By Parker Swenson

In defense of New England sports, their up-and-down history, and the fans holding on for the ride.

This past week has taught me that there is no comparison to being raised a sports fan in New England.

Now, before everyone launches into an anti-Patriots, anti-Northeast and/or anti-Boston diatribe, take a moment to think about Boston's evolution over the past three decades. From the 1980s to current day, it's been a complete 180 for the city's athletic fortunes. 

For those of us born in the '80s, the rollercoaster ride never quite reached the top. All throughout the '80s and '90s, New England fans got nothing out of their emotional investment other than the sudden-- yet familiar-- pain each time another season was choked away. Imagine taking a date to a five-star restaurant and working up the courage all night to make a move at the doorstep, only to find that you were just “friend zone” material all along. Then imagine doing that all over again with another girl. And another girl. And another. Rinse, relapse, and repeat. 

If this sounds a lot like the "We're so tortured" mantra that New England is mocked for, you're on the right track. But the now-tiresome refrain is rooted in the reality of the '80s and '90s. The Red Sox made the playoffs six times in 20 years, but all anyone had to say is "Buckner," and people cringed. The Patriots were a step better, making seven playoff appearances but losing in their only two Super Bowl appearances. The Celtics won three championships in the early '80s, but without Larry Bird to carry them, they soon faded into obscurity. The Bruins made the playoffs 18 of 20 seasons, and never managed to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup. 

But New England post Y2K? A new place, rejuvenated with a flood of talent across the teams. The Celtics drafted perennial All-Star Paul Pierce in ’98. The Patriots infamously took Tom Brady in 2000. David Ortiz signed with the Red Sox in 2003. For New England kids, these were the new idols, the ones that delivered an unparalleled amount of trophies. 

After 15 years, or 60 combined seasons without a title, this was the golden age. The Patriots won in ’01, ’03, and ’04. The Red Sox broke the broke the curse and won in ’04 and ’07. The Celtics, with the newly formed Big Three, won in ’07. Even the Bruins got in on the action, raising the Stanley Cup in 2011. Seven Championships in 11 years. 

The turnaround predictably changed New England's fans. Their defeatist attitude morphed into a confident swagger, and then into brash cockiness. Poor Boston became obnoxious Bahhston, and Bahhston became the enemy. We rejoiced in that newfound role, knowing that it meant the next win was just around the corner.

And the best part about it? It was just around every single corner. The playoffs were a near certainty for each team. We were not only winning, but winning everything. 

Until we weren’t. The Red Sox turned fragile, and then fell apart. The Celtics are just plain old. The Patriots are haunted by Spygate, and aren’t the same team they were early in the century. Only the Bruins, the least visible of the four, are primed for a continued run of success. 

It’s a far fall from the top. Watching the Patriots struggle in big games brings back ugly memories. Watching the “Big Three” turn geriatric hurts. Watching the Sox bend and break is an all-too-familiar sight. But the struggles have a good way of correcting the fan base. Every person that yells “Wes Welker oughta be cut and nevah play another down with the Patriots,” means there’s one less person on the bandwagon. Every Red Sox loss makes it less trendy and hip to wear a pink Ortiz jersey. 

Yet for all the “tough” (and that's a very relative term) times that have befallen New England over the past few seasons, it’s highly unlikely that any of the region's teams will endure another decades-long debacle. Money is not an issue, and neither is lack of talent or leadership. Though key retirements loom, each team will have the opportunity to reload. 

Boston might never again collect silver like it did in the 2000s, but we’re not going anywhere just yet. See you next season.

The Week Ahead (all times EST)- Your guide to what to watch-- and what to watch for-- this coming week

College Basketball
Virginia Tech at Florida St.- Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Maryland at Virginia- Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. (ESPN3)
Saint Mary's at Murray St.- Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Yale at Harvard- Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.
Ohio St. at Michigan- Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Syracuse at Rutgers- Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. (ESPN)

NBA
Linsanity at Raptors- Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. (MSG/TSN)
76ers at Magic- Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. (Comcast/Sun Sports)
Kings at Linsanity- Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. (Comcast Sports Sacramento/MSG)
Celtics at Bulls- Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. (TNT)
Hornets at Linsanity- Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Spurs at Clippers- Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m. (FOX SW/FSN Prime Ticket)
NHL
Sharks at Capitals- Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Rangers at Bruins- Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. (MSG/NESN)
Blackhawks at Predators- Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. (CSNC/FXSM)
Predators at Red Wings- Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (FXSM/FSD+)
Peguins at Flyers- Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. (NHLNET)
Blues at Blackhawks- Feb. 19 at 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
NASCAR
Budweiser Shootout- Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. (FOX)

In the Kitchen- Tracking the major hot stove stories

• The Pittsburgh Steelers will release longtime wide receiver Hines Ward, according to the NFL Network. Ward is a legend in Pittsburgh, lauded for his consistency and willingness to take-- and dish out-- big hits. But he lost his starting job this year and is due $4 million next year, an amount the Steelers are unwilling to commit to the 36 year old.  
• The search for a defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay continues, after the San Francisco 49ers prevented DB coach Ed Donatell from speaking with the Bucs. Head Coach Greg Schiano has been trying to fill out his staff since his appointment, but has hit numerous road blocks so far. 
• The Miami Marlins' spending spree continued this past week when they offered Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes as much as $40 million. The offer was expected, as the Marlins in the past said they will be "aggressive right up to the point stupidity" in pursuing the highly touted outfielder. Cespedes reportedly does not have any current plans to meet with other teams.
• Much-maligned Yankees right hander A.J. Burnett is on the block, where four teams have expressed interest. The frontrunner is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who would send New York a bunch of minor leaguers in return. To make the deal work, the Yankees will have to pay up to $23 million of Burnett's $33 million contract, but would be able to sign Eric Chavez with the money left over.
• Free agent Magglio Ordonez is purchasing shares in a Venezuelan winter-league baseball team, where he will have a place to play if he's not picked up by a Major League team. Ordonez is listed as an active player on the Caribes de Anzoategui roster, so he will have to retire before becoming part of management. However, he is already involved in the team's personnel decisions and recruiting.

