Super Bowl super bust?

Baseball closer than you think

Good morning, all and a Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope your week is off to a great start.

Was a great Super Bowl ruined by an official’s call? That is the question many are asking. On third-and-8 at Philadelphia’s 15-yard line with under two minutes to play in the game, Eagles defensive back James Bradberry was whistled for a holding call for grabbing KC receiver Ju Ju Smith-Schuster’s jersey that handed the Chiefs a first down. The call was huge because it enabled Kansas City to take more time off the game clock. Harrison Butker’s 27-yard FG with eight seconds left sealed the 38-35 victory for the Chiefs.

Presuming the call had not been made and that Butker had successfully booted the FG, Philadelphia would have gotten the ball back with 1:45 left, setting up a more dramatic finish. It was the second-straight game Kansas City won on a last-second debateable call by the officials.

“It was a clear case of a jersey grab,” referee Carl Cheffers proclaimed.

To Bradberry’s credit, he stood at his locker for 20 minutes answering questions, saying the call was the correct one. Others disagreed, claiming that Smith-Schuster was nowhere near catching that ball, even if Bradberry did not touch him. Good for Bradberry to face the music, though.

The game, of course, was more than Bradberry’s misque and a questionable call. It was a furious Kansas City second-half comeback, a heroic performance by QB Patrick Mahomes, voted game MVP, an equally steller performance by Philly QB Jalen Hurts and an entertaining game that places Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in the pantheon of NFL coaches, along with Lombardi, Bellichick, Shula, etc. It also puts Mahomes in a select circle with two Super Bowl victories. And he is only 27.

Much to the dismay of Patriots fans, it also shows in this era of parity, you can still have a dynasty. Although the Pats dynasty is now in the record books but a thing of the past, the Chiefs dynasty is alive and well. Five straight trips to the AFC championship game and two Super Bowl victories earns them that status.

Meanwhile, woe to the NFC, as Philadelphia has a reason to comeback next year to finish business. They are young, strong and led by a capable coach and stellar quarterback. Sunday’s loss may be painful to Eagles fans, but it is not a stretch to write next year’s NFC representative to the Super Bowl in Vegas, will have to go through Philadelphia.

Baseball season is closer than you think

Yes, baseball season is closer than you think. As of this writing, pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training. Exhibition games start in less than two weeks. Then, of course, there is the World Baseball Classic. The WBC resumes after being benched because of COVID and features players, many of them from current MLB rosters, representing countries from around the world.

I get the idea behind the WBC, as baseball tries to grow the game internationally. Of course, you always worry that a star player might get injured, as his training routine is interupted in the middle of camp, to join another club and attempt to go all out and win the WBC. It is why some clubs hold out their players, as in the case of the Yankees. By his choosing, apparently, Aaron Judge will not be a participant. By the Yankees choice, pitcher Luis Severino will not be competing in the event.

That said, my only complaint is why the WBC is not using the new rules that will be employed once the MLB season starts. You will be reading plenty about the pitch clock, bigger bases, limited pickoff attempts, etc. but sadly none of these rules will be employed in the WBC tournament. Big mistake by MLB. As a public service, however, here is the tournament bracket:

This broadcaster thing is something

Three things struck me, when Derek Jeter was introduced as the latest member of the FOX baseball broadcast team on pre-and-post game shows. First, what is it about Yankees shortstops? Phil Rizzuto and Tony Kubek went from the playing field to the broadcast booth and now Jeter. Second, Alex Rodriguez and Jeter, never the best of teammates, are now sharing a mic. Leave it to FOX. Third, what is it about some athletes who were never good copy going into the broadcast profession? I am told by those who covered him with the NY Giants, Michael Strahan was downright rude with the media. Now he is everywhere, including being part of the Jeter announcement on the neverending Super Bowl pregame show. Jeter, although not as rude, rarely opened up with the media. He was mundane copy.

The interesting thing will be how much perspective Jeter brings to the broadcast. One thing about ARod, or for that matter Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Frank Thomas, also part of this crew, they do not hold back. Jeter will have to be the same way or his TV career will be shortcircuited in a hurry.

Well that is it for this week’s newsletter. As always, thank you for your support and please feel free to share the newsletter with a friend, as we try to grow the subscriber base.

Sportscaster Dan