Super Bowl 48 Has Eerie Similarities to Super Bowl 22
Well documented into the history books as of Sunday night, February 2, 2014, is one of the most notable and celebrated sporting events, the Super Bowl, the grand finale to America's version of football.

A food-fueled spectator sport, straightaway, we should all begin to strategize our weight-loss plans because of the substantial amount of wings and pizza pies we all have consumed on one night to celebrate the game of the flying pigskin.

Now back to the game.

As this NFL season progressed and playoffs developed, unveiled was the best defense in the NFL courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks and the best offense in the NFL stemming from the Denver Broncos.

From the opening snap, the Seattle Seahawks exhibited its all-pro defense.

The Seahawks defense, also known as "The Legion of Boom", irritated and rattled Broncos future Hall Of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning enough to induce 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by the MVP recipient, LB Malcolm Smith which extended the Seahawks lead to 22-0 with 3:21 remaining until halftime.
Manning's record-setting 34 completions was not enough to outweigh the destruction that his missed snap, 2 interceptions and lost fumbled caused.

On the other hand, Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson was cool, calm, and collected, completing 18 of 25 passing attempts for 206 yards and two touchdowns, drifting left and right, scrambling and extending plays without a flaw to his name.

At the end of the day, the most publicized and media-crowned QB for this event did not get crowned the champion in his brother's backyard. Even What's The 411Sports reporter, Andrew Rosario, picked the Broncos to win. Rosario thought the young team could not defeat the experienced Peyton Manning.

Wrong!

When the Super Bowl clock wound down, the Seahawks won in convincing and dominating fashion, 43 to the Broncos 8.

In a game where conventional wisdom favored one side, the unexpected prevailed; and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson stood victoriously and not Denver's Peyton Manning.

The story lines and end result of Super Bowl 48 draw comparisons to Super Bowl XXII, Super Bowl 22 for all the non-Romans.

A Super Bowl that the baby boom generation and perhaps, Gen Xers, can relate to more than the casual and modern football enthusiasts.

Let's set the scene. In the days leading up to the showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Redskins at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego California on January 31st, 1988, the media hype exalted John Elway to King of Football.

This was also a time when African Americans were beginning to see more action at the quarterback position in the NFL. Naturally, most bets were on Elway; just as in this Super Bowl contest, few were betting against Manning.

As history shows, the Redskins won that game in dominating fashion just like the Seahawks did this past Sunday. Doug Williams and his team eliminated any means of a competitive contest accumulating 42 points to John Elway and the Denver Broncos' 10.

With that victory, Williams became the first African American to win a Super Bowl. Williams was a backup quarterback who finally received an opportunity replacing the struggling first string quarterback Jay Schroeder, en route to making history.

Sunday's events recorded the second African American Quarterback to win the Super Bowl in Russell Wilson.

The 1988 Broncos were heavily favored to defeat the Redskins just like the 2014 Broncos were also favored to a great degree to up-end the Seahawks.

The 1988 Broncos featured an all-time great at the Quarterback position in John Elway who led this organization to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, third overall in the franchise's history.

That season, Elway threw for 3309 yards, 17 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 71.4.

In the 2014 NFL season, Manning threw for 5,477 yards 55 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 115.1.
Both Broncos quarterbacks in their respective Super Bowls were acknowledged as exuding nothing short of being perfect and superior to the quarterbacks who wore the opposite jersey.

Few expected the Redskins to upset the Broncos. Who could have predicted Doug Williams would lead his team to victory with 9 of 11 pass completions and his record-setting four-touchdown production in a quarter, in Super Bowl 22? Similarly, no one expected Russell Wilson to exhibit a spotless performance completing 18 of 25 pass attempts for two touchdown completions, amassing over 200 yards to achieve the same result.

Like Elway's 14 completions in 38 attempts, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions in Super Bowl 22, contributing to the inevitable loss, no one expected Manning to complete 34 passes, 1 touchdown also throwing 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, suffering the same result as his elder.

