Side shows get freakier

Prelude - As Homer Simpson once said, "I'm a male between 25 and 35. All advertisers listen to me. Ummm beer peanuts." Yes 18 to 34 year guys buy things. Very dumb self centred things. So who better to advertise to? Really want their attention? Find the best way to collide sex and sports. Voila: the lingerie bowl. Now this Superbowl half time pay per view event has morphed into being, wait for it, a league! Is this sh#$ for real?

Sport - Football (sorta)

Event - This weekend, the Lingerie Football League recruited 'players' for their new league.

Point to say - "Have you heard of the Lingerie Bowl?"

Follow up point - "Did you hear that there will be a league?"

Get out of the conversation - "Are you going to watch?" Depending on the look you give when asking that question, or the tone you use, conversation will be over in a hurry.

Backgrounder
We could go down the path of advertising to explain this league. But that is a given as to why this was created. History will show that sideshows invented for the Superbowl have been around for a long time (eg Bud Bowl).

Let's instead concentrate on if this "league" will last or not. Of course not.

As a sporting event, the play is horrible. Are the women athletic? Of course they are. But the play is atrocious.

So will it last for as long guys can watch soft porn. Great at the start, but then boring. Really boring. And further, what are you cheering about? The 8 missed tackles per play?

Guys love stats. It is what they use to make conversation with each other. Where are the stats in this league? Check out this page. Her stats are 5.6, 120 pounds, age 20. Um and she runs the 40 yards how fast? Oh yeah. Forgot. Doesn't matter.

Bottom line, no, it won't last. But what will last is the depth that we've taken the collision of sex and sports.

Links
Football cough league web site

Exit Stage Left

Prelude - Is it to be believed? Does another great athlete exit stage left? Most times, athletes have a lot of trouble retiring at the top of their game. In this case the impending announcement appeared to be dragging on over a couple of years. Even now, after a particular brilliant season, will he, in fact, stay true to his word? Let's explore this idea and the great career of Brett Favre.

Sport - Football

Event - Brett Favre announces his retirement from NFL football.

Point to say - "Did you hear that Brett Favre (pronounced fɑrv) retired yesterday?"

Follow up point - "Will Green Bay be able to repeat their season of last year? (or) Do you really think he'll stay retired?"

Get out of the conversation - "Your kid's hockey season still going?"

Backgrounder
Who is Brett Favre? In American football over the last 15 years, he is mentioned as one of the top quaterbacks in the game. He is a sure fire member of the Football Hall of Fame. He has set numerous quaterback records over his 17 year career.

His two biggest accomplishments:

• Favre is the only three-time AP MVP (1995-97) in NFL history and
• He led the Packers to two Super Bowls:

Analysis
Great athletes only know athletics. That's all they've done. It has to be quite something to walk away from all that they know. This is why some athletes hang on until they are liabilities on their team. Some walk away but then come back. In the case of Favre, he hadn't had many good seasons within the last five, so it surely looked like he had hung too long. Turns out his last season was one of his best ever. Also, last season pass numerous key career milestones.

So, now that the records are set, does it make sense that he his mentally tired (as he is quoted saying in the papers)? Have all the challenges been overcome?

Here's betting that he's on his way to the Hall of Fame rather than the Field of Play. That, yes, he's done what he can and its time to join the ranks of tv announcing.

Links
Article on retirement.

Perfection not achieved, but a perfect final.

Prelude - In the world of sports, it is very rare that we see perfection. Golfer Tiger Woods running off an incredible win streak is the closest sports fans have seen in recent years. In football, perfection has been achieved only once in 42 years. So, when a team knocks on the door it is worth taking notice. However, bigger than perfection, if such is possible, is the upset. Last night created drama that has not been seen in sports in quite some time, and perhaps for a while yet to come. It will be the talk of Monday. Get ready to join in.

Sport - Football

Event - Superbowl #42. The New England Patriots vs the New York Giants. The Giants win the game 17-14 on a last minute touchdown. An incredible upset, but simply put, an incredibly exciting game.

Point to say - "Did you watch the Superbowl last night?"

Follow up point - "Do you think the Giants defence were the reason New England lost?"

Get out of the conversation - "So, the writers strike is settled. You going to watch the Oscars?

Backgrounder
The Championship game for the National Football League is known as the Superbowl. It is not just a game put a huge American Icon and party. It generates television ratings that are far above anything else shown on tv.

The finalists were the undefeated Patriots, a team profiled all season long here at Sports and the City. This team looked unstopable on its way to the Championship game. Their openent, an underdog if there ever was one: the New York Giants. The lost their first two games of the season. However, despite incredible odds, the Giants pulled it off on their last play and became the Champions.

