Two-And-A-Half Posts...plus...

We're going to attempt to make it through three this morning. One is really just a link though, so, we'll call it two-and-a-half. There. That's more manageable. Addition by subtraction is always a great thing. Except for Title IX, which is a whole 'nuther post, and would bring us back up to three-and-a-half, and then I'd lose half my readers, which would bring me back down to one. (Thanks, Andy W. You're about as loyal as Old Yeller.) So, I'll keep the 9 Truths About Title IX post for another day. Back down to two-and-a-half.

One more side note. I'm a week late on everything I'm about to say, which is a good thing. Trust me. I've had time to chill out. So don't fault me on my timing. And don't think I was waiting to see what the talking heads from Bristol would say. Those guys are increasingly ruling sports and, in turn, increasingly losing my viewership. Which is another post. We'll cut it there. Gotta stay at two-and-a-half.

Post One:

Georgia landed in a great bowl game. It's top tier bowl. It's a ticket the fans swarm to. It's a trip the fans love. (I traveled to New Orleans when the Dogs faced FSU back in 2003 and had a blast.) And this year it's somehow a disappointment.

That's life though, right? Disappointment is always the difference between our hopes and reality. And likewise, elation is always vice-versa. And that's another reason we love sports. "The triumph of victory and the agony of defeat." And it mirrors our lives. It's a picture of reality.

We're banking on the $1000 Christmas bonus, but we only get $750. We get the money, but we're disappointed. Or like the guy in last weekend's ACC Championship game, throwing in the Dr. Pepper contest. He was this close to a $100,000, but came away with $75,000. Still a nice paycheck, but not what he was hoping for. Disappointment.

Richt and The Bulldog Nation hoped for the National Championship Game, and instead get the Sugar Bowl. Who isn't excited about getting a great bowl game? Only the team who hoped for more.

Look at Kansas. They snuck into the BCS mix and were thrilled. In my opinion, that's the bigger blunder, that a Kansas team that JUST LOST to Missouri goes to Miami while Missouri heads to a second-tier bowl in Dallas. Kansas: elated. Missouri: terribly disappointed.

And so it goes. Georgia's facing a let down. But they find themselves in a big game. And you better believe that Richt's going to parlay this into some serious motivation. The whole chip on the shoulder thing. No respect. Something to prove. Watch out Colt Brennan. You might end up wishing you could've stayed in the Aloha Bowl.

Did Georgia get snubbed? In a way, yes. And in a way, no. Look, if you're an LSU fan, you're ticked if UGA sneaks into the Game. But all the talking heads had said Georgia was playing the best football in the nation. And they all knew that LSU had lost twice since the last time Georgia lost. And the voters had to know that number 1 and 2 both losing was a possiblity after this season. And they still put Georgia number 4 heading into the final week. And in the last week Number 1 and 2 lost. And Georgia ends up number 5. The only time all season you see a team drop in the rankings when it (a) doesn't play, and (b) has two teams ahead of it lose.

So, disappointment reigns in Athens. But the truth remains: Georgia's going to a great bowl game. A game they'd be elated to go to any other year. Only this year the hopes were higher.

And disappointment is the difference between hopes and reality.

Half-a-Post:
The best column I've read on the whole UGA snub was by the AJC's Mark Bradley. Of course, he's the only good columnist working in the only place in sports that's somewhat sympathetic to the Bulldogs right now. But still, it's worth a read.

You can check it out here.

What resonates with me the most is his opening thoughts. I think you'll agree.

Post Two:
In the aftermath of the Green Bay loss to Dallas last week, my loyal reader (singular) did something only the sports-NUTS do. He sent an email to a sports-radio guy, ESPN's Colin Cowherd. You gotta know, my boy is a Green Bay fanatic. I'm guessing he's got a FatHead of Brett Farve in his bedroom. And he's married.

But I thought what he said to Colin was great. Apparently he needs to start his own little writing world. So, I've put up both his email to me and his email to Colin. Enjoy.

------

Bert, I've never done this before, but I emailed Colin Cowherd this morning. I don't know why, except that it felt therapeutic, like I was journaling a bad nightmare so it wouldn't be so scary. That's how I felt after the game last night, so I figured you would appreciate it.

------


Herd,
I was one of the "lucky" ones who got to watch the big game last night on the NFL Network. Lucky because it was a big game, unluckly because I had to listen to Bryant Gumbel for three hours.

Growing up in Wisconsin, I've been a lifelong Packers fan, and admittedly never objective about Brett Favre. One of my favorite conversations is debating the Legend of Favre with the skeptics. But watching the game last night I feel like the little boy who pulled the fake beard down on Mall Santa for the first time. Who's this guy? Where's the real Brett? Is it all just a "legend?"

