Sports Then and Now

Will cosmic forces decide which teams will play in Super Bowl XLIV?

Something cosmic is about to happen.

The New York Jets, a wild card team, continued to play over their heads, lead by a gangly, tall, brown-eyed, brunette quarterback, a strong running game, and a punishing defense, they surprised everyone winning two playoff games on the road in order to play the Colts.

Does that sound about right? Of course. It is the 2010 New York Jets.

Wrong. And right. It is also the 1969 New York Jets. Same description: wild card, tall dark and young quarterback, strong ground game, strong defense, wild card, playing over their heads as momentum builds.

In 1969 the quarterback was Joe Willie Namath. While lounging on Miami Beach in the week leading up to Super Bowl III, the kid couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He guaranteed a Jets victory.

In the first two super games, the NFL, represented by Vince Lombardi’s Packers, totally dominated their AFL opponents: Kansas City the first year, Oakland the second. Everyone just assumed that the Baltimore Colts would make it three in a row. This, especially because the Jets were a wild card. Most of the pundits had them at either the third or fourth best AFL club. Everyone expected the Jets to be dragged across the field and trampled at the Orange Bowl. Read the rest of this entry →

Hot dogs have a long association with sports in America.

There are very few foods or food groups for that matter are sacred to the American Way of Life. Unquestionably the “Hot Dog” is one of those treats that has been associated with sports since the beginning of time.

As a kid going to a ball game with my Dad or any sporting event it never would seem complete unless we had a couple of dogs along with all the condiments that you could fit on a six to eight inch bun.

It seemed that these dogs were always so much better at a game then the ones served at home with a side of sauerkraut, baked beans, and loads of mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions and whatever else might be available.

I have always been very picky about my dogs. Occasionally I’d sprinkle a little ketchup on mine but more than 90% of the time it was the dog on the roll and nothing else. My family thought it strange because after they finished putting all the toppings on their dog a keen sighted visitor would have trouble identifying what was in the roll.

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Mark Sanchez and the Jets made short work of the Oakland Raiders.

My long weekend trip to the Bay Area was topped by an outstanding performance on the part of the New York Jets defense as they completely shut down an already suspect Oakland Raiders offense with a shutout performance in front of an almost half empty Oakland-Alameda County Stadium. I know, as I said, I was there.

First off before game details I need to dispel some very untrue rumors, or urban legends if you chose, regarding the fans of the Oakland Raiders. Is it true they have their own section called the “Black Hole’ where even the most frenzied fan dresses up in costumes that would have any trick or treaters on Halloween looking over their shoulders? Yes it’s true.

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Rex Ryan and the New York Jets hope a visit to Oakland is what the team needs to get back on track.

Some media are saying that the Jets, after only six regular season games, have reached the crossroads to the 2009 season. After starting 3-0 and on such a high note with victories over Houston, New England, and Tennessee, the Jets have come crashing towards the ground with three consecutive losses against better teams for sure in New Orleans and Miami and the far less competitive Buffalo Bills.

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After a last second loss to the Dolphins, Mark Sanchez and the Jets will look to get back on track against the Bills.

There hasn’t been much talk around Jets land this week about this upcoming game with the Buffalo Bills Sunday. I can think of two reasons for this. One, the last time Jets players opened their mouths about an opposing team, the Miami Dolphins put a 31 on their pie holes and the talking suddenly stopped as fast as it started.

The second thought is that nobody is taking Buffalo very seriously. They have the 25th ranked defense in the league and their offense has been virtually non-existent. Ever since they blew a fourth quarter lead against New England in week one, the Bills have looked like they don’t even belong in the NFL.

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Chad Henne and the Miami Dolphins snatched victory from the New York Jets in an entertaining Monday Night Football battle.

In one of the most enjoyable Monday Night Football games in recent memory, the New York Jets showed that right now they are a very good football team, but not yet elite, as they fell to the Miami Dolphins 31-27.

The normally stout Jets defense expected a run-happy Dolphins offense.  What they didn’t expect was to be beaten by another inexperienced quarterback, Michigan’s own Chad Henne.

Henne was simply brilliant, going 20-26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, out-playing his much noted counterpart, USCs own Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez had an excellent game as well, helping the Jets put 27 points on the board, a turn-around many expected after last week’s performance in New Orleans.

The Dolphins put a total of 413 yards of offense against Rex Ryan’s vaunted defense.  The Dolphins featured the NFLs latest fad, “The Wildcat,” to move the ball repeatedly against the Jets.

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