Happy New Year!
We end our series on my most painful sports memories with this one.... and, I'm sorry, I'm still not able to talk about this game rationally.
I just physcially can't go into the details of this game like I have done with the others. It's still too painful. Just searching for the images brought back some bad, bad flashbacks.
(For instance, I forgot that they were up 2-0 in the game. I always thought it was 1-0, then 1-1, then 2-1 until the 9th.....ugh....)
Where was I for this game? Janice and I had tickets - believe it or not - for the Buffalo Bills game that weekend. The Bills were holding a "Cleveland Browns fan Appreciation day", given our "hiatus" from the league at that point. We got tickets from the Cincinnati Browns Backers group. The plan was to drive up Saturday, watch Game 6 in Steve's basement with Steve, then go to Buffalo on Sunday to watch the Bills, and then drive home from Buffalo to Cincinnati Sunday night.
Well, Game 6 was a great game - Chad Ogea not only winning but driving in 2 runs - and the Tribe won, forcing a game 7. The weather was crap - and why were we going to see a Buffalo game anyway? We decided to stay in Cleveland that Sunday to watch game 7 in Steve's basement.
I was 25. I wanted to riot in the streets with a win.
I remember us getting pizza - I think it was the 4 of us; Janice, me, Steve, and Steve's girlfriend (soon to be wife, Susan). We got a ton of pizza. We watched the game in almost absolute silence in the heightened tension. Every half inning, I would get up, grab a slice of the small square-cut pizza, pace around a bit, and then sit down.
We ran out of pizza after the bottom of the 8th. I don't think I have to say anymore.
The drive home was awful, although we set a record - we made it home in about 3 hours with no stops.
I'm sorry, I still can't relive that game.....still too raw.
On to the games:
Cin 20, Bal 17. Have to think there is some letdown for the Ravens after last week.
TB 27, Car 17. TB will at least play hard for a while in this game.
Hou 20, Ten 13. I think Houston will go all out here, as they need to get Tom Savage reps in preparation for the playoffs next week.
Ind 27, Jax 24. What a change in demeanor for the Jags! Wow....
NE 28, Mia 17. Pats will go up 14-0 and cruise from there.
Min 27, Chi 24. The Vikes want the season to be over, and the Bears are still playing hard.
Buf 19, NYJ 16. Who cares?
Phi 23, Dal 20. No idea what Garrett and the Cowboys will do here.
Atl 31, NO 17. Someone will stop playing during this game - it will be evident.
Was 24, NYG 17. Motivation is another key factor here as the Giants are locked into the 5 seed.
Oak 23, Den 13. Denver's offense is atrocious, and I don't think Matt McGloin is all that bad.
Az 20, LA 10. I'm sure there will be 9 flea flickers for the Rams here just to keep people interested for next year.
KC 27, SD 16. The Chargers already said their good bye to San Diego last year. There's no celebratory send off in store this year.
Sea 20, SF 13. Again, I don't like Seattle on the road.
GB 30, Det 24. I may add this to the "best bet" games later on as the day progresses.
Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 8-5; overall: 104-94-7
Cin +2.5
TB -3.5
Hou +4
Hou/Ten under 40.5
Jax/Ind over 47
Chi +6.5
Min/Chi over 43
Pit -5.5
Atl -7.5
NO/Atl under 57
Oak +1.5
KC -4
Sea/SF under 43
My supercontest picks: Last week: 4-1; overall: 43-35-2
Pit -6
Atl -6.5
KC -6
Hou +3.5
Oak +1
Our combined supercontest picks: last week: 4-1; overall: 39-35-6:
NYJ -3.5
Bal +2
Was -7.5
Pit -6
Atl -6.5
I just physcially can't go into the details of this game like I have done with the others. It's still too painful. Just searching for the images brought back some bad, bad flashbacks.
(For instance, I forgot that they were up 2-0 in the game. I always thought it was 1-0, then 1-1, then 2-1 until the 9th.....ugh....)
Where was I for this game? Janice and I had tickets - believe it or not - for the Buffalo Bills game that weekend. The Bills were holding a "Cleveland Browns fan Appreciation day", given our "hiatus" from the league at that point. We got tickets from the Cincinnati Browns Backers group. The plan was to drive up Saturday, watch Game 6 in Steve's basement with Steve, then go to Buffalo on Sunday to watch the Bills, and then drive home from Buffalo to Cincinnati Sunday night.
Well, Game 6 was a great game - Chad Ogea not only winning but driving in 2 runs - and the Tribe won, forcing a game 7. The weather was crap - and why were we going to see a Buffalo game anyway? We decided to stay in Cleveland that Sunday to watch game 7 in Steve's basement.
I was 25. I wanted to riot in the streets with a win.
I remember us getting pizza - I think it was the 4 of us; Janice, me, Steve, and Steve's girlfriend (soon to be wife, Susan). We got a ton of pizza. We watched the game in almost absolute silence in the heightened tension. Every half inning, I would get up, grab a slice of the small square-cut pizza, pace around a bit, and then sit down.
We ran out of pizza after the bottom of the 8th. I don't think I have to say anymore.
The drive home was awful, although we set a record - we made it home in about 3 hours with no stops.
I'm sorry, I still can't relive that game.....still too raw.
On to the games:
Cin 20, Bal 17. Have to think there is some letdown for the Ravens after last week.
TB 27, Car 17. TB will at least play hard for a while in this game.
Hou 20, Ten 13. I think Houston will go all out here, as they need to get Tom Savage reps in preparation for the playoffs next week.
Ind 27, Jax 24. What a change in demeanor for the Jags! Wow....
NE 28, Mia 17. Pats will go up 14-0 and cruise from there.
Min 27, Chi 24. The Vikes want the season to be over, and the Bears are still playing hard.
Buf 19, NYJ 16. Who cares?
Phi 23, Dal 20. No idea what Garrett and the Cowboys will do here.
Atl 31, NO 17. Someone will stop playing during this game - it will be evident.
Was 24, NYG 17. Motivation is another key factor here as the Giants are locked into the 5 seed.
Oak 23, Den 13. Denver's offense is atrocious, and I don't think Matt McGloin is all that bad.
Az 20, LA 10. I'm sure there will be 9 flea flickers for the Rams here just to keep people interested for next year.
KC 27, SD 16. The Chargers already said their good bye to San Diego last year. There's no celebratory send off in store this year.
Sea 20, SF 13. Again, I don't like Seattle on the road.
GB 30, Det 24. I may add this to the "best bet" games later on as the day progresses.
Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 8-5; overall: 104-94-7
Cin +2.5
TB -3.5
Hou +4
Hou/Ten under 40.5
Jax/Ind over 47
Chi +6.5
Min/Chi over 43
Pit -5.5
Atl -7.5
NO/Atl under 57
Oak +1.5
KC -4
Sea/SF under 43
My supercontest picks: Last week: 4-1; overall: 43-35-2
Pit -6
Atl -6.5
KC -6
Hou +3.5
Oak +1
Our combined supercontest picks: last week: 4-1; overall: 39-35-6:
NYJ -3.5
Bal +2
Was -7.5
Pit -6
Atl -6.5
