Mark Chapter 2

In Mark chapter 2, there’s a story of how Jesus went back to his home town of Capernaum and started to teach to a group of people inside someone’s home.  Apparently, the news spread quickly because not soon after Jesus arrived, the place was beyond packed.  Hearing that Jesus had returned, a group of four men carried a paralyzed man to the house, hoping to see Jesus.  However, there was absolutely no room for them.  So instead, they made their way to the roof of the home, dug a hole, and lowered their friend to where Jesus was teaching.  So impressed by their faith, Jesus looked at the paralytic and told him that his sins were forgiven.  However, as soon as he uttered those words, the scribes in the room began to think that Jesus was blaspheming.  And just as quickly as they thought those words, Jesus responded by first asking a question, then assured them that He was indeed the Son of God, and then proved it by miraculously healing the paralyzed man.  The once crippled man then picked up his mat and walked out the door.  And everyone left amazed. 

I really like this story for a couple of reasons.  And I don't think any of them will be too surprising.  The first one is because I admire the faith of the five men.  While we have zero context of who these men were, we do know that they believed that it was imperative for the paralyzed man to meet Jesus, one way or another.  They don’t let the giant crowd of people or a roof get in their way. 

The second reason is because I like that Jesus read the scribes’ thoughts.  It’s pretty clear that the scribes never claimed that Jesus was blaspheming- all they did was think it.  We love talking about how Jesus hears us when we silently pray to him.  But this story takes that to a whole new level.  Because in this story, Jesus is silently being gossiped about.  And Jesus calls them out- in front of everybody.

And last, I like that Jesus performs a miracle.  He simply tells a man who has had no function in his legs for who knows how long to pick up his mat and walk.  And he does.  Just like that. 

I like this story for a lot of reasons but part of me feels like I’ve somehow missed the main point of it for a lot of years now.  I’ve always thought that this story is an example of how Jesus rewards a man for his and his friends’ great faith.  But after reading and rereading this story, I’ve come to understand that this story isn’t about that at all.  In fact, that doesn’t even really happen.

It’s important to open this up with a little bit of context.  First, the book of Mark, where this story is found, begins with John the Baptist preparing the way of Jesus.  Jesus then goes on to perform miracle after miracle- healing the sick, people possessed with evil spirits, lepers, and a whole host of others.  Now apparently Jesus wanted to keep His miracles quiet and even tells the leper he healed not to say a word to anybody.  But instead, that man went out and told everyone and soon, the word that Jesus was doing things that no one had ever seen spread all over (leprosy joke).  This explains why so many people wanted to see Jesus in Capernaum that day.  It also should be said that during those days, it was believed that your misfortune (i.e. sickness, leprosy, paralysis) was due to your sin.  If you had something wrong, you were the one that caused it. And most importantly, it was believed that only God could forgive you of your sins/misfortunes.  Last, just for posterity’s sake, the scribes that thought Jesus was a blasphemer were protectors, teachers, and scholars of the Law.  I don’t know why, but every time I hear the word scribe, I think of scrawny, borderline malnourished little guys that could never play football.  But these scribes were well respected men who knew exactly what the Law of Moses said, inside and out.

Okay, enough context.  Back to the story.

In verse 5 of Mark chapter 2, after the men lowered their friend through the roof, it reads, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Sons, your sins are forgiven.’”  Notice that at this point in the story, there is no hint or inclination that Jesus was about to heal the man from his paralysis.  Soon after Jesus forgives the man, he’s called (well, thought) a blasphemer by the scribes.  Knowing what’s going on, Jesus turns to the scribes and asks, “Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’ but I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”  In other words, Jesus is asking “What do I need to do to prove to you that I have the authority to forgive this man’s sins?  Is simply saying it not enough?  Or do I have to rid him of his actual paralysis?”  So then He does exactly that.   And just like last time, everyone left amazed.

It seems to me that there are two way larger points to this story other than how the faithfulness of five men led to a miraculous healing.  The first is that Jesus is a bit disappointed that He had to use miracles to prove that He was indeed the son of God.  In fact, if it wasn’t for the scribes’ disbelief, I think there’s a strong potential that Jesus would have never healed the man at all.  It seems like the biggest reason Jesus healed the man was to prove a point.  Healing the man was an afterthought.  It was an exclamation point. It was the only way to communicate what needed to be said- that Jesus had the ability to rid people of their sins.  Or rather, it was the only way to show people that He truly was the Son of God. 

Immediately I’m taken aback by this. Not because I’ve somehow overlooked that part for so long, but because I know that I still sometimes need, or at least badly want a miracle in order for me to believe that Jesus really is in control- that He is who He says He is.  And the miracles I need aren’t even healing from something like paralysis.  Instead, they’re miracles to help me handle the stress in my life, or find some time in my jam packed schedule, or fight off the depression I feel, or to help me not focus on the past or worry about the future.  I sometimes just need Jesus to perform a miracle in my life so I can simply rest in the fact that everything is going to be okay.  But Jesus asks us to just trust Him.  Even when the miracle never comes.

Now, I think whenever somebody talks about “just trusting Jesus in tough situations,” it’s imperative to recognize not only how difficult that is, but that it’s also healthy and right to sometimes just sit and mourn in those moments of despair.  I don’t think we should rush through our emotional process to get to a point of inauthentic assurance. 

However, the second point to this story is even greater than the first.  What struck me was Jesus’ first reaction to the paralytic man and his faith.  He simply forgave him.  He didn’t heal him from his paralysis.  He just forgave him of his sins.  Apparently, the greatest reward that Jesus could have offered the man was not the ability to walk, it was forgiveness.  It was eternal life.  And that went over everybody’s head, including my own.  Because people believed that misfortune was caused by sin, it’s fair to say that they also believed that forgiveness meant the absence of misfortune.  But to Jesus, forgiveness meant something way more than that.  Forgiveness meant a future.  It meant an assurance that regardless of your circumstances now, everything would eventually be okay. 

I think what makes this so hard to grasp is the fact that we have no idea what complete forgiveness or what eternal life looks like.  We can grasp the fact that the healing of a once paralyzed man is amazing and for that reason, we are much quicker to follow Jesus when He chooses to do that.  But Jesus never said, “Follow me and I will perform miracles for you.”  He said, “Follow me and you will be saved.”  In Mark chapter 2, Jesus accomplished what He came to do one third of the way through the story. 

So as I sit here and I face myself, I have to ask myself a couple questions.  What would it look like to live in such a way that I actually rested in the fact that Jesus has already saved me?  What would it look like to not stress out about my busy schedule or get frustrated over difficult relationships or stew over disappointments?  What would it look like to not need miracles to solve my broken heart or anxious spirit or wandering mind?  What would it look like to just rest in the fact that everything I go through has been taken care of before it even began? 

I think that Jesus would want to remind me that no matter what I go through, He’s already saved me from it.

At the end of the story, in Mark 2, verse 12, it reads, “And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’”  I would have loved to witness that miracle so I too could have been part of that celebration.  But I’m already good at celebrating the miracles in my life.  I need to learn how stand amazed and full of praise regardless of a miracle happening.  And I think that’s what God wants for us too.

