A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

football

Football Hall of Fame a good experience for fans

It was all about seeing the busts.

I make no secret that my favorite Hall of Fame is the one stationed in Cooperstown – the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

An interactive part of the Hall of Fame.

An interactive part of the Hall of Fame.

On that note, I’ll also make note that I haven’t been to every other Hall of Fame, though I’ve been to many (boxing, basketball, pro wrestling before it left upstate New York etc.) and I’ve seen Hall of Fames that are pretty solid and others that aren’t so hot.

On a recent road trip, two more Hall of Fames were visited. This one is about the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And it was all about the busts.

Let me say this – though I don’t mind football, it’s by far not my favorite sport. I can’t just sit down and watch any old football game. It needs to have a team I have interest in involved, or I don’t enjoy it.

So I was a little mixed when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. That being said, I was mixed on a stop at the Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this summer, so I was interested in the football hall.

Marshall Faulk.

Marshall Faulk.

At a minimum, I wanted to see the busts of the past inductees. It’s a unique way to show the Hall of Famers and I wanted to see them up close. The rest of the Hall of Fame was just a bonus.

While there’s no way of unseating the Baseball Hall of Fame, I will say the Football Hall was a solid experience. From interactive exhibits, to the historic pieces, the Hall was filled with the story of the game. There’s a lot I don’t know about football history as I’m not as big into the history as I am with baseball.

However, it’s pretty cool to look back at some of the older teams and how football in America grew. Some of the teams and how they weren’t around as long and the communities they were in etc.

It’s pretty cool.

Even more interesting is the advancement of equipment to what we see today. It always makes me wonder if the game wouldn’t be as violent if the older equipment was still used.

The interactive exhibits were pretty cool and they included being able to match your hand to the size of others, as well as things like being able to try out instant replay.

Super Bowl Trophy.

Super Bowl Trophy.

The room that showed the early years of the Super Bowl, as well as a Super Bowl Trophy was pretty interesting, too.

But the room with the Hall of Fame busts was very cool. I loved the look of the busts and the realism is pretty amazing My only complaint is that some of them are high up, so one might not always get a good look at them. It’s also darker in the room, which makes it harder to take photos of the busts (the complete opposite of the Baseball Hall’s plaque gallery, which is lit up very well), but outside of that, it was very cool looking at them and seeing all the players inducted.

Overall, I’m glad I had the chance to visit this Hall. It didn’t take too long to get through and a discount was offered if you paired that ticket with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which was done, as the hotel we stayed at was a couple blocks from the Rock and Roll Hall).

It’s well worth a trip if you are a football fan, or a fan of sports history in general.

You can see a full gallery of images I took at the Football Hall of Fame by visiting my album on Flickr.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Foto Friday: Rivalry football

There’s nothing like a good, old fashioned football rivalry to fill up a nice fall Saturday.

Such it was this past Friday when Delhi and Walton met at Jim Hoover Field for an annual battle. The game pits two of the finest coaches in the state — Walton’s Hoover and Delhi’s Dave Kelly. They are the top-two winningest football coaches in Section Four history and, between them, have more than 550 victories in a combined 84 years of coaching.

Yikes!

The game was like many in the past. Hard-hitting, defensive and a couple of big plays to separate the two. In the end, it was Walton which came out on top, 28-18.

That victory gave Hoover a 29-13 edge over his Route 10 rival.

Though, I’ll admit, I didn’t roam as much as I had hoped for this photo essay, I did capture, I believe a feeling of this game. So, below, are some of my favorite images from the game.

Tough catch.

Too high.

No room to run.

Getting away.

Pass attempt.

Just out of the reach.

Coach Jim Hoover.

Coach Dave Kelly.

Tackled.

On the Walton sideline.

On the Delhi sideline.

Breaking away from the pack.

Game over.

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A year without fantasy football

I’m a baseball guy.

I always have been and always will be. I can watch pretty much any baseball game and be happy. The same can’t be said about football.

Despite, at one point, being the beat writer at a newspaper for high school football, I’ve never been much of a football guy. I can enjoy a game and high school is fun to watch and cover. I learned a lot over the years being the football guy at the one paper I worked for. But, the intricate details still evade me.

I’m a Colts fan, so I pay attention to them. I don’t mind a couple of other teams, such as the Packers and Giants, so I’ll somewhat pay attention to what they do. Outside of that, I’m pretty oblivious to football at the pro level.

With colleges, it’s even worse. I like Notre Dame. I’ll watch them most of the time, but I can’t usually name you starters or anything like that. I just like Notre Dame. I don’t really watch much else when it comes to college football.

The way I used to see what was going on in football was through fantasy football. Having to prepare for a draft gave me the incentive to having a clue about football and who could or is a good player. The problem is, I often drafted with my heart more than my head.