Web Gems- The week's best, worst or strangest Internet sports finds

Bengals LB Maualuga charged with assault in Ohio- The latest Cincinnati Bengals player to find himself on the wrong side of the law

The NBA is missing its shots in China- Once the centerpiece of the NBA's international expansion plans, China's enthusiasm for the league is waning, and its relationship with the NBA has become strained

Before the Olympic trials, there's this big high school meet- One of the first in what will surely be many profiles on USA Swimming's next great hope

Manning face- Incorporating the Manning face into every NFL logo

Will Ferrell introduces the lineups for the Bulls and Hornets on '80s night

Coming Up- What's next at Began in '96

• Tuesday: Joe Schackman on what we can take away from Tiger Woods' latest performance.
• Thursday: Major League Baseball brimmed with future Hall of Fame shortstops for much of the late '90s and early 2000s. Now, there are few remnants left from that golden age, Joe Schackman says.
• Friday: Jeremy Lin, the Knicks, and what it takes to light up the Garden, by Adam Cancryn.

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By Adam Cancryn

On the New York Giants, the Super Bowl and describing the indescribable.

When you're obsessed with sports for the better part of 24 years, you figure that, at some point, you've reached the limits of your emotional spectrum. Maybe you haven't seen every shade of agony and ecstasy, but the end points are well defined. The boundaries only extend so far.

My spectrum has always been relatively narrow. I distinctly remember the few times I hit rock bottom, and the even fewer times I bumped up against my emotional ceiling are similarly vivid. Mainly, though, I've occupied a midpoint awash with mixed emotions: various parts hopefulness, excitement and nervousness, with some amount of pessimism and despair thrown in as the situation warrants.

Oh, and terror. Underlying that entire range, from top to bottom, is dizzying, white-knuckle-cold-sweat terror.

That terror is borne of a sporting career full of defeat just as victory seemed certain. There was the high school soccer playoff game, where a freak 40-yard clearing kick arced over our out-of-position goaltender, turning a 2-1 advantage into a tie game just seconds before the final horn. We would lose in overtime minutes later. There was the summer league baseball game where, leading by eight runs, our pitchers were ordered to throw only fastballs. Four innings and nine runs later, we trudged home in defeat.  There was the swim meet, lost by just a few points because of a random disqualification in one of the early events. There were the oh-so-many games we should've won but didn't, would've won if not for this, that or the other. Left with nothing to do but shake your head, chuckle quietly and remind yourself that victory is never certain.

That I've experienced my share of losses isn't unusual, and most people could make similar claims. But those losses have nevertheless defined my view of sports. The shocking disappointments have stuck with me far longer than the surprising upsets. The anything-can-happen attitude has long been replaced by the anything-bad-will-happen perspective.

It's less a persecution complex or a paranoia than a quiet, defeatist confidence. Not that I'm sure which one is worse.

And so it was that terror that gripped me harder than normal during the fourth quarter on Sunday, as the Giants battled the Patriots. I'd returned to my college fraternity to be among my fellow Giants fans, but in this case "among" is not quite accurate. While they cheered and high-fived and drank, I clung to the arms of the couch, stock-still and sober (or as sober as you can ever be in a frat house).

I'd sat in roughly the same spot four years earlier, when the Giants faced the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the first time. But it was different then. They had no chance against the undefeated Patriots, the team loved by its fans and derided by everyone else for its cocksure attitude and penchant for running up the score, a practice we'd dubbed the F-You Touchdown.

Then, the chief emotion had been disbelief. Disbelief that the Giants were somehow still in this, then disbelief that they had a shot to win and finally disbelief that they'd somehow pulled it off. I'd done disbelief before. When you habitually play for bad teams and root for even worse ones (Mets, Knicks, Rangers), every once in a while you're going to pull the upset. There's not much terror associated with trying to accomplish the patently absurd.

This, though. This was different. For two months, the Giants did no wrong. Everything worked in their favor, and culminated in the second Super Bowl appearance in four years. They came into the game favored, if not by Vegas, then by the rest of the country. Everything pointed toward a Giants win.

But this is where sports tends to turn the tables. From Matt Christopher's stock characters on up to the likes of the Red Sox and Cubs, it's this moment where karma runs out, where the little guy rises up against Goliath, where we're reminded that victory is never certain. And so I sat through the fourth quarter, waiting for the moment that would throw us all for a collective loop.

Even now, my few distinct memories of the final minutes are couched in terror. When Brady spun away from the rush and heaved it downfield, I had visions of a bizarro David Tyree-like catch. Eli's sideline floater to Mario Manningham looked sure to drift far out of bounds. Bradshaw's uncontested touchdown played right into Belichick's master plan. The final Hail Mary would certainly be tipped into Gronkowski's waiting arms.

In those moments, failure had a familiar allure. I could handle it, I knew. Curse a little, shake your head, say something disparaging about the other team to make yourself feel better, go home and go to sleep. Life goes on.

But none of that happened. Brady's heave turned into an interception. Manningham got both feet in bounds. Bradshaw provided the winning margin. The Hail Mary fell harmlessly to the ground. Time expired. There was no way to blow it. The Giants, the team that I wanted to win(!), had won.

We sprayed beer all over the room and jumped around and hugged and yelled and chugged champagne from the bottle. I made a bunch of phone calls, but likely said nothing of substance. I wandered around in a daze. I was physically shaking, with something. Excitement, maybe. Adrenaline too, probably.