John Chapter 8

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is probably one of many people’s favorites.  It’s found in John chapter 8.  Jesus is found in the temple courts and He is teaching a lesson to those gathered around him.  All of the sudden, the Pharisees bring in a woman who was caught in adultery and they make her stand before the group of people.  The Pharisees tell everyone of the woman’s crime and they ask Jesus what He thinks is the appropriate action.  After writing in the sand for a bit, Jesus gets up and says many’s favorite phrase in the Bible: "Let any one of you who is without sin cast the first stone."  The first stone, that was probably once tightly gripped in a man's hand, drops.  Then a second.  And a third.  And so on.  Eventually, all of the woman's accusers leave and from what we can tell, just Jesus and the woman are left.  Jesus then asks her where all of her accusers have gone and she claims that they've all left.  And so Jesus replies the best line: "Then neither do I condemn you.  Go now and leave your life of sin."

I love that story.  I love that story because it's one of the best examples of grace.  During a time and culture where adultery was handled very seriously, Jesus is able to change the rules by just offering a few words. He doesn't go into all of the politics of what the Law says.  He doesn't try and be fair and say that the woman deserves the same thing that probably many women before her received as punishment.  He doesn't even ask the woman if she's learned anything from all this or if she's had a change of heart.  He simply offers grace.  And He does it in front of the very group of men that wanted him dead.

I also love this story because my mind wanders to all of the context that we don't know.  And there's plenty of it.  First, I wish I knew where the man that she slept with was.  Was he married?  Was he in a garden somewhere with his head in his hands, knowing that this woman was paying the punishment that he deserved as well?  Was he in the temple praying for forgiveness?  Was he at home trying to explain to his wife why he was unfaithful?  Was he in that very crowd with a stone in his hand?  If that's the case, was the woman set up?  That might explain why it's worded that she was "caught in adultery."  Maybe the Pharisees planned the entire thing.

I also want to know what Jesus was teaching in the temple courts right before the Pharisees brought in the woman. My story-telling side wishes that Jesus was talking about how we need to be people of forgiveness.  That we need to be people who love our neighbor, offer grace and kindness, and that we should never get hot-headed.  My ironic side likes to think that Jesus was just teaching something like, "The Pharisees aren't so bad.  They're getting it.  I mean, they're just doing their job.  I bet they come around eventually."  And of course, my comedic side just thinks that Jesus was teaching them how to make shadow puppets or something.

And then there's the question of why Jesus decided to draw in the sand.  In terms of making the story a little more dramatic, He nailed it.  Create a dramatic pause, wait for the crowd to lean in to hear what He has to say, and then deliver the line that people will repeat to their families and friends.  And while there are a lot of theories out there, they're all just merely theories.  So I'll offer mine (Forgive me if I'm copying someone else's.).  I think that the Pharisees made Jesus extremely frustrated.  As in, to the point of almost irate.  So I think He decides to pause, collect his thoughts and not let His actions get the best of Him.  It would be akin to the athlete that makes the mental error that instead of smashing his racket or spiking the ball on the court or breaking the bat over his knee, he pauses and doesn't let his actions get the best of him.  He knows that the Pharisees want him dead.  And He knows that this question puts Him in between a rock and a hard place.  If He claims that stoning is the appropriate action, He’d be adhering to the Law of Moses but denying what He knows is right.  If He claims that forgiveness is the appropriate route, He’s going against the law and giving more ammo to the Pharisees for his inevitable death. And to top it all off, He knows that He has very few days left on this earth.  With all of this combined, I believe Jesus is fuming on the inside.  But instead of losing it, Jesus instead creates the very first Zen Garden, takes a few breaths, collects His thoughts, and gives Himself enough time to answer the Pharisees' leading question- and turn it into a (potentially) whole new lesson for the group of people He was speaking with.

There are a lot of things we don't know about this story.  But what's great about it is that we don't need to know everything.  Because regardless of knowing the little details, the moral comes out loud and clear.  Don't condemn others.  Don't be the guy that is finding specks in people's eyes when you have a whole 2x4 in yours.  Don't offer judgment on someone else's sin- especially when there's an amazing opportunity to offer grace. 

But there's a second moral.  After Jesus tells the woman that she is forgiven, that He doesn't condemn her, He tells her to "go and leave your life of sin."  I take that as Jesus essentially saying, "I forgive you.  I love you.  You're fine... Now leave that part of your life and don’t ever go back."  I feel like we so often glaze over that part.  And yes, if I had to put this story in a category, it would be under the “God’s Grace” section.  But there’s a part of me that wonders how much we only emphasize God’s grace because that’s more comfortable than everything Jesus is really offering here.  I believe He’s offering grace not only to give a second chance, but because He hopes, desires, and expects the woman to do better in her second chance. 

What’s fascinating to me though is that Jesus didn’t offer His forgiveness conditionally.  The woman didn’t have to do anything, not then or later, to receive His grace.  He just simply told her that He did not condemn her and that she should leave her life of sin.  But what may be bigger here is not what Jesus did for this woman, but what He calls us to do. 

I’m really good at taking stories like this one and talking about what Jesus did for those around Him.  What I’m not so good at is taking what Jesus did and applying the same practices to my life.  The fact that God is full of infinite grace is beyond overwhelming.   And the fact that God will unconditionally offer grace with merely the hope, desire and expectation of us leaving our lives of sin is incredibly important.  But I think the biggest lesson being taught here is that Jesus calls us to be people of infinite grace regardless of our expectation for change.

My most recent boss was a great example of this.  He offered his employees a lot of freedom and was clear about each employee’s “big-picture goals.”  He wasn’t the type to give you a check list to complete by the end of the week.  He didn’t have a lot of demands at all, really.  His approach to leadership was a reciprocal one.  He treated you well, respected you, and supported you.  His expectations for his employees were the same- that they would repay his trust with an honorable and productive work ethic.  Many people would assume that this style of leadership would put my boss in a position where he might get walked over from time to time.  And those people would be right.  My boss did have those who took advantage of his kindness, his trust, and his leadership.  But even when he knew that people were taking advantage of him, he didn’t let that change his leadership style.  He still invested in you, the employee, and would constantly offer you grace with the hope, the desire, and the expectation that you would do better with your second chance. 

In the two short years that I worked under this boss, the number one reason for people in my department working where they did was because of their leader.  And the number one regret of those who left was that they’d be giving up a boss that they truly looked up to.  For there are very few people in this world that can receive grace and immediately change; but there are even fewer people who can offer grace regardless of change occurring. 

However, I won’t pretend like this is easy.  I know for me personally, the battle of grace and what I do with it is a difficult one.  It’s very rarely as simple as “continue to offer grace regardless of the circumstances.”  Proverbs 26:11 compares a fool repeating his folly as a dog returning to his vomit.  And yet Jesus also claims that we need to be people that forgive seventy times seven times.  What I’m realizing though is that these two aren’t contradicting each other- they’re complements.  Offering grace doesn’t mean acting like nothing ever happened.  Offering grace means giving that person the opportunity for redemption.  Whether or not they take it is up to them. 

