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

Super Bowl XLV Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl XLV Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Green Bay Packers.

I believe in signs and I met both Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis (aka the Bus) this year. 

Incidentally I saw Eddie George at the ESPN the Magazine party last night too...

Kid Rock performed at the ESPN party on Friday night, and Rev Run joined him on stage towards the end of the set.  Shaunie O'Neal  and Keyshawn Johnson were also in the house at the River Ranch in Fort Worth.  Here's a picture of the invitation for those of you that are curious.

Anyway, the Steelers are my pick. 

Time will tell.


THE WIRK

In Dallas for the Super Bowl XLV festivities

Flew to Dallas for the Super Bowl XLV festivities and connected in Atlanta.  Sure enough, Tony Gonzalez and Rick Ross were on my flight.  I only got one of them as I walked towards baggage claim. 

Great dinner at the Dallas Chop House (i.e. Chef Mo Assi hooked it up) last night.

On the way back after dinner the snow was coming down.  We're talking lots of snow, people...  If I didn't know any better, I'd think I landed in Antarctica.

The Green Bay Packers are staying "across the street" at the Omni in Las Colinas and the Pittsburgh Steelers are staying at the Omni in Fort Worth.  Go for it, stalkers...  You're welcome. 

P.S.  You're going to need credentials to get into those hotels, so I'm really not giving you too much to work with anyway :-P


THE WIRK

Father-Daughter Vegas vacation ~ Great laughs, big wins!!

My dad is the best, and we just had another father-daughter weekend in Vegas.  What started out with father-daughter dinners as a girl scout and father-daughter dances in high school graduated to weekends in Vegas.  It may not be for everyone, but it works for us!

Here are some random thoughts, status updates, and quotes from the weekend.

• Just landed in Vegas. Flight attendant says that our bags are coming in on carousel 7. The guy behind me starts yelling, "seven"! I turn around and say, "So you're a don't guy?". He says, "yep". End of discussion.

As soon as I landed, within an hour or so, I received a text from my best friend from college/medical school.  He was in Vegas also.  Talk about lucky!  What a great coincidence...

Eventually, my dad got hungry so it was off to Gaylord India Restaurant at the Rio Hotel and Casino.  It's one of our favorites.  As soon as we ordered, there was an Asian waitress that came over.

• Dad (As Chinese waitress brings new plates): Wow, big china...
  Me: You can't call her that.
  Dad: What the hell are you talking about? I'm talking about the bigger dishes (as he holds up the new plate).
  Me: Oh...

We ordered the chicken curry.  When it came out, there was also some vegetarian curry.

• Me: What's in the vegetarian curry?
  Dad: Vegetables are for poor people.

Friday night I bet the Atlanta Hawks to cover against the New Orleans Hornets.  Friday night, was also the night that history was made and the Hawks only scored 59 points (i.e. the lowest point total in FRANCHISE history)...  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!?  Absolutely ridiculous.

Friday night I was playing rapid craps over at Bill's.  It was painfully slow, but it was great to sit and laugh and catch up with my best friend.  We sat there betting the "Don't" since it was impossible for any shooter to get into any kind of rhythm with a slow dealer.  As we were sitting, he said "Isn't that your dad?"   Sure enough, my dad was walking into the casino.  I was happy to have them both there and I re-introduced them.  Within a few minutes my dad left to go get some food. 

Later that night, I checked out The Cosmopolitan (i.e. I believe it's a Marriott property).  It's fancy.  I don't think it's for a serious gambler.  It's more of a see and be seen place.  I didn't check out the table minimums this trip.  I'll do it next time.

I also walked over to Vdara Hotel and Spa.  The rooms are nice.  I saw an executive suite.  It had a kitchen, washer and dryer, etc. but no casino.  It was nice, but for my money and the location, I'd rather stay at the Palazzo or Venetian.

I passed through the Bellagio on the way back to the strip.  There was no robbery taking place so it was cool.  Based on the decor there and near the Palazzo, I think it's the year of the rabbit.  I'm a rabbit and rabbits are lucky so I couldn't resist taking pictures.

