Super Bowl Pros and Cons List

I have taken a, what's the word? Brea...? Hiat...? Sabbati..... Oh right, that's it. I got lazy. Yeah. I just couldn't find the right topic to get excited enough about to make time to sit down and slap down some stuff that a million other people didn't already beat to death (I'm looking at you, Manti Te'o). Plus, I'm doing this for my own amusement and the few people who take the time to look. But, since the match-ups are set, I thought I'd get into a little Super Bowl talk.

Now, even though the Bengals made the playoffs, I never hold out hope for them. And as evidenced by the interwebz, lots of people didn't get the teams they wanted in the Big Game, either. But honestly, unless you're a fan of one of the two teams, are you ever really happy with the teams that make it? Every team has an element of "that's a neat story, good for that guy" mixed with "boy I hate that player/team".

But if you want some reasons to root for or against each team specifically here are my top 3 reasons for each team, pro and con.

Ravens-Pros Maybe Ray Lewis will finally be satisfied and go away. There are other players on their team. It would be nice if they got to win a ring too. The memory of Art Modell will be a feel-good thing for everyone. Except Cleveland...but then what feels good in Cleveland?

49ers-Pros People will finally give Colin Kaepernick some credit for his skill. Not just point out that he has tattoos. While he doesn't have as many years of NFL experience as Ray Lewis, David Akers will be the oldest player to step onto that field. He has never won a ring. I root for things like that. I won't have to go through the pain of another division rival winning another Super Bowl before the Bengals. (If Cleveland gets one first, I quit).

Ravens-Cons We're going to have to listen to Ray Lewis incessantly tell us why God helped him win a football game. Cause God cares more about him and the Ravens than anyone else. Michael Phelps will get to vicariously claim this victory. As if we need that guy to win any more trophies for anything. Yeesh. I guess it could be worse, he could be Ryan Lochte. Flacco will further his status as 'elite'. And I suppose it's true. But I won't want to hear about it.

49ers-Cons San Francisco already won the World Series. If they get this, we'll have to hear "San Francisco is the 'sports capital of the world'" for a whole year. Randy Moss would finally get a ring. And you'd have to hear about it. From him. Repeatedly. Alex Smith can kiss his career in San Francisco goodbye. As much as the foundation has been building all season, Kaep winning the big one has to be the cement in his shoes.

The obvious storylines will be there. The Harbaugh brothers coaching against one another. The 'love him/ hate him' situation surrounding Ray Lewis as he retires. But the one I think a lot of people will gloss over is possibly my favorite. As franchises (Just the Ravens, not a team that used to play in Baltimore under a different name) both teams are undefeated in Super Bowl play. RayRay's first Super Bowl win was also the Ravens only Super Bowl. Conversely, the Niners will appear in their 6th Super Bowl, tying Denver for 3rd on the list of Super Bowl appearances. San Fran has won all 5 previous match-ups (Although, admittedly, two of those were against the Bengals, soooooo...yeah). So, in two weeks, one team will be undefeated in Super Bowl play, and the other, will not be.

As I noted last night on Twitter, last season's playoff victory margins versus this year's break-down like this:

Wild Card
2011: 6, 17, 21, 22
2012: 6, 10, 14, 15
Divisional

2011: 4, 7, 17, 35
2012: 2, 3, 13, 14

Conference

2011: 3, 3 
2012: 4, 15

Super Bowl

2011: 4
2012: ?

So as you can see, this playoff season, we've been treated to some tighter games than last year. And unless I lay down a 5 dollar bet with someone, I'm just gonna root for a good game.

[Side note: I will be at the helm of Master Control at Local 12 the night of the Super Bowl, so I'll mostly be rooting for a long, long game so that the news starts late and I don't have to stay for the whole thing. My own selfish reasons, I guess. Unfortunately, I anticipate extra people to be lurking around all night, so I'll probably have to stay away from social media and stay on my game. You'd all like to see the Super Bowl and not a repeat of Homeworx or Andy Griffith right? Guess I better do my job.] 

And on that note, I leave you with the Super Fans, to pick the winner of the Super Bowl...although their quip about 'the queers' might be a bit insensitive.

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Community returns: 18 days

Walking Dead returns: 20 days

...In case you're counting.