So when Jesus responds to if the woman should be stoned, He’s not only offering the woman freedom from her sins.  He’s offering the crowd freedom as well.  For giving grace leads to our own freedom.  It offers us the opportunity to let go of what’s frustrating, teeth grinding, and heart wrenching and instead allows us to receive peace and shalom.  It allows us to let go of circumstances that are not in our control.  And it frees us the responsibility to justly discipline those who wronged us.  Condemnation only gives us more to carry.  For Jesus doesn’t tell us to be Him.  He tells us to be like Him.  Our job is to offer grace.  And we’re to offer it to everyone- to those who let us down, disappoint us, fall back in the same old traps, lie to us about their progress, show no sign of hope, hurt us in ways we thought they couldn’t, took advantage of us, or for any other reason- we are to continually offer grace.  Because that’s what Jesus offers us.

Natalie Jean

My sister gave birth to a baby girl about two weeks ago now.  It’s the first baby in the Allen family to be born since October 14^th, 1986.  That’s nearly 25 years.  And since I was indeed that baby that was born nearly 25 years ago, it’s natural for people to question my jealously level.  I never had to deal with “a new addition” before now.  So it’s natural for me to feel like someone is invading my territory a little bit.  No longer can I play the card, “But I didn’t know!  I’m just the youngest (shoulder shrug, kick the dirt).”  Nor can I simply bat my eyes, hang my head and simply say sorry with a funny pseudo-lisp and just get away with my wrongdoings.  The world has changed dramatically for me in just a few short days. 

But to answer your question of whether or not I’m jealous, I answer that with an emphatic, No.  I’m not the jealous type.  No, sir!  I am simply changing roles.  Much like Woody had to do when Buzz LightYear came around, or what the Rocket/Gary Busey had to do when Henry Roengardner started to pitch for the Cubs, or how Hillary Clinton probably felt when Sarah Palin made her run at politics, my role in the Allen-family has shifted.  And it’s shifted to Life Coach.  Yes, I am going to take young, two-week old Natalie Jean under my proverbial wing and teach her how to fly.  Scratch that!  I’m going to teach her how to soar.  Because everyone knows that soaring is much more majestic.  So once the United States stops its faulty democracy and finally becomes a monarchy, Natalie will be its first queen.    

Therefore, here are some tips that I have for you, Natalie (once I teach you how to read next month):

1.       Timing is everything.  The best thing in the world at an inopportune time can be the worst thing in the world.  Example:  Tickling a stranger.

2.       Opt for homeschooling during middle school.  In fact, don’t leave the house during those years. 

3.       Learn to play the piano.  Everybody likes people who can play the piano (just as long as you don’t brag about it or offer yourself to play at social gatherings). 

4.       Don’t own a cell phone till you’re in college. 

5.       Go to college.

6.       It seems like the people I know who’s “All-Time Favorite Fill-in-the-Blank” is current, are not “Contributing People to Society.”  Therefore, start to like the classics.  Books.  Movies.  Music.  Even candy that you’ve never tasted.  Speaking of which, man do I miss reading To Kill a Mockingbird and watching Rain Man with some Bob Dylan in the background and a Zagnut bar in my hand. 

7.       Keep your old t-shirts. 

8.       Don’t forget people’s birthdays.  There are a lot of things you’re allowed to forget- but birthdays are NOT one of them.  People will hold that over your head forever.  Also, sorry again, Mom

9.       Winning isn’t everything.  But it’s something. 

10.   Ask your parents to document your life with pictures- not video.  Home videos that have you in them are really fun for everyone BUT you.  Pictures make you feel better than you were.

11.   Always take the 3 minutes to do something that would cost you a lot more time and money if you had to do it later.  Examples:  Brushing your teeth, reading instructions, and knocking on the door (therapy is expensive). 

I love you, Natalie Jean.  Soon enough, we’ll have our very own handshake. 

Love,

Andy

                  (my niece)

The Value of Opinions

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about people’s opinions.  And no, I haven’t only been thinking about how they’re typically different than mine.  I’ve been mostly interested in how people, including myself, react when we find that others’ opinions oppose our own.  I think most people are quick to defend their opinions first as opposed to stepping back and thinking about their opposition’s.  Why is it that we’re so ready to jump in to heartily defend what we think about certain things?  And it could be about anything.  If you don’t like my clothes, my team, my personality, my drink of choice- I’m probably going to debate you at least a little and try to bring you to my side.

And pretty much everybody does this.  In fact, I can think of very few people who graciously receive an opposing opinion.  Most people I know do one of the following:  

1.       They fight back immediately (e.g. "No, you Dummy, you're wrong- and this is why...).

2.       They’d rather not fight so they reply by faking submission and sneak in a passive insult (e.g. “Oh, yeah, I guess maybe you could be right.  Of course, every fact in the world points to the opposite but you’re absolutely entitled… to your opinion.).

3.       They choose to say nothing and instead sit looking like you’re slightly more inferior than you once were (e.g. Picture your average house cat).

So why are we, as people who claim to be all about freedoms of expressions, beliefs, and actions, so quick to claim that our opinions sit inside the mecca of truth? 

I think the answer is two-fold. 

I think the first part of the answer is because our values are intrinsically tied into our opinions.  The reason I dress the way I dress, the reason I cheer for the teams I cheer for, the reason I love the woman I love, is all because my values are permeated throughout those choices.  Take my wedding ring for example.  I chose a plain, gold band because at heart, I’m a traditionalist, I thought a silver or two-tone ring made me feel like a Hollister model (aka- inherently evil), and because it was my Grandfather’s wedding ring.  Each of things resemble something that I am or want to be and for that, I am wearing the ring I am. 

And we can do this with each and every one of our choices.  For the guy that moved across the country and chose China as his home- his values drove that choice.  For the parents that decided to not attend their child's wedding- their values drove that choice.  For the friends that decided to all live together after college to work on what community really looks like- their values drove that decision.  For the girl who decided that law school would be a good career choice but chose to keep teaching in her high school that desperately needed her- her values drove that decision.  For the couple that stopped doing what was financially best for them and started to do what was financially best for others- their values drove that decision.  

I started to think about all of this when I was walking in downtown Akron and I saw a 35 year old man riding his bike with awkward looking jean shorts, a thick brown belt, a tight, tucked-in red polo, high, white socks and an old-school helmet.   It was at that moment that I thought to myself , “I wouldn’t ever walk out of the house looking like that unless I was going to an 80’s party.”  So in laymen’s terms, I was completely judging the guy.  But as I watched that man ride away, I started to think that Red-Polo guy probably really liked his look.  Actually, he probably felt most comfortable in that look.  You know what, his look probably gave him more comfort than anything I would do to “help” him.  And that’s when “eureka” happened in my head.  I started to have one of those cinematic moments when my whole world rushed by and I watched myself judge others’ taste in music, debated people who like Nutella, argued over why holding hands in church is distracting, and so many other petty (and sometimes pretty shameful) things.  Because even though it’s really easy to debate the random guy who still likes Nickelback, in reality, when I judge or debate others’ opinions, I’m not just opposing their taste.  I’m potentially claiming their values are wrong.  And I need to be careful, caring, and well intentioned to do that. 