Like Super Bowl 22 and 48, no one expected these two defenses to individually control the outcome of the game by thoroughly compressing two great offenses into submission.

These two Super Bowls failed to satisfy conventional wisdom. However, they did generate some of the most compelling and historic story lines in the history of the NFL.

Ruth J. Morrison contributed to this article

Time. Time, as a noun and a verb, is such a mind blowing concept. It separates day from night, am from pm, one hour from the next, as well as the minutes. In our world, we identify time as the events from one day to the next. Happy today could be and has the potential to become pain and sorrow tomorrow. In sports, the same theme follows as time does not disguise its capabilities to no one. Specifically in the sport of boxing, undefeated one day in an instance can become the first initial blemish of defeat, which is permanent and cannot be undone. There is no undo button as in computers.

Adrien Jerome Broner, an American Professional Boxer and three-time World Champion, the current WBC (World Boxing Council) lightweight champion, and former WBO (World Boxing Organization) super featherweight champion, WBA (World Boxing Association) welterweight champion is experiencing the effects of time right now. Saturday, December 14th, 2013, Broner woke up producing a flawless career boxing record of 27 wins 22 KO's in 27 total fights and that night Broner laid his head to rest with the same amount of wins, knockouts in now 28 fights suffering the first loss of his career. Saturday night was Showtime in the Alamodome, San Antonio Texas where Broner, held his first welterweight title defense against the heavy hitting Marcos Maidana (35 wins, 31 KO's and 3 losses), and in due TIME, received his first loss, hopefully an event significant enough to humble the young Broner, only at the tender age of 24. If you are unaware of who Broner is, use Google and you will know soon enough. I did not watch this fight even though I intended to do so, but I am speculating and feel as though I know exactly why he lost this fight and here it is: He's cocky, exudes confidence, talks down and disrespects his opponents, but that's not why. I think Broner suffered his first loss because throughout his career, he has made it his duty and desires to emulate the career of one, Floyd Mayweather.

Broner idolizes Mayweather and associates himself with the icon and views him as an older brother. From post-fight interviews to ring entrances, Broner has drawn comparisons to Mayweather regarding speech pattern, love for material things while being flamboyant with disregard to all competition, despite the threats. While Mayweather contains those same characteristics, he has very well begun his legacy tour featuring a mature shell of himself, less talkative to such a profound degree where fans are not watching his fights to see him lose but to see the excellence in boxing he possesses. Mayweather's mouth and persona throughout his career was used as a marketing tool to draw attention to himself as a villain which garnered interest in a negative fashion. Now, that same interest and attraction tune in because he is without a doubt the pound for pound king of boxing. His skills and boxing prowess are celebrated rather than his mouth which in the past created dark clouds looming over the Mayweather brand. Broner has adopted that same persona, taking it to new heights to his own detriment.

In the pre-fight press conference for Broner vs. Maidana, Broner predicted a knockout and claimed that the fight was going to get ugly. "....After I f%$# him up......." Broner uttered regarding Maidana. He also stated skills win you fights but little did he know that he himself maybe did not know what he was getting into as his skills did not arrive on time. Now Broner is a very skilled and talented fighter drawing comparisons to Mayweather not just for the public antics, but for the fighting style. He utilizes the same shoulder role defense that Mayweather has perfected. The difference is Broner is not the defensive technician that Mayweather is, nor has Broner developed the pot-shotting offensive exclusively used to score points. Broner offense is explosive and economical, as he does punch at a high rate but his defense is what Maidana took advantage of, as Broner met the canvas in the 2nd and 8th rounds for the first time in his entire career. That defense along with his disregard in respecting the competition equals his first loss. It also equals why there will never be another, "Money," another "Pretty Boy Floyd" another "Cash Cow". Mayweather collects data on his opponents during the fight, and translates that data simultaneously to his advantage in his fighting tactics to achieve victory. He trains extremely hard and is acknowledged as one of the top athletes in the world. Mayweather, I believe also has the same will to win that Michael Jordan contained and now Kobe Bryant also maintains. Mayweather has the hunger to not only remain undefeated until he decides to call it quits but also to win at all costs. I do not know if I can say the same about Broner, and with the first initial loss of his career, I do not think we ever will.

