Back in the days of my youth, when the AAABA Tournament still fielded representatives from power franchises such as Baltimore, Washington, Detroit, et al, and the format was double-defeat elimination, the catch phrase for the Johnstown entries was So what’s new, out in two.
Our guys regrettably tended to show up, lose twice, and move on with their lives.
Expectations were low among the fan base, and too often met. This was particularly true in the 1960s when, during a 10-year period, Johnstown entries went 0-2 five times, 1-2 three others, and managed their best years, a pair of break-even 2-2 tournament records, in 1964 (Kiwanis Club) and 1960 (Hahn Packing).
After today’s NFL conference championship games, I’m feeling like those 1960s vintage Johnstown AAABA entries. So what’s new, I lost two.
Having San Francisco play like garbage for the first half, rally to cover the spread late, then concede an excuse-me touchdown to set the 34-31 final, was disappointing. Yes, San Francisco won and is headed to the Super Bowl, but those of us picking the 49ers to win by more than seven points were losers just like the Detroit Lions.
Fortunately, I don’t risk any coin on these picks. They really are, to borrow a disclaimer from the illegal betting pools of my younger days, for amusement only.
The missed pick Sunday that really gripes me is taking Baltimore and giving 3.5 points against Kansas City. Long-time readers of this blog know I have little confidence in Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to come through in big games based on his track record.
But, after he had performed well in a regular-season showdown vs. San Francisco (49ers QB Brock Purdy had melted down in that one with four interceptions), and also in view of how Jackson had looked precise in a divisional round playoff victory vs. Texas, I thought maybe this time was different.
It wasn’t. Jackson was his usual clueless self, experimenting with different passing motions either to have those passes swatted down or flutter incomplete. On one occasion, Jackson actually caught a pass from himself that had been batted into the air by a defender.
More to the point, Jackson displayed his customary lack of pocket awareness, surrendering a strip sack, and also threw one of his wish heaves into triple coverage to end the game with an interception.
That helped the Chiefs to a 17-10 win as 3.5-point underdogs.
It didn’t help that KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes was razor sharp – until the Ravens coaching staff finally decided to pressure him instead of allowing him to continue to carve them up after a near-perfect first half.
Be right and sit tight is the investment advice oft-quoted from the book “Reminiscences of a Stock Operator.”
I was right about Jackson’s ongoing inability to perform in the clutch, but I lost my resolve due to a couple of outlier results, and because of that, lost the pick.
Again, no money was lost; merely pride.
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