Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of NFL football.  And my team — the Chicago Bears.

My Bears did not make the playoffs.  No, they blew it by losing to the Houstan Texans on week 17 — the last weekend of the NFL season.  Instead, the Vikings won the NFC North and the Eagles magically stole the final wildcard spot by embarassing the Dallas Cowboys 44-6.

However, even with the Bears out of the playoffs I am still excited about the postseason.  Unlike other popular sports which hold tournement-style elimination series, in the NFL it is lose-and-you’re-out.  To win the Superbowl you have to have a PERFECT postseason record.  So the question now is, who will do it?

In the AFC you have the:

Colts – They started off slow but have been on fire since late October.
Chargers – They’re in the playoffs without a winning record (8-8)!
Ravens – Inconsistent and lack luster.
Dolphins – Had only ONE win last year — this year in the playoffs!
Titans – Their best season ever.  They want to win this for Tennessee.
Steelers – Looking strong and Ben is ok.

In the NFC you have the:

Vikings – It is just hard to take this team too seriously.
Giants – Last year they won the big game.  They are favored to repeat the feat.
Eagles – Needed help to get in – and they got it big time.
Panthers – They have been winning all year.  Solid all-around team.
Cardinals – The Arizona Cardinals?  In the playoffs?  The CARDINALS?
Falcons – This team was expected to be bad.  They are in fact quite good!

This weeks games are:

the Dolphins VS. the Ravens – I PICK THE DOLPHINS BY 2 POINTS
the Colts VS. the Chargers – I SAY IT’S THE COLTS BY 10
the Eagles VS. the Vikings – I LIKE THE EAGLES BY 3
the Cardinals VS. the Falcons – FALCONS BY 12

So, what are your picks?

Quote made by George Herman “Babe” Ruth As of now, Jose Molina holds the distinction of having hit the final home run at Yankee Stadium. Opening day April 18, 1923 The Babe hit the first home run: a three run shot that helped the pinstripes defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Since then, the Yankees have won 26 World Championship titles and 39 American League Pennants. Love them or despise them the legacy left at the stadium will leave an indelible mark long after the last brick is hauled away and the new stadium is opened mere feet away.

Not only has Yankee Stadium been home to the Bronx Bombers, there have been multiple other events staged at the cathedral. 4 popes have said mass. Boxing matches have been held. The New York Giants played their home games from 1956-1973. Multiple movies have been filmed there (Die Hard with a Vengeance, Big, Anger Management, and of course The Pride Of the Yankees to name a few). George Costanza worked there as the “Assistant to the Traveling Secretary.” Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, and Simon and Garfunkel have all performed concerts at the venue.

My earliest memories of the stadium were during the 1977 World Series and Game Six of the series when “Mr. October” himself hit three home runs. Only 4 years old, but yes, I do remember watching it on television with Howard Cosell’s luminous tones broadcasting. I also do remember the Reggie Bar. Of course, I was raised on stories of the Greats: DiMaggio, Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi, and more.

So, although the Bombers will not be present in the post season for the first time in (I believe) 12 seasons, the cathedral was closed tonight in style.

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Final score: Yankees 7, Orioles 3. Andy Pettite gets the win and Jose Molina indeed hit the last dinger. Ironically, a Yankee pitcher hit the first and a catcher hit the final homer. Now… GO CUBBIES!