WILL YOU BE watching Super Bowl XLVII at home this year but would still like to feel part of the game?
Fret not, here at TheScore.ie we have you covered, especially if you’re trying to pick a team to support.
After in-depth research, we’ve come up with everything you need to know about both the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, as well as the best food and drink each city has to offer.
Baltimore
Team
The Baltimore Ravens are just a baby in NFL terms, beginning life in 1996 when former owner, Art Modell, relocated his Cleveland Browns franchise to Maryland. The team’s name was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, who is buried in Baltimore and whose most famous work is, of course, ‘The Raven’.
The Ravens have made the playoffs five years in a row and have won two AFC Championships in their short history, including this year.
They were victorious in their only previous visit to the Super Bowl, when they defeated the New York Giants, 34-7 in 2000.
Coach
John Harbaugh played as a defensive back for the University of Miami, Ohio but never played in the NFL. Since becoming a coach in the league, his record is incredible, taking the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his five seasons in charge.
Key player(s)
After 17 years in the NFL, Ray Lewis probably deserves a mention here. However, Joe Flacco’s performances this postseason have helped the Ravens reach this stage but that’s mostly because of his offensive line. Not only have they given Flacco lots of time to throw the ball, but they’ve also helped establish the Ravens’ run game. If they can do both again on Sunday, that might be the difference between the two teams.
City
Baltimore has a population of about 620,000 and was founded in 1661 by English settlers escaping religious prosecution.
It’s most famous sons and daughters include David Hasselhoff, Michael Phelps and the movie director John Waters.
It was also, of course, home to the greatest TV series of all time, ‘The Wire’.
Food
As with the rest of Maryland, Baltimore is best known for its Blue Crabs. Beaten with a hammer, and cooked with both cold beer and boiling water, they remain a mystery to most outsiders.
Drink
One of the finest beers I’ve ever had came out of Maryland, and it’s Heavy Sea’s Loose Cannon Indian Pale Ale. At 7.25% ABV, you might not want to drink too many of them during the Super Bowl though.
San Francisco
Team
The San Francisco 49ers have been in existence for exactly 50 years longer than their opponents on Sunday. The team is named after the prospectors who moved to the area in 1849 when gold was discovered.
After dominating the NFL in the eighties and nineties, the team have been in the doldrums for twenty years. Despite that, they still have 25 playoff appearances.
The 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances, the most recent being a 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers in 1994.
Coach
Unlike his brother, Jim Harbaugh actually did play in the NFL. A steady if unremarkable quarterback, Harbaugh has taken to coaching with the same success as his brother, reaching the playoffs in each of his two seasons in charge of the 49ers.
Key player
It has to be Colin Kaepernick. Sunday will be just his tenth start as an NFL quarterback. How he handles the pressure of the occasion could have a massive impact on the outcome of the game. The evidence so far would seem to suggest he’ll be okay, but you never know what nerves can do.
City
Previously ‘owned’ by both Spain and Mexico, San Francisco came under the control of the US in 1847 when it’s name was changed from Yerba Buena.
Famous people born in San Francisco include Clint Eastwood, Steve Jobs and OJ Simpson.
Sadly, San Fran can’t boast a TV show like ‘The Wire’ but it was the location for ‘The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.’
Food
Like Baltimore, San Francisco residents love their crab. However, it’s also known for something called Rice-a-Roni which consists of rice and pasta mixed together.
Drink
Tripe Voodoo’s Barrel Aged Grand Cru is not for the feint of heart at 9% ABV but is a very tasty pale ale for those who like their beer complex.
What if the corner backs are cynically wasting time passing between themselves – will they be getting black cards too? And if Spillane counts too many hand passes on the Sunday game will there be more sanctions?
Maybe the offending player should hop on their bad leg for 2 minutes or something? That would liven it up!!
Or maybe the GAA should let teams do what they do best and commit everything they have to winning and stop pandering to certain commentators.
Leon — I’d have to disagree with you. The amount of cynical fouling, play-acting, and lack of respect for refs and officials has been doing my head in for the past few years. I think the ‘professional foul’ in particular needs to be addressed. If one team needs a goal to win or draw, for instance, the other team pulls them down on the edge of the square and takes one (a yellow card) for the team. It shouldn’t be like that.
Should they let them have a chance to win or draw then?? Nonsense.
I would love to get rid of the play acting and have a lot more respect for officials and i agree with you there. But this is just trying to “improve” (see increase scores) the game to please certain pundits who spout the same rhetoric week in week out with no constructive input.
The Dublin v Donegal semi-final a few years ago was one of the most fascinating games I’d ever seen because of the tactics, intensity and strategy. Not every game needs 60 yd kick passes and 20 points to be entertaining.
@Leon
You seem to be incapable of disagreeing politely.
Quickly turning into a non contact sport ,with all the rule changes & diving.
What about abusing officials, is that to be condoned?
Dreadful suggestion. The problem is the standard of refereeing. Totally different rules on Saturday evening in a club game than you get on Sunday in an intercounty championship game.
Not great for the small clubs who mightn’t have big panels at their disposal either.
If they’re so insistent on bringing in some sort of rule as a solution to the fouling (rather than addressing the real issue of refereeing), why don’t they try the sin bin exactly the way it’s used in rugby. It works very well.
Sin bin would definitely be good. I think this black card is also worth a go though. Notwithstanding refereeing issues; something does have to change in my opinion. If a team gets 7 or 8 points ahead in the second half they can see the game out by faking injury and cynical fouling. It’s crap to watch.
And how many games have you refereed Cormac ?
This years championship should be good craic … FFS. Change the system and bring in the Sin Bin.
It’ll probably be scrapped because of racism!!
And put diving in there too!!
they are right blackcards :-)
Replace the rte studio with the newstalk crew and we can enjoy the coverage, problem solved.
Newstalk presenters really irritating me lately. Way to far up their own ar*es & ill tell you what newstalk guys & gals ( if you read the journal that is ) you are not really that good or funny. I loved the station initially it’s not even on my saved stations in my car anymore.
Sin bin anyone? Works in rugby and ice hockey. Forget this substituting for another player. That is not a punishment
You’ll need a degree to officiate games and the public wont have a clue. Tripping abuse and cynical fouls red card. Soccer and Gaa need to catch up,manly the players
Sin bin is the only logical solution. This black card can’t work at grass roots for obvious reasons.. They seem to be determined to break What’s not broke..
On a related topic….used to be a great rule in ice hockey….not sure if it still applies. When two players go at each other….the third man in gets red carded. Result is that two guys slug away until seperated by officials. No mass brawls. Would def be worth a shot in GAA.
What about the team who gets a black card and has no substitute? Joke of a rule
Please don’t play the black card
There may be trouble ahead with all the confusion and its all of their own making. Black cards, yellow cards and red cards, why don’t they use a deck of cards cos it sounds like a game of chance. Looks as though the GAA are just putting feelers out to see the reaction from managers. Too much spin from FRC and co. They may dig a hole and bury their report.
I can see it being an absolute nonsense but great for the media of course.
Why don’t they ban them from using their hands, make the pitch smaller and get rid of those sticks on top of the cross bar. Then you’d have a sport
There are too many cynical and violent tackles. I think perhaps stricter refs rather than a new card, would do it.
Just leave the game alone ! Had one on the best inter county championships last fee years last year