During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Oh the days of blowout Super Bowls. The Super Bowl for the thumb for San Francisco and their last moment of supreme glory in the NFL. The Chargers came in as slight underdogs at 18.5 points. Turns out the oddsmakers were not even prepared for the cavalcade of offense the Niners would unleash in the Miami Molestation.
San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The California Bowl" This was the first Super Bowl that featured two teams that play in the same state. No, the Bills and Giants do not count because the Giants play in the swamps of New Jersey.
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: Aside from the two teams being from California, they had little else in common. San Fran had constant expectations and were seeking their record 5th title, while San Diego was a surprise team and not given much of a chance.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 3.5: Some predicted that this could be the lowest rated Super Bowl ever, but it beat out Super Bowl 26 in viewers and ratings. While the game was a blowout, it was an offensive show put on by the 49ers that featured terrific offensive precision.
High Profile Element- 3.5: Steve Young had emerged from the shadow of Joe Montana and was the NFL MVP that season while breaking Montana's record for passer rating. Up until this game Young was labeled as the QB who "could not win the big one". Basically he was the 1990s Peyton Manning. The 49ers had lost the NFC Championship game to the Cowboys in back to back years but they returned in 1994 with free agents like Richard Dent, Ken Norton, Gary Plummer, and Primetime himself. The increase of their defense and the swagger of Deion Sanders gave the Niners the extra push they needed and perhaps Jimmy Johnson being absent helped. Once again the Niners were balanced on offense with the classic bookend WRs Taylor and Rice and running game led by Ricky Watters. Rookie William Floyd (before he dusted up the Comedy Clubs in Charlotte) proved valuable at FB and Young himself could run extremely well.
The Chargers were led by Bobby Ross (FALL ON IT) at coach and Stan Humphries at QB. Humphries was the backup to Mark Rypien and the Super Bowl 26 champion Redskins. The running game was the engine that made the team go, led by big Natrone Means and his FB Ronnie Harmon. Leslie O'Neal, Chris Mims, and Junior Seau led the defense, with Rodney Harrison a young rookie in the backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 2: This was the 7th Super Bowl in Miami and while I will always be down for South Florida, the atmosphere created around this game was borderline disgusting. The game was called by the old MNF crew of Michaels, Deirdorf, and Gifford. No problem there. Leslie Visser became the first woman to work the sidelines in the Super Bowl. Also good. The National Anthem was sung by...Kathy Lee Gifford, gahhhh. Hank Williams Jr. performed his Monday Night Football theme song in the pregame, meh.
Nothing topped the abysmal Halftime Show, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye". Was this the start of the horrid ABC/Disney cross promotion with sports? I don't know but this act was deplorable. We get this quote from the game's Wikipedia page:
"The show ended with everybody singing 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight', the song featured in Disney's (which later acquired ABC) 1994 film The Lion King."
Shame on you ABC, shame on you Disney. This sort of thing might be more common nowadays, but doing it in the early stages does not make you any less right.
Personal Enjoyment- 3.5: I honestly did not mind the game even though it was never close. Even though I was a Montana guy, it was nice to see Young get his title and Rice knife through the defense.
Cleet's Rating Index: 16.5
Where I Was: As a young man approaching the end of middle school, it was a time of transition. I was becoming a man, and like fuzzy bunny:
Simpsons - Sex Education Fuzzy Bunny Style - View more free videos
What Happened In The World: Two days after the game Bill Clinton invoked emergency powers to extend a $20 Billion loan to Mexico. I wonder how many drugs that would buy?
Record of Note: The Chargers became the first team to convert a 2-point conversion in the Super Bowl
Game MVP: Young was the obvious choice. He had 6 TDs, 325 yards passing and led all rushers with 49 yards.
LVP: Chargers secondary. No cover, no tackling.
Most Memorable Play: After the game was secure, Young proclaimed the figurative simian off his lumbar region. (3:00 in the video)
NFL Fallout: Even though Young never got back to the Super Bowl, he had more impressive seasons before being concussed out of the league. George Seifert became one of the few coaches to win multiple Super Bowls but many detract from his efforts as merely following in Bill Walsh's wake and his poor regime in Carolina as coach and GM. The Chargers flamed out after reaching the big game and that led them to the number 2 pick in 1998, where they picked Ryan Leaf, and I'm sure Charger fans don't want to talk about it, alright.
