The stage is set.  SuperBowl XLIII,  Feb 1, 2009, Tampa Fl., 6pm EST.
Pittsburg Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals.  

I have to say the Eagels/Cardinals playoff game was the best game of the playoffs hands down.  For the Cardinals  it’s the first division title in 33 years.  The first time in the first title-game since 1948, and the first time they’re headed to the Super Bowl.  Larry Fitzgerald (as my friend Roger calls him “Mr. Go Get it”) scored 3 touchdowns and ran 152 yards on Sunday.  Can the Giants trade Plaxico Burress for him?  The Giants can use a man like Larry.  Kurt Warner completed 21 of 29 passes for 279 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers.  I have to ask?  No matter where you’re from or what team you root for, how is it possible to not like Kurt Warner?  Donovan McNabb completed 28 of 47 passes for 375 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.  Oh, and I feel so bad for him.  Ben Roethlisberger completed  16 of 33 for 255 yards and one touchdown.  Troy Polamalu picked off Ravens QB Joe Flacco, to run in the second Steeler touchdown. The Ravens looked nothing like the team we’ve seen all year. The rookie,
Joe Flacco, cracked under the pressure of the big game.  He completed 13-of-30 for 141 yards and 3 interceptions.  Joe you’re 24, you’ve brought your team this far and you have a bright future ahead of you.  Moving on to Feb 1st, 2009,  I’m rooting for the Cardinals, but picking the Steelers to win.  They’re a tougher more experience team. We shall see!  The New York Jets and Rex Ryan Baltimore’s defensive coordinator reached an agreement making Rex their head coach.  The San Diego Chargers are bracing their fans for the possibility that LaDainian Tomlinson’s eight-year run in San Diego might be coming to an end.  Giants lost Steve Spagnuolo to the St. Louis Rams.  Spagnuolo will become their head coach and Bill Sheridan will replace him as the  Giants’ defensive coordinator. Mark Sanchez, USC QB, a fourth year junior decided to skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.  Coach Pete Carrol not happy with his choice made no bones about it. “The facts are so strong against this decision,” Carroll said. “After analyzing all the information, the truth is there, he should have stayed for another year. He lost out on a chance to fully prepare himself.  The facts are there is a 62 percent failure rate for underclassmen quarterbacks.”  Hey, Leinart played all 4 years of college ball and look where he is today, watching Kurt Warner take his team to the Superbowl.  Sanchez could play his last year get hurt and never get to the NFL. You can always go back to school, but there is a small window of time to play in the NFL. Follow your dreams Mark, only you know what’s best for you!

Kobe Bryant got his first triple double since April 7 of 2005 in Friday nights lose against the Orlando Magic. Monday night against the Cavs he dislocated the ring finger of his shooting hand in the first 5 minutes of the game. Gary Vetti popped it back into place, and he was back in the game.  The Lakers beat the Cavs, 105-88.  The Orlando Magic went 4-0 on their west coast road trip, beating the Lakers, Spurs, Kings
and Nuggets, making them the #1 team in the NBA right now with .805 record,  The Lakers are second with .800 record.   The Cavs are third with .795 and the Celtics are .fourth with .791.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been busy this week. Locking in World Series MVP Cole Hamels, to a three-year, $20.5 million contract, Greg Dobbs with a $2.5 million, two-year contract, and Ryan Madson with a
three-year, $12 million extension. The Mets and relief pitcher Duaner Sanchez agreed to a one-year contract for $1,687,500.  The Mets still trying to land Olvier Perez , but added Ben Sheets to their list with
Randy Wolf and Jon Garland if Perez doesn’t happen.  MLB.com will start streaming all baseball games live from their site and their kicking this new feature off with the Historical Presidential Inauguration starting at 9am EST, on Tuesday.  Trivia fact,  Barack Obama is a big Chicago White Sox fan, [not a big surprise].