In most families the younger son always has the blessings of the mother and as Biblical lore has it, the mother usually wins. If you look back to the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau it was the mother who instructed her son to steal Esau's birthright and blessing from Isaac right? The father in this story felt the birthright should go to the eldest, as tradition dictates.
If the biblical version is correct we know where the parents Jack and Jackie Harbaugh's feelings rest in the battle for the title in Super Bowl XLVII, where their sons John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh will face off.
Let me just say, I would find it hard to call, text or email a brother that I was facing in the biggest game of my professional career. In the movie the Gettysburg in 1993, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock asked, "Tell me, Professor. In your studies have you come across a story from antiquity of two men who are like brothers facing each other on the field of battle?"
And I say they are indeed brothers and will be bringing their armies to face each other on the field of battle. One of the brother's hopes and dreams for the Super Bowl title will die on the field out there along with those of his troops. If the loser goes on to win a title some day it will not mean the same as the one he lost to his own blood. Siblings know that it can be harder to lose to blood than your worst enemy.
Unfortunately this hasn't been a great year for Roger Goodell when you factor in issues with the replacement referees and the labor dispute, along with the bounty scandal where an arbitrator overturned Goodell's suspensions. But the league has to feel good about how this thing has ended; three great rookie quarter backs in RG3, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick took their teams to the playoffs and two brothers facing off in the Super Bowl with teams boasting a cast of colorful characters.
The most colorful of them all, Ray Lewis will go down in history as being one of the best linebackers to play the sport. Lewis is a mastermind on breaking down plays, but his true value to the Ravens has been his leadership on and off the field.
Some would argue the path to the Super Bowl became a lot less murky when he announced his intention to retire after the season. Then it became a lets win one for Ray campaign. With the success of this season folks like Deion Sanders are saying he'll stick around. Let's wait and see on that.
The read option threat has been one of the most sensational news for fans who like explosive offenses. The read option provides many different layers and disguises for opposing defenses and in some cases 11 defensives players have to be near perfect to shut some plays down. Kaepernick will probably be the best decision of Jim Harbaugh's career. There were a lot of naysayers out there when Jim announced that he would be starting Kaepernick after Alex Smith sustained a concussion on November 11.
In this epic battle we have good minds and strategists in football and more importantly we have two coaches who have the best relationships with their team. Both brothers share sidelines where players come up and express their opinion, in all due respect. Both brothers, and especially Jim, put their emotions out there for the world to see.
When the last second expires on the clock and the fat lady sings, the game will go to the coach who have saved one tidbit from his brother in all their discussions around the sport. The game will go to the single brother that has one trick up his sleeve that he will wait to revel on game day that will force the other brother to say, you dirty bastard. Oh! And how ironic; the other factors include the influences of the field generals in the young up-starter in Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the old veteran, Linebacker Ray Lewis.
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