9901310228
DETROIT FREE PRESS
990130
Saturday, January 30, 1999
METRO FINAL
1B
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1999, Detroit Free Press
DENVER HAS ALL THE GUNS TO GET DROP ON ATLANTA
In defense of my friend and colleague Curt Sylvester -- who I understand is
actually picking the Falcons (heh-heh) to win this Super Bowl -- now hear
this: That was not Curt on South Beach Thursday night, with his shirt
unbuttoned to his navel, gold chains around his neck, a red rose in his
thinning gray hair, doing the lambada and yelling at the bouncer, "LET ME IN!
I KNOW DENNIS RODMAN! I REALLY DO!"
It just looked like Curt.
Then again, you never know what to expect from a football writer who defies
logic by picking an NFC team to win the Super Bowl when the AFC is finally
favored. The Falcons, Curt? Why the Falcons?
Wait. I know. It was that dog collar Ray Buchanan wore around his neck. You'd
like one for your own, wouldn't y--
Is our boss reading this?
Oh. Wait, Curt. I know why you like Atlanta. It's the personal identification
with backup quarterback Steve DeBerg, whose prom date was Joan of Arc. He's
your kind of guy, right, Curt? Old enough to sing "Moon River," word by word?
Come to think of it, when are you going to perform this year, Curt? The rest
of the press box really enjoys when you get up wearing the feathered hat, and
burst into that son--
Is our boss reading this?
Anyhow, Curt. Once again, I will have to be the voice of reason in this
newspaper. Once again, I will have to predict the Super Bowl winner, making my
decision on facts and research, while you make yours on their fight song.
Atlanta over Denver?
To quote Gloria Estefan, "One, two, three, four ...you're nuts."
Denver has the guns. Denver has the bullets. Denver has the horses. And Denver
has the badge. This isn't John Elway, the perennial loser. That was last year.
Maybe you've been sleeping since then. Here's a test. Monica Lewinsky. Mean
anything to you?
Hey. You have been sleeping.
Well, welcome back, Curt. Your Asian stocks are worthless, your favorite show,
"Pee-wee's Playhouse," is off the air, and the Broncos now rule the football
roost. This is Elway, Super Bowl champ. This is Mike Shanahan, who quietly
coaches a brilliant team. Oh. Did I forget Terrell Davis? He's only the MVP.
And he gets stronger as the night goes on.
Kind of like your bar tab.
Is our boss reading this?
Now, Curt, maybe you would have fared better in your predictions if you
weren't so busy attending Tigers fantasy camp. That's right. Last week, while
I was studying game film of the Broncos and Falcons, you were down in Florida
trying to hit a ground ball off Mickey Lolich.
Curt, give it up. Your chances of making the big leagues are slimmer than your
chances of being right on Sunday. Put down the catcher's mitt and face the
truth:
Denver 27, Atlanta 21.
Here. This will make you feel better.
"Mooooooon River, wider than a mile...."
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FOOTBALL;SUPER BOWL;PICK