Tonight are the opening ceremonies from Torino of the Winter Olympics. I love the Winter Olympics. All the fam is addicted to TV for two weeks watching sports we only care about every 3 years and 50 weeks.

But this is atrocious. Team USA is wearing a BERET in the opening ceremonies?? Forget blood doping, buying off figure skating judges, or security. This is a major slap in the face of Americans everywhere. A FRENCH BERET????? I’m astounded, appalled, and need a valium.

Somebody explain to me what the French have contributed to society in the last 300 years that is worth writing about? Statute of Liberty…

Okay – name another? I wouldn’t want to wear that ridiculous headpiece. And while you’ve got all the French ‘athletes’ over there – tell them the next world war they find themselves in, they’re on their own.

In fact, when we win it – we’re giving them back to the Germans this time.

Cowboy hats – via the 1980 olympics – are acceptable. Baseball caps, those crazy ‘jester’ looking hats on ski slopes all over America I’d be okay with. I’d even settle for a beanie.

But a freakin’ beret???? I’m going to be sick.

Viva le’ toilet.

[tags]Torino, Team USA, Winter Olympics[/tags]

The Real Super Bowl.

I absolutely loved the Steelers and the Broncos growing up. Two of the hardest hitting teams in the NFL right now. Somebody is going to get carried off the field on Sunday afternoon between Troy Polamalu and John Lynch. I’d like to see a cage match between those two.

Now for the game…it isn’t a secret who I’m going to pick. Let me tell you why.

1. Unis – barely. Steelers have such a sweet look, it’s a shame to root against them.

2. The Smith Factor – Rod Smith is the greatest guy in the league. He is the ultimate team guy…Troy Brown is in the same league.

3. Coaches – Both guys will straight up tell you like it is. If their team looked ridiculous on that day – they’ll say it first. However…Cowher didn’t draft Maurice Clarrett BUT he doesn’t have any rings either. Toss-up.

4. Weather – it doesn’t matter. These teams rely on the other team making mistakes, getting intimidated, or loosing their nerve as a result of the serious slobber knocking they do.

5. Home Field Advantage is a very real thing in Denver. I can remember sitting in the South Stands feeling the stadium move underneath my feet. It is loud. And it is a mile high.

It is going to be a brutal, close game. Can Jake Plummer continue to play with his helmet out of his tailbone pad? I hope so. I’m stickin’ with my Broncs…

[tags] Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC Championship[/tags]

Now for something important…

NFC Championship Game…Seattle vs. Carolina….couple of things to consider while picking this game..

1. Warm weather team in a cold, wet weather locale…advantage = Seahawks

2. Mascot matchup…Panthers win in a landslide. (ever see what a cat does to a bird?)

3. Coaching….Both are very intelligent, both are incredibly annoying. Fox dancing around the sidelines being the rah-rah guy. Holmgren “I Must Have GM Control” until of course I can’t make the playoffs with the team I accrued…so just let me go back to coaching. Advantage – push…who really cares anyway.

4. The Smith Factor – Steve Smith is pound for pound the best WR in the NFL. Don’t even leave a comment here saying otherwise. It will be deleted. On second thought, it won’t be deleted…it will be highlighted to show your ignorance.

5. Choke Factor – there were so many games this year that the Seahawks were just trying to give away. The problem was they were playing choke fest teams like the NY Giants, the Redskins, and any other team in the NFC besides Carolina.

6. Unis – Seahawks advantage.

GE’s pick….I’d love to see the Seahawks and the Broncos in the Super Bowl. It would be a great day for AFC West fans everywhere. But alas…I think Carolina will win.

[tags] Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, NFC Championship[/tags]

I am grovelling for anyone who has a heart for a pastor who is addicted to Bronco football. I check ebay last night to see what tickets would cost for the AFC Championship game. I figured that I could talk my dad into going with me.

Holy FREAK!!! Could be expensive…around $300 a ticket right now. If I can stumble on some about half that…I’d go in a heartbeat. I’d just drag my dad with me…mom would get over it…eventually. I mean, I’m her son…she’d have to forgive me, right?

To further prove my dependancy on all things Broncos and all things uniforms…I give you the logo history of the Denver Broncos.

WARNING: It isn’t pretty.

First: 1960-1964. Pretty ridiculous. As a matter of fact…it’s horrible. What can you do with mustard yellow and dookie brown?

Next: 1965-1967. A logo so bad, it only lasted two years. The Broncos dusted off this version for their throwback uni’s a few years ago. Looks like a man trying to strangle a goat.

