This Sunday brings Super Bowl XLVII to New Orleans, where the San Francisco 49ers will be taking on the Baltimore Ravens. Regarded by many as an American holiday, and consistently beating its own record as the most watched television program of the year, the Super Bowl, needless to say, is the most exciting day in American sports. And yet amidst all the endless Super Bowl traditions, this matchup promises to offer some historic moments to the annual hype.
For the first time in the history of any of the major American sports, the two head coaches of the competing teams in a championship game are brothers. Jim Harbaugh will be leading his 49ers against older brother John and his Ravens. But there is more to this Super Bowl that makes it so highly lauded over. One of the game’s greatest linebackers, Ray Lewis, declared earlier in the season that this would be his last. Now, the future Hall-of-Famer has battled his way into the final game of the season. After spending all 17 of his years in the league with the Ravens, he has become the physical and emotional center of the team.
On top of this, the quarterback he will be trying to pound into the ground is a second-year player with only nine total starts. Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers got the starting job when first string quarterback Alex Smith went down with a concussion midseason. Kaepernick’s performances were so impressive that even when Smith regained his health, he was not returned to the starting role. There has only been one quarterback in the history of the NFL to win a Super Bowl with fewer starts—Jeff Hostetler of the 1990 New York Giants.
With all the buzz surrounding Super Bowl Sunday, though, comes the scandal. Tuesday is media day for the two teams competing in the Super Bowl and you can always count on this day to bring out an extra dose of drama before the teams hit the field.
Ray Lewis has been accused by the co-owner of Sports with Alternatives to Steroids, Mitch Ross, of using one of their products, deer antler spray, which contains a substance banned by the NFL. Ross broke the news to Sports Illustrated, which has written a full-length feature about the company, that Lewis allegedly used the substance to quicken the healing process in his triceps after his mid-October injury.
This is a large shadow to cast on the exiting titan just days before his biggest moment, especially since Lewis has never failed a drug test in his entire career. It is no wonder that they put the Super Bowl media day so early in the week, giving stories like these time to blow over and settle.
In an emotional media day response, Lewis mentioned something quite accurate. “That is a two-year old story that you want me to refresh. I wouldn’t give him the credit, to even mention his name or his antics in my speeches or in my moment.”
The same company attempted to expose Lewis as a cheater two years prior when they named a list of athletes using their illegal substances. After that news broke and the following investigation, there was still no evidence of Lewis using banned substances found. But what would media day be without cries for attention?
This is where we find Randy Moss, wide receiver for the 49ers. This past Tuesday, Moss made the declaration that he thinks he is the greatest wide receiver in the history of football. Whether he was just pumped up about being in the Super Bowl again or whether he is inundated in his own arrogance, such a comment coming from a player who is playing for Jerry Rice’s former team is shameful. Rice is not only widely considered as the greatest wide receiver of all time, but he is debatably even the greatest football player of all time. With three Super Bowl titles under his belt and leading almost all offensive categories for his position, Rice towers over Moss.
Moss has not been known for his thoughtful words, but the decency and respect for someone whose nicknames include G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) is severely lacking. It is overinflated egos like these that tend to take away from the positive hype surrounding a team. Not to say that Moss is an inept player. He definitely was one of the most feared receivers in the league for about seven seasons, but the pathetic plea for recognition after a lackluster season exemplifies just why he should not be awarded his self-proclaimed title.
At least the media got what they came for. Despite all of the egos and storylines, the focus should move towards the game itself. A clash between family as well as two of the league’s most imposing figures vying for the Lombardi trophy will make for a must-watch final game.