Prior to Sunday, I'd been sure I knew the spectrum of my sports-associated emotions. High to low, that was it. But that night was an outlier, some random point far to the left of a well-worn trend line. To describe it is near impossible. There was no doubt, no terror, just sheer bliss. I imagine it's what Yankee fans, or Laker fans, or Patriots fans, have felt during the good years, the dynasty years. The Giants are far from a dynasty, but they're the closest I've ever gotten. And even if they never return to the Super Bowl again, I can say that this win was no fluke, and it was no upset. The Giants, my team(!), were simply the best team.

Adam Cancryn is an editor and co-founder of Began in '96.

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By Joe Schackman

Do not forget that in 2007, the Patriots were caught cheating.

Over the last 10 years the Patriots have been easily one of the most successful franchises in the National Football League. Built on the backs of two future Hall-of-famers, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the Patriots have been the epitome of consistency. They've won at least nine games every year since Brady took over in 2001 and in that span, they've won more than ten games seven times. They played in five Super Bowls and won three of them. But none of those Super Bowl victories have come after the infamous 2007 Spygate incident. Pats fans won’t want to hear it, but the scandal still looms large over the legacy of the team.

By now, most football fans wave off the scandal as part of the past. The party line is that videotaping is simply something every team does, and the Pats were just the ones who got caught trying to gain a small advantage. But the NFL’s fines cannot be ignored. Belichick was slapped with a $500,000 penalty, the highest possible amount allowed under NFL rules. The Patriots, as a team, were forced to turn over $250,000 to the league, and were docked their first-round pick in 2008. It was no slap on the wrist. The league saw what it considered a serious breach of the rules, and they took appropriately serious action.

And while you cannot exactly measure the effect those illegal video tapes had on the team's success and their three Super Bowl victories, there is a glaring absence of rings since the team was caught cheating.

The Pats have been just as consistent in the regular season as they have before, but that does not come as a surprise. No one is arguing that the team is not loaded with talent. Brady will go down as one of the best quarterbacks of all-time and Belichick is considered one of the finest football minds to ever stalk the sideline. Over 16 game, the slight advantaged gained from the tapes may get washed out. But in a single game it can make all the difference.

If you look at their playoff record since they were caught by the league, you realize that the Pats have just one signature playoff win. They lost to the Giants in 2008 Super Bowl. They lost to the Ravens and Jets in the divisional rounds in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The Pats made it the championship this season but no one is exactly showering them with praise for beating the Broncos. Their victory over the Ravens was a strong statement, but one only made following a Billy Cundiff shank (not to mention a Lee Evans drop).

The Patriots don't owe their success to those video tapes. But if Brady and Belichick fail to win another ring, it cannot be forgotten. Spygate still factors in to the legacy of this organization.


The Week Ahead (all times EST)- Your guide to what to watch-- and what to watch for-- this coming week

College Basketball

Texas at Texas A&M- Feb 6 at 9:00 pm (ESPN)
Florida at Kentucky-Feb 7 at 7:00 pm (ESPN)
Georgetown at Syracuse- Feb 8 at 7:00 pm (ESPN)
Duke at North Carolina- Feb 8 at 9:00 pm (ESPN)
Baylor at Missouri- Feb 11 at 1:30 pm (ESPN 3)
Michigan State at Ohio State- Feb 11 at 6:00 pm (ESPN)
NBA
Lakers at Philadelphia- Feb. 6 at 7:00 pm (COMCAST)
Lakers at Celtics- Feb. 9 at 7:00 pm (TNT)
Oklahoma City at Utah- Feb. 10 at 10:30 pm (ESPN/ESPN3)
Denver at Indiana-Feb 11 at 7:00 pm (NBA TV)
NHL
Devils at Rangers- Feb 6 at 7:00 pm (MSG)
Boston at Buffalo- Feb 7 at 7:30 pm (NBCSN)
Vancouver at Minnesota- Feb 9 at 8:00 pm (FSN0)

In the Kitchen- Tracking the major hot stove stories

• Pat Burrell called it a career earlier this week. The former first overall pick by the Phillies won  won two World Series rings. He finished his career with 292 home runs and was never once voted to the All-Star game.
• Rick Ankiel, who was thought to be on his way to the Mets, was resigned by the Nationals. He could potentially win the center field job if the Nats don't add another free agent.
• Manny Ramirez is yet again rumored to make a return to the MLB. He would be required to sit out 100 games because of his positive PED test early last year with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles and Athletics are rumored to be interested.
• Edwin Jackson, possibly the most under-appreciated starter in the league, was finally signed by the Nationals. He signed a one year deal for $10 million. Although it is unclear exactly how much he can improve the Nationals. Even with Jackson rounding out their rotation it probably won't be enough to propel them into playoff contention.

Web Gems- The week's best, worst or strangest Internet sports finds

Men's tennis is potentially in its golden age and Rafael Nadal is a big reason. Brian Phillips makes his weekly appearance.

It is no easy task being the vet required to put down an injured horse.

Coming Up- What's next at Began in '96

• Tuesday: A fan-soaked reflection on the Giants' Super Bowl win, by Adam Cancryn.
• Wednesday: Rutgers grad Alex Jankowski on former football coach Greg Schiano, and the massive shoes Kyle Flood must now fill.
• Thursday: Richmond Law student Mary Grace Miller dives into the legal situation of the NCAA.
• Friday: Joe Schackman wonders whether the Jets give up on the Mark Sanchez experiment and go all-in with Peyton Manning.

Read more »

By Adam Cancryn

Creativity and adapability are crucial to a championship run in today's NFL.

Call it the Super Bowl of Misfit Teams.

While powerhouses like the Packers and Saints, and perennial contenders like the Steelers and Ravens sit home and lick their wounds, the New England Patriots and New York Giants are in Indianapolis, preparing to play for the league championship.

It's the one-dimensional Giants versus the porous Pats. The most miserable rushing offense in the NFL meeting the league's second-worst defense. Just how did we get here again?