Saturday I dragged myself down to the sportsbook to bet on Ohio State.  The Buckeyes are ranked #1 and were in Illinois.  I had Buckeyes -3.5, the money line, and in a parlay with the Washington Capitals.  All the bets were winners!

Saturday night I was at the Venetian's sportsbook, watching the Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clipppers.

• Wankster looking Asian guy in sportsbook yelled, "Real LA fans are Clippers fans because people from LA can't afford Lakers tickets!". Instantly 3 other Asian guys raised their hands and said, "I can afford them.".

I watched the rest of the game after dinner at Harrah's while my dad was at the craps table.  The Indiana Pacers' Posey launched a 3-pointer towards the end of the game.  The way I see it, the Blazers owe me a point, since I lost by half of one.  Those are the breaks...

When I went to check on my dad he was sitting on a stool playing craps with thousand of dollars in front of him.  No wonder he wasn't bothering me.  I tapped him and told him it was time to go.  After another 10-15 mins he left the table a WINNER.

He has to sit since he's not really in condition to stand at a craps table for an extended period of time (i.e. read HOURS).  He's assured me he's going to start exercising so he can walk the strip more and stand longer.  I find this completely hilarious and have asked him to document his training regimen so I could laugh some more.  He thinks that I'm kidding.  I'm not.

Back in the room dad was tired and was rubbing his legs since they were sore.

• Dad (as he is rubbing his legs): I don't know what this is supposed to do, but back home we have servants for this...

The man is funny.

Before I left I gave my dad specific instructions to bet on the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC and NFC Championship Games.  I couldn't place my bets since the book had closed, and I was leaving.  He could and did. 

• Me: Go collect the money.
  Dad: Did we win?
  Me: Duh. Of course we did.
  Dad: Again?
  Me: Yep...
  Dad: Oh, ok. That was easy...

We cleaned up nicely...  Now I just need to figure out how to get the money from him. 

THE WIRK

Steelers and Packers ~ I told you so!!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers have advanced to the Super Bowl.

1.  I told you so.
2.  My dad had to place my bets for me in Vegas, since I left this morning, but who cares...  WE WIN!!!!

I missed most of the Packers game since I was flying, but needless to say I watched as Jets fans had a glimmer of hope.  J-E-T-S = L-O-S-E.  Sorry, New York Jets' fans. You're never going to win with Mark Sanchez as your quarterback.  Don't believe me?  That's fine.  You have the ENTIRE off-season to think about it.

If I know you and you want to go to Dallas and you have deep pockets, hit me up.  I want to go to the Super Bowl XLV (i.e. but NBA All-Star is more important to me)...  However, I'm open to going in on a pair of tickets or checking out a good single, if the price is right...


THE WIRK

My picks: AFC and NFC championship games ~ Steelers and Packers

I'm going with the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

I saw the Packers play and lose to the Washington Redskins earlier this year at FedEx Field.  I didn't need to see the Packers defeat the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday to believe in the Packers.  I never really thought much about the Falcons to begin with...

Packers on offense

I saw the Chicago Bears lose to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year too.  I don't have any strong feelings about the Bears, but I'll admit I'm not really a Jay Cutler fan.  The most interesting thing about him for me right now is that he's dating Kristin Cavallari, and even that tidbit of info is getting old.

Bears on offense

I like the New York Jets, but I just can't get behind Mark Sanchez.  I don't believe that he thinks he's a winner.

Jets on offense

I didn't go to Heinz Field this year, but I was there in 2009 when the Steelers hosted the Cleveland Browns.

Steelers on offense

In Ben I trust.

The Packers and the Steelers are my picks.  Now we wait until Sunday...

As for the Super Bowl, I'm going to hold off on my prediction.

THE WIRK

Duke defeats Butler in the rematch, and I meet Bill Cowher

I left Ohio this morning and flew into Philadelphia.  I did that because I needed to be close(r) to New Jersey since I had a ticket for the Duke v Butler 2010 NCAA Championship rematch. 

The line for the game was Duke -14.5 if anyone is curious (i.e. and from the conversations overheard at the Izod Center by the men around me, people cared).

I didn't expect this game to be a close one.  However with Kyle Singler getting into early foul trouble and Duke shooting ice, ice cold the game was a lot closer than more Blue Devil fans wanted. 

