Name Brand
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch; so much so that for my birthday last year my children gave me a Family Size box of it, with the specific waiver they would not eat any of it.
I am also notoriously cheap, and I only buy “The Crunch”, as it is referred to in my house, whenever it is on sale. During those times it’s not on sale, I’ll opt for the generic store brand. It’s not as cinnamony, or toasty, or crunchy as the real deal, but it gets me through the cravings.
Besides hoping a General Mills employee will read this and bless me with copious amounts of free cereal, there is an actual reason I’m divulging my breakfast eating habits.
Even though the Alliance of American Football (AAF) is in its infancy, I feel like it will be a worthy alternative to the NFL, when the name brand isn’t available.
There have been leagues in the past that were either too gimmicky (XFL), too devoid of talent and coaching names (Arena Football), or foolishly tried to go head to head against NFL (American Football League), that ultimately folded. On the surface it seems as if the AAF is avoiding most of those pitfalls, at least to start with.
Their “gimmicks” are looser rules when it comes to penalties and allowing listeners to listen in on challenges; neither of which are very gimmicky, but rather things the average football fan would enjoy.
There is big name talent throughout the league, from those in advising positions, to the coaches and players on the field.
And while they might benefit more from starting a little later on in the year, they aren’t competing head to head with the NFL.
I also like, and this may be purely coincidental, but in the case of the Atlanta Legends, there is a certain local flavor when it comes to their roster. 14 of the 52 players on the roster, which equates to 27% of the team, played college ball in the state of Georgia.
Most everyone who follows college football, or any major college sport for that matter, has players they enjoyed watching that either never made it to the next level or didn’t last very long. This is just another avenue, a more legit one, to give us the opportunity to continue following those careers.
The ratings have been better than expected and the commentary for those who are tuning in has been positive for the most part, so the league is at least off to a good start.
Obviously, there are some issues that could pop up down the road: how do they keep the NFL from poaching their successful players and seeing that they’re not a niche league will fans tire of the product? (I’m contradicting myself somewhat, but Arena Football has done a great job of marketing their differences to the NFL, while not being over the top.)
Whether the league folds after this year or is around for the next fifty, it’s giving a group of players an opportunity to showcase their talents. And for the fans, it’s given us another outlet to enjoy the game.
Sure, it’s not the name brand product we’re used to seeing, but if you’re within driving distance of Atlanta it may be worth the time and minimal amount of money it will cost you, and give the league a chance by seeing a game. Sometimes those off brands will catch you by surprise.
Opening Act
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Tampa Bay Rays find ways to win. That has been their modus operandi since they dropped the “Devil” and changed their color scheme.
Without much in the way of payroll and in a consistently competitive division, along with some giant franchises like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the Rays have always scrapped, scratched and clawed their way to September and even October from time to time over the past 11 years.
Last season was no different, though one of their bold strategies has courted no little amount of controversy – the “Opener.”
If you have not been following the Rays, the Opener is basically – as you might imagine – the opposite of a Closer.
“But TJ! Isn’t a starter the opposite of a closer?” You might ask. You might very well think that – but an Opener is something a little more specific and a little more parallel to what a Closer does at the end of a game.
Basically, when reliable pitchers like Blake Snell aren’t starting a game, Rays manager Kevin Cash begins the game with an Opener; a relief pitcher in any other context who is slotted in as the starting pitcher but is only ever expected to pitch an inning or two.
Then another pitcher comes in to eat up innings and hopefully (since the “starter” would not have pitched the requisite five innings) pick up the win.
Tampa started using this strategy in May of last year, starting with veteran closer Sergio Romo but primarily using pitchers Ryne Stanek and Hunter Wood in the role. Then guys like Ryan Yarbrough would enter the game and (ideally) shoulder the bulk of the work.
It was 2018, so obviously reaction and opinion on this strategy was divided, though Tampa’s success can hardly be argued against.
Their ERA dropped after they started using Openers, and had the team not played in a division that saw not one but two 100-game winners, they would very likely have seen the playoffs again.
The past few weeks in particular have seen a rise in anti-Opener rhetoric from Major Leaguers in particular, including Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who said he would leave the ballpark if San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy tried to use an opener before MadBum entered the game.
More damningly, Bumgarner’s teammate and fellow pitcher Jeff Samardzija called the concept of the Opener “a load of crap” in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. He also criticized the Rays’ pitchers for what he perceived as their lack of “moxie” in failing to push back and demand that they go seven innings.
