knowing that Obama has all but wrapped up the Democratic nomination. With endorsements from several power figures including Oprah and now Ted Kennedy, it looks as if he really could win. Ted Kennedy may not have a squeaky clean past, but he’s a still a powerful man with some political sway. Also, after all the bashing Hillary has done I have a feeling that John Edwards will be his running mate. That’s a tandem that I can stand behind.

I do find it odd however that the final race is going to be between a black man and a Mormon. America certainly is changing, and if Obama wins, I believe it’s for the better.

Thanks Facts…. and Obey.

I’ma hustler homie!

So we’ve (BA and I) decided to take up collecting artwork as a new hobby. Fuck shoes, clothes and whatever other worthless knick-knacks you all decide to flaunt. We were up at Porcupine Grill (Little bar and grill at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon) and saw a piece similar. We impulsively decided to contact the artist and explained what we wanted, and the result was perfect.

Now I am in no way an art critic/fag, and I won’t front like I am one, but I do know what I like and this is it. Expect more pieces in the future, especially a Stevie Wonder, Beyonce (for BA) and Jimi Hendrix.

Piece #1

Those who truly know us will understand why we made this purchase. Both BA and I have a n admiration towards Mr. Shawn Carter, and it’s much, much more than music. It’s his impeccable rep, swagger and the way he became one of the most successful men in the world. “From Marcy to Madison Square.”

Ask about me.

Current music obsession

Being that I go through random stages of what music I like (once again it’s a love hate thing) this will be a theme that I am sure will be updated and changed weekly. I like to think that I enjoy an eclectic blend of music, although the motive is not to impress. Now sit back and enjoy who my Ipod is keeping on repeat.

This weeks winner is…… The Hives.

I am really blown away by Timbaland at this point. His production is so next level, and his musical thought process and vision is light years ahead of damn near anyone.

Expect me to be working with “Walk Idiot Walk” very soon. I’m obsessed with that beginning guitar riff. Soooooo perfect for a sample.

I know The Hives are on tour right now. I may be needing to take a road trip to Denver in February. I’m accepting applications for anyone that may want to join me.

It’s a love hate thing

 

So in order to fore go the pedantic getting-to-know-me-over-the-internet phase, seeing that most of you who will be reading this already know me quite well. I’ll skip the Myspace profile generalizations to tell you who I am and just list the things I most love and most hate (in no particular order).

To stay on the positive side, I’ll list my loves first.

My fiance

Sleeping in

Money

Tattoo’s

Accents

Good beer

sunshine

sushi

Slashes guitar solo on November Rain

Nikes

watching/ hearing about people I care about succeed

making music/ performing

solid conversation

Stevie Wonder albums

good jeans

cigars

Range Rovers

Deron Williams crossover

exercise

movie nights

the very first pee after waking up

Colin Cowherd’s opinions

Intercourse

A good meal (breakfast!)

The NY Giants pass rush

Anything Jay-Z

Obama for ‘08

movie trailers

you tube

barbeque’s

Beans and Brew iced coffee

Summertime

sluts (the entertainment value is like nothing else)

Any time out of my home state (it’s good to get away)

where I live

My dogs

blocked shots

Coca-Cola (w/ lemon)

Now onto the hates.

Hangovers

how I feel when I haven’t ate healthy

bad food

Shaving/ ingrown hairs

the New Jersey douche bag phenomenon

being stuck in traffic

bad haircuts

the snow and cold

Salt Lakes inversion

Mehmet Okur’s laziness

The price of booze at bars

gas (both gasoline and stomach)

sitting through a shitty band/group

drug addicts

reality tv (the writers strike)

racism

bills

public restrooms

injuries (I currently have an ankle that resembles a grapefruit)

The Denver Nuggets

people who find it necessary to talk to me just because we’re sitting next to each other

doctor offices/ hospitals

funerals

Idiots who believe that just b/c their car has 4 wheel drive that they can drive like idiots in the snow

Sundance douche bags

hipsters

people who don’t use their turn signal (see Clive Owen in Shoot ‘Em Up)

The plummeting quality of anything Jordan Brand

Rappers getting dropped from their labels (Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz)

Mike Huckabee