Will Super Bowl Be Super Bore?

Heading into the conference championships a couple weeks back, the only real hope for an intriguing match-up was a great defense (Ravens) against a supposed great offense (Vikings). Unfortunately, somebody forgot to tell Dennis Green that defense is still a vital cog in the game. What was left was a sound, well-balanced team in the Giants.

"Contrast" was primed to be our lone saving grace in a league littered with one-dimensional teams this season. Don’t be fooled by the Giants 41-0 trouncing of the Vikings. Their offense isn’t really that good. A group of girl scouts could rack up at least 20 points on Minnesota. Besides, the Giants will be hard-pressed to make the transition from the sad-sack defense of the Vikings to the stingy, aggressive forte that is the Raven’s defense.

Will all this mean a 6-3 game? 9-7? 10-6? Take your pick. None of those tallies will keep yours truly glued to the tube, unless of course, I intend to write about the game next week. I’ll admit. This game has been difficult to predict. The Ravens need to score on defense or special teams to win. The Giants must protect Collins from a Raven defensive onslaught. Does that sound like two teams that normally occupy our sets come Super Bowl Sunday?

Sarcasm aside, the only real hope is that somehow, the game stays close and goes to the wire. Whether the score is 34-34 (fat chance) or 6-6 (the more likely scenario), a nail biter is a nail biter. I apologize for a lack of in-depth coverage on the Raven linebacking core or the resurgent QB’s in Dilfer and Collins. My interest in this game is barely piqued.

Will the Super Bowl indeed be a Super Bore? That’s for every fan to ponder. I do know that the so-called parity in the NFL (synonym for mediocrity) has played its little hand in this darling match-up. Between the rigid salary cap and the greater need for smart GM’s, like most sports, the chief determiner in how well a team gets is how fiscally smart they are and good they are at the player-by-player chess match.

Friends of mine will point out that complete parity is still better than baseball. Yeah, maybe. But next season, which would you rather have, the Steelers against the Eagles or the Yankees against the Giants. At least with the latter, you have one great team, maybe even two.

Keep your glasses half full football fans. As cynical as this all sounds from afar, I am as hopeful for an entertaining match-up as the next guy (or girl). I’m just not laying any substantial money on it, let alone a gentleman’s bet.

*** Will somebody "please" tell espn and espn.com to shut up about the alleged Kobe-Shaq feud? The Milwaukee Bucks have catapulted themselves into first place in the NBA’s Central division by winning 23 out of their last 29. Neither the network nor the web site has devoted a measly blurb about them. They rather make their beat man, David Aldridge, play Barbara Walters in LA to cover Phil Jackson’s day care.