Brett looked lost out there from the outset. Forcing deep passes into double coverages, unable to recognize the blitz coverages, not doing what he's done all year long to win 10 games. Throwing the 6 yard slant to Driver, the 8 yard curl to Jennings, trusting the offense. On a key 3rd and one early in the game, Favre threw deep incomplete and it wasn't close. Why? Bad play call, or did Favre audible out of a run play? What? Why am I doubting the best quarterback ever, my hero, my idol? Favre was like a deer in headlights, like he wasn't himself, like he didn't have it and he knew it. Even Greg Jennings, the second year receiver was consoling him on the sidelines after plays telling him it was going to be all right. "Just settle down man, we've got your back." That's what veterans tell their rookie qb, not vice versa.

Where was the veteran, the legend, the real Santa? When he got hurt, the deep, dark, childhood questions really started coming because Aaron Rodgers moved the offense. "I can't believe I'm thinking this, question Santa???" The Pack are a good team, Ryan Grant gutted the stout Cowboys run defense, Jennings and Driver are fast and reliable. When the defense is 100% they'll be even better. But why did they play better without Favre? Was this just a fake Santa, or is the whole thing just a "legend?"

Nah, I'm just having a bad dream. I'll keep putting out the milk and cookies. Favre will be back. he's still Superman. Irving, Texas is just his kryptonite. Yeah that's it. (Swallow nervously, look at the cookies and wonder about Aaron Rodgers - A.K.A. my nutty uncle in a Santa suit.)

Christmas might never be the same.

Why we love sports

This is it. Thursday night. The Pack and The 'Boys. The Star vs. Brett Favre. America's Team vs. America's Quarterback.

And it's the game of the year that will never live up to its billing on the Neilson ratings because ESPN won't push it like they push Tom Brady and the Colts. Or Yanks-Sox, "sports greatest rivalry" - kinda like how they've named Vince Young number 10 on the 25 greatest college football players of all time. Absolutely ludicrous. Vince Young even cracking the top-25 is a stretch - you're telling me that one great game gets someone on an all-time list? - but making number 10? That's about as crazy as us getting the Yanks-Sox shoved down our throats annually as the greatest rivalry since Sparta-Athens back in Ancient Greece. But now I've gone in a circle...

But Thursday night's got it all. And I mean all.

Dallas and Green Bay. Two of the NFL's most storied franchises. The history of Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi. The tradition of Lambeau Field - with the Lambeau Leap, the aura of the Frozen Tundra, and the best fans in the game - and Texas-sized Texas Stadium, with it's hole "so that God could watch His favorite team," or at least that's what D.D. Lewis would have us believe. (And side note - this will be the last time these teams match up in Irving - Dallas opens the New Texas Stadium after next season.)

And then there's redemption.

Tony Romo's turned the lasting image of his botched snap costing Dallas a deep playoff run into a distant memory, playing out of his league this year and giving Dallas their first legitimate QB since Troy Aikman lined up under center. He's on the verge of breaking the Cowboy's single-season passing TD record (his next endzone connection will do it) and for the season he's sitting with a 105.3 passer rating,3,043 passing yards and 29 TD's.

Brett Favre's redemption is one of a different sort of lore. He's like an old-west hero who never says quit, the proverbial gunslinger who hasn't realized his time has passed. And that's what we all thought after the last two seasons - that the old gunslinger's time had passed. Facing (loud) calls to hang it up, Favre never backed off the same grit and determination to win that's made him the NFL's most prolific passer of all time. After throwing for 38 TD's with 47 INT's over the last two years, he's put up Favrian-type numbers this year, returning to his MVP form with over 3300 passing yards, 22 TD's and just 8 interceptions and seemingly willing his team to win week in and week out.

And those are just the side stories. History. Tradition. Redemption. That's why we love sports. And we'll see it all played out tomorrow night on the field, in a game that actually matters.

The NFC's top two teams (both at 10-1) will match up just as well on the turf as they do on paper. Great QB's. Adequate running games. Solid defense. And both of these teams have the intangibles.

Brett Favre won't quit. Tony Romo won't lose. Greg Jennings is underratted. Terrell Owens is unbelieveable. And both have coaches - seasoned or green - looking to prove that they're legit.

As in, Big-Game legit. As in, living up to their history legit.

But here's the problem. Charles Woodson and Bubba Franks are questionable and Donald Driver's listed as probable for Thursday's game.

What does that add up to? More pressure on Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant. More catches for Terrell Owens across the middle. And more pressure on Brett Favre to carry this team on his back.

But that's what the old gunslingers do. They don't back down. They take the load, they want the load, and they win the game. And that's what Brett Favre is going to do for the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Tony Romo's going to hook up with Owens for two or more scores. That's a given. But Brett Favre will not be denied.

Brett Favre may be old (I gotta throw that in there whenever I can), but he's the best QB the NFL's ever seen. Watch tomorrow night and you'll be reminded why. Everybody's on board the Tom Brady train right now - "this guy won't lose!" - but they forget Brett Favre designed, built and perfected that train.

Green Bay will meet New England in the Super Bowl. Yesterday's hero will meet today's fad.

But for now it's the Pack and the Boys, and the cream of the NFC will rise to the top. Tomorrow night Favre will lock up homefield for the playoffs. Tomorrow night Favre writes another page in his legacy.

Green Bay 31, Dallas 27.