Concussions ~ Don't play with your health

It's Week 14 of the NFL season and we're still/always talking about concussions.  Here's a quick pictorial that I received from Jen Rhee about concussions.  Fortunately for me, my quarterbacks: Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning are healthy. 

Yes, I am an Indianapolis Colts fan, but I'll always root for Peyton Manning...

Enjoy the infographic.

Please Include Attribution to MastersInHealthcare.com With This Graphic



THE WIRK

The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV ~ Now what...

The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, with a final score of 31-25.  The game was a good one!  As a spectator I was thrilled to have such a great match-up.  I know I wasn't the only one who was worried that the game was going to be a blowout after Green Bay had a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter...  ****  I had flashbacks of the boring Pro Bowl and started to panic. 

My Super Bowl prediction was incorrect.  Oh well.  At least I took a shot!

No, I didn't go to the game this year.  I took a look at StubHub.com and a couple of days there prior to Sunday there were seats for just under $3,000.  When I took another look on Sunday morning, the lowest seat price was $4,000.  At those prices, there was no way I was going to go ~ especially since I'm not a fan of either team.  Last year meant more to me, since I am a Indianapolis Colts fan.

Now that football season is over I can focus my attention on basketball, and of course follow the labor talks for both the NFL and NBA.

As far as I'm concerned it'd be no surprise to me if there is a work stoppage (aka "Lockout") for the NBA.  It looks like the NFL may have a better chance of preventing a work stoppage.  Needless to say, I need to get back on track with the negotiations, once I settle. 

Lastly, I still need to gather my thoughts from the Super Bowl festivities ~ decide what stories to share and leave out, etc.  This may take a minute, so appreciate the patience.  I need to download some pics and gather my thoughts...

Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on bringing the Lombardi trophy home.  For the rest of the NFL, there's always next year or is there?!?!


THE WIRK

Right now, I have a better chance of going to Super Bowl XLV than the Colts

Last year I went to Super Bowl XLIV, and I saw my Indianapolis Colts lose to the New Orleans Saints.  Have you ever been to a Super Bowl?  It's a big football festival with skills challenges, a ride, and plenty of photo opportunities.  Oh, yeah.  There's a football game too.

I watched the most recent Super Bowl and never lost faith that the Colts would pull out a victory.  In the 4th quarter, I had returned to the top of my section, just in time, to see my Colts' Super Bowl dreams get shattered. 

Peyton Manning's pass was intercepted by Tracy Porter. 

Are you a Colts' fan?  Want to relive this nightmare?  Here you go.  I found this video on Youtube.

With the Colts' pitiful (i.e. relatively speaking compared to previous years) record this season, I doubt that I'll see the Colts in the playoffs much less Super Bowl XLV this February.  ****  Well if the Colts are there, they'll be like me (i.e. sitting in the stands at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium). 

For the 2nd week in a row, I've watched Peyton Manning throw 4 interceptions a game.  4 INTERCEPTIONS A GAME?!?!  Are you kidding me?  Now I know he hasn't always had his regular supporting cast (i.e. the Colts' have been plagued with injuries), but COME ON.

It's tough to be a Colts' fan these days.  It doesn't make it any easier to watch the New England Patriots steamroll the New York Jets right now.  I remember when the Colts and the Patriots battled for the AFC Championship in January of 2004.  I was at Gillette Stadium for that game.  I remember when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were BOTH at the top of their games...

I'm going to continue to root for Manning and his Colts, but for the rest of the season I'm just going to have to appreciate the sport and games for what they are.  I hope the playoffs and Super Bowl produce compelling match-ups.  Even if the Colts are done after the regular season, there is still a lot of football that this girl can cover. 

Let's just hope the stories are interesting...

THE WIRK

NFL Sunday Funday and some Temple of the Dog

As of now, I have 10 points for the week in my against the spread (ATS) pool...  I don't think it'll be enough for first place.  If you're not first, it doesn't matter where you fall in the line-up so, "oh well".

I went out for Sunday Funday and met about 10 of my favorites out to watch the New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles game.  I'm pretty sure the Eagles won, since my friend (i.e. who was giving me a ride home) wanted to leave before the game ended.

Good times with great friends and as usual, when more people showed up they texted other friends and our group grew.

For you music fans out there, here's a funny exchange... 
Jeff to Amy: Did you get my email about "Temple of the Dog"?
Me (interjecting): Did you send it in 1993?

Who knew Temple of the Dog was touring again?  Not this girl...  Anyway, here's "Hunger Strike" for your listening pleasure.  Yes, I pulled it off of Youtube, just for you.



