The Packers lost, and it was sad, and it was a little better because it came on the most Dan-Campbell-Lions game of all time—the team balling out and having fun with nothing to play for but pride—and Lions fans, at least in my life, couldn’t fully enjoy it because I kept acknowledging that Dan Campbell is the best, and nothing stokes a well-earned inferiority complex like being reminded that you are your biggest rival’s fifth or sixth most-loathed foe (I’d say it goes Vikings, Bears, 49ers, Bucs-with-Brady, Seahawks, Giants, Cowboys, Lions for me, so eighth for this guy, but I’m probably a Lions sympathizer relative to the field).
Now, we’re back to that month of the year where the Packers play Sam Malone and Aaron Rodgers plays Diane Chambers. How does this end? We have absolutely no idea.
One thing I’d put in the Packers’ favor here (and I would prefer Rodgers to come back, I’m still in win-now mode personally, sue me) is that Rodgers could make $58M next year, and what makes me put that in the Packers’ favor is that Rodgers has, ironically, surrounded himself with an heiress who I think better understands the concept of money than those predecessors with whom Randall Cobb’s wife also had to hang out.
You might think being an heiress means you don’t quite get the concept of currency, but you know who I wouldn’t bet on to appreciate greenbacks? A 32-year-old influencer of unknown-but-she-sure-likes-Burning-Man financial background. Also, an actress who’s used conventional transportation to gather her own spring water from mountains. Also, a racecar driver who’s really into crystals. Also, Olivia Munn? I don’t know about Olivia Munn. You’re in weird territory, though, when the two most down-to-earth partners you’ve been known to have are Olivia Munn and a 26-year-old Princeton graduate whose dad owns the Milwaukee Bucks.
Maybe I’m giving Mallory Edens too much credit, but something about a family who liked Wisconsin enough to own the Bucks tells me she was raised with some appreciation for normalcy and convention. Might she convince Aaron Rodgers to stay? I don’t know. But the fact he’s into her—and getting a normal haircut and that kind of thing—is encouraging. Money isn’t everything. But $58M is a lot!
NITantrum
I don’t know why I used that header. There was no tantruming this weekend about which I care.
Tulane did beat Temple on the road, so our Ten Teams Who Could Win the NIT™ are unchanged. St. John’s is starting to make us wonder, because while many of these teams (Notre Dame, Wyoming) are bad but have some winner vibes, St. John’s is decent but has loser vibes. Watching them at the end of the Providence game made it abundantly clear that St. John’s does not know how to win. That can help you get to the NIT. But it can’t help you, you know, win it. Keep an eye on those guys.
Burnley vs. Ipswich
I became a big FA Cup guy over the weekend, and I’m not sure how, but Burnley pissed on Bournemouth (oh yeah, that’s how I became a big FA Cup guy) and now they’ll play Ipswich Town on the road in the Round of 32. Respect everyone. But this is a good draw. Match at the end of the month. One-legged, still (I don’t know if the FA Cup ever did or does two-legged ties, this is the piece of Covid that continues to confuse me the most).
**
Our evening itinerary:
7:30 PM EST: CFP National Championship – Georgia vs. TCU (ESPN)
I think it would be really funny if TCU blew the doors off of Georgia. It would be confusing, and it would give me a lot of angles to ask if Texas is dodging the Big 12 by leaving for the SEC, and it’s really just what I want, so if I get to decide, that’s what’s we’re going with. We’re going with Max Duggan running for three scores in a 49-30 win for the Frogs. And you know what else? Every TCU fan will respond to the barks with ribbits. You think you’re tough, UGA fans? Tell me what sound the Frogs make.
9:00 PM EST: Oral Roberts @ New Mexico (MWN)
In alternative programming, for those concerned about the impact of concussions on our children, the Game of the NITe is going down at The Pit. No, Oral Roberts hasn’t gone away yet. In fact, some might say they’re in a better place than ever. Not me, though. I’m still waiting for Joe’s first NIT Bracketology of the season.
7:30 PM EST: Predators @ Senators (NHL Network)
The Sens got stomped on Saturday, but rather than dwell on that, let’s ask who the hell thought it was a good idea to name a hockey team the Predators. That word really took a turn on them, didn’t it.
Sens need a win if they’re going to get back within…wow, it’d just be five points of playoff position. That’s not that many points. Penguins would have a game in hand, but games in hand aren’t everything, Pittsburgh. You’re always acting like games in hand are everything but they’re not. They’re not everything. Sometimes heart matters more.
7:30 PM EST: Bulls @ Celtics (NBA TV)
These guys.
