AFC CHAMPS!!!!

So I am writing this after midnight and after about 20 beers today and like 6 shots ... so take whatever I say within that context. Oh yeah ... and I have a beer in hand drinking this ... go ahead and call Alcoholics Anoyomous ... I don't care. They wrote me off as a lost cause a long time ago.

First of all ... great game by the Penguins today .... goals by Sykora, Kennedy and Minard, totally made my afternoon. Fleury stopping everything sent his way reminded me of a Mormon girl turning down sexual advances on prom night. Great job by the Pens to claw their way back into playoff contention. This could be a huge turning point for them.

So Nighthawk comes down around 3:10 today and told me he picked against his sleeper pick again. I told him he was stupid. I was later vindicated. He is stupid. I am smart. Well smarter than him. Which ain't saying too much but I'll take it. He had to go to work and missed most of both the games. I had a 4 day weekend. Who sounds smarter to you?

On to Larry Fitzgerald. The Steelers are going to have a hard time covering him. Yes the Steelers defense is great but they have no one who can match his leaping ability. The Steelers will have to get to Kurt Warner and hit him hard. If that happens Warner will either fumble or throw picks.

For the game today ... I went to Jackman's Bar in Avalon. It's a shithole bar off of Rt. 65. But more importantly ... they have 2 dollar yuengling drafts. YES. At first I was dissapointed upon hearing they had no specials ... then i realized 2 dollar Yuenglings are quite special themselves. First of all you may wonder what type of bar "Jackman's" is. I will tell you. It is populated by the drunken blue collar idiot. Otherwise known as the backbone of the Pittsburgh Steeler Fan Base. Would I trust anyone at that bar to do my taxes, handle my 401k or even make me a Big Mac? Probably not. But they sure are fun to drink with. My throat is still sore from yelling at the top of my lungs for 4 hours.

On to the game. First of all ... props to Tomlin for getting to the Super Bowl in his second season as head coach., far surpassing the career trajectories of Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll. What would seem more unlikely? A rookie QB getting to the Super Bowl or a black man being inaugurated as President? Well thanks to the Steelers, one is going to happen this week ... the other isn't.

Once again ... the Steelers defense rose to the occasion. Even before a defensive touchdown by Polamalu to seal the game the defense held Flaccid Flacco to only 13 completions and 3 interceptions. Also, Ryan Clark almost decapitated Willis McGahee. Chalk up another likely fine for a Steelers defender. I think these fines are becoming a badge of honor for Steelers defenders. Note to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin: You are both awesome recievers, but let your guard down and you may be on a one way trip to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. On the plus side: the food ain't half bad ... trust me .... I know. Oh, and what are the odds the Ravens have a bounty on Clark's head next time they play?

Hines Ward looked great in the first half before he was hurt. I can only presume he will be fine in two weeks. His replacement: Limas Sweed turned in a typical performance by dropping a couple of key passes. On the plus side he did deliver a block that resembled a Hines Ward on Bart Scott hit. If it turns up on youtube I may post it. But for now you are on your own. Plus you should of watched the game yourself.

Edit: here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiK5JQU8SW8

Chalk up another Steeler with a bounty on his head.

Parker averaged about 2 yards per carry tonite ... big surprise. Parker having trouble against the Ravens is like Superman struggling with Kryptonite. Wait until the Super Bowl when he is facing the Cardinals. It will look like the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals. Note to the stupid people: Parker is not the Washington Generals in this matchup.

Is Jeff Reed possibly the most underrated kicker in the league? He is tough enough to go without long sleeves in freezing weather and make two long field goals. Even David Akers ... the supposed Patron Saint of postseason field goals missed one on Sunday. Oh and Matt Stover? Hated him on the Browns, hate him even more on the Ravens.

Did anyone else think of the Lavar Leap when Polamalu stopped Flaccid Flacco on 4th down? For those of you who don't know what the Lavar Leap is here is a refresher course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4GoBoY7DdA&NR=1

Here is Polamalu doing it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4yvC_6Etf8

Oh yeah, and here he is retiring Troy Aikman, just because I fucking hate the Cowboys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BynBZNiE9EA&feature=related

The Steelers held Baltimore to 198 total yards of offense. In 18 games so far only Tennessee has gained over 300. Just saying.

Big Ben is now 7-2 in the post season. I guess we can put those Flaccid Flacco parades on hold for now. Seriously, its probably best we don't have fireworks in Baltimore anytime soon. Last time that happened all we got was a National Anthem which no one can sing properly. Now don't get me wrong. I love my country and everything about it. But let's get a better national anthem. A converted poem does not suffice. My suggestion:

The theme song from Team America: World Police:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swcjg4WmoXk&feature=PlayList&p=55994A743E920EE2&index=0&playnext=1

My early prediction for the Super Bowl:

Steelers 27 Cardinals 20

But remember this is being written at 1 am after I've drank some 20 beers and several shots. So don't forget ... the margin could be much wider.

