It's time

Well, the time has come. Time to decide who's goin' to the Super Bowl. Ever since the games ended this past weekend I've had no idea which way to go. I think I've got it...sort of.

Here we go:

Philly is getting 4 points against Arizona. This is pretty simple from where I'm sitting (although it took me 5 and a half days to come to this conclusion.) Something's wrong with Brian Westbrook. He's the best player on the Eagles and the most impactful, including Donovan McNabb. Let me remind you that this is the Eagles 5th NFC Title game with the Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb configuration and they have only won one previously. Who did they beat? The Falcons. They were supposed to beat the Falcons back then and got no credit for it, because they really shouldn't have. Then, they got waxed by the Patriots in the Super Bowl, McNabb is puking in the huddle, he throws back to back interceptions, and he basically has the worst game of his life. Is ole Donovan clutch? Nope. Is he great? Yep. Just..........not when the chips are down. It's a shame too, because I really like him, but I know better than to think he'll come through when his team DESPERATELY needs it.

On the other hand...

Kurt Warner has been to 2 Super Bowls and won one. (Granted, he almost lost it and was saved by one of the best tackles in the history of football.) He's been the MVP twice and doesn't have horrid games in the manner or frequency of Donovan McNabb. Kurt's clutch. Ole Donovan just ain't. (Even though his little "phone call" thing looked cute, it wasn't. I really think he thought people would laugh. I can assure you, I like Donovan, and I wasn't laughing.) Does he think that stunt will make him a better clutch player? Hasn't he figured out that that's the only thing lacking in his game....mental stamina? Isn't there a better way to work on that than by acting like a turkey on the Giants sideline? Even if Anquan Boldin has his legs crossed like LDT did last week, it doesn't matter. Larry Fitzgerald plays the other side. The new Edge is a little honked off right now. (You think he's playing angry?) Yep. Jim Johnson is Hall of Fame Defensive Coordinator (he sits alongside his peers Dick LaBeau and Monte Kiffin as sheer genuises in the sport), but he don't have enough to contain Kurt Warner when the Eagles offense just won't be able to score. Without Brian Westbrook the Eagles are sunk. In this equation, when you divide by or subtract Brian Westbrook things don't turn out well for you. Yep, I'm taking to dog again.

Cardinals 30 Eagles 13


Alrighty...

Pittsburgh is getting 6 points against Baltimore. This game is going to be like a real "War of the Worlds". Two monster armies clashing. Even as I write this I have no idea who I'm going to pick. I'll have it figured out in a minute. The players you have to put into this equation are so beastly, so good, so respected (and yet so hated by their opponents) that you never know who's going to come out on top. From where I'm standing I'm looking for the X Factor. Who is the X Factor for each team and for the whole game? Big Ben? Willie Parker?(Who, consequently, gave his dad a new car(with his Super Bowl Ring in the trunk) after they won their last one) Troy Polamalu? James Harrison? What about for the Ravens? Joe Flacco? Ray Lewis? Ed Reed? (The Major Wright of the NFL) Bart Scott? Who is it? Who's the one factor that just makes you cringe when you want to pick against his team? Who makes you fear that pick even though you have no money on it because you know he'll make you look like a fool for picking against him? Who is this animal? Who do I speak of that makes all people picking this game cower in fear? Drum roll please............................. Hines Ward.

Hines Ward is the reason Pittsburgh will win. He'll pancake block someone, make a few crucial 3rd down slot catches and catch a much needed touchdown (or two)...and, if need be, he'll throw a touchdown too. Maybe he'll even take a reverse in for a 4th down conversion or a score. Yep. Hines is the man. There you have it. He wasn't the MVP of the Super Bowl for nothing. He didn't break some dude's collarbone by accident (well, it was an accident, but you get the point). Hines is a Hall of Famer. No amount of Ed Reed can stop him. No Bart Scott bounty can contain him. Not even Ray Lewis snarling and showing his teeth will prevent Hines Ward from winning this game for the Steelers. You get the idea.

Pittsburgh 24 Baltimore 10


So, I figured out how to work with someone yesterday. Basically, it was a revelation. A colleague that I work very closely with as a music teacher (we'll call him the Tennessee Tornado) and I had a discussion about how to approach your boss and tell them that it makes you VERY uncomfortable when they say "I need to talk to you...tomorrow." Yikes! Are you kidding? I'm a worrier and I can't stand it. I wouldn't have slept had I not dealt with this. Anyways, TT advised me to approach, and in a very kind way say "I'm sorry, I'm a worrier and I just can't take it." This was met with the warmest response imaginable and the assurance that A) It's not a huge deal, and B) To not worry so much (in a kind, nurturing sort of way.) It never occurred to me to look deeper into how someone relates to those around them (especially at work) based on their work ethic and family situation. Let's say you are unmarried and don't have any children, yet you long for that AND you work like a dog, then you will work to create some kind of family around you, at the place where you are the most. Work. That's all. There's nothing wrong with that. If only I had figured it out sooner.

God promised to multiply Abraham and Issac (Gen. 22:17, Gen. 26:24). In my opinion, God's promises are far-reaching. Sooooo, multiplication means different things, for different people, for different times in God's economy. Some people are multiplied by their "children" around them if they don't have children of their own. This may seem like little consolation for someone who is biologically childless, but there IS a promise of multiplication. They are given an avenue to use their innate parental instincts to impact those around them. Just because they are not dealing with their biological children does NOT mean that they do not have "children" in this world. Duh!!!!!! Like I said, I wish I could have figured this out sooner.

In conclusion, I'm a dummy, I went 3-1 last weekend, and the Cardinals and the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl.

Peace