During the year, I stuck with my team for the most part. Sure, I’d make a few moves on the free agent wire, but it would be very rare for me to actually make a trade. It wasn’t that I might not like another player, it was more about me thinking the guy I drafted would go crazy and become a fantasy stud if I traded him.

Oh the life of fantasy football owners.

This year, for the first time in more than a dozen years, I’m not in a fantasy football team.

For the most part, the decision was financially driven. The reality is, with my employment situation, paying $150 to play in a fantasy football league (one I co-founded, for the record) didn’t make any sense. I’ve had a partner the past few years, but he’s been needing to tighten the wallet a bit, too. We tried to find a third person to no avail, so I respectfully backed out of the league.

It wasn’t without great thought.

Another other offered to be a majority owner in my team. He basically said he would be a money backer and I would run the team as I saw fit and he’d not be involved (he really wouldn’t be able to be, considering he would have had money invested). In the end, he’d only cash in if I did anything to place.

It was a thoughtful and appreciated offer, but I turned it down.

See, truthfully, fantasy football has lost its luster in my eyes. I don’t pay attention enough. I don’t get into it like I used to and, honestly, it’s not as fun for me.

When we first started this league, the other commissioner did all the stats by hand and would send them to me. Then I’d turn them into a weekly story. I had fun with it. I’d poke at others and I’d make it entertaining — as much as I could. But as time wore on, we switched to CBS Sportsline, which took away the personal feel. Even a switch to Yahoo! (to save money) wasn’t going to bring back that personal feel.

So, without any regret, I stepped away.

This would have been the 10th year of that league. I would have liked to have been around for that year, but I’m just not into it. I won’t be upset knowing I don’t have to worry about lineups or trades or free agent deadlines or anything like that.

I don’t have to get any cold sweats wondering if I benched somebody or if there was a bye week or anything like that.

Instead, if I feel like watching a football game, I will.

And the beauty of it is I won’t worry about Peyton Manning or some other quarterback not having a great game. Or worry that my running back is barely getting any carries. Or that a wide receiver dropped two would-be touchdowns.

There’s no care that a certain defense allowed 24 points.

Or that a kicker sent two easy field goals wide right.

Nope, no worries.

I have to admit something, too. I’m happy about that. The past few years, I’ve lost interest in fantasy football — and, for the most part, fantasy sports in general. I don’t always pay attention and my entry fees become donations to winners. Sometimes the fees aren’t so bad, so you can somewhat deal with it. Or, the sports are such where if you catch it quick enough, you can right the ship.

Football isn’t either of those.

And so, I go this year without fantasy football. And I’m happy about it. The draft is usually decently fun, but it often drags. I didn’t have to sit through it. I also don’t have to worry about day-to-day or week-to-week operations of the team and the hope it will perform. And, I don’t have to worry about hoping to at least break even.

I know many people who are fanatical with this game. They do a lot — study the stats, watch everything etc. I’m not like that. The one year I won the league, I got on a great run and had a healthy team. That’s rare.

It’s safe to say my fantasy football days are behind me. When I originally decided to get out of it this year, I held it in the back of my mind that I would return next year. I have a feeling this is a more permanent thing for me. And I’m OK with that.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Thank you, Peyton.

I’ve been an Indianapolis Colts fan as long as I can remember.

When I was younger and didn’t have a team I truly cheered for, my brother gave me an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt for Christmas one year. It was the year the team sneaked out of Baltimore and moved to Indy.

His rationale (besides probably finding the shirt on sale)? It gave me a team to cheer for and one that was starting anew.

Oh those years were rough.

My favorite Colts player for many years was kicker Dean Biasucci because it seemed like he was the only one who could score with any consistency.

There was the Jeff George saga.

And so many other things. Oh man was there a lot of bad. Bad season after bad season. I honestly wondered if I’d ever have the chance of cheering for a Super Bowl champion in my lifetime.

Then there was the 1998 draft.

Could this be the draft that put the Colts over the top? Ryan Leaf? Peyton Manning?

I know who I was cheering for.

Peyton Manning.

And that wish came true. The team improved. Playoffs. Super Bowl hopes. Still, Manning was tagged with the “can’t win the big game” mantra. That was until 2006.

And Indy had a Super Bowl championship.

It was something I couldn’t believe I was seeing. The celebration was awesome. What a feeling to watch it all happen.

I didn’t think Manning would ever be in another uniform. Ever.

Our fantasy football league is auction style. Every year I paid dearly for Peyton Manning. People pushed me to the brink, but I always won him in the end. There was no chance. I overpaid this past year, knowing there was a strong chance he wouldn’t play all season. I went against my gut and followed my heart. Despite picking a great backup QB, I didn’t win anything, shockingly enough.