NFL PICKS: Conference Finals

It's been a busy week here for us On Irish Road. It seems like me and the boys are working non-stop and haven't had too much time to put up good posts for you the readers. Our New Years Resolution is to bring you the greatest of posts. Look forward for one from Irish Road soon to celebrate our 100th post. Me? I'm just going to make sure that the old reliable NFL picks are up. I'll promise to tell you less and less to bet the house on the Panthers. We all know how well that worked last week. We get to look forward to a Super Bowl that may possibly contain nothing but the Keystone State. Pittsburgh took the last Battle for PA last year when the Flyers were demolished by the Pens. Lets hope that Pittsburgh trend will continue if the two cities square off in the Super Bowl. On to the Picks!

SUNDAY JANUARY 18th

Philadelphia Eagles (-1) at Arizona Cardinals

First thing out of Runhigh's mouth last week after the Panthers-Cards game: "How could you pick against your sleeper?!?" I don't know dude .... the same way the entire nation (outside of Phoenix) picked against them. Seriously ... where did that effort come from? I hate to say this ... but they aren't winning this week. It's been a surprisingly impressive run for them but the Eagles are going to win this game. And if not .... Hey .... they're my sleeper!

Eagles -1

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2)

This is Steeler Country! This is most likely the real Super Bowl today. The two toughest teams are squaring off in Heinz Field in the cold and snow. It will be the top two defenses in the league. The toughest linebackers. The hardest hitting secondary. The most punishing wide receiver. The best tight ends. It will be a great game. And it will end with the Steelers on top in grand fashion. Steelers win 20-3.

Steelers -2

Sports Hero of the Day: Coach Ron Hunter

Ron Hunter is the coach of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He is also one of the biggest supporters of the Charity organization Samaritan Feet who raise money and donate shoes to people who can't afford them. Last year Ron Hunter got an idea to coach a game barefoot in an attempt to raise 40,000 shoes for the charity. So January 24, 2008 before tipoff against Oakland Ron Hunter had more than achieved his goal. He had raised 110,000 pairs of shoes for the organization. When all was said and done over 200,000 pairs of shoes had been sent for him to donate to people around the world.

The story doesn't end there though. Coach Hunter and his team traveled to Lima, Peru not just to hand out shoes but personally wash feet for the children, fit them for shoes and teach them about basketball.

This year the coach is at it again. He was on Mike and Mike radio ESPN last week in order to bring attention to the organization and raise more shoes. Unknowingly to Hunter the radio hosts brought on a representative from the Croc shoe company who informed the coach that they would be donating 50,000 pairs to him and Samaritan Feet! Unbelievable! Ron Hunter just had another barefooted endeavor on January 17th against Centenary and he reports that 300 coaches across the nation have promised to coach one game this week barefoot in response to his efforts.

NFL PICKS: Divisional Playoffs

International Airspace is Steeler Country

I started the Playoffs off a dismal 2-2 but hey, My NFC Sleeper won!!! This week should provide nothing but great matchups across the board with the exception of one game. The Panthers against the Cards. Enough of that .... On to the Picks!

SATURDAY JANUARY 10th

Baltimore Ravens (-1) at Tennessee Titans

This game astounds me. Not the fact that it's two tough teams squaring off. Not the fact that the Ravens, the team with the lesser record, the team on the road, and the team with a rookie QB is favored to win. No the thing that astounds me is that this game is the early game when it's going to be a much better matchup than the later game. Is the NFL doing that well that they don't care about ratings? That all being said I really am trying to figure out what Vegas knows that they are placing the favorite tag on the Ravens. I just have a feeling that the Titan offense is going to figure out a way to beat the defense well today. And I bet the score is a little higher than the 13-10 one the Titans beat the Ravens by in week 5. Good matchup ... plenty of big moments. Titans win 21-17.

Titans +1

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (-5.5)

There is no way the Cardinals win this one. Bet the house. I repeat there is no way the Cardinals win this one. Now that I've got this out of the way let me tell you why they will win. Boldin is hurt and Larry Fitzgerald is going to line up in his place. The Panthers don't have anyone that can effectively cover him. This will lead to at least 3 TD's by Warner and Co. Outside of that though they have nothing. So I'll tell you why the Panthers are the lock to actually win. Steve Smith. Enough said. He will be the game changer. The Panthers offense will look like the '99 Rams Greatest Show on turf. I believe the Cards have never won on the East Coast. There's some crazy stat like that. This one is for Carolina, 38-24.

Panthers -5.5

SUNDAY JANUARY 11th

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (-1.5)

I don't know what you can say about this one. The third meeting between these two teams this season. The Giants won the first meeting in a high scoring affair. The Eagles won the last one post-Plaxico in a lower scoring contest. The Giants have looked like an offense without a great weapon. I don't think they're capable of putting up much more than 20 against the Eagles who have been the hottest team in the NFC. I like this game to be extremely close. Eagles 24-21.

Eagles +1.5

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!

I've been waiting for this since the '94 AFC title match when the Steelers who were heavy favorites lost to the Chargers at home. Call this a redemption game. The Chargers are coming in to some fine Pittsburgh weather. Game Time temperature is expected to be a beautiful 25 degrees and feel like it's 15. Maybe even colder down on the field. Welcome to Steel Town! Sproles will be taken care of by the linebackers. Gates won't be a problem for the secondary and Ike Taylor will control Jackson while Harrison and Woodley make that douchebag Philip Rivers look up from his backside all game. We just need a little help from the offense (and receiving core will come through in this big game) and all will be well. The Steelers win 24-10.

Steelers -2.5