Briefly.
I have about a 15-minute commute to work and am all over the place in terms of the radio varying from news, talk radio, sports radio and rock ‘n roll. This morning was mostly a rock morning and leading the way was Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”. Cranked it! I come into work and read a brief story about a Mercedes’ Super Bowl ad which will feature Peter Fonda, references to the 1969 classic flick “Easy Rider” and Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”. No kidding.
Trivia #1: Tom Brady is about to play in his 7th Super Bowl. What player is second having played in 6? Answer below.
Trivia #2: Difficult, but no as difficult as question #1. Who is the last player to win Super Bowl MVP without figuring in the scoring of a touchdown?
In its second year, the Women’s fantasy baseball camp in Fort Meyers is in full swing. For $2,500, 41 campers are attending the 4-day camp which includes instruction from former players the likes of Trot Nixon, Alan Embree and Rich Gedman, as well as games. The Yankees are the only other MLB team that holds such a camp.
What a shame it is that two MLB players died in separate car crashes in the Dominican Republic on the same day. Interesting that the country, whose roads are amongst the most dangerous, has now lost four current or former major leaguers to traffic accidents in recent years. DYK, a 2015 study by the World Health Organization found that the Dominican Republic had the highest traffic death rate in the Americas, with a rate of 29.3 per 100,000 habitants.
Jose and Ivan Favela, brothers, announced their engagements at the same time, had a joint wedding and, last weekend, became fathers within hours of each other. I don’t know, that’s just weird.
Amazon is now worth more than America’s 8 largest retailers combined – Best Buy, Macy’s, Target, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Walmart, Kohl’s and Sears.
“You’re gonna make it after all!” Or, in this case, not make it. R.I.P. MTM – (Sorry about that one)
So the Celtics are partnering with GE. Good for them.
The Toronto Blue Jays have named former Red Sox catcher Eric Wedge as “Field Coordinator”. Huh? They also named a guy, Ben Freakley Jr., as “Mental Health Coach”. (I’m not sure how this second one didn’t make my “sign of the apocalypse”)
The Knicks may be the NBA All-Name team of 2017. Check these: Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah, Mindaugus Kuzminskas, Sasha Vujacic and Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez. How did Derrick Rose and Ron Baker get on that team?!
Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Kyle Martin (3.38 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 66 2/3 innings for Triple A Pawtucket in 2016) played for none other than Calvin Schiraldi at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas. You may recall Schiraldi recorded the final out in the 1986 ALCS. (I don’t remember how the subsequent World Series worked out) – I only threw this in here because I haven’t heard Schiraldi’s name in so long.
The Duke Blue Devil’s men’s basketball team (15-5) has lost three of their last five games since Coach ‘K’ took a leave of absence for back surgery. Reports have it that the coach has banned the players from the locker room and told them they were no longer allowed to wear the Blue Devils gear. Hey coach, relax!
Headline of the Week: “Watch highlights from the epic NFL Pro Bowl dodgeball game”
In case you missed it, maybe on purpose(?), Tiger Woods shot a 4-over par 76 yesterday not hitting a fairway after the 7th hole.
I know it doesn’t matter but I’m just taking a guess here that Isaiah Thomas makes some noise at the all-star game on Feb 19th.
Speaking of which, I am not commenting on the Bruins.
Kraft Heinz Co. is calling an audible, giving its U.S. employees the day off following the Super Bowl, and pushing the rest of America to declare the day a national holiday. Millions of people call in sick or don’t show up for work the day after the most-watched football game of the year, and Heinz suggests making that day “Smunday” – a work holiday for all Americans. Kraft Heinz said it hopes Congress will take the idea and run with it. Kraft Heinz is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA., home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and its “Heinz Field” – go figure.
The current over/under (59) for the Super Bowl is the largest ever.
The Patriots have never covered as the favorite in a Super Bowl. The Falcons were 7-point dogs in their only appearance got lost by 15.
The NFC has been favored 26 times, the AFC 23 with one pick-em (the Malcolm Butler game).
The NFC is 26-24 straight-up against the AFC though recently the AFC has somewhat dominated winning 12 of the last 19. That streak came after a 19-game winning streak by the NFC.
Each of the past 7 Super Bowls have kicked off with a spread of 5 or less. From 1989-2000, the spread was a touchdown or greater.
Underdogs have won or covered 21 times in 50 games and lost against the spread 27 times. Two games ended as a push (XXXI GB/Pats and XXXIV St L/Tenn)
The Patriots have won the Super Bowl outright but didn’t cover twice. That has happened only six times in SB history.
The Patriots’ 24 playoff wins with Brady as the starter are more than that of 25 NFL franchises combined, including the Falcons.
Yes, this is a different Atlanta team and a different Patriots team. Still, Brady has faced (and beaten) the Falcons 4 times and has completed 64% of his passes for 9 TDs and 1 pick, and his 9.11 yards per completion is his best against any other NFL team.
This week’s sign of the apocalypse – The Toronto Blue Jays have named Ben Freakley Jr. as “Mental Health Coach”. (are you paying attention??)
Trivia #1 answer – Mike Lodish (with Buffalo in SB 25-28 and with Denver in SB 32-33)
Trivia #2 answer – Deion Branch in SB XXXIX)
“I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin’ with the wind
And the feeling that I’m under”
“Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you’re really strangers.” – Mary Tyler Moore
Ed's Head On Friday 