The irony in the vitriol coming from Samardzija is that the Giants won a paltry 75 games in 2018, 15 less than the Rays, who sat at 90. This is not to mention the fact that the Giants hurler has managed a 22-31 record in his three seasons in San Fran with an ERA of 4.33 – much higher than the 3.97 ERA posted by Tampa Bay’s Openers last year.
The Rays have made it clear that they aren’t turning away from the Opener and after Snell, Charlie Morton, and Tyler Glasnow, Kevin Cash will indeed be penciling in a pitcher to throw just an inning or two.
Despite the negative reaction from some players, the notion has actually been spreading.
The Milwaukee Brewers opened up a game in the NLCS by have having Wade Miley throw to just one batter and the Oakland A’s put their entire season on the line in the AL Wild Card Game by using Liam Hendricks as an Opener.
The new General Manager of the Giants, Farhan Zaidi, even said that his team might consider adopting the practice when it makes sense. Though I get the sense that it will be over Bumgarner’s and Samardzija’s dead bodies.
Beast Of The East
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The teams of the NL East have been busy this off season trying to get better quickly.
The National League East hasn’t been decided by fewer than seven games since 2012 and the division race hasn’t come down to the season’s final weekend since 2008.
The Atlanta Braves won the division in 2018 by 8 games and pulled away from the Phillies down the stretch.
How did the NL East teams get better this off-season?
Let’s take a look:
Atlanta Braves: GM Alex Anthopoulos went out and signed Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann. The Braves also brought back Nick Markakis. They have the youngest talent in the division, but need a number 1 starter, and closer help.
They won 90 games in 2018. It may be tough to match that win total in 2019. I think the Braves haven’t done enough to address starting pitching concerns this off-season. Will that hurt them? Probably and will have to be addressed at the trade deadline.
NY Mets: New general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has come in making moves.
Van Wagenen already has traded for perennial All-Star second baseman Robinson Canó and elite closer Edwin Díaz.
He also brought fellow late-inning reliever Jeurys Familia back to New York. Wilson Ramos was signed for $19M to come in and catch. Great move by Mets. The Mets have the best starting pitching in the division. Don’t be shocked if the Mets win this division. I like the moves they are making.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies in their own words want to spend stupid money.
They signed Andrew McCutchen for three years and $50 million during the Winter Meetings and acquired shortstop Jean Segura from Seattle.
They traded for catcher JT Realmuto and think they will sign either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. That could be scary in that hitter friendly ballpark in Philadelphia. The Phillies have been bold and aggressive during the winter and I think it will pay off this season.
Washington Nationals: The Nats brought in elite starter, Patrick Corbin, catchers Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes, and re-signed a big bat in Matt Adams.
The Nats need bullpen help and potentially an outfielder to replace Harper. I don’t think Washington did enough to offset the pending loss of Harper.
Miami Marlins: The Marlins at this point, only develop talent and trade it away. They are no immediate threat in the division. I don’t understand this organization. The Marlins can spot, draft, and develop talent as good as any club in baseball, but will not pay to keep it.
NL East Predictions:
- Phillies
- Braves
- Mets
- Nationals
- Marlins
Don’t be surprised if the NL East produces a Wild Card Team in 2019. This division is on the rise. I love the start of baseball season. Spring, warm weather, sand gnats, shorts, flip flops, and eventually the beach gear gets pulled out of the boxes.
Ronald Acuna Jr. is the best young player in baseball, and will win the NL MVP within the next three years.
Destination Unknown
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
To say that the Sun Belt men’s basketball race is wide open might not be doing things justice.
If the regular season race were put in terms of a horse race, the pack would be rounding the final turn with mud flying in all directions and no one hitting their finishing kick just yet.
With seven games remaining for most Sun Belt teams, Texas State and UT Arlington are tied for the top spot. But there are six more teams within three games of the top and no listing of the conference standings will be safe until the dust settles on March 9.
Georgia Southern is one of the huge mob of teams sitting just off the pace. The Eagles split a pair of tough road games in Louisiana last week and are currently tied with UL Monroe and Coastal Carolina at 6-5 in conference play.
A strong finish could easily see the Eagles snag a top-2 finish and a free pass all the way to the semifinals of the conference tournament, but a few more losses could force them to win as many as four games in New Orleans if they want to take home the title.
It’s been an up-and-down ride for Georgia Southern this season, but now is the time for it to show the talent and leadership that has been four years in the making.
When this year’s senior class were freshmen, they were thrown right into the fire. Guys like Tookie Brown, Ike Smith and Montae Glenn showed promise, but also had to learn lessons about the college game the hard way as they were immediately inserted into the lineup.
