The smoke has cleared and the Denver Broncos are left standing as the new NFL champions. With the end of the football season, college and pro basketball are getting their own taste of the Wild West as the race to the finish is ramping up.
National Football League (NFL)
Super Bowl 50
Starting the evening off right, Lady Gaga delivered on the national anthem. Decked out in a red glittery pantsuit and red eyelids, many fans wondered if she had other plans for the night.
The game was an old-fashioned duel with the Denver Broncos’ defense leading their team to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos carried the aging “Sheriff,” Peyton Manning, to his second Super Bowl victory. By winning likely his last game, the five-time MVP added to his already lofty legacy. Maybe more importantly, Peyton can finally show off his shiny Sherriff badge and two Super Bowl rings at family dinners with younger brother Eli Manning, who has two Super Bowl wins of his own with the New York Giants.
Carolina was 17-1 going into the game and had never trailed in the playoffs. Their defense played well but the blazing-fast Broncos’ defense smothered Carolina’s league-leading offense and stole the show.
As for the halftime show, Coldplay served up a memorable performance with an assist from Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, who broke out new material and announced a world tour right before her performance. Giddy up and get your tickets before they sell out!
Too busy snacking and missed the commercials? From avocados to Pokémon, there was plenty to see. Doritos once again delivered a quirky, witty ad with their ultrasound spot. Speaking of children, let’s see if the NFL and Seal are right and will we have a Denver baby boom in nine months.
NFL Awards
The NFL announced its post-season awards over the weekend and gave Carolina’s QB Cam Newton (MVP) and Coach Ron Rivera (Coach of the year) top honors. Maybe another trophy in the showcase can help overcome the Super Bowl loss.
Legendary Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre leads the 2016 NFL Hall of Fame class. Maybe he will wear his famous Wranglers at his inauguration in Canton, Ohio.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
In a Gotham letdown, the New York Knicks fired head coach Derek Fisher Monday only a year and half into the job. Fisher won five NBA titles as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers playing for former coach and current boss, Knicks GM Phil Jackson. Fisher couldn’t find the magic touch in New York as the team was 23-31, much improved from last season’s 17-65 record, but not good enough for long-suffering Knicks fans.
The Gold Rush continues…Once again an elite NBA team failed to outshine the Golden State Warriors. Despite 40 points and 14 rebounds from former MVP and Nike pitchman Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder became the latest victim on the Warriors’ quest to repeat as NBA Champions.
Oh Canada! At 35-16 the Toronto Raptors are the NBA’s best kept secret, having won 14 of their last 15 games and currently second in the Eastern Conference. The team is led by their two All-Stars: Kyle Lowry (21.1 points per game) and DeMar DeRozan (23.2 points per game). It doesn’t hurt to have Drake pulling for the team. Toronto is also hosting NBA All-Star Weekend, February 12-14.
The feel good story in the East is the #3 seeded Boston Celtics who are 9-1 in their last 10 games. The Celtics are led by 5’9” (he might actually measure 5’7” in socks) All-Star Isaiah Thomas putting up 21.4 points and 6.6 assist per game.
College Basketball
For only the seventh time in history both the #1 and #2 ranked college basketball teams lost on the same day. #1 Oklahoma fell to Kansas State 80-69 in Manhattan, Kansas Saturday. Oklahoma’s Player of the Year candidate Buddy Hield was held to 23 Points in the loss. 700 miles east, #2 North Carolina was defeated at Notre Dame 80-76.
WANTED: A Championship Title. Head Coach Jay Wright might have himself a winner this year as Villanova defeated Providence and All America guard Kris Dunn 72-60 Saturday, claiming the #1 ranking for the first time in school history. The party is on outside Philly.
In a battle of previously undefeated women’s college basketball titans, three-time defending champions Connecticut (23-0) traveled to Columbia, SC and dropped South Carolina (22-1) 66-54 Monday. UConn was led by two-time Player of the Year Breanna Stewart who put up 25 points and 10 rebounds.
True Grit. Check out a sneak preview of “Race”, the story of Jessie Owens, a champion who had to overcome so much to succeed. Race will be released next week.
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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