My dearest Albert*,

I realize I’ve been tip-toeing around the subject for the past year, pretending nothing’s wrong, but I think this needs to be said since, well, I hate the unknown.  I need commitment, Albert.  For real commitment.  I know you keep saying how much you love St. Louis, and how you don’t plan to leave us.  And up until now, I’ve always believed you.  Why wouldn’t I?  You’ve always been there for me (see also: 2005 NLCS, Game 5), always reassuring me that the team would always be great as long as you are there.  Well, I’m starting to have doubts that maybe you aren’t as committed as you say you are.  Are you looking at other teams thinking maybe it would be better with someone else?  I keep ignoring the reporters that say the Cardinals are nowhere close to a deal with you; changing the channel when they talk about it on ESPN.  It’s almost Wednesday.  You’re about to report to Spring Training, and we all know you don’t talk contracts once baseball starts.  So, for Valentine’s Day, I don’t want flowers or candy, I just need a signature on the dotted line, confirming that as long as you are playing baseball, you’ll be wearing the Birds on the Bat.

Forever yours,

L

*Albert Pujols is arguably the best baseball player on the planet. He has been with the St. Louis Cardinals for his entire career (since 2001).  At the end of this season, his contract is up, and unless he and the Cardinals agree to new terms, he will become a free agent, making the Cardinals have to compete with the NY Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the LA Dodgers for his services for the remainder of his career.  Needless to say, the Cardinals would like to work out a new contract before he hits the free agent market in October.  Pujols and his agent have set a deadline of Wednesday at noon ET for any contract talks between him and the Cardinals.

Laura Schulte, a native of Little Rock, loves baseball (Rangers, Cardinals. Andrus, Pujols). And books. And movies. And did I mention baseball? Her feature: Pitching & Moaning might just end up a bit baseball heavy. Fair warning.

First off, HUGE congratulations go out to the Green Bay Packers for winning Super Bowl XLV!  Big win for a storied franchise with such an amazing fan base.  What did you kids think of the game?

Me, I was pretty underwhelmed by the commercials, halftime show and X-Tina’s…err… special rendition of our National Anthem (What so proudly we… watched?”), but the game was fairly exciting,  IMO.  Yeah, I’ll admit, it was kinda slow moving, but close right up until the end.  I was also thoroughly impressed with Aaron Rodgers.  Big stage with lots of expectations, and he delivered.

To spice things up a bit (or because I decided to be lame and watch the big game at my place by myself), this was the first year I was actively on Twitter during the game.  It was definitely a treat, highlighted by my favorite tweet of the day courtesy of one Ozzie Guillen (manager of the Chicago White Sox):

@OzzieGuillen: Watching the game and eating my jello  http://twitpic.com/3xae4f

There are no words for that picture.  No.  Words.

And the post-Super Bowl episode of Glee, you ask?  Well, let’s just say The Warbler’s singing “Bills, Bills, Bills” is quite possibly the best thing to happen in my life.  Yep, that’s how exciting my life is.  Or how awesome the Warblers are.  I’ll let you decide.

So, what’s going on in the sports world now that football is over?  Well, college basketball fans have the UNC (20) @ Duke (5) game to look forward to on Wednesday (tonight!) at 8pm CT (on ESPN).  Easily one of the best rivalries in all of sports, this match-up never fails to entertain.  I’ll be rooting for the Blue Devils.  I get a lot of flak for cheering for Duke, but I don’t really care.  I love Coach K, and I’m not scared to admit it.  Outside of that, I’m clueless.  I tend to avoid the Worldwide Leader during January…a sort of sports detox if you will since I’ll begin to overload mid-February.  It’s important for my social life.

Anything y’all are looking forward to this week?  Super Bowl thoughts?

Most importantly – you all know what Monday is, right? Pitchers and catchers report on Monday! Baseball! Yeah, yeah, it’s also Valentine’s day, but from where I stand, is there any better way to say “I love you” than Spring Training? Nuh uh.

Baseball is totally trying to woo me. It may be working.

By the way, If you’re looking for some *really* extensive sports coverage, I am totally digging G9Sports – all sports, all the time and all by women who love the game.

Laura Schulte, a native of Little Rock, loves baseball (Rangers, Cardinals. Andrus, Pujols). And books. And movies. And did I mention baseball? Her feature: Pitching & Moaning might just end up a bit baseball heavy. Fair warning.

Like it says in my mini-bio, my name is Laura and I LOVE baseball.  I’d marry it if I could.  For reals.  I can talk baseball with the best of ‘em (and I do via Twitter -  @LorInBigD if you’re a tweeter too).  My favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, but I keep an eye on most of the other teams, too.  Besides baseball, I’m a pretty avid college football fan – Arkansas Razorbacks/SEC football, to be precise. This time of year (January thru March) sorta sucks for me, not being the biggest follower of the NFL, basketball or hockey, but since we’re here to talk sports, let’s talk Super Bowl.

I’m Faking it – and You Can, Too!

