Super Bowl 50 Photos

The following photos are property of the National Football League:

The Mile High stadium in Denver, Colorado

Arriving for the game - What caught my attention in this photo is Tight End Owen Daniels' blue and white striped socks (he's in the lead).

Quarterback Peyton Manning during the warm-up

Chris Harris, Jr brings Cam Newton down

Von Miller strips the ball

The defense wraps up Cam Newton

Von Miller holds the Vince Lombardi trophy after being named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl 50

After the game - three Mannings; Dad Archie, Eli, and Peyton

Bathed in Blue

Well, my high school colors were orange and green; my college colors were orange and blue; the local professional football team is also orange and blue.  Yesterday they played a team whose colors are blue and white - and the big cry around Denver was "United in Orange!"  There were yard signs, there was a dress in orange day, there were pep rallys and huge football parties.  Then the Denver Broncos were bathed in blue - by the current quarterback's previous team.  At the end of the first quarter I was certain that the Broncos team wasn't "clicking" - on good days, the men work together and mesh like clockwork.  Not yesterday. I watched to the bitter end, however, and was pretty upset by the announcers who were asking, before the end of the second quarter, if this was Peyton Manning's last professional game - was it the end of an era?
  Peyton Manning is 38 years old.  He's been playing football since he was 5.  He's suffered many injuries, had multiple surgeries, and he keeps getting up and going back out on the field.  The man is not a quitter.  Was yesterday his last game?  Maybe.  But you can be assured that Manning will think things through and make his decisions calmly and carefully.  Will Andrew Gase, the offensive  coordinator who came from Indianapolis with Manning, take the job of head coach at any of the four places he interviewed with last week?  Will defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio stay with the Broncos, or will he be a head coach again for another team? A lot of players have contracts ending at the end of the season - will they be back?  Some fans are saying that the head coach, John Fox, should not be rehired...  There are so many things that must be considered before anyone makes any snap decisions.  Coaches, colleagues, salaries (and salary caps) are all things that any professional athlete must contemplate.  Should you retire at the end of a winning season, and leave the business with a good frame of mind?  Should you continue to strive to reach the pinnacle you achieved earlier in your career, or should you "quietly slip into the night" and not have to face further losses, and/or extremely derogatory comments?
   Personally, I'll be happy with whatever decision Peyton Manning makes.  If he decides to continue playing through next season, or several more seasons, I'll cheer for him.  If he decides to retire and continue to make his name known in other ventures, I'll support him.  At least he has the choice to make.  Unlike many other professional athletes, who are cut from teams and cannot seem to return, Peyton Manning will be able to make the decision himself.
   Since I live in Boulder, and I support my local teams, I will continue to be a Broncos fan, and I will continue to support John Fox and Peyton Manning.  Go, Broncos!

Great Defensive Super Bowl

Even though the Denver Broncos lost the Super Bowl last night - it was a very good game to watch, if you enjoy a good defensive game.  Unfortunately for me, it was  the Seattle defense who made the definitive statement - and, even though I'm a Broncos fan, I had to admire the grit and determination of the Seahawks players.  They went out there to win, and win they did.
  The Broncos just couldn't get into stride.  From the first snap that sailed over Peyton Manning's head and back into the end zone for a Touchback score for the Seahawks, to the last touch of the pigskin, the Broncos just did not compete.  I don't know hat happened, but the guys had no cohesion on either offense or defense. It seemed as if they were all playing in slow motion and with concussions.  Balls were fumbled; hands that normally were sure, dropped the ball; passes flew beyond the receiver, or fell short; and lots and lots of tackles and blocks were completely missed.  I know that it's not possible, but I think the pod-people somehow got into the Broncos hotel and changed places with them.  The final score was 43 to 8 - Peyton threw a pass to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and then Wes Welker  caught a short flicker to make a two-point conversion.  But those were the only highlights for the orange and blue.  Peyton Manning threw a record number of 49 passes, and had a record number caught - 34 - for a Superbowl (and gained 280 yards through the air).  He also tossed two interceptions, which were turned into Seattle touchdowns.
  Yesterday morning I blogged that I was worried about Percy Harvin, a UF Gator, who is playing for Seattle.  I was correct in that respect about yesterday's game.  Percy seemed to be unstoppable while at UF; when he made it to the professional ranks, he was plagued with migraine headaches, and, after being signed by the Seahawks, had hip surgery in August.  When Harvin first touched the ball last night, he carried it for 30 yards before stepping out of bounds, as he danced down the sideline.  The Seahawks received the second-half kick off, and Percy ran the ball back, 87 yards, for a touch down to begin the long last 30 minutes.  He also had another 15 yard run, and a 5 yard catch.  But Russell Wilson, the quarterback,  had a great game and shared the ball equally with his receivers - Jermaine Kearse, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Baldwin all scored touchdowns.  And linebacker Malcolm Smith made 9 tackles, recovered a fumble, and made an interception that he ran back for a touchdown.
   The Seahawks found, and used, their wings, while the Broncos returned to the barn having been rode hard and put up wet - and lame.
   Good game, Seattle Seahawks!  You were the best last night in New Jersey, and you deserve the Super Bowl rings!

