Heading Back to Indianapolis!
I am just incredibly excited to be heading to Indianapolis this weekend to watch the one team I have literally obsessed about for over 30 years. Yes that team, my team, the New York Jets are heading to the AFC Championship Game to take on the top-seeded Colts this Sunday at 3 p.m. Where did this team come from? Where did Rex Ryan come from? Well in actuality they have been building this team up for a long time. Many people don’t realize that this group is not an overnight sensation. Our star studded offensive line has been being built for four years. Many of the defensive studs have put in more then a few seasons in a Jets uniform. Special teams aces like Brad Smith and Wallace Wright have been putting in their time in as well. Finally, though, we now have a coach who knows how to make it all work and knows how to motivate his players. He also is one hell of a coach. Lets also not forget some rookies who are making names for themselves like number 6 and number 23.
If I am dreaming please don’t wake me up now. Things are finally looking up for a franchise that has suffered through more then its fair share of difficult seasons. All of my close friends who are my age are Giants fans and have watched their team play in the Super Bowl four times during our lifetimes. Four times! Me, not one. Even the Arizona Cardinals have made it to the Super Bowl in my lifetime. I even had to take my father-in-law, a Giants die hard, to the Super Bowl in 2007 and sit through that game while he cheered relentlessly. This year I am hoping it’s my turn. Regardless if they go to the Super Bowl or not, I am excited to have a team still playing right now.
Shammy goes deep for a long TD pass from Tuchman
I am raring to go see the Jets play in their first conference championship since 1998. The only other time aside from 1998 the Jets made it this far in my lifetime was in 1982 when they played the Dolphins in the so called Mud Bowl down at the Orange Bowl. I remember I had to keep playing with the tin foil on the antenna on my little black and white television trying to get reception. I should have turned it off as my main memory is watching AJ Duhe pick off a pair of Richard Todd passes. I loved that team and loved those players but unfortunately they came up one game short in their quest to go to the Super Bowl. Sunday can’t come soon enough for championship-starved Jet fans. It’s not often your favorite team gets this far in the playoffs and in the Jet fan’s case, it’s a rare occurrence.
I honestly would trade tickets to all of the 100 sporting events in my book to be able to see the Jets play in the Super Bowl. They’re one win away and I don’t feel like waiting another year. Why not now? Why not them? Although Peyton Manning and the Colts will give the Jets fits, there’s no reason why the Jets can’t pull off another upset in this year’s playoffs. All you have to do is look at the last time the Jets were playing the Colts in a game of this magnitude. Namath came through. Can the Jets do it again?
Now I also don’t mind heading to Indianapolis. I think it is a fantastic city for sporting events. When I’m not cheering for the Jets defense to make a stop on third down, I’ll be visiting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The Hall was recently renovated and
reopened in 2009 because of a fire and I’m excited to see how the renovation came out. The museum offers an array of exhibits based on memorable student-athletes and NCAA athletic performances. I may also get over to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The collection of cars at the museum is one of the greatest in the world. Too bad I can’t drive one home from Indy. I’d love to take a former Indy 500 winning car on the freeway back to New York while gloating over a Jets victory. Looking forward also to a nice steak at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse.
Attending an NFL conference championship game is ranked 18 on the list of the 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live. I’ll also knock off another one in my book!
I’m really starting to grind out the list and knock off events at the top of the list. Let’s go Jets, allow me to have a rooting stake in this year’s Super Bowl, something I’ve never been able to do before!
“Lets hope it doesnt come down to this!!!!!!”
No Comments »Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Vancouver, Canada is a city that takes great pride in their multiculturalism. Exactly one month from today, Vancouver will make their biggest multicultural move yet by literally opening up their city to the world for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This will mark British Columbia’s first time hosting the Olympic Games, although it is Canada’s third. There will be several competition venue locations including Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver Olympic Center, Pacific Coliseum, and the UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver alone. Other venues include The Whistler Sliding Center, Whistler Creekside, and Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond and Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver. Outdoor competition venues include Whistler Creekside, Whistler Sliding Center, Whistler Olympic Park and Cypress Mountai
n.
Preparations for this massive event have been well underway for some time now and as the start date approaches, employees and volunteers alike kick into high gear to ensure the smoothest conditions possible for the world’s winter athletes. The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) have unleashed an arsenal of state-of-the-art snow making equipment as well as the world’s most experienced snow makers and masters of ice. Additionally, the federal department has made available $13.4 million worth of expertise and equipment including advanced weather tracking technology made available via Environment Canada. The precautionary measures proved to be an essential with the unseasonably wet and warm weather dominating the area as of late. “As a precaution, we’re (also) stockpiling snow to ensure we’re ready no matter what the weather conditions are leading up to and during the games”, said Tim Gayda, Vice President of Sport for VANOC.
