Tag Archives: nfl playoffs

Football, Skitch Hanson

Up the Middle with Skitch Hanson: The Keys to the Keystone State

Scratchbomb hands over the reins to nationally syndicated sports columnist Skitch Hanson, as we’ve done many times before. You may know him as the author of the highly popular syndicated column “Up The Middle.” You may also have read his best-selling book I Liked It Better When Home Run Hitters Drank Like Fish. He’s also a frequent guest on ESPN’s sportswriters panel show 4th and Forever. Without further ado, here’s Skitch.

Within the week, we could witness something truly historic. Something that people have been waiting for, hoping for, some even praying for, for years. Centuries, even. And when that moment happens, I will stand and applaud with my fellow Americans, maybe choke back a tear, and wonder what wonders the future holds for all of us.

Of course, I’m speaking of the possibility of an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

Some people like to think of how far we’ve come, but I wonder why it’s taken us this long. Do you realize that before this weekend, two Pennsylvania teams had never even made the semifinals of any major professional sport at the same time? That is a shame our nation must live with.

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Football

Playoff Preview: Ravens at Titans with Ray Lewis

Today, we preview the weekend’s playoff games with a whole buncha celebrity guests. To discuss the exciting Baltimore-Tennessee matchup, here’s Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who agreed to talk with Scratchbomb as long as I didn’t broach certain subjects.

raylewis.jpgThis has to be a great season for the Ravens. No one expected you to do anything this year, and now you find yourself one win away from the AFC Championship game. How does that feel?

I always believed that we could cut through the competition in the AFC, ever since training camp, when I saw Joe Flacco firing those absolute daggers down the field.

He’s turned out to be quite a draft steal.

I bet there’s a lot of teams out there who feel like stabbing themselves for passing him up!

That’s a curious turn of phrase, but yes, I would think so. Of course, the backbone of your team remains the defense, with veterans like you and Ed Reed. How do you stay so fresh after so many years in the league?

I don’t know how you can’t stay fresh! This is the greatest job in the world! Every time I go out on the field, it’s like the first time I put on pads. I just wanna go out there and slash that offense to ribbons!

So how do you explain your continued success? Is it a strong work ethic or a rigorous training regimen?

Any success I have in my life, it all comes from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through Him all things are possible. When I let Him into my life, it was like I’d been stabbed in the soul with a 13-inch knife. But His knife filled me with love and forgiveness, rather than caused me to bleed to death from my carotid artery.

That’s some curious religious imagery.

Faith is a curious thing. To the faithless man, it may make no sense. But to those who believe, it’s an exhilirating, transcendent feeling. The only thing I can compare it to is, oh, I don’t know, stabbing two guys to death and totally getting away with it.

C’mon, you’re not even trying anymore!

It’s so hard, man, it’s so hard.

SB prediction: Ravens 24, Titans 12.

Football

Playoff Preview: Chargers at Steelers with LaDainian Tomlinson

Today, we preview the weekend’s playoff games with a whole buncha celebrity guests. To discuss the exciting San Diego-Pittsburgh matchup, here’s Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

First off, are you feeling okay? Right now, there’s still some question about your availability for the game in Pittsburgh. Groin injuries would be bad for any running back, and especially for your type of game. Can you be 100 percent effective this weekend?

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/watches own breath fog and crystalllize

Alright, we don’t have to talk about that. But it has to be frustrating to be injured during the playoffs for a second year in a row. You work hard all season, and it’s like deja vu all over again. You must feel down sometimes. How do you work against that and get yourself pumped up for this game?


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Okay, let’s just drop the injury talk altogether. Assuming you do play, you can’t be looking forward to playing against that tough Steeler defense. Do you think your offensive line can open up some holes for your to do your thing? Or do you think the new threat of Darren Sproles will allow you to go unnoticed and sneak up on Pittsburgh?


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I get it, you don’t wanna give away any secrets. Here’s a fun question: You’ve been one of the best fantasy players for the past few years. I mean, there’s not a lot of players out there who can run, catch and throw touchdowns! Would you pick yourself first in a fantasy league?


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/adjusts shoulder pads
/stares soullessly

Last question: Are you LaDainian Tomlinson or the Ghost of Christmas Future?

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/extends bony finger from droopy sleeve.

SB’s prediction: Steelers 17, Chargers 9.