A beast from a family of tradition: Clay Matthews III

Everyone loves things that are big, you know, grande, super, monster size. As Americans we don’t want a cheeseburger, we want a double cheeseburger. As men we don’t want a women with an average butt, we want a Ba-Donka-Donk, Baby! At Starbucks you don’t want to start your day off with a small coffee. No! You want the big daddy, a Venti.

Even as football fans, we still are typical greedy Americans. We want a Super football game, not just another football game, but a Big, Grande, Super game! The most watched sporting event in the country, it’s not just another day of football for Americans, it’s an all-day event. Some use it as an excuse to go buy new BIG flat screens, we roll out the couches for friends and family, we stock the beer, we pluck the chicken for some hot wings and double up on the pizzas. God bless this country, with a night where we all party, feast, enjoy million-dollar commercials and watch the final two teams in the NFL battle it out in front of an estimated 110.5 million viewers in the U.S. alone. Last year 106.5 million domestic viewers watched the Saints and Colts, surpassing the 105.97 million viewers that watched the season finale of M.A.S.H. in 1983 and becoming the most watched program in U.S history.

So as Americans we like it BIG, we love a fast high and we do what pleases us. We are lucky to live in such a great country. That’s why the Super Bowl is the greatest single game in the world, and the Train Daddy always does it BIG. Ask any of the ladies that know me!

Prior to the NFL season, my Super Bowl pick was the Patriots vs. the Packers. At the time it seemed like the smart, sexy pick. The time is now upon us and the big game will be played at Mr. Jerry Jones’s new palace in Dallas. The Super Bowl will feature the Packers vs. Steelers, two teams with great tradition and a loyal fan base. Yours truly, the Z-Train, will be cheering for the fudge packers. I am truly a fan off the young quarterback Rodgers, and I love the play and passion that Clay Matthews III and that defense play with. Matthews comes from the most impressive family tree of football studs ever. That family breeds nasty white boys that dominate the defensive side of the football. Let’s just run down the Matthews family tree, if I can fit it all in here. His grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., played for the 49ers in the 1950s; and his father Clay Matthews Jr., played 19 seasons and still holds to this day the third most games ever played at 278. His uncle, Oilers/Titans offensive lineman and legend Bruce Matthews, played 19 years, was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2007, played in a record 14 straight Pro-Bowls and is considered the greatest lineman in NFL history. His youngest brother, Casey Matthews, is currently a linebacker for the Oregon Ducks and created a fumble in this year’s National Championship game against Auburn that almost changed the outcome. Clay’s cousin is currently a center for the Tennessee Titans, and his second cousin is currently the starting right tackle for the University of Texas A&M. What are they feeding that family?! All I know is, come Super Bowl Sunday, that boy in his second year is a leader and will be making the Steelers’ offensive coordinator account for him every play.

James Harrison, a hard-hitting, angry individual

On the other side of the football we have those dirty yellow towel swingers, “BLACK AND YELLOW, BLACK AND YELLOW, BLACK AND YELLOW.” Steeler Nation is strong; full of rich, winning tradition, big-name players and passionate fans, and they have a pretty good defensive player also. I think his name is Troy Polamalu. Ha-Ha. He is a beast. They have also a pissed off man by the name off James Harrison. That man doesn’t care how hard he hits you. He wants Aaron Rodgers and all quarterbacks to leave on a stretcher. Harrison sure let the world and Mr. Rodger Goodell know what he thinks about the new rules in the league; he referenced “retirement” after this season’s crackdown on violent hits. I understand his point of view, as well as the league’s, and he was ignorant with his statements. Nonetheless, this Quiet Storm can and will put a hard hit on anyone coming his way.

So the Z-Train is a hater of Steelers Nation. Sorry, Steelers fans. It’s just the way it is. I do have two positive things to say about the Steelers; Coach Mike Tomlin is one hell of a coach and one of my favorites. He says what he wants, he isn’t ignorant and he has overcome the shadow off Bill Cower after Cower lead that team for all those years. I don’t know if Coach Tomlin still gets all the respect he deserves. He never is a candidate for coach of the year. Most people in the beginning wrote him off and just believed his success came from the hands of players and a team that Bill Cower put together. All I know is Mike Tomlin is going for his second ring this year, and no matter the system already in play, here in the NFL that’s pretty impressive.

Will Mr. Rodgers be putting on the Super Bowl championship belt?

Now back to the Green Bay Packers vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am excited and don’t know how this game will play out. There are so many factors here. I believe Aaron Rodgers has the edge at quarterback. Any given Sunday I would say that, but this isn’t just any given Sunday; this is the Super Bowl, Baby! Saying that, this is Big Ben’s third Super Bowl and he has won the previous two, so experience goes to Ben, hands down, and that could definitely make him the better quarterback that day.

We have two great defenses here, and when you compare their regular season stats they’re pretty identical with Pittsburgh dominating the run defense, allowing an average of only 62.8 yards per game. Both defenses are almost identical, running the 3-4 scheme. Statistically, Green Bay has a better pass defense. Both teams are ranked No. 1 and 2 when it comes to average points allowed with Pittsburgh allowing 14.5 points a game and the packers allowing 15 points a game on average. Both defenses also rank No. 1 and 2 when it comes to sacks with Pittsburgh at 48 sacks and Green Bay at 47. The season’s average for total yards per game allowed goes to Pittsburgh at 276.8 and Green Bay at 309.1, so the edge at defense looks to be on the Steelers’ side. Both defenses are stout and hungry, and all that matters is that we have two extremely nasty, talented defenses. It all comes down to who shows up Super Bowl Sunday. In the 45-year history of Super Bowls, there has never been one with such history. Never has there been a title game with two teams more than 75 years old, and never has there been a matchup of teams totaling this many titles, with Pittsburgh at 6 titles and Green Bay at 3. So let’s get ready for a great title bout come Sunday, Feb. 6, with two teams full of tradition—the Fudge Packers and the Dirty Towel Swinging Steelers.

Well, I said everything I needed to say about the Titans’ season in the last issue; 2010 was a disgrace. It was more of a circus act than a football season.

So now the Train is rolling out of the station, and remember, family comes first and then football is pretty close . . . CHOO, CHOO!