Monday, February 1
Super Bowl Countdown #17: Super Bowl XXIX
Saturday, January 17
The Day Norv Turner Changed the NFL
In perhaps the biggest win of Norv Turner's career, he did not get a Super Bowl ring, but he did potentially get two former Super Bowl winners fired. During week 16, the Chargers headed to Tampa Bay to take on a Buccaneers team tied for first in the NFC South and undefeated at home. Turner's Chargers triumphed and the Bucs followed up the next week by losing at home, eliminating them from the playoffs. The victory set up a week 17 matchup against division rival the Denver Broncos. The Chargers would go on to win that game as well, but had they lost to Tampa Bay, both the Broncos and the Bucs would've made the playoffs. Instead, both of their Super Bowl winning coaches have been fired and both have hired 32-year old first time head coaches. Recently promoted defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will captain the ship in Tampa, and former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will head the Broncos.
Continue reading...Monday, January 12
Shackleford Files 005: Of Jake Delhomme and Teeter Totters
A recap of the divisional playoff round, with special attention paid to the egg laid by the hometown Panthers. Lebron, Kobe, and Celtics oh my! The first ever guest on TSF discusses the end of college football, an office no-no and when it's not OK to go for two. Apologies for some funky audio during the first segment, not quite sure what caused it, but we'll try to get it fixed. Jake Delhomme song by the Charlotte Squawks. Download the podcast, here.
Monday, December 22
AFC West Comes Down to One Game
Hilarious holiday storytelling of the AFC West from KSK.
How the Marmalard Stole the AFC West [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
Wednesday, September 10
Home Opener Looms for Carolina Panthers
Carolina's season took a huge first step against San Diego this past Sunday. They won and outplayed a "very good" Chargers team for three plus quarters. The home opener, however, has been been a constant source of pain for Panthers fans. Not since 2003, when Jake Delhomme replaced Rodney Peete at halftime have the Panthers won a season debut. The problems don't stop there.
In the four subsequent home openers, the Panthers have seen: Steve Smith, Kris Jenkins, Travelle Wharton, and Dan Morgan all lost to season-ending injuries. The first games in Bank of America Stadium have not been kind to the Carolina faithful. In fact, if the Panthers lose Sunday to Chicago, the team will be under .500 at home under Head Coach John Fox. The fanbase has warmed quickly to this team, and if they win Sunday, the nation should be ready for an all-out assault on sports radio talk shows. If the Panthers fall flat at home, once again, the natives will be growing restless. They were 0-5 at home last season, before finally winning two of their last three.
Another cause for concern lies in the playoff race. The Bears announced their presence with authority with their impressive win over Indianapolis. With neither team guaranteed a division crown, they may be competing for the same wildcard spots. If the Panthers lose, it's not doom and gloom, but their margin of error for the remainder of the season will be greatly decreased. With their final five games of the season against potential playoff teams, the Panthers would love to be in the NFC South driver's seat heading into the home stretch.
For the Panthers to emerge victorious, QB Jake Delhomme will need to continue to use multiple weapons in the passing game, and the running back tandem will need to be more effective than the Bears running game. On the defensive side, the secondary must not get lulled to sleep and give up big plays. The Bears gameplan against the Colts was well conceived and executed. Carolina has to be ready to alter their plan in response. If the Panthers are able to avoid costly turnovers (ie give the Bears a short field), and the time of possession battle remains close, it should be their first home opener win in five years.
Monday, September 8
The AFC: now accepting applications
Patriot fans remain inconsolable, but the AFC fans who need to be the most concerned are in San Diego. Without a reset button, New England faithful can take solace in knowing this year is a throw away. The year can go one of two ways, the team can either come together and become a fan favorite, or they can go 53 different ways, and drive the fans mad. At this point, they aren't the number one seed, but they certainly aren't out of the playoff race. The Chargers on the other hand, have symptoms of a much bigger problem.