As the winter athletes of the world converge onto one stage since Torino in 2006, predictions and statistics become high topics of conversation. Returning champ countries include Germany, who won the most medals in Torino with 29, U.S.A, which won 25, and Canada itself, which took home 24 placed finish awards. Just a few American athletes to keep your eyes on as they go for the gold include Shaun White and Gretchn Bleiler for Snowboarding, Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso for Alpine Skiing, Apolo Ohno for Short Track, Evan Lysacek, Johnny Weir, Sasha Cohen, and Rachel Flatt for the crowd favorite Figure Skating, and Noelle Pikus-Pace for Skeleton.
If you aren’t one of the 1.8 million ticket holders, 10,000 estimated media reps, 5,000 officials and athletes or 2,500 volunteers there’s still plenty to enjoy in Vancouver during the Olympics. Most notably, the 2010 Cultural Olympiad which runs from January 22nd to March 21st. ”Amazing feats of athleticism at the 2010 Winter Games won’t be restricted to snow and ice – they’ll also be on our stages throughout the Games region as some of the world’s premiere dancers, actors, and musicians join our cultural celebrations”, VANOC Vice President of Culture and Celebration Burke Taylor noted of the Cultural Olympiad. The official 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games website hails the Olympiad as a compilation of “genre-bending theatre; stunning virtuoso dance; fierce, fresh music; breathtaking visual and digital art extravaganza”.
While in Vancouver for the Games and the Cultural Olympiad, check out some of the permanent attractions the city has to offer: frolic the flora at Van Dusen Botanical Gardens or make a discovery at the scientific exhibits at Science World British Columbia. Travel back in time to when the high seas ruled at the Vancouver Maritime Museum which explores the rich history of the Pacific Coast. While certainly not for the faint of heart, adventurers with a flair for the wild side should cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge which towers 230 feet above the Capilano River and travel along it’s evergreens at the newest attraction, Treetops Adventures. Since Vancouver truly is a multicultural mecca, there is no shortage of unique and delicious eateries, restaurants, and dining experiences awaiting your arrival.
The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada is truly shaping up to be a can’t-miss world class event. Go Team U.S.A.!
2 Comments »2010 Pro Bowl goes State Side
Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii has seen its fair share of NFL Pro Bowl games. For thirty consecutive seasons, 1980-2009, it has been home to the famous all-star game. The continental United States has something more than just the New Year to celebrate this early January however, as the 2010 Pro Bowl is set to take place at Miami’s Land Shark Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. This will be the second Pro Bowl for Miami, as the city hosted the 1975 game at Orange Bowl Stadium.
In addition to the venue change, the 2010 Pro Bowl will be the first in NFL history to be played before the Super Bowl, also to be held at Land Shark Stadium. When probed for a reason to hold the Pro Bowl first, a potentially dangerous game for any Super Bowl hopeful player, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained to the Associated Press that he was hoping to avoid a “somewhat anticlimactic” ending to the 2009-10 season. When this plan originated, it was intended that any players on championship squads, both AFC and NFC, would not be asked to participate in the Pro Bowl. This notion, as has become obvious with the official 2010 Pro Bowl roster release, did not come to fruition.
26 of the NFL’s 32 teams will be represented at the upcoming game, to be played January 10, 2010. In a surprise turn-out, the Bengals have no representation in this years game, prompting Chad Ochocinco to return the snub by saying, “The Pro Bowl, it’s like being married for 30 years…you get tired of it.” This year, those representing the NFC will be 8 Minnesota Vikings (the most players from a single team for this year’s Pro Bowl, including a whopping 5 starters), 6 Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, 5 New Orleans Saints, and 4 Arizona Cardinals to name the teams with the most players in. The AFC’s heavy guns this year include 6 Indianapolis Colts, 5 players from the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers respectively, and 4 Houston Texans. Peyton Manning, of the Colts, will be starting Quarterback for the AFC, as Drew Brees, of the Saints, will stand in the same position for the NFC.
