Comparing Super Bowl XLIII with the 2007 World Series

The 2008-2009 NFL regular season was a memorable one on a variety of fronts. It was an important year for the Quarterback position, a changing of the guard if you will. No. 4 gave us an encore in a darker shade of green, and with that may have signaled the arrival of his heir apparents named Cutler, Flacco, and Ryan. 

We saw seasoned veterans like Michael Turner finally get their time in the spotlight, and the emergence of a future corp of stellar young running backs: Williams, Forte, Hightower, Lynch, and Peterson. Kurt Warner's return to the Summit gave us a highlight, while the self-destruction of Plaxico Burress was a popularly-documented  low-light, unquestionably decimating the Giants' chances at a repeat. 

2008 was indeed a season of ups and downs, delivering us the unexpected on a weekly basis. So it was only fitting then that two teams following highly different road maps both managed to find their way to Tampa, Florida in time for Super Bowl 43. The consistently stoic, blue-collar defensive-minded Pittsburgh Steelers, and the high-flying inferiority complex-possessing, Super Bowl neophyte Arizona Cardinals.

While Pittsburgh vs. Arizona won't necessarily cause Champagne bottles to pop up at NBC due to both regions'  diminutive standing in the television market index, and lack of shared history, there's more to this battle than meets the eye. But instead of comparing the teams' current and past, I'll compare this historic match-up to another of relative recent history: The 2007 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies.

As a student of American sport and its history, I'm someone who enjoys finding comparisons between franchises across sporting lines. While it may not be completely accurate, I like to compare the Yankees and the Red Sox as to the Cowboys and the Steelers.

Both the Cowboys and the Yankees are the two most consistent franchises in their sport, while the Red Sox and Steelers have some of the most passionate fans in their's, while carrying a distinctive inferiority complex against their larger, "more important" urban rivals.

This is partly why I like to compare the Boston Red Sox franchise with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Steelers have had more success in their history, both clubs have rabid nationwide fanbases that few other organizations can rival.

While comparing the Cardinals with the Tampa Rays may be more accurate (and fitting due to the game's site) for all intents and purposes, let's compare the Arizona Cardinals with the Colorado Rockies. Both clubs are relatively young (let's erase the organization's pre-Arizona history for this case), and have had little to no success throughout their history.

Like the Rockies, the Cardinals have rolled into the playoffs on a scorching hot streak, and have continued their stellar play as the postseason has continued. The knock against the Rockies was their pitching, something that seemed to improve throughout their playoff run. The knock against the Cardinals was their defense, a facet of their team that has gotten more and more impressive as the playoffs have continued as well.

And like the "David" Rockies facing off against their Goliath, I unfortunately don't see this game being particularly close. While this match-up on paper doesn't appear to be the mismatch that Boston/Colorado was, I don't feel confident that the streaking Cardinals defense will be able to handle Big Ben in warmer pastures.

A healthy Hines Ward will add another deep threat to a venerable passing game, while a now-healthy Willie Parker and the Steeler offensive line should be able to have its way with the Cardinals front seven. I think the Steelers defense will hold the potent Arizona offense until three touchdowns, completely shutting down the running game, and making the Cardinals completely one-dimensional.

The Steelers will have seen the mistakes the Eagles made on defense, and Larry Fitzgerald will not be able to run free like he did two weeks ago. Giving Dick LeBeau and that personnel two weeks to prepare simply isn't fair.

While part of me wants to see the NFC and the underdog succeed in this one, I just don't see the stoic Steelers faltering. Like Boston/Colorado, the more illustriuous, experienced club will prevail over the young up and comers (although Warner has two SB appearances, the Steelers have more collective experience in the big game).

And I honestly don't believe this matchup will be all that close. Let's hope I'm wrong, but I'm going to go on a limb and call this one: Pittsburgh 34, Arizona 17.

Funny how sport repeats itself...