Now on to the “second fold.”  I realize that this is a little overdramatic at times.  If you debate me that bananas are NOT horrid, hellish things, well, you’ll lose- but more importantly, I won’t feel like you’re attacking my values.  In fact, there are a ton of things like that.  Each differing opinion doesn’t necessarily constitute an open-field battle.   However, there are plenty of my opinions that I will openly and persistently debate and I have found that when I do that, I’m really saying one of two things:

1.       You’re opposing a value that is really important to me.

or

2.       Your opinions are revealing a value in me that I’m not proud of.

It’s pretty clear to me that if I were to tell someone that their wedding ring is awful to look at, providing they’re wearing it for specific and meaningful reasons (even if it’s two-toned silver), they’d most likely debate me why it’s in fact not awful but rather a meaningful symbol.  However, if the ring they chose was the first one they found and they “kind of liked it,” the debate will probably last all of forty-five seconds.  And that’s because the investment in that thing, or the value that is being displayed, heavily affects how we debate our opinions. 

Now if someone came up to me and told me that I need to work on my “approach” with people- that I don’t show enough care when I confront (care-frontation, if you will) or that I offer more critique than “constructive” criticism- I probably will debate them for a while on that.  And if I’m being honest with myself, I’ll debate my approach because my opinion of it being “the best way to handle conflict or opposition” shows a value of mine that I’m not always proud of.   I value tough love over the gentle love.  I more often choose the route of pure honesty instead of sitting and listening to people vent.  I’ll open up a Christmas present and give my immediate feedback (in my defense though, that’s an Allen-family trait).  And while sometimes these routes are appropriate, there are plenty of times when my reaction is too harsh, or too brash, or too rude.

But the point of this is to not critique how we confront one another but instead, it’s about why we do it.  See, I have an easier time debating than I do saying, “You’re right.” I often times choose to argue instead of humbling myself.  And what’s worse, it takes very little for me engage in these conversations.  Usually all it takes is a non-verbal cue or an inadvertent, tangential remark from a friend’s friend to cause me to defend my opinion.  And while writing this all down is a bit therapeutic, it’s mostly convicting.  Because we defend our opinions of drinking too much, how we treat our co-workers, why we watch what we watch, how hard we work at our jobs, the music we listen to, the best way to drive a car, why we don’t talk to our neighbors, what we did on the weekend, and most importantly, why I’m right and you’re wrong.  But these “opinions” are far more than just that.  These opinions are really giant bumper stickers telling us and everyone else what our values truly are.  And if you’re anything like me, you’re not always proud of the values you’re displaying.

My Boss

For those of you that don't know, I am officially starting a new job on July 25.  I will be going to National Heritage Academies and I'll be recruiting teachers for 13 West Michigan schools.  This is both great and sad news.  Great because I'm excited for the opportunity.  Sad because I'll be leaving a lot of amazing people at Calvin.  One of these people is who you see below.  I've dedicated this week to him because he is the closest thing you'll get to Michael Scott in real life.  I won't give all of the reasons why- just trust me.  Here are three pictures that are iconic Michael Scott moments with Ben Arendt's face attached (note:  I couldn't find enough high resolution pictures of Ben so I had to use the same one thrice.  Fail.).

World's Best Boss:

Diversity Day:

Halloween:

Two More

This week's photos are of my bro-in-law, Taylor.  He's the one that encouraged me to bring these to the world of the internet.  He also is blessed with the nickname "Tay-Train" as I am with the nickname "A-Train."  That is important for the second picture.

"Best Friends"

"The Trains"

My New Thing

I have recently stumbled across my new favorite thing.  It's called the Poor Man's Version of Photoshop.  I call it Microsoft Publisher.  It's a fun little program that allows me to create the best things in life.  Whilst I've been working diligently on my new "art projects," I was also encouraged/challenged by my brother-in-law, Taylor Shipman, to share my visions with the world.  So that's what I'm going to do.  Hopefully.  Each week I will add one photo of my creation and share it with the 7 people that read this blog.  Man, when I say it like that, it's not that big of a deal.  Meh.  However, to kick off this project, I'm going to add three- count em', Three- of my Mind-Thoughts.  Here they are:

This first one started it all.  I call it, "Sleepy John, Tired Pongo, Ever Alert Andy."

This second one was given as a Father's Day gift to my Father-in-Law.  I call it, "An Unexpected Foursome."

This third one was given to my dad for Father's Day.  We have a bit of a different relationship.  And it's great.  I call it, "Just Like Old Times."

Get ready for a lot more of these.  I can only hope that they're only going to get a lot better.  

Talk about Random

Man it’s been a long time since I’ve written in here.  I’m not sure why.  I suppose it’s because I haven’t had anything blog-worthy to write about.  Truth is, I still don’t have anything of said status to write about so I am going to go free style here and see what comes out.  I’m going to do my best to not back space, not re-read any sentences- I’m just going to go. 

I love pizza.  I mean, I really love pizza.  It might be unhealthy how much I love pizza in fact.  I like pizza so much, I like it when  you put taco toppings on pizza.  I also like it when it’s barbeque pizza, Hawaiian pizza, and breakfast pizza.  I would honestly eat pizza every day if I could.  I like deep dish, thin crust, and regular pizza.  I like pizza dough from the store.  I like it from pizza shops.  And I like most homemade pizza doughs.  I love me some pizza.

Next topic.  Um… man, I’m catching myself thinking about pizza when I’m trying to push myself to think about something else.  Oh I got it!

Isn’t it funny how the stories in our lives that are told and re-told time and time again hardly begin with, “So we told ourselves before we set out to do this thing that this would be something that we were going to talk about for the rest of our lives.. . and it is!”  No, the craziest stuff happens to us when we weren’t planning on it happening.

For example.  I accidentally raspberried a complete stranger in the small of his sweaty back going up the Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach in Disney World.  I have told that story over and over and over again.  And I’ll tell you what, I did NOT press my lips against that stranger’s epidermis thinking, “Man, this might be the most embarrassing and funny story I will ever tell and I will tell it so many times.”  Nope, I simply was bored, I thought the stranger in front of me was one of my good buddies, and low and behold, a story was born of great joy!  Crazy.

Alright, that didn’t really get us anywhere, did it?  Now I’m done with that topic and let’s be honest, I don’t think it shed any real light into our lives.  Move on, shall we?  Okay?  Okay!

Sometimes I will be talking to Mel (my wife) about something and all of the sudden, I’ll ask another question out of the blue and she will ask, “What on earth were you thinking about just now that made you ask that question?!?”  And I’ll answer there’s a very logical explanation.  You know what, this would make more sense if I gave an example.