As the off-season came, the talk was on. Would the Colts cut him? Would Peyton Manning — with the iffy neck and all — be a free agent?

That reality came Wednesday when Manning and the owner of the Colts, Jim Irsay, held a press conference to announce that the two would be going opposite ways.

I didn’t see it until I got home and had read a few things, but watching Manning and Irsay get choked up got me a bit choked up, too.

It will be very odd to see him in another uniform (if, indeed, he’s able to play next year). I’ll slightly pull for him, but I can’t ever cheer for him to win another Super Bowl (unless it’s an NFC team… I might be able to pull for him in that conference). I hope, when it’s all said and done and his career comes to an end that he’ll be able to do the ceremonial one-day contract and retire as a Colt.

It would only be right.

They announced no other person would ever wear 18 for the Colts, too. It’s not “officially” retired, yet. But I imagine, once his career is over, he’ll have that retired right away.

It’s another building process for the Colts. It could take a while. And the end of an era happened today.

A new era begins soon and that will likely begin with Andrew Luck being selected as the No. 1 overall pick and the next quarterback for the Colts. The shoes he’s filling won’t be easy. The question is, can he do it?

Who knows.

But it’s still going to be hard to not see No. 18 trotting out on the field for the Horseshoes next year.

Thanks, Peyton. The run has been fun and it’s sad to see it end. But Colts fans will never forget this era.

Ever.

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

So there’s a big game or something today?

Are you catching the excitement for this year's Super Bowl?

On this side of the pond, today is basically a national holiday.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, after all.

A day filled with food, friends, and a football game. Beverages will surely flow in many pubs and bars throughout the country. People will argue throughout about missed plays and missed opportunities.

In the end, one team will be crowned Super Bowl champions.

In my region, it’s of course a little hectic as the New York Giants and New England Patriots are battling for the crown. And, well, there’s a lot of fans of each of those teams in this area. More for the Giants, but still.

The game and everything else is intriguing. With the Super Bowl happening in Indianapolis (home of the Colts), you have Giants quarterback Eli Manning looking to win his second Super Bowl, this time in the stadium where his brother plays (but possibly for not much longer). And, you also have Peyton’s arch-nemesis — New England QB Tom Brady — looking to win the Super Bowl.

Oh the drama.

But you know what they say right? Save the drama for your mama!

I’m not the biggest football fan in the world. I like the game, but unlike baseball, I have a hard time just watching teams I’m not interested in. I don’t mind this Super Bowl, because I don’t mind Eli and the Giants and I can’t stand New England, so I have a rooting interest. But the hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl has always irked me. There’s two weeks in between the conference championships and the Super Bowl, so you have a long buildup.

By the time the game comes on, I’ve had enough.

That being said, I haven’t been as saturated with it as in the past because I don’t work at a newspaper anymore. So I don’t see the constant stream of stories and photos.

I know Peyton Manning has been in the press a lot with a war of words with Colts owner Jim Irsay. When Indianapolis was awarded this game several years ago, I’m sure these two had plans of the Colts playing in the game, not sitting on the sideline watching after having the worst record in the league.

And I’m sure it’s quite exciting being in Indy for the game.

But I’m not in Indy. And don’t plan to be. I’ve never gotten into the day of the game programming. Hours and hours of stuff on television — all Super Bowl related. Even when the Colts played in the Super Bowl two times, I ignored. The first year, I went on a photo day. I came back an hour or so before the game and watched it by myself as the Colts won the Super Bowl title.

I went to a friend’s house the second time, but left at halftime so I could watch the rest of the game by myself.

I’m that way with most teams I cheer for. In the baseball playoffs, I usually like to watch the Phillies by myself. I can actually watch and pay attention to the game that way and I enjoy it more. Would I like to experience watching the Phillies win the World Series in the stadium with more than 40,000 other people? Of course. But if I’m not there, let me be so I can watch the game and enjoy.

As for football, if there are teams I have no interest in, I’ll have the game on. But might do other things. I like the game of football, just not to the level of millions of others. I’ll be at a friend’s tonight watching, so the game will be on and we’ll be watching. I hope the commercials are better than in the past year or two as that can be quite a high spot.

A few of us will gather to watch together and hopefully it will be a good game. I’m sure there will be good food (I’m making New England clam chowder [wait… that should be chowdah!] to bring over — but it’s the ‘I don’t like the New England Patriots Clam Chowder,’ more than anything else). Maybe a few beverages will be popped. And we’ll likely debate whether or not Tom Brady should have thrown a ball where he got picked off.

In the end, someone will be crowned Super Bowl champion.

And tomorrow, the world can go on as normal. Though I imagine a large amount of people might be a little hung over.

I’m picking Eli and the Giants to win this Super Bowl, by the way. I just hope it’s a good game.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!