Let It Snow On New York’s Super Day
Wednesday - June 02, 2010
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A funny thing happened on the way to awarding the Super Bowl to yet another warm-weather location: The NFL realized it had a very important market to appease that wasn’t located in one of its three favorite locations - New Orleans (10 times), Miami (9) and Pasadena (5). The league had little choice. The NFL set a precedent years ago by using its showpiece game to help instigate construction of new stadiums.
But even with this history the announcement has, for some reason, caused more than its fair share of consternation. Not because the game is to be held at a cold-weather site for just the fourth time in history, but because the 2014 game will be the first held outdoors at a cold-weather site.
The worry is that should a sudden winter chill blow through the greater New York/New Jersey area with a paralyzing magnitude that has not been seen since Dennis Quaid tried to free the Statue of Liberty from putting on the world’s biggest winter frock, the game could be adversely affected by blowing winds or extreme cold.
It’s a sound argument, but one that fails to take into account that even in the most perfect of playing conditions, a good portion of the games have been dreadful.
Take a look.
Super Bowl No. 1: The Packers blew out Kansas City by 25 points as the Chiefs converted on three of 13 third downs and were outgained on offense by 122 yards.
No. 2: The Packers make it two wins in two bad games beating the AFL’s Raiders, 33-14, even though both teams were a combined eight for 27 third downs. The Raiders’ three fumbles didn’t help either.
No. 3: A 16-7 snoozer with Baltimore not scoring until fourth quarter as Earl Morall throws three pics versus six completions.
No. 6: Miami scores the fewest points in Super Bowl history and loses to Dallas, 24-3.
No. 8: Miami gets some bad game payback by beating Minnesota, 24-7. Bob Griese goes 6-7 in passing for 73 yards and the Vikings still can’t win.
No. 9: Minnesota comes up with another poor performance with three interceptions, three fumbles and a Super Bowl low 119 yards of offense. The winning Steelers cough it up four times, losing two.
No. 12: Denver loses to the Cowboys, 27-10, as Broncos quarterback Craig Morton hands the game to the Dallas defense by completing four of 15 passing with four interceptions. The game featured 10 fumbles by both teams.
No. 15: Jim Plunkett makes his comeback complete against Ron Jawarski, who throws three interceptions in a 27-10 win over Philadelphia.
No. 17: Dolphins’ quarterback David Woodley completes four of 14 passes and Miami gets out-gained by 224 yards in total offense by Washington, who takes the surprisingly close game, 27-17.
No. 18: Marcus Allen runs for 191 yards and the Raiders dismantle the Redskins, 38-9. Washington does lead in time of possession however, 31:18 to 28:22.
No. 20: Steve Grogan is sacked seven times and New England gives up 256 yards passing on only 12 completions, and fumbles four times in a 36-point loss to the Bears.
No. 22: The Broncos get whipped once again, this time by Washington, 42-10. Elway gets picked off three times, Denver does-n’t score for the final three quarters, converts just two of 12 third downs and gives up an embarrassing 602 yards of total offense.
No. 24: It’s a Denver shellacking for the third time as the 49ers put up 55 and outgain the Broncos 461-167. Elway is the goat once again, getting picked off twice while completing just 10 of 26 passes.
No. 27: It’s a complete beat down in Pasadena as the Cowboys ring up Buffalo, 52-17. The Bills fumble eight times and lose five while their QB tandem of Frank Reich and Jim Kelly throw four interceptions.
No. 29: San Fran nearly doubles up San Diego, 49-26. Steve Young goes 24-36 for 325 yards and six touchdowns.
No. 35: The Baltimore Ravens - THE RAVENS! - score 34 points and beat the Giants by 10 behind a pedestrian effort from Trent Dilfer - TRENT DILFER! - who completed 12 of 25 passes.
No. 37: The Raiders get intercepted five times by Tampa as former Oakland coach John Gruden gets revenge on Al Davis, 48-21. Oakland gets just 11 first downs and rushes for just 19 yards.
No. 40: Before Big Ben Roethlisberger became a big embarrassment he turned in the worst performance by a Super Bowl-winning quarterback after completing just nine of 23 passes and two interceptions in a 21-10 win over Seattle - a game that included some of the worst officiating in Super Bowl history.
Get the picture?
For four decades the Super Bowl has been anything but super.
So how is a little snow gonna make things any worse?
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