Following the most notable sporting event of the season in the Super Bowl, which took place in a land not too far away in the state of New Jersey; the Brooklyn Nets returned home to host the Philadelphia 76ers orchestrating a 108-102 victory on a snowy evening providing a cozy and fun-filled environment for the Brooklyn faithful.

This win progresses the Nets to 21-25 on the overall season, as they continue to work their way back to mediocrity, .500.

The Nets snapped their 3-game losing streak against a lowly opponent, all in all validating the honor that their first-year Head Coach in Jason Kidd received today in Coach of the Month, for compiling a record of 10-3 in January.

The Nets accomplished what the Broncos failed to, despite the difference in sports, circumstances and setting, a win, plain and simple.

Missing tonight's action was guard Joe Johnson suffering from tendinitis in his right patella; also C Andray Blatche, and Forward Andrei Kirilenko recorded DNP's, coach's decision. Given this scenario, the Nets needed a significant offensive contribution as thin as they appeared to be.

They received that contribution from a variety of places tonight.

From the opening tip, the Nets led throughout the majority of the first half until the 76ers reclaimed the lead for the first time this evening with 6:25 left in the second quarter, via two free-throws from 76ers guard Michael Carter Williams. This gave the Sixers a lead of 35-33 with more than 6 minutes left until halftime.

Philadelphia flashed its youth, enabling a run in which it eliminated the Nets lead early within the second quarter. However, the Nets capitalized on a back-and-forth pace later down the stretch.

An alley-oop conversion courtesy of G Shaun Livingston, assisted by F Paul Pierce and a theft by Livingston rewarding Pierce on back-to-back fast breaks pushed the Nets advantage over the Sixers, 54-49 heading into the intermission period.

The synergy established by the Nets towards the end of the first half carried over to the start of the second half as the Nets held the Sixers to within 4 points through the first four minutes.

With the increase in defensive pressure, the Nets manufactured a 13-3 run extending their lead, 67-54 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. The run, energized collectively and individually, by G Deron Williams who caught fire in the 3rd. Williams scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, as he returned back to the starting lineup.

The Nets gained their largest lead of the game by far, up by as many as 17 points, when Journey man G Jason Terry connected for three, on the right wing with 2:37 remaining till the start of the fourth. This put the home team in front 81-64.

The 4th quarter decides the outcome of each and every organized basketball game, and like any team would, the Sixers made their run.

A strong surge by rookie of the year candidate Williams and fellow youngster G Tony Wroten combined for a series of layups and perimeter shots reducing the Nets lead to 6, 97-91 with 6:15 left until the end of regulation.

A Lavoy Allen jumper assisted by Williams from the top of the key with 3:41 remaining in the 4th, brought the Sixers within 2, 97-95, to which the Nets responded by scoring 7 straight points, capped off by F Mirza Teletovic connecting for three 97-89.

The Sixers continued to fight, and exhibited their best effort in the closing moments, only to come up short and the ball bouncing the Brooklyn way.

With 40.8 seconds remaining a loose ball that the Nets failed to claim gave the Sixers life and enough time to draw up a play that left Anderson alone in the corner for which he connected for three giving the Sixers another chance down by 2 with 22.8 seconds remaining nets 104-102.

But without leverage, the Sixers were forced to foul sending Pierce to the line, which resulted in two made free-throws and 6 seconds later a steal by Livingston and foul generated the same result in two additional free throws further advancing the Nets to a final 108-102 win over the Sixers.

Even in victory, Pierce was unsatisfied like a true champion, desiring more from his fellow teammates in the future games to come.

"You can't be happy with the way we closed the game," Pierce articulated to post game media correspondents in the Nets Locker-room.

"We gave up layups, threes," Pierce continues.

"We were up 20, up 19 and let them back in the game,..If we play like that come Thursday then we can't expect to walk away with a win."

