My Thoughts on Tomorrow's Super Bowl. The Giants Win.

This is going to be short and sweet. I am rooting for the New York Giants to win. Sorry to my Patriots friends, but I do not want them to get any closer to my beloved Steelers in total Super Bowl victories. To my Giants friends, I will issue my apology in advance for my pick. You see I predicted Florida State would win the national title. That didn't work. I predicted the Steelers would win their seventh Super Bowl. You know how that worked. I also decided I would root for the underdog Broncos and Tim Tebow to beat New England. I believe that is strike three. So if I jinx the Giants tomorrow and Tom Brady and the Pats ride off into the sunset with yet another title, I am sorry. Meanwhile I hope everyone enjoys the game and especially the commercials.  Go Giants, let me have one good prediction this football season.

Super Bowl XXXVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCC!

Oh hell, I was never very good with Roman Numerals, but why, something as American as the Super Bowl, did we use Roman Numerals to designate how many we have had. The first four, and yes I was there for all of them, were easy. You just had to count the number of sticks and be done with it. All I know is it is Super Bowl 46. See how easy that is to figure out. No running to the Internet or looking up an article to know how many we have had. Also why do we even have to track the number? We don't say The World Series CCXXVVII, it is just the World Series.

 Somewhere two thousand years down the road it will take an entire page, just to know that the Super Bowl is being played. Thankfully, then it will be the year 4012 AJ. After John.  P.S. Go Giants!!

Joe Paterno

It is never a joyous time, whenever anyone leaves this earth and no matter what some may think, it is sad that Joe Paterno passed away yesterday. Joe Pa, was a husband, father, grandfather and friend, so to each of these people I express my sincere condolences.

Over the last several months Joe went from beloved by many, to still loved but also hated. That is regrettable. Joe made his, extremely bad, decision to report an incident, but to not follow up and make sure that the proper authorities were notified and doing their jobs. He did not do, all that he could have to protect innocent children from a predator and for that he will always be remembered for a remarkable failure.

The other part of Joe cannot be ignored either. He touched so many lives, through the years, after taking over for Rip Engle, at Penn State. He lead a football program that was successful on many levels on the  field and off the field. He and his wife gave back to Penn State in the form of donations to support the academic standard in Happy Valley. He made leaders that went on to, not only, professional football , but became leaders throughout various other industries. These young people have stood up for Paterno and will be forever grateful to him for his contribution in their lives.

Lastly Joe Paterno was a human being and thus saddled with the frailty of mistakes. I am sure that if given a second change, Joe would have changed the way he handled the Jerry Sandusky situation, but, none of us have that opportunity. We all have to live and eventually die, with a certain amount of failure. We just don't have to do it in a fishbowl environment, like Joe Paterno did.

So to Joe, rest in peace. You were not perfect and had human flaws, but I will try to remember more of the good you did and hope people can forgive your weaknesses.

Running Off At The Sports Mouth.

I fell asleep at half time of the BCS championship game, did you. What a yawner.

Jim Boeheim may be doing his best job of coaching ever this year. With all of the distractions he has kept the team focused and still undefeated.

Penn State Alum, led by one of my idols, Franco Harris, are way off base when they demand, Joe Paterno be reinstated as the coach at Penn State.  Let it rest. He was in charge and did not follow up, when he notified his superior.

I love this time of the year, when college basketball teams are in their conference schedule. My Noles handed North Carolina a shocking 33 point loss. I know one thing, the Noles are not 33 points better then the Tarheels.

In the NBA. Hey Heat fans. Look what team is leading the conference. That's right the Magic. Have heart though. No don't have heart. Labron is continuing the same pattern he has had since entering the league. At crunch time he is better then David Copperfield at disappearing.

Just when everybody wanted to bury Kolbe, he rips off 40+ points in three games. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Lebron, see what Kolbe does!

Staying with Lebron. My last word is some advice for him. Wait, has anybody seen Lebron.  Lebron. Lebron. Where are you. Just wait for the first quarter of the next game and he will show up, just don't look for him in the forth.

Seeing a Sports Hero After All These Years!

The week before the FSU-Notre Dame game I was working at Sea World and see a guest with a Notre Dame sweater in the store. I was going to tease them about my being a Florida State fan, but when he turned around I saw who it was. Notre Dame great Terry Hanratty. To the casual fan that name may not mean a lot, but to a person who grew up in Butler, Pa. that name is Godlike. Mr. Hanratty graduated from my high school in 1966. He went on to be the starting quarterback at the most revered football school at the time, Notre Dame. Hanratty teamed with wide receiver Jim Seymour to become the most feared passing duo in college football. Terry started for Coach Ara Parseghian, from 1966 to 1968 and was a consensus All-American in 68, when he also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. During this era the Notre Dame games were rebroadcast on television every Sunday morning, with Lindsay Nelson doing the play by play. Everyone in Butler, at the time, followed him throughout his career , which took him into the pros for several years. For all of us it was watching someone that represented us. I was fortunate to talk several minutes with Terry and he was most gracious to spend a few minute with a fan. For me it was a thrill and something I will remember for a very long time.

SEC Finally Looses In BCS Title Game!

Sorry, I couldn't help but poke a little fun at the South East Conference and its fans. You know the obnoxious Florida Gators , like my son, Wes and many friends, that ride the coattails of the SEC when Florida fails to make it into the title game.

Yes, SEC fans your football programs are the best, by a long shot at this point. I really can not debate that, but give the rest of us peasants, like the ACC, sometime and maybe you will have to grovel at our feet, for scraps like the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

He Beat My Steelers, But I hope He Wins A Super Bowl!

What I am about to say, might be construed as blasphemy in the city of Pittsburgh, but I do hope Tim Tebow leads Denver to a Super bowl Championship. I know he just threw an 80 yard touchdown in overtime to beat our beloved Steelers, but Tim Tebow is a wonderful story. When ever the Steelers are out of contention for the championship, I usually root for the underdog, and Tebow and the Broncos are certainly that. Nobody gave them a chance against the Steel curtain and he shredded it for 316 yards. Nobody will give them a change against Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots and yet I most certainly hope he does it again.

Tebow is a great story. That person in life that shouldn't be able to accomplish the things they do. According to the, "experts" he will never make it in the NFL. He will never be a starter. He may win a few games but once he gets into the playoffs, the magic will disappear. So far Tim Tebow has proven them wrong and I enjoy when the pompous media experts are wrong.

 Tebow is not only a winner on the football field, he is a winner in his personal life and this is why I want him to win on the field. He is, in short, a good guy. We complain about the prima dona athletes, and yet when a really good person comes along we try and find ways to put them down. Is it because, he is a better person in life then we are? We do not want our heroes to be better off the field then on? Sorry I disagree and to Tebow and the Denver football team, good luck and I hope Tim carries you all the way to the championship. However, next year I will be right back where I belong. Steeler Country.