All right, before we get to the crazy Giants Packers game, let’s break down what we saw in the AFC Championship Game.

(1) I thought I was watching a CFL game with the amount of times both teams were operating out of the shotgun despite the cold weather.

(2) The Chargers actually had a shot to beat the Pats if it wasn’t for their lousy red zone offence. New England only had 36 more yards, but San Diego had to kick field goals from the 9, 6, 23 and 7 yard lines. You can’t beat the Patriots with field goals. Just ain’t gonna happen.

(3) Kevin Faulk once again came up big in the playoffs. People forget just how important he is to this team. The last time the Pats won the Super Bowl, Faulk had one of the biggest plays of the 2005 playoffs. In New England’s 20-3 win over the Colts, the Patriots faced a third-and-ten at their own six-yard line, up by only 10 points early in the 4th quarter. Faulk made his only catch of the game: an athletic 11-yard catch to convert that third down. The Pats went on to score a touchdown on that drive, and that catch ended any chances of a Colts comeback.

(4) The fact that Randy Moss had only one catch is much ado about nothing. He was the ultimate decoy and allowed Welker and Faulk to collect 15 catches.

(5) Brady had the flu, but still he was mediocre at best yesterday. His end zone interception was brutal. He locked on to a well covered Welker in the right flat, and then tried to force the ball to Ben Watson in the back of the endzone. Brady should have known better-- throw the ball out of bounds and take the three points.

(6) Best play of the game: Reserve WR Kelley Washington downing a Pats punt inside the five-yard line. Asante Samuel picked off Rivers five plays later, and the Pats scored quickly to take a 7-6 lead... a lead they would never relinquish.

(7) On a scale of 1-10, how angry do you think Fantasy Owners of Laurence Maroney are right now? He had only one game all year where he had more than 20 carries during the regular season, but has 47 carries in two playoff games.

(8) This might sound crazy but I say the Chargers should trade LaDainian Tomlinson right now. He will be 29 years old when the 2008 NFL season starts, and has about 3,000 carries/receptions on his career. The team would get multiple high draft picks, and would still have the effective combo of Michael Turner and Darren Sproles to run the ball. Did the Giants have a drop off after losing Tiki Barber? The Patriots were just as effective with Heath Evans as the tailback (yes, THE Heath Evans) as they were with Maroney. If there is anything we know about winning in the NFL, it’s that having an elite single RB is way down on the list of top priorities.

... as a Giants fan I need some more time to get my thoughts around what happened on Sunday. More to come on Tuesday.

Let’s get this blog thing going, shall we. Yes, I’ve finally entered the ‘Blog Generation’ … so let the corruption and blogging begin.

Now, before you all starting assessing my on-air likeness (and yes, I’m all natural), you’ve got to check out this guy. Remember the Boom-Goes-the-Dynamite dude? Who can forget that train-wreck? Well, this most recent ‘sports guy’ gives the Dynamite Kid a run for his money.

http://www.coedmagazine.com/entertainment/4884


That guy going on-air – bad decision. But it’s nowhere near as bad of a decision as this clown, deciding to tattoo the Patriots symbol on his head! What’s going through his head when he thought that was a good idea? Clearly, he wasn’t thinking about ever having a sex life again … EVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8guMii5Uuw


Anyway, let’s get to business and talk some footy. A story flying way under the radar last week managed to catch my eye. The coolest bald guy I know (aside from my father), the man, the icon, Zinedine Zidane expressed interest in following Mr. Beckham’s lead, coming to the MLS. To the North American soccer-hater out there (and we all know one of them), Zidane coming across the pond would give them more reason to think the league is on the road to bust. I can hear the comparisons to the NASL already! The same argument comes out every time – he’s a washed up soccer player, past there prime, coming to a league to make a lot of money while only helping the economics of the league short-term. The same person will also say in the MLS, a player like Zidane’s expected to score goals to appease the uneducated American soccer fan, which puts a premium on goal scoring and statistics instead of ball possession and mastery on the ball.