Pierce is alluding to Thursday night's contest where the Nets will continue their home-stand in welcoming the franchise spearheading the Southwest division in the San Antonio Spurs. If the Nets want a "W" against the Spurs, a complete 48 minutes of play from the Nets is essential and required to defend their home-court.

Pierce also dished in on the inspirational play of back-court teammate Livingston who contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, as well as, getting after it defensively, a pest in the passing lanes with 7 steals. Livingston has recorded back-to-back games of six or more steals a feat not accomplished by a Net since Kendall Gill in 1999.

"He's a guy who's gaining confidence week by week," Pierce expresses to the post game media

"He believes in his ability; whatever we ask of him he's given it to us," Pierce added.

With Johnson's questionable medical status Livingston will definitely receive every opportunity to fill the void offensively and defensively in the starting unit, something he is very capable of doing acknowledged by Kidd.

"He's playing at a high level and we need him to do that," said Kidd in his post-game press conference.

"He's involved and he is in tune and we need him to do that," Kidd continued.

"Right now he's on that consistent role that we need."

Williams wasn't too shabby at all with his overall performance, pouring in the second most scoring output behind Pierce's 25 with 21 points and 6 timely assists working his way back to the starting lineup where he belongs and should remain as he is the $90 million man.

For the time being, the Nets warmed up the Barclays Center despite the wrath of the winter season. But in the end, for the Nets to sustain positive production they must get healthy with any hope of locking up the Atlantic Division.

He's the reason why I started to watch basketball and became interested in the sport. He's the reason why at an undersized height of 5'8, I thought I had a chance at organized basketball, at least in my thoughts. The generations before mine grew up watching greats like Jerry West, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.

I had Allen Iverson.

I still remember the day I purchased his #3 Jersey, the home all white Jersey representing the Philadelphia 76ers logo and uniforms from 1997-2009.

On Saturday night March 1, 2014, the 76ers organization during a home game hosting the Washington Wizards, honored its former franchise player by retiring his jersey during halftime.

His Jersey was hoisted up to the rafters joining the likes of other retired numbers of #6 Julius Erving, #34 Charles Barkley, and #13 Wilt Chamberlain. It was a heart-warming ceremony in which past 76ers greats and some of Iverson's teammates, including Dikembe Mutumbo and Julius Erving among others, were in attendance on the floor to celebrate with him.

It's actually not ludicrous to mention his name among those greats. He was that good.

Iverson received an MVP award in 200. He made 11 All-Star appearances (2000-2010); he's a 2-time All-Star game MVP awards winner (2001-2005), a 4-time scoring champ (1999, 2001-2001, 2005) and a 3-time All-NBA First team member (1999, 2001, 2005). But, wait, there's more!! Iverson was All-NBA Second Team for three years (2000, 2002-2003); an All-NBA Third Team member (2006); the NBA Rookie of the Year for 1997; All-Rookie NBA First Team also in 1997, and a 3-Time NBA Steals leader three years in a row from 2000-2003.

An Olympian, Iverson was selected to be a part of Team USA for the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament which was held in Puerto Rico. Iverson averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game while helping the USA Team finish with a perfect 10-0 record.

Other than never taking a night off from stepping foot on the hardwood, Iverson's retirement resonates with me because of the cultural and revolutionary impact he has made as a professional athlete. The NBA's dress code from dress-down to casual and formal is a result of Allen Iverson.

The cross-over dribble becoming as popular as it is today, was a torch passed down from Pearl Washington to Tim Hardaway and then to Iverson who modernized it and elevated its variations to his own style. He incorporated the moves of the pickup games of the playgrounds into NBA arenas which made him box office. His clothing choices off the court prompted the general public to question his character which in result compelled Iverson to attach the famed metaphorical phrase to himself of "don't judge a book by its cover".

He was also a trend-setter, making the cornrows hairstyle a global necessity as everyone had to have it. A hairstyle mostly sported by criminals became accepted by the general public as Iverson stated in one of the best interviews conducted by sports journalist Stephen A. Smith of ESPN once upon a time on his show, "Quite Frankly," "I made it Alright." Iverson inspired a generation of people, specifically targeting the children, to not just play basketball, but to be themselves.

