It's a Local Thing

So the Bears pulled it out and got to the Super Bowl. I have to admit that I was one of those who didn't think Rex Grossman had it in him to lead his team to this kind of victory, but he's done an admirable job in the post season. Chicago is certainly feeling very pleased with its team at the moment. But as far as I'm concerned, the vast majority of credit for this victory goes to Lovie Smith. To borrow a hoary old--yet applicable--cliche, this Bears team is far more than the sum of its parts. Lovie has brought out the players strengths to shine together at precisely the same moment, and it's certainly paying off for the time being.

Over in the other league, Peyton Manning came through against the expectations of just about everybody. His reputation for not having enough to win the big game now serves as a punch line along the lines of "Is the Pope Catholic" in totally unrelated contexts. If a couple of plays had gone the other way, he'd still have that reputation, but he came through when it was important, and that's all that matters in the long run.

But what's that going to mean for the big game in a couple of weeks? The two quarterbacks are each on the top of their games (for the moment), but they could slip at any minute. Grossman can be erratic, and Manning just might not rise to the occasion--if we're not careful, it could be a race to the bottom.

One thing that does make Super Bowl XLI significant (and no, you definitely haven't heard it here first) is that it's the first one that will involve a team helmed by a black coach. And look, it's actually two teams with black coaches. So no matter what, we'll have a black coach winning the Super Bowl. Yes, it is about time. Has anybody heard if Rush Limbaugh's had anything to say on the subject? Just a couple of days ago, Atrios quoted him thusly:

Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.

Surely he's not going to pass up another chance to weigh in on the subject.