Mel:  Hi Andy!  Man, I love you.  How was your day?

Andy:  My day was great!  How was your day?

Mel:  It was good.  We have parent teacher conferences so I have to go back tonight.

Andy:  Hey, what’s the next place you think we should visit?

Mel:  What on earth were you thinking about just now that made you ask that question?!?

Andy: Well, there’s a very logical explanation.  You said that you had parent teacher conferences and then I thought about that one parent you told me about that one time that sort of hit on you and that made me feel kind of frustrated even though it happened like 5 years ago and then I got really frustrated because not only were you frustrated at the time, but I don't like the idea of other dudes hitting on you.  And then I thought to myself “Andy, why are you so frustrated with something that happened so long ago?” And then I realized that I needed to relax and naturally I came to the conclusion that the best way we both like to relax is by traveling so I figured we’ve been to Spain, London, Ireland and Toronto so I thought, “Man, where should we go next?” Hence why I asked you where you wanted to travel next.  DUUUUUHHHHH

That happens a lot more than I’d like to admit.  My brain is like the Dallas Superhighway System in that there’s a lot of ways to get to the same place but sometimes I decide to take the scenic route, other times, I like to go other places before I hit my destination, and sometimes, I like to go the fastest way there.

This blog post seems like I’m taking the scenic route.

Okay, I’ve rambled long enough.  Let’s talk about the last topic that jumps to my head.

Right, got it.  I hate technology.

It’s true.  I hate technology.  I’m still baffled by the fact that I can have dual monitors.  How my mouse can go from one screen to another screen is MIND NUMBING.  I mean come on, it’s nuts.  But for most people in the world, technology is the coolest thing out there and without it, their every day activites are cut down by 75%.  Modern day technology is killing me ever so slowly.  And you can play the card of “Well this world is becoming so much more connected” or “We are finding faster, more efficient ways of doing everything!” or “Technology gives the smallest person a voice!”  Well guess what, people aren’t using modern day technology for those reasons- at least not the majority of people.  They’re using technology to check their email during a concert.  They’re using it to critique/bash/rip to shreds something or someone they know little to nothing about- and they're doing so very effectively.  They’re telling the world via status message that they're either a.) showering b.) they hate the government or c.) that their world is the worst ever and no one will ever understand unless they use these song lyrics.   I’ve even seen status messages with the combination of those things.  It looks something like this:

“Oh man.  Taking a shower after the Republican party took another dump all over FOX news.  Well, you know what they say “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED!”

Keep it to yourself folks.  My advice?  Go back to being impressed with the fact that you can type in any word whatsoever onto a lit-up screen and thousands upon thousands of things that relate to that one word appears.  I think we should all just sit and be mesmerized by the concept of Google for a little bit.  I know I sure am.

Alright, well that was a little cranky towards the end.  I apologize for that.  I knew I’d find something that would make my fingers type super, super fast.  I know I said I’d end with that technology thing but I really don't want to end on a low note.  So I’d like to end with a picture I randomly drew on Paint.  I’m going to do that for hopefully no longer than 5 minutes and then I’ll come back and explain it. 

This of course is a picture of me at the Disney World accidentally raspberring (or zerbert-ing) a stranger.  My friend John (who I thought was going to be the recipient of my boredom-induced decision) was in front of the stranger and Gabe and Jonathan were behind me- very confused and mystified that I did what I did.  Oh, and there's a pizza slice at the bottom of the stairs.  Because I love pizza.

Okay, that's all for now.

Take care folks.

The Dog Advantage

Is it too much to ask, “Why can’t people be more like dogs?”  I think the answer is an emphatic “no” but I suppose I shouldn’t be the guy that answers his own questions.

Example: “Who’s got the best dressed vest on his chest in the west?  This guy!”

Yeah, no one wants that. 

However, I would like to make my case for why humans should stop aspiring to be like other people and be more like dogs.

REASON-LIST

1.        If you’re a big dog, you can eat a whole stick of butter and not only be okay for the most part, but your body won’t change at all.  I consider that 100% awesome.  Now, do I want to eat a whole stick of butter?  No.  Would I?  Yes.  In a high cholesterol heartbeat. 

2.       A dog is always the most excited to see you when you return from anything- FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME.  Name one human that’s cool with you locking them inside the house whilst expecting them not to eat any of your food, no access to the bathroom, and the last time you saw them, you tricked them by putting a treat behind the couch and by the time they found it, you were out the door and in your car.  NOT A SINGLE PERSON!

a.       Subpoint: Dogs are allowed to pee a little when they get super excited and no one will make fun of them

3.       4 words:  Unlimited Amount of Naps

4.       Shaking hands stops being the sign of a business transaction going down and instead, pretty much guarantees a tasty snack or a good rub down.

a.       Subpoint:  This applies to sitting on command, begging, rolling over, playing dead and speaking.  SPEAKING!

5.       You have a legitimate reason to hate cats.  Moreover, all the cat lovers in the world will no longer be mad at you.  In fact, they’ll completely understand.

6.       You’ll never be expected to remember somebody’s birthday.

7.       In a world where first impressions are everything, you’re pretty much guaranteed to make the best impression 98% of the time.  And in a world where good first impressions mean invites to fancy parties, you’ll pretty much be guaranteed to be the only dog at a super fancy party.

8.       Bandanas, sweaters and any Halloween costume will automatically boost your “Cute Factor.”

9.       For all of you that love snuggling, dogs are the ultimate snugglers!  For all of you that hate snuggling, dogs are the perfect sleepers-by-your-feet!  For all of you that love snuggling for a little bit and then love pushing your snuggle partner away, dogs are perfect at snuggling for a little bit and never hold grudges when you push them away!  For all you (insert how you like to sleep), dogs are perfect (modified version of how you sleep)!

10.   Google Image Puppies.  Now Google Image Babies.  If you don’t get my point already, then explaining it won’t help.

11.   Have you ever seen a dog trip?  I know I sure haven’t.  At least not in public.

12.   More people would buy 365 day flip calendars that were all about you.

13.   Oh, I don’t know, amazing hearing and smelling capabilities!  Not to mention, the assumed ability to see better in the dark.  If a person had all three of those things, they’d pretty much be a super hero.

14.   Tax season?  Fuhgedaboutit!

15.   Dogs have an uncanny ability to know when to listen.

Need I say more?*

*If you’d like to say more, please add your reason(s) why being a dog would be a better life.

Valentine's Day? Psh.

Valentine’s Day is coming up and we’re all thinking the same thing:  “Really?  Again?  Son of a...”

Does anyone really like Valentine’s Day?  I mean, seriously?  Does it do more harm than good?  When did someone decide that we should make this a holiday?  Where does it even come from?  And yes, I could type in “Valentine’s Day Origins” into my Google Chrome, but I would rather make loud, brash remarks about a holiday that I assume no one in the entire world actually likes. 

So here I go.

