Another season of Football com...

For those of us who are die-hard football fans, the season doesn’t end with a championship game or the Super Bowl. The stories and the game itself continues on through the winter, spring and summer. There’s always so much to pay attention to week in and week out. Free agency, the draft, personal and head coaching changes, rehabbing injuries, contract extensions, you name it we’re going to follow it. For us the game never ends it’s just physically on pause while we take care of some household chores and maybe clean up the cellar a bit, throw away the unused dishes and bring in some new carpeting sort of speak. In the College ranks we’ll look forward to a new set of freshmen making their national debut and get ready for another year of campus craziness all across America. There’s so much to look forward to day in and day out. No longer is the winter, spring and summer a time to rest our interests, in fact it’s a period to pay particular attention to football and its future.

Aside from next year’s preliminary football build up, the week before the Super Bowl also heralds the biggest month of College basketball and one of the greatest tournaments worldwide, The NCAA Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness. If you’ve never heard of it it’s very likely possible that you’ve been living in a cave being raised by wolves because it’s huge. For a little over three weeks 64 college teams from all across America battle it out in a one game elimination format that is as exciting it gets. Win or go home. There are no second chances. They don’t give out participation trophies. No name colleges are matched up with national powerhouse programs. The Tournament itself is preempted by a selection show that decides who will play and who stays home. Hearts are broken and basketball dreams are made. It all comes along with everyone filling out their own personal “Tournament Bracket” printed out usually on line or in the local newspaper. It’s all about personal bragging rights and office smack talk. There are huge upsets and crushing defeats on a weekly basis all culminating in The Final Four, a weekend where the last four teams left standing will battle it out for the National Championship. It’s not to be missed folks. Look for more coverage on this historic and exciting event in the weeks to come.

Speaking of historic events, I’m sure by now that everyone has heard of Tom Brady’s retirement from playing football, again. Thankfully this time it was short and sweet. No long tearful speeches, no crazy timing or speculation. It’s done, hopefully. Tom Terrific now looks forward to a 350-million-dollar contract stint with Fox Sports from either the booth or the sidelines. Something tells me he’ll be a success in this as well. Best of luck to the only player wearing 7 Super Bowl rings. He may have lead some of the most dominating football teams in NFL history but he was never able to match a perfect season. That distinction is still owned by the Miami Dolphins. Nice try Number 12, next man up!

And now for the big game, The Super Bowl. Don’t let anyone fool you, The Super Bowl is a worldwide event. I’ve watched the game in Spain, Greece, Italy and Lebanon. Unlike soccer, The Super Bowl is purely American. It literally screams red, white and blue. In every international setting I’ve watched it in people are transfixed by the pageantry, the visual effects and the drama of the game itself. They make fun of it in Europe and elsewhere but they stay up till 3am to watch it just like I did. And let’s not forget the amazing cultural spectacle of the half time show, those million-dollar crazy commercials and of course the singing of the most beautiful and inspiring national anthem on earth, The Star-Spangled Banner. I mean seriously, The Super Bowl is America and America is The Super Bowl. It’s ours, we own it and I love it. There’s just nothing else quite like it.

I’m actually looking forward to the game this year as we have two evenly matched teams in The Kansas City Chiefs and The Philadelphia Eagles. Obviously, Patrick Mahomes and The Chiefs have Super Bowl pedigree but The Eagles field a powerful offense that made short work of their opponents this year. Their show down with San Francisco in the Conference Championship game turned into a chicken coop bloodbath that left the 49ers in a state of shock. Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense is still picking chicken feathers out of their mouths and The Vegas casinos are counting their millions in winnings.

I have to admit however that barring any catastrophic practice injury to Patrick Mahomes my pick has going to lean towards The Chiefs and I’ll explain why. Play close attention because this is a money maker, it could be the difference between your kid going to Hoboken State College or Duke University.

First, I think that this will be like a home game for The Chiefs. Their fans travel well, much better then Eagles fans. Geographically, Kansas City is closer to Arizona then Philadelphia. You can drive it probably. Makes sense, right? Eagles’ fans will have to mortgage their cheese steak trucks to get there by flying. It’s still up in the air weather or not the Philly fans know that Arizona is west of the Mississippi. I think that The Eagles are going to be met with a sea of red when they enter the stadium and if you recall my prior article home field advantage means everything. The Chiefs fans are VERY loud. I go advantage Chiefs.

Second, Kansas City has a solid running game. It’s not spectacular, but it’s solid which means a lot of pressure is taken off Patrick Mahomes to do what he does best and that’s make plays and throw the ball. The Eagles running game on the other hand relies on their quarterback Jalen Hurts who’s listed as a dual threat quarterback. Basically, if you lose Jalen Hurts or he’s hobbled you lose everything. Game over.

Third, talk about a killer instinct, that “Assassin’s Attitude” I discussed a couple weeks ago, Patrick Mahomes has it. What’s more, his receivers have it as well, especially standout tight end Travis Kelsey. If I’m playing in the Super Bowl, I’m wanting these two on my team. They’re ruthless. When they have you in the ropes, they keep punching you in the mouth. When they need to make plays, especially in the red zone, they make them, period.

Lastly in my book I don’t see the Chiefs being out coached. I actually had to stop and look up the name of the Head Coach for The Philadelphia Eagles and of course everyone knows The Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Again, there’s Super Bowl Experience there and the guy has never been out matched in the big games, at least not yet. If the game is a close one at the end like it should be, The Chiefs have the upper hand across the board. I’m looking for a Chiefs victory 34-31. You heard it here first!

Regardless of the outcome we all will love watching the game. They’ll be a lot of trash talking, chicken wing eating and bean dip dipping. It’s the culmination of a season that for me has been one of my most exciting and although my team isn’t there at the end, I’m sure that The Chiefs will prove to be a suitable replacement to cheer for. So, let’s all grab our favorite beverage, plant ourselves next to the snack table on our television throne and yell out load one more time “GAME TIME”!!!!!

Kev