Being 0-1 should not be cause for alarm, but the record doesn't tell the story. Going into the fourth quarter of yesterday's game, San Diego wide receivers had a whopping one catch, and that was on a blown coverage. Rivers proved once again that tight end Antonio Gates serves as his security blanket. After the game, however, Gates admitted his toe was still causing him problems, “The judgment part of it is what makes it tough: whether I'm helping the team or hurting the team,” Gates said. “That's something that we'll still have to build on going through the season. I have to make the right judgment on whether I'm beneficial for the team or not.” After the game, Gates was wearing a protective boot on his foot. As if ineffective wide receivers and lingering injuries to one of the top TEs in the league wasn't enough, LaDainian Tomlinson didn't even rush for 100 yards. The offense was largely held in check until the Carolina defense started playing passively with lead (almost a BIG mistake).
The defense was solid for most of the game, but when it came to crunch time, they were unable to hold, both at the end of the first half and at the end of the game. The in-and-out activities of Shawne Merriman could also be problematic, especially if he continues to only get one tackle per game. Perhaps the most telling stat was four of the Chargers top five tacklers being DBs.
Fans and writers in San Diego will point to bad luck, and say that the pedestrian Panthers were just a little hungrier, but that wasn't the case. The Chargers have serious problems. Unfortunately, unlike Patriots the problem isn't conspicuous. It will eat away at their season, as they try to understand why their team is losing to teams they normally beat. The AFC top spots are officially up for grabs.
As a note, the MSM will continue to bypass the Panthers as just another team, but this team just outrushed the Chargers in total yards and y/c. Combine this with a passing game that featured seven receivers and an offensive line that has decided sieve is not an effective scheme. Their defense held on eight of twelve third downs, and Jon Beason and Chris Harris have combined to give the defense a swagger. Oh, and they've got Steve Smith coming back after next week.
Thursday, August 28
Shawne Merriman Scoffs at Your Medical School Diplomas
The Chargers’ linebacker has decided against the advice of four doctors and elected to play this season with two torn ligaments in his left knee. Shawn says, “I just want to play football.” Noble words, but there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity and Merriman is lights out dancing down it. The Chargers are no doubt one of the favorites in the AFC this year, but after the way Philip Rivers was hopping around against the Seahawks, and the uncertainty of LT’s health this seems an unnecessary move. Antonio Gates is also returning from a toe injury and says he is not 100% yet either. Merriman may feel like this is San Diego’s year but he is 24 years old, should he really risk the rest of his career for one season?
The tears in his knee are the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. For you non-anatomy majors the PCL runs back across the knee and the LCL is located on the outside of the knee running from top to bottom. The ACL (anterior cruciate) is the cousin of the PCL, and it crosses over in front of the knee and is the one you hear most when it comes to knee injuries. The ACL is what allows the fast cutting and change of direction in the knee. The final ligament is the MCL (medial collateral ligament) which is located on the side of the knee closest to the middle of your body, so in this case the right side of Shawne’s left knee. The MCL is also most often injured because of the way the knee is built and the direction from which it takes collision.
In short, Merriman is fortunate in that the two of the four ligaments torn are the ones are the less essential to what he does on the football field. If his ACL was torn, there would be no way he could play. This does not mean he should run out there and play though. The knee is the most precarious and fragile joint of the body when it comes to sports. It is held together by these four ligaments, and two of Shawne’s are unstable. Yes at the moment he can play on them, but if he is hit the wrong way, it could blow his knee out completely. That would be the reason that the doctors have been saying that “career-ending” phrase to Merriman.
I can’t imagine why at 24 Merriman would risk the rest of his career. Perhaps it is that he feels the urgency of this being San Diego’s year, but with Brady and Manning standing there and the other fragile knees on the roster, I don’t get that one. Maybe it is that Shawne is willing to risk his football days being over because he wants to live the celebrity life. Everytime you turn around Shawne is on a different TV show. I was counting down the best beach bodies on the E! channel and then Shawne came in for analysis. He is co-hosting FSN’s Pro Football Preview show as well. He appeared on numerous spots on ESPN throughout the summer, maybe he should have been getting his knee checked out. His choice might just be based on arrogance, here is a person who got caught with steroids and didn’t flinch and created a ridiculous celebration dance anytime he makes a tackle. Whatever the case, it has many people in the football industry shaking their heads. If he makes it through the year unscathed and the Chargers get to the Super Bowl, then we doubters look the fool, but it may just blow up in his face like a block from Maurice Jones-Drew.
