The winner of Super Bowl XLV will be...

Super Bowl weekend is finally here. As much as the Bears fan in me still aches at the thought of the Packers playing in the big game, it is still the Super Bowl and the biggest game of the year. That means it gets my full attention as a sports nerd, enthusiast and writer. All week I have been biding my time and reading up on the specifics of the game to come to a conclusion on who I will take. So here we go with my full Super Bowl XLV preview.


Let's start with the Packers. Yes, I'm a Bears fan, but I live in Wisconsin and end up reading up and watching most everything on them throughout the season. There is a story on ESPN.com Insider section (HEAD TO SUPER BOWL CENTRAL) talking about their six losses this season. The keys to the Packers losing is simple, they've given up sacks, lost the turnover battle and failed in the defensive secondary.
On the offensive side, the Packers have protected Aaron Rodgers (above) much better over the last month. A lot of that gets hidden with his escape ability, but still, sacks have not been prevalent during this five-game winning streak.
Rodgers has relied on his feet a lot more during that span. While that has helped him, it is also what got him hurt in what was one of his worst games of the season, the 7-3 loss to the Lions which saw Matt Flynn come in. He has been smarter after the concussion that followed, but the key for this game will be his ability to run and get down. The Steelers have a few head hunters who love to hit and would love to lay the smack down on the Packers QB. That jumps out to me as one of the keys to this game. If Rodgers can use his feet to get a few yards and a couple first downs to keep key drives alive, the Packers will be in good shape.
He has fixed the turnover thing, as well, but has not played the Steelers defense during that time. He did, however, play the Bears defense and threw a pair of interceptions in the NFC championship game. With many believing the Packers will try to spread the Steelers out and go with four or five receivers, he has to be smart with the ball against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
That leads me into a couple of the key matchups the Packers position players must win.  The first of which is going to be the head games that will take place between Rodgers and Troy Polamalu. Troy will be lined up all over the field and it will test Rodgers' ability to call him out and the Packers O-line ability to pick him up if he comes on a blitz.
Also, when the Packers go with four or five wideouts, they will have to survive going across the middle. If they can win that area of the field, they should be able to march the ball up and down the field.


On the Steelers side, Ben Roethlisberger can also run. The difference is that he is a big guy at 260 pounds and it hard to bring down. He is not just a threat to run and any attacks on his ability as a quarterback are just from people who do not like him in the first place. The guy threw for 500 yards in the meeting against the Packers last season and can do that again. Will he in this game? I doubt it, but he has the ability to lead a team with his arm. There is a good story in Sports Illustrated this week about what he went through during his four-week suspension at the start of the season and I can kind of feel for the guy. If he wins this game, it is going to be big for him. Dare I say, this could be the one that helps land him in the Hall of Fame if the Steelers win. Before you question that, remember Terry Bradshaw had the Steel Curtain in the 70s to help him lead the Steelers to four titles and he is in the Hall, so don't laugh at that too fast.
Back to this game, Big Ben is going to have a similar head game that Rodgers will with Polamalu with Charles Woodson. Woodson is by trade a cornerback, but likes to cover the slot receiver when the Packers are in nickel and comes on a blitz. That could be a key and he will have to be accounted for.
I wouldn't make as big of a deal of the Steelers being without their rookie center Charles Pouncey in this game as many will. They have had two weeks to prepare for this game and as I have picked up throughout the week, things have been simplified and should be OK for the Steelers line. The Packers will still want to send rushers through the middle though and is the best way to attack Big Ben.
Another key matchup to keep an eye on is Mike Wallace. He caught the game winner in the Steelers 37-36 win over the Packers last season and while he has been quiet during the playoffs, has the speed to attack this Packers secondary and go off for a big game.
On the other side of that coin is Heath Miller. There might not be a better target in the red zone not named Tony Gonzalez. While Clay Matthews is a great rusher, I'm not sure how good he is in coverage and Miller is great at getting open for Ben to find.

I'm going to make you wait for the picks. Take in the rap songs made for both teams.
First, the "visiting" Steelers: "Black and Yellow" by Wiz Kalifa


For the "home" Packers it's "Green and Yellow" by Lil Wayne


THE PICK: Had to tease you a bit. Here we go. With all of what was said above, I have a hard time thinking the Packers don't have what it takes to win this game on all front. Aside from special teams, they have everything covered.
If they can start strong and not be start struck, they'll be fine. That said, I don't see them winning this game by four points or less. It's just their track record. Either way, this will be a great one to watch and enjoy.
So, with my grandpa on my mind, I know he'll be happy to know I'm picking his Packers to win this one in a shootout, 33-28.

The Super Bowl isn't the only big game being played this weekend. Sunday during halftime of the game in Dallas, the Lingerie Football League will be holding Lingerie Bowl VII. The game keep rising in popularity. I'm pretty sure, though, it's not for the great football being played, as you can see on Coed Magazine and below...

Are guys in sports always this clueless?

Welcome back to the Way boys and girls. Had to take a day off to focus on my high school sports writing gig yesterday. Got you a midday edition today.

This week has been one of sports figures acting like the rest of the world is stupid and knows nothing. The first instance is Rick Pitino who is being extorted by a woman that he had an affair with then paid for her abortion.
That point I'm not calling him out on. What I am upset with is his calling out of the media for telling lies which have destroyed his family.
The woman did come to Pitino to get money from the coach, but the FBI is looking into her lying about what she alleges as sexual assault.
Take a look at the story. My problem with it is that the media has to cover it. And the only thing Pitino is yelling about is the medias playing of her disposition tapes. Rick, that's the only thing they have to go with. Well, until you just blasted everyone in your press conference.
They can't just ignore this story. It has to be covered. Maybe if he hadn't slept with this woman, he wouldn't be in this position. (No pun intended, but picture her on the table. Haha)



The other guy that does not have a clue is Milton Bradley, who signed with the Cubs for a ridiculous amount of money this offseason. Let's just say his numbers haven't come close to earning those millions.
He's been hearing from the Cubs faithful more and more lately and he finally fired back in the media, saying Cubs fans are racist.
Someone want to tell this bafoon that passionate fans know when a guy gets big money, he's supposed to come through. When he doesn't, boos follow. Just ask Bill Hall in Milwaukee.
Does he not know what the hell is going on with his season? He's missing it. He says he's never been comfortable at Wrigley Field, which isn't an excuse and he obviously going to get more comfortable when the boo birds rain down on him from all over the stadium.
Well, Bradley now has the Cubs in a spot where they are going to make a decision. One writer at the Tribune says, to let him go.
My take is that while some fans might be racist (that would happen regardless of which team they root for), that's not an excuse to fall back on for playing like crap. Be a man, and own up to it. Excuses from professional athletes to blue collar sports fans is not a good idea. No fan, regardless of where they are, will not sit for that.

Off my soapbox for now and on to some good stuff. First Shaq was on Jimmy Kimmel and played some Scrabble. As you might have guessed some goodness ensues.



I haven't really pushed music on here before, but when I heard this track, it jumped out at me. It's Drake featuring Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West and it' called "Forever." Get on it!



Now to today's Nussie Hunter. I know your girl friend knows who Brody Jenner is. Well, you should know his girl friend, Jayde Nicole. The 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year is amazing (and yes I follow her on Twitter!). Well, this story I found says she was beat down by Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis after she stepped in and threw a drink on him for getting pushy with one of her girl friends. Here's the story. Now take a look at Jayde. I'm not linking to any naked pics, but if you know how to use Google, you can find them.