Super Bowl LII is only two days away and as the excitement continues to build, so does the cost of buying a ticket. Nose bleed seats are going for around $3,000 while a front row seat at the 50-yard line can set you back around $12 Gs (or more if you want to wait it out or sell it online).
Don't forget about those SB TV 30-second commercials at $4 million a pop, they always exceed expectations before an expected worldwide viewership of over 125 million people. Now that's what I call coverage, but is it really worth all that money? (Rhetorical question!)
As for the game itself, it should be a great game as the Eagles, under veteran backup QB Nick Foles, have exceeded all expectations since starter Carson Wentz went down with his season-ending knee injury. He and his offence have been really good but the reason they're on the cusp of greatness is because of their defence, which has allowed a minuscule 17 points in their last two playoff games.
If they can get sustained pressure on Brady, and they will, the "City of Brotherly Love" will have an excellent chance to bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Pennsylvania. But I just can't go against B&B, so I'll take the Patriots by three (23-20) because until the king is dethroned, one must respect his abilities and accomplishments, no matter how old he is.
It shouldn't surprise anyone to see that the Patriots, in particular coach Belichick, would seize upon anything that they think would give them an advantage, be it bulletin-board material or anything physical or psychological, in this case the latter. The Pats have chosen to wear their "away" white uniforms, knowing full well that 12 out of the last 13 teams that have won the SB have worn their white tops. Superstitious, probably - leaving nothing to chance, definitely!
I found it a little surprising that the most lucrative professional sports league, the NFL, takes in about $9.5 billion but is dead last among the four major sports in North America in terms of average annual player salary. The NBA leads the way with a meagre average of $5.2 million, followed by MLB at $3.2, the NHL at $2.4 while the NFL brings up the rear at $1.9 mil. Any way you cut it, the players shouldn't be joining any "soup lines" any time soon. Just for comparison sake, the average CFL salary hovers around $80,000, and now you know why over 95 percent of players have other part time jobs.
Don't look now but WWE founder and CEO Vince McMahon, not to mention billionaire goofball extraordinaire, is going to try it again, namely challenging the NFL by bringing back his professional football league (XFL) that he started in 2001. It bombed then (it lasted one season and he lost his shirt, about $70 million) and it'll bomb again when it begins operation in 2020. Yes, he's going to make a few changes; two-hour games, only eight teams (by the way, he'll control all eight, no private ownership), only 10 regular season games, 40-man rosters, players can't have a criminal record, plus you HAVE to stand for the playing of the national anthem (influenced by his buddy, "The Donald").
Major League Baseball has chosen four more inductees into their prestigious HOF (Hall of Fame) and all of them are very worthy recipients. In his first year of eligibility, Atlanta Braves super 3B and NL MVP Chipper Jones garnered 97 percent of the votes (only 75 percent is needed) while Jim Thome's 612 home runs over 22 seasons guaranteed his entrance through the doors. Expo great and NL MVP Vladimir Guerrero, with a cannon for an arm and free-wheelin' swing, will sadly go in as an Angel, surely disappointing his many Expo fans while superb relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman of the Padres was a no-brainer with his 601 saves over 18 seasons, the second most in MLB history. All will be enshrined come July 29 in Cooperstown.
In case you're interested, steroid users and deniers Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds received 57 and 56 percent respectively while Sammy "Corkman" Sosa surprisingly got only 8 percent.
Trivia time: 1) Who has the most saves in MLB history? 2) Hoffman becomes the third Padre to enter the HOF. Name the others? 3) Out of these four outstanding inductees, amazingly only one has won a World Series. Guess who?
Dauphin has been chosen to host the 2020 Manitoba Summer Games. It last hosted them back in 2004 where it was a very successful event full of friendly yet strong emotional and physical regional competition culminating in an exciting closing ceremonies. I'm sure the "Yukon" will do the "Buffalo" proud.
The Virden Oil Kings sure love it when Bryn Chyzyk, currently studying law at UND, comes home for some home cookin'. In only two games this season, the former Golden Bear, Cougar, King, Force, and Fire, has amassed 11 points, including being in on six out of the seven goals scored last game. His highly developed coordination and skills obviously come from his mom, Michelle.
Trivia answers: 1) Yankee great Mariano Rivera, 2) Tony Gwynn is the easy one but don't forget big Dave Winfield, 3) Chipper won one in his rookie year ('95) with the Atlanta Braves, the only team he played for in his 19-year career.
Until next time....
