The Great Super Bowl Sunday Post and Additional Bullshit
I grew up playing virtually every sport. We didn't have soccer in the 70's and I thank God for that.
What we did have was flag football and then tackle football. We had baseball and basketball. And track. And golf.
I loved playing sports and despite the fact I was virtually talent free, I continued to engage in sports. When I could no longer freely engage in sports while maintaining an ever-increasing interest in sports, the next best thing was to bet sports.
I had a wonderful week of sports wagering this week. I went 5-2 last night even after the Memphis Grizzlies squandered a 35 point lead. Which brings me to Super Bowl Sunday. Second only to Christmas to my way of holiday thinking.
In the old days, I gave up the Christmas party in lieu of the Super Bowl party. Much alcohol was consumed at these events which included our own version of halftime. We played Kiss at extraordinary volume and included "Detroit Rock City" and "Lick It Up" until people in the neighboring town began to complain.
So much fun. So little time. My ex hated that day even more than she hated me.
Which brings me to Superbowl Sunday. (Full disclosure, I have 100 each bet on Cincinnati +4 and the total game score above 48.5.)
I take a scientific approach to sports betting. I compare every position. And then injuries. And then the "what have you done for me lately" methodology. Followed by my secret Super Bowl test question.
Is Chase a better receiver than Kupp? The Rams certainly have a better defense. I give the nod in quarterbacks to Joe Burrow. Running backs? Even. Home field advantage? Rams. But it's "the what have you done for me recently?" methodology that had me siding with the Bengals.
The Bengals knocked off the AFC champion Titans at home. Then they went in and beat the Kansas City Chiefs at home after KC had miraculously beat the Bills. I wanted to see the Bills in the Super Bowl in the worst way.
The Rams beat Tampa Bay badly. Brady looked horrible all day long for the Bucs and then retired. The Rams went home to face a San Francisco team who had beaten them 6 times in a row. They managed to squeak by a 3 point win.
Who had it tougher in the playoffs? Advantage, Cincinnati.
Who had quality wins and losses in the regular season? The Rams. In fact, all of their losses were top tier opponents. Cinncinati lost to the Bears and Jets. Horrible teams.
So the Rams should prevail in a playoff season full of close calls but I see the Bengals covering the points in a close game. I'd be shocked to see either team run away with this. I am also bothered by the fact that all of the gambling steam is on the Bengals right now.
I view the Superbowl differently than my day-to-day wagering. For me this is simply cast-off money on a game where there is no material advantage anywhere. I wouldn't even bet this game in a free contest where today- I took the over in the Minnesota-Pacers game.
So enjoy the national spectacle today. It will be back to the bad news grind tomorrow.
Comments
I ran C/C, wrestled and ran track, 1 sport for every season in HS. Played p/u baseball almost all year around and of course tennis. Closely followed MLB and the Cubs(Bears too) when I lived in Chicago, got season tickets when Denver got the Rockies, loved the Avs and worshipped the Broncos. Caught a bunch of Nuggets game every year too especially the Issel/Thompson era. Doug Moe and Don Cherry were amazing.
In short I was just like you without the betting. My dad was a compulsive gambler, Mom kicked his ass out when I was 5. I've made crazy bets on myself but not sports or casinos.
Then the apples started falling from the trees. Moahomd(?) refused to stand for the National Anthem and the fucking Nuggets ended up accommodating him. Ron Artest ran into the stands and beat up some lippy dudes and that sealed the deal with BB for me.
Major League Baseball players struck. That one burned my ass and my love affair with baseball was over. Too bad because I was living the warehouse life a couple blocks from beautiful Coors Field, would walk to the games. No hockey in w Texas or AR so that kinda drifted away.
Then finally, the year after Peyton won the SB with the Broncos(and talk about SB parties, the one we had was crippling), the opening game the following season I tune in to see Broncos fucking kneeling. And Elway allowed it. Haven't watched 5 minutes of a game since. Every little NFL factoid in your piece came as news to me. I always loved when Brady and Belechick played the Broncos.
I wondered how long it was gonna be until REgressives got around to fucking up tennis and doing the job on Novak in the AO looked like a good start. Novak just doubled down and told the tennis PTB to fuck off, he wasn't getting the poison injection. Now if just a couple more stand with him, this shit is over. We shall see.
I guess I don't miss it. I sure as hell wouldn't think of going into Seattle to catch any pro sports games. I still love to play tennis, no one can fuck that up.
My TV turned itself off and stayed off till the restart of the game after 1/2 time.
Bloody good these smart Tv's as they know, when snowflakes and the woke crowd come on, then my TV turns itself off, just in time to save me from this nonsense and pollute my house hold.
I'd like to see a LGBTQFUCKU team join the NFL.
Would that be a blast to watch, oh! the mind boggles at the thought. But, I'd have pity with the umpires allocated to that game.
"oh sir he broke my finger nail" or "sir he messed up my makeup" or he ain't white enough" or " where's my analyst" or "he broke my protest sign" etc.
take care out there.