Posted by Perry

Super Bowl XLIV is over. The New Orleans Saints have won their first championship in team history by beating the Indianapolis Colts 31 – 17.

First, I have to say congratulations to the Saints, their fans, and the city. They played a great game, kept their composure and made big plays when they had to in the biggest game of the year.

I’m severely disappointed that the Colts lost, but devastated by how they lost. They missed opportunities for big plays, they dropped passes that they catch nine times out of ten, they had silly penalties on defense that kept the Saints explosive offense on the field, they had blown coverages on defense that they practiced all year. In short, they didn’t come to play.

Much was made of coach Jim Caldwell resting his starters heading into the playoffs, costing the Colts a chance at a perfect season. I truly didn’t have a problem with his decision for one basic reason – it doesn’t mean anything. Yes, they could have gone 16-0. Yes, they could have had a chance to be only the second team in NFL history to win every game should they have won the Super Bowl, but they didn’t.

In the NFL, fair or not, the only thing that fans and media remember is who won the championship. The Patriots had a chance to go undefeated if they could beat the Giants in the Super Bowl – they lost – and no one talks about them going undefeated in the regular season. Because it means nothing.

The lesson the Colts learned last night is this; you have to play hard every single play. They looked tentative defensively at times, the offense missed chances to put the Saints in a huge hole, the play-calling at times had you scratching your head. The perfect example is the Colts final drive of the game. Down by 14, they passed their way down the field, but failed to get out of bounds and stop the clock. Everything was over the middle and time kept ticking away. Once they get close to the end zone, and with under two minutes to go, they tried a running play – which promptly got stuffed – more time ticked away. The last chance for the Colts fell to the Miami turf when Reggie Wayne dropped a touchdown pass in the endzone, sealing the Colts fate.

In the NFL, history is reserved for those who hoist the Lombardi trophy over their heads, nothing else you do during the year matters – Peyton Manning and company have done it once, they failed to capitalize on chances to do it again.

Knowing the Colts, they’ll use that knowledge for next year and bring the Lombardi back home to Indianapolis. Where it belongs.

Go Colts!

Looking out at the snow falling has me thinking about how much more I enjoyed it as a kid than I do now. I still think snow is pretty. And, I really do get excited when a significant snowfall is predicted and is formed from big, fat, wet flakes and the air is still.

I remember going to Nehrt’s hill in the burg to sled with friends, and building snowmen, and even my Aunt Shirley picking me up to test the hills in Brownstown — a brand new saucer just for me hidden under blankets in the back of some dumpy car. But what I remember most was my strong desire to just get to town once the first flake hit the ground.

In high school, I would do about anything to get to the burg so my cousin, Jerilyn, and I could walk in the snow. If snow was in the forecast, I’d get there early so I was prepared — it isn’t cool to live in the country when you’re a kid. When you’re a dog, it’s awesome to live in the country! Just ask Gracie.

Snow has started falling in the burg… and the flakes are humongous.

What an awesome way to begin Super Bowl weekend!!

Go Colts!!

(If the snow continues to stick, I’ll post updated photos!)

I had to go to Seymour today to pick up glasses and pop into the local Wal-mart for a few things that aren’t available at Tanner’s here in the burg. Big mistake!! I’d rather have a stick poked in my eye than go to Wal-mart on a NORMAL day, but it was totally a freak show this afternoon with the forecast calling for around 8 inches of snow.

Judging by Wal-mart’s parking lot, you’d think that good ole’ Jackson County, Indiana was expecting a blizzard that would bring driving to a halt for at least 30 days. No bread or milk were left on the shelves, and cashiers were few and far between. I hate waiting in line (YES, I know I’m impatient!!), but today I found plenty of stuff to do to pass the time. For example…

There was this dude in front of us in line and his cart was seriously overflowing. He would weigh in at least 500 pounds (probably more), and I noticed that he had a couple 12 packs of Reeses peanut butter cups, at least 10 Snickers candy bars, and no less than 6 pies. I’m already about to tell him that carbs are his enemy when I notice he begins to haul all of this Ol’ Roy dog food and dog treats onto the conveyor. (Ol’ Roy is the only dog food that our veterinarian has specifically said to NEVER buy.) So this huge turd is buying all the good stuff for his fat self, but is giving his dogs bargain garbage! ::gasp::

I know that everyone doesn’t treat their pets like family, but some of us do. And to me, his statement was no different than when I see a Mother wearing BKE jeans and has her kids dressed in dirty sweatpants that are too short and have holes in them. Please take this post as a lesson… when you’re standing in line trying to get milk, bread and eggs before a predicted month-long blizzard, there are people like me who have nothing better to do than analyze your purchases. My 8 bags of Starbucks coffee and 2 large bottles of sugar-free vanilla creamer are probably going to be the hot topic of conversation for someone tonight.