At first glance, Super Bowl XLVI looks like the classic underdog story. No one really gave New England much of a chance to get this far, and the Giants weren't even on the radar until about three weeks ago. But this isn't as much of an up-by-their-bootstraps tale as it is the signal of a broader shift within the NFL. It's no longer the most talented teams that make it to the big game, but rather the most creative ones.

Take a look at this year's playoff teams and you'll encounter many of the same pieces: an upper-tier quarterback, a go-to receiver, a defensive stopper, an explosive playmaker. The difference in talent among the NFL's top one-third is slimmer than perhaps ever before. The Packers' offensive juggernaut was offset by its lackluster defense. The Saints suffered from much the same. The San Francisco 49ers lacked quick strike ability to complement their ground offensive. Each team's strengths outweighed their weaknesses over the season, but unlike previous years, there was no doubt that each had weaknesses. There were no '94 49ers or '98 Broncos, or even '07 Patriots, waiting to steamroll the rest of the NFL's upper echelon.

What's separated the winners from the losers, then, has been how that talent was manipulated and adapted to to fit the latest situation. How does a does a team respond when its top receiver is ineffective? What if an opponent deviates from their normal game plan? Can a squad overcome a key injury? It's in this kind of chess match within each game that the Patriots and Giants proved their mettle.

New York flipped the script on the Falcons in the wild card game, handing the ball to forgotten running back Brandon Jacobs over and over until he pounded Atlanta into submission. Meanwhile, the Steelers' defense couldn't figure out how to combat a shifty lefty with poor mechanics. The Giants advanced easily; the Steelers misplayed themselves into an year-ending loss.

The Patriots simplified their approach the next week, reducing the divisional round to backyard touch football. While Brady was pitching six touchdowns in a blowout victory, the Saints got caught off guard by an opponent able to match them point for point.

The Giants stacked the box and dared Alex Smith to air it out in the conference championship game, betting that his previously impeccable accuracy would desert him once all the pressure landed squarely on his shoulders. They were right. On that same day, the Ravens, deprived of their traditional field goal routine and forced to adjust, yanked the game-tying kick wide left.

Where all of the others had proven too rigid and failed, New England and New York adapted and survived, counterpunching their way to the Super Bowl. In doing so, they emptied their respective bags of tricks: putting a receiver at cornerback, abandoning the run game, running a hurry-up offense in the first quarter, throwing deep to the team's shortest wideout. All in the name of gaining that small advantage over their opponent. Defense won't win a championship this year, and neither will offense. It's all about maximizing the skills at your disposal.

Fittingly, there is little discernible difference on paper between the Patriots and Giants. Each have their strengths, each have their weaknesses, and all have been laid bare over the past 19 games. It comes down pure strategy now, attacking and defending, misdirection and surprise. It is, after all, why they play the game.

Adam Cancryn is an editor and co-founder of Began in '96.

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By the Began in '96 staff

Presenting Began in '96's First Annual Super Bowl Drinking Game.

America's biggest, greatest unofficial holiday is this Sunday. Football will be watched, food will be eaten, halftime shows will be mercilessly mocked, and in the end, we'll crown the survivor of the 21-game full-contact marathon we call the NFL season.

This is cause for celebration, and while only the fans on one side will go home happy, there's no reason everyone can't end up a little tipsy. So in between stuffing your face with wings and doing an embarrassing amount of yelling at the TV, grab a drink and commemorate the best day of the year with Began in '96's First Annual Super Bowl Drinking Game.

The game is divided into four sections: Pregame, Super Bowl, Halftime and Postgame. But be on your toes, all the rules apply for the entire night. So if, God forbid, Madonna crashes the pregame ceremonies to describe what life was like before football, you best be drinking.

Note: A missed drinking opportunity is a two-drink penalty, plus 10 seconds of getting berated in the style of Tom Coughlin on Matt Dodge.

PREGAME

1. Someone says something complementary about the city of Indianapolis-- drink

We know, it's unlikely. But the pregame analysts have to introduce their segment with something, and a through-your-teeth "Welcome to beautiful Indianapolis, Indiana" goes over better than the far more honest  "Welcome to Indianapolis, the convention center capital of the world," or "Welcome to Indianapolis, where the only reason we're here is because the stadium's got a roof and we can't do Miami every year."

Bonus drink for mentions of city landmarks like the NCAA headquarters, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.

2. Soft-focus feature on the life story of one of players-- drink

Guaranteed to be at least one, and with Bob Costas in the mix, there may be more. Monologues and somber interviews, this is what NBC does. There are a ton of story lines here, from Eli Manning's football family to Rob Gronkowski's emergence to Mark Herzlich's journey from cancer victim to Super Bowl linebacker. If you're really committed, set odds on who NBC will end up going with.

Bonus drink for the phrases "unlikely hero," "out of nowhere," and "difficult upbringing."

3. A crossover feature with the NBC pregame crew and an advertiser-- drink and contemplate the future of media

It's no longer enough to say a segment is "brought to you by...," now advertisers want their product infiltrating the actual studio. And with half of a day to kill before kickoff, there's a very real possibility NBC could become the third network to interview the E*TRADE baby. We'd tell you to watch closely for these, but you'll know when you're getting bashed over the head with it.

Bonus CHUG if they actually interview the E*TRADE baby.

4. Someone says something about Tom Brady that's completely unrelated to football-- drink

He's rich. His girlfriend is a Brazilian supermodel. He's got impeccable features. He calls teammates "babe." Guys want to be him and girls want to be with him, and inevitably the conversation will steer toward Brady's off-the-field attributes. Go ahead, we know you want to throw your two cents in there. Just do it after you've taken a drink.

5. Overhead blimp shot of the stadium-- drink

Possibly the only reason blimps are still around is to provide that scenic overhead. Someone is working hard up in that awkward balloon; toast them before you take a sip.