The trio has grown – and has soaked up plenty of help in the classes that have come after them – and knew it would have one more shot for a tournament run this spring.
Unfortunately, Smith will have to watch from the sidelines as he has been ruled out for the year with a back injury. Glenn felt that pain – literally – last season when he injured a knee during conference tournament practice and never saw the floor in New Orleans.
Brown has been the steady hand throughout his career and this is unquestionably his team, but it will take a trip to the NCAA tournament to elevate his status at Georgia Southern from great to legendary.
So, while things haven’t gone to script and the Eagles will be short-handed down the stretch, it’s also fair to say that this should be their time to shine.
The Sun Belt is as deep as it has ever been, but the Eagles have already proven that they can play with anyone in the league. Come conference tournament time, the majority of players in the lineup will have played big roles and meaningful minutes in previous trips to New Orleans.
While the win-loss record isn’t where many hoped it would be at this point in the season, the Eagles have to realize that everything important – including, hopefully, their best basketball – is still ahead of them.
For the upperclassmen on this year’s team, no refresher course is needed on what can go wrong at the end of the season. Bad breaks, fluke injuries and hot-shooting opponents have all spelled disaster for Georgia Southern in previous late-season games and conference tournaments.
They’ve learned all of the tough lessons and no one doubts their ability to be the better team when things are going right for them. But they’re out of time to worry about what obstacles might pop up in the coming weeks.
If the Eagles want to win, they’ll have to put it all together and they’ll have to start right now.
Blue Blooded
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Duke is one of the blue blood programs in college basketball. The Blue Devils have won five national championships under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. This year’s team might be the best he has ever coached.
They signed the top 3 players in the 2019 recruiting class which is something that has never been done before. Those players are R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish. They also snagged point guard Tre Jones. He was ranked No. 10 overall and the top point guard.
So far, the star freshmen have lived up to the hype. They opened the season pummeling No. 5 Kentucky 118 – 84.
Williamson looks like a lock to be the top pick in the 2019 draft. He’s one of the most explosive players I’ve ever seen. It seems like every game he has an amazing dunk or blocked shot. He averages 22 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 steals per game and 2 blocks.
Barrett leads the team in scoring with 23 ppg. He also gets 7 rpg and 4 assists per game. Reddish adds 14 ppg.
They are currently ranked second in the nation behind Tennessee. Their two loses came against No. 3 Gonzaga and unranked Syracuse. The Blue Devils have one loss in conference play and are first in the ACC.
The schedule consists of wins against several top 15 opponents like Kentucky, Auburn, Texas Tech, Florida State and Virginia. They swept both meetings against the No. 3 Cavaliers, which are their only losses of the season. They beat them over the weekend 81 – 71 in Charlottesville. LeBron James was there to watch the talented freshmen.
“We were just in our zone and it’s great to see when our team is like that,” Barrett said.
“It’s any given night for all of us,” Reddish said after finishing 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, with three coming in a span of less than three minutes.
The next game is at No. 16 Louisville. The remaining schedule has two games against arch rival No. 8 North Carolina, NC State, Miami, Wake Forest, No. 22 Virginia Tech and a rematch at home against Syracuse.
The only game I think they could be in danger of losing is one of the match ups with Carolina. I think it will be difficult to sweep the Tar Heels.
I expect Duke to finish as the best team in the ACC after the regular season and they should also win the conference tournament. I think they will be the top seed in the NCAA tournament.
Once March Madness begins anything can happen. There are always upsets so the most talented teams can get sent home. With a team led by freshmen they could struggle against an experienced team.
For instance, I think the best team at Duke was the 98-99 team. That team had four players drafted within the first fourteen picks of the 1999 draft. They were undefeated in the ACC and only lost one game during the season. They lost the national championship game to UConn by three points.
They will be the favorite to win it all but it’s not a sure thing. If this team can stay focused and win the championship, they will be the best team in program history.
The Big Fish
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Over the course of a few weeks in the winter of 2017 the Miami Marlins traded away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon in a purge of talent and payroll the likes of which had not been seen since…well, since the last time the Marlins purged talent and payroll. So about four years.
Notably not traded, however, was JT Realmuto. The catcher who was suspected to be one of the league’s best and who proved it in 2018 with his first All-Star selection and Silver Slugger award.
The backstop made it clear he wasn’t happy being the only man left behind and rumors began to swirl and continued to do so for more than a year, until at long last he was traded to the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.
