Why?

Can any of you SHOW me other than winning 4 Super Bowls (which the defense didn’t win…the Steelers had an epic offense too!) how the Steelers were better defensively?

Let’s just talk DEFENSE – not the team! Not Super Bowl wins. Stats vs. stats. Facts vs. facts.

Now the Bears offense was very average….without Jim McMahon they were almost worthless… The Bears offense during those years couldn’t wipe the Steelers’ offense’s a**! That’s a fact!

I mean…..DT William Perry had as many TD receptions as their #1 WR Willie Gault had in 1985 with 1! I’m just talking defense.

1) When did Pittsburgh ever break a QB Sack record?

The Bears still own that with 72 QB sacks in 1984. The most ANY Steeler team had was 52…in 1974. Oh I hear Steeler fans say.. “Well….they weren’t built for that!!” Well…when did Pittsburgh ever hold the record for fewest points allowed in a season? The Bears did that in 1986! I suppose the Steelers defense wasn’t built around stopping TDs either?

2) The Steelers defense was never ranked #1 three years in a row.

From 1984-’86 (3 seasons) the Bears defense was ranked #1. Again…I’m a huge fan of the Steelers. The Bears, Raiders & Steelers are my favs, but I’m also a realist. If the 1976 Steelers were their best team like many Steeler fans say….then the 1976 Raiders are better than any of those Steelers teams, cause in 1976 they swept the Steelers 2 games to 0!

3) Those Steelers played during the era when DBs could maul WRs down field.

In 1978 the NFL put an end too it…they even called it “The Mel Blount Rule”! Yes…in 1978 & ’79 they went to Super Bowls, but that defense wasn’t breaking records…then after that..by 1980 they were DONE because of these rule changes!

Here some props to that 1976 squad though:

The Steelers in 1976 started out 1-4, then the defense kicked in….. big-time! This **defense had 5 *Shutouts in the last 8 weeks of the season. Terry Bradshaw missed 4 games in ’76 due to a wrist injury.

Here’s the thing….out of the 4 losses the Steelers endured during the 1976 season, 3 of those games were decided by a FG or less! If Terry Bradshaw was healthy (this is starting to sound like the ’86 Bears!:) …who knows what would of been the outcome!

They might have won those games going 13-1! The only two teams that beat Pittsburgh by more than a TD in 1976, was the Minnesota Vikings & Oakland Raiders….the two teams that went to the Super Bowl that year! So …if your gonna get beat…it might as well be by the best two teams in the league!

*One of those shutouts was vs. the 0-14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers who everyone basically shutout.

**This was before the “1978 Rule Changes” that prevented DBs from chucking WRs down field. The 5 yard bump rule was instilled in 1978 when the NFL went from 14 to 16 game seasons.

They even named it “The Mel Blount Rule” cause of how physical Blount was on WRs down field. The 1976 Steelers are DEFINITELY one of the greatest defenses of the pre-1978 era! I’d like to compare them to the 1977 “Gritz Blitz” Falcons, who allowed just 129 points (9 points per game).

Back to the Bears defense…

If that Bears defense played with the same rules, they’d of even been better!…..them being “even better” would make them unreal! No one would score!

They had 72 (1984), 64 (1985), 62 (1986,while allowing the fewest points in NFL history in a 16 game season that only the 2000 Ravens have since beaten) & 70 sacks (1987 in only 15 games) with that 5yrd bump rule! If those Bear CBs were allowed to hold up receivers longer for that front 7 to get to the QB like the Steelers could…I’d be blocked by Facebook for posting such violence!

4) 1976 Steelers lost to Brian Sipes, & Steve Grogan.

One of their shut outs was vs. the Buccaneers who everyone shut out! Steeler fans also bring up how the Bears would lose to the 49ers in the playoffs.

When Jim McMahon was healthy, the Bears were 3-0 vs those 49ers. In that 1988-’89 playoff game, Mike Ditka decided to play him after he’d missed over a month, & was still injured…he couldn’t even finish the game! However….in 1981 a healthy Steelers team lost to a young 49ers team….why? Oh maybe cause the rule changes exposed a weakness? I dunno.

5) So again….SHOW me how a team that played 14 game seasons, with prehistoric rules is better than the most copied defense ever… Ya gotta use the 1978 or 1979 Steelers to do it…1978 the Steelers defense was ranked 3rd and had 44 QB sacks….in 1979 the Steelers defense was ranked 2nd with 49 QB sacks. 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked 12th in defense…. In 1984 the Bears defense was ranked 1st with a record 72 QB sacks. 1985 they were ranked #1 with 64 QB sacks. In 1986 they were ranked #1 with 62 QB sacks…

Below is not opinions. These are facts.

