There’s New Year’s Eve… St. Patrick’s Day… Cinco de Mayo… Mardi Gras… And then… There’s America’s biggest national drinking holiday - Super Bowl Sunday! There will be more drinking, Shots! Shots! Shots! consumed and, unfortunately, domestic disputes that break out today (Of all days we could promote free rides and pick up from the likes of AAA and Ride Share companies, should be today- think about all the saved lives and it’s so not worth a dui folks…). Yes, yes, yes… All former celebrations commemorate a specific historic event or changing over a new leaf; there’s only one, the latter, that celebrates power, domination, triumphing through attrition, and grit on worshiped gridirons across football fan kingdoms, nations and faithful… Our National Football League has not only taken over Sundays in the Fall and Winter from God, it has reached the pinnacle of the most celebrated sport in the United States. From the golden coasts of California to the shores in North Carolina, football fans in August have all the hopes and bright dreams that this will be their year to host a spectacular Super Bowl Party rooting on their squad. As the weeks of play roll on, one by one, teams fall off the trend of making it to ‘The Show’. Out of 32 teams beginning on the road towards the Lombardi trophy, only half will be there in January.
At the end, there can only be two. In an historic Super Bowl taking place for the first time, in the glitz capital of America, Las Vegas, Super Bowl LVIII is bringing a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco Forty Niners! Both teams are becoming two of the NFL young and upcoming talented franchises favored to show up at the show year in and year out. Kansas City has made the AFC Championship games every year that Patrick Mahomes has been the starting quarterback (6). San Francisco has been in the NFC Championship game 4 of the last 5 years. San Francisco has lost their last two Super Bowl appearances against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, and then another loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, handing Coach Andy Reid his first Super Bowl triumph. Reid and Mahomes were back in 2023 to win another Super Bowl for the Kansas City Kingdom, and hoping to continue its reign, attempting to win back-to-back Lombardi trophies.
There’s a younger bright coach standing determined on the other side of the field today at Allegiant Stadium, Kyle Shanahan who desperately wants to turn around his current reputation of the ability to make it to the show, only to watch it slip away time in, and time out as the clock ticks down to zeros in the fourth quarter. Coach Kyle Shanahan has been the OC for the Atlanta Falcons with a 28-3 lead versus the New England Patriots, only to watch Tom Brady and the New England Patriots come back and torpedo the inevitable. Now, Kyle is the head coach of the San Francisco Forty-Niners (legacy coach, his father Mike Shanahan being OC for Mike Walsh before having his own success winning Super Bowls for Denver) and has been a disappointing sideline sight watching the Chiefs come back in the fourth quarter to persevere, taking the lead and trophy out of the hands of San Francisco. Kyle is hoping to turn his fate around in the year of the Dragon! Kyle and Andy Reid actually have career similarities. Andy Reid did his best to bring glory to the Philadelphia Eagles during his 13 year tenure. While coaching the Eagles, Reid brought them to five NFC Championship games, and one Super Bowl Appearance, only to lose. Finally, when given the opportunity to continue his career in Kansas City, and having a sparkle in his eye for a young talented Patrick Mahomes, Andy finally made it to the Summit, lifting the Lombardi Trophy beating San Francisco four years ago. Kyle Shanahan is definitely looking for redemption, seeking to hurdle over his given reputation and grab that Tiffany Platinum hand-crafted Obelisk out of Chiefs Kingdom wanting to keep its hands wrapped around it keeping the priceless prize in Kansas City. Niners Nation has been salivating for 30 years to taste triumph on top of the football world once again, adding another Lombardi to their trophy case. Will the stars, luck, wit and prosperity align for the faithful in 2024? The Niner Gang has been anxious, excited and hopeful, this is our time!
It’s now down to preparation taken by both squads to strategize and adjust to display and execute the more effective offense and defense game plans. As the national analysts have been spewing for the last two weeks ad nausea regarding the offense and defense strengths, weaknesses and statistics regarding both squads, you have to know that each Red and Gold roster will be vigorously creating adjustments and game plans. The regular season playbooks and habits will be tossed out, and there will be disguised looks, plays and surprises on the field for this four-hour world championship contest. The team that can out-wit and in-game modify for success will be the one with more points on the board tonight. It will ultimately come down to the strength in trenches of the offensive and defensive lines. On top of the dominating defense to contribute towards winning their team a championship, it will be in-line trench warfare on both sides for the success of the play-callers, and those 300-pound play stoppers. May the Lunar New Year, and the prosperity, fortitude and luck of the year of the Dragon bring those attributes to the fervent and faithful fans surrounding their Bay Area Squad. Here’s to San Francisco breaking out of the 30-year drought and reaching the top of the sporting world pinnacle once again! I and millions hoping, having faith, praying it will be their red-and-gold squad on top tonight! Bang-Bang Niner Gang! Faithful to the Bay! Niners Nation Representing today!