Come on, creator of Valentine’s Day!  Come on!  What were you thinking?  There were so many other things you could have created instead.  Like what you ask?  Oh, I don’t know.  I’m just spit-balling here but here’s a few:

1.       National “Sit at Home and Watch Home Videos” Day

a.       This would be a day when everyone stayed at home and watched home videos.  Yes, some people don’t have the videos or the television to watch videos on, but I think it would exclude a lot less people than Valentine’s Day does.

2.       National “Invent a Cool Invention” Day

a.       This would be a day when everyone tried to invent a cool invention.  There would be crazy contests going on every major network and street corner and the world would be a better, potentially less practical place.

3.       Boat Day

a.       This day was officially invented by Paul “Heinous Nation” Bylsma.  On this day, people would buy things for a person’s boat.  If said person doesn’t own a boat, then that person would have to be bought a boat.

4.        National “Wear the Same Color” Day

a.       This day, everyone would wear the exact same color as everyone else.  From top to bottom.  And it would change every year.  So not only would every kid know what it’s like to wear a uniform to school, but for the whole day people would be saying stuff like, “Hey that’s Frank!  Oh, wait no it’s not.”  and “Look at that girl over there.  Yeah, the one in the yellow… wait a minute!  They’re all in yellow!”  And then we’d all laugh.

5.       National “Turn Off the Clocks” Day

a.       This day, everyone would have to get rid of all their clocks, watches, timers, what have you.  It’s really simple.

Those are 5 great substitutions for Valentine’s Day and I thought about them in 5 minutes.  Think of how many more we could come up with if we did some group-think or we hashed out some of the ones I just came up with (especially National “Wear the Same Color” Day). 

And listen, creator of Valentine’s Day, I understand that it’s super simple to come up with something nice to do.  But I also understand that a lot of people lie about the plans they’ve been making.  For example, here is a sample conversation from two lovers.  The setting is in a family room about a week away from Valentine’s Day.

LOVER #1-  Hi Sweetie.  Have you thought about what you’re going to do for me for Valentine’s day?
LOVER #2-  (he/she pretends to not hear because they are looking under a desk or they’re trying to figure out how to plug a lamp in)
LOVER #1-  Sweetie?  Did you hear me?
LOVER #2-  What?  Sorry, I couldn’t figure out if this plug was upside down or if our outlet was messed up.  What’d you say?
LOVER #1-  I asked if you thought about what you’re going to do for me for Valentine’s Day
(While LOVER #1 is asking, LOVER #2 is thinking about this day for the first time and came up with this plan:  “We’ll attempt to make sushi together, we’ll rent that movie he’s/she’s wanted to see, I’ll make sure to have Kettle Corn, and I’ll give her 3 Free Back-Rub Coupons.”)
LOVER #2-  Absolutely I’ve thought about it!  Make sure to have your Monday night wide open.

LOVER #1-  Really?
LOVER #2-  Really. 

Boom.  Done and done.  It was that easy.  And sure, Creator of Valentine’s Day, you’re bringing some people together, but you’re also pushing them apart by forcing one of them to lie about for how long they’ve been planning that special night.  Not to mention, you’re creating a tough time of it for people that wish they were doing something for Valentine’s Day.  And for the record, people don’t want to do something on Valentine’s day so they can have someone to hang out with that night.  Hanging out with people is fun anytime of the year.  We just want to have the ability to talk negatively towards Valentine’s Day without looking bitter. 

Of course, if we’re talking a bit more existentially, the bigger question is not “Why did you invent this day?”  The question is “Why can’t people just be expected to do really sweet and romantic gestures without a national holiday demanding us to do so?”  Great question.  And it really boils down to a Chicken or the Egg type argument.  I can only assume that this day was invented in the very beginning of time.  Therefore, people always knew that there would be a specific day when they had to be super nice to others.  Being super nice other days of the year then probably seemed unnecessary and inconsequential. 

So way to go, Creator of Valentine’s Day.  You really messed up on this one.  Not to mention, you ruined the image of angels for a lot of people too. 

Steelers vs. Packers

I don’t plan on doing this for every game next year.  That would just get ridiculous.  However, my deep analysis of last week’s game against the Jets proved that I at least knew what I was talking about and thus, it gives me reason to do a similar study of what the Steelers are going up against when they play the Packers.  This being the Super Bowl, plan on this study being a bit more in depth.  And as I look at the numbers, look to potentially be surprised with my prediction. 

To start, the Packers are 3 point favorites for this game.  It’s no surprise that Vegas has given the Packers the edge.  They’re the sexier team right now.  Rogers is looking really good.  They’re defense is playing lights out.  And let’s face it, no one wants Roethlisberger to have 3 Super Bowl rings after his summer rendezvous.  Vegas would be dumb not to have the Packers the edge. 

But let’s first look at the regular season numbers because they’re pretty interesting.  We’ll start with the offense because the differences between the two teams are not that vast here.  Only 13 yards separate the total yards the teams averaged (Packers-358 YPG, Steelers-345 YPG) each game and only one point separates the average points per game (Packers-24, Steelers-23).  The Packers have a definite edge in the passing game (258 YPG vs 225 YPG) whereas the Steelers have a definite edge in the running game (120 YPG vs 100 YPG).  Not surprisingly then, the Packers offense relies on the passing game as they call 7 more pass plays a game than they do call running ones.  The Steelers have a very balanced offense in that they average 29 pass plays and 29 rushes a game.  This statistic brings the Total Yards Per Game statistic into perspective. 

With the offenses being very, very close, protection of the ball and the quarterbacks is very important.  Regarding turnovers, both teams have 9 lost fumbles this year.  Rogers has thrown 11 interceptions this year vs. Roethlisberger’s 5 but Rogers completion percentage is 4 points better (65.7% vs 61.7%).  Rogers average passer rating is also better by about 4 points (101.2 vs. 97.0).  In terms of just protecting the quarterback, the Steelers offensive line has given up 43 sacks whereas the Packers have given up 38.  However, these statistics are so close that it’s hard to say who actually has the clear edge.  However, if we’re speaking subjectively, then I think most, including myself, would say that Rogers has the better arm.  On the other hand, I think that Roethlisberger is more elusive and has the better ability to lengthen the play.  Instead of claiming one superior then, I think the only safe thing to say is that they both fit into their respective team’s offensive scheme really well and all in all, the Packers seem to have the slightest of advantages regarding the two team’s offenses. 

Very briefly, let’s talk about special teams.  Both teams kickers are not stellar with the Packer’s having a 79% field goal percentage and the Steelers having a 78%.  The special teams have been the Steelers achilles heel this year and for the first time, they’ll be playing a team with no legitimate threat at the return man position.  In fact, the Packers were ranked 26^th in the league this year and didn’t take any to the house.  This is a load off for the Steelers.  The Steelers on the other hand were ranked 13^th in the league this year and did return one (and only one) for six points.  Regardless, we shouldn’t expect too much out of either teams Special Team unit but the slightest of edges goes to the Steelers.

