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The Gods Must Be Crazy!: Bears, Colts Super Bowl-Bound
Ron JohnsonJan 23, 2007
He did it again, didn't he?: God turned the conventional wisdom into a joke on Sunday. Maybe He and Shannon Sharpe have some kind of pact. Whatever the case, Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy did everything right—and to the victors go the spoils.
A quick history lesson: For the first time ever, the NFL will have an African American coach hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at season's end. Pretty good way to start black history month, ain't it?
But about the games: In Chicago, the Bears dominated the New Orleans Saints 39-14 en route to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1985. Rex Grossman started like Brian Griese in Denver and ended like Ben Roethlisberger circa last year's playoffs—and the other Monsters of the Midway followed suit
I was on record in a bar before the game saying that the Saints could win if they pressured Grossman and held Brian Urlacher in check, but that the Bears would come out on top if they kept Drew Brees on the run, shadowed the Saints' receivers, and corralled Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.
Guess who won that battle?
Despite a valiant effort, the Saints' Cinderella season finally came to an end...but no one can take anything away from New Orleans. From 3-13 to one win short of the Super Bowl—not bad for a year's work, even if they didn't quite make it to Miami. God had other plans, I guess. How else to explain the four turnovers, or the snow that started falling in the second half, or the fact that somewhere in heaven, Walter Payton is smiling and doing the Super Bowl Shuffle?
If that's not divine intervention, then Jim McMahon isn't a certified whack-job.
But that was just the NFC. God still had to solve the other half of the big-game equation—and so He decided to set two neighboring states to feuding like Hatfields and McCoys.
Not that anybody saw it coming.
You knew the storyline heading into the AFC Championship Game: Round Three of Indy v. New England, Brady v. Peyton. Everyone had the Patriots—and how could you not? Brady had only lost once in the playoffs. He was undefeated in domes. The Pats looked unstoppable after knocking off San Diego. Who in his right mind would bet against them?
Well, God, apparently.
And of course Shannon Sharpe.
Final score: Indy 38, New England 34.
Sorry, Tom. Guess the Man Upstairs really has it out for those Wolverines this year.
As for Manning, Dungy, and the rest of the Colts—their time has finally come, and they deserve it. Deal with Massachusetts:
Indy's going to the show.
And what a show it's going to be, right? Whenever history gets made three times in one weekend, you know big things are afoot in the NFL. First Lovie Smith becomes the first African American coach to a lead a team to the Super Bowl. Then, a few hours later, Tony Dungy joins him—meaning that the forty-first time will be a charm for black leaders everywhere. Finally, Peyton breaks the Brady curse, and the Patriots go home with their tails between their legs for the second year in a row.
Who says God doesn't love change?
Now, Chicago and Indianapolis are packing their bags for South Beach. No more snow, no more roof—just sun, sand, and a bunch of Coloradans trying to thaw out after the Blizzard of '06. Brees has been cooled. Bush got whacked. Brady was branded, Belichick was checked, and Adam, well—he's going to another Super Bowl, this time without Tom. No matter what happens, the fans are guaranteed new world champs next month...and, if nothing else, it promises to be one heck of a party.
And while we're on the subject, the question's still out there:
Who's bringing the beer???
After all, those two truths haven't gone away: Priorities are priorities, and the gods must be crazy.
A quick history lesson: For the first time ever, the NFL will have an African American coach hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at season's end. Pretty good way to start black history month, ain't it?
But about the games: In Chicago, the Bears dominated the New Orleans Saints 39-14 en route to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1985. Rex Grossman started like Brian Griese in Denver and ended like Ben Roethlisberger circa last year's playoffs—and the other Monsters of the Midway followed suit
I was on record in a bar before the game saying that the Saints could win if they pressured Grossman and held Brian Urlacher in check, but that the Bears would come out on top if they kept Drew Brees on the run, shadowed the Saints' receivers, and corralled Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.
Guess who won that battle?
Despite a valiant effort, the Saints' Cinderella season finally came to an end...but no one can take anything away from New Orleans. From 3-13 to one win short of the Super Bowl—not bad for a year's work, even if they didn't quite make it to Miami. God had other plans, I guess. How else to explain the four turnovers, or the snow that started falling in the second half, or the fact that somewhere in heaven, Walter Payton is smiling and doing the Super Bowl Shuffle?
If that's not divine intervention, then Jim McMahon isn't a certified whack-job.
But that was just the NFC. God still had to solve the other half of the big-game equation—and so He decided to set two neighboring states to feuding like Hatfields and McCoys.
Not that anybody saw it coming.
You knew the storyline heading into the AFC Championship Game: Round Three of Indy v. New England, Brady v. Peyton. Everyone had the Patriots—and how could you not? Brady had only lost once in the playoffs. He was undefeated in domes. The Pats looked unstoppable after knocking off San Diego. Who in his right mind would bet against them?
Well, God, apparently.
And of course Shannon Sharpe.
Final score: Indy 38, New England 34.
Sorry, Tom. Guess the Man Upstairs really has it out for those Wolverines this year.
As for Manning, Dungy, and the rest of the Colts—their time has finally come, and they deserve it. Deal with Massachusetts:
Indy's going to the show.
And what a show it's going to be, right? Whenever history gets made three times in one weekend, you know big things are afoot in the NFL. First Lovie Smith becomes the first African American coach to a lead a team to the Super Bowl. Then, a few hours later, Tony Dungy joins him—meaning that the forty-first time will be a charm for black leaders everywhere. Finally, Peyton breaks the Brady curse, and the Patriots go home with their tails between their legs for the second year in a row.
Who says God doesn't love change?
Now, Chicago and Indianapolis are packing their bags for South Beach. No more snow, no more roof—just sun, sand, and a bunch of Coloradans trying to thaw out after the Blizzard of '06. Brees has been cooled. Bush got whacked. Brady was branded, Belichick was checked, and Adam, well—he's going to another Super Bowl, this time without Tom. No matter what happens, the fans are guaranteed new world champs next month...and, if nothing else, it promises to be one heck of a party.
And while we're on the subject, the question's still out there:
Who's bringing the beer???
After all, those two truths haven't gone away: Priorities are priorities, and the gods must be crazy.
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