NFL Playoffs - Sat. 1/10

[franksolich]

Ditto for the Colts (and I hate the Colts).

Surely you jest, madam.

Indianapolis?

My God, surely not Indianapolis.

[NHSparky]

Few things, once transplanted, do as well has they had done on their original soil.

I can't think of any professional sports team that has.

(snip)

But I can't think of any professional sports team that has.

Edited to clarify. 

Let me help you:

Los Angeles (formerly Brooklyn) Dodgers--One WS win before 1958, five wins since.

Atlanta (formerly Boston and Milwaukee) Braves--World Series win in 1995, five WS appearances, and until 2006, 16 divisional titles since 1991.

Oakland (formerly Philadelphia and Kansas City) A's--5 WS titles before moving to Oakland, 4 more since--and 2 more WS appearances.

Even the storied and hated Yankees, they of the 26 World Series titles, were formerly the Baltimore Orioles in 1901-02.

About the only team which HASN'T had the success they enjoyed prior to their move (and this should make freedumb2003 VERY happy) would be the San Fran (formerly New York) Giants, who have been to the WS 3 times (losing to the Yankees in 1962, the A's in 1989, and the Angels in 2002).  While in New York, they won 14 pennants and 5 WS titles.

St. Louis Rams--No Super Bowl titles before moving to St. Louis.  Two NFL championships, one in Cleveland, one in Los Angeles (pre-Anaheim).

Baltimore Ravens--Formerly Cleveland Browns.  Won Super Bowl two years after moving to Baltimore.  Cleveland remains one of six NFL teams never to have played in a Super Bowl game, the others being Jacksonville, Detroit, New Orleans, Arizona, and Houston Texans.

Speaking of Baltimore--

Indianapolis Colts--Won one Super Bowl when they were in Baltimore, one in Indy.

Tennessee Titans--Formerly Houston Oilers--Appeared in Super Bowl, losing to transplanted Rams.

Decatur Staleys--Became the Chicago Bears in 1921.  I think we all know how they turned out.

Boston Redskins--Became Washington Redskins in 1937.  Again, a storied franchise.

National Hockey League:

I'd get into this in greater detail, but aside from the "Original Six" (Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Black Hawks), virtually every major franchise has moved at some point or another.  A few recent Stanley Cup winners:

Carolina Hurricanes--formerly Hartford Whalers
New Jersey Devils--formerly Colorado Rockies, formerly Kansas City Scouts
Colorado Avalanche--formerly Quebec Nordiques
Dallas Stars--formerly Minnesota Northstars

So you get my point.

[NHSparky]

Actually we should all be rooting for Eagles/Ravens as the Red October residence will be the place to be, and blog live from that night.   Who needs superbowl commercials when you have a couple who normally adore each other become bitter rivals over the span of 4 hours.    They have children too.    Ooh the possibilies..........   

As I will be preparing for my sojurn to the frozen wastes of Flatlandiuscornfedius (aka Iowa) that weekend, I want pics.  Lots and lots of pics if this happens.  I want newspaper clippings.  Television news stories.  YouTube videos posted and going viral.

To be in that household should it happen (but sorry Scoob, it ain't) would be worth any price just to witness the spectacle.

[NHSparky]

I have to disagree with most of this.   Check out the stats for Dodgers attendance, they are anything but mediocre and enjoy a very large fan base.   Ditto for the Colts (and I hate the Colts).     

Teams move to make money.    Expansion teams (as you suggest Cities practice) is something that you can't just raise your hand and say -- hey, we are going to have a professional sports team here.    It has to be approved by the powers-that-be.    The NFL is not looking to expand, so buying established teams is the only option.

Which is why the Los Angeles market, second largest in the nation, currently has NO NFL franchise, despite having two MLB teams, two NHL teams, and two NBA teams.

Then again, were I a prospective NFL owner, I wouldn't want to park my team in any currently available venue in the LA area.  They're either too small (Home Depot Center), not configurable (Dodger and Anaheim Stadium), or too crappy (Rose Bowl and Coliseum).

[franksolich]

Thanks for the illumination, Sparky, sir.

Other than the abysmal post-New York Giants, I wasn't aware of much of this.

But now one is compelled to ask--how much do these teams in their new cities cost the taxpayers, as compared with when they were in their original cities (post-1957 and on)?

I'm under the impression--gotten from quickly reading the sports pages here and there over several years and a few decades--that teams in their original cities cost the taxpayers nothing even close to what they cost the taxpayers in their new locales.

I know, for example, that BadCat is paying a Hell of a lot more for the stolen Cardinals, than just the price of the ticket to see a game.

And even all these financial "incentives" are no guarantee--fans of the nouveau Cardinals, take note--I forget which professional sport it was, but didn't the taxpayers of Seattle agree to finance some sort of Pentagon-sized luxury stadium, and once that was passed and construction begun, the team moved to Oklahoma anyway?

[formerlurker]

You know what?  the Eagles really suck.

