If I were forced to place a bet on today's Super Bowl, I'd probably have to take the Pats. I am rooting for the Giants for reasons previously mentioned and think they have a chance if they can keep it close early, The Pats want to get ahead early and coast. They don't want 60 minutes of football. The Giants have a chance because they have a better running game and a better defense. Here's my game plan for the Giants: On defense, keep Moss and Stallworth in front of you and rough them up. Put your best cover guy on Wes Welker. Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. Get to Brady and put some hits on him. You have to be smart about that, though. The referees are not going to tolerate any cheap shots on the golden boy. If it's close, it will be called. On offense, just move the chains and keep Brady and co on the sidelines. Their defense is not dominant. They have to take chances to get off of the field. There will be opportunities for plays downfield when they do. If they sit back, pound them with Brandon Jacobs. If the Giants can get the Pats into a 60 minute war, they'll win.
It's a CrabAppleLane Upset Special. It says here: Giants 28 - Pats 24
On this Super Sunday, I'll be pulling for my numbers and various contests first, Giants second. I have 4-4 on one pool, Pats 5 - Giants 4 and Pats 2 - Giants 7 on another. Erasers and Ragpickers don't have much chance today in the CrabAppleLane Playoff League. I expect my Erasers will pass my Ragpickers today but both are too far behind to make up ground on the leaders.
One from the backyard on this lovely Super Sunday. Have to work on sharper focus. Still having a lot of trouble with that in some conditions. The poor lighting this morning surely had something to do with the result. Still, it didn't turn out all that bad. Good enough for this place. :)
American Goldfinch and Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Breasted Nuthatches come around CrabAppleLane fairly often but don't go to the feeders much. This was a rare treat. Wish I could have gotten a better shot but this will have to do. That a Goldfinch was there at the same time is lagniappe. I love our backyard. The diversity of wildlife never ceases to amaze me.
About today's QOTD. I don't know where Sabol grew up or what circles he runs in but a lot of people I know say Marciano was the greatest. Larry Holmes got so disgusted hearing it and being compared to him when he was undefeated that when he finally lost and was asked once again about the comparison, he delivered his famous quote: "Rocky Marciano couldn't carry my jockstrap."
Quote of the Day
Rocky Marciano never lost a fight, but I never hear anyone say he's the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.
Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films
Blog of the day here.
Quote from said blog: "They cannot lose, because if they do this magical tale they have weaved like a suit of gold grows tattered and frayed."
What am I seeing on the right side of your bird feeder? Is that your Argiope coming out of hibernation? Or just a leaf? Or what?
It's not on the feeder. It's a dead seed pod on a Texas Star Hibiscus stalk in the pond.