Things I Love About Football
1. Second and one. There's nothing better than when your team gets nine yards on first down. The playbook opens wide, like a bank vault. It's almost like a free play -- as long as you don't do anything silly, like throw an interception. But the Lions never do silly things, do they?
2. Measuring for a first down. I remember ex-Bucs coach John McKay, talking to NFL Films, and he was amazed at how the officials were able to toss the ball around after a play, and somehow manage to place it where it was when the ball carrier touched the ground. He said it with his classic sarcastic edge, i.e. Do they REALLY know where to put the ball? Anyhow, I must admit that there is some nifty little drama when the chain comes onto the field and it gets extended, and the camera is showing the ball and the end of the chain in extreme closeup, and you're wondering if the football's nose will poke past the first down marker... Man, I'm getting chills already.
3. Blocked kicks. I just love it when kickers or punters have their perfect little world tossed upside down, and they have to do something like chase a blocked kick or, better yet, throw a panicked pass or make a run for it. Of course, NOTHING will usurp Miami's Garo Yepremian and his ridiculous pass attempt in Super Bowl VII, which was plucked out of the air by Washington's Mike Bass (U-M), who ran it about 50 yards for a TD. Good stuff.
4. LaDainian Tomlinson. Hard to spell, and kinda tough to pronounce -- especially after a few cold ones -- but this guy is what pro sports should be about. He's talented, has a great personality, is all about team, and is the kind of guy you'd want your daughter to marry. And not just for the money -- though that doesn't hurt. But seriously, the "new" LT is a dynamite guy -- on and off the field.
The "new" LT is squeakier clean than his predecessor, the Giants' Taylor (shown in a mug shot)
5. Goal-line stands. I like when a running back takes a handoff, leaps over his linemen, and is met by a wall of defenders, who slam him backward. Nuh-uh. Not this time, baby.
6. Incomplete passes. Huh? More accurately, I like it when a DB breaks up a pass and there ISN'T a penalty flag thrown. Every receiver makes that abhorrent move with his right hand, like he wants a flag thrown, after every single freaking incomplete pass. Not EVERYTHING is pass interference -- and even pass interference isn't pass interference, half the time.
That's all for this week. Talk amongst yourselves. And remember, they're just things.
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