With Realmuto goes the final piece of the rebuild puzzle, as – despite reports that Miami wanted a Major League player a la Cody Bellinger or Ozzie Albies – the return was three prospects: Sixto Sanchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart, as well as international signing money.
While not getting a big leaguer in return might seem like the Marlins settled, that’s not necessarily true. While Albies and Bellinger have several years left on their respective contracts, I would wonder whether or not they (or similar players of their ilk that the Marlins could have received) would be wasted on bad teams for a few years before being unloaded just like Realmuto.
Miami is, as this moment, so far behind the rest of the National League East that they don’t have a chance of competing for at least the next two seasons. However, the rest of the division (the Braves and Phillies in particular) are only going to get better over the next several years. So perhaps a haul of prospects (and money for prospects) is the smart play for Derek Jeter and company.
Alfaro wasn’t the centerpiece of the trade, but he’ll have the most immediate impact, replacing Realmuto behind the plate. He is a downgrade, but literally every catcher in the league is a downgrade.
However, he has pop in his bat and a strong arm. He should make a reliable starter for the Fish going forward, even if he lacks the complete game that his predecessor will be displaying in the City of Brotherly Love.
Stewart isn’t likely to be a dominating hurler, but he has a fastball in the low 90s that he can locate. He’ll be a consistent Major Leaguer because of that control and since he’s only 21 there’s still time for him to develop more power and more pitches.
Sanchez is the prize for Miami here. He has the stuff to pitch at or near the top of the rotation and despite his small stature he can get his fastball into triple digits with some movement.
He also has a plus breaking ball and his change flashes above-average, although it’s the weakest of the three offerings. He should throw enough strikes to be a starter, but he’s battled injuries, and his size might suggest a move to the bullpen.
He could be dominant there, but the Marlins will give Sanchez every chance to develop into a well-above-average starter.
It was inevitable that Miami would trade JT Realmuto during this offseason. Although they cut it pretty close, as he’ll be reporting to Spring Training later this week.
While getting the Phillies’ number one prospect in return, along with two other players that will at least be decent long-term Major Leaguers, seems like good deal, it is questionable whether or not the best catcher in the game, under control for two more season, could have brought more back.
The Rich Get Richer
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Outside of the opening weekend of March Madness, I’m not sure there’s a weekday in college athletics that deserves to be labeled an “unofficial holiday” more than a college football signing day.
For all the buildup, all the phone alerts, all the sneaking away to the bathroom so you can see if your team signed that three-star backup punter, it always seems to end the same; with the SEC on top.
Once again college football’s best conference (according to those in the Southeast, at least) treated this year’s signing day like a sumo wrestler at a Chinese buffet. As soon as the doors opened, they bum rushed the buffet line, grabbed all the Sesame Chicken and General Tso’s they could get their hands on, leaving nothing for left for anyone else except the beef and broccoli that had been sitting under the heat lamp since early that morning.
And just like death and taxes, the one thing you can count on is Alabama bringing in a recruiting class rated either first or second. I would say they always finish first, much like this year according to most sites, but Georgia has become Alabama 2.0 in almost every facet of their program and I’m pretty sure they had the higher rated class last year. Either way, when it comes to recruiting it’s been Alabama, Georgia, and then everyone else.
Of the other three SEC teams that finished ranked in the top ten, one is a regular participant (LSU), one is a familiar face we haven’t seen for a couple of years (Florida), and the third, is a new addition thanks to a head coach going through his first full recruiting cycle with the program (Texas A&M).
Having said that, it’s very easy to speak rhapsodic about a program that brings in a top ten recruiting class- they’ve all brought in talented players that should help their team, that’s why they’re rated where they are.
There are three teams however, that stuck a little bit as I was reading over the final outcomes: Tennessee, Ohio State, and Florida State.
For Tennessee, they’ve been just good enough on the recruiting trail recently to be able to have the product they put on the field not live up to expectations. It’s been a few years since they were able to put together the type of class Jeremy Pruitt was able to this year, and it will be intriguing to see if that success translates onto the field.
Ohio State signed some of the blue-chip athletes you would expect (plus a particular transfer from Athens), but where they “struggled”, was with quality depth. It would’ve been unrealistic to expect them to do much better than they did with everything that has transpired over the past year, but when you have a new coach you have to wonder if it’s a blip on the radar, or the beginning of a trend?
As for Florida State they just lost their primary target at quarterback to a Maryland program so toxic Montgomery Burns wouldn’t even have Smithers touch it.