SUPER BOWL

1. Camera pans to: Archie Manning, Peyton Manning, Cooper Manning, Eli Manning's wife and/or kid, Bill Belicheck in a cutoff hoodie, Tom Coughlin yelling, random celebrities-- drink

This could be a busy one, folks. There are so many stories sitting there on the sidelines and in the stands, and they'll be impossible for Michaels and Collinsworth to ignore. The more tense the game gets, the more NBC will be looking for the crowd reaction shots, especially if Eli is leading his usual fourth-quarter comeback.

Bonus drink for every mention of Peyton's neck or what he means to the city, or Archie Manning and what he means to Peyton/Eli or the city of New Orleans.

Bonus drink for a David Spade sighting.

Bonus CHUG if an announcer talks about how Cooper Manning was once the best of the clan.

2. Manningface-- drink

Ah, the Manning face. Is there anything more amusing? Be on guard for these whenever a play goes wrong, Eli overthrows his receiver, or something just plain smells bad on the field.

Bonus drink if the camera cuts from an Eli Manningface directly to a Peyton Manningface.

3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is referred to as The Law Firm-- drink

It's because he has a lot of names. Get it? It's also a crutch for announcers trying to describe what is otherwise perhaps the most perfectly average back in all of the NFL. Green-Ellis is most likely to get carries around the goal line, as the Pats will probably go with the quicker Stevan Ridley or the better receiver in Danny Woodhead outside of the red zone.

4. Chris Collinsworth takes advantage of a break in the game to gasbag about the good ol' days-- drink

Collinsworth is an excellent analyst who is often able to break down every part of a play in the time it takes us to reach for the bag of chips. In exchange for that vast knowledge, though, we have to put up with some nostalgia. Okay, a lot of nostalgia. Collinsworth has a ton of stories from his playing days, and given the chance, he'll launch right into them.

Bonus drink if it's an excessive celebration penalty that sets Collinsworth off.

5. Someone mentions that Victor Cruz was an undrafted free agent-- drink and yell Cruuuuuuuz

Cruz is one of the best stories of this NFL season, and should play a major role in the Super Bowl. He's torched almost every team he's played this season, and New England's porous pass defense should have its hands full. More catches means more screen time for Cruz, and you can be sure someone will point out (perhaps multiple times depending on how serious they're taking the drinking game) that Cruz was initially shunned by the league.

Two bonus drinks if someone points out that Cruz was a one-star recruit coming out of high school.

6. Brady pouts over not getting a roughing the passer call-- drink

Being a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback comes with its privileges, and one of them is favorable treatment from the referees. Brady is one of the best in the pocket, and also one of the best actors after the play, often getting a call if a defender breathes on him too hard. But should a ref have the nerve to overlook one of these offenses, you can bet Brady will throw a tantrum.

Bonus drink if the ref throws a flag after Brady starts his pouting.

7. Someone tells you the commercials are the best part of the Super Bowl-- drink until you can forgive them

There's at least one at every Super Bowl party. They walk in front of the TV, ask who's playing, spend most of the game chit-chatting, and then shush everyone when the commercials come on. Yes, it's cool that companies put effort into these ads rather than just bombarding you with their Discount Double Check every five minutes. But this is the age of YouTube and blogs. If you miss one, it won't be lost to the ether forever.

Bonus drink for every commercial that features a trained animal, man in underwear, or robot.

HALFTIME

1. Madonna opens halftime with a song that's more than 20 years old-- drink for as many seconds as years since it came out, then drink again for knowing when the song came out

Super Bowl viewership is still dominated by the older crowd, and after the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake fiasco, we might never see another performer under 50. Enjoy the dulcet tones of Madonna's reanimated corpse, break down the first half, and be thankful Will.i.am isn't up on stage again.

2. Clips of David Tyree's helmet catch or Vinatieri's field goal through a blizzard-- finish your drink, then crush the can on your head or placekick it into the trash can, whichever applies

Neither moment will ever get old for their respective fan bases, and that's as it should be. Every franchise should have at least one moment that it can hold onto forever, and these two teams have gotten theirs within the past 15 years. When one of these clips is shown, every fan of that team has to say where he/she was when it happened, then take a bonus drink.

3. Tim Tebow is mentioned, or someone in the room Tebows-- drink

Don't think you can escape a Super Bowl without someone invoking his name. Outside of the now traditional presidential pregame interview, Tim Tebow could spark the most heated debate of the night. Just make sure it's settled before the third quarter.

Bonus drink if someone trolls the entire room by saying God wants Tim Tebow to win.

4. Bob Costas' monologue makes you feel bad about yourself-- chug until the sad goes away

No one has perfected the "light scolding" voice like Bob Costas, and he should be in top form at the Super Bowl. His monologue will most certainly couch football in the context of life as a whole, and if you feel slightly sadder and more confused afterward, he's done his job. Remember, Bob Costas isn't angry, he's just upset.

POSTGAME

1. Bob Kraft misses a high five-- drink

Even after all the wins, the Patriots' owner still has trouble with the simple high five. In what could end up a high-scoring game, Kraft will have plenty of chances to show off his celebration skills, meaning plenty of chances for those celebrations to go horribly, awkwardly awry.

Bonus drink if Kraft is wearing an I-banker shirt.

2. Unnatural pre-written speech by a member of the trophy presentation party-- drink

A lot of times a league sponsor will send a representative to say a few words about its partnership with the NFL and how proud it is to present the trophy to the...uh...let's see what's written here...I don't really watch football...Oh!...Patriots or Giants! Great match, guys. These are stilted, uncomfortable and the perfect opportunity to drink.

Bonus drink if the crowd boos Roger Goodell.

3. Ad for The Voice, coming up next on NBC-- drink

The show right after the Super Bowl always sees a bump in its ratings, and this year the lucky winner is NBC's knock-off version of American Idol. Drink while you can, because after the Super Bowl, you won't have a convenient excuse to reach for a beer every time one these insufferable ads comes on.

