Dumb Decisions and the AFC/NFC Title Game Previews

I have my usual plethora of info on the respective conference title games but I have to weigh in on a touchy subject.
When I heard about the comment that Kelly Tilghman of Golf Channel made about Tiger Woods, I was incredulous. I couldn't believe that someone would outright say that Woods should be lynched. I caught a replay of the comment and groaned. It was clearly obvious that Tilghman was trying to be off the cuff and funny. If she had of said something like: "A bunch of them tie him up and hide him in a closet." the comment would have been overlooked as another dumb attempt at an anchor trying to be funny. But saying lynch awoke flames. As a black man I am very aware of the history of lynching in this country. I also am aware that this country has come very far in its race relations. I took the comment pretty much the same way Tiger Woods did, I shrugged it off as a stupid comment. Woods openly said that he forgave Tilghman for the comment and believed that Tilghman was not racist or trying to be racist in that comment. Golf Channel suspended Tilghman for two weeks, which I thought was an appropriate punishment. I did not equate this comment to the hurtful comments that shock jock Don Imus made last April.
Now if that was it, I doubt that I would write anything more. GolfWeek Magazine decided to take it a step further. They put a picture of a noose on its cover.
When I saw it, I was to say the least stunned.
I don't play golf, aside from on my Playstation2. I have no need to read GolfWeek so they were in no danger of ever counting me as one of their readers before this incident. But this cover was insensitive and down right rude and crude. Now while Tilghman's comments could have been seen as insensitive, they were done on live tv and can be clearly explained away as off the cuff. What GolfWeek did was stupid. The PGA Tour threatened to pull all its advertising and was urging many of its partners to do the same. Was this a PC move? No, it was the RIGHT move. Dave Seanor, editor and VP of the magazine was fired and GolfWeek is in full damage control. GolfWeek may have been trying to spark a discussion, but the photo of a hangmans noose was out of line and I think that the pepole that were responsible got what they deserved. The column written in the magazine said to keep Tilghman's comments in context were just as inane. The issue while inflammatory and very sensitive was seeming to die down, especially since Woods had publicly expressed his support for Tilghman. But Golfweek tried to fan the flames to sell mags and that is wrong. I'll be willing to bet Kelly Tilghman had a good private laugh at these bozos, her comments didn't cost her employment.
Well now that we've covered the dumb decisions that people make and what it costs them, lets look at the Conference Championships.

And now there are four left, a pair of upsets took the NFC's top seed and the defending Super Bowl Champ out of the running. These games are matchups of four of the older franchises in the their respective conferences. They are also rematches of week 2 games that were routs by the Pats and Pack. Both will be played in frosty conditions with the reward a trip to the desert for the 42nd Super Bowl. Odds provided by Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.



NFL SCHEDULE – CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Sunday, January 20

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
San Diego Chargers (13-5) @ New England Patriots (17-0)
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA 3:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 13
Fast Facts NE-The Pats are only the third team to win 18 games in a season (San Fran 1984, Chicago 1985) but the only one to do so without a loss. SD-This is the first time since 1994 the Chargers have won multiple games in the postseason.
How They Got Here: The Chargers defeated the Titans 17-6 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Colts 28-24 in the Divisional Round
The Patriots had a first round bye as the AFC’s #1 seed and defeated the Jaguars 31-20 in the Divisional Round
Playoff History The Patriots defeated the Chargers in the 2006 Divisional Round 24-21; The Chargers defeated the Patriots 51-10 in the 1963 AFL Championship (Both games played in San Diego)