Next: 1968-1996. I loved this logo for the most part. It was such a massive improvement that they didn’t change it for close to 30 years. However, after 4 incredibly lopsided Super Bowl losses, the logo had come under suspect. Then after that home playoff loss to Jacksonville in 1996, it was proven. The logo had turned. It could no longer be trusted. A new logo was called for.

Finally: 1997-Present. The truth will set you free. And so ended the Bronco Super Bowl curse. For 2 years, the Logo didn’t know what life was like without a Lombardi Trophy. In fact, the Broncos have never lost a Super Bowl wearing this logo. Hopefully, we’ll get to test that theory again this year.

The current logo is absolutely the best logo they have ever had.

My dear friend Robert thinks I ought to pick games in Vegas based on the uniforms. If it was only that easy. The truth of the matter is that uniform rank will only help in a close game winner.

If we were picking today’s game upon uni’s…The Bears and Steelers…hands down. BUT…couple of other factors here.

1. Never pick a warm city team to be a cold city team at the cold city team’s stadium. NEVER. See Jacksonville in New England. See Tampa Bay anywhere north of I-20. Edge: Bears

2. Grass teams shouldn’t be picked over Turf teams on turf. Edge: Colts

3. Outdoor teams normally don’t play well in domes. Edge: Colts

4. In the playoffs – experience matters. Edge: Panthers, even in AFT

So, having said all of that. I’m pulling for the Steelers…I think they’d like Denver this time of the year. And the Bears. So it will be the Colts and the Panthers playing next week.

[tags]Colts, Steelers, NFL Uniforms, Bears, Panthers[/tags]

Just about everyone is saying that New England will come in to Denver and win a close, hard fought game. (Tonight at 7 central, on CBS.)

That makes sense…except for these facts.

1. Mile High. Broncos are unbeaten at home this year.

2. Running game. Patriots can’t stop it. Broncos have two backs that could start for any team in the NFL other than San Diego and Seattle.

3. “Patriots are on a streak, don’t bet against the streak.” Exhibit A: the Colts. Exhibit B: the Republican Party.

4. Shannahan has had 2 weeks to get ready for the Patsies.

And the most important fact…

5. Uniform ranks. Denver is here. And the Pats are here. ‘Nuff said.

I need to set some ground rules for this discussion. In fact, just read here first before you comment.

There is only one minor rule change when evaluating a college uniform versus a professional one. In college, tradition is hands down the most important factor. Having said that, let me roll out the best looks of the Bowl season.

The Elite
These looks can not, will not, should not ever be changed. EVER. And God smite the coach who does.

Alabama – The simplicity. Both road and home unis are impeccable.

Penn State – The home blue uni might just be the best in college football.

Colorado – horrible program, great uni

Other Great Looks

Notre Dame – I can’t stand ND. I think they are the most overrated program in college football history. I think Rudy was a big pile of sentimental horse poo-poo. But they have a great, classic football uni.

Virginia – great uni, not so great team. Although this year they got a W in a bowl.

Michigan – Can you really argue about the maize and blue?

Washington – Another program that is getting a great big do-over but leave their unis alone.

Florida State – Great look…now if they can just stay out of jail.

Honorable Mentions:
(This one hurts me to say…) Auburn, Texas, Iowa, and Vanderbilt

Best Field Art: LSU, Florida State

I’m watching the second half of the Holiday Bowl and I see Oregon trot out and I about puked. Downright ugly unis. Then I was in a quandry. Do I pull for Oregon because I can’t stand Oklahoma OR do I pull for Oklahoma because they are definitely sporting the better look of the two?

I get an email from Mike. He said Ted Nugent had been arrrested trying to get his pajamas back from the Oregon locker room. I pulled for Oregon anyway.

Their uniform isn’t completely ridiculous. The helmet is redeemable. And…that’s about it. White dots on knee pads? Note to coaching staff – most schools put reward stickers on their helmets. The name of the school running down the leg and on the shoulder? Some kind of square pattern on jersey? Hideous.

Here are the worst college uni’s in a bowl this year:

Oregon – obviously.
Virginia Tech – I’ve said all I’ve need to say here.
Memphis – not a terriblle uni but jersey and pants same metallic color is a disaster.
Houston – same reason…might be reason they got mopped off field as well.

Short List:
Miami – depends on which jerseys they trot out in. The white ones with the sash around it gets them on the list. Will update tomorrow on this.

Coming up – Top 10 College football unis