We're Dancing!!!

Hey Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnnnnn the Buildin'....

There is no more pride than having your school enter into the Mayhem that is March Madness. I have been lucky enough to witness my team do this now twice, as an affiliated member of the American University Blue Crew, who cheers on the Eagles any chance she gets.

My team may not be well known, but these 2013 Patriot League Champs have had one heck of a season and now they have a shot of entering into the NCAA tourney and doing some amazing things.

We had our moment in glory, being the only team on Wednesday, March 12 with a title game and punching our ticket first to enter the NCAA tourney. That moment only lasted briefly because come Friday and Saturday the glory moments went to bigger known teams and larger institutions.

But on Selection Sunday, my institution with all of the pride supported our AU Eagles in learning who their team would be playing in the first match-up.

So who are we playing #2 Wisconsin.... A Big 10 school, does AU have what it takes. Here is what I can say about this team. They have grown immensely. Two years ago the Eagles played Nebraska ( I believe) and got whopped, like 30 point spread whopping! But this season the Eagles played another Big 10 school, my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes. And the team did well! They improved in areas of struggle from their last Big 10 meetup. And they lost to Ohio State by 10 points!

While I don't know how far the team can go. I am rooting for my boys to pull the upset and put a little known school on the map for taking down a #2, Big 10 team called Wisconsin!

#GOEAGLES

Before the Madness begins-- My #BIG10 Predictions

Hey Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnn the Buildin'!

 I am bringing you my predictions before March Madness gets underway. Predictions? Big 10 of course!

For those of you who need the reminder, I am an Ohio State Buckeyes fan-- O-H! I was born and spent my childhood in the great Buckeye state, and while I haven't lived in the state for almost 16 years and actually haven't visited in almost 12 years, I am a diehard fanatic and have so much pride when it comes to my home state.
 So with that, as a child, I lived in a town called Athens, Ohio- home of the Ohio University Bobcats. And aside from them, the only "State" team to watch and root for were the Buckeyes- not that I was complaining living an hour and a half outside of the capital. I mean, pro football and basketball weren't really topping the charts back in my growing up years.

It is no wonder that I still have a HUGE affinity to the Scarlet and Grey.

So here we are on the cusp of what is called March Madness and before the crazy happens I go to what I know, the Big 10 Conference.

So let the predictions begin.. And for the record, you are all witnessing my first go at an NCAA Bracket, because I have NEVER done this. 

So let's see 

Final scores for those interested can be seen at the Big 10 results page

Results comments are in bold 

Round 1

Game 1- Indiana (WRONG- Illinois came out with the win) 

Game 2- Ohio State *** DUH! (DUH) 

Game 3- Minnesota (DUH)

Game 4- Iowa (Northwestern)

Round 2

Game 5- (I'm calling upset, and yes it IS because I can't stand Michigan) Indiana (Whelp, Illinois ruined my chances and Michigan took it)

Game 6- Ohio State*** DUH (It wasn't easy but we rallied and took the game) 

Game 7- Wisconsin (DUH)

Game 8- Michigan State (DUH)

Round 3

Game 9- Ohio State*** DUH and if it's even against Michigan-- EVEN BETTER!! (Well one thing was right.. It was against Michigan.. and unfortunately the "Yellow Mustard" as their uniforms were, took it against my boys... AND mind you if Aaron Craft hadn't made that flub, it could have been ours.. But I know that's what everyone says.. "If so and so did this..." Yeah I'm bitter)

Game 10- Michigan State (DUH)

Round 4

Game 11- Michigan State (even if my team doesn't make it far, I am pulling for Michigan State) ( I called it... Ohio State got whooped in Football Big 10 and in the basketball game that followed against Michigan State. Magic's boys (Magic Johnson- aka the guy who got me to fall in love with the LAKERS, well thank my dad who had me watch his games), have been playing phenomenally and it was even sweeter to watch the win happen against those cold boys in BLUE... #MichiganSTILLSucks! 