All season the story in football has been the New England Patriots. This team has come close to loosing a couple of times but pulled it off to go 16 wins and 0 loses during the regular season schedule. Winning both their playoff games, they were very large betting favourites to win the Superbowl. The only team to really come close to defeating them during the regular season was the Giants. So, even though all fans though it was going to go the Patriots way, everyone knew the match was at least going to be good.

It was the defence that played extraordinary for the Giants. They shut down the Patriots like no one had so far this year.

Analysis
An incredible tight and exciting game was this year's Superbowl. The lead changed four times in the last quarter. This had never happened before in the Superbowl. So when the Patriots took over the lead with two minutes left in the game, this looked like it would finally play out the when the fans expected even though they wouldn't win by a large margin.

The play of Eli Manning, the quarterback of the New York Giants saved the game by doging a hit but the highlight was an incredible (VERY incredible catch) made on the play. This will go into the higlights for decades to come.

Links
Read a great review of the game here by the Globe and Mail's Stephen Brunt.

Read about the Patriots season here.

Review post blogs about the patriots here.

January = Football playoffs

Prelude - American football fans kick off the new year madly watching the many (27!) college football games. But, all these games are just a prelude to the big action: NFL playoffs. With the first round of these playoff games done, what is shaping up are two semi-finals that may be the most talked about in years! Let's find out why and what you can say.

Sport - Football

Event - NFL football playoffs.

Issue
American football teams play a schedule of 16 games. A team that wins 13 of those games did very well. To have four teams this year win 13 or more games (New England of course winning 16) is very rare.

This year, all four of these teams may reach the semi final and face off against each other. To have all four reach the semi finals means exciting top quality football.

Point to say - "There is going to be some good football this weekend!"

Follow up point - "Do you think New England can be defeated?"

Get out of the conversation - "Are you planning on watching the Super Bowl?"

Backgrounder
Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.

Analysis
Games this weekend are as follows (written as away vs home). The home teams are all the ones mentioned above as having had 13 wins or more this regular season.

Jacksonville vs New England
San Diego vs Indianapolis
New York Giants vs Dallas
Seattle vs Green Bay

Links

Playoffs just around the corner.

Prelude - Playoffs? But we're only half-way through the hockey year! What gives? Well, actually, NFL playoffs are just three weeks away. However, in light of New England Patriots absolute dominance this season, small talking football over the next few weeks will be easy to do. Let's show you how.

Sport - Football

Event - NFL football playoffs.

Issue
Winter didn't stop NFL games including the New England Patriots victory over New York Jets. The Patriots are now 14-0 and stand poised to be only the second team in NFL history to have a perfect regular season.

Can they win throughout the playoffs and make their entire season perfect? Only Indianapolis probably stands in their path. The other conference might send Dallas but New England already showed what they can do to them back in week 6 winning 48-27.

Point to say - "So New England is 14-0!"

Follow up point - "Can New England sustain it through the playoffs?"

Get out of the conversation - "Are you going to watch any of the Canadian Junior games over Christmas Holidays?"

Backgrounder
Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.

Party trick
Got his from the Globe and Mail a few weeks back, but it still works, so try this at your next party. Bet someone a drink and then ask "has New England Patriots lost a game this year?" They will likely say no, whereupon you reveal that yes, they did, back in January when they lost in the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.

Analysis
This has the potential of being really big. Or a really big puff of smoke. It all depends on how big and how far the suspensions go. But ultimately, fans must decide if this product is worthy of their money.

Links

The Little Engine that could

Prelude - How does an athlete garner the respect of sports fans? He could break a record. But ultimately, its about leading his team to victory. This weekend capped a story that is simply, heart warming: the rise of Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph. The heart of his team, this is a guy who kept pursuing his dream, even if it meant playing touch-football with his buddies just a couple of years ago. Now he's the champ. Sport can offer us role models. Well, here is one.

Sport - Football

Event - Saskatchewan Roughriders defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 to win the 95th Grey Cup championship. Kerry Joseph, quarterback for Saskatchewan is named MVP of the league for 2007.

Issue
In previous blogs we've explored how the Roughriders are representative of the little engine that could. This weekend they capped off a great season by winning the championship game. Their quarterback represents, very much, the athlete that perserveres to finally win the big prize.

Point to say - "So, Saskatchewan pulled it off. Regina will be going wild today."

Follow up point - "Their quaterback is quite the player."

Backgrounder
Kerry Joseph's story has him bouncing around the NFL and it's affiliate NFL Europe for the first part of his career. Without having established himself with a team, he removed himself from the game and, in 2002, instead competed in a flag football league in his home state of Louisiana.