Now, in my opinion, the most important aspect of the game: defense.  This game is showcasing arguably the two best defenses in the league.  And when we look at the statistics for the regular season, they match up very closely.   Although the Steelers do lead in 6 out of the 8 major categories, the Packers are right behind them in each statistic.  The Steelers give up an average of 277 YPG while the Packers give up 309 YPG.  Within those yards, the Steelers give up about 214 passing yards and 63 rushing yards.  The Packers give up 194 passing yards and 115 rushing yards.  The Steelers then have a better rush defense whereas the Packers have a better pass defense.  Moving on, the Steelers led the league this year with 48 sacks but the Packers came in second with 47.  Again, the Steelers led the league in giving up 14.5 points per game but the Packers were second here too by giving up only 15 points per game.  The Steelers led the Packers by forcing 35 turnovers in all (the Packers only had 32) but the Packers, not surprisingly, led the Steelers with 24 interceptions (to the Steelers 21) and the Steelers led the Packers with 14 forced fumbles (to the Packers 8).  When it’s all said and done, the defenses are both incredibly strong and incredibly proud teams.  However, the slight edge has to go to the Steelers. 

So currently, the Packers have the slight edge in their offense where the Steelers seem to have a slight edge in their defense.  The special teams are basically a wash.  One of the more unusual advantages that the Packers have over the Steelers is their experience on turf.  The Packers have played on turf a total of four times this year whereas the Steelers have only played on turf twice this year and only one of those times were in a dome.  Although this isn’t a huge advantage, Aaron Rogers has had some incredible performances on turf.  In three out of the four games, he’s thrown for an average of 337 yards, has had an average of 2.6 touchdowns per game and hasn’t thrown an interception.  In Roethlisberger’s two games, he didn’t throw for over 200 yards in either contest, he threw one interception in both games, and he only threw one touchdown (as in, .5 touchdowns per game).  It is important to note a couple of things here though.  First of all, the Steelers ran the ball for over 100 yards in both games whereas the Packers didn’t run for over 100 in any of the 4 games they played.  Also, the Steelers were going up against the 4^th and 14^th best pass defense in the leagues whereas the Packers were going up against the 10^th and 22^nd best.  However, the Packers gave up an average of fewer points in their four games in comparison to the Steelers (12.75 PPG vs. 15PPG).  All in all, experience plays a big part in these games and the Packers have more of it on turf.

Moving onto the postseason.  It’s no secret that the Packers have been “the hottest” team in the playoffs.  However, the statistics match up with the regular season stats in pretty much every category.  The Packers have more Yards Per Game, Points Per Game, Passing Yards Per Game, Pass Attempts, and less Sacks given up.  The Steelers have more Rushing Yards Per Game and that’s pretty much it on the offense.  On the defense however, the Steelers lead in Yards Given Up Per Game, Passing Yards Given Up Per Game, Rushing Yards Given Up Per Game, and Sacks.  However, the Packers have given up less points and forced more turnovers (in both interceptions and fumbles).  The Steelers have had a better kick return average.  None of these stats should have been real surprises.  In order to say who’s played better in the playoffs, you have to take into account the teams the two have played.  The Steelers played two incredibly tough defenses (two of the toughest in the league in fact) but the Packers played some pretty high powered offenses and all of them were on the road.  In my mind, the Packers probably had a slightly more difficult playoff schedule but not by much.  However, I am not convinced that they are really the “hotter” team as some have said.  This is evidenced by their game vs. the Chicago Bears (the Packers did not look good against a defense that's not as good as the Steelers) and I thought that they should have been the clear favorites against the Eagles and Falcons due to the matchup problems they posed for both teams.  

I think what’s more interesting is that the Steelers have been playing against teams with very tough defenses and only good offenses.  The Packers have been playing against teams with better offenses than defenses (with exception to the Bears).   For this upcoming game, both teams present challenges that the other team hasn’t had to face yet in this year’s playoffs.  Both teams are very good on both sides of the ball.  Between all five games that the Packers and Steelers have been in, there seemed to be a clear side of the football that would have to succeed in order to win.  The Packers defense would have to succeed against the Eagles’ and Falcons’ offenses and their offense would have to succeed enough against the Bear’s defense.  The Steelers’ offense was forced to win against the Jets’ and the Ravens’ defenses if they were going to win.  For this game, there is no side of the ball that is clearly more important than the other.   

Some of the other key parts to this game include coaching experience.  I would argue that although both units are strong, Mike Tomlin and Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau hold the slight advantage over Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers.   The Steelers also have the experience of being in this position which gives them another slight advantage.  This is the third time for many of the Steeler players, and that includes some of the most important positions on the field and some of the biggest leaders on the team. 

The last bit of information for this game that I want to unleash before I pick my winner is that these two teams played about 1 year and 1 month ago.  On December 20^th, 2009, the Steelers and Packers played with the Steelers winning 37 to 36 on a last minute touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Mike Wallace.  While this was last year’s game, there are some interesting points to it.  First of all, 26 of the starters for both Pittsburgh and Green Bay will be playing again in this Super Bowl.  Both Rogers and Roethlisberger had a field day throwing the ball with Rogers accumulating 383 yards and Roethlisberger throwing for 503 yards.  Neither quarterback threw an interception.  The Steelers also out ran the Packers but only by a few yards and both teams were well under 100.  Last, and maybe most importantly, Troy Polamalu did not play that day.   

So with all of that said, my prediction to win this game is the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This is how I came to my conclusion:

First and foremost, I believe that the Steelers having the better defense is key.  Sure it's not by much, but they are better.  I also think that field position will be a big key to this game.  Although both teams’ special teams are not that special, I think the Steelers advantage here is important since both teams require their opponent to put together long drives to score.  Now, you're probably saying, "But that didn't happen last year.  It was a scoring bonanza with big play after big play after big play!"  Well, that's not going to happen this year- not as many at least.  The Steelers' offense is run very differently this year (much more balanced) and their defense is stronger.  Not to mention, Polamalu will fix a lot of the problems the Steelers had back in December of ’09 and Pittsburgh only added wide receivers to their offensive unit.  That will only make more coverage problems for the Green Bay defense.  Even with Pittsburgh’s beat up Offensive Line (without Maurkice Pouncey and Aaron Smith just to name a few), I think the Pittsburgh Offense will be okay here- although they will definitely give up some big sacks along the way.

Now I’m  not expecting the defenses to be dominant.  The ball will definitely be moved up and down the field.  The Steelers will most likely be able to run the ball on the Packers and the Packers will most likely be able to throw the ball on the Steelers.  However, the Packers have the capability to stop the run and the Steelers have the capability to stop the throw, especially with the Steelers strong defensive line and linebackers adding pressure on Rogers.  I think that the team that will be able to succeed more against the strength of the other team’s defense will win.  This means, if the Packers are able to establish a run game, they will win.  If the Steelers are able to establish a passing game, they will win.  The Steelers have proven that they can throw the ball against the Packers in last year’s contest.  No one has been able to establish a run game against the Steelers.  Therefore, if the Packers are going to win this game, Rogers will have to have the game of his life (which he is capable of) but I think the Steelers front defensive seven will prove to be too much for the Packers’ offensive line or Rogers to handle. 