4. You make it through the entire night of Began in '96's Super Bowl drinking game-- finish your drink and call in sick for tomorrow

Congrats, you made it. Only seven more months 'til preseason starts.

We surely missed a ton of drinking opportunities, so put additional rules in the comments, and on behalf of the Began in '96 crew, Godspeed.

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By Neill Thupari

A Ravens fan looks back on the past season, and the heartbreaking game that ended it.

Before we get too deep into the tragedy that took place at Gillette Stadium, there are a few things that need to be ironed out:

1. That was one hell of a football game.

Full of momentum swings, fiery intensity and the teams' genuine dislike for one another, that was a great football game from start to finish. New England overcame an uninspiring performance by Tom Brady (22/36, 239 yards, 2 INTs and a 57.5 rating), and showed that their defense can and stand tall if need be. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (68 yards, 1 TD, 4.5 yards per carry) demonstrated what an average/subpar running back can do if a defense is primarily anticipating the pass. 

All kidding aside, there were plenty of times following turnovers when New England could have folded. Instead, they persevered and forced the Ravens to make big-time plays to beat them, which they fell dreadfully short of doing.

2. Lee Evans should have caught that touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining.

Sterling Moore ought to have a statute built for him in Foxborough. When I saw the attempted pass happen in real time, it looked just like a routine slap of the ball away, but on the slow motion replay, Lee Evans had possession of that ball and had one foot down. But before Evans' second foot came down, Moore knocked the ball out of his hands[1]. Credit goes to the refs, who made the right call on a bang-bang play.

3. The Patriots committed only one penalty for five yards all game. I am not going to expand further on this[2]. 

4. There’s a reason Billy Cundiff pushed his potential game-tying kick so far to the left. 

Cundiff went 28-37 on field goals this season. When he missed, his kicks routinely went right. I distinctly remember four or five of Cundiff’s misses that starting out looking good before fading to the right of the goalposts. On the missed field goal last night, Cundiff kicked from the right hash mark at the 32 yard line: prime territory for the fade to come into play. Aware of his penchant for pushing his kicks, Cundiff overcompensated and hooked it too far. Heartbreaking.

5. There should be no more questioning of Joe Flacco’s ability in the postseason.

I wrote yesterday that Sunday’s game was put up or shut up time for Joe Cool. Well, Joe did everything he could yesterday to lead his team to victory, short of catching his own balls and attempting his own field goals. Flacco outdueled his counterpart, finishing with 306 yards on 22 of 36 passing, with  2 TDs, 1 interception and a 95.6 QB rating. Flacco also took to the ground four times, putting his head down and barreling for 27 yards. He played downright impressive football, and had the Ravens come away with a W, I’m sure Flacco would have been lauded for ridding himself of his demons and carrying the team on his shoulders. Under tremendous scrutiny, Flacco demonstrated his true potential, and for that reason, Ravens fans should take some solace. The important questions facing the Ravens now surround the other parts of their team, and only time will shed light on the direction Baltimore goes next year.

Speaking of which…

Last July, I wrote a piece for Began in ’96 about the need for the Ravens to make one last run at the Super Bowl this year. The crux of that article rested on the fact that Baltimore’s window of opportunity was closing, and the thought of the Ravens making the playoffs four years in a row with no hardware to show for it would be devastating for fans of the Purple and Black.

Lo and behold, here we are. The Black Birds have suffered yet another gutwrenching loss in January, and my fears have come to fruition: Given multiple golden opportunities, the Ravens failed to capitalize on any of them, and fell far short of reaching their full potential.

This May, future Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis turns 36 years old, ancient by the standards of the NFL. Anyone who saw Ray struggling to keep up with tight ends and running backs in these past few playoff games knows he is well into the twilight of his career. 

“Is this my last time as a Raven? Absolutely not,” Lewis said Sunday night, and while his spirit is admirable, it's painfully apparent that his body is wearing down. 

Lewis’ fellow defender, Ed Reed, turns 34 this year, and his best days are behind him as well. Baltimore fans are too familiar with the sight of Reed failing to wrap up a tackle as he once was able to due to his lingering neck injury[3], or crumpling to the ground after another collision. The thought of him laying it all on the line for another 16+ games next year makes me cringe, to say the least. 

Even so, the fact remains that both Lewis and Reed may be back next year, and there is no question that they would enter training camp as hungry as ever. Still, I can't help but be saddened at what has transpired over the past four years in Baltimore. And although the Ravens are an above-average team with strong organizational pillars, I believe that this chapter in Ravens football history has come to a close. The harsh reality of these past few seasons persists amongst the players and fans alike, and unfortunately, it appears that the window to glory and greatness has been sealed shut.

That’s not to say it's all tears and unhappiness. Baltimore fans were treated to a four-year stretch where their team was the only one to make it to the playoffs each year. They made it to the AFC Championship twice, and the Ravens never played meaningless games. 

More importantly, over that time the city of Baltimore adopted the Ravens' swagger. Ball So Hard University shirts are prevalent throughout the city, and no matter where you dine, drink, read, or spend time around town, people are forever thankful for their Black and Purple Gang. The collective chip on the shoulder of Ravens players is now interchangeable with that of the citizens of Charm City and its surrounding areas, and there remains hope for a bright, successful, winning future in Baltimore.

I wrote last July that if the Ravens failed to make a trip to the Super Bowl this season, their fans would look back at these past few years as the treading water era, where the Ravens were constantly in the mix, but never went anywhere. While those things are still be partially true, I'm grateful for what this team accomplished over the past decade. They restored a culture of winning and hope to a city that had most of its sporting dreams dashed by the lamentable Orioles. As a changing of the guard looms in the Ravens' future, I am confident that the fans will not take for granted the spectacular careers of men like Lewis and Reed. Instead, they'll learn from their leadership and determination, and cheer on the next generation of players like Suggs, Ngata, Flacco and Rice.

