Editorial Sketch of the Week: A different double standard

© Dana Summers, Orlando Sentinel

Did You Know (or Care): Inspired by a Colt, not a pistol

Contrary to popular belief, Colt 45 malt liquor wasn’t named after the famous handgun.

Peter J. Marcher Jr., master brewer for the National Brewing Company (in Baltimore, MD) and developer of the Colt 45 formula, named his beverage after a running back named Jerry Hill. Selected by Baltimore in the third round of the 1961 NFL draft, Hill (pictured) played for the Colts from 1961-1970 and was a member of their Super Bowl V-winning team.

And just to confirm the obvious, Hill wore the #45 jersey during his playing days.

Source: The Baltimore Sun

List Fest: Comparing the last 10 Super Bowl halftime shows

© Charlie Riedel, Associated Press

Halftime festivities for “The Big Game” didn’t become a headline-making spectacle until 1993 when Michael Jackson catapulted onto the stage and, prior to performing, stood frozen for what seemed like an hour. Since then, news about the midgame entertainment has come to garner nearly as much attention as the final showdown between the NFL’s two conference champions itself.

Since the general public seems less than thrilled about Madonna giggling and gyrating her old bones for the sake of our viewing pleasure, if not morbid curiosity, I thought a quick review of the last 10 Super Bowl halftime shows would be in order:

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Super Bowl XLV {Packers vs. Steelers} – The Black Eyed Peas w/ Usher and Slash: So insipid, I forgot they even played last year.

Super Bowl XLIV {Saints vs. Colts} – The Who: Not great, but better than the acts between whom they are sandwiched.

Super Bowl XLIII {Steelers vs. Cardinals} – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Sort of a jumbled effort. It seems Bruce in particular was trying too hard.

Super Bowl XLII {Giants vs. Patriots} – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Played above expectations; the last gratifying performance thus far.

Super Bowl XLI {Colts vs. Bears} – Prince: Impressive; perhaps the most outstanding routine of them all.

Super Bowl XL {Steelers vs. Seahawks} – The Rolling Stones: The boys from London really looked their age. Mick only wishes he could jump around the stage like the exuberant Angus Young.

Super Bowl XXXIX {Patriots vs. Eagles} – Paul McCartney: He was fine. Rather lackluster, but there have been plenty worse.

Super Bowl XXXVIII {Patriots vs. Panthers} – Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, et al.: Only MTV, which produced the event, could ever think that flashing one of Janet Jackson’s breasts to nearly a billion people globally would be a good idea.

Super Bowl XXXVII {Buccaneers vs. Raiders} – Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting: I have no recollection of them whatsoever, which is saying a lot considering how much I love Shania.

Super Bowl XXXVI {Patriots vs. Rams} – U2: Bono and company’s 9/11 tribute struck a proper nerve. They did well.

They’re back. No doubt about it.

I became a fan of the San Francisco 49ers before I committed my allegiance to any other team, college or pro. Family born and/or raised in the Bay area (South Bay, to be exact) might’ve fueled my passion from before adolescence – the Age of Montana didn’t hurt, either – but I’ve remained loyal through all the highs and lows, and will remain so for life.

The Niners earned a spot in their conference title game on Sunday for the first time in 14 years. One more win puts the Scarlet & Gold in Super Bowl XLVI for a chance to win the franchise's sixth championship. So today I commemorate their victory over the ’09 champs that applaud both their recent and impending triumph.

Indeed, the smart money says the 49ers will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on February 5. Don’t even doubt it.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

49ers quarterback Alex Smith celebrates after running for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their NFC Divisional playoff game against New Orleans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The 49ers won in heart-stopping fashion, 36-32.

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Devery Henderson of the New Orleans Saints congratulates Alex Smith after the game went final. It seems the oft-maligned former #1 overall draft pick has finally arrived.

c/o Associated Press

Defensive Tackle Justin Smith, a Godsend from Cincinnati three years ago, celebrates after sacking New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. His leadership on defense will be crucial if the 49ers hope to go all the way.

c/o Associated Press

Safety and special teams contributor Colin Jones celebrates after recovering a fumble by Saints running back Darren Sproles on a punt return as Roman Harper (#41) looks on dejectedly.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Frank Gore (#21), the 49ers second all-time leading rusher, carries the ball as teammate Bruce Miller defends. Gore, by the way, scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test prior to being drafted, which proves that you don’t have to be particularly smart to make a positive impact in the world.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

49er fans en force. They’ve waited a long time for this. Only a win over the dastardly Cowboys would have made it sweeter.

Editorial Sketch(es) of the Week: Football & Obama

It was difficult to pick just one:

© Drew Litton

© Eric Allie

Guilty Pleasures/Sunday's Quote: A different kind of fantasy

c/o Fantasy Sports Counselor

I have a confession of which I am neither proud nor ashamed: I play fantasy football.

This year marks my twelfth season in a league that's been around with the same core group of guys since 1998.  During our annual draft yesterday, I began to ponder why this otherwise trivial little event has become so important to so many millions (and growing by the year).  Perhaps the quote below offers a reason why:

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"Baseball is what we were.  Football is what we have become."

– Mary McGrory (1918–2004), a liberal journalist and columnist for The Washington Post who probably wasn’t paying homage to the game which, arguably, has replaced baseball as our new American pastime

Sunday's Quote: Fantasy Football

Photo from TwinCitiesDailyPhoto.com

Upwards of 20 million men (and women in some cases) gather around this time every August to grind over the available options for their respective fantasy football team.  And yes, The Eccentric Conservative is no exception.

Just a couple of hours ago I drafted (left, not an actual shot from my draft night) perhaps the most dominating team in fantasy football history.  Of course I say that every year, and I haven't won a championship since 2002 -- although my franchise has made three trips to the title game.  But this season will be different.

Yes, I can feel it.  Back off and bow down, boy.  May as well engrave my name on the Hipner Trophy now.  Victory will be mine.  All mine, damn it!

"Nobody in football should be called a genius.  A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

-- Joe Theismann, former National Football League MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Washington Redskins ('74-'85)

Farewell to these titans of the gridiron

Amid this era of performance-enhancing drugs, which is likely more prevalent than anyone outside the world of sports can fully comprehend, fans know that we should feel especially good about two of the all-time greats who did it right.  And now they're (probably) saying goodbye.

As perhaps the NFL's most unlikely success story, just about everyone has heard of Kurt Warner's rise from small college quarterback, to his stellar but largely unnoticed play in the Arena league and Europe, to a nearly minimum wage job stacking grocery shelves, to eventual NFL stardom by which he earned a slew of awards and three trips to the Super Bowl.  Undoubtedly Warner's story is a testament to Faith, perseverance, and the journey off the beaten path that we sometimes must take.

Coming off his best season in at least five years, one could easily doubt the authenticity of Favre's retirement, as ol' #4 has previously un-retired three times.  The 40-year-old pride of Southern Mississippi has made an unbelievable 285 consecutive starts (going back to '92), passing for almost 70,000 yards and nearly 500 touchdowns during his unmatched career -- milestones any competitor would like to top if possible -- so nobody is going to be shocked if "Big Arm Brett" makes yet another comeback.

Neither of these men were ever expected to rise to the pinnacle of their profession, but in the end they became surefire first ballot Hall of Famers and their respective stories should inspire us all.