Ten Piece Nuggets-Super Bowl and More

Posted on February 3, 2020February 4, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

You had way, way too much chip, dip, and beer. It’s time to get back to your routine. Here’s a serving of Ten Piece Nuggets. Chew them slowly and drink lots of water to rehydrate.

Jay Z and Beyonce’ had seats on the 50-yard line. They sat in them all game including during Demi Lovato’s swift 1:50 rendition of the National Anthem. It’s hard to say what they were protesting. Jay Z signed a deal with the NFL recently to promote “social justice.” Are they dissatisfied with the capitalistic society that they wisely profited from to afford such expensive seats? Maybe they’re still mad at the NFL’s hands-off attitude towards malcontent Colin Kaepernick? Wouldn’t it be something if the seats were comped by the big, bad, ugly NFL?
If San Francisco had Kaepernick this season they surely could have done better. Wait. It would be hard to have done better upon further review. They were the number one seeded NFC representative in the Super Bowl after all.
Maybe a good SF offense and a really good San Fran defense just ran into a better team when all 60 minutes were played. After all, Patrick Mahomes is the first under 25 years of age QB to win the league’s MVP Award and win a Super Bowl. The future seems quite bright for the young lad flourishing in an Andy Reid offense tailored to play to his strengths, of which there are many.
Mahomes came to Miami without a title and left with one. Maybe he’ll be like LeBron. When the King arrived in Miami a while back he promised not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not even seven titles. Quarterbacks, given today’s rules that so favor their health and production, can easily play into their forties. LeBron has changed addresses twice since then and has three rings and counting. How many will Mahomes, the best QB in the league, be able to garner?
Another great QB arrived in Miami once. It was 1983, and a man named Daniel Constantine Marino, Jr. was drafted late in the first round by the Dolphins. He led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in only his second year, 1984. And after 9 Pro Bowl Appearances, one league MVP, and 18 playoff games he never went back to another Super Bowl in his 17 year Hall of Fame career. Fame wasn’t fleeting for him, Super Bowl wins were.
Did you bet the J Lo will or won’t flash a little butt cleavage novelty proposition? If you bet the “will” BBR thinks you lost. But, or should we say butt, that was some of the only skin covered in the high energy, fast-moving halftime extravaganza. Shakira and J Lo shook, rattled, and rolled and even used a stripper pole. Wasn’t it just yesterday that the NFL apologized for the outrageous behavior of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson?
Turning the page, but speaking of having skin in the game, Donald Trump congratulated the Kansas City Chiefs and the great state of Kansas last night after the SB victory in a tweet. Not too long thereafter, he corrected his tweet to read the great state of Missouri. That’s the problem with screen grabs though. It’s out there now, forever. Of course, the NFL seemed to not have a problem with what Shakira and J Lo grabbed on screen. But we digress. Trump is forever impeached anyway. So said none other than a not so somber and prayerful Nancy Pelosi early last week.
The Donald will deliver his State of the Union Address to Congress Tuesday PM. Like Jay Z and Beyonce’, roughly half of the members of Congress will likely sit for the entire proceedings in protest of the President and all that he actually stands for. And, as of now, the plan is that the Senate will acquit him Wednesday of both charged articles of impeachment. Put a tent over the circus that currently is under the rotunda, please.
The football season ended last evening. But the primary season begins today. The Democratic hopefuls will watch with interest usually reserved for Super Bowl viewing at the results in Iowa, the first whistle stop. Polls (not the one J Lo abused) show Crazy Bernie Sanders with about a five-point lead 25-20 over Joe Biden going into today. Bernie can make it rain at the Democratic Party’s party.
Joe might not really want to win though after he takes a look at how Republican Senator Joni Ernst rained on his parade this past weekend. “Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him,’” Ernst said. Ernst explained that an impeachment case against Biden could be made “for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year” during his time as vice president under Obama.

It’s only seven months till football starts up again. And, it’s only nine months till the general election. The butt cleavage exposure never ends so to speak.

Trivia(l) Pursuit

Posted on January 31, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

If you were in pursuit of Super Bowl LIV trivia your internet explorer linked you to the right site. Just like the ’80s Trivial Pursuit board game below are all of the pie pieces (and more) needed to be the smart one at your Super Bowl Party.