I have nothing against Willie Taggart and I know he says he has a plan, but unless it includes owning stock in U-Haul, I don’t have much faith in it.
To absolutely nobody’s surprise the SEC puffed out its chest and dominated signing day. The national title may reside in another conference, but when it comes to pure talent, the SEC is first in line, and they’re not leaving many leftovers.
A Plain Change?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Auburn started the 2018 season ranked in the top 10 and beat a ranked Washington team the opening weekend in Atlanta.
The Tigers went into a week 3 matchup with LSU and ended up being exposed on offense in a 22-21 loss.
Back to back losses to Mississippi State and a bad loss at home to rebuilding Tennessee started the rumblings on the plains and then another loss to UGA in Athens, and having 52 hung on them in the Iron Bowl has Malzahn’s future at Auburn being questioned by many around the SEC.
Malzahn’s overall record at Auburn now is 53-27 in six years. Outside of the miracle season of 2013 where Auburn went 12-2, won the SEC, and lost the National Title game to FSU, what have the Tigers done that is so special?
Yes, I know Auburn won the SEC West in 2017 and beat number one ranked Georgia and Alabama in a three week span that November. I get that, but this program turned around and lost to Georgia in the 2017 SEC Title game 28-7 and then lost to UCF in the Peach Bowl to finish 10-4 on that season.
Auburn is 41-25 over the past five seasons, the natives are getting restless in Auburn, Alabama. So basically, Auburn under Gus is a program that is going to lose 4 or 5 games a season.
That is not acceptable at Auburn and they are trying to stay in the same area code as rival Alabama. Alabama is winning 13-14 games a season now under Saban, while Auburn is an 8-5 type team.
Let’s take a look at reasons why Auburn is struggling right now:
Stubbornness: Gus always says the right things in the media and promises change, but nothing seems to change especially as it centers around play calling on offense.
This is Malzahn’s offense at Auburn and now that Chip Lindsey is gone the focus is squarely on Gus. That is all on Malzahn. The offense is his baby.
Jarret Stidham will have a successful pro career, but I don’t think Auburn knew how to use his skill set properly. The fan base turned on Stidham, but forgot that without Stidham Auburn doesn’t win the SEC West in 2017.
Running Back: How does a school that produced William Andrews, James Brooks, Bo Jackson, Brent Fullwood, Rudy Johnson, Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Kerryon Johnson, not have a big time running back? Auburn can’t run the football, and it’s because they don’t have a big time running back. This is squarely on Gus.
Player Development: If you look at five year recruiting ranking averages Auburn is in the top ten, but Auburn has lost, on average, 5 games per season in the same cycle. What is happening to all of that talent? Gus Malzahn is the head coach of Auburn University and the buck stops with him.
Auburn hung 63 on Purdue in the Music City Bowl and Gus was feeling really good about his play calling in that contest. Will that be enough to quiet down the critics on the plains?
If not for The Prayer at Jordan Hare against UGA, or the Kick Six against Alabama in 2013 would Gus still be the football coach at Auburn University?
Keep a close watch on this situation at Auburn. If Auburn struggles early in 2019 will Gus make it to October?
Auburn is a proud football program, but the Tigers have been losing to UGA and Alabama a lot lately. That will not cut it on The Plains.
Tiger fans are praying that incoming QB Bo Nix has the same impact that Jake Fromm has had at UGA. That may be what saves the Gus Bus at AU.
The New-Bees
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
National Signing Day is almost here. We will get a chance to see where each program ranks and get an idea of who will play next season. I’m going to take a look at Georgia Tech’s recruiting class.
Geoff Collins is entering his first season as the head coach in Atlanta. He has inherited a roster full of Paul Johnson recruits.
As you all know CPJ ran the triple option offense, which made it difficult to recruit top prospects. For many of the players he recruited Tech was the only Power 5 school that was interested in them.
The Yellow Jackets are switching to a pro-style offense, so they need athletes that fit that scheme.
One big boost came in the form of a transfer. Wide receiver Marquez Ezzard transferred from Miami. He was a four-star prospect and he signed with the Hurricanes in February 2018. He also had offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, USC and Florida State.
Ezzard is from Stockbridge, GA so he’s coming home. He’s 6’2 and 210 pounds, so he has great size. He only played in three games this past season so that counts as being redshirted. By ACC rules, Ezzard would have to sit out a season at Tech and lose a season of eligibility, as he is transferring within the conference. That would mean he would sit out the 2019 season and have three seasons remaining.
