What I miss most about high school is the fun we had every Friday during football season. All four classes, freshmen through seniors, united in a pep rally. The troops all gathered to cheer on the team and jeer our opponents that week. It makes me want the grown-up equivalent. The whole city of Atlanta needs to assemble in an old fashioned pep rally as the Falcons enter the upcoming NFC playoffs: rah, rah, sis boom bah!
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It is on to the playoffs with home field advantage for the Falcons thanks to their decisive win over Carolina yesterday. I am preparing for football withdrawals for the next two weeks as Atlanta has a one week bye to rest up for the challenging elimination games on the way to the Super Bowl.
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My beloved Atlanta Falcons are number one in the NFC and tied for first place with the New England Patriots of the AFC—both teams 12 and 2. The Pats are supposedly the better team, as most of the northern biased sports press would lead you to believe. Well, I disagree. At the risk of being labeled a “Homer”, I think the Falcons have a better chance because they are the underdogs. Even us loyal fans have gone through an inferiority complex over the years. We have been conditioned to lose. It’s high time to change our thinking. The Mike Smith era has brought about the necessary paradigm shift, just like Bobby Cox did in the early 90’s for the Braves.
Wait. In my excitement, I got way ahead of myself. There is a small matter of the playoffs. Neither we nor New England are guaranteed a Superbowl appearance. Aircheck will refine its forecast as the playoffs begin.
Stay tuned
©2010 (text only) Neal Rhoden, Aircheck blog. All rights reserved.
I have put up with athletes for years thanking God for a fine performance; a touchdown, a homerun, a GOAL. This past weekend in the NFL takes the cake. I have had enough of the God crutch these players rely on. No question of their free exercise of faith; what I do take issue with is blaming the Almighty for dropping a pass in the end zone. It was an easy catch that would have won the game in overtime for the virtually winless Buffalo Bills against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Wide receiver Stevie Johnson bitterly blamed God for the loss. Later he “tweeted:”
I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...
Blasphemy!
Next time I see someone “cross” themselves in the end zone, I am changing the channel.
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©2010 Aircheck blog. All rights reserved.
One of the best games I saw this weekend involved my Atlanta Falcons at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thanks go to the Bucs coach for proclaiming their team was the best in the conference. Little did they know the Dirty Birds came to play! The highlight of the game was a last minute goal line stand preventing Tampa Bay from scoring a go-ahead touchdown. We return again this Thursday to face the Baltimore Ravens at the Georgia Dome.
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©2010 Neal Rhoden. Gospel Aircheck Blog. All rights reserved.
Over my 44 years I have seemed to go through many fads not staying with them long. As a youth I played sandlot football and became obsessed with the sport; parental oversight prohibited me from actually playing in high school. "You could get hurt," my mother would often warn. Compliant children such as I listened only to regret much later what NFL franchise would have beckoned. In reality, officially competing would have been too much work for a clumsy nonathletic clod. I went through many phases: gym memberships, tennis, bicycling, on and on. Finally, I decided that "bodily exercise profiteth little" so after a few years the fitness craze languished. I realize today that taking scripture out of context can be counterproductive.
Congratulations Saints fans! Coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans team made the most gutsy call I’ve ever seen in a Super Bowl. The on-side kick recovered was the pivotal moment for the NFL championship. On the other hand, Peyton Manning’s interception blunder in the fourth quarter sealed the Colt’s fate.
The true winners last night were the fans. It has to be one of the most exciting Super Bowls I have witnessed in 30 years following the sport.
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What are your predictions for tonight’s game? I’ll go out on a limb; the Who will probably sing 3 numbers and break a guitar on stage at half time. There will be some funny new commercials. And, if you’re lucky, there will probably be a football game.
The Super Bowl is usually a very one sided affair and often a boring game; last year was an exception with the Steelers exciting 27 – 23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
I am thrilled that the New Orleans Saints made it this year despite my sworn “hatred” for the franchise that has been rivals of my beloved Atlanta Falcons. Following a remarkable recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina the Big Easy has bounced back nicely with a team the city can be very proud of no matter what the outcome tonight.
My wishful thinking prediction has the Saints winning by a field goal in overtime. Peyton Manning and the Colts are going to give Drew Brees and the Saints a real nail-biter. If New Orleans expects to win then they must play a flawless 4 quarters. If not, I give the Indianapolis team the victory 35 – 24.
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