In 1988 Bears DT asked Terry Bradshaw how many games he missed during the 4 Super Bowl seasons? 0! The Bears won a record 52 games in 4 seasons without their starting QB 54% of that time!

In 1988 the Bears lost Walter Payton (ret), Willie Gault (Raiders), Wilber Marshall (Redskins), Otis Wilson (IR), Gary Fencik (Ret). Mike Ditka had a heart attack and Jim McMahon was injured 46% of the season…they STILL went 12-4 and played in the NFC Championship Game!

Why? That defense! I’m a fan of the Steelers too. I just get sick of their fans trolling my posts. It’s hilarious. Oh yeah! One more thang! Historically the Bears lead that series 19-7-1! The Bears also have more Hall Of Famers, so stop!

Below is a graph that shows how the Bears defense dominated the entire 1980’s. 16 outta 23 categories they ranked #1!

The post Best Defense Ever – 80’s Bears vs. 70’s Steelers appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

3 Reasons Why NBA Super Teams are Good for the Association

With the NBA season now past the halfway point as the NBA trade deadline quickly approaches, GM’s across the league are gearing up for the moves to come. Some of them with hopelessly optimistic views of their teams, trying to gain whatever immediate talent to make a playoff run and buy them a little extra real estate with their owners and fan bases. Others are looking long term, trying to land that huge deal, that makes the Disney/Fox merger look like child’s play.

With that, comes increased rumblings about the biggest domino that could fall, Anthony Davis. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say whatever team gets Anthony Davis will immediately become a super team. Because of that, many GM’s might make “snap” decisions to land Davis, even if that means wiping out half of NBA team’s chance to win a NBA title.

Now, the devil’s advocate out there will say that Davis is under contract until next season, and that it doesn’t make sense for the Pelicans to trade him away now. At least not until he refuses the super max deal they can offer him this summer, which is true. However, given the hype so far removed from Davis’s free agency, it just shows how much fans and viewers alike, crave the prospect of another super team. One that could dethrone the Warriors and change the landscape of the league for the next five years.

This insatiable desire and curiosity from fans about super teams got me to thinking of all the reasons why super teams are good for the NBA. There is nothing new about super teams in the NBA. So let’s put on our coaches hat, and draw up 3 benefits of super teams in the modern NBA.

1 Point: More Player Mobility

Before all you diehard fans out there start yelling at me from your couch, with your Bird or Magic jerseys on, hear me out.

I know what player loyalty means to a fan base. I am a Nebraska Cornhusker fan, loyalty is fed to us almost as much as the corn all around us. For example, I understand that one player can hold the hopes of a entire city of sports fans on their shoulders. Look at Reggie Miller in the NBA as a model. He never had the most talented team, heck he never won an NBA championship, but he never wavered from that rural town in Indiana. He carried that franchise for over a decade. There is honor in that. I can see how many fans, especially small market ones miss that, and resent super teams because they make it very hard for small market teams to hold onto their top draft picks.

However, let’s remove the macro level optics of an entire city’s hopes and dreams and focus on the human element. Many of you out there work in business, education, transportation, etc. In those jobs you work hard and build your resume to advance in your career. If the company you work for doesn’t allow for advancement, and you feel like you aren’t allowed to maximize your talents, you look for another job. Once you make that decision typically no one in the public sphere, or even your personal circle, ridicules you. They are happy for you, and sometimes your old job even wishes you well in your future endeavors. Can we not extend that same courtesy to these athletes? Sure some may claim they make millions of dollars, so they are held to a higher standard, but that isn’t an indictment on them, its simple economics of supply and demand. Millions of people watch the NBA, generating billions of dollars in revenue, and there are only so many freakishly athletic and talented giants on the face of earth to receive these massive contracts.

Now, while were on the topic of optics. I think the fact athletes have more flexibility in today’s world means more than anything. The NBA is predominantly made up of African-American players. On the flip side, the majority of NBA teams are owned by old white males. It’s worth noting, that this unbalanced representation between player makeup and owner representation isn’t nearly as egregious as the NFL’s, not to mention the current NBA commissioner Adam Silver has supported a much more progressive NBA. Despite this, I think anything the league can do to remove the image and reality that white male owners have complete control of where black NBA players are allowed to move and work is a good thing. Not to mention it allows players and their families to choose where they want to live, and what kind of legacy they want to create. If that’s not the American dream, then I don’t know what is.