I'd show you a Indianapolis Colts' highlight (i.e. since it's my favorite team) or a Giants' highlight (i.e. since I watched the game), but let's face it...  Both teams lost, so it doesn't matter.  This Sunday was not a good day for the Mannings (i.e. Eli and Peyton), since both brothers had 3 interceptions. 

There's always "next" week.


THE WIRK

Cold Weather Super Bowl XLVIII - No, Thank You

So I'm in Minneapolis and I was looking at the Vikings website.  I realize that I'm late to the game on this, but here goes...  I saw a quick poll about whether or not visitors to the site "Like the idea of a 'cold weather' Super Bowl".  After attending my first Super Bowl in Miami this year, I figured I'd vote.  I voted "No".  I was surprised at the results of the poll.

 The results of the poll were as follows, with a total of 281 votes:

• 
  
  Yes ~ 58%
• 
  
  No ~ 37%
• 
  
  Not Sure ~ 5%

What I want to know is of the people who voted, how many of them have actually gone to the big game?  We all know that the Super Bowl is primarily a corporate event, unless you're lucky enough to have the disposable income to get yourself a seat.  Tickets to the Super Bowl aren't cheap.  Trust me.  Back when I was looking for a ticket, I couldn't get myself to cough up the hundreds if not thousands of dollars it would've taken me to get a seat worth sitting in.  Thank goodness the ticket fairy landed in my lap!

Maybe it's because I'm admittedly not a fan of cold weather.  My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts (i.e. before when I lived in Atlanta, I was an Atlanta Falcons fan).  I'll confess - I like domes and being safe from the elements.  Don't get me wrong, I can be tough when I need to be.  In 2004, when the Indianapolis Colts played the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, I was right there at Gillette Stadium, with my boyfriend at the time and his friend to cheer Peyton Manning on, in a losing effort.

According to Wikipedia: 
Traditionally, the NFL does not award Super Bowls to stadiums that are located in climates less than 50°F (10°C) unless the field is completely covered by a fixed or retractable roof. Only three Super Bowls have been played in northern cities; two in the Detroit area (Super Bowl XVI at Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, and Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit), and one in Minneapolis (Super Bowl XXVI). However, all three were played inside domed stadiums. There had never been a Super Bowl scheduled to be played outside in cold temperatures, until May 25th, 2010, when it was announced that the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets would play host to Super Bowl XLVIII, marking the first time that a Super Bowl will be played outside in a northern city. Super Bowl XLVI will also be played in a northern city, Indianapolis. The new Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof, which presumably will be closed when the game is played in February 2012.

The Vince Lombardi trophy on display at the NFL Commissioner's Party

I can only imagine how cold the conditions will be for the Super Bowl in 2014.  After experiencing a beautiful Super Bowl in Miami (i.e. there wasn't the same tsunami-like rain conditions, like the year Prince performed) ~ blog or no blog, I don't think I'll be there, UNLESS of course, the ticket fairy decides to come back for another visit AND brings hand warmers, a scarf, warm socks, and a down coat.


THE WIRK

I love this time of year... How 'bout dem Cowboys?!?!

If you ask the average person, they'd tell you football started 16 or so weeks ago. If you ask me, I'd tell you that football season started last Saturday... Athletes practice for the big game... I also prepare, even though I'll never take a snap or catch a pass of my own... On Monday night, I was at trivia watching the ESPN crawl... I noticed that the Eagles were playing the Cowboys on Saturday night. The wheels in my head start turning... I want to go to Dallas. Some people have a goal to visit all the MLB ballparks... I dream bigger. It's been a goal of mine to go to a sporting event at every professional venue for baseball, basketball, and football. I will go to hockey games at different sites if the opportunity presents itself, but I'm not about to add it to the list, just yet... After my visit to the new Cowboys stadium, I've been to 57 professional sporting venues. 57. I should've kept a tally on how much this goal has cost me, but I think it'd make me throw up, and I can't imagine the reaction from family and friends so the numbers will not be calculated.

I go to bed on Monday night and tell myself I need to look at flights early on Tuesday. Tuesday morning I wake up and hit Orbitz. To my surprise it appears that USAir wants me to go to Dallas also... They're offering Dallas as one of their last-minute e-saver destinations. For under $220, I can book a round trip ticket and the flight times are PERFECT for an overnight trip to Dallas. Next thing to look at is, game tickets... Must find out whether game tickets are cost-prohibitive or doable... A quick look at some ticket resale sites, tells me that I can commit to a trip to Dallas and go to the game. AWESOME. I think about things a little bit more. I wonder if I can get a Cowboys fan to come with me to Dallas and go to the game.

