The Energon Pub

[Heavy B]

Stupid kicker

Im cool with admiting the Pats are the luckiest f'n team in the NFL

[First-Aid]

I hate kickers.

[USDA Prime]

Add another member to the "Playoff Scapegoat" club.

And once again all is right with the universe, as the Patriots take their rightful place as AFC champions, and soon NFL champions.

[SirSoundwaveIV]

I really hope the niners win, a giants/pats rematch in the super bowl just doesn't interest me at all :/

[First-Aid]

I really hope the niners win, a giants/pats rematch in the super bowl just doesn't interest me at all :/

Really? Good God, I would have thought that the entire sports world revolved around the Giants and Patriots in the Super Bowl. EVERYONE wanted it to happen! They did! There are polls and information and stuff that says that 97% of America roots for teams on the East Coast!

I knew it was going to happen...there is simply too much money to be made. It's like the new Survivor men vs women. A woman will win that- quote me on it (because if they don't feminists everywhere will sue because women are the physical superiors of men and couldn't possibly lose a physical challenge with them). AS it goes, Giants-Pats was an inevitability because the entire known universe revolves around what ESPN and the media believe to be what everyone wants to see.

[Heavy B]

I really hope the niners win, a giants/pats rematch in the super bowl just doesn't interest me at all :/

Really? Good God, I would have thought that the entire sports world revolved around the Giants and Patriots in the Super Bowl. EVERYONE wanted it to happen! They did! There are polls and information and stuff that says that 97% of America roots for teams on the East Coast!

I knew it was going to happen...there is simply too much money to be made. It's like the new Survivor men vs women. A woman will win that- quote me on it (because if they don't feminists everywhere will sue because women are the physical superiors of men and couldn't possibly lose a physical challenge with them). AS it goes, Giants-Pats was an inevitability because the entire known universe revolves around what ESPN and the media believe to be what everyone wants to see.

FIRST, You got some issues to be worked out.

SECOND, I wanted to see the niners win because they havn't been to the super bowl in quite a few years. That, and I F*CKIN hate New York teams

[First-Aid]

I know i have issues. Believe me. But my point is valid. Any two weeks at any point of the year watching ESPN- the "WOrld Wide Leader in Sports". SPecifically, watch Sportscenter. Record it. Then go back and break down the amount of time spent on the following teams (without regards to how poorly or good they are doing): New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, BOston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys. If you break it down numerically, these teams make up a total of 6.5% of the sports teams in the four major sports. However, by percentage of time per one hour broadcast, on the average, per day they receive more than 48% of the coverage. So, at any given time, nearly half of any broadcast focuses on these eight teams and their players/owners etc. It is honestly as if the rest of the sports world does not exist. I'm very glad I have spent the last few years in a pro hockey locker room that has the Canadian version of ESPN (TSN) so that there is a much more balanced approach to ALL sports teams. They spend as much time on the Kansas City Royals as they do the Yankees or Red Sox. THe point is this: ALL major media outlets are located in the New York City area (Bristol is close enough). As a result these people see the fans of these teams every day and become convinced that, since everyone around there roots for them, it is the same way all over the rest of the country. Also, since that area has so much money floating around as compared to other regions, they think that if they cater to these fans then more money will come their way in advertising and the like. This is the main reason ESPNs ratings continue to drop and why all of a sudden CBS and NBC are getting into the sports channel business. THey have realized that a huge percentage of fans are disenchanted and annoyed with ESPNs coverage and reporting (they also realized that there is a bit of money involved) and they are ready to offer an alternative. Case in point: when ESPN did their "Who We Lost in 2011" segment, they completely ignored the fact that and ENTIRE PRO HOCKEY TEAM DIED in a plane crash last year. They also ignored Bob Probert- who was an exceptional hockey player- and several others. WOrldwide Leader my ass. If it doesn't pad their pocketbooks (in their biased eyes) then they won't talk about it. But they would make more money if they appealed to a larger fan base. Why focus on 7% of the fans when you can include 70-80%? Why take 7 cents of a dollar when you can take three bits?

I agree with you on New York teams and this is most of the reason. My other complaint is Bill Belechick. I still don't understand how a coach who has been caught cheating TWICE by the NFL still is coaching. It's because of the conceived popularity of the Patriots and the money they make. They've cracked down hard on PEDs...why they can't do the same for coaches who send people to sneak in and videotape opposing teams practices and coaching signals is beyond me. As far as I am concerned, everything he has won should have an asterisk.

ANyways, by this reasoning, a Giants-Patriots Super Bowl was inevitable if you look at it from a conspiracy point of view. A Ravens-Niners SB would have been much more interesting to the rest of the country- first ever brother vs brother as head coach, Ray Lewis playing in maybe his last Super Bowl, the turnaround of the Niners and Alex Smith...way more storylines in that to interest the rest of the country. But they are smaller markets...I mean how many fans can they really have? After all, they have proof and polls and stuff that says they have to divide up 3% of the nation's fans with 114 other sports teams. It really can't be that many, and they won't make money off of it.