My end score:  Steelers 31, Packers 24

Steelers vs. Jets

I’m not big on trash talkers.  I don’t like the teams or the fans or the who-evers that talk about their team as being superior and everyone else being clearly inferior.  That’s what makes the world of sports so great.  It’s never about who is more talented in general.  It’s about who’s more talented on a specific day.  It makes watching every single game a story that’s gripping to watch because although you know all the characters, the plot always twists in a way that is unexpected.   Just this could be my topic but I want to save it for another day because today, I want to talk about the Steelers vs. Jets.  As many of you know, I absolutely love the Steelers.  The Andy that watches Steelers games is a very different Andy in real life.  And since this is the seventh time the Steelers have been to the AFC championship game in my life time (they’ve won 3 and they’ve lost 3), the anxiety that I feel this week is all too familiar.  Therefore, instead of watching far too many Steeler press conferences or reading too much into other’s people analysis of the upcoming game, I want to make my case for why the Steelers should win against the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

First, let’s talk statistics.  In the defensive world (which in my opinion, is far more important than the offense in the playoffs), Steelers pretty much lead the Jets in every category.  The closest category was Yards Allowed per Game.  The Steelers were ranked 2^nd in the regular season with 276 yards per game whereas the Jets were ranked 3^rd with 291 ypg.  Not a huge difference, sure, but it’s one of the many stats where the Steelers lead.  The Steelers also are ahead of the Jets in rushing yards allowed, sacks, how many points the defense has scored, and turnovers forced.  The only category where the Jets beat the Steelers this year was in Passing Yards Allowed and the difference between the two teams  is only 15 yards.  Needless to say, the Steelers proved to have a better defense and that is key to winning any football game- especially a playoff game.

In terms of statistics regarding the offenses, the comparisons are surely there and the leaders in the different categories vary.  Passing Yards Per Game goes to the Jets whereas Rushing Yards Per Game goes to the Steelers.  The kicking games favors the Jets but the touchdowns per game favors the Steelers.  What’s most interesting about all of this though is where the Steelers passing game is statistically better than the Jets, the Jet’s passing defense is one of the best in the league.  On the Jets side, their running game is statistically better but the Steelers have the best running defense in the league.  However, when everything is said and done, the most important part of your offense is how many points you score- and the Steelers lead the Jets in this category.

Now a very important part about playing any game is familiarity.  The Steelers and the Jets have played each other once this year with the Jets winning 22 to 17.  However, when you look at the game’s statistics, there is a lot to be analyzed.  The Steelers led in the following statistics:  first downs gained, 3^rd down efficiency, total plays, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, points score in the red zone, and time of possession.  The Jets only led in completion percentage, yards per throw, and penalties (in that they had less of them).  These stats are a good example of how the box score is not always a good indicator of what the scoreboard read.  It does show you though that the Steelers made a couple of big mistakes.  First of all, they gave up the opening kickoff for a touchdown which put the Jets in the lead quickly.  Second, they gave up a safety.  Those combined 9 points clearly played a huge difference in the game. 

More importantly still, the Steelers were playing without two of their star players: Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller.  Both of these players play a key role in the way the Steelers play defense and offense- especially Polamalu’s effect on the defense.  Polamalu is known as one of, if not the best, safeties in the league and his ability to cause disruption to any offense is uncanny.  Heath Miller is one of the league’s top tight ends in terms of both blocking and passing.  With him being healthy, Roethlisberger is going to have an easier time finding open receivers and he’ll most likely have more time to do it.  It’s clear to see then that the Steelers lost due to bad mistakes and because they were without two of the best players.  This Sunday, they’ll have Polamalu and Miller back on the field.  We’ll see if they can stay away from making the same type mistakes.  Regardless, there’s no reason to look at the last game played by these two teams and feel like it’s a clear indicator or what will surely happen again. 

All in all, it seems clear to me that when we talk statistics, the Steelers do have the upper hand.  What we haven’t mentioned is playoff experience amongst the players and coaches, the battles between the minds and schemes of the offensive and defensive coordinators, or home-field advantage.  However, all of these things favor the Steelers as well.  So again, it’s clear why the Steelers should win the game on Sunday- but that’s the beauty of the NFL.  Any given Sunday, any team could win.  Here’s hoping that the winning team this Sunday is the Steelers.  

A One-Sided Conversation

-  Hey, what's going on!
-  I know, I haven't seen you in such a long time!
-  You too!  I've lost a few pounds here... but put them on over here!
-  Well thank you, that's very kind. I'm was never the comedian between the two of us
-  No!  You are too.
-  So, what have you been up to?
-  (startled)  Really?
-  Wow, that sounds really adventurous.  Is it safe?
-  Sounds expensive.
-  Figured as much.  You never were cheap.
-  Oh come on, you joker!  I didn't mean it like that.
-  Haha, you're so immature.
-  Well, it sounds like you've really "found" yourself after all these years.  I'm really happy for you.
-  Oh me?  Nothing.  I've been doing the same old, same old.  Working the job.  Going for walks at 6 o'clock every night- trying to clear my head.  I'm trying to find "Me" in this world but it's so hard when there are so many other "Not-Me's" out there.  I mean, how can I find "Me" when I don't even know if I'm actually here and I just don't know it.  You know what I mean?
-  Oh come on, that is not "cool."  It's kind of lame actually.
-  You always knew just what to say.  Some things never change.
-  JINX!
-  JINX AGAIN!
-  Woah, that's crazy.
-  Hahahahahhahaha.
-  Sooooo, how's the ol' "Ball and Chain"
-  Oh my gosh!  I'm so sorry
-  What was she doing past the yellow line?
-  For a quarter?
-  Go figure, someone would have put it up on YouTube already.  So insensitive
-  Wow.  Forget terrorists in London- they need to put up better signs for their metro system or the 2012 Olympics are going to be a disaster.
-  So back to you and your business venture- do you really think there's a market for Underwater Fishing Trips?
-  It sounds like a thrill.  If I wasn't a scaredy-cat of deep waters then I would be in like Flynn.
-  You know I was wondering where they got that phrase from too just the other day.  Then I googled it...
-  I know, of course I googled it... and it turns out it has a pretty sexual connotation.  I'm trying to stop saying it because I don't want to be associated with smut.
-  Yeah well- I'm sure you'll do fine in the underwater fishing world.  And knowing you, you'll find a market- and then make like, a billion dollars off it!
-  Of course I'm exaggerating but I still wouldn't be surprised!
-  Hey mister, mister- some of us are still married!
-  Sorry.  That was really stupid.   I wasn't thinking when I said that!
-  No, come on!  It was an honest mistake.  You should know not to tickle me!  I don't have control over my words when I get tickled!
-  Hey, come back here!  (shouting) Well let me know if you want to get together sometime! I work here Monday through Friday!  (normal voice)  Welp, back to work.  Sir, did you want to upgrade to a full body massage or do you want to just stay with the back?
-  I understand, the airplane isn't going to wait for you, is it?