Weather, Stock Show, Critters

We reached a high temperature of 61 degrees yesterday - I went out shopping for my toilet paper (see yesterday's blog) in shorts and a T-shirt.  We're hoping for a high of 40 today, and the forecasters say the temperature "will drop like a rock" this afternoon, down to 8 degrees - and they are also saying we'll get 1 to 4 inches of snow overnight.  The weather folks also say to be happy if we get up above 25 degrees on Thursday.  Then we'll return to highs in the low 50s....  Our average high at this time in January is 42 degrees.
Since it's supposed to be frigid tonight and tomorrow, I have bird seed in stock, and I'll purchase more mixed nuts for the squirrels later today.  Gotta keep my outside buddies happy!  (And robins are already here, due to the warmth - I'm afraid they will die with this cold.)
   Yesterday, my snit day, was the free admission day to the Denver National Western Stock Show.  In the first week, there were over 345,000 visitors to the show grounds.  The show continues to run through Sunday, 26 January.  One can still see Pro Rodeo performances, a 9 News Super Dogs show,the Grand Prix Horse Jumping Show, An Evening of Dancing Horses, the Draft Horse Show, and the Pro Rodeo Finals.  And, if you want to pay homage to beef, the Grand Champion Steer will be on display at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver on Friday, 24 January, from 11 a.m. until 1 p. m. (MDT).
   I'm getting ready to head out to walk and play with Rosie, then walk Lucy.  I am supposed to feed and care for the Thore critters Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; and for the ABCs the following weekend.  My kits are quietly sleeping at the moment - Lovey is in the recliner and Nedi is on the top of the cat tree. Squirrels are running wild on the patio, moving the chairs around with their acrobatic leaps.
   And, while I'm happy and excited that the Denver Broncos are going to play in the Super Bowl on 2 February, I am already tired of all the Broncos hyperbole on the television, the radio, and in the newspapers.  Enough, already.  It's a game.  And it's being played on the East coast... not in Denver.  I did feel bad for the teen in Seattle, who works in a cinema - his boss told the employees to wear a football jersey to work on Sunday, and the young man, being a Broncos fan, wore in Demaryius Thomas's number 88 orange jersey.  The young man lost his job.  That is rotten.
  ** And, as a fun aside, if you like the Broncos, or Ellen Degeneres, or Zane Beadles, be sure to watch The Ellen Show today.   Zane Beadles confessed that he always has wanted to dance with Ellen, and I got to see a sneak peek of my favorite Broncos offensive lineman dancing with Ellen.  Watch!  It's fun!!  **

AFC Championship Game Today

The AFC and NFC Championship games will be played today.  Most people here in Colorado are focused entirely on the Denver Broncos game against the New England Patriots.  I like and support the Broncos - there is not a single team member that I do not like.  I greatly dislike "pretty boy" Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Patriots team. And, I'm also quietly happy that Brandon Spikes will not be playing for the Patriots defense today.  I'm sorry that Brandon is injured, but - he's a Gator, so I have to favor him when he's playing.  KUSA, our NBC affiliate, has yet to hand out "United in Orange" clingy-thingys here in Boulder, even though they did hand them out in Fort Collins and Dillon yesterday...  Maybe if we win today, and the Broncos head for the Super Bowl, then they'll hand out "United in Orange" stickers here...  Everyone I know wants one.

