3D: Wave of the future in the NFL?

Did you see the Super Bowl ad in 3D at halftime for Sobe?

Pretty cool, huh.

Who knows; 3D may be the wave of the future for the NFL.

The Sobe ad certainly seemed to jump out at those of us watching in 3D.

And for those who viewed the San Diego Chargers-Oakland Raiders game in 3D on Dec. 4, the pictures sure appeared to jump out.

Whenever a player caught a ball near the sideline, he seemed to be coming right at you.

When the locker room attendant threw a towel at the camera, it looked like the towel would hit you.

When the Charger Girl cheerleaders were featured, it looked like they were falling out of their tops (and bottoms.)

If 3D is the future of the NFL, I’m not so sure if it will be possible to watch a full game in that manner.

But some of the 3D features are certainly attractive at this point.

Kurt Warner: Nice guys don't always finish last

You’ve probably heard the story by now, but it bears repeating.

He’s working in a grocery store at age 22. She’s there working at age 26.

He asks her out. She says “you don’t want to” because of her two kids from a previous marriage.

He doesn’t care and asks her out, anyway.

They get married. He plays in an arena football league.

Then one day, nine years ago, Kurt Warner wins the Super Bowl as quarterback of the St. Louis Rams.

We finally hear of his background. Warner is a decent Christian man who doesn’t call attention on himself by getting into trouble.

Subsequently, he bounces around for several years in the NFL. Now he’s playing for a Super Bowl championship Sunday when his Arizona Cardinals meet the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It would be lovely if this Cinderella story continued … but …

Prediction:
Steelers 27, Cardinals 20

San Diego State hoops needs big-time wins

San Diego State needs to beat someone of significance if it hopes to receive an NCAA Tournament bid in men’s basketball this season.

The Aztecs may be off to a 13-5 start, but they have yet to post a win to get them over the hump when tournament selection time comes.

SDSU has faced three certain NCAA participants thus far – Arizona State, Arizona and Saint Mary’s. The Aztecs lost to all three.

Of the 13 wins, Utah has been the biggest-named opponent. And the Utes are no certain bet for the NCAAs.

Coach Steve Fisher has done a good job in his near-decade on Montezuma Mesa in turning the Aztecs from a horrible to middle-of-the-pack team. The program is good enough to make the NIT just about every year; yet you can only count on an NCAA berth (and loss) about once every five years.

Unless the Aztecs win the Mountain West Conference’s automatic NCAA bid this year, it’s going to be the same old thing:

Play in the NIT and hope for the best.

Union-Tribune writer too soft on Chargers' GM

When is Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune ever going to stop kissing the butt of Chargers’ General Manager A.J. Smith?

Did you see the latest in Sunday’s U-T?

Acee tried to defend the indefensible comments of Smith regarding LaDainian Tomlinson.

As a reminder, Tomlinson wrote on his blog:

“I have been getting a lot of messages on my site regarding me leaving San Diego. I feel that I need to make it very clear that I have NO intentions of leaving San Diego. San Diego is where my career started and where I'd like it to end. I have nothing but love and the upmost (sic) respect for this team, the players, and the Spanos Family. Me being traded is completely out of my hands. I have ABSOLUTELY no control in that decision making. All I can do is wait and see how it all plays out. As for now, I am a Charger and will be until I am told otherwise."

Smith replied:

“My first reaction was we both have similar feelings. I have no intentions of leaving San Diego. San Diego is where my GM career started and where I'd like it to end. I also have nothing but love and the utmost respect for this team, the players and the Spanos family. I have absolutely no control over how long I will be with the Chargers.”

Acee, who should be part of the Chargers’ media relations department, tried to defend Smith by saying the general manager meant no disrespect toward LT.

Yeah, and if that’s the case, Smith meant no disrespect when his ego and attitude drove the likes of Drew Brees, Donnie Edwards and Marty Schottenheimer out of town.

If you don’t believe me, go back and read the Sports Letters to the Editor in Sunday’s Union-Tribune.

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

WWE: Please make winners out of some losers!

Pay per view event No. 1 (of many) for 2009 is this Sunday with the Royal Rumble.

It’s all about who wins the individual matches, wins the battle royal and goes on to WrestleMania.

But while the attention will focus on the winners, we want to focus on four “losers” in the WWE whose storylines could be much stronger.

Finlay: He’s a fall guy for the likes of Jack Swagger these days. But with his “son” Hornswoggle by his side, he could be used much more creatively. How about a few wins by Finlay … and more air time for Hornswoggle, to draw some much-deserved attention to this fading duo?

Jillian: She can’t sing. But why can’t she wrestle? The fans just hate her. How about letting her win a couple times to give more legitimacy (bad word in wrestling) to her act?

Santino Marella: He was a great act when he came out of the crowd to win a title during his debut. Since then, he’s been lower than the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Why can’t he win a match anymore? Is WWE going to get rid of him by letting “girlfriend” Beth Phoenix kick his butt one more time?

Victoria: She’s mean; she’s nasty. She’s also a loser. When was the last time she won a match? With all the pretty girls winning all the matches, how about letting the mean one be a winner once in a while?

See you at the Rumble.

San Diego sports talk radio ain't happening

San Diego is way too small for two all-sports talk radio stations.

Is it even big enough for one?

It’s sad that XTRA Sports 1360 has gone by the wayside after just 14 months, but how does a town with only two pro teams (Chargers, Padres) have two such stations in the first place?

It was obviously a train wreck waiting to happen … just as is the Bleacher Bums show on Double-X 1090 Sports each day from 3-7 pm.

Speaking of, who knows if 1090 will even be able to keep its all-sports format?

After all, owner John Lynch cut his higher salaried people such as Bill Werndl and Joe Tutino (not to mention Mark Larson on 1700 AM) strictly due to finances.

And that of course led to the current afternoon show, which is about as popular as the plague right now.

Lynch excuses his new hires (a couple fans off the street) by saying he hired the likes of Jim Rome, the late Chet Forte and the brilliant coach John Kentera under similar conditions.

OK, using that logic, remember that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Therefore, does it mean every guy cut by his high school basketball team is destined to be the next Michael Jordan?

Come on; you can’t fool the listening public. Sadly, San Diego sports talk radio is a perfect example.

Chargers, Ravens ran on empty in playoffs

Let’s face it: The Baltimore Ravens simply ran out of gas in the playoffs.

Too many injuries. Too many road games.

(Not to mention the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers are a better team.)

Does it remind you of somebody from a year ago?

Remember when the wounded Chargers went to the AFC Championship game a year ago with quarterback Philip Rivers coming off knee surgery, RB LaDainian Tomlinson unable to play nearly the entire game, and tight end Antonio Gates barely able to walk?

The Chargers had too many injuries and one too many road games ... not to mention that the (then) undefeated New England Patriots were the better team.

Ironically, nowadays, it often seems as if the road teams and the lower seeds have a better opportunity than the higher seeds to make the Super Bowl.

How often have you seen No. 1 seeds lose their first playoff games (re, the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans this season; not to mention the Chargers two seasons ago.)

Even so, in the end, being at home and being a higher seed did matter in the NFL playoffs.

How many people think the Arizona Cardinals would have won an NFC Championship game at Philadelphia? And don’t you think Baltimore would’ve had a better chance at home against Pittsburgh?

All things considered, I’d take my chances as a home team with a higher seed in the playoffs.