The Chargers are a surprise entrant, boasting a stunning road upset of the defending Super Bowl champ Colts. Looking to avenge a divisional round upset from the previous year, the Chargers have an impressive offense. This offense is hurting as both QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson are slowed with knee injuries. Add the fact that All-Pro TE Antonio Gates is still nursing a bad toe and you have an offense that looks to be at less than full strength. But hold the phone, super subs Billy Volek, Michael Turner and Darren Sproles have filled in gamely at crucial times and while not the real thing are capable replacements. The Pats are well…all that. Tom Brady dinked and dunked the Jags into submission last week and after the first play of the game was not touched all night. If the Chargers don’t get to Brady he will pick them apart. Randy Moss is 0-2 in conference title games and despite the messy legal situation he may find his way into, he is still the most dangerous offensive player on the field. Shawne Merriman is one of a host of solid defensive players that the Bolts have but CB Antonio Cromartie is the most underrated, he will have to keep Moss contained, but then again there is the problem of Wes Welker and if the Pats decide that they want to run, Laurence Maroney has touchdown threat potential.

Plain and simple, while the Chargers are talking a good game, they are like Billy Conn before his 1941 bout with Joe Louis, he talked and boasted about what he was going to do to the Brown Bomber. When Louis was asked to respond, he simply said “I’m gonna show up, show up on time and be ready to fight.” Louis knocked out Conn in the 13th round. Don't believe the hype about the Moss incident being a distraction, Hoodie man will have his Pats focused and ready. The Chargers have been talking as if the Pats should fear them, and while the Pats respect the Bolts potential, they have their eyes on a larger prize and a hobbled Bolts squad won’t be able to stop them.
Pick-New England


NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
New York Giants (12-6) @ Green Bay Packers (14-3)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 6:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 7
Fast Facts NYG-The Giants are 3-0 in NFC title games, but this is their first NFC Championship they are playing on the road. GB-The Packers are 4-0 in NFC/NFL title games.
How They Got Here: The Giants defeated the Buccaneers 24-14 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Cowboys 21-17 in Divisional Round. The Packers had a first round bye as the NFC #2 Seed and defeated the Seahawks 42-20 in the Divisional Round.
Previous Playoff Meetings: Giants defeated Green Bay 23-17 in 1938 NFL Title Game. Packers defeated Giants 27-0 in the 1939 NFL Title game, 14-7 in the 1944 NFL title game, 37-0 in the 1961 NFL title game and 16-7 in the 1962 NFL title game.

The Packers were expecting to travel to Dallas so Brett Favre could slay one of his last pro demons. The G-Men messed that plan up and the Pack get to welcome Eli and the G-Men to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. I'm not sure if legendary NFL Films voiceover man John Facenda ever said frozen tundra but this game will likely look like something straight out of the archives. The Pack have developed a once dormant running game as Ryan Grant overcame early fumbles to get stronger as the game and snow wore on Favre's leadership is paying mass dividends as it seems that he has grown confident in the playmaking abilities of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings who have grown into a formidable receiving duo. The Giants will have their hands full trying to contain them. R.W. McQuarters will have to make big hits int he G-Men secondary The underrated defense of the Pack shook off a pair of possessions deep in their own end to shut down the Seahawks.
The G-Men have rode the unspectacular yet effiecent play of Eli Manning to a pair of road playoff wins, but the solid running of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been the real reasons the Giants offense have been playing well, they continue to keep Manning in managable situation where he doesn't need to win the game on his own. The Giants defense brings pressure at all times, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan are ends that have to be accounted for at all times.
If the Packers can keep the Giants running game bottled up and force Manning to win the game on his own, they will carry the day. The Pack have to also keep Favre upright, if he isn't hurried he should be able to pick on a so-so Giant secondary who aside from McQuarters is rather ordinary. The Giants need to establish the run and keep the game balanced. Manning has been using Kevin Boss nicely and Amani Toomer is his usual scoring threat. If the G-Men can keep pounding the ball they could steal the game.
The way I see it, Favre sees this as his last best shot to get to the Super Bowl and the chance to get their via the Lambeau faithful will be too much for the G-Men to overcome. It'll be a tight game, but Manning will make a mistake that will doom the G-Men and the Pack book a trip to the desert.
Pick-Green Bay

Last Week 1-3
Playoff Total 5-3
Overall Total 168-96

Enjoy the games, and as always your comments and feedback are most appreciated. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!