The REAL. BIG. Blog

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning their 27th World Series title. The exhausting MLB season has finally come to a close, along with the best time of the year for sports…

October and November are some of the most exciting months for sports fans. It is the only time of the year that all 4 major sports are on at the same time.

The MLB Playoffs are nearing the end, where every pitch, every catch and every move matters. This year in the playoff you had two of the more storied franchises in all of sports with the Yankees and Dodgers. Let’s not forget the Red Sox and Cardinals who have both won a World Series title in the past 3 years. And then there are the two most consistent teams in baseball: the Twins and Angels. Year after year, those two teams always seem to be near, or at the top of their respected divisions. After starting 19-28 and firing their head coach, the Rockies came back and made another impressive run to the postseason.

The NFL is in full swing with intriguing story lines, bone-crushing hits and highlight reel plays. There are always surprises with the NFL. Who would have thought that at age 40, Brett Favre would be playing as well as he is… who would have thought that in week 9 we would still have two undefeated teams (Indianapolis and New Orleans both 7-0)… Who would have thought that the Wildcat would make defensive coordinators cringe… From the Ram’s, Lion’s and Buccaneers to the Saints, Colts and Vikings, Sunday’s are days where you can always find excitement with any team.

The NBA season tips off. A clean slate for every team. The Clippers look to spring forward with Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry looks to show off his sweet shot at the professional level, and the rest of the NBA Rookies look to make their mark on the league. This is a league full of superstars. From LeBron and Kobe to Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, each player brings a different dynamic to the court that can only be classified as incredible.

And finally, the puck drops in the NHL. After a come from behind win against the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Penguins are looking for the first repeat since the Red Wings went back to back in ‘97 and ‘98. With all the free agent moves and offseason trades, the tides may be turning for some teams in the NHL.

Of course, I cannot forget College football. Every sports fan has a favorite NCAA team. With tailgaiting, face painting, BCS discussions, conference title hopes, stadiums with 100,000+ people, and bowl games… College football definitely demonstrates the true passion of fans and athletes.

Ah yes, it really is a great time of year!

Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos is stuck in the lurch between his team wanting him to stay and staying open for trade deals. At Fathead, we like to know where players will be ASAP so that we can make sure that we are the first product out in a new uniform. We hate the lurch. If you were Cutler, what would you want to do? Would you want to stay in Denver or look for a Super Bowl somewhere else?

Blame me.  Go ahead.  I don’t know how you’ll do it, but judging from some of your past emails  - your “get back” will be both creative and devestating.  Sure, I may have known for months…and, sure, knowing might have saved you some big bucks on your holiday shopping.  But in my defense…things get REALLY busy at Fathead during the holidays and, honestly, it just slipped my mind!  For the few of you who don’t know yet, here’s the skinny:

Every day, Fathead.com offers two HOT products at HALF OFF called the REAL.BIG. Deal of the Day to members of Fathead Nation.  When I say hot, I’m talking some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment like Emmitt Smith and the Dark Knight!  Or LeBron James and Homer Simpson!  Or Brett Favre and Hannah Montana!  If you happened to click on any of the previously linked superstars, apologies, those are past and potentially future deals…but still pretty sweet wall graphics, huh?

To make up for my memory lapse and prevent reader retribution, here’s some super-secret inside information that nobody else in the world knows.  Only you are privy to this, my friend.  Tomorrow’s REAL.BIG. Deals of the Day are…

Peyton Manning and the Superman logo. Either can be yours at HALF PRICE - TOMORROW -  when you sign-up for Fathead Nation.  Just go to Fathead.com tomorrow and click on the ad that says “REAL.BIG. Pride.”  Then score yourself a Petyon Manning or a Superman logo Fathead for 50% off the regular price.

So…we’re cool now, right?

By Rebecca Moodie

After an exciting Wild Card Weekend, the stage is set for the next round of the playoffs.  All the teams who had a first round bye will now have a chance to prove their worth as they take on the wild card victors.

All eyes will be on the NFC East on Sunday as the defending Super Bowl Champs prepare to take on their division rivals in what should prove to be one of the more exciting games of the weekend.  Coming off a road victory in which they dominated the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles will fly to New York to face the New York Giants for the much anticipated game.

New York Jets Logo Fathead Wall Graphic

By Rebecca Moodie

New York Giants Logo Fathead Wall Graphic

On Sunday, the New York Jets gave me the best birthday present ever; they all but DESTROYED the undefeated Tennessee Titans 34-13, executing a consistent offense and a dominant defense.  The defense held the Titans to just 3 points in the first half and although we don’t see Brett Favre as the gunslinger he was in his early Packer days, he has developed into so much more for the Jets by becoming the on-field leader they desperately needed.

