Steelers = Super Bowl XL Champs

Hey yaars,

I planned on beginning this post with an obligatory "We ROCKED 'EM!!!", but in the interst of slight impartiality, I'll lay low on that one. I don't think I've liked the Steelers long enough to truly enjoy this victory. In fact, that's what's leading to me pondering the thought of flipping to a new team (with the Steelers as a secondary team).

Watched the game at Derek's on the ultimate TV : 60" Sony HDTV. I truly believe that's how God intended TV to be viewed! The night was fun, though it was a little rough in a room with Steeler haters. Thank goodness I didn't go out and buy a Steelers toque to wear there (I woulda been killed!).

With regards to the game, it was an average Super Bowl. Many of the guys and gals who watched the game came out of it thinking that the Seahawks got robbed, I'm not of that viewpoint.

Yes, the called-back Jackson TD was questionable, but according to the rulebook it was a push, therefore interfered on the play.

Yes, the infamous "phantom TD" by Roethlisberger should have been called back. Though when it's a matter of inches, slight misjudgements can happen EVEN WITH instant replay. It wasn't as if he was yards behind the goal line. It was just one of those bad breaks.

Yes, the number of penalities called on Seattle did seem exorbinant. A lot of people have noted how the Steelers didn't get called for nearly the same amount of infractions despite committing the SAME offenses. To this, I have no real explanation since I'm not totally knowledgable about the holding rules.

I know it may sound silly, but all this talk of the game made me harken back to the days of my sport psychology class. I recall reading in a paper how it is a proven fact that teams wearing dark colours get called for signifigantly more penalties than those in lighter colours. Looking back at it now, it applies a bit to this game as well. Not to say that the refs were colour-prejudiced or anything, but darker coloured clothing give the psychological impression of an imposing, dacoit-like figure, whereas a white colour would give a more angelic impression. Keep in mind, I'm applying this to CLOTHES, with the help of someone's research not mine!

At the end of the day, for those who are still a tad upset over the officiating, I say this : Welcome to the NFL. I've sporadically followed the league for years and I've noticed that EVERY game has calls like this go one way or the other. It's all about the way the ball bounces. Be it considered a stroke of luck, or a case of cause and effect, it happens. In the larger scheme of things, everything tends to balance out. In fact I would argue that the Steelers have had their fair share of calls go AGAINST them in the past, so this just may be the football Gods' way of balancing things out.

With all that said and done, I'm narrowing my list down for Team Naveed 2006. I still like the Steelers but realize that their bandwagon will increase ten-fold now that they've won. So far, here are the candidates. Feel free to add anyone else, with a reason, by adding a comment to the comments section:

Cincinnati Bengals
In the first round it was a toss-up as to whether I wanted them or Pittsburgh to win. It would have been a different game had Carson Palmer not been hurt, but who knows what was to happen afterwards. I'm putting this team on the list solely because of Chad Johnson and his wacky TD dances.

New York Jets
Yes, they do suck. But since my brother's secondary team is the Giants, I thought I'd rival him with the Jets.

Green Bay Packers
Only because people will be jumping off the bandwagon once Favre's gone. That and there's a little relevance to us as my mother's in the food packing industry. Oh, and I thought calling me a Packer instead of Paki would sound way cooler :P

Chicago Bears
LOVE watching their defense play. Another reason is that everytime my brother mentions them he makes a slapstick reference to Conan O'Brien's "Masturbating Bear" character. And this may be one of the only teams I have the chance to see live as I have family in the Chicago area.

Philadelphia Eagles
After the loss of all the bandwagon jumpers this year, I think the Eagles will be back with a vengeance next year. They just need a bloody receiver who can get along with McNabb!

Oakland Raiders
I for some reason levitate towards the Penitentiary friendly teams. Be it the Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons, or Oakland A's. Plus, being from Scarborough, I have the "gangsta" in me to represent !

Cleveland Browns
Up and coming team that nearly NOBODY likes. And I AM brown, technically speaking, so it fits! Though at the same time, us brown people would never stand for being associated with a dog, so I'm iffy on this one.

Aii, that's it for now, going to Cederbrae to pick up the brother from his inkjet job. Stupid snow is going to make this one arduous task!