Okay, so now that garbage is out of the way, I’ll tell you what I think. Zidane to the MLS – make it happen, and make it happen now! Any soccer observer (casual or serious) will tell you the French playmaker was the best player (head-butts aside) in the 2006 World Cup. Theirs is no way a player of his pedigree’s skill-set has dropped significantly over the past year and a half. The reason why he retired after the 2006 World Cup had nothing to do with ability. He has now 35 and will undoubtedly be out to change the embarrassing image that brought an end to his illustrious career. What’s in it for the MLS?

I say instant credibility. It’s not as if Zidane’s a run of the mill veteran who performed well in some generic European league unbeknownst to the North American public. Zidane is an icon – dare I say the best of his generation. The influence he could have on the younger generations of Canadian and American players going through the MLS system could be invaluable. Zidane possesses the type of class and quality in his play that should be more readily preached in the MLS. To make it clear, I have no problem with the fast pace and long-ball driven style of the MLS. However, there are times when putting a foot on the ball and knocking it around not only provides style, but substance. If Zidane is actually serious about his desire to resurrect his career (and I think he is), the MLS should do all in there power to get his signature. The fans should not only demand it, but they deserve it! Hey, isn’t Toronto FC in the market for some good players?


What else’s on The Grill?
- I’ll be going 1-on-1 with Raptors rookie Jamario Moon Thursday night. Got a question for Jamario? Email me at gareth.wheeler@suntv.canoe.ca
- ‘Rock Band’ for Xbox 360 is amazing. It’s the ultimate party game.
- Check out HBO’s ROME. Although the series wasn’t picked up for a third season, the first two are definitely worth a watch.
- I’m going to see Peter, Bjorn and John Tuesday. I’ll let you know how it was.
- Also, Sun TV’s very own Tara Slone is playing the Tattoo Rock Bar on Queen St. Wednesday night. Tickets are $10. Drowning Girl is also playing.
- Chicago Bulls second-round draft pick Jameson Curry was arrested last week at 2:25am in Idaho last week for … get this, PUBLIC URINATION! Two questions: 1) What’s he doing out in Idaho at 2:25 am, and 2) Who hasn’t taken a leak in public?
- The Bud Light “dude” commercial … INCREDIBLE!
- Consider the Bills playing a regular season game in Toronto next season to be the equivalent of having one-foot out the door. Sorry fine citizens of Buffalo … I do sympathize.

I always love hearing from you - got a question or comment? Drop me a line at gareth.wheeler@suntv.canoe.ca

GW

Tonight's show:
-went really well, good chemistry btw. JACK ARMSTRONG, NEIL LUMSDEN & NORM RUMACK.
-Best part was Block 2 when both Neil and Jack had very strong and relevant opinions re: NFL owner's approroval of the Bills playing a regular season game in Toronto next season. Jack is a native of Western New York and, of course, Neil won 3 Grey Cups in his CFL career and has a son (Jesse) who many consider the brightest star in the league... Sun TV tonight @ 11:00pm.

Tomorrow's show:
-doing something a little different: A "battle of the sexes" show.
-Two hotties, Jill Clark (host of twentysomethingtv.com) and "The World's Sexiest Comedian" Nicole Arbour join the panel with the idiots Cauz and Wheeler. This could be extremely sexist. Personally, somewhat concerned in that we've never done a show like this, but whatever - worth a gamble.

And here's my favourite sports story of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAY0ISAWMW4

I've even heard a broadcaster or two in this city say this "blowing their wad" on-air and it leads me to this: WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH PEOPLE SAYING THIS? I mean, "blowing your wad"??? It's funny but almost timid, juvenile and entirely uncreative, ya know? I'm not so much offended as I am disappointed that they couldn't come up with something stronger. Something that's not such a "slip of the tongue" and more WOW-factor. And, if I'm right, if it IS a slip of the tongue, are these guys actually saying this in conversation? If you're with your friends, it better be sicker. If you're with the ladies, it best be slicker... man! Bust a nut!