St. Patrick's Day And The Rest Of The Year?

Another St. Patrick's Day is upon us, and we all will go through our respective rituals in our respective cities.  Most have some kind of Irish-related festivities, but when it comes to drinking, what city has true staying power?  What city has, as  Charles Bukowski would say, has the necessary "endurance" to be legitimately hailed the "Football Town With a Drinkin' Problem".  For my money, it has got to be a gloomy rust belt city, one with a great football legacy, and one with a shot and beer mentality.

Drinkin' Town with a Football  Problem by JackFact
Browse Iron city T-Shirts

I don't think there is any question that Pittsburgh is that town, that definitive "Drinkin Town with a Football Problem".  What do you think?  How does your town stack up?

COLTS OFF OF THE LOMBARDI HUNT

The expression, "INDIANAPOLIS 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONS" is but a distant memory, and the Indianapolis Colts hoisting another Super Bowl trophy is not something likely to occur anytime soon.

Purchase this on a great variety of products

Yup, the Indianapolis Colts have officially fallen off of the list of potential Lombardi candidates with the imminent departure of "future hall-of-famer" and "4-time league MVP" (hurts to say that, huh?) Peyton Manning.  They will obviously be floundering around for the foreseeable future, even if they are about to haul in Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the draft.  Assuming they grab Luck, and there isn't a compelling reason why they wouldn't, It would be hilarious (if not amusing) if Luck becomes the next big bust like Ryan Leaf or a half dozen other 'sure things' that have gone before him.


Oh and just one more thing.  Whatever team acquires the goose-necked Manning, chances are they aren't going to get a sniff of a championship either.    

NEW YORK GIANTS - 2011 World Champions

Belated congratulations to the New York Giants on their fourth Super Bowl or 'World' Championship if your prefer! They prevented the New England Patsies from claiming (or stealing) another Super Bowl, to the delight of many.  Fans all over the world, my self included, still think of Eli as a bit of a schmuck, but there is no denying that winning a second Lombardi ain't no fluke.

Brother Payton proved to be somewhat of a jerk through his schmuckatellian antics during Super Bowl week.

Here's an unauthorized image from Jack Fact Graphics commemorating, or at least inspired by, the GIANTS SUPER BOWL XLVI victory.  This image is available on a wide variety of awesome products.

America into the 21st Century 3.5" Button (100 pac America into the 21st Century : Presidential America Into the 21st Century

America into the 21st Century 3.5" Button (100 pac America into the 21st Century : Presidential America Into the 21st Century

Cowboys sign reality show star - NFL - Rumors - FanNation

This story is a little reminiscent of Vince Papale and the Philadelphia Eagles from back in the day...

Cowboys sign reality show star - NFL - Rumors - FanNation

The dream ride that Jesse Holley has been on for the last 18 months became even more real on Wednesday. The wide receiver, who has spent the last season and a half on the Cowboys' practice squad, has been called up to the 53-man roster this week. The Cowboys made room on the roster by releasing offensive tackle Robert Brewster, who could return on the practice squad if he clears waivers. Holley not only officially signed his contract on Friday, but he is expecting to play Sunday in Minnesota as a key member of the special teams. The winner of Michael Irvin's reality TV show 4th and Long, which landed him the 80th and final spot on the Cowboys' training camp roster back in 2009, Holley has continued to work his way up the ranks and now that hard work and desire has officially paid off.

Read more: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/237350#ixzz12WwzGVn1

America in the 21st Century Mousepads from Zazzle.com

America in the 21st Century Mousepads from Zazzle.com

Zazzle's Jack Fact Graphics is your home for 21^st Century America inspired pictures, designs and images available on mouse pads (as shown through the link above) as well as t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts and more. The mantra, "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll"  has finally been realized in the United States, so express this presidential sentiment by purchasing an “America in the 21^st Century’ gift.  You will find great apparel, home and office accessories, clothing, unique custom gift items and more.

Bad Officiating and bad play by Seattle in Super Bowl XL

So this morning while I sat on my recliner with a donut and Irish coffe, I checked out the NFL's official site and read an article from the Associated Press titled, "Super Bowl XL referee regrets that mistakes 'impacted the game'.  According to the article NFL referee Bill Leavy was at Seattle Seahawks training camp as part of the annual training camp rules interpretation, and before starting, acknowledged he made mistakes in Seattle's loss in 2006 to the
Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

Obviously this was done primarily to placate the Seahawks organization, but judging from the volume of articles and blogs devoted to the topic, Leavy's remarks are refueling the conversation.  Bottom line is Seattle Seahawks fandom is whining again, blaming everything on the refs....

In addition to the couple of calls Leavy admittedly blew, I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...

Seattle getting fooled out of their jocks on a 43 yd trick pass play for a TD.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle's defense giving up THE LONGEST TD RUN IN SB HISTORY, 75 yds by Willie Parker.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle missing 2 FGs.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle's TE Stevens dropping 4 very catchable balls ALL in key situations. Not 1st & 10, but 3rd & 13...3rd & 8...and one drop was the difference in Seattle punting or attempting a FG.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle REPEATEDLY punting deep through Pittsburgh's endzone EVERYTIME, consistently failing to pin the Steelers deep, resulting in an easier gm of field position and 1 drive which ended in a TD.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Hasslebeck dropping back on 3rd & 18 (IN FG POSITION) & lobbing an ugly INT.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Big Ben, completing a 37 yd pass on 3rd & 28 to Seattles 2 yd line, after PENALTY ON PITTSBURGH contributed to the 3rd & a mile situation.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle's "star" RB being shut down just enough to force several 3rd downs.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault that...
that ON those 3rd downs, Seattle, called some of the most BONEHEADED plays in the history of Superbowls.  Five (5) times, heaving it deep for the big bomb on 3rd & 4 or less.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle carelessly having the ball at Pittsburgh's 37 yd line with 48 seconds to go in the half and foolishly failing to get the next play off until 13 seconds remained.

AND, again instead of a short pass to set up an easier than 54 yd FG. They heave it deep trying for a TD bomb vs a Prevent defense AND they go into the locker room with an unused timeout.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle doing the same thing again in the 2nd half. On 3rd & short, they heave it deep & incomplete forcing their kicker to AGAIN have to kick the FG from 50 plus...and of course BOTH of those kicks missed barely, making that extra 5-8 yds a BIG deal.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle failing to capitalize on the play where Jeremy Stevens caught the ball, took 3 steps, was hit by the safety & fumbled, only to have it ruled "Incomplete"...wait, actually, YOU'RE RIGHT, that WAS the refs fault. Lucky thing for Seattle huh?

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
All the passes Seattle receivers DID catch that were OUT OF BOUNDS. It happened on two very important plays, long pass plays, and Hasslebeck couldnt even keep the ball in bounds.

I guess it's "the Refs" fault for...
Seattle failing to make plays on plays when there WASN'T a penalty called

I guess it's "the Refs" fault when...
Seattle, later in the game, KNOWING they need a TD & FG, (in no particular order) and was currently in EASY FG position on 4th down, AGAIN went for the long shot TD play vs a pass defense that was defending EXACTLY that type of play. There was still time for the FG, onside kick, & a couple deep balls to the endzone, but instead they GAVE UP.

Yes, call me an Armchair Quarterback, but truth be told, they never really showed up.