A good chunk of this is sarcasm, but the main points are valid. ESPNs viewership has dropped nearly 40% over the last 5 years. The main reason is that alternatives are popping up that actually cover the teams tha majority of fans- the 3%- want to see and hear about. Occupy ESPN!

[Heavy B]

While your numbers are valid, you have to realize that to give ALL TEAMS equal time would require more time then possible. The pats, the lakers, the yankees, they are all big money teams. It may be a catch 22, but ask anyone who the star player on the lakers is, and they will say "Kobe Bryant." Ask anyone who the star player of the toronto raptors is, and they will say "Canada has a basketball team?" And this is mostly due to news worthy stories and winning titles. Nobody outside Miami gave two sh*ts about the heat until lebron went king douchebag on cleavland. Hell, in the 90's, I wouldn't be surprised if 15 minutes of every episode of Sportscenter was focused on Michael Jordan. Thats just the way the system works.

[Court Jester]

Cundiff is Einhorn!

[First-Aid]

While your numbers are valid, you have to realize that to give ALL TEAMS equal time would require more time then possible.

On a station that is all sports 24 hours a day seven days a week? They have all the time in the world.

Cundiff is Einhorn!

LACES OUT!

[USDA Prime]

Now you all know that I'm a hardcore Patriots fan. But I would like to take a moment to give the Giants their due. Despite the fact they play in New York, the Giants as well as Eli Manning and their coach Tom Coughlin have been either overlooked or villified. I tip my hat off to all of them, even though I hope the Pats stomp their asses on Super Bowl Sunday.

- If Eli Manning had played like this any other year he would be one of the most talked about QBs in the league and a top choice for MVP. Unfortunately for him his best season happened in the "Year of the Quarterback". Between Brees breaking Marino's record (as well as Brady and Stafford breaking 5,000 passing yards), Rodgers leading the Packers to a near-perfect season, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton breaking all rookie expectations, and Tebow-Mania, Eli has been mostly off the radar. Hell, his brother Peyton got more attention and MVP consideration for not taking a single snap.

- Tom Coughlin seems to be the most hated man in New York sports who doesn't work in Boston despite all his success. He's had one losing season (his first) and won a Super Bowl. Yet there's constant talk about him getting fired. Rex Ryan keeps opening his mouth and promising Super Bowls and New York fans eat it up (though they're clearly getting sick of it by now). I guarantee you that even if the Giants win the championship this year, next year the New York fans will be yelling for Coughlin's head after the first loss.

- The Giants were not the most talked about team in their division or even their own town. More attention was given to the Jets own dysfunction and loud mouth coach, the Eagles falling flat on their "Dream Team" talk in the preseason, and the Cowboys constantly shooting themselves in the foot. Tell me I'm wrong, please.

So despite my love of the Patriots and my overall dislike for all things New York, I raise my glass and give a big thumbs up to the Giants. They earned it.

[USDA Prime]

So the Pro Bowl is today. Without any Pats playing (oh darn ) I probably won't watch, but is anyone else planning on?

[First-Aid]

Normally, I would watch it with my wife as we are going through serious football withdrawal right now. But I'm playing poker today.

In fact, I'm not even sure I'm going to watch the Super Bowl. I really have no interest- especially seeing as how the winner has been decided already. The real reason though is that, even around town here, I can't remember there ever being a Super Bowl that people really have cared less about. Seriously, I hope there's hockey on to watch...

[Blurrz]

Already knee deep in the NHL All-Star game. If I'll sober up maybe I'll last for the Pro Bowl..

[Court Jester]

[Heavy B]

That kid is screwed come teen years...

[First-Aid]

Time to see if all the rumors are true. Here's hoping they aren't.

[Rodimus Prime]

New York GIANTS!!! F**k the Patriots!!!

[Heavy B]

i need a drink.

[First-Aid]

New York GIANTS!!! F**k the Patriots!!!

I stand corrected. And gladly so. Congrats to the New York Giants.

[Marcus Rush]

man that was a new definition to a snooze bowl. Congrads to the Giants, but regardless, it was decidedly an underwhelming game.

[Blurrz]

Well, see you guys next season.

[First-Aid]

man that was a new definition to a snooze bowl. Congrads to the Giants, but regardless, it was decidedly an underwhelming game.

We watched the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet earlier...that was pretty awesome, even though the puns by the announcer were horrible. i highly recommend it...my head nearly exploded from the epic adorable cuteness.

See you at the draft, everyone!

[Cyber Bishop]

man that was a new definition to a snooze bowl. Congrads to the Giants, but regardless, it was decidedly an underwhelming game.

Agreed..

Two undeserving teams play in the biggest game of the year..
Undeserving I said..

The during the regular season the Pats did not beat anyone with a winning record (8-8 is not a winning record) and the Giants barely squeaked in (9-7... ugh)..

Baltimore vs SF would have been a great game
Saints vs Baltimore would have been a great game

Denver or Houston vs SF would have been a slaughter
Denver or Houston vs Saints would have been a slaughter

But what's done is done. Congrats to the Giants on their win!