Fairy tale ending

ERIK HOHENTHANER SPORTS WRITER With today’s Superbowl 44 festivities kicking off from South Florida at 6 p.m., weeks of anticipation can finally be put to rest, leaving some dazzled by the lights and glamour of it all while others lament spending the next seven months sans the weekly action of the National Football League. History does dictate the unpredictable, though, as some years the contest takes a machine gun pace, while others could compare to a slow dance on a moonlit beach. Either way, this season’s matchup is loaded with potential. The County Press sports writers share their thoughts on the game below.

ERIK

So, the “Big Game” is finally upon us after the off week that saw the Pro Bowl set record ratings and the Super Bowl participants standing on the sidelines. The Pro Bowl is probably the biggest joke of any major sports All-Star event. Getting off topic, lets get back to the issue at hand.

DAVE FREDRICK SPORTS WRITER Peyton Manning is back in the Super Bowl and just won his fourth league MVP so conventional wisdom would say go with the Colts. But Drew Brees and the Saints are not only playing for the city of New Orleans but the whole state of Louisiana and could use that as their battle cry. I went back-and-forth on this decision on who I thought would win and I’m not totally sure that I have convinced myself, but I believe the health of the Colts is going to cost them.

Dwight Freeney is banged up and should play but how effective will he be? Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders has only played in two games this while former Wolverine Marlin Jackson is missing from his starting corner spot. Not to mention wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez has not played all season. I believe Peyton’s young receivers and lack of a running game will hurt the Colts. The Saints will get after Manning like they did Favre and bring home the title for the city of New Orleans. Saints 30, Colts 24.

MICHAEL SELECKY SPORTS WRITER DAVE

Hey, there is still hope for our Lions. I can remember not too long ago, just like many Detroit fans have done for far too many seasons now, Saints fans wore bags over the faces to disguise the fact that they actually supported such a dismal team. Look at the Saints now, spending a week in South Florida. Sounds good to me right about now. While the feel good story of the Saints winning the Super Bowl would be a perfect, fairy tale ending to a well-chronicled story of devastation in their home state, I am afraid Peyton and the boys have something else in mind.

There might be a different cast of players from the last trip Indy made to the Super Bowl, but the “General” is still in command and directing the troops. Although the Saints defense, as proven with its hammering of Brett Favre in the NFC title game, will be worthy opponent, I just believe Peyton and the Colts will find a way prevail. I still hold out hope the Lions will turn things around, like New Orleans has, and make it to the big game before I go to that football field in the sky. Silly me! Indianapolis 31, New Orleans 24.

MICHAEL

Ever since Tony Dungey first stepped foot in India or Baltimore, or wherever they’re from, the Colts have been a part of the cream of the NFL crop, but without key engine cogs like Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, it’s going to take a strong showing of force to pocket the championship. Perhaps something akin to the opening scene of The Last Boyscout with Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans, where Tae Bo guru Billy Blanks plays a running back returning a kickoff that starts gunning down wouldbe tacklers when the swivel of his hips no longer does the trick.

Conversely, the Saints really put the term ‘home field’ to use this season after so many local residents took shelter in the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. With the way New Orleans has executed this season, even the Texas court system would be proud, especially in the face of lost talent such as Joe Horn, Kyle Turley and Deuce McCallister, leaving whoever lines up across from them to wind up on the losing end of a 39-28 decision.