Friday, January 07, 2005
DISPATCHED, FRIDAY EDITION
One day away.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Jim Thomas: Rams can look to Super 'omen'
---In 1979, the Rams were 9-7, but represented the NFC in the Super Bowl that season. Of course, the Rams were in LOS ANGELES, not St. Louis. But hey, let's do a piece on those 1979 Rams in the St. Louis paper! The 1979 Rams (9-7) and the 1988 San Francisco 49ers (10-6) are the only teams in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl with more than 5 losses. We can only hope that the Seahawks become the third team in that category.
In case you were wondering, St. Louis' football team in 1979, the St. Louis Cardinals , finished 5-11. 1979 was also the last year a Seattle team won a championship (1978-1979 Seattle Supersonics).
Shakedown, 1979!
Bernie Miklasz: Ingredients are ideally suited for Martz magic
This Rams offense isn't at the same level as the "Greatest Show" era (1999-2001) but it's establishing an identity.
---An identity of being an 8-8 team. If they lose tomorrow to the Seahawks, then what? Mike Martz has never coached a postseason road game outdoors (his only postseason road game previous to this season was 2000 at New Orleans). I don't want to sound like a Green Bay Packer fan here, but I think the weather could be the 13th man. We all know who the 12th man is.
Bryan Burwell: Nothing rivals an old-fashion grudge match
What makes this the most intriguing battle of this wild-card weekend is what makes all great rivalries so special. This clash is dripping with derision and disrespect, jealousy and animosity. The Rams privately think the Seahawks represent everything old champs despise in snot-nosed pretenders. They view the 9-7 NFC West champion Seahawks as frauds who tried to ascend to the top of the division long before they did anything to earn it. And where do the Rams rest in Seattle's minds? Well try as they might to convince themselves that the Rams are long-in-the-tooth has-beens, the Seahawks have not quite been able to prove that St. Louis' time has passed.
The Seahawks earned the NFC West title by winning games outside the NFC West. While the Seahawks were just .500 in the division (3-3), they were 6-4 against non-NFC West foes, including victories over NFC playoff teams Atlanta and Minnesota. St. Louis, on the other hand, lost to New Orleans, Miami, and Carolina, 3 teams the Seahawks defeated during the 2004 season.
As for proving themselves, the Seahawks can end the Rams season tomorrow. I really like the sound of that, don't you? It wouldn't totally erase the fact that the Rams swept the Seahawks during the regular season. But it would definitely lessen the blow.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Don Banks: Marquee Matchup - Rams at Seahawks
St. Louis Rams (8-8) at Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST (ABC)
Qualcomm Stadium
Notice anything wrong here?
I really think every sports media employer should test each one of their workers on sports stadiums/arenas. If you're going to be in the business, you should know your stadiums/arenas. Any idiot knows that Qualcomm Stadium is in San Diego, not Seattle. Oh, and it's JACK MURPHY Stadium, not Qualcomm Stadium. The same goes for Pro Player Stadium being Joe Robbie Stadium.
Look out for this guy
Seattle SS Michael Boulware
• Rookie (Florida State), 6-2, 223
• Stats: 5 interceptions, 1 touchdown return, 2 forced fumbles
• Shifted from his collegiate linebacker position, Boulware has emerged as a play-making force in the Seattle secondary.
Even the national media gets it.
I've said it all week long, Michael Boulware will be the difference tomorrow.
The Pick
The Seahawks, hyped as a Super Bowl pick in the preseason, can wipe away at least some of the frustration left over from their uneven 2004 by sending those pesky Rams home for the rest of the playoffs. As flawed as Seattle is, St. Louis has even bigger warts to contend with. This time, the Seahawks will build a fourth-quarter lead for their faithful fans at Qwest Field, and then actually find a way to hold onto it.
Seahawks 27, Rams 24
Don Banks picking the Seahawks? I'll be damned.
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Well, that's the last of the Dispatched posts this week.
Hopefully next week I'll be able to do Philadelphia or Atlanta related posts.
