Superbowl Week: Monday

OK, straight to the point: head says Colts, heart says Bears.

For a while now, I think that Peyton Manning has been the best passing quarterback in the league and he has the supporting cast that could potentially make this a blowout if Ron Rivera's defensive scheme doesn't work. The knock against Indianapolis earlier in the season was that they couldn't stop the run but they have been unrecognisable recently and this is why head is going with them.

Heart is going for the Bears for a number of reasons. The first pro football game I ever saw live was the 1986 American Bowl at Wembley Stadium, at the beginning of the season following the triumph of Superbowl XX. So I saw Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, The Fridge and all the other luminaries on arguably one of the most complete football teams I think I've ever seen. This season I've had more fun following the Bears than the Raiders, but whereas the Raiders are an obligation the Bears have always been a way of enjoying the NFL without screaming blue murder at the TV.

In a lot of ways, the game is Old School as well. Until the re-organisation of the NFL in 1969, both the Colts and the Bears were in the NFC and the Colts were the first team to represent both conferences in the Superbowl: they lost to the Joe Namath inspired NY Jets in SB3 and beat Dallas in SB5 (in Miami when the Colts wore white!) with a Jim O'Brien field goal with five seconds left.

Madame Zaza time: will I be publishing a photo of Adam Viniateri doing something similar to this on Monday morning?


It's all very well considering the past, but here are some threads leading up to the game that are of interest.

Hardly surprisingly considering what happened to the team in 1984, the city of Baltimore isn't supporting the Colts. Neither are these old Baltimore Colt alums, but they seem to like Peyton Manning. This story is really sad; John Mackey was one of the pioneers at the Tight End position at roughly the same time Mike Ditka had a similar role with the Bears and Cowboys.

John Mackey

Mike Ditka

I stumbled across a fantastic Bears website at bearshistory.com while I was looking for bits and pieces to post here on youtube.

Having said that, I haven't seen any stories about Colt fans that travel the 500 or so mile trip to Indy to support the team rather than staying in Maryland to support either the Ravens or the Redskins. It's about the same distance from Oakland to Los Angeles as it is between Bristol and Glasgow; seeing as though I now seem to be locked into this, Chicago to Indianapolis is less than 200 miles.

Enough rambling.

Another World

At 3:45pm on Saturday, I was convincing myself that although progress in the FA Cup was a bonus, the bread and butter was getting promotion. City were 2-0 down at half time to Middlesbrough.

Just over an hour later, we were still in it. Two goals in six minutes, one of which was so sublime that the BBC have included it here. Last night, our game was featured on 'Match Of The Day'; at the end - over the credits and the music which will be forever associated with going to bed - was Scott Murray running towards the East End after scoring and then Gary Johnson applauding the fans in the Atyeo Stand when he left the pitch.

And yes, I was singing when Scott scored.

Here then, is a glimpse of another world. City are on 'Match Of The Day', Ashton Gate is full and there's a fight back that will be talked about for years.



And to finish off, here's LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell making a big play against Ole Miss. All may be revealed in New York City in April.

Instant Roundup

Middlesbrough at home at 3:00pm in the fourth round of the FA Cup! The ticket situation has been ridiculous but I should have expected that. The Johnstone's Paint Trophy is also within striking distance after a 2-0 win over Brighton on Tuesday. Not only that, the point gap has been overcome at the top of Division 3 where City are now second on goal difference.

Colts v Bears in the Superbowl next weekend. Referring back to this post, it's now definitely Peyton Manning.


Cut that meat! Cut that meat!

The Raiders have a new coach. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lane Kiffin.

Florida beat Ohio State to win the National Championship. Here's your standard game highlight clip with obligatory rock soundtrack:



Whereas this is a really good photo essay:



There are some names on that list that will be playing on Sundays. The scary thing about Florida: Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow are still young.

Troy Smith isn't exactly wowing the pro scouts, I will endeavour to find out what Mel Kiper thinks...

'I think my hair isn't bouffant enough in this picture.'

I've started ranking pitchers for the fantasy baseball league I play in, so winter is all but over. But before it's time to check the scores of West Coast games in progress when I wake up in Britain, there are a few things left to sort out. I'll put some Superbowl thoughts together and attempt some kind of recap over the stuff I've posted so far but now it's pretty much over to the rest of the football season.

So from March 1962, here's some film of City getting stuffed 5-0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The footage isn't great...but the song is. Enjoy it!


'Oh I do like to see a game of football/When Saturday afternoon comes round...'

All you can ever want

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Coventry 0, City 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NFL is coming to London!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two out of three ain’t bad

Well, ‘Jimmy’ got 66% of his predictions correct: City drew with Orient (after having gone behind again) and Scunny drew with Port Vale, but he got Old Ham v Forest very wrong indeed.

Old Ham won 5-0 and Forest finished with nine men. Still, I trusted ‘Jimmy’, had a flutter and won back more than I spent so I’m not complaining. The results leave City in no man’s land between the playoff contenders and the automatic promotion spots.

We’ve been here before and will be here again. I’m trying to remain positive but I’m having occasional flashbacks...