I don’t know about you, but I am quite relieved that Lil Wayne came out with the song “Green & Yellow.”  I was scared that there would be no way for Green Bay could win the Super Bowl without a song.  I haven’t taken the time to actually listen to said song, but I’m sure it’s awesome and full of amazing lyrics.  And because of this, and after a lot of thought, this year, I’m throwing my support to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.  You’re welcome, Wisconsin.

Before you ask, I have great reasons for my newly found loyalty:

1. Two of my college roommates are Packers fans, and I want them to be happy.
2. I detest Ben Roethlisberger. I won’t rant about this here, but you really should detest him as well.
3. Wisconsin is known for cheese. I live for cheese.

In my opinion, the Super Bowl really isn’t fun if you aren’t cheering for a team (or any sporting event for that matter).  And if I have to make up reasons, then so be it.  I don’t really get into the NFL, thus I really don’t have a team, so each year, I adopt*.  So, in order to stand by my SB team choice, I’ve been doing research**…you know, so I don’t look like a poser.  This is what I’ve got so far (figured I’d share just in case anyone else cares to fake it like me on Sunday):

1. The Packer’s QB is Aaron Rodgers (wears #12).  He was Brett Favre’s replacement/backup.
2. Their coach is Mike McCarthy.
3. If it wasn’t obvious by the name of the Lil Wayne song, their colors are Green and Yellow, so dress accordingly.  Cheese hats are also considered appropriate attire.  Under no circumstances should you where black and yellow.  Actually, black should be avoided altogether.
4. The Packers have won 3 Super Bowls, including Super Bowls I and II.  Their latest Super Bowl win was in 1996.
5. Brett Favre:  To quote my lovely friend Carol, he’s “like an ex-boyfriend. We had some good times; I’m happy for all the things he did for the Packers. And now that we “broke up” I do hope he’s happy. But when I run into him with my new bf (Aaron Rodgers), I want my new bf to be so much better/hotter/etc…”  So, any reference to why you’re happier with Rodgers over Favre is always appreciated.
6. The Packers once played in what has been dubbed the “Ice Bowl” against the Dallas Cowboys in 1967.  Given the recent ice storms in Dallas, and the fact the Packers are playing in Cowboys Stadium, I’m setting the over/under on mentions of the “Ice Bowl” during the broadcast at 5.
7. Other Packers players of note: Brandon Jackson (running back, wears #32), Greg Jennings (wide receiver, wears #85).

Just in case you have opted to cheer for the Steelers, I did a bit of research for you as well (and honestly, to truly fake being a fan, you should probably know things about both teams):

1. Their QB is Ben Roethlisberger (wears #7, nickname: Big Ben).  Umm…I’ll omit any comments/opinions I have on Big Ben.  Should the Steelers win, this would be his 3^rd Super bowl win.
2. They are coached by Mike Tomlin.
3. The song “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa is an homage to Pittsbugh sports teams, and Steelers fans have embraced it as a team anthem.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you probably don’t listen to the radio as they seem to be playing it on a loop lately.  And, if you couldn’t figure it out, their colors are…you guessed it…black and yellow/gold.  Oh, attire-wise:  Don’t wear green…or a cheese hat.
4. The Steelers have the most Super Bowl wins of any franchise with 6.  This is something you should gloat about to Packers fans (and Cowboys fans if you’re like me and will be surrounded by them).
5. Their defense is often referred to as a “Steel Curtain.”
6. Other players of note:  Troy Polamalu (he has big hair, plays Safety, and wears #43), Rashard Mendenhall (running back, wears #34), and Mike Wallace (wide receiver, wears #17).

Other Super Bowl tid bits:

• It’s always appropriate to make fun of Joe Buck (one of the announcers during the Super Bowl).  Any joke involving him being emotionless or agreeing with Troy Aikman is always funny.  Editor’s Note: Also, Troy Aikman is nice to look at.
• Any reference to the football robot always seems appreciated…or maybe that’s just my friends?  They love that thing.
• The Black Eyed Peas are the halftime “entertainment,” so feel free to take your bathroom break then.  You won’t miss anything.
• Glee is on after the Super Bowl.  There will be a mashup of Thriller and Heads Will Roll.  Yay!

Hopefully, this should be enough to get you through the big game.  And if you really are a big Packers or Steelers fan and have more facts to contribute, it would be truly appreciated!  Like I’ve said, NFL isn’t my thing.  I’m a baseball girl…and I take it quite seriously.

*For the record, I tend to find myself rooting for the Rams (no real reason except I lived in St. Louis during many of the Kurt Warner years…he’s sorta dreamy, and they were good then) and the Colts (most of my friends in Dallas are from Indy, and I’m a sucker for Peyton Manning).  Those teams aside, I typically cheer for the team that has the most former Arkansas Razorbacks on it.  It makes sense in my head, and I’m consistent, so I’m good with it.

**I’d like to thank Wikipedia and my facebook/twitter feeds for their contributions to all of my “research”.

What sports do you peeps like/follow?  Are you REALLY into these sports or just a casual fan?

Laura Schulte, a native of Little Rock, loves baseball (Rangers, Cardinals. Andrus, Pujols). And books. And movies. And did I mention baseball? Her feature: Pitching & Moaning might just end up a bit baseball heavy. Fair warning.