White Suburban Punk

Losing the Super Bowl definitely sucks, and I’ve gone through the usual ignoring Sportscenter and all the media noise from the game. But for some reason, it just doesn’t hurt as bad as it seems like it should. I don’t know if it’s getting old or maybe even getting accustomed to having my team lose big games. It certainly doesn’t hurt as much as 18-1.

It seems like losing such a big game should cause shame and embarrassment, but that really isn’t the case this time. The team made it there like the fans hoped and expected. We knew they would have to play a great game and make the plays needed to win. There is such a thin line in the NFL between losing and winning, and they almost made it to the end. They simply weren’t able to make the plays and the Giants did.

The list of plays isn’t that long. The bizarre safety. Too many men on the field on third down. Not recovering two fumbles. The interception on the bomb to Gronk. The Welker missed catch that probably would’ve iced it. And the Manningham catch, although that was on first down. And even with all of that going against them, they still almost pulled it out.

There’s really nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. They’re still elite. They have two firsts and two seconds coming up in the draft. Welker will probably be franchised. They obviously have needs – more and better receivers, secondary help, and defensive line help, but it’s not like they’re about to fall off a cliff. Who else is there in the AFC? Pittsburgh? Baltimore? Bring it on.

The Patriots will still be one of the five to seven teams with a legitimate chance to win it next year. Double digit victories is almost a given. The realistic goal isn’t to go .500 or to make the playoffs, like the majority of the league. The realistic goal is to win the Super Bowl, and they came damn close.

After a 0-0 draw with Stoke City at Anfield, Liverpool reached its lowest point in the new Kenny Daglish era with an embarrassing 3-1 loss at Bolton. Bolton, who sat in 19th place in the Premiership at the time. King Kenny’s latest reign is now one year old, and he was spot on in ripping the players publicly after the game. He said that the effort wasn’t there and looking ahead to matches with Man City and Man U was no excuse. Some in the media questioned whether Kenny’s time was up, claiming that the players had tuned the manager out. But the players responded with three fantastic performances.

Leading 1-0 after the first leg of the Carling Cup semifinal with Manchester City, Liverpool returned home and twice came back from one goal deficits to tie the Premiership leaders, 2-2, and advance to the final at Wembley against Cardiff on February 26. Liverpool played a great game overall, even though they were lucky to be awarded a penalty late in the first half, which Steven Gerrard converted to make it 1-1. Man City went ahead again in the second half on a bang bang goal from Edin Dzeko, but Craig Bellamy equalized against his former team and Liverpool hung on, ending a 16-year wait for a return to Wembley.

Four days later, Liverpool faced their arch rivals in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Anfield. In a wildly entertaining game in front of a raucous crowd, Dirk Kuyt sent the Reds through three minutes from time when he snuck behind a sleeping Patrice Evra of Mancester United. Evra, whose accusations against Luis Suarez for racism resulted in an eight game suspension, was booed every time he touched the ball, and it was extra sweet for the Liverpool faithful that he cost them the game. Both Manchester teams are now eliminated from both domestic cups. The FA Cup fifth round takes place the weekend of February 18. With 16 teams remaining, Liverpool will host Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion, a team Liverpool knocked out of the Carling Cup in September. Brighton advanced by upsetting Newcastle.

Three short days after the win against Man U, Liverpool went back on the road to face Wolverhampton in a Premier League match. In an inspired effort, they won 3-1 behind goals from Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy, and Dirk Kuyt. Carroll played perhaps his best game in a Liverpool jersey, and the team look to have finally figured out how to play without Suarez. Fortunately, that was the last match of his suspension. He will return for Monday’s visit to Anfield from third place Tottenham.

Liverpool did nothing of note in the January transfer window, which closed yesterday. They apparently approached Manchester City about a swap of Andy Carroll for Carlos Tevez, but nothing came of it. Is it a coincidence that Carroll then played his best game in a year? Perhaps letting that story leak out was the most brilliant move they could’ve made.

From the lowest point to the highest in ten days. Such is Liverpool football. After the home game against Tottenham, they travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. It seems like every single game is massive.