While most are looking forward to the NFL conference championship game, longtime sufferers of PSBD (or post-Super Bowl disorder) dread the idea of only one game left after Sunday before the long and agonizing wait ahead of the 2023 season.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other entertainment options to help you through the post-Super Bowl discomfort, including the NBA, March Madness, spring training, sports debate shows, and movies.
For those of you who’ve spent the past six months in an NFL cocoon, here are 10 questions and answers to help you understand the big questions of the day.
1. Are the Chicago Bulls a lottery team?
Even after their 128-109 victory over the Magic in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, there are only six teams with worse winning percentages than the Bulls. They could still make the playoffs in the East, but not at this pace.
Like the Chicago White Sox in 2022, the Bulls have spent most of the season near . 500 only to regress in spectacular fashion. They don’t have a chance to drop low enough to realistically land consensus No. 1 pick Victor Winbanyama, but they do get some ping pong in the lottery if they miss the playoffs.
2. Should Eloy Jiménez, as he wishes, play more right wing instead of DH?
It was a hot topic among White Sox fans for about a minute last week before the Mike Clevinger saga pushed it into the background.
“I don’t really think I’m going to accept (the DH role) because I’m trying to get better and I want to play outfield,” Jimenez told reporters.
It’s a good thing that Jimenez is trying to be a better outfielder, but if the Red Sox are better off guarding rookie Oscar Colas, there’s no real reason for Jimenez to be playing more than once.
3. What is the number of “What’s up, Einstein?” Is there an ad on Sunday?
Nothing makes NFL fans miss RedZone more than the ubiquitous commercial featuring Paul Giamatti as a bewildered Einstein trying to choose a wireless provider. Every suspension during the NFL playoffs seems to bring another game.
No betting site offers a big line for Sunday’s championship game, but my bookmaker says 22, including the pre-game show.
4. Does Northwestern have a realistic chance in the NCAA tournament bid?
why not? The unranked Wildcats are 15-5 and 6-3 in the Big Ten after Saturday’s 81-61 win over Minnesota. After finishing the division with a 7-13 record last season, no one believed them.
what is the difference?
“I don’t think we really care about all the things, what people say about us,” senior guard Chase Odich said after Monday’s win over Wisconsin. “Like, we’ve heard everything clearly over the years we’ve been here, from the worst to the worst, or when we’ve played well (to be) the best. We just want to keep things on an even keel. We know what we’ve got as a team How confident we are in ourselves, we believe in us. Compared to what other people say, that’s what really matters.”
The Wildcats have proven they’re real, but the schedule just got tougher.
5. Is there a worse sports movie premise than “80 for Brady”?
Judging by the commercials, the upcoming four older women are huge Tom Brady fans in what might just be the worst sports movie ever made. It had some tough company on “Fever Pitch,” “Bad News Bears Go to Japan,” and “The Benchwarmers.” A more appropriate title might be “Brady’s Botox.”
6. Can the Chicago Cubs compete without getting really close?
wait and see. Backup Brad Boxberg might be the best candidate to start the season there, even though he hasn’t been a regular with the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2018. Keegan Thompson, Adbert Alzolay, Brandon Hughes and Rowan Wick are also possible.
Team president Jed Hoyer may not have finished adding replacements, but he said he feels “comfortable” with his late picks.
“My goal, my hope, is that in the next two to three years, these guys will all be out of our system,” he said. “That’s the real goal, to provide great stuff in the bullpen, and that’s also coming in with the young guys, who have cheaper options. That’s certainly something we want to develop.”
7. Will Perdue get through the Bulls’ season without falling apart?
The NBC Chicago sports analyst couldn’t hide his disgust after the Bulls’ loss, asking recently, “Who do they think they are?” When Perdue questioned the lack of leadership in the locker room, he represented fans everywhere. He’s the Bulls’ version of Ozzie Gillan.
8. Which 4 NBA players voted for Lonzo Ball to make the All-Star team?
The Bulls guard hasn’t played in more than a year, but has four All-Star votes on the players’ ballot. Let’s say one is from his brother LaMelo and the other three are from his Bulls teammates who think the All-Star vote is a joke.
9. Could an NBA writer have his credentials revoked for getting into an altercation with a player during a game?
no doubt. But referees and stadium security had to step in when Fox Sports personality and former NFL star Shannon Sharp got into an altercation with the Memphis Grizzlies player and Ja Morant’s father during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
sharp later apologized After embarrassing himself and his exit. Apparently, there was no reaction from the league or his owners.
10. When LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list, will he officially be the GOAT?
Judging by the reactions of James and his friends in the media, it seems so. But the all-time leader in points per game will remain Michael Jordan with 30.12 points per game, followed by Wilt Chamberlain with 30.07 points per game.
James finished fifth with a 27.21 on Saturday. Jordan will also receive four of James’ six NBA championship awards and four of his six NBA Finals MVP awards.
James is a truly great player, but he played far more minutes than Jordan. It’s really easy.