I jump on facebook and look for my friend, Pat. He's a diehard Cowboys fan, and I bet I can convince him to make the trip. Sure enough he's online. I tell him about the flight prices. He looks for himself. I tell him we can get tickets on stubhub. He says he's never used it. I tell him I'll take care of it, if he just says "YES". He books his flight. We're half way to Dallas in my head! Woohoo. Now for game tickets. Like I said, Pat is a diehard Cowboys fan and I'm a ticket snob. We both go to stubhub and scan for tickets. He's kind enough to offer to sit in the endzone. (For those that don't know, end zone seats are generally cheaper than sideline). I scowl audibly. I'm not flying to Dallas to sit in the endzone. We get home team sideline tickets, on the 20, 13 rows up. I'm BEYOND thrilled. It's a done deal. We're going to Dallas.

Saturday early afternoon I swoop and pick Pat up in the cab and off to the airport we go. Arrive in Dallas, and we get picked up by my cousin's family. Off to lunch for some Texas BBQ. My cousin gets to know Pat. I think he thinks we're a couple. Who cares. I'm not going to correct him. It's not worth it, and I'm sure his kids won't remember Pat when they're older, so he won't have to respond to inquiries about where's, "Uncle Pat". Lol. I'd be willing to bet $10 though, that I get asked about Pat at my cousin's wedding in March ~ but I digress...

My cousin drops Pat and I off at the stadium. When we walked in, we were handed a rally towel. I'm a sucker for free stuff. We cruise the concourse and get a feel for the stadium. Wow. This stadium is like no other. Pat described it as a convention center. That's actually not a bad analogy...

We hit the pro-shop, because we need to get Cowboys gear. Purchasing a home team hat is a compulsory activity when I hit a new venue. While looking at all the Cowboys gear (and singing along to De La Soul's Me, Myself, and I, which is booming through the speakers) I pick my hat and head for the check out line. In line I see a 4 pack of bobbleheads for $20 ~ best souvenir ever because I don't have to buy them a la carte. 

After a quick walk around the concourse, it's off to the seats we go... Eyes wide open I stare at all the activity around me. Cheerleaders, dancers, fire, players, lights, video, etc. are everywhere. Lights, camera, and so much action. They could easily name this stadium "Attention Deficit Arena". I have no idea where I should be looking, but I know I can't take my eyes off the screen over head... The monster screen goes from the 20 to the 20, and the picture is so vivid!

Game On. Cowboys win the coin toss. Cowboys already win in my book. After a few plays it looks like it's going to be a close game. I didn't come to Dallas to get stressed out. After a while, the Eagles (or whoever those people were in green) start to crumble and it begins to look like a barn burner! The group of 4 old guys in front of me are the happiest little boys in the world! Pat has died and gone to heaven. Everyone is smiling from ear to ear and slapping each other high-five after every great play. I'm not sure if it's the South, the fact that they're indoors, or that the Cowboys were winning ~ but all those people were very happy. The new Cowboys stadium felt like Disney World.

I'm taking it all in and surveying the people around me. I look 2 rows ahead of me and notice someone. I know basketball. I know the physique of a basketball player and I'd be willing to bet I know the guy I'm staring at. I look at his profile a little harder and then he sits down. I look at the back of his neck. I see the word "Franchise". I guarantee there may only be a handful of people that know who he is and I'm in that handful. I put it together. It's Steve Francis. It makes sense since he played in Houston and who else would have that on the back of his neck. I think to tap him and ask him if he has Bobby Sura's number in his phone. I'd be willing to bet he does. It's not the time or place. I'd have to talk over a row of people and if I need to find Bob, it's not that difficult for me to find my old friend. Steve and I high-five several times during the game... I'd be willing to bet, even he'd be surprised I figured out who he was!

Do you know who this is? I do! I do!!! :-P

Cowboys blew out the Eagles. We get a drink at a stadium bar after the game, and the stadium is still bustling. Very cool! We watch the postgame and I just people watch. People are throwing footballs on the concourse and having a great time.

By the way, Ted Nugent did the National Anthem. I guess that makes sense because we're in Texas.

One thing is for sure ~ they were dead on, when they said "Don't mess with Texas".

After the game, Pat and I head to Sherlock's for a drinks... Already the gears in my head are turning... I see a guy in Colts gear and I have to tell him I'm a Colts fan. He's visibly confused and tries to take my Cowboys hat off of my head. I stop him because my hair is crazy under there. He tell me if I'm a Colts fan, I need to "be proud". Huh!?!?!? I think to myself, I'll show you proud and immediately try to plan my trip to Indianapolis...

Who's the Colts fan now, guy?!?!? :-P

THE WIRK