The Sports Monitor

I've had some bad luck with television shows in the past and it looks like I could be going down that same path again. I got hooked on ABC's "V" and "Flash Forward" and Fox's "Human Target" not too long ago, only to have the shows end with cliffhangers and no conclusion. I was a fan of TNT's comedy "Men of a Certain Age," only to learn it was canceled early. Same thing with the cop drama "Dark Blue." I got a reprieve with AMC's "The Walking Dead," which might be my favorite right now. But I waded into some new shows the last couple of weeks only to find out they could be canceled. Yes, I'm one of the apparent few that watch "Alcatraz" and "The River." And, you know what? I'm into 'em. It just remains to be seen how much longer I'll have to enjoy them. Maybe I should just bail before I get caught up in each show. What do you think? At least I can fall b...

The Pittsburgh Steelers put on a solid front in their introduction of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley on Thursday. Mike Tomlin introduced Haley and made it a point to say that he was the one doing the interviews to find a replacement for Bruce Arians. Tomlin was trying to show he still was the one in charge, although if you read some accounts, it makes it look like he's going along for the ride. Tomlin said the right things and hit on the right topics. Haley, too, said all the right things. He made it a point to say he'll do anything to win, run or pass. So far, so good, in smoothing the transition. Then the media found Ben Roethlisberger. You can tell he's still miffed at losing Arians. It's understandable, but he shouldn't go public about it. "I've gotten a lot of calls and texts and emails from people around the league, both good and bad about him," Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette. "Everybody has an opinion, as we al...

Call me indifferent on the hiring of Todd Haley as the Pittsburgh Steelers' new offensive coordinator. I don't fall into the camp where Haley has lost his mind and is worried about people bugging his office. And I don't fall into the camp where anyone will be an improvement over former coordinator Bruce Arians. Now, I was happy that Arians was relieved of his duties. I did not like how he called games and I thought his relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was too chummy for a coach-player relationship. It might seem wishy-washy to be indifferent on Haley, the former Chiefs head coach and Cardinals offensive coordinator, but let me explain. For all of Arians' shortcomings, the Steelers did win the Super Bowl with him and made another. I think only the truly excellent offensive coordinators can elevate a team and the truly poor ones can sink a team. For most coordinators, I think they are as good as the players they have. So while I believe Arian...

I've seen one too many writers claim that if it weren't for a safety by the Giants at the beginning of Super Bowl XLVI, the Patriots would have been able to kick a field goal to win the game at the end. The theory, I gather, is since the Giants won 21-17, you would subtract two points for the safety, making it 19-17. Thus, a field goal wins the game. I say it takes a simple mind to adopt that view. Let's take away the safety, for argument's sake, making it 19-17. Think back to the Giants' last touchdown. They went for two, to make it a six-point game. I guarantee you that there is no way -- none -- that the Giants would go for two if the game was 19-17. They kick the extra point to make it 20-17. The Patriots don't get a chance to kick a field goal to win the game. The best a Patriots' field goal would do is tie the game. There's one other point I'd like to make. I'll even concede the Giants trying to covert two after their touchdow...

I get it. Eli Manning led the New York Giants past the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI Sunday night. He's a two-time Super Bowl MVP. I get that too. I understand the euphoria and the accolades beings thrown his way. But, please, don't call him the best quarterback today. I'll take Aaron Rodgers (remember him) and Drew Brees over Manning any day.

The comparisons between the Giants' Super Bowl championship four years ago and the one won Sunday in Indianapolis are eerily similar. I grew tired of it after the Giants beat the Packers. And it grew and grew and grew. And it became reality late Sunday when Tom Brady's Hail Mary fell to the turf. The Giants not only beat the Patriots again, they rallied for a late score to win it, just like in Super Bowl XLII. Strange stuff. It's also amazing how the Giants have owned the Patriots. There once was an old saying about how you couldn't beat Bill Belichick twice in a season. The Giants just did it. Personally, I think Belichick is overrated. I think Spygate tainted is other Super Bowl wins and his failure to win since those revelations confirms it to the doubters. Belichick needed this win. He didn't get it. The Giants -- and Tom Coughlin -- own the Patriots.

For a team favored to win the Super Bowl, I've seen way too many people pick the New York Giants over the New England Patriots. So many are picking the Giants that I'm sure the Patriots are playing the Disrespect Card as one of their rallying cries before the game. I'm not sure it will be enough for the Patriots to prevail. Tom Brady has the offense, but Eli Manning and the Giants aren't too far behind on defense either. The big question is whether super tight end Rob Gronkowski will play and, if he does, how much that high ankle injury will hinder him. Gronkowski is a big part of that offense, and without him or with him less than 100 percent, it slows down the Pats. Manning has the weapons, too. Victor Cruz emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the game. Hakeem Nicks is the other favored target who has plenty of upside as well. Each team has the ability to score plenty. But, in a season highlighted by high-powered offenses, I think the Giants defen...