In a post-retirement interview, Iverson, regarding his on court attire and gear which included a headband and an arm sleeve throughout the better part of his playing days, stated that I wanted to look like a superhero. Sporting the arm sleeve began during the 2000-01 regular season. Iverson wore the right arm sleeve recovering from an injury that affected his right elbow. If that's the case who's to say that same attire and compilation of on-court gear hasn't inspired the likes of Miami Heat F Lebron James and New York Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, two players known for sporting the headband and arm sleeve combo. He tried his crossover on a Hall-Of-Famer in Michael Jordan successful in his attempt as Jordan bit on Iverson's change of direction as he drifted to his right off the hesitation crossover pulling up for a jump-shot which was all net.

One of my favorite Iverson moves was a sequence of events where Iverson was draped all over by then Kings Forward Peja Stojakovic at the corner of the three point line in which Peja's defense was so compressing, that Iverson dribbled the ball from his right hand to the other behind Peja's back to free himself off the corner.

It was plays like that one that drew me to Iverson as a player. I marveled at the fact that someone of such a small stature could dominate a game single-handedly to his advantage causing numerous problems for the opposing team's defensive alignments and strategies. I remember how tough Iverson was, relentless in attacking the basket despite the punishment he received in return resulting in several injuries occurring throughout his career. It didn't matter who suited up for the other team assigned to protect the rim, Iverson penetrated and more times than not, you can count two in. Fans root for their teams with all their energy, but when Iverson came to town, it was hard to send negative resentment in the form of boos his way because we all knew we were in attendance to see what he would do next.

There was no answer for "The Answer", a name given to Iverson by Shaquille O'Neal, an All-Time great as a center acknowledging Iverson's greatness.

Iverson has totaled a career of 79, 40-point games for the regular season, behind Wilt Chamberlains 271, Michael Jordan's 173, Kobe Bryant's 117, and Elgin Baylor's 88. Iverson also had 11, 50-point games following Wilts 118, Jordan's 31, Bryant's 24, Baylor's 14 and Rick Barry's 13.

Sounds like pretty good company to me.

Although Iverson's career has featured incredible highs, trouble was not too far behind as Iverson experienced his share of public controversy and legal problems.

Iverson made national headlines for feuding with coaches he has played for because he disagreed with their principles and methods. A disappointing season due to the team's overall success in the mid-2000s called for an ugly divorce, as management and A.I. had a falling out which led to Iverson's departure from the Sixers.

This then started an NBA tour as Iverson made short stints with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies from 2006-2010. Iverson played three games with the Grizzlies until his contract was terminated as both parties, Iverson and the Grizzlies management, came to an agreement to part ways.

With Iverson facing thoughts of retirement, an opportunity for one last stand to validate his value in the latter stages of his career arrived with the 76ers who offered Iverson a one-year deal for the duration of the 2009-10 NBA regular season on December 2.

Complications to his daughter's health halted Iverson's progress from completing the season as he attended to his daughters aid.

After a brief stint in the Turkish Basketball League and declining an offer to play in the NBA's development league, Iverson's officially called it quits, retiring from professional basketball entirely on October 30, 2013.

The final chapters of an excellent career had finally closed which led us to the celebration of Iverson's career with his Jersey retirement ceremony on March 1.

Fans, basketball enthusiasts, and sports analysts would all agree that maybe if Iverson accepted a lesser role towards the tail end of his career, he could have achieved the most coveted award of being granted a chance at an NBA title.

But he didn't. He believed he was too great to come off the bench, a role that would hurt his pride in admitting along with the general public that he no longer was the player he once was. He had other ideas.

Because that alternate ending was not a reality let's just reflect on what was and is a Hall-of-Fame career.

Allen Iverson is one of the best little "big" men to ever play the game.

An all-time great.

".. I still feel in my heart and everything I believe that I'm the best Basketball Player in the World and the Best Basketball Player to Eva play this Game" , Iverson once expressed.

Long live the Legend of "The Answer", Allen Iverson.