The story wasn't over though. He was signed by the CFL franchise in Ottawa in 2003. He immediately started to establish himself as premier player. When this team folded, Saskatchewan claimed him. With this team, his place as a star athlete took hold. In fact, this year, just before the Grey Cup on Sunday he was voted the league's 2007 MVP.

His never say quit attitude roled into Saskatchewan, and can be said to have fuelled this team over the last two seasons. This is their first championship in 18 years, and but their third championship in 41 years. This is a franchise that in any other city would have folded. But fan loyalty entrenched even further by an effort like Joseph's, have produced something truely, all fans can respect.

Links
Kerry Joseph's web site.
Story on the Roughrider win.

Party Time in Canada

Prelude- Two things are for sure in Canada when it comes to sports: Saturday nights are hockey nights, and Grey Cup is an excuse to party. Seeing how this Sunday is the Grey Cup, let's get you ready for the party with a good conversation starter.

Sport - Football

Event - Grey Cup Game - Sunday November 25, 2007 (Annual Championship game for Canadian Football)

Issue
The game is being played in Toronto this year. It features the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The winner will be the 2007 champion of Canadian football.

Saskatchewan is favoured not just by the odds makers, but by the sport fans as well.

Point to say - "Who you rooting for?" or "Do you think Saskatchewan will win?"

Follow up point - "It's wild; Saskatchewan has only won this thing only twice (in their entire 97 year history)!" - you add the part in parathesis if you feel brave enough.

Backgrounder
The appearance of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Grey Cup is rare indeed. They've made it the finals only four times since 1976. But when they make it, it is much welcomed. This team is the league's heart-and-soul franchise. They are community owned. They play out of the smallest CFL city. There is nothing big-city about this team, its fans or its style.

Stephen Brunt, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, sums it up:

For the 'Riders, for their fans in the province, and for the great green diaspora (Saskatchewanians in exile run head-to-head with displaced Newfoundlanders in this country, and both places belong in any discussion of distinct societies), the relationship remains intact, remains as real as any in sport, anywhere.

To be in the company of 'Rider fans is to be reminded why you ever gave a damn about a team, about a player, about a uniform, in the first place. Not sports marketing or game presentation or brand loyalty, but our guys versus their guys, joy and agony experienced in the company of those who share a place, a background, and a passion.

Links

Canadians still care about their game vs the American game.

Stephen Brunt's column.

Break out "Rider Pride": Saskatchewan Roughriders fast becoming the feel good story.

Prelude- In Canada, 90% of sport related small talk turns around hockey. The other 10%? That would be football. Mostly American football. However, for a few weeks a year, the Canadian sports fan turns his attention to the big Canadian excuse to party: the Grey Cup. It's now two weeks away. Let's set you up based on a feel good story that happened this weekend.

Sport - Football

Event - Saskatchewan Rough Riders defeat the Calgary Stampeders to move to the Western Finals.

Issue - The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the only professional sports team in Saskatchewan. They are owned by the local community. So it goes without saying, the pride of the province rides the wave of the team.

To be blunt, the Roughriders do not have an overly victorious history. They have only twice won the Championship final game (Grey Cup) and the last time they even hosted a playoff game was in 1988. So, to win this weekend once again starts off the discussion about maybe this being the year to break out the "Rider Pride" and start wondering if this could be the feel good story of the year.

Point to Say - "Do you think Saskatchewan stands a chance at winning the Grey Cup?"

Follow up point - "They did defeat the Lions in Vancouver earlier this year."

Backgrounder
The Saskatchewan Roughriders is a Canadian Football League team based in Regina. Founded in 1910, the Roughriders have won the league's Grey Cup championship twice, in 1966 and 1989.

Regina's is the 24th largest city in Canada. Meaning it doens't have a large fan base to draw from. If you consider that it doesn't win much either, only ever won twice in its 97 year history, then "Rider Pride" means a kind of loyalty that only Chicago Cub fans can understand.

By defeating the Calgary Stampeders 26-24, they now face the Bristish Columbia Lions in the Western Final. The winner will the play the Eastern winner (Toronto vs Winnipeg) in the final, known as the Grey Cup.

Analysis
Will they win the Grey Cup? No. First they have to defeat the British Columbia Lions, and BC is by far the favourite. Not only is BC last year's Grey Cup winner, this season they finished first in the West Division going 14 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie. Though the Roughriders started the season win a 7-2 win/loss record, their best since 1976, they finished the second half of the season 5-4. Put all this together with the fact that Roughriders didn't exactly dominate their playoff game against the Stampeders this Sunday, well, in short, it doesn't look good if you wish to cheer for the Riders.