But damn, it sure would have been nice to win that Superbowl.

[1] No, Patriot fans, Tom Terrific was not going to lead the Pats downfield for a game-winning touchdown with just 22 seconds left. Not against the Ravens. 

[2] I’m well aware that last week against Houston the Ravens did not record a single penalty. I’m not saying that was fair either, but just because Baltimore wasn’t called for a penalty last week does not forgive the refs this week for their blatant lack of calling penalties against New England. Again, I’m not saying this even cost the Ravens the game, it’s just an interesting stat. 

[3] The same neck injury that befell Peyton Manning, with the only difference being that Reed did not opt for surgery because he is almost positive that surgery will end his career completely.

The Week Ahead (all times EST)- Your guide to what to watch-- and what to watch for-- this coming week

College Basketball

Texas A&M at Kansas- Jan. 23 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Tennessee at Vanderbilt- Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. (ESPNU
Baylor at Oklahoma- Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Duke at Maryland- Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Harvard at Yale- Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
Texas at Baylor- Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. (CBS)
Mississippi St. at Florida- Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Eastern Illinois at Murray St.- Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Notre Dame at UConn- Jan. 29 at noon (ESPN3)
Michigan at Ohio St.- Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. (CBS)
NBA
Magic at Celtics- Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Pacers at Bulls- Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. (Comcast Sports Chicago/NBA TV)
Clippers at Lakers- Jan. 25 at 10:30 p.m. (FOX WEST/NBA TV)
NHL
Blues at Red Wings- Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (FSD+/NBCSN)
Bruins at Capitals- Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. (NESN/CSNB)
Flyers at Panthers- Jan. 24 at 7:30 (COMCAST/FOX FLORIDA)

In the Kitchen- Tracking the major hot stove stories

• Shortstop David Eckstein has retired from Major League Baseball at age 37. Eckstein played 10 years in the big leagues, winning a World Series MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. However, he will most likely be remembered as a point of contention between baseball's traditionalists-- who praised him as a "gritty" player with "hustle" and "heart"-- and the newer sabermetric crowd that criticized his lack of production. Viva El Birdos has a retrospective on Eckstein's career, his intangibles and his lasting impact on the game.
• The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Clayton Mortenson. Scutaro will likely end up at second base and hitting in the two hole, after the 36-year-old hit a career-high .299 last season.
• The Scutaro trade could have a ripple effect for the Sox, who are trying to free up cash to sign former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt. Also on Boston's wish list is outfielder Cody Ross, who would fill in for Carl Crawford while he recovers from wrist surgery.
• Closer Ryan Madson finally found a home, signing with the Cincinnati Reds for $8.5 million over the next year. The market for closers has dried up this offseason, forcing many to take short-term deals. Madson's contract includes a $11 million mutual option for 2013.
• Longtime New York Yankees backstop Jorge Posada is expected to announce his retirement early this week. The 40-year-old spent his entire career with the Yankees, but saw his role diminished last year as he struggled at the plate. Posada won four world championships during his time in New York.

Web Gems- The week's best, worst or strangest Internet sports finds

EA lawsuit doesn't mean Madden's exclusive is a license to be killed- Kotaku's Owen Good breaks down Electronic Arts' latest legal maneuvers and what they mean for the video game company's stranglehold on the NFL license.

What happened last night- Community news site Onward State explains the decisions and mistakes that led it to prematurely report Joe Paterno's death.

Yes, this is CBS host James Brown interviewing a fake baby- Fresh off of falsely claiming the scoop about Paterno's death as its own and then turning around and blaming Onward State when the news turned out to be premature, CBS further debases itself by "interviewing" the E*Trade baby. FOX later got in on the act as well

New generation of 49er success- The New York Times' Greg Bishop goes deep on the San Francisco 49ers.

Joe Flacco: An appreciation- Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Van Valkenburg pens an open letter to the Ravens' much-maligned quarterback.

Coming Up- What's next at Began in '96

• Tuesday: New Montana resident Jason Bacaj chronicles his first time skiing The Ridge.
• Thursday: Adam Cancryn on what Saturday night taught us about the media, and why it's not all bad
• Friday: Joe Schackman on the late Joe Paterno.

Ed. note- The story originally slated for Wednesday will run on Thursday instead.

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By Neill Thupari

With the NFL playoffs down to its final four, a breakdown of each team's championship hopes according to their (supposedly) most important player: their quarterback.

ESPN labeled the 2011-2012 NFL Season “The Year of the Quarterback,” which makes perfect sense because the four remaining teams heading into the Conference Championship weekend each have one of the few elite quarterbacks in the league.

It’s not like the new single-season passing-yard record holder was beaten last weekend by a team with a superior defense and a quarterback that had never won a playoff game (See Brees, Drew). It’s not like the other two quarterbacks who threw for over 40 touchdowns during the regular season have already exited the postseason due to their subpar efforts when facing comparatively strong defenses (See Rodgers, Aaron and Stafford, Matthew). But hey, it must be the Year of the Quarterback because ESPN told us so. 

So with that in mind, let’s rank the postseason's remaining signal callers, since their play and their play alone will be indicative of how their entire team will do on the road to Indianapolis.

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots: Playoff Record 15-5. Super Bowl Wins: 3. Playoff Stats: 4,770 yards, 38 TDs, 17 INTs. 

On the surface, this looks like a runaway for Brady and his incessantly gritty Patriot squad. No quarterback left has won as much as Brady in the playoffs, no quarterback left has played as well as he has all year (5,235 yards, 39 TDs, 65.6% completion rate), and no other quarterback is dating Giselle. His tight end combo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, combined with the ever courageous Wes Welker, means you’d be hard-pressed to find a defense that could stop this offensive juggernaut. I can tell you right now that the Ravens don’t have the defensive personnel to keep pace with the Pats, and I don’t believe the Giants or the 49ers do either. 

