SPORTS-(BRONCOS)
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Vs. Seattle Seahawks (L 21-34)
I've been trying to avoid it... but I just HAD to dip into last year's column
to dig up this train of thought:
I can't wait a day
I don't care what you say
Oh yeah, you got to pay
When you hit rock bottom
And you're there to stay
-Kiss, "Rock Bottom", 1975
Or, since this was Seattle, maybe a better choice would be:
Down In A Hole And I Don't Know
If I Can Be Saved
-Alice in Chains, "Down in a Hole", 1992
Hey, I had insomnia last week, and ended up watching VH-1's crappy
"Inside the Grunge" special. (Y'know, in retrosepct, aside from Soundgarden
and AIC, almost every Seattle band ended up sucking pretty monsterously).
So see, THAT also ties into the Broncos, this week. The Bronocs played like
Layne Staley after a four week drug binge, and generally sucked like a Mudhoney album.
You have to go back pretty far to find the last time the Broncos were out of
a game by the second quarter. I'm thinking of maybe the 1994 debacle
at Mile High, against the Raiders. And against Seattle?
When was the last time Seattle ran roughshod over Denver? Maybe the (snicker)
"glory days" of Jim Zorn and Steve Largent.. when Denver would counter with
the awesome combo of Steve DeBerg and Ron Egloff? The Broncos didn't even keep this
suspenseful- on the opening series they allow Shaun Alexander to ramble 60 yards
for a touchdown. Next series, Denver gets the ball and promptly goes three-and-out.
Ballgame. Thank you for playing.
But of course, Griese was NOT to blame... nope. Here's a guy who, once again,
looked lead-footed in the pocket and trembled before the ferocious wrath of John Randle's
fingers. I shit you not. In the second quarter, Randle was pushing back a Denver lineman, and
reached around to try and grab Griese. He got two fingers on Griese... Griese collapsed and
was touched by Lamar King for a sack. Pathetic. I don't know WHERE Randle's fingers were, but
those suckers have got to be THE Most Devastating Force in our Sport!! I'm scared as to
what Randle's ARM could do to Griese.
Of course, two weeks ago, Griese said that someone on the team "needs to step up",
referring to wideouts and tight ends. (this after the had just thrown two picks in
the Baltimore game). After fumbling, throwing three INTs and
doing his best Jim Drunkenmiller impersonation, Griese DID step up... he stepped up
into Seattle's defense and got a shellacking. A bum shoulder that lands you on
the "questionable" list is NOT to blame for the attrocious play Griese showed.
I think it's safe to say that the "new campaign" is officially OVER.
Oh well, he got two months of charity from me. What the hell else do you people
want from me??!! Snif.. I'm trying..really! (of course, I always said that three turnovers in
one game would get Griese back in my shit box)
Okay...so maybe some fantasy geeks got off on seeing Eddie Kennison score a TD, finally.
Or maybe someone actually believed the Deltha Force's late punt return TD actually made a
difference. It was all cosmetic by the time O'Neal ran back his TD. At that point, the
Broncos were like a 43 year old hooker... all the cosmetic enhancements in the world
couldn't help them. When it was all said and done, they were simply good at
plain old sucking... like any other washed up hooker.
A wise old man with several brain injuries once told me:
Two losses does not a crappy season make. (he also then told me
"The soup kitchen dudn't give out bread on Tuesdays") Just like last season,
when October seemed hopeless-after losses to KC, New England and (gasp)
Cincinnati. Pete Rozelle was alwasy big on parity- where every team had a chance
to win on any given day. Well, after Sunday, it looks like ANY team in the
NFL could have fun playing the Broncos. The next month is very important. Not just
for the season, but for the foreseeable future of this franchise. Griese, especially.
The season isn't wasted...but the warning signs are sticking out like
Manute Bol at a Bull Dyke Convention.
It's entirely possible that I've just been spoiled by the last 15 years.
Almost every year, the Broncos have opened the season with playoffs aspirations,
and fans not feeling shy about muttering the "Super" word. In 1999, when
the Broncos started 0-4 and finished 6-10, it was considered an abberation. A speedbump, due
to Elway's retiring, the Dale Carter issue, Terrell Davis' injury, etc. In the long run,
the future still looked cheery. Last year, the Broncos went 11-5, made the playoffs, and it made you
believe the future was okay. Now, maybe last season was the exception, and the Broncos
really are in for a hard road? Like I said, this next month is KEY. Beat San Diego
and New England, and they've gained some crucial momentum going into the Oakland game.
Lose just ONE of those games, and that momentum is going the way of
Seattle's "grunge" scene.
Possible moment of painful irony, or a harbinger of DOOM:
In the third quarter, CBS's color commentator Craig James made a
faux paus. He said "The Nuggets were throwing into the endzone, there", while
referring to the Broncos. Oh shit....
FINAL CUTS
NFL had several decent competitive and overtime games this weekend.
How'd I get stuck with this stinker?...||...
Is that Angie Everhart in those new Penzoil commercials? Rarrrr!
...||...
I need to get Cinemax to complete my Total TV Experience. Then, I could not
only watch football/baseball all day, WAR at night, but also catch some
nifty PORN on Cinemax's late night hours. Sports, WAR, Porn... what else
is there?
...||...
I chuckle at the "New Mayor of Truckville" Dodge Ram slogan, but DAMN does
Aerosmith SUCK!
...||...
Saints look like mid-90's CU Buffs in their all black uni's.
Have no idea how that is relevant to anything.
...||...
Does Bill Cowher have any other encouragements aside from: "Let's Go! Let's Go!"?
Everytime I see him on an NFL Films recap, or he's mic'ed, that's all I hear.
I'm still waiting for him to channel the spirit of Sgt. Slaughter, though.
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