Let the fun begin!!

That's all she wrote folks! 

(updated with the final outcomes on 3.16.2014-- Selection Sunday) 

The things that will always catch my eye...

Hey Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnn the Buildin'... If you follow my posts on Twitter @njc89, I mentioned that I was feeling like I was getting my NFL Drought over with. What does that mean? I am a HUGE NFL fan, well correction, Football is my sport, whether it be in college or pro. And then other sports come second. When football season is over I tend to go into hibernation until championships for conferences, playoffs for NBA and World Series moments begin to dominate ESPN.

Well, today I got hooked back into NBA, which is saying a lot considering, despite today's win, my team #Lakers, have been the bottom of the NBA this season.

Anyway, I digress. While I am supposed to be over the drought there are always going to be moments that catch my eye and make me go back to my one true sports love.. Today, the post was about former Steelers player Rashard Mendenhall who is now retiring from the league at 26.

Reading the article, where he decided to tell his fans that he was retiring was interesting. Because it still didn't answer the question why? I mean he's 26, in this life, while it's not perfect, this is not the time you would normally see an NFL player retiring, except when they are not healthy- and there in lies Rashard's situation. While it might not be the cause of him ending his career, it is a logical reason for anyone looking at the course of his career to realize why. Having torn his ACL early in his career and then recovering from a shoulder injury, it's not easy in this game to really bounce back. For some it reads liability and in a day and age where salary caps matter, the financial burden that an organization would take on an injury prone athlete is not very likely to raise high on the spectrum. It's sad though, because as fans you genuinely like the players that you cheer for day in and day out. I like Mendenhall as a Steeler, I was sad to see him go to Arizona and there were times that I definitely cheered for him in Arizona, but the reality is they are athletes, their job is to have a healthy body, and for some that is limiting.

I wish him well and hope that whatever the next step in his journey it is a fruitful one.


That's all she wrote folks.....

March Madness... but not the kind you think

Hey Y'all it's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 INNNNNNNNNNN the Buildinnnnnnnnnnnn! It's been a while. I realized that after football season ended I have nothing to comment on really. I mean think about it Baseball and Basketball season involve sooooooo many more games, you have to wait until the playoffs to really comment on anything substantial, because-- like I am REALLY going to comment on Lebron's 61pt game-- well his record, streak, whatever it was ended today with Los Spurs mollywhop against them. But the reality is, Lebron was the reason I started this blog, but he will not be the reason that I continue this blog..

Anyway.. What I am trying to say is that as much as I like those two sports, you really do have to wait for the games to turn up before you can get super excited.. So here I am at this D1 Institution- Go American University Eagles. And we have had a great year. Our Men's Basketball team went undefeated for the majority of the season in the Patriot League and are doing well in the post season tourney within the League currently.

As much as I get a thrill and enjoy pro sports, I am in LOVE with college ball- Go Buckeyes, and when it was a choice to prioritize my education over my love of sports, I chose Ohio State. And while the sports life might not be what it is at Ohio State, I do get to enjoy the sports life here at AU.

So why am I writing this now, well the Eagles- GO EAGLES!! are playing amazing and I have been thrilled to be able to watch. Why is it so exciting? Because the last time the Eagles made it this far and got us all excited was the year before I arrived at AU and my first year here. Not only did we win our Patriot League Championship, but we also made it to the first round of the NAACP tourney... I am praying and hoping that we get there again.. But don't take my word for it.. Check out my team and tell me if we are worthy!



That's all she wrote folks...

Super Bowl XLVIII - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Hey Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 INNNNNNNNNN the Buildin'! I come to you with a heavy heart. On February 2, 2014 Super Bowl 48 cam and went and with it ended the 2013-2014 NFL season and with it goes my favorite fan glory days until May 8th with the NFL Draft and August when the preseason begins.