There were not any clouds in view this morning, so we didn't have an orange and blue sunrise.  The skies are a bight blue, and it's already 50 degrees outside.  We currently have 28 percent humidity, and a light breeze is blowing at 6 mph.  Kick off time is 1:05 (MDT) today, and there is a possibility that it might be 60 degrees, or so, on the field.  High winds are not in the forecast.  And, one thing to keep in mind, is that our normal high temperature for this time of year is 42, not 60.  

  There are hopes that Champ Bailey will be on the field for every defensive play today, but the defense will be missing Chris Harris, Jr, who was the unheralded King of the Backfield for us.  But it seems that all of the usual receivers will be there and in fine fettle - so, here's hoping for a fantastic win at 5,280 feet above sea level!

   GO BRONCOS!

Four Quarters Or a One Dollar Bill

I had to pause and take time to try and think something through yesterday.  I had gone to the local Staples store, to make a copy of a three-page document.  I had two $5s, a $10, and a $20 bill in my pocket, plus a bunch of change.  I had decided I'd use the self-service station, so I read all the instructions, and sighed. Very few places now have a coin-operated copy machine - I had to purchase a "print card" from a machine that accepted only bills - no change.  I always lose the "print card" after using it, and since it would cost me 30 cents, I only wanted to get a $1 card.  I double-checked my bills; not one single.  So I pulled four quarters out of my pocket, and approached the register.  The young man behind the counter said that he didn't think it "was allowed" to make change for a customer.  I told him I didn't want to make change, I wanted to make a bill, so I could use one of his machines.  He gave this huge sigh, and said, if I insisted, he'd call the manager.  I insisted.  A very nice young lady appeared and said she was the "Team Manager" and could she help me.  I told her my problem, she gave the young man a funny look, and opened a register, handing me a one dollar bill for my four quarters.  I then went, purchased my "print card" and made the copies I needed.  No big deal.
  The reason I paused was: if one can only purchase a "print card" with a bill, and one has lots of change, but no bills, how is one supposed to get the bill(s), if the cashier cannot give them to you?  Wouldn't that drive customers away?  You've gone there for a specific service, and because you have change, but not a bill, you can't go through with the transaction?  Isn't money money?  Or isn't coin money?   - I really can understand a business not wanting to make change for a non-paying customer - there are way too many incidents of "change artists" who come in with a $100 bill, and keep asking for this or that, and they finally completely confuse the cashier, and have walked away with the $100 plus another $100 in "change."  But to refuse to change four quarters into a one dollar bill, so one can use the customer facilities?  That's a bit overboard....

   The Broncos had a wild-seeming game yesterday afternoon - they were held to 7 points in the first half, and, a few seconds into the second half, the score was the Washington Redskins 21, the Broncos 7.  Then the Denver offense began to work smoothly, and, with the defense's help, the Redskins scored no more. The final score belied the real story of the game - Denver 45 and Washington 21.

*Sigh* The Broncos...