Jack Buck called Super Bowl IV with Pat Summerall. The Kansas City Chiefs upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings for their first and only win. Fifty years later Kansas City finally returns to the biggest game of all. Joe Buck, son of Jack, is on the golden mic with Troy Aikman.
KC and SF are the only two teams in the league whose primary colors are red and gold (though the gold is a bit different for each). Wear red and accessorize with gold and you’ll be cheering for the winning team regardless.
Twenty plus years ago Mike Shanahan won back to back Super Bowls as head coach of the Denver Broncos. His son Kyle Shanahan attempts to join his dad as a Super Bowl-winning coach Sunday with the 49ers. If he does it will be the first father-son duo to do so.
If the game comes down to a San Fran kick start putting the potato salad back in the fridge. Veteran San Francisco place kicker Robbie Gould is in his 15th NFL season. Good in the regular season, he has ice in his playoff veins. In the playoffs he’s connected on all 27 extra points and 13 field goals he has attempted.
The HD 4G screen that you will watch the game on was expensive. But it’s a lot cheaper than the cheapest ticket currently available to the game. That price, as of yesterday, was available online for just over $2600. Super Bowl IV, previously mentioned, was not a sellout and tickets had a face value between $8 and $16 dollars.
Who will win? The quarterbacks don’t lose much. Pick one. Their career records as starters stand at 28–8 for Patrick Mahomes and 23–5 for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Expect some “trickeration” from KC coach Andy Reid. You never know when he might punt, pass, or kick. Don’t believe it? Take a 30 second look at him at the tender age of 13 doing just that. Take a look at #22 right behind him if you can see him. Andy was born big-boned.

And if you really want to be the smart one in the room take San Fran straight up to win the game.

Pass the chips.

How J Lo Can Bets Go?

Posted on January 30, 2020January 30, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

It’s just three days till Super Bowl LIV. Will Kansas City, favored by 1 and 1/2 points, score enough to defeat San Francisco and it’s Gold Rush defense? You can bet either side of that of course. But, did you know that you can bet on a few, well, um, interesting novelty propositions before and during the game as well?

Sports gambling has entered a new era with the legalization federally of sportsbooks by state if the state so chooses. And, speaking of a new era, check out these opportunities to get rich quick below.

The National Anthem Bet– Will two time Grammy Award winner Demi Lovato sing the national anthem in under/over 2 minutes and 4 and 1/2 seconds? All of Lovato’s six previous national anthem performances lasted under two minutes, with the exception of her rendition at the Mayweather-McGregor bout, which rang in at 2:11. We’ll take the under and hope that Demi doesn’t inhale too deeply prior to “home of the brave.”
The Gatorade Bet- If Gatorade is dumped on the winning head coach will it be red/clear for +$150, or any other color for -$200? We’ll take any other color. Red would match either coach’s garb in all likelihood, so it should be considered. Though Andy Reid looks to BBR as no slave to fashion.
The TD Toss Bet- Will any player who scores a TD throw the ball into the stands? It’s +$150 that one does, and -$200 that he keeps the keepsake all for himself. We’ll take the toss into the stands. We’re counting on a decked out fan begging for the ball, or a nearby mom, or a multiple TD game from a participant.
The Total Weight of Player’s Scoring TD’s Bet- Will 1399 and 1/2 pounds of combined humans score touchdowns or less? It’s an expensive -$120 to take either side of the poundage. Careful, if one player scores more than once his weight is only counted once. We’ll take under the weight total and hope like heck that no lineman scoop and score. Someone in Vegas actually decided that 1399 and 1/2 was the proper total. This ensures a loser and a winner, thereby making the $20 vig a nice winner for them and a loser for John Q. Public.
The J Lo Butt Cleavage Bet- We aren’t making this up. It’s +$190 that she does and -$280 that she doesn’t. The prop bet recognizes plumber crack or the reverse butt cleavage as a YES. We still aren’t making this up. We’ll go no butt cleavage betting that the Janet Jackson “accident” has been reviewed with Ms. J Lo and approved by Alex Rodriguez. We’re also hoping, really hoping, that Andy Reid remembers his belt. But, we digress.

Your predictions are welcome in the comments. Your butt cleavage is not.

Sixty Minutes From Deity

Posted on January 29, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

Patrick Mahomes is just 60 NFL minutes away from attaching his name to NFL greatness in a much bigger way than here to fore. And here to fore is only three years and counting for him. But if you’re counting it’s been an impressive assent.

It’s been 50 years and counting since Kansas City won Super Bowl IV in 1970. The KC fans have already elevated Mahomes to near Sainthood status.

Speaking of Sainthood, today we have attached a link to an article an eager BBR staff member wrote on October 3rd of 2018. We think it’s a good read all over again and provides a little insight and backdrop into what was, could be, and what might be for the then even younger Mahomes.

Of course, the Gold Rush of the San Francisco 49ers might be able to slow his inevitable run (and pass) to greatness. But, we should never doubt a man of the cloth.

Hit the link and enjoy the two-minute read.

The World Championship Game Revisited

Posted on January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

And then there were four. And after Sunday there will be two. San Francisco, Green Bay, Kansas City, and Tennessee remain in the chase for the Vince Lombardi Trophy for winning Super Bowl LIV (54). Who might be those two?

SF is a 7 1/2 point pick over GB while KC is favored by 7 over Tenn. If GB and KC were to advance it would be a rematch of Super Bowl I way, way back in 1967.

Did you know that the first Super Bowl wasn’t called a Super Bowl? It was known as The AFL-NFL World Championship Game. It carried that moniker because two bitterly rival leagues had not yet merged to form the NFL.