If you don't know, I LOVE sports, but I looooooooooooooovvvvveeeeee me some NFL. There is something about that sport that literally gets my blood going and really excites me, that I don't get from other sports that I watch. Regardless of what team is playing, I can scream as if I am a fan of that team. But I digress, we are here to recap the Super Bowl, which by now has probably been dissected in several different ways, but you now get to hear from one of the best ;)

So, Saturday I posted my predictions regarding the Super Bowl-- Not to toot my own horn, but toot toot! I was on point with my predictions!

The recap.... In what could be considered the biggest blowout in this decade the Seattle Seahawks provided a butt whoopin' of the Denver Broncos beating them 43-8. WHAT?!

When I was thinking about this post I was trying to figure out if there would be any highlights to share about the Broncos. You know most often when you recap you are playing the top 5 plays of the game, and in this game those top 5 plays literally come from the Seahawks on all sides of the ball.

But let's start- THE GOOD:

When I wrote my post I predicted the following- 

When you add it up, what the teams have to compensate for, lean more towards the Broncos having to do more work with their defense than the Seahawks having to improve in any specific areas.

And I was right. If you read further in my blog, I noted that the Seahawks have played with a different style than the traditional NFL. The entire season and these last two weeks, the conversations have been experience over youth. The Seahawks are a young team, with a young QB and Pete Carroll as their coach. They were not good enough to be the best in the west... blah blah blah. But it this non-traditional play that makes them a force to be reckoned with.

While I gave the Broncos areas of strength- Peyton Manning and his offensive options, I knew that the Broncos overall would have to compensate for more to even up the competition then the Seahawks would. Yes, the Broncos had the number one offense, but the Seahawks had a QB who can be their biggest strength and at times their biggest offensive weapon.

Furthermore, let's talk Defense. When you match Defense to Defense, you know Seattle has it. As much as I would have loved for Champ Bailey to get a ring, his defense is not enough to play the speed that is the Seahawks Offense. Sure as heck was not the case when they left more than 30 pts on the board (a few of those points came off of defensive plays).

Another Good- which should actually be called GREAT was Bruno Mars' performance.

People have been knocking Bruno as the halftime show since it was announced. But I stood strong in knowing that he would not disappoint. If you have not yet listened to Unorthodox Jukebox, you need to! That album is amazing and really straddles various genres and artists.

For me Bruno did not disappoint. What disappointed me was the little faith the rest of the Super Bowl fans and those who don't know Bruno had in him. I wasn't all too excited about the special guest appearance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, because it left doubt in my mind that the halftime show couldn't stand alone with Bruno alone. The performance though was seamless and the two artist/groups did amazing.



THE BAD:
 Besides the game, what viewers tune in for are the commercials. And let's just say the commercials this year were lacking. I learned something however, this year. Apparently, the commercials that air in particular areas are based on marketing strategies. So for some reason, in DC at least- the Super Bowl Commercials were what I called #TheYearofTheCar! every commercial was about a car. I think the only "normal" commercial was the M&M commercial-- and can we talk about how Yellow M&M is not the same voice it has been for a while.

THE UGLY:
Unfortunately- all around Denver! The first snap that Peyton got and really the first play to start the game results in a Safety. 12 seconds in! and then it just went down hill from there. Where I disagree with commentary is that people put a lot on Peyton to control the pace of the game. The reality is that Seattle's Defense was just better at reading the ball, INT throughout the game. Pressure and not allowing many 3rd down conversions. The Broncos were not even able to get into field goal position for much of the game.

There came a point when I tweeted the following:
 I know what happened... #Eli made a wish that HE was playing in the #SuperBowl#FreakyFriday #SportsGeek

What I had predicted in terms of the excitement of this game fell short--- "to say that this game is not going to be fun is an UNDERSTATEMENT! This game is going to take the cake, I hope, in all things Superbowl. "

This game was a dud. One team came to show up and even though I anticipated that the Broncos were going to lose, I didn't know they were going to lay down and die the way they did. For a large part of the game, I was getting frustrated EVERY time the Seahawks scored and I was rooting for them! There was even a point that the group I was watching the game with began fact checking the last time a Superbowl resulted in such a wide margin. Then we started fact checking if a Superbowl had ever ended with a team not scoring. There was a HUGE sigh of relief in my group when the Broncos finally put some points up. But by that point we knew the game was over and it wouldn't have made that much of a difference anyway.


 Additionally, the Ugly consisted of commentary following one commercial that wasn't about Cars- Coke produced the following commercial

A lot of people following the commercial tweeted and posted the most disgusting and absurd comments regarding the commercial. Statements like " Hey coke- you're in America, we speak English. Everyone RT drink Pepsi."

To "Well... I won't be drinking #coke anymore. We speak English in the #USA. Get over it."

Um, for anyone who watched this commercial and felt the sentiments above, you have misjudged and MISSED the point of the commercial. This commercial accurate depicts how beautiful America is because of it's diversity. I think it was a brilliant display and unfortunately instead of being celebrated, those of us who are marginalized or saw the value in the commercial are sadly reminded how ignorant many of us still really are.

So at the end of the day, how did Superbowl 48 match up? To be honest, completely uneventful. I will be happy when May gets here and a new season can begin, because the big Superbowl game for me was the NFC Championship. This "real" Superbowl left me wanting more...

That's all she wrote folks... While football season might be over, I am a sports fan in general so stick around and keep up with my posts.

It comes down to this- THE BIG GAME

(edited 2/1/2014)

Hey Y'all, it's your favorite Sportsgal89 Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn the Buildin'! I've given myself a little distance to write this post because I hope this is going to be the best post yet! ANNNNNND I hope that this will actually be the most interesting post. ANNNNNNND I know that this post is going to be the most confusing!

Why? We are talking about the Super Bowl. So let's chat for a second. If you have been watching the coverage as I have then you know the basics. It's been a while since the number one teams in both divisions have faced each other in the big game! Not only that but you literally have the best offense against the best defense, Legion of Boom or LOB, as Richard Sherman so eloquently disclosed when the Seahawks won against San Francisco two weeks ago.

To say that this game is not going to be fun is an UNDERSTATEMENT! This game is going to take the cake, I hope, in all things Superbowl. And let's face it, the excitement of last year's Superbowl was that two brothers faced each other. We haven't really had games in the Superbowl that have kept you on your feet aside from the Justin Tuck Helmet Grab against the Patriots or the Santonio Holmes toes in catch against Arizona. The memories of interesting and exciting games has definitely come few and far between.

So with the younger, Seahawks offense- which I attribute to Pete's experience in College Ball at USC. You had to build excitement and he hasn't lost that energy entering the NFL. Against Peyton Manning and his offense, which is truly having the best year ever! Peyton by far is playing his best season and when you think about the offense that he has and how he really has diversity in who he can use, it is remarkable.

So what about the game, how will it pan out and what is my prediction? I have been asked that latter piece for two weeks. I have been avoiding it and I think I am still going to make y'all wait. There is something invigorating about having two teams who did not end the regular season undefeated. I am glad that they didn't. It is clear that for both teams that they have really treated this season as a one game at a time type thing. And the reality is you have to. When you prepare that way, you do the best that you can do each and every time.

So how do these teams match up against each other?

Seahawks- I feel that the Seahawks offense compared to the Broncos has been somewhat predictable. Shocking I know, when  their biggest strength is the mobile Wilson. What that kid can do outside of the pocket is amazing, he can extend plays he is able to run the ball, make moves that push his receivers out and connect in ways that are just crazy. The crazy part is he's only in his second season and he's learned that much.

When you add to Wilson the ability of Marshawn Lynch (can anyone explain to me why that dude doesn't at all seem excited to be in the Super Bowl? Have you seen his 30 second shorts that we call interviews? HA, I have never seen anyone so disinterested in playing in the biggest game of his career), the key to that offense, the offense is virtually unstoppable. With a healthy Percy Harvin returning for the Big Game, the Seahawks Offense will be a source to be reckoned with. Broncos D is going to need to blitz and blitz often. They will have to play more man to man and be about speed and perfect timing against this Seahawks offense.

Their Defense- Legion of Boom, the NUMBER 1 Defense is going to play and they are going to play very well. With the smoke settling from the Sherman adrenaline rush, I think he and the defense have had time to focus and treat this game as just the next game. They often say that it's defense that wins games, and while that might have been true against SF and the last play with Sherman and Crabtree, it will likely not be the same outcome against the Broncos. Their defense has been strong, but they haven't faced a QB quite as poised as Peyton Manning.


Broncos- Ace in the hole.. The Unpredictable offense. Peyton might be one of the best skilled QBs we have seen. He is the first QB to enter a Superbowl with two different teams. He has had one of the best seasons. His worst game was against NE early in the season when he only had 150 yds. He averaged 300 yds per game this season outside of that. And this entire season he has thrown only 10 INT. Peyton is one QB that you like watching even when he messes up, because he stays with it.
He still plays and he still plays well.

But I digress, why do I call their offense unpredictable? Because Peyton has so many targets! Peyton has many options when it comes to his WRs and RBs that he can change it up and still make amazing plays. Welker, Decker, Thomas, Moreno, Holliday- you have running and passing. Ugh I just get excited thinking about it. With Marshawn Lynch, Seattle has gas when he gets turned up, but the flexibility to look anywhere on the field and have someone to throw it to--- ooo weeee!  I look forward to watching Peyton command his offense and it will be interesting to see how the offense responds to the Seattle Defense. If Peyton and the Offense can figure out ways to fluster the D, they will control the larger part of the game.


Defense- Looking at their last game, the Bronco Defense held New England to 3 points for the first 3 quarters. But the 4th Quarter they let Brady be Brady and the Broncos gave up 13 points. If the Broncos can start and finish the game like they started the Patriots game, they have less of a curve to deal with. But the Broncos are going to have to bring something. While Peyton might be the stronger QB, Wilson cannot be forgotten. Wilson is a captivating QB, his out of pocket skills are ridiculous, he is a mobile QB. They haven't really seen a QB like him, maybe RGIII was the closest they had this season, but they will really need to prepare for Wilson in order to dominate that game.


When you add it up, what the teams have to compensate for, lean more towards the Broncos having to do more work with their defense than the Seahawks having to improve in any specific areas.

But I still haven't said who will win! I have been avoiding that question. Every day since the teams were decided I have been weighing the options. Each day I come up with a different decision. So even now I want to avoid answering the question. I want my cop-out answer to be "It can be anyone's game," because the reality is it really can. But life is about making decisions. So why is this a tough one,  because the honest part is while I think this game is Peyton's and the Broncos, I will not be surprised if the Seahawks pull off the upset.

At the end of the day someone has to lose and someone has to win. Ugh! Why do I have to pick! This is by far going to be the best game we have seen in years with the two greats going up against each other. Where one team has a weakness another team has strength and vice versa.

So with that, the decision has been made. I'm calling this game in favor of the Seahawks.(You have no idea how much it actually pains me to say that. As a young girl, my family lived in Denver and my memory was sitting in front of a tv at like 3-4 years old and telling my dad the Broncos could still win, even though they had definitely lost. I loved John Elway and still do, to the point that I saw him out at a restaurant for dinner one night and when I say saw him out, he was at the table right next to me and I punched my friend as I "fangirled"  about him. That despite my being a #Steelers fan, I have a soft spot for the Broncos and was probably just as thrilled as true Broncos fans when Peyton was signed) But, the Seahawks have just been on this interesting trajectory that has been part luck and honestly part skill. The speed to which they play this game, freaks me out when I see it in the NFL, because it is too wild- College Ball, duh! Pete, is definitely changing the way this game is played. I like the flair. I find it interesting that in the age of bringing up college coaches into head coaching positions that he's been one coach that hasn't necessarily changed his game or style of coaching to adapt to what is "traditional" in the NFL.