BC has home field advantage for the upcoming game. Of note, Saskatchewan did win in BC back in game 6 of this season. But BC's best player (their quarterback Dave Dickenson) did not play in that game.

But what if? What if Saskachewan got hot? How can you not cheer for this team? They embody the very essence of Canadian football, and their fans are just so darned nice.

Links
Story on Roughriders win over the Stamps.

Read about some of the pride Roughrider fans were showing going into the game.

Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.

Prelude- Without a doubt, the talk around the water cooler on Monday will be of the New England Patriots win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Having said that, once you've discussed that topic, you may wish to visit Saturday's blog topic of the recent signing of Jason Spezza by the Ottawa Senators. In hockey circles, that is big news. Click here for what to say.

Sport - Football

Event - New England Patriots win to remain unbeaten (9 wins and 0 losses)

Issue - On Sunday, the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts played in the most talked about NFL games in years. The reason? Heading into the match both teams were undefeated. This was the first time so late into a season two undefeated teams had played each other.

The last team in the NFL to go a full season without a loss were the Miami Dolphins of 1972. Ever since, all great NFL teams have been measured against that standard. A few teams have come close but stumbled toward the end of the season.

New England prevailed 24-20 after staging an incredible comeback victory. In doing so, they beat what is arguably the toughest opponent they will see this year. Now, NFL watchers are going to be discussing whether New England can go a perfect 16-0.

Point to Say - "New England staged an incredible comeback against the Colts! Do you think they'll go undefeated this year?"

Follow up point - "New England plays the Bills next week who've won three straight. But do you think it will be Pittsburgh that ends their winning streak?"

Backgrounder

Who are the 'Bills'? That's the Buffalo Bills who play in the same division as New England. They just won their third straight game and are playing the Patriots in Buffalo in two weeks. But the odds will be very long for the Bills to win that game.

Each team in the NFL plays 16 games in their regular season. Back when the Dolphins went undefeated they played 13 games.

The Patriots are playing week opponents. The have now defeated the next two best teams in the league. Four weeks ago, they completely dominated the Dallas Cowboys, arguably the third best team in the league right now after the Colts.

The Patriots are playing like one of the all time great teams. Evidence of their all time elite status can be seen in the amount of points they score each game. The Patriots are averaging scoring numbers each game like no other team has the history of the NFL.

Analysis

Can they win all their remaining games? The Patriots will have two more tough matches in their remaining seven games. Although the Patriots next game is against a team (the Buffalo Bills) who are currently playing their best football in years, it will be in 5 weeks that will be the next tough challenge. At that point, the Patriots will play the Pittsburgh Steelers a team that has given up the least amount of points out of all the teams in the league. If the Patriots pass that hurdle, it looks like it will come down the 16th and final game against the New York Giants, an away game in New York no less.

Links

Confused by football? Need a 101 description? Click here.

Want to see who New England is playing against in the coming weeks? Click here.

Read the full game recap from the Globe and Mail here?

Is American Football coming to Canada?

Prelude - There are lots of sports happening this weekend, Baseball playoff, Hockey on Saturday, North American soccer is finishing up its regular season, football galore (college, NFL and CFL) and there is even some golf and tennis, but in short, nothing an avid sports fan is looking forward to beyond their normal level of watching. So today's blog will introduce to a topic that looks to generate an ongoing discussion with your sports fan.

Sport - Football

Event - The Buffalo Bills of the National Football League announced that they will be playing some of their regularly scheduled home games, not in Buffalo, but rather Toronto starting next year.

Issue - This is watershed moment in the long history of whether the NFL will ever come to Canada. In short, every sports league has teams based in both countries save football. In the US they have their four down game (NFL) and we have our three down game (CFL). This is for historical reasons (see links below). Percentage wise, you'll probably know more NFL football fans than CFL fans (certainly if you live in Eastern Canada). Reason? In short, the NFL is the top league for that sport.

As such, in Canada, there has always been discussion as to whether Canada had the market to support an NFL franchise. Further, with an already established league with its own tradition, it was always considered hands off. Any encroachment was thought to kill of this product, certainly in Toronto.

With Buffalo making this announcement the rules are changing.

Point to Say - "So, with the Bills about to play some home games in Toronto, do you think this is the first step for a Toronto NFL franchise?

Follow up point - "Do you think the CFL will survive if the Bills play more home games in Toronto?"

Backgrounder
Football in Canada has a long tradition. The CFL has a long long history too. However, the NFL is THE big money sport in the US. It is the top grossing sport for money and the most watched sport on TV.

Links
Get more in this Article from today's Globe and Mail newspaper.

For those living in Ottawa, there is still ongoing talk about bringing a football team to the city. Find out more here.