The Liar’s Club?

Its the most elite club in all of professional football.

It consists of a small number of players who have exhibited the highest amount of  bravery ever displayed within the realms of the football world. 

Each of these players has stood up to the tremendous amount of pressure of facing  a world-class opponent on the biggest stage in American sports by proclaiming certain victory for his team on Super Bowl Sunday.

And all of them are liars.

It started way back in 1967 when the Super Bowl wasn’t all that–well…super.  Tickets to the event (if you can even call it that) sold for as little as 10 bucks and the crowd was sparse at best.  Media attention?  What media?  It was 1967.  Okay, okay, they had media back then, but c’mon it was nothing like the hype-driven, nutzo-crazy one we have today.

Nevertheless, way back then before the Packers 35-10 throttling of the Chiefs, there was a prediction. 

It was a guarantee. 

Kansas City DB Fred “The Hammer” Williamson had seen Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers before.  He listened to prognosticators proclaim  certain doom for his team and read the articles in the paper that had the Chiefs losing big.

It was a no brainer.

Any less of a man might have just done the sensible thing by keeping his mouth shut and letting his play do the talking, but Williamson did not get to be the founding father of the Liar’s Club by being sensible.

No.  He was a rare man, a man of bravery and stupidity.

Before the game, Willamson bragged to the media that he hit opposing players so hard that their helmets cracked.  He vowed he would do some of that head cracking in the Super Bowl.  He went on to guarantee a Kansas City win. 

He was a liar.

Williamson was not only knocked unconscious during the game and carried off the field, but his team lost in a 35-10 laugher. 

The members of the Liar’s Club are few, but they are giants among men.  These men loudly proclaimed their destinies only to see their hopes and dreams laid to waste by that all too unkind mistress known as reality.

Now another giant of a man is calling out destiny, but this one is actually a Giant. 

WR Plaxico Burress has not only guaranteed a New York Giants victory over the undefeated Patriots, but he’s gone ahead and predicted the score: 23-17.  That’s right, an offensive player has guaranteed that the Giants defense will hold the Patriots’ juggernaught of an offense to just 17 points, something no team has done the entire year.

Wow.

Tom Brady was amazed as well.  “We’re only gonna score 17 points?”, he queried when learning of Burress’ remarks. 

Even though his team is the one that’s undefeated, Brady went on to do the sensible thing and refuse to guarantee a Patriots victory.  He didn’t even predict the score. 

Still, the Liar’s Club may just have a new member joining the ranks soon.  Burress has since tried to play down his remarks, but his application is already completed and in the mail.  There is no turning back now.

After Sunday, Plaxico Burress might wish he had just kept his mouth shut.

Although these players are not official members of the Liar’s Club, they did prove to be worthy of honorary recognition from the club in these foolish predictions against the Patriots:

Anthony Smith: Smith, a defensive back for the Steelers wasn’t too impressed with the Patriots 12-0 record heading into a Week 14 showdown.  Unfortunately, nobody who witnessed the game was impressed with Smith’s coverage skills either as Tom Brady scorched the Pittsburgh secondary with 399 passing yards on the way to a 34-13 win.

Igor Olshansky: Who?  Yeah, some defensive lineman named Igor had this to say about the Pats before the AFC Championship game: “Who? New England?” Olshansky said. “Seriously, I mean, they’re more worried than we are, I promise you. Believe me. They know what’s up.”  Apparently, it was Igor who didn’t know what was up as New England whipped San Diego 20-12.

And don’t forget the ghost of Super Bowl stupidity past!

Freddie Mitchell: Former Philadelphia Eagles WR and 1st round bust Freddie “I’d like to thank God for giving me these hands” Mitchell talked so much noise before the Eagles Super Bowl XXXIX meeting with the Pats that it was almost gratifying to see his dismal performