I'm stumped.

[Wait Wut]

I'm a Bears fan, heart and soul. Was hoping the Packers would make it so I could pick whoever could kick their ass. Okay, no Packers. Prayed for the Saints, since my family is from LA and I love Drew Brees. No Saints. The husband is a Chargers/49ers/Bears fan (yeah, he doesn't have a clue). None of them.

Can anyone give a diehard Bears fan any reason to pick either the Giants or the Pats? Years ago, an old bf was a Pats fan, so I was one by default. But, my heart isn't in it. I'd like to have a reason to watch the Bowl other than the husband's fried zucchini and nachos.

If it helps, I can't stand Tom Brady. But, is that enough reason to pick the Giants?

[pipi_k]

1. Couple of reasons...

Or maybe just one...

Myra Kraft.

She sent her husband off to negotiate so there would be a football season this year. Less than a week after it was done, she died.

She was a great humanitarian and either founded, or contributed to, some worthy causes.

Robert Kraft dedicated this season to his beloved wife.

Aside from wanting to see them win because I'm a fan, I want to see them win for Mrs Kraft.

[Wait Wut]

2. While I admire the woman...

...I've decided to go with the Giants. After some discussions with fellow Bears fans, some Chargers fans and a few miscellaneous fans, it comes down to the QB. I like Manning, I hate Brady. I'll admit, I know nothing about the ownership of either team and really don't care. It's who's on the field. If I cared about ownership, I wouldn't be a Bears fan.

The world needs more people like Ms. Kraft. It probably wouldn't hurt to have more football players like her, either.

Thanks for the input and good luck!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Course, I have to say Giants, my "heart and soul" team. Maybe

you could think of rooting for them since they are the underdogs? They fell to 7-7, and pulled
themselves together and beat the Jets, Dallas (twice), GB (sorry), SF, and walloped Atlanta.

Besides, the Pats cheat (remember how they were video taping the other team - signals or something)?

BTW, I just spent the last 3 years working in NOLA and fell in love with the Saints as my second team. I got to walk on Bourbon when the Saints won the SB. It was the singularly most wonderful experience ever - almost as great as going
to Obama's inauguration.

It is a rare occasion in life when you can be surrounded by literally
thousands and thousands of people where every single one of them is ecstatically happy.

[Wait Wut]

4. Yeah, two more reasons for me to pick the Giants.

I'm all for underdogs. Being a Chicago fan will do that to ya. And...they beat the Packers. I love them for that.

Saints have always been my 2nd team because of the family. Breesy just happens to be my 2nd favorite QB, as well. Never have gotten the chance to get down there.

So, yeah.... GO GIANTS!!!! (Until next year...heh.)

[pipi_k]

5. Just wanted to set that record straight

about the "cheating" that probably most teams did, but only the Patriots got caught doing...

That was two or three games into the 2007 season. They were caught and then it stopped. The NFL, no doubt, was watching them like hawks.

Even though it stopped, they still went 18-0 and would have had a perfect 19-0 season, winning the Superbowl against NYG, except for that one extremely lucky catch by David Tyree with less than 2:00 left in the 4th.

As for what happened in the seasons after, remember that Brady's leg got mashed in the first game of the 2008 or 2009 season and a relative unknown, Matt Cassell, took the team to 11-5 or something like that. And this was after the "cheating" scandal had been exposed and the NFL probably still watching them like hawks.

People laughed at some of the "old" players, who did end up leaving. They got younger players. Rookies. Still had better than .500 seasons in spite of the rookies and in spite of being closely observed for any further signs of "cheating".

So just wanted to point out that, after that whole episode, some more honest teams admitted to having done pretty much the same thing. They just never got caught.

Anyway. From all the sports articles I've been reading since Sunday, it looks like even though Las Vegas has the Pats as 3 point favorites, the articles themselves make them look like the underdogs due to their crappy Defense. The mantra is that "Defenses win championships".

If that's true, then the Giants, with a vastly better Defense, are not the underdogs.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. ard

Thanx points well taken..hard to break perceptions..just takes time..yikes u almost had me feeling sorry for them...good luck..will be a greatgame

[trumad]

7. "That was two or three games into the 2007 season. They were caught and then it stopped".

Funniest line of the year.

You may be able to get this by non-knowledgeable football fans--- you know---the kind that hang out in this group...but try that line over in the sports group.

Now go over and post that line in a new thread and see what happens.

[joeybee12]

9. You're right...it was the first game of the season...

Although that wasn't your point.

What game into the season did Denver get caught two years ago???

[JonLP24]

11. They were caught w/ a Pat's coach

FTR, I agree with you in the sense that it didn't give them advantage towards their undefeated regular season. I have no clue how often it was done by them or other teams prior. I also agree there are instances such as the NY Jets sideline tripping, then Tasker claimed it happened to him all the time and the analysts found on tape the Patriots doing the same thing as well as the Panthers, but in the Panthers case a player actively seeked out the gunner to knock him down. In the Jets, he was merely in the path.

[pipi_k]

16. Thank you for

making my point.

Coaches, teams, players, staff...I don't think there's any team that hasn't done something less than honest/honorable.

Pointing a finger at them and calling them out makes about as much sense as all the self-righteous asshole politicians pointing fingers at Bill Clinton after Monica. Quite a few of those finger pointers had skeletons in their own closets as well, only they never got the chance to lie about it because they weren't caught.

[pipi_k]

14. You have proof, of course...

that it continued.

From this site:


http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14548114/patriots-winning-ways-puts-spygate-handwringing-to-rest

"This is exactly how I was told to do it 18 years ago by a Kansas City Chiefs scout. I tried it, but I didn't think it helped us," said former Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson, speaking of the videotaping. "Bill Belichick was wrong because he videotaped signals after a memo was sent out to all of the teams saying not to do it. But what irritates me is hearing some reactions from players and coaches. These players don't know what their coaches are doing. And some of the coaches have selective amnesia, because I know for a fact there were various teams doing this. That's why the memo was sent to everybody. That doesn't make [Belichick] right, but a lot of teams are doing this."

"Everyone does it" isn't an excuse.

Still, all these years later, it's becoming clear Spygate wasn't the massive scandal we all thought.

Not even close.

Like the article says, it's not an excuse, but nobody can pretend it was ONLY the Patriots doing it.



PS...just wondering about the snotty attitude, and why you are dissing this group and comparing it to the "real" football group someplace else.

Not cool.

[Goblinmonger]

8. "one extremely lucky catch"?

So the fact that the Pats couldn't put the game out of reach up to that point had nothing to do with it? That ONE catch was the entire reason for the win? I have to change my description of the Bowl games the Vikings lost.

[trumad]

10. Yep

I take the Miami Hurricane/Ohio State NC game where possibly one of the worst officiating calls in NCAA history occurred...the phantom pass interference. Horrible call.

This Hurricane fan can conveniently use that as an excuse as to why they lost...

I don't though because Miami with that team should have never put themselves in that situation in the first place.

I will never say---errrr lucky catch---because--- athletes that make those types of catches simply make great catches.

[pipi_k]

15. I'll term this in the same words

I heard used on one of the morning sports programs...

Manning threw a "Hail Eli".

David Tyree just barely caught it on the front of his helmet and managed to hold onto it.

Had that "Hail Eli" been intercepted, it would also have been a lucky catch on the part of NE.

[trumad]

17. Dude---enough of the sour grapes.

Man-up and admit the Pats cheated and chocked big time in the SB against the Giants.

Fucking Baby Pats fans...whhhhhhaaaa!

[Poiuyt]

25. Actually, the Patriots were caught cheating the same way the year before against the Packers

They stopped after Belichick was fined $500,000

[getting old in mke]

12. Also a Bears fan

So I generally root for the NFC team unless there is a reason not to.

But, the Giants are too similar to last years Pack for comfort: Won into the playoffs on the last day of the season, had to play mostly on the road (ok, the Packers had to play strictly on the road, but still), peaking at a perfect time.

So I might be suspicious of them as reminding me too much of the Green and Gold. Living in Packers land can be rough for a Chicago boy.

[Wait Wut]

18. It's not too tough.

I figure Wisconsinites need something to be proud of besides their cheese. Imagine what it must be like to live in the shadow of the greatest city in the world?

I just can't bring myself to back Brady, again. Giants fans, so far, have been pretty decent, as well. I've got a few pissed off Pats fans blowing up my FB page.

[virgogal]

13. Just curious. Why can't you stand Tom Brady?

[Wait Wut]

19. I know this isn't going to be received well...

...just by looking at your avatar.

He's an arrogant, overrated douche. But, if it makes you feel better, I have an unnatural attraction to the east coast. Never been there, but I think I belong there. I'd still be a Bears fan, though.

[virgogal]

20. Your opinion is fine with me. I like baseball and ice hocky,not football. Get yourself

to the East Coast some time,especially the Northeast. It's terrific.

I will root for the Pats just because they are local and then there's that pesky competition between Boston and N.Y. teams.

[trumad]

22. "overrated douche"

I'm glad they have a football group---it keeps really stupid comments like this from the Sports group.

[Wait Wut]

24. Well...

I'm glad you're here, Trumad. You keep us all on edge. I feel honored that you chose this simple post to let your venom flow.

Don't ever change.

BTW...he really is.

[sumi12]

21. openion

you could think of rooting for them since they are the underdogs? They fell to 7-7, and pulled
themselves together and beat the Jets, Dallas (twice), GB (sorry), SF, and walloped Atlanta.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month.

This game has been renamed the "Blah Bowl" at my house.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. Easy. Pick the Pats.

You don't want the Conference bitches lordin' anything over you, imho*.




[font size=1]*Unless you need some sort of motivation.[/font]

[Botany]

27. 3 reasons

(CBS) Gisele Bundchen has called on friends and family to pray for her husband, New England
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, heading into his Super Bowl game this weekend against the New York Giants.

snip

"I feel Tommy really needs our prayer, our support and love at this time," Bundchen reportedly wrote.

"This Sunday will be a really important day in my husband's life. He and his team worked so hard to
get to this point and now they need us more than ever to send them positive energy so they can
fulfill their dream of winning this Super Bowl," the email continued, according to the Post.

Bundchen reportedly added, "So I kindly ask all of you to join me on this positive chain and pray
for him, so he can feel confident, healthy and strong. Envision him happy and fulfilled experiencing
with his team a victory this Sunday."

[pipi_k]

28. Well, to be fair...

Ocho hasn't been his usual obnoxious self while with NE. In fact, I heard a group of sports analysts the other day stating how "sad" it is that Ocho's personality seems to have been stifled while with NE. That the suppression of his "true self" is the reason why his performance has not been up to snuff this season. Um, whatever...

As for Belichick...the other day Wes Welker went on record saying that he (BB) is smiling a whole lot more nowadays because he's got himself a girlfriend. Could be true...he has looked a bit less cranky lately.

[Wait Wut]

29. Is he dying?

Why does she want us to pray for him? Does he pray for us?

I'll save my prayers for my Bears. They need it and deserve it more than Brady.