The Sports Xchange: Foles ascends from backup to Super Bowl MVP

February 05, 2018 by Art Spander in articles, football

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS — A few months ago he was a backup, again, waiting for the chance that as someone who had been with other teams knew might never come along. But come along it did, and Sunday night, still in his uniform pants, still unpretentious, there stood Nick Foles, the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LII.

Foles became the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback when Carson Wentz went down with a torn-up knee. Oh well, said the critics, the Eagles are doomed.

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The Sports Xchange: Patriots a team that most love to hate

February 01, 2018 by Art Spander in articles, football

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS — The man on the phone was adamant. “Anybody but the Patriots,” he said. Which in this case leaves only the Philadelphia Eagles, whose popularity in Super Bowl LII is based on the New England Patriots’ widespread unpopularity.

“I know 30 other cities are not rooting for us,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, one short of the correct total. “That’s OK. That’s the way it’s going to be.”

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The Sports Xchange: Goodell wants to catch as catch can

January 31, 2018 by Art Spander in articles, football

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS — The National Football League was created in August 1920, virtually 98 years ago. You'd think by now they'd have figured out what constitutes a catch.

But, given the controversies of the past season, it's apparent the issue remains debatable. And maybe unsolvable.

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The Sports Xchange: SB old hat for Belichick — just don't ask

January 30, 2018 by Art Spander in articles, football

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS —The new Bill Belichick seems very much like the old Bill Belichick, with the addition of an old fedora and a smile, both of those quite impermanent. But then he's a pro football coach of great permanence.

It was another of his profession, the late Bill Walsh, who said that in this modern era of attention and tension, 10 years is as much as a man can spend with one team as the head coach.

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The Sports Xchange: SBLII Opening Night: 'That's Entertainment'

January 30, 2018 by Art Spander in articles, football

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- It was just a few hours for the other town, the one usually tacked on the end of the dateline, was now able to stand alone, and be mentioned by itself for the lunacy that is the runup to America's-maybe, the free world's-national holiday, the Super Bowl.

The contestants, the journalists, the public, paying for the experience, crossed the river, the mighty Mississippi, so on Monday, Saint Paul would have its few moments of fame, detached in effect from Minneapolis for what used to be known as Media Day and is now called "Opening Night."

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