Yeah, I read you loud and clear. The Stealers seem like a lock... but so did the Patriots last year and look how that turned out.

You could be right that the best teams may not be here, but that's the luck of the draw with the playoffs. In baseball, for instance, back in 2001, the Mariners won, what? 114 games? Far more than any other team, more than any team had won in a season in a long time. And they didn't even get past the first round of playoffs. So, by far the best team of that season, didn't even make it to the World Series, let alone win it.

My dad tells me that at one time, at least in baseball, there were no playoffs. The two teams with the best records... American League and National League... just played each other in the World Series. Kind of makes sense to me. Then the money men came in with their calculators and realized they could make more money by keeping more fans interested for a longer period of time--because their team might have a shot at the Series, even if they weren't all that good in the regular season.

I can see that logic, and in some ways it's a good thing. Still, having the two best teams just play each other also seems pretty cool.

But enough of sports politics and back to the SB. I just have to root for the Cardinals. Not that they are a huge fave of mine. I'm kinda neutral, don't hate them, don't love them. But I DO love an underdog. And, well, you just have to love Kurt Warner. It's impossible not to like that guy. (In my opinion, anyway). It would be great to see him go out on a high note (not sure if he is going to retire after this, but it is getting to be about that time. Brett Favre, I'm looking at you!)

Also, if the Cards win, Warner will be the first QB to win a SB ring with two different teams.... Kinda cool.