In about 14 hours, I shall embark on a 24-hour mission of attempting to stay sane, lucid, and alive.
You see, my Seahawks are in the Super Bowl for just the second time in their history. And while I'm not going to pretend I care about the Hawks nearly as much as I care about Chelsea, the fact that the Super Bowl and then the huge match on Monday all fall within the same 24-hour period is not going to be beneficial for my long-term liver health. And I say that as an owner of a very healthy, very capable, very, very efficient liver.
I've been thinking about this a bit, and the Seahawks' Super Bowl record has a chance to mirror Chelsea's Champions League final record in a rather fitting way. (Fitting, because I serve as the common link. I'm important, my mother said so!)
In 2005, the Seahawks made it to their first ever title game. While on paper it was an even match-up with the Steelers, they managed to shoot themselves in the foot a couple times and then got a few extra pops from the Ovrebo-esque officiating en route to a 10-21 loss. The Steelers scored on a trick play - my NFL equivalent of the John Terry slip - to seal the deal.
Now with their second bite at the cherry, the Seahawks will be relying on their defense (best in the league) against the best in class offense of the Broncos. Bayern had 35 shots in the final two years ago; Peyton Manning averages 36 pass attempts per game. A late-blooming (as a pro) talisman scored for us in Munich; BEASTMODE (who never quite got established in Buffalo) will have to score for the Seahawks, probably more than once. A man with crazy hair anchored the defense and made a crucial penalty kick in the shootout; a man with crazy hair will anchor the Seahawks defense and will have to make a crucial play or two. Sideshow's partner was quiet man Cahill; Sherman's "partner" is quiet man Earl Thomas III (and all the other, less-often-talked-about members of the secondary). Our offense was led by a short, supremely talented 24-year-old model professional in Juan Mata; the Seahawks offense is led by a short, supremely talented 24-year-old model professional in Russell Wilson.
IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STARS.
My wife's Maid of Honor and her boyfriend will be at the game. GO HAWKS!
FOOTBALL (all times GMT):
13.30: Premier League, 17th vs. 4th: West Bromwich Albion vs. Liverpool
14.00: Serie A, 2nd vs. 7th: Roma vs. Parma
16.00: Premier League, 2nd vs. 16th: Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
18.00: La Liga, 2nd vs. 6th: Atlético Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
19.45: Serie A, 1st vs. 5th: Juventus vs. Internazionale
20.00: La Liga, 4th vs. 3rd: Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid
23.30: Super Bowl XLVIII: Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks