Super Bowl Wrap-Up
The Seattle Seahawks saved the football-watching world from another offseason of insufferable New England Patriots fans celebrating a seventh Super Bowl victory with a 29-13 victory in Super Bowl LX.
As the HOTPO predicted, the running games were a decisive factor in the game. With only one true rushing option, the Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III ran for 135 yards, almost double the Patriots team output. Even with two solid running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, New England were unable to gain traction on the ground.
Also, as the HOTPO predicted, no one was going to be surprised if one of the quarterbacks had a bad performance and Patriot QB Drake Maye had a tough day. While his final stats after some garbage time boosting weren’t awful, he had two interceptions and fumble that resulted in a Seattle defensive touchdown. The USA Today said Maye “struggled immensely against Seattle's stalwart defense, looking uncomfortable in the pocket and failing to adjust to the pressure looks Mike Macdonald's defense gave them throughout the night.”
What the HOTPO didn’t predict was the absolute dominant performance of the Seattle defense. New England’s first nine possessions ended in eight punts and a kneel down to end the first half. AP football reporter Arnie Stapleton assessed the Seahawks “Dark Side” defense as a worthy successor to the “Legion of Boom” defense that led the organization to its first Super Bowl title.
So that’s a wrap. Congratulations to Seattle. Here’s to hopefully seeing the Indianapolis Colts with a legitimate quarterback under center for 17 games next year.
What’s Next for HOTPO Coverage
Around this time last year, I focused coverage on college basketball as the season turned toward the second half push to the NCAA tourney. I have to admit, with many teams going through 100% roster turnover from year-to-year, I am having a hard time developing an interest for the sport. While Michael MacAniff of the Medium wrote that fans might disengage due to a loss of purity in what is supposed to be amateur sports, I would say it has more to do with a loss of familiarity with the players on the team…college sports has NEVER been pure, money has always flowed under the table.
What did it used to be like? Let’s take a look at the 1991-92 Indiana basketball team that advanced to the Final Four, losing to Duke in the semifinals. That team included the following out of their 13-man roster:
|
Name |
Position/Year |
Hometown |
|
Greg Graham |
G/Junior |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
|
Damon Bailey |
G/Sophomore |
Heltonville, Indiana |
|
Matt Nover |
C-F/Junior |
Chesterton, Indiana |
|
Pat Knight |
F/Sophomore |
Bloomington, Indiana |
|
Todd Leary |
G/Sophomore |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
|
Pat Graham |
G/Junior |
Floyd Knobs, Indiana |
|
Brian Evans |
F/Freshman |
Terre Haute, Indiana |
|
Calbert Cheaney |
F/Junior |
Evansville, Indiana |
|
Alan Henderson |
F-C/Freshman |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
That is nine native Hoosiers. Many of whom I had knowledge of while they were still in high school, some that I actually saw compete in high school games. I couldn’t have been more connected to a team as a fan.
Out of the 17 on the 2025-26 roster, three are native Hoosiers, two are from Slavic countries and none actually played for Indiana last year. I don’t know who these guys are. It is kind of hard to get too invested in their performance.
The NBA has its own issue – tanking – that is often veiled as load management. Multiple teams are basically throwing games to increase their odds of maintaining protected first round picks. Michael Zeno of Yahoo!Sports thinks the NBA will have a hard time garnering fan interest in this football-less sports season with their regular season turning into a farce.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated says the NBA tanking problem is increasing to “epidemic” proportions. He thinks Utah, Washington, Indiana, Dallas, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Memphis and Sacramento are likely intentionally trying to lose games. “[T]hat’s nearly a third of the league with an incentive to lose,” according to Mannix.
College teams are trying to win, but I don’t know who the heck those guys are. I know many of the NBA players, but a third of them don’t want to win. What am I supposed to be interested in this basketball season?
Think I am going to give college hoops a try. At least they are trying.
College Track and Field Update
Speaking of athletes that are trying. The HOTPO ventured through a winter storm in Appalachia to see college athletes give it a try. We were not disappointed.
The senior editor and I saw a runner loosely affiliated with this publication clock a second place 4:11.25 mile at the Jewel City Invitational hosted by Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He also placed second in the 1000m at 2:28.88 the night before. Seeing all of those college track and field athletes up close is kind of astonishing.
Congrats to the Herd on an excellent performance.
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