One knows that the Super Bowl is a dud when the network telecasting the game looks more forward to showing what happens to a prison guard when they wind up in a place where the inmates run the asylum. But fear not Survivor fans, CBS, always on the cutting edge of shameless self-promotion, has arranged for Debb Eaton to be paired with Tiger Woods at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this weekend. Couldn’t we see Debb now, “I don’t care how many majors you’ve won, don’t tell me how to swing a golf club!!!…” That’s probably how Tiger got his knee sprained. The crush of Survivor groupies ran over Tiger trying to get Debb’s autograph. Oh well, the first contestant kicked off of Survivor should always rank higher on the public figure scale than any golfer.
On a serious note, no matter how many snakes or bugs they have to digest, or how many cliffs they have to jump off of, those contestants should just be thankful that they do not have to compete against Ray Lewis or Tony Saragusa in an immunity challenge. Which leads to the question of whether the defense of the Black and Purple People Eaters are the best ever. Answer: pretty dang close. They only defense that I consider more ruthless would be the ’85 Bears. My most glaring memories of those guys was laying immobile Rams QB Dieter Brock to waste and thst picture of a bloodied Archie Manning lying out cold. Ol’ Arch looked like fictional Saints QB Big Cat Catlin (played by Charlton Heston) in the last scene from The Big Game.
I know, Baltimore’s opponents included four tilts with the Browns and Bengals, plus beating up on the Cards, Chargers, and Cowboys. It was the playoffs where the Ravens “D” really turned it up. Take away Dixon’s KO return and you are left with a grand total of 20 points scored against Raven in four games. Another dumb stat, Raven was 16-0 in games where they scored seven or more points. Not to mention they knocked out every QB in their wake and virtually eliminated the opposition running game. It was like the Minnesota Twins whiffing away against Pedro Martinez. The only chance was for the other defense to be just as dominating. The Tennessee Titans almost succeeded in the playoff game, which I considered the real Super Bowl. Eddie George has to get some sort of medal for managing 91 yards on the ground. It was a shame that Del Greco single-handedly cost TN 16 points. Two missed FG’s plus a blocked FG returned for a touchdown. But that’s just it, Raven even intimidates kickers!!!!! They may have put poor Al into retirement for good.
However, the Ravens do not seem to get their due. Several factors contribute to that. First, fans like seeing offense, and scoring in particular. The Rams last year captured fans imagination with their fast break, basketball in cleats, offensive mind set. A lot of people thought that even as a #6 seed STL would make it back. One look at the regular season stats should of told otherwise. The Ravens were first in points allowed, the Rams, dead last. Also, since the Ravens haven’t won recently, they weren’t on MNF or too many other national telecasts, so they don’t have the national following that traditional powerhouses (DAL, SF, GB, DEN) have enjoyed. Then of course there’s the moving from Cleveland factor, the Ray Lewis incident from last year factor, and the Brian Billick / Shannon Sharpe / Tony Siragusa factor. Come to think of it, is there one likable figure on the Ravens???? If this team could be the Raiders instead at least they could be canonized in Oakland.
So how does it look for 2001??? On the NFC side Philadelphia, with a ton of salary cap room, looks primed for the next move up. The same can be said for New Orleans. Add healthy running backs in Duce Staley and Ricky Williams, as well as emerging new-wave QB’s Donovan McNabb and Aaron Brooks, and we could be definitely be looking at next years conference final. In the AFC Baltimore and Tennessee, if they don’t lose much on defense should be back on the top of the heap again. And I really don’t like anyone who didn’t make the playoffs in 2000 to suddenly emerge as a top dog, like we’ve seen the past two years.
So that’s it, no more NFL for the next six months. But the KAC football page will continue with off-season developments, which will be plenty, beginning with some stunning news involving the GBP hierarchy this week. Not to mention the upcoming draft and the sure to be controversial XFL. So stay with KAC SPORTS for the latest in nonstop pigskin madness.