As the city of Miami sets itself up to host the two biggest NFL games of the year one week apart from each other, we highlight some positives for the league’s monumental moves. For one, Land Shark Stadium has a seating capacity of 72,000, trumping Aloha Stadium by 22,000 seats. For another, by most fans’ standards, Miami is a whole lot more accessible than Honolulu. “The Pro Bowl is really meant to be open to everyone, and the whole idea was to bring more fans to the Pro Bowl and more fans to the stadium than we ever have before… Now we’ve got an opportunity for (fans) them to come to the stadium and really enjoy something world class that was previously 6,000 miles away.” explains Frank Suporitz, NFL Senior Vice President of Events. In keeping with this spirit, there will be a free practice on January 30th open for attendance.
Miami will be abuzz with football frenzy for a solid week straight, giving no break to the avid fans. The upside? No one has the time to lose interest, especially with the Pro Bowl taking place before the Super Bowl. Those of us not fortunate enough to make it to the sunshine state will be glued to the TV for both games, something the NFL is banking on to boost Pro Bowl ratings. If you have managed to finagle your way into tickets, you’re about to experience a game you’ll remember forever in a town with no shortage of entertainment in its own right. Hotels, dining, and nightlife are in abundance as is the warm weather and sandy beaches. Miami bars tend to stay open late for games as well as post game celebratory jubilee.
Thus the stage is set for what is sure to be an epic game in a stunning yet accessible location. Hawaii will host next season’s game again, so this is shaping up to be a rare opportunity sporting event, at least until the NFL makes an actual determination for a rotating annual Pro Bowl schedule. In short, if you have tickets for the 2010 Pro Bowl game at Land Shark Stadium in Miami, feel free to rub it in to all your friends.
No Comments »Playoff Bound Jets Win Final NFL Game at Giants Stadium
The NY Jets hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the last game to ever be played at Giants Stadium this past Sunday night. It can now be said that the Bengals have never won a game in the old stadium and most certainly never will. It can also be said thankfully that the Jets will never play another game in Giants Stadium either. As a fan of a team that has not had their own home 
for the past twenty five years I understand the importance of being able to have your own building. The Jets really have not had an identity or foundation to build on over the years practicing in Long Island and playing in New Jersey. A new stadium will definitely help as has the new practice facility in Florham Park.
As for Sunday night, from offensive mishaps to poor defense, the bottom line is that the Bengals didn’t show up. Much can be said as to whether the absence and injuries of key players in the game had a significant impact on the win for the Jets, however, Bengals coaching staff and players alike, acknowledged that they were simply outplayed. Luckily for them, it is a rare instance in the National Football League that two teams are scheduled to a rematch leading into the playoffs just a week apart. They have a chance to suit up and turn it all around on their own home turf in Cincinnati.
After the game, Bengals Coach, Marvin Lewis, was quoted saying that the team is “blessed to have this opportunity”. Bengals wide receiver, Chad Ochosinco, also sees the rematch as a positive opportunity. Despite his knee injury late in the game, he says, “There isn’t much more they can do. There is no trickery they can add to their game plan. We know their offensive and defensive scheme. It just comes down to executing the plays”. Let’s see if he can shake Darrell Revis Saturday. I doubt it as Revis has been ridiculously good this year.
Even so, if the way the Bengals played last night showed any inkling as to how they will play next Saturday; the Jets need not to worry. Essentially, no matter how you spin it, the shutout gave the Jets a massive boost of confidence for their next opponent which just so happens to be the Bengals. The Bengals, who hadn’t been shutout since Dec. 23, 2001 (in a game against the Baltimore Ravens), also ended up setting a new club record of 72 yards for the least amount of yards gained within a single game.
Knowing it could go both ways, I will be anxiously taking my place in the stands at Paul Brown Stadium next Saturday in Cincinnati for the AFC Wild Card Round. This very stadium, which is often referred to as “The Jungle” by Bengal fans, is actually a clean slate for the New York Jets who will be making their first playoff appearance since 2006. As far as most Jets fans are concerned, all that happened in the regular season is irrelevant up to this point. They’ve made it to the playoffs where every team’s record is sitting pretty at 0-0. The Jets have big aspirations and aim to prove that they are worthy contenders while the Bengals are looking to make up for the travesty that occurred late Sunday night.
That being said, I intend to make the most of my stay in Cincinnati but hopefully won’t be coming home without some Cincinnati style chili from Skyline and a big “W” for Team Gangreen. At games end, I will have either made my way to the Head First Sports Café to drown my sorrows with a cold beer or I’ll be feasting at the infamous Montgomery Inn to celebrate with some of “the greatest ribs in the U.S.A” as proclaimed by Cincinnati Red’s legend, Ken Griffey, Jr. I do love the Natti and have some good Bengal friend fans in the area so either way it will be a good time.
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