BRING ON THE RAMS!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Jim Thomas: Rams can look to Super 'omen'
---In 1979, the Rams were 9-7, but represented the NFC in the Super Bowl that season. Of course, the Rams were in LOS ANGELES, not St. Louis. But hey, let's do a piece on those 1979 Rams in the St. Louis paper! The 1979 Rams (9-7) and the 1988 San Francisco 49ers (10-6) are the only teams in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl with more than 5 losses. We can only hope that the Seahawks become the third team in that category.
In case you were wondering, St. Louis' football team in 1979, the St. Louis Cardinals , finished 5-11. 1979 was also the last year a Seattle team won a championship (1978-1979 Seattle Supersonics).
Shakedown, 1979!
Bernie Miklasz: Ingredients are ideally suited for Martz magic
This Rams offense isn't at the same level as the "Greatest Show" era (1999-2001) but it's establishing an identity.
---An identity of being an 8-8 team. If they lose tomorrow to the Seahawks, then what? Mike Martz has never coached a postseason road game outdoors (his only postseason road game previous to this season was 2000 at New Orleans). I don't want to sound like a Green Bay Packer fan here, but I think the weather could be the 13th man. We all know who the 12th man is.
Bryan Burwell: Nothing rivals an old-fashion grudge match
What makes this the most intriguing battle of this wild-card weekend is what makes all great rivalries so special. This clash is dripping with derision and disrespect, jealousy and animosity. The Rams privately think the Seahawks represent everything old champs despise in snot-nosed pretenders. They view the 9-7 NFC West champion Seahawks as frauds who tried to ascend to the top of the division long before they did anything to earn it. And where do the Rams rest in Seattle's minds? Well try as they might to convince themselves that the Rams are long-in-the-tooth has-beens, the Seahawks have not quite been able to prove that St. Louis' time has passed.
The Seahawks earned the NFC West title by winning games outside the NFC West. While the Seahawks were just .500 in the division (3-3), they were 6-4 against non-NFC West foes, including victories over NFC playoff teams Atlanta and Minnesota. St. Louis, on the other hand, lost to New Orleans, Miami, and Carolina, 3 teams the Seahawks defeated during the 2004 season.
As for proving themselves, the Seahawks can end the Rams season tomorrow. I really like the sound of that, don't you? It wouldn't totally erase the fact that the Rams swept the Seahawks during the regular season. But it would definitely lessen the blow.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Don Banks: Marquee Matchup - Rams at Seahawks
St. Louis Rams (8-8) at Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST (ABC)
Qualcomm Stadium
Notice anything wrong here?
I really think every sports media employer should test each one of their workers on sports stadiums/arenas. If you're going to be in the business, you should know your stadiums/arenas. Any idiot knows that Qualcomm Stadium is in San Diego, not Seattle. Oh, and it's JACK MURPHY Stadium, not Qualcomm Stadium. The same goes for Pro Player Stadium being Joe Robbie Stadium.
Look out for this guy
Seattle SS Michael Boulware
• Rookie (Florida State), 6-2, 223
• Stats: 5 interceptions, 1 touchdown return, 2 forced fumbles
• Shifted from his collegiate linebacker position, Boulware has emerged as a play-making force in the Seattle secondary.
Even the national media gets it.
I've said it all week long, Michael Boulware will be the difference tomorrow.
The Pick
The Seahawks, hyped as a Super Bowl pick in the preseason, can wipe away at least some of the frustration left over from their uneven 2004 by sending those pesky Rams home for the rest of the playoffs. As flawed as Seattle is, St. Louis has even bigger warts to contend with. This time, the Seahawks will build a fourth-quarter lead for their faithful fans at Qwest Field, and then actually find a way to hold onto it.
Seahawks 27, Rams 24
Don Banks picking the Seahawks? I'll be damned.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Well, that's the last of the Dispatched posts this week.
Hopefully next week I'll be able to do Philadelphia or Atlanta related posts.
BRING ON THE RAMS!
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