But it's that wildness that makes it hard to discount the Seahawks as a likely champion.

Now will I be disappointed if I get this prediction wrong? No, because at the end of the day, two of this season's best teams played one heck of a game and it will be one for the ages to witness.

That's all she wrote folks... See you Monday!!

"Sounding Off": What WE'RE all missing when it comes to Richard Sherman

Hey Y'all, It's your favorite (hopefully) SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn the Buildin'!
 So today I bring to you one of the bigger stories from Sunday's games, and it's not just about the coverage with the teams now FINALLY being decided for the Super Bowl.

So let's chat Richard Sherman. If you have been watching ESPN or any news recaps of the game you will know that at the end of the SF vs. Seahawks game, Richard Sherman was the critical player ensuring a Seahawks win with a tip to his teammate Smith for the interception that cost SF the game and solidified the Seahawks run into the Super Bowl.

What followed was the most interesting. So Sherman and Michael Crabtree, like many opponents have been back and forth in the media talking smack about who is going to win blah blah blah. On the field the game of course is chippy. Sherman had been covering Crabtree, whom he beat out for that ball.

Sherman at the end of his celebration runs to Crabtree, smacks him on the butt and puts out his hand, to extend it for a handshake. Now this is what he claims his actions were, but we don't hear what he might have said. To the extended intention of a handshake, Crabtree mushes Sherman's face causing Sherman to then put his hands up along his neck and mimick the choke gesture. This caused an "unsportsmanlike conduct call," which still did nothing for Seattle, but does say a lot of things about the way some of the NFL rules are. 1. Are we in elementary school where it's the person who gets taunted first that gets in trouble?- I think so. 2. Um, we know that in this game people are always smacking people's butts after big plays. It's one I assume a sign of respect, no matter which player is doing it. To say "thanks for playing me the way I would have played you," or "thanks for making it interesting," and many others if I could be inside a football players head.

So let's see in Sherman's mind this is how the story goes- You talk smack before the game. During the game you are probably still running your mouth and we are going back and forth. When I now produce the game ending play and want to say "thanks and good game" you dismiss me- Um Yeah I think I might have a problem with it. (But on the other hand I get it, to be honest, if I was man to man with you and you just robbed me of my shine to get my team into the Super Bowl, don't come at me right away, you might get clocked).

But I'm not even to the good part yet, (and sorry for those who are up to speed, I am trying to catch those up who don't understand or didn't get what was happening). Sherman has two post game interviews right as he is getting off the field.

Erin Andrews interviews him and I don't think he heard the question or even cared, but Sherman goes off into a huge rant getting back at Crabtree...

Here is the transcript:
  

Fox's Erin Andrews: “Take me through it (the interception) ..."

Sherman (screaming): “Well, I’m the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like (Michael) Crabtree, that’s the result you are going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me.”

Andrews: "Who was talking about you?"

Sherman: “Crabtree. Don’t open your mouth about the best or I’m going to shut it for you real quick. “LOB!” (That's the abbreviation for "Legion of Boom," the nickname of the Seahawks' defense.)

So, what's the BIIIIIIG Deal?

Well, the antics continued when he was interviewed about an hour later in the press room when he called Crabtree mediocre.

But why the firestorm and why do I care?

 Social Media erupted after the the Andrews interview- some funny and others saying statements like " I know who I am choosing to root for in the Super Bowl." Memes went crazy- people called Sherman crazy, angry, played him looking like Antoine Dodson etc.