Elsewhere, something mildly surprising happened: Paul LeGuen left Glasgow Rangers by mutual consent - presumably as opposed to being forced into it by a dose of Rohypnol or several pints of ‘heavy’ and a deep fried Mars Bar. Talking of the old heave ho tin tack treatment, the following NFL coaches have fallen on their swords: Denny Green (Arizona) to no-one’s surprise and Jim Mora (Atlanta) in what seems to be a joint effort by the ownership and Ron Mexico.

I am not visiting any of the usual American sites today because I recorded Notre Dame v LSU and don’t want to do a Likely Lads. Madame Zaza predicts: Brady Quinn has a magnificent game, Al Davros calls him afterwards and pleads with him to come to Oakland – and he breaks both his legs in the first minicamp after the Raiders draft him.

There was also plenty of evidence yesterday that pointed to Dolphin coach Nick Saban being hired to coach Alabama for several thousand wheelbarrows full of US dollars. It makes sense; he steered LSU to a share in the ‘National Championship’ a couple of seasons ago and he knows SEC football.

But the best story of Bowl Season: Boise State beating Oklahoma. I’ll stick more stuff on here when I get it, but it’s one of those stories that Hollywood would laugh at as being unbelievable. Stay tuned and find out why.

Official: The Oakland Raiders are sh*t.

Let's be honest: in a Madame-Zazaesque moment I saw this coming.

If I had Photoshop on this machine, the ND navy and gold would be replaced by Raider Silver and Black, because due to a ridiculous win over the Dallas Cowboys by the Detroit Lions, the Oakland Raiders have the first pick in the NFL draft in April. Whether or not Brady Quinn is the right decision remains to be seen.

Without going into too much detail here, when Charlie Weis came to South Bend Quinn had been struggling in Tyrone Willingham's offense and despite the progress he's made since, the situation in Oakland is not conducive to anyone's confidence (or sanity), especially when he might be thrust into a situation where there may be a new head coach/offensive co-ordinator with Al Davros harping on about the good old days of the vertical passing game.

For the last time, I am your Creator! You will obey me!

Without boring anyone to tears, there is some wonderful talent on the board - as always. Now it's time for the non-playoff teams to work out who they want to take. I'll have some kind of draft preview in the weeks after the Superbowl, but here's a heretical thought: how about Adrian Peterson with first pick and give Andrew Walter a chance to develop?

The other prediction from almost a month ago - that an NFC team with a .500 record would qualify for post season - also came true, even though the New York Giants only clinched that spot with their first win for something like half the season. They beat out Carolina, St Louis and Green Bay and may have ended Brett Favre's pro career.

Right, back over here for a bit. Manyoo now have a six point lead over Chelsea (keep up at the back there) in what is annoyingly referred to as the 'EPL', although they can extend it to nine if they beat Nyurr-cassel today; Chelsea play Aston Villa tomorrow evening. Watford are already ten points away from safety at the bottom and play Full Ham today in a game that not too long ago would have been in the lower half of the league. In Division 1, Brum also have a six point lead (over Preston and Derby), but I'm hoping that Southampton do well this season because I NEVER EVER WANT TO BE STUCK AT THAT BLOODY RAILWAY STATION AGAIN.

By far and away the most exciting situation is in Division 3.

Now I've been away over the Christmas period but due to the wonders of modern technology I've been able to determine a pattern in City's last three games that I should find worrying but don't. Having to come back from a goal - or even two - down to pick up five of the nine points available is typical Bristol City. I'm sure Forest fans are saying the same thing now they've been caught and overtaken by Scunny, so let's have a gander at today's games with Jimmy Hill, who seems to be reporting from 'The World At War' studio this week.

'Tonight we'll be looking at how the Germans used a modified Schlieffen plan to outflank the French..'

'Well, there's a real four pointer at the top of Division 3 this afternoon when third placed Old Ham Athletic take on second placed Nottingham Forest at Boundary Park. Even though Old Ham have already beaten Forest in the league this season, I'm expecting a tightly contested game that will probably finish in a draw.

'Leaders Scunthorpe United travel to Port Vale - The Iron haven't conceded a goal away from home since the beginning of November*, but the Valiants home form has improved recently. I'm expecting a tightly contested game that will probably finish in a draw

'Fourth placed Bristol City visit Leyton Orient for the second time this season, having already won at Brisbane Road in the Watney Cup. Despite their impressive home form City haven't won away in the league since the end of September** so I'm expecting a tightly contested game that will probably finish in a draw. Over to Tony Gubba for thirty seconds of highlights, most of which will be of a dog urinating on a goal post.

Right, well if that's everything, I'm off for a drink, off to see my, erm, nephew at the, erm, ice-rink, yes that's it, huur. Bye.'

I'm off too, to the virtual bookies to spend some of the money the Philadelphia Eagles won for me yesterday. Jimmy might be on to something: all three are 9/4 for the draw.

Coming soon: Dead Painters I Hate.

* Oh Christ, the Recipe For Success (TM) for Division 3 football - win at home, don't let any in away. Monday 5th February on SkySports if you're interested. Watch in horror as the playoff nightmare becomes reality.

** See immediately above