It was played in the LA Coliseum and the Packers rode a strong second half to win going away 35-10. The game was awarded to the LA market a mere seven weeks prior to kickoff. The date of the game was only agreed to three weeks prior to kickoff.

Hank Stram coached the Chiefs. The man who has the trophy named after him coached the Packers. That would be one Vince Lombardi.

It remains the only Super Bowl to have been simulcast in the United States by two networks. NBC had the rights to nationally televise AFL games, while CBS held the rights to broadcast NFL games. Both were allowed to televise the game accordingly.

The players’ shares were $15,000 each for the winning team(GB) and $7,500 each for the losing team (KC). Many playing in the game had regular season salaries that paled by comparison.

The Packers were led by veteran quarterback Bart Starr who was the top-rated quarterback in the NFL for 1966, and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He completed156 of 251 (62.2%) passes for 2257 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. A good QB in today’s game has double those pass attempts, completions, yards, TD’s, and interceptions.

This is also the only Super Bowl where the numeric yard markers were five yards apart, rather than 10 as is customary today.

Super Bowl I was the only Super Bowl that was not a sellout, despite the TV blackout in Los Angeles. Of the 94,000-seat capacity in the Coliseum, 33,000 went unsold. Tickets were a whopping $12 ($92.18 in 2019 money) for the average seat.

So much for the adage the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Although one does. Fifty four years later LA still doesn’t support the NFL.

Ten Piece Nuggets-Super Bowl (A)Live

Posted on February 4, 2019 by thependulumswings staff

Last week our column February Made Me Shiver stated how boring the big four sports leagues are collectively in February. One bright spot, we thought, was that at least we had the Super Bowl prior to the NFL fading into the long winter nights. Wrong. The NFL would have better served us if it faded to black in late January. Today we serve you ten random leftover nuggets from the extravaganza that was not so extravagant.

The flyover was super and on time as Glady’s Knight hit the right notes and finished on cue for the flyover pilots to time their 400 mph cruise just right.
Unfortunately, then, the game started. The Rams offense did not start however. They became the first team ever to punt on their first seven possessions in Super Bowl history. No wonder teams are feverishly looking for the next offensive genius like Sean McVay.
In November and early December many “pundits” or “experts” spoke almost as loudly as Steven A. Smith about the new NFL. It was a high scoring, defense be dammed, pass first league. I wonder how many this AM will fill the airwaves talking about how defense wins championships in football? In case you ever wondered, and we hope that you haven’t, the “A” in Steven A. is “Anthony.”
The Rams could not rush the ball. Their game total was 62 net yards or less than half of the 139 they averaged during the regular season. For all of the talk about the Rams interior defensive line, it was New England’s DL that controlled the line of scrimmage. Amazing really. Patriots fans can name their defensive lineman we are sure. Can you?
Halftime was 3-0 NE. Only SB IX played in bitter cold, some ice, and rain saw fewer points in SB history. In that one Pittsburgh held a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Vikings.
Halftime would have been better if one of our favorite rappers Cardi B would have performed. Cardi passed up the opportunity to perform to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Cardi, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, told the AP on Friday that she felt obligated to “stand behind” Kaepernick. “I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform,” she said. “But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.” Cardi did, however, accept an offer to appear in a Super Bowl commercial with Steve Carell and Lil Jon proving “stand behind” and capitalism can coexist.
Rams punter Johnny Hekker tallied a 65 yard punt in the third quarter. It was the longest punt in SB history. If you weren’t sleeping by then that had to provide you with at least the impetus to yawn repeatedly.
The Rams didn’t see the end zone the entire game. Belichick can coach some D, can’t he? Once the run was neutered they set their sights on Goff. He was sacked, hit, and harassed plenty. His accuracy or lack thereof reflected that. Only the 1971 Dolphins failed to score a touchdown in a SB game prior to last night’s somnambulist’s dream. Sure, here you go-somnambulist.
Brady and Belichick’s combined age of 107 years old is the oldest qb/coach combined age for a winning team in SB history. It feels like they have won 107 SB’s actually. If you are a New England fan or from Bahhstun, we get that you love them. You should. They are the winningest combo in SB history and second place is no longer close. If NE is not your favorite team you have to respect their unparalleled excellence. But they aren’t likeable. They just aren’t. The NFL needs a new story. They need it desperately. They need it starting in 2019. Paging Patrick Mahomes.
Julian Edelman won a much deserved MVP trophy for his 10 catch, 141 yard performance. No one can cover the guy. No one. On a team that has been excellent for nearing two decades their Hall of Fame candidates are few. Edelman might be one before he is done. One wonders if he could run even faster if he trimmed that wooly beard of his.
(Extra Point) Post game on CBS Phil Simms turn at the mic at the bloated five man desk came. He said the game was very enjoyable, very exciting. Phil really needs to get out more often.

Minutes after the game Vegas established Kansas City as the favorite to make Super Bowl LIV next year. We can hope. LIV means 54, not “live.” Apparently SB LIII meant “not live” as well.