So here's my annoyance, it was funny at first but now people, fans, media etc are taking it waaaay too left. So left that Sherman had to apologize (I'll explain this in a second).

1. Understand Sports World- If you have ever been around sports, athletes or the game in general. You know and understand that the week leading up to the game is literally ALL about the HYPE! you talk smack, coaches other players are fueling the energy that will feed you to prove to whomever is against you that you got what it takes.

When you finally come down off of that adrenaline rush, it might take a minute. Some people cheer and erupt in screaming others, like me, might throw up- over share?, my bad. But add to this, he's carrying with him whatever comments Crabtree put out there, whatever comments he and Crabtree were throwing back and forth and then his attempt to say "good game," gets snubbed. Yup sorry, I might have daggers for you too!

Was it timely? I think what you saw was raw emotion right after making one of the biggest plays of his career, against Enemy No 1.

2. Is it that serious?-- I mean we have heard many more things than just that, so why was this such a big deal. The likes of commentators have gone off. Trent Dilfer basically stated that Sherman lacked class. That he should have used the " stage he had, to tell his story." So let's chat about this which leads me to my next and most important frustration with this. 

Richard Sherman grew up in Compton, CA- Look it up if you don't know why it's a big deal. Sherman made straight A's in High School and was able to go on to Stanford University. He continued that focus on education at Stanford with a high GPA there as well.

So when Dilfer says, use the stage to tell your story- Say the typical, I am blessed to be here because of God, and I am blessed to be here because my life was a triumph over adversity, and I am blessed to be here because this season was a triumph over adversity and it's not over yet. 

Thanks Dilfer, he could have said that ( Mind you-  he still can say that, but I don't think there is anything wrong with what he did or what he said), what I hear is more of a knock on Sherman being the "Angry Black Man" who SHOULD have just shown a bit of humilty and said, I'm so happy to be here in this moment. 

3. What does his education or upbringing have to do with it?

    So everyone freak out because a Stanford educated man acted a little more like a 10 year old in his antics and emotional response. But what does his education or upbringing have to do with it? People are now making comments like "you can take the boy out the hood, but you can't take the hood out the boy." There are so many undertones about what kind of role model he is. --- HE SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE CHOKING GESTURE, but his reaction to what he felt happened isn't something he should apologize for. And it doesn't mean he's "reverted." The undertone of this type of messaging is that what Sherman did was not civilized. But tell me, when have you not reacted in the same way at least once, where you rubbed it in a friend's face just a little too much in that board game that you won, or that sporting event, or whatever bet that you made that you now get to hang over their head for as long as you want. We all do things that are a little out of character, but no one else is bringing up our education.

And let's be honest, it's the back and forth smack talking that pumps up the fans, that gets people to continue to feed into the billion dollar industry that is the NFL. 

4. Why does Sherman have to apologize?

  I don't think he needs to, I think we needed to take a step back. Laugh at the stupidity and the one moment where a guy acted with his emotions and impulse because of what WE all build up on game day and let it be. 

Sherman sated the following after the smoke cleared: "It was loud, it was in the moment, and it was just a small part of the person I am," Sherman wrote. "I don't want to be a villain, because I'm not a villainous person."

The responses have been- too late the damage is done. Instead of having the focus on the team, Sherman allowed the team to play second to his antics. Come again?! There are two weeks until the Super Bowl. To be honest, the only people who keep bringing it up is the media. The fans, the jokes on Twitter and Facebook would have ended after last night. But when ESPN continues to replay that moment each time SportsCenter reruns, it is perpetuating something that the rest of us are hopefully ready to put away. 

While I don't dismiss his behavior, the people who should be ashamed of the firestorm that followed is us, the fans, the writers, the bloggers, the news casters etc. 

But don't take my word for it.. You "Sound Off" (courtesy of ESPN).. What are your thoughts, is Sherman just crazy, or did we have it all wrong?