Welcome to a new segment of this blog, the DTViper National Sports Report. I, Derek, will be breaking down the latest and greatest achievements in the world of athletics when they happen, or at least whenever I get around to it.
As most of you know, Super Bowl XLIII was played this past Sunday with the Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off against the high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals. When the season started the football world new that the Steelers would be good, but were overlooked by many who had their eyes on the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts. After Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL 6 minutes into the season, LaDainian Tomlinson was never right and the Colts are aging, this made room for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were never an offensively minded team, led by the leagues best defense, they rolled right through the playoffs en route to the big game.
On the other hand, no one in a million years would have predicted such a great season by the relatively young Cardinals led by their veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner took the job from former USC hero, Matt Lienart. Armed with 2 of the best receivers in the league, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden, the Cardinals easily won the lowly NFC West, but limped into the playoffs after a late season beat down by the New England Patriots in Foxboro, by a score of 47-7. They showed the league that they belong in the discussion easily running through their playoff schedule and earning a bid to the Super Bowl versus the vaunted Steeler defense.
Now about the game. The first 3 quarters were relatively boring, but that's why you play 60 minutes. The 2 biggest plays of the game happened in the last 3 minutes of the game. First, Kurt Warner hit Fitzgerald down the middle for a touchdown to put the Cardinals up, but there was just too much time left. Maybe one of the greatest big time plays you will ever see, Ben Roethlisberger slinged one to Santonio Holmes in the back right corner of the end zone, on his toes, with 35 seconds left in the game to put the Steelers on top and what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Cardinals got the ball back for one last ditch effort which turned out to be a controversial play.
Kurt Warner dropped back, looked, looked, couldn't find anyone the went to release the ball while he was being sacked. Did he have control of the ball while his arm was going forward? The NFL doesn't care. Apparently the play was reviewed upstairs and that's it. The Steelers win the Super Bowl. Was this Kurt Warner's last game? Will Anquan Bolden stay with the Cardinals? How many more championships can the Steelers win with Big Ben? These questions will be answered this off season and for the rest of his great career.
I would like to thank Mr. Kemp for inviting me to join this blog and report the sports that everyone likes to hear. I promise not everything will be this long and in depth, just tell the sports how a true fan sees them.
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I love it.
ReplyDeletethis play was bullshit. first off no one out side of pitt wanted the steelers to win, second, it seemed as if it wasnt even looked over. they just kneed it and that was that....if u watch the play its a incomplete pass in my opinion...it was however a great game to watch and one of the best superbowls in my lifetime.
ReplyDeletenext year, watch out for the 49ers