Inklings

Category: sports

  • Mediocre Merch

    It’s the annual football match-up for all the marbles – the National Football League’s NFC-AFC Championship Game; the Super Bowl. Part of the excitement behind this event is the marketing and advertising surrounding it. Many years the commercials are the MVPs, but what always intrigued me was the Super Bowl logo design. Every year a custom-designed logo is created for the event – usually incorporating elements that relate to the locale of the game. Not anymore. Beginning next year the logo will be standardized. The focus of the logo will be the infamous Lombardi Trophy with the locale’s stadium as the background. Beneath the logo will be the words ‘Super Bowl’ and the roman numerals counting off the contests. I’m not sure why the NFL decided to water down their main event in this way, but without the individual expression of the event it’s no longer as ‘super’ as it used to be.

  • Praying for Victory

    I hate to admit it, but I’ll be cheering for the Purple and Gold today. Deep down inside there’s the boyhood Viking fan who grew up disillusioned and disappointed with the team he claimed to love. A victory today would consummate and appease that part of me that always dreamed of seeing the Vikes go to the Super Bowl. The last time I had these feelings was in ’98 right before Gary Anderson missed that 38 yard field goal attempt against the Falcons. I couldn’t say that I was as torn up as my friend Doug (a die-hard fan) that day we left the Cinebar but I can tell you that moment pretty much defined the Vikings’ season performance ever since. I’ve been saying it all season long (and not just because I’m a Favre fan): if there was ever a year that the Vikings could make it all the way, this is the one. This is your chance, Minnesota, don’t blow it!

  • McJuicer

    Mark McGwire confessed to using steroids during his major league career yesterday. Yes, I know. It comes as a huge shock to everyone, I’m sure. What a fool I was for thinking it was common for all MLB players to be built like the Hulk instead of regular men like Maris. What really breaks my bat is how he told Costas that he still could have broken the record of 61 home runs without using steroids or human growth hormone. If that’s true then why didn’t he? Probably because the rest of baseball is just as juiced. What concerns me is the message it sends to young athletes that aspire to be professionals someday.

  • SKOL Vikings!

    My oldest son, Mason, is a devout Bears fan (I think he still is) so Sunday afternoon’s Vikings – Bears game was a must watch. “Just-like-a-car-wreck” must watch. After several fits of anger followed by tears, we had to remove him from the game all together. We all knew the Bears were going to eat it, except Mason. I certainly don’t worship football, but I do claim to be a Packer Backer. One thing I will freely admit, is that Favre, even wearing the Purple and Gold, is still fun to watch. For 16 seasons he pulled a lot of the same stunts for the Pack and now he’s doing it for <ughh> their chief rival. Minnesota sure looks tough this year and the kid in me (the one that used to like the Vikes growing up) wants to see them make it all the way to the Super Bowl.

  • Disciplinary Football

    greenbay
    Despite Vegas odds, it was upset Sunday in the NFL with several teams having their W and L columns adjusted. Among the most gratifying of wins was Green Bay’s 17-7 triumph over “America’s Team”. Statistically speaking the numbers weren’t very lopsided but between fumbles and turnovers (thanks to Woodson’s MVP performance) the Packers threatened the Cowboys the entire game with a shut-out. I have to give Romo credit though. He did manage to muster up enough self-respect to throw a face-saving touchdown completion with only 38 seconds left on the clock. Okay, so it wasn’t exactly a spanking, but I have to admit the shut-out would’ve been nice.