Second thoughts
The performance left the Iowa fanbase even more nauseated than it already was. The Hawkeyes trailed 35-0 at the half and eventually suffered a 45-16 loss.
“Is it a little insulting to stereotype Iowans as farmers? Maybe, but, I mean, Iowa has a sticker that reminds us that America Needs Farmers on its helmet,” wrote Rodger Sherman of SBNation.com. “Nobody is trying to hide the fact that many Iowans have farms. The biggest mistake they made is going with a cow when it would’ve been a lot more accurate to go with corn.”
14-1 and no respect
The Carolina Panthers have the best record in the NFL, but Coach Ron Rivera believes his team is regarded as an uninvited guest to the playoff party.
The feeling that the outside world doubts whether the Panthers (14-1) are a legitimate Super Bowl contender has grown stronger since last Sunday’s 20-13 loss at Atlanta ended Carolina’s run at an undefeated season.
“I think we crashed the party,” Rivera said Friday. “People were expecting us to be 8-8, 9-7, I guess. It took people a long time to pay attention to us.
“I don’t think we were fairly treated by some other people. People made statements about who we are, and they have no idea about who we really are.”
Rivera said Carolina hasn’t gotten its due for everything it has accomplished even though a team-record 10 players were selected to the Pro Bowl.
“I don’t get it,” Rivera said. “I really don’t. It’s funny. At one point you’ve got a 14-game winning streak and people doubt you, then you lose one game and people doubt you even more.
“We’ll just show up [today] and play.”
It’s time to go
NBA official Joey Crawford said he intends to hang up his whistle after 39 years.
The veteran official has been sidelined by knee surgery, but hopes to be on the court by March 1. If all goes according to plan, he’ll call the playoffs with the aim of officiating yet another NBA Finals. Go out on top, so to speak.
“Its not that you lose your passion. I have that. That’s insanity,” Crawford, 64, said. “But it just comes to the point where you say, I dont want to make a fool out of myself. And its been so good that I want to go out on a high note.”