Three degrees outside right now; even with my wool socks on, my feet are chilly. I have decided to not root for any particular football team for the rest of the professional season, because each team I want to win loses. Yesterday, I geared myself up and watched the Broncos - Ravens game. It was a long game; more than 4 hours long. I watched the first three quarters from my sofa, then watched the fourth quarter and the over time periods from my bed, with all the covers pulled up and both cats cuddling. The game was exciting; the score kept being tied, which led to the first over time, and then the second. Peyton Manning made a bad throw and the Ravens were able to get a field goal. They won. The Broncos are out of the championship playoffs. Multiple Broncos players claimed the blame for their loss. For me, it was a team effort, and a team loss. - Of course, I'm still a Tim Tebow fan, and I just had to say, out loud, at the end of the game, that at least with Tebow as quarterback, we (the Broncos) had won one playoff game last year - this year, with the much vaunted Peyton Manning, we did not win any playoff games. I know. That's sour grapes talking...
   Still coughing like mad, whether I talk out loud or not. This bronchitis/flu is the pits. I fell asleep after the Broncos game, woke up, read a bit, and slept some more. I'm about ready to go back to bed again - even though I've only been up for two and a half hours. The ravens and crows made fast work of the Nutter Butter cookies this morning, and the squirrels have been fed twice... With the temperature forecast for -8 degrees tonight, I keep putting out more nuts, so the little guys can generate body heat.
   Let's see - more bits and pieces: Jockey Gary Stevens rode his third mount in his return to racing yesterday, and won his first return race. He's got four mounts today. .... There have been 4 fatal breakdowns on the Aqueduct inner dirt track in the last 6 weeks. Necropsies have been ordered on all four horses. .... Trainer Ron McAnally is recovering from a knee replacement; he hopes to watch his wife's mare win this edition of the Paseana Stakes. .... The Jacksonville Jaguars, who expressed an interest in hiring Tim Tebow last year, have said that they are not interested in him this year. .... In the tiny town of Bloxom, in Accomack County, Virginia, a hunt is underway for a man wanted for breaking and entering and robbery. He made the mistake of entering an occupied house; he fired a hand gun at the woman who confronted him, and she shot back, twice. There were no reports of injury. (Bloxom is like Chincoteague, you just don't expect anything to happen there!) .... Oh. And I was surprised yesterday when I was looking in the Google Image files: I typed in "Assateague Island Virginia" and was looking at landscapes, sunrises and sunsets. I was very surprised to find a photo of an entirely naked man drinking a beer in the photos. They are "tagged" Assateague Island, Virginia; as there are a whole bunch of photos from a party at the old Nude Beach on Assateague a few years ago, I guess it's OK. I just wasn't expecting a naked man under the Assateague Island search!

Windy, Again

The wind started blowing again around 4 this morning.  The weather folks say that our high today will be in the low 60s, but with this wind blowing, the wind chill is in the 40s.  The wind is blowing from the west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph forecast.  Nedi and Lovey are lying in my wicker patio chairs, soaking up the sun, and using the back and sides as wind breaks.  Remy had an acupuncture appointment yesterday evening, and I'm not walking him or Rosie this morning; but I will be heading out to walk Olie, Annie, and Bentley later.  Afterwards, I'll head for the Carnegie library, so I can use Ancestry.com at no cost for a few hours. (There, I can look into Mary Moman and her family.)
I saw my therapist yesterday, and we spoke about how much I enjoyed my trip to Florida.  She asked if I had thought about moving back, so I listed all the pluses and minuses I'd already come up with about moving.  The cost of housing is definitely lower in Florida than here in Boulder, but I would need transportation, which I don't have to worry about here.  Plus I'd need to find a place where I could have the kits - and I am comfortable with them here...  We went back and forth over a lot of things,  and finally agreed it's something to keep in mind - but I also just re-newed my lease on the apartment for another 12 months...  So I'm definitely here for at least that long.
I like a good defensive football game, even though that usually  means it's a low-scoring game.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Denver Broncos game last night against the Jets; it was good, hard-hitting defense for the entire game.  The one offensive touchdown made by the Jets was a fluke - the runner fumbled the ball before the goal line, and an offensive tackle fell on the ball in the end zone...  The Broncos' defense made the first Denver touchdown, by running back an intercepted pass.  We were down 13 - 10 with five minutes left in the game.  Quarterback Tim Tebow engineered a 95-yard drive that saw him make the winning touch down with a minute left on the game clock.  It was a super game!  Go Gators, and Go Broncos!!!