I really looked forward to the NFL’s “Championship Sunday.” Two tasty matchups, with the Warriors-Magic as an aperitif.
It turns out the most exciting thing that happened all day was the quest to get Damian Jones his first NBA basket in garbage time — he didn’t. Needless to say, the football games were undercooked.
The Super Bowl needs to be more exciting, or I’m going to binge-watch “Hoarders.” I don’t know how well that’ll go with chips, guacamole, and beer. I sense not well.
So, since I don’t really have a horse in this race, who do I root for?
The money favors the Patriots so far, but the Falcons are an offensive juggernaut. However, Tom Brady has a bit more experience than Matt Ryan in this game. On the flip side, Ryan has cleared a huge hurdle and is playing at an MVP level. To flip the flip side, giving Bill Belichick a couple of weeks to prepare is not normally a great idea.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt, so do I root for the Patriots because of the delicious awkwardness of Commissioner Roger Goodell handing the championship trophy, once again, to Belichick and Bob Kraft? Do I root for Chris Hogan, who used to be a lacrosse player and was rejected by the 49ers, among others?
Or, do I root for Atlanta to get its first Super Bowl trophy, and second in any major sport (memory is foggy but I don’t think Larry Romanchych hoisted the Stanley Cup in front of rabid Flames fans, and I know the Hawks are 0-for-Atlanta) because the last year has been about breaking droughts (in sports, and hopefully in California)?
Do I root for Kyle Shanahan to leave for the 49ers with a ring? Maybe that makes the prospect of a Superfund cleanup at Levi’s a little easier to take. Not to mention a C-train full of Jed’s cash. Too bad that cash can’t buy Atlanta’s “skill” players.
Do I root for Brady and Julian Edelman, peninsula kids? I don’t really care about “revenge” for Deflategate. The whole thing was silly; I think Brady knew what was going on, but the NFL was ham-handed. Still, any chance to stick it to Goodell is one to be savored.
If you’re a 49er fan it’s tough to hear all the “Brady over Montana” talk, although another Super Bowl win added to his body of work will make for a very compelling argument. I’m a 49er fan but Brady’s extended brilliance is hard to deny.
Do I root for the Falcons because I do a lot of business with Home Depot? Because Julio Jones has turned into a celestial being? The leaping midfield catch in the third quarter Sunday will be played only about a skrillion times.
Do I root for the Patriots because … well, I’m running out of reasons. Do I root for the Falcons because owner Arthur Blank plans to take every employee in the organization — hundreds –- to the Super Bowl? Because Dan Quinn was interviewed by the 49ers before they named Jim Tomsula the successor to Jim Harbaugh (my vindictiveness knows no bounds)? By the way, “Jimmy T” is back in the NFL as D-line coach with Washington. Good for him.
My answer for now is I’m rooting for the team that makes me money, betting lines pending. Cynical? Well, that Pergo flooring isn’t going to walk itself from Home Depot.