Remember when the Pats killed this piss poor Cardinals team? 

Lord what a waste of a year, an 8-8 team going to the SB.  There should be a law against it. 

[formerlurker]

As I will be preparing for my sojurn to the frozen wastes of Flatlandiuscornfedius (aka Iowa) that weekend, I want pics.  Lots and lots of pics if this happens.  I want newspaper clippings.  Television news stories.  YouTube videos posted and going viral.

To be in that household should it happen (but sorry Scoob, it ain't) would be worth any price just to witness the spectacle.

It won't be happening my friend. Sigh. 

[Chris_]

Cards are in -- Warner had a QB rating of 147!!!!

That sag in the 3rd quarter will be noted closely by the winner of Pgh/Balt.

So far I am pleased.  So is the NFL.

[Carl]

Have there been any other signs that the universe has come to its end?

[formerlurker]

Cards are in -- Warner had a QB rating of 147!!!!

That sag in the 3rd quarter will be noted closely by the winner of Pgh/Balt.

So far I am pleased.  So is the NFL.

Which I am sure is the reason why that pass interference call wasn't made..........

[jendf]

Have there been any other signs that the universe has come to its end?

Seriously. What's next?

[BlueStateSaint]

Have there been any other signs that the universe has come to its end?

Well, a socialist is going to be inaugurated POTUS in a tad over 40 hours.

Anything else?

[Chris_]

Which I am sure is the reason why that pass interference call wasn't made..........

Oh brother here it comes....

[Odin's Hand]

Which I am sure is the reason why that pass interference call wasn't made..........

As an impartial witness, I agree. Kevin Curtis should've been saddled on that play and not even a flinch by the Side Judge or Back Judge.

[Red October]

You know what?  the Eagles really suck.

Remember when the Pats killed this piss poor Cardinals team? 

Lord what a waste of a year, an 8-8 team going to the SB.  There should be a law against it. 

Couldn't agree more.  I can't take this shit year after year. 

[Red October]

Which I am sure is the reason why that pass interference call wasn't made..........

That was a definate hook up, but there's no way we should've been fourth and ten to begin with. 

I can't tell you how pissed I am right now.  McNabb and Reid need to be gone.  Time to clean house and rebuild. 

[Red October]

Oh brother here it comes....

Don't worry, they'll hook up the Steelers.  Again.    Hey look... "roughing the punter!"   

[Red October]

My frustation aside, congratulations to Jen.  Under ordinary circumstances, I love to see a team like this do well.  I'm happy for the fans who never get to see a winner finally get their due. 

[Chris_]

My prediction is the line will be Pgh +8

[BlueStateSaint]

Polamalu running back that INT was the capstone.

If PIT +8 is the line, that should be a good one.

[formerlurker]

Don't worry, they'll hook up the Steelers.  Again.    Hey look... "roughing the punter!"   

I must have rewinded that 10 times to laugh out loud on how bullshit that call was.   Ridiculous.

[formerlurker]

That was a definate hook up, but there's no way we should've been fourth and ten to begin with. 

I can't tell you how pissed I am right now.  McNabb and Reid need to be gone.  Time to clean house and rebuild. 

I hear you, but that was a 1st down.   

[BlueStateSaint]

I must have rewinded that 10 times to laugh out loud on how bullshit that call was.   Ridiculous.

I fully agree that that call was bullshit.  Though, there could very well have been a couple of roughing the passer calls against the Ravens, too, throughout the game that weren't called.

[formerlurker]

I fully agree that that call was bullshit.  Though, there could very well have been a couple of roughing the passer calls against the Ravens, too, throughout the game that weren't called.

Had the Steelers managed their clock a little better they would have scored.   Total game changer on momentum.     You just can't make bad calls like that in a playoff game. 

Roughing the passer is a judgment call.    Ben got slammed good though many times throughout the game, but that's football. 

The Steelers will get another ring, as the team they are playing have been on borrowed time.     Kurt Warner brought his team an 8-8 season, and through ridiculous circumstances punched their ticket to the playoffs.    The game will be over by halftime, if not earlier.   

How is that you are a Mets and Steelers fan?   

[BlueStateSaint]

Had the Steelers managed their clock a little better they would have scored.   Total game changer on momentum.     You just can't make bad calls like that in a playoff game. 

Roughing the passer is a judgment call.    Ben got slammed good though many times throughout the game, but that's football. 

The Steelers will get another ring, as the team they are playing have been on borrowed time.     Kurt Warner brought his team an 8-8 season, and through ridiculous circumstances punched their ticket to the playoffs.    The game will be over by halftime, if not earlier.   

How is that you are a Mets and Steelers fan?   

Umm . . . The Cards' record, at last check, is 12-7 with their postseason wins, which would have made them 9-7 at the end of the regular season.  As to how I'm a Mets' and Steelers' fan, I have zero expletive-deleted idea.  (Just lucky, I guess . . . )

Also, according to FoxSports.com, the early line out of Vegas is Steelers +6 1/2.