But, in true Belichickian form, Brady is downplaying his talent and accomplishments. This week Brady has been showering praise on the Ravens as “the toughest test” he has had yet this season. Keen observers of such obvious Patriot deflection know that behind closed doors, Brady is simply licking his chops at the thought of carving up the weak Ravens secondary and breaking his own record for most TDs in a playoff game. 

Pay no attention to the fact that the Patriots have not beaten a team that finished with a winning record this year. Forget about their 31st-ranked defense having played only four top-10 offenses all year, and while you do that, don’t worry about the fact that no team has ever finished with the 31st-ranked defense and won a Super Bowl. Pats fans, with Tom Brady at the helm, the Lombardi trophy is as good as yours.

2. Eli Manning, New York Giants: Playoff Record 4-4. Super Bowl Wins: 1. Playoff Stats: 1,574 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs. 

I learned this week on ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd that we, as fans, apparently do not give the younger Manning the credit he deserves. 

According to Tim Hasselbeck, former backup quarterback for the New York Giants, Eli would routinely study films and gameplans all week leading up to a Sunday contest, only to have coach Tom Coughlin come up to him on Friday night, sometimes even Saturday, with an entirely new strategy that Eli would have to learn in time for the game Sunday. To say that such a practice was unorthodox would be an understatement, but Hasselbeck said it astounded him how Eli would be so quick to learn, master and execute these complex gameplans, despite having mentally prepared himself for something completely different all week. 

I remember when Eli was coming out of Ole Miss and a big knock on him was that he wasn’t nearly as smart as big brother Peyton in terms of his football IQ. Apparently, he’s doing just fine in his neck of the woods, and depending on his playoff performance this year, there might be a debate over the better Manning brother when all is said and done. It doesn’t hurt that he seems to have Tom Brady’s number as of late, or that his defense is as ferocious as they come, preying on quarterbacks that want to throw the ball downfield and dictate their offense through the air. 

3. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens: Playoff Record 5-3. Super Bowl Wins: 0. Playoff Stats: 1,226 yards, 6 TDS, 7INTs. 

Despite Flacco’s rather stellar playoff record (especially for someone who’s been in the league for only four seasons), one glaring deficiency for Joe Cool is that he’s never actually had to win a playoff game by himself. Maybe this says more about the Ravens than Joe, but the fact of the matter is, Flacco has never had to put Baltimore on his back and singlehandedly lead them to victory in the postseason, so the jury is still out as to whether or not he could pull it off. Sure, he’s had flashes of brilliance in big games against the Steelers earlier this year, or on the road in Kansas City during last year’s playoffs, but he’s still prone to the occasional 137-yad, zero touchdown performance like we saw this year in Jacksonville. There hasn’t been a player this polarizing in Baltimore since Ravens fans faced the dilemma of rooting for felony murder defendant Ray Lewis.[1] 

Flacco’s been incredibly fortunate to have a top-tier defense each of his four years in the league, and because of that, he's never had to be much more than a great game manager. However, with a road trip to New England looming, it’s put up or shut up time for Flacco, and his performance this weekend will likely determine how he’ll be viewed in the annals of Raven history. Will he rise to the occasion, silence the critics and beat Tom Brady in a high-octane shootout? Or, will he shrink in the face of adversity, capping his potential in the NFL as a player that could never be a truly elite quarterback come playoff time? Either way, it’ll be interesting to watch. 

4. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers: Playoff Record 1-0. Super Bowl Wins: 0. Playoff Stats: 299 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs. 

Although the aforementioned quarterbacks share a wealth of playoff experience between them, Smith enters unchartered waters with a 49er squad that boasts the best defense in the NFC. However, Smith outdueled Drew Brees last week[2] in the most exciting game of the divisional round. He'll now have to do the same against a much better Giants defense.

Conventional wisdom states that the battle-tested Giants will wreak havoc on the pedestrian 49er offense, and Eli will lead them back to the promised land. No Giants fan is as easily convinced though, because they’re well aware that Eli and his crew are capable of throwing a stinker of two on their own as well, and a repeat of their past week’s excellent performance is no guarantee. 

As much as I would like to sit here and write about Smith’s potential as a playoff QB[3], the 49ers live and die by Vic Fangio’s defense. In fact, I like to think of them as a poor man’s 2000 Baltimore Ravens team. No offense to Smith, but if the 49ers had the 2000 Trent Dilfer, I’d probably bet on them to win the Super Bowl, no questions asked.[4] 

Seriously though, this defense didn’t give up a rushing touchdown until week 16 this season. That is truly remarkable. I got a chance to see the 49ers in person when they came to Baltimore on Thanksgiving, and I was shocked as to how incredibly fast their defense was. Led by Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers defense flat-out outplays their opposition. They swarm to the ball with an intensity and speed that I just haven’t seen in a lot of NFL teams. 

Nonetheless, on Thanksgiving, when the Ravens took a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, there was a palpable awareness throughout the stadium that there was no chance in hell San Fran was coming back, not with Alex Smith as their quarterback. Two months later and in the playoffs, I still feel the same way. If the Giants are able to get up by two or more possessions in this game, I just don’t think Smith is going to be able to carry his team back, not this year at least. 

[1] Obviously Ray eventually won over the fans and hasn’t looked back since. 

[2] Just writing and rereading that sentence made my head hurt.

[3] He’s on pace to finish the season with 897 yards, 9TDs and 0 INTs in the playoffs! 

[4] Okay, maybe that is completely insulting to Smith, but I still mean it.


Ed. note- A previous version said the Pats had not beaten any team with a winning record this year. Updated to clarify that they haven't beaten any team that finished the year w/ a winning regular season record.

Neill Thupari is Began in '96's DMV correspondent, and is finally an official resident of Baltimore.

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