“Please join us for the christening of our daughter…” That’s how it all began. My niece and her husband were baptizing their baby daughter on Sunday, January 18, at 12:45 PM, with a luncheon to follow. Nice, right? Not with the AFC and the NFC Championship games that day! But I was not worried. I have TIVO. I just needed to strategize the day so that I would be home in time to watch both games and get to bed at a decent hour.
You may recall that, on Sunday morning, the roads were a sheet of ice. The church was supposed to be twenty minutes away. It was not that morning. We passed a jack-knifed truck on Route 22 and slid our way to the church on treacherous roads once we left the highway. Cars were sliding off the roads we needed to travel, police lights were flashing every 5oo yards, and on one of the back roads, we looked at a cliff to our right that seemed like a 100-foot drop. But, thanks to my SUV, and some expert driving (I must say), we made it to the ceremony on time.
Next, it was on to the luncheon. It was about 2:00, one hour before the Packers were to meet the Seahawks. No sweat. TIVO was ready to save the day. The meal was nice and the conversation was pleasant. Everything was going well. Then one of the guests pops up from the basement and yells – “Packers – 3, Seahawks – 0”. No!! I wanted to shout, “Don’t tell me anything about the game. I have TIVO!!” But I held my tongue. My wife warned me not to mention the games during the luncheon. That same guest returned shortly after that to proclaim, “Packers – 6, Seahawks – 0!”
“No more scores! I have TIVO”, slipped out, rather loudly, I must say. I went on to quietly say that I would appreciate if there would be no more updates.
Knowing that “Goodbye” takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, I suggested around 4:00 that it might be time to leave. Thank goodness, we weren’t the first to start putting on coats or I may have gotten the evil eye. I think we left around 4:45. And, most importantly, I was now sheltered from any further reports on the game.
Upon arriving at home, I settled into the recliner, offered to put on my headset so my wife didn’t have to listen to the broadcast, and turned on my TIVO (I love my TIVO!). However, as is always the case when I put on my headset, that is the EXACT time my wife wants to talk to me! I either have to listen to her or to Joe Buck. I can’t do both, but I try to do both. That doesn’t work too well. Finally, I have acquiesced enough that I can now watch the game in peace. In the middle of the second quarter, my headset batteries die. The headset is no longer an option. I put the sound on, zip through the commercials, and avoid the half-time inanity. The Packers are up 19-7 late in the fourth quarter and then I get a text from my daughter – “What a game!! Brian is probably crying!” Brian is my grandson and a huge Packers fan. Why would he be crying with the Packers up 12? Oh, no. My daughter’s TIVO was ahead of my TIVO!! Next, she texts, “Brian said it was one of his worst experiences ever as a Packers’ fan!” What!!! It was now 19-14 with 2:09 to go. Then the onsides kick, the Seahawks TD, the 2-pt. conversion, the Packers’ field goal and we go to overtime. But it is now apparent that the Packers must lose and they do. Rather anticlimactic after the texts! One of the great comebacks ruined!
I ask my daughter not to ruin the AFC game for me, but now my wife wants to talk about the game. What’s an onsides kick? Why didn’t the Packers player catch the ball? She likes the way the ref’s pants are tapered, wonders why they play in the rain, and finds the Colts’ quarterback’s name (Luck) rather amusing. Keep all sharp objects away from me!!
And… there was no way to ruin the AFC game for me – the game itself ruined the game – New England – 45, Indianapolis – 7. Why didn’t someone tell me that score in advance so I wouldn’t have watched it?
In two weeks, I will hibernate in a room with no windows, no doors, no people, and no cell phone. I will sit and enjoy the Super Bowl with my favorite person – ME!!! Unless, of course, someone invites us to a First Holy Communion!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
1. Late Saturday night (thanks again to TIVO) I watched Lafayette’s Ross Scheurman in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Ross ran for 28 yards on just four carries and had a 51-yard touchdown called back. It was a typical Scheurman run – he ran away from everybody. This was a game to showcase players for the NFL. I hope some team gives him a chance.
2. Joe Paterno is the winningest coach in college football history again after the NCAA restored the 112 wins they took from him during the Sandusky scandal. Can the restoration of his statue at Beaver Stadium be far behind?
3. Should the Eagles trade up to get either Marcus Mariota of Oregon or Jameis Winston of Florida State to fill the quarterback position? The duo could go one and two in the draft. Or should they pay more attention to the Ohio State defensive scheme? The Buckeyes did pretty well in consecutive games against these two QB’s.
4. Ryan Howard is one of the more interesting off-season baseball stories. Ryne Sandberg and the front office do not want him; he knows it; and no one can do much about it. If he AND Cole Hamels are still on the squad during spring training, after the Phils tried to get rid of both, the atmosphere could be very interesting
5. I bet the media is REALLY looking forward to all the time they get to spend in the next two weeks with Bill Belichick of the Patriots and Marshawn Lynch of the Seahawks. They are not exactly “Media Darlings”.
(Last week – 2-0) (179-84-1 overall – 68%)
SUPER BOWL PICK NEXT WEEK