So with this one W, the Jets have achieved the unthinkable. As division leaders and arguably the best team in the AFC, their game seems to be more complete and balanced then ever before and they look to be unstoppable right now. They have suddenly made their way into the conversations about the “big game” and they are finally getting the respect they deserve from outside their fan base.

So with the Jets and New York Giants playing the way they are, dare I say we may see the first ever “Subway” Super Bowl??? (Knock on wood.)  It would be the game of many lifetimes, a story to pass down to generations come, possibly the most exciting game in sports history! (Okay so I’m obviously from New York.  But come on, it would definitely be one for the books).

I don’t want to jump the gun, as there are still many weeks to play.  As they say, “any given Sunday”.  Of course, anything can happen at this point, but there is still a flicker of hope inside me for that headline… “Jets Take on Reigning Super Bowl Champs in Tampa”.  Maybe we can finally end our 40 year drought.  Fingers crossed!

By John Fontana

Boston Red Sox Logo Fathead Wall Graphic

I am in Boston today. The city of winners. That’s a fact and you can check the record – even with grief from last night’s Red Sox loss to the Rays pervading every establishment public and private in New England. In the past six years, this city has celebrated six championships in three pro sports (football, baseball and basketball).  Would you take that for your city AND last night’s loss?

The Patriots, woe they are to perform this season (and set to face the Broncos on Monday Night Football), were Super Bowl champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Red Sox, who just missed the Series for the third time in five years with Sunday’s loss, were champions in 2004 and 2007.

And the Celtics are the current defending NBA champions having beaten the Lakers for the title in June. Let’s not even mention the 16 other NBA crowns they’ve pocketed in the modern era.

That’s a lot of champagne, ticker tape and trips to Disneyland anyway you cut it.  So an ALCS loss to the Rays merits perspective.

Sure, the magic didn’t work for the Red Sox this time. But the Red Sox fate is but a mere chunk of silver in the city’s pot of gold.

It’s been worse here. Much worse. Flash back to 1986. If you’re not a Red Sox fan that date is meaningless to you. Mention that year and any true Sox fan can fill in the rest. October 25. World Series. Game 6. 3-2 series lead. Sox pitcher Bob Stanley. New York Mets hitter Mookie Wilson. Boston first baseman Bill Buckner. Vin Scully’s now haunting words “a little roller up along first…behind the bag…It gets through Buckner.”

In the 2003 HBO documentary, “Curse of the Bambino,” one Boston fan described the loss as the “darkest day in Boston since Jack Kennedy was shot.”  Clearly, it’s been painful before.

But now look at them. In their worn blue caps with the famous red “B.” Their Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen jerseys. Their Big Papi chants and Papelbon dance.

Even after a heartbreaking loss, it must feel fine to be a sports fan in Boston.

By Apryl DeLancey

Oakland Raiders Helmet Fathead Wall Graphic (No LA Raiders Fathead Available. Sorry, Apryl!)

Alright, I’ve previously written about my feeling of nostalgia and connection to the Oakland Raiders.  During the time they played in my hometown of Los Angeles they brought a Super Bowl win to the area.  It was a happy time.  The eccentricities of Al Davis didn’t seem so bad.  Everyone knew he was nuts.  Raiders fans dealt with it.  The team was winning.  The Black Hole was in full force and a scary place to be without a silver and black jersey.  Well, actually that last part hasn’t changed.

But what now?  I still wear my faded Los Angeles Raiders t-shirt and Super Bowl champion t-shirt from their win against the Washington Redskins back in 1984.  At times I get snarky comments from non-Angelinos and other smarty pants fans.  I have no problem wearing these around town.  I can tell my fellow Angelinos as they are the ones smiling and giving me fist pumps as I pass by.  You just aren’t a Los Angeles native unless you own at least one article of clothing or cap that says RAIDERS on it.

I have to admit – Al Davis is making this a very difficult time to continue wearing my garb.  I’m not even one of those die-hards that gets all dressed up in the chains and face paint.  What are these fans thinking?  How can they bear to put on the costume every Sunday and feel good about themselves?

Let me just put it out there – I think firing Lane Kiffin was a bad move.  I refuse to believe that the son of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive mastermind Monte Kiffin could possibly be that bad of a coach!  Warren Sapp reportedly said that when he was a player for the Oakland Raiders that they only gave the younger Kiffin half of the team to coach.  The offense and defense never got to meet together.  What the heck sort of plan is that?  Even Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan weighed in on how absurd Davis’ firing was.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – someone please take the team away from Davis before he hurts anyone else.  This is not the 1970s and 1980s.  The game has changed.  You have a massive fan base.  They deserve more!

Help us…someone…anyone…