Incidentally, I was surprised to see a fairly sizable Butler University contingency.  ****  FYI.  I've seen some of Butler's campus in Indianapolis. and it's beautiful. 

Both teams were tied at 33 at half-time.

With Butler's Gordon Hayward gone (i.e. he matriculated to the NBA), I figured Brad Stevens would have his hands full.  I was right.  As mentioned before, Duke's Kyle Singler ran into foul trouble but towards the stretch in the 2nd half, Duke its rhythm and started to drain shots.  Ultimately, Singler would foul out.  However, the Blue Devils were able to ride Nolan Smith's 24 points and Kyrie Irving's 21 points (i.e. 17 of which that came when it mattered in the 2nd half).

I'm not going to pretend that this game was more interesting than the game I missed (i.e. UNC's upset of Kentucky), but it was a fun game to watch for any Duke fan. 

In addition, it just so happened that I looked across the aisle and you'll never believe who was sitting a couple of rows behind me.  It was former Pittsburgh Steelers' coach, Bill Cowher.  The rumor is that his daughter is dating Ryan Kelly.  I guess that makes Coach Cowher a Duke fan.  EXCELLENT! 

****  FYI.  I never forget a face.  If you're a sports person, actor, singer, performer, politician etc. and you're in the building, I will recognize you.  I am always looking around, and I'm just good like that at picking people out of a crowd.  Trust me.  The list of random "celebrities" that I've run into or had sitting next to or near me at events is outright strange (i.e. Oprah, Tom Cruise, and countless others).

Go Duke!  Duke defeated Butler with a final score of 82-70. 

****  For the gamblers out there, Duke didn't cover the 14.5 points.

THE WIRK

Long weekend in Las Vegas with my dad and friends

I spent the long weekend in Las Vegas with my dad and some friends to celebrate another friend's birthday.  It was a fun time and I especially enjoyed the time away with my dad who I haven't seen since last Christmas.  The craps tables were lucky for me and the sports book was good to me also!

I bet on the New York Rangers to defeat the New York Yankees in Game 6 for the ALCS.  That's right, I bet againt the Yankees.  What can I say?  I just might want to go back to Dallas after all.

As for my other sports action, I had the Patriots +2.5 over the San Diego Chargers.  I took the money line on the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Miami Dolphins.  All winners.  It would've been even prettier had I hit my 2 team parlay (i.e. San Francisco Giants and Oklahoma), but the Sooners just couldn't pull through for me.  I lost a heartbreaker when the Vikings lost to the Packers, but what a game that turned out to be!  C'est la vie.

I don't normally play the fire bet, but I did see a man make 5 original points.  That was definitely interesting.  Wish I'd found his roll earlier.  ****  I checked on my dad at the craps table during half-time of the Steelers game, so we could have lunch.

 On the way back, John McCain was on my flight from Phoenix.  This is actually the 3rd time I've run into him, so the novelty has worn off.  However, this was the first time I decided to snap a picture.

Regardless, the highlight of my return trip was the TCBY chocolate frozen yogurt with extra strawberry topping!  That stuff is so good!

THE WIRK (aka Pamphlet and WINNER)

Ben Roethlisberger suspended for 6 games ~ What do you think?

All I can say is that I'm happy I went to Heinz Field LAST year...  If you've never been to Pittsburgh to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play, you must make the trip.  The stadium is located right downtown, near the Pirates Stadium (i.e. which looks great also).  If you go to Heinz Field, expect to see Steelers black and gold everywhere!  These fans are passionate about their team.  If you're not coming to the game in your gear, definitely hit a team store or a souvenir stand pronto.

Earlier today, even though no charges were files, Roger Goodell suspended Ben Roethlisberger for 6 games as a result of his violation of the NFL's conduct policy.  Essentially, Ben is being punished for his bad judgment.  I'm watching TV, and I believe this hits the QB in the pocket for about $3 million.  Now I don't know Roethlisberger, and I haven't been closely following his case.  However, I know how I feel about this suspension, and I'm definitely curious to hear what you think. 

You can leave your comments anonymously if you wish.

Yes, Ben, your future as a Steeler is a nailbiter...

THE WIRK