Because of yesterday's tech setback, Base10 lost his insightful comments on Sunday's football games. Here we go again:

Sunday's games, Base10 must admit, were far better than the lackluster performances on display Saturday. Sunday's games proved quite exciting. The early game featured Indy at home against the Steelers. The Steelers ultimately prevailed 21-18 but were victimized by a slew of bad calls including the reversal of a game-winning interception by the Steelers secondary and an absurd non-call during a Steelers drive. Now Base10 does not have a vested interest in either team--and indeed would like to see Payton Manning get a ring--but the officiating in that game was awful. One expects these kind of home-town calls in college games but not in the pros. Several players defied fines and openly questioned the impartiality of the officials. Base10 has to admit that as a casual observer that it sure looked that way to him. It seemed that every questionable call helped to keeps the Colts in the game. Indeed the score does not reflect how dominant Pittsburgh really was. Their run-ballanced offense
kept the Colts offense off the field and the Steelers defense did the job when they did get out.

The league should really address this issue. If there is blown credibility in how the NFL handles it's post-season tournament--even just the appearance of it--in the eyes of fans, the league becomes little more than professional wrestling or Vince McMahan's XFL. Commissioner, it's your move.

Just one more comment on this. The television coverage of the game if anything, added to the perception of bias. It seemed to me that the announcers had a carefully written script that had the Colts dominating. Unfortunately, the Steelers didn't cooperate and play the game the announcers wanted.

Let's not forget the late game. The Panthers beat the Bears at Soldier field 29-21 in what was also an exciting game. What began for the Bears as a Cinderella season, ended in defeat. One can't help but think however that 'Da Bears will be back next year. But they clearly have to straighten out the quarterback situation.

So what does this give us? Two teams with first round bye's went down in flames: the Bears and the Colts. This leaves Seattle and Denver still standing against the upstart Panthers and Steelers, respectively, in the Conference Championships. Sunday should be a pretty good day, but alas, it is the end of the season.

After Sunday--which has traditionally been Base10's favorite day of football during the year--also signals the season's end. The following Sunday has no game. (Curse who who ever came up with the idea for this break). The Sunday after that has the Super Bowl. Sometimes (especially in recent years) the Supper Bowl is an exciting game, but often it is a blowout that is more about the TV production than the game. The following Sunday features the Pro Bowl, football's equivalent of post-coital cuddling. That's it. Nothing until the first week of April when the league throw us a lifeline and holds the draft.

Oh, there will be other sports to hold our interest. The Winter Olympics starts soon after football ends. March Madness begins right after the Olympics. And pitchers and cartchers report to Spring training in a few weeks so baseball is right around the corner. In addition, a revitalized NHL will be playing all winter and spring. But nothing is quite like football, and Base10 will miss it like he misses it every year.

- posted by Base10 @ 11:40 AM