2 Points: Increased Revenue Across the NBA

If the previous point didn’t change your mind. Maybe the O’Jays money, money, money can change your tune. Since 2008 when the Boston Celtics stormed the league with their original “Big Three,” rating across the league, during the regular season and playoffs have increased. The culmination of all this leading to the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors monster Game 7 of the NBA finals that had 31.02 million people tune in. cbcsports

All this prompted one of the biggest sports TV deals of all time. The $24 billion dollar TV deal will extend to the 2024-25 season and is the second biggest TV deal outside the NFL. The fact that the deal quickly approached the heals of the America’s biggest sport is saying something.

It is my belief that the reason why there has been so much intrigue and increase in ratings is that people enjoy a super team. They might not outwardly admit it. Heck, they might even say they hate it. However, when they are really honest with themselves, they know they like the idea of a team that could theoretically contend with past giants like the 95’ Bulls and 86’ Celtics.

There is a reason why Avengers: Infinity War made over a billion dollars. People like seeing great individuals form something even greater. And if we take an objective look at the timeline between when the first super teams formed during the modern era, and how ratings increased, we can see the connection. And if that connection means more money for the NBA. That’s a good thing.

It doesn’t just benefit star players either. When the NBA collective bargaining agreement was signed back in 2017 many stipulations were created to help veteran players, mid-level players, and rookies. All of which increased contracts, both in terms of length and salary.

This influx of money doesn’t just help the players though. The owners have definitely seen the extra green extended their way. Across the league team values have grown exponentially from millions to billions. And although I rarely side with owners that have wallets that make Dr. Evil’s request for a billion dollars look like pocket change. I do think it has created some good.

From this new TV money, the D-League was changed to the G-League, which hands down wins the best sports league name in history, which might actually might start paying players a decent salary that rivals European basketball teams. Not to mention if Adam Silver fulfills his promises, the G-League might actually solve the college basketball crisis with freshman players coming to school for one year to then move up to the NBA. If these things have even the faintest connection to super teams, I am going to claim it as a win why super teams should stay in the NBA.

3 Points: Year Round Coverage

If the altruistic reasons won’t prove to you that super teams are a good thing, i.e. player mobility and increased revenues, maybe more selfish reasons speak to you.

The NBA season is long. It spans from October to June. There are games every night and it certainly gives fans plenty of content.

However, for all those NBA fanatics out there like myself. The 82 game season and playoffs isn’t long enough. I have such found memories of watching opening night in the fall. Then, Christmas day games with my brother. Not to mention the regular season TNT games where the top teams face off and you can always expect exciting plays, and Charles Barkley bashing analytics before, during, and after the game. That banter and post game analysis, even if it is totally old school, makes me laugh and builds the lore and past history of the NBA. I crave more content, even if a basketball isn’t  tossed up at midcourt to get it.

But once the NBA finals end, most average fans lose interest, and NBA coverage completely drops off a cliff unless you have a hang glider in the form of the NBA TV and League Pass cable package. However, with super teams, it seems as if the offseason becomes even more interesting and exciting. Because every one of the GM’s I mentioned earlier in the article that survived their post season interviews with their ownership, once again regain their hopelessly optimism view and target off season moves to make their team better. For example, I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Magic Johnson tries to do this summer when Anthony Davis refuses the super max extension the Pelicans will offer him. It’s intrigue like that, which makes people tune into Sportscenter, or NBA TV, to hope and dream that another super team will be formed in their city.

If you are lucky enough to win the super team lottery by players joining forces in your city to start a dynasty. I bet you are pretty happy? And for everyone else, don’t you find a little intrigue in a new super team that might be able to challenge the Warriors? Even if your team is constantly subjected to a perpetual state of first round playoffs exits or lottery picks.

I guess my point is that fans across the league can have some kind of positive reaction from super teams. Even if it ranges from pure joy, to a revolutionary overthrow mentality that says to hell with the established powers, i.e. the Warriors. Whatever the reaction, the increased interest leads to year round coverage and an ever growing scrutiny to the free agency period. So from my NBA fanatic courtside seats, I see that the creation of a year round media cycle is a good thing. And super teams are a big reason why.

4th Quarter: Closing Remarks

In the end I am sure many of you will question the shot I took with this article, that’s okay, I never had a good looking shot anyway. And I can’t argue with you that there is certainly a dark side of the court when it comes to super teams. However, to sum up the article and save you from anymore of my puns, it just seems that in today’s world, the media often portrays super teams in this dark light constantly, and no one ever seems to stop and ask what are some of the benefits? That is why I wanted to take my half court shot on this issue, and hopefully give you a unique viewpoint the next time the guys are shooting the sports breeze by the water cooler.

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• Boban Is Most Efficient Scorer EVER and Tobias Harris Thinks It’s Hilarious
• 1984 NBA Draft: Best Draft Ever?
• Worst Trades in NBA History

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