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!

A Noisy Sunday Morning

Thankfully, the two neighbors on either side say they didn't hear anything - but I opened the back door for Lola and Cooper to relieve themselves before breakfast without looking outside.  Even if I had looked, I wouldn't have seen the culprits that set Cooper off, circling the second deck, to my right, and barking like an idiot - at 6:30 in the morning.  I had already fed Rosie and chased a raccoon from her back yard before going over to Tamarack.  Then Cooper started acting the fool, wouldn't quiet down, or calm down, either.  Lola was prancing around the second deck, but, luckily, stayed silent.  I walked over to the second deck, and didn't see anything.  There was nothing in the pine tree at the corner, where both dogs kept circling.  Then I stepped up on the deck, and glanced up at the wire netting that holds the grape arbor - first, I saw several almost ripe clusters of grapes, then I saw a large raccoon flattened out on the top of the wire, with it's eyes closed.  I got both dogs back inside and went to peek out the window - there were three young raccoons  lying flat on top of the wire further to the right than their mother  They all opened their eyes and looked at me, and then squeezed them shut again - seemingly, if they couldn't see me, then I couldn't see them.  So I took the kids out for a walk, and double-checked the back yard when we returned.  No raccoons.  So I could open the deck door without qualms, and allow both cats and dogs outside.
  Most of the collegiate teams I like won their openers yesterday, while the CU Buffaloes and the CSU Rams face off today in Denver, for their opening game of the season.  Somehow, since Tim Tebow was released from the Patriots yesterday afternoon, I just can't get my mind interested in football any more.  Since I graduated from UF, I will root for the Gators; since Steve Spurrier coaches South Carolina, I'll cheer for the Gamecocks.  But, suddenly, pro football seems like a waste of time.  I have been a fan of Champ Bailey's since he was a Georgia Bulldog (what a horrifying admission from a Gator fan!), but he's the last guy left on the Broncos that I really like.  I'll watch the Broncos - Ravens game Thursday night - but it will be to see (maybe) Champ Bailey, and for Elvis Dumervil on the Ravens.  If Percy Harvin were playing, I'd be rooting for his team, and the same goes for Tebow.  But most of the players that I really like have disappeared.  So why get all hot and bothered?