The current 2019 class has 18 commits and all of them are three-star recruits. I’m a huge fan of quarterback Jordan Yates from Alpharetta, GA. He led Milton high school to the 7A state championship as a senior. He’s a very good dual threat QB. He passed for 2,590 yards and ran for 958 yards last season.
They signed another dual threat QB also, Demetrius Knight. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.
They have also signed a few receivers like Nazir Burnett, Zach Owens, Ahmarean Brown and Kalani Norris. Brown is from Tampa and as a senior he had 38 catches for 726 and 7 touchdowns. He’s small (5’9, 165 lbs.) but very fast.
Owens is the biggest receiver at 6’3 and 198 pounds. He’s from Marietta, GA and he averaged 105.7 all-purpose yards per game.
Tight end was a position Paul Johnson did not use at all. Collins plans on changing that and he signed Dylan Deveney from Princeton, New Jersey. He has prototypical size standing at 6’6 and 245 pounds.
They also added a pair of running backs; Devin Ellison and Tony Amerson. Ellison is from Jacksonville and he’s the epitome of a student athlete. He set school records with 3,345 rushing yards and 45 rushing TD’s during his high school career. He’s on course to graduate magna cum laude (4.1 GPA).
Defense has been a problem over the last decade. Tech is going to get talent at each level on defense. They signed several defensive backs; Wesley Walker, Jordan Huff, Kenan Johnson and Jeremiah Smith.
Defensive ends Sylvain Yondjouen and D’Quan Douse have also committed. Douse is from Savannah and he was a three-time all-region honoree.
Yondjouen is from Belgium and has only been playing football for 4 years. They signed one defensive tackle, Jamal Camp.
The linebackers consist of Chico Bennett Jr. and Cornelius Evans. Evans attends the school right by my house, Central Gwinnett. He’s 6’4 and 220 pounds so he has the frame of a pro outside linebacker.
I think this is a solid class that can get better once they arrive on campus and get coached up.
The Empire Strikes Back
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NBA had Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics. Major League Baseball has the New York Yankees. The NFL has the New England Patriots.
Now, before I get too deep into this rabbit hole I’m about to go down, let’s go ahead and get the obvious out the way. After five months and over a few hundred games played, that was the game that is supposed to get us through until September? The only thing less entertaining than the game itself was the halftime show, except for the Big Boi/Sleepy Brown appearance.
Now that those four hours I would’ve rather spent watching Wolf Blitzer doing “Breaking News” segments on Adam Levine’s tattoos have passed, what does it all mean for New England?
As much as it pains me to say, what the Patriots have accomplished over the past eighteen years has to be one of the most impressive feats in sports, if not the most impressive.
The run the Celtics had in the 60’s when they won eight NBA titles in a row, and ten in eleven years, is something I feel pretty confident won’t be happening again anytime soon.
However, it did take place in a period where the level of competition wasn’t quite like it is today. It’s similar to the dominance UCLA had over college basketball for all those years.
The Yankees have been the standard in baseball, but they have a number of advantages that have played in their favor, mainly the market they play in and the lack of a salary cap.
I’m not taking anything away from either of those franchises, but when you are talking about the greatest dynasty in sports history, those type of things matter.
In New England’s case they have achieved unrivaled success over the past two decades in a league that is set up specifically to prevent that type of dominance.
To have done what they have been able to do, with the cavalcade of players over that time frame just adds to the legacy.
Yes, the two constants just happen to the two people who are arguably the best at their respective titles, but it doesn’t dampen it any less.
And look, I get it, I have a hard time saying anything nice about the Patriots. They’re about the most pretentious franchise I’ve seen, and I’m Duke fan for crying out loud.
But if I’m being completely objective, this run they are on- no matter how much longer it lasts- is probably the most impressive run in professional sports history.
This particular victory wasn’t pretty by any means, but it was vintage Bill Belichick. Make no mistake about it, the Rams offensive struggles were not self-inflicted; the Patriots shut down the league’s second ranked offense and made it look easy.
Even though the game gave us all plenty of reasons to turn away, or turn the channel for that matter, New England was the better team, once again.
So here we are, six Super Bowl victories in nine appearances, over an eighteen-year span. As much as Tom Brady wanted to tell us the Patriots are “still here” and that nobody believed in them, are any of us really surprised with the outcome?
It may not have been the outcome most of us wanted to see, but based on history it was the outcome most of us predicted.
And much like the final score and the game itself, we may not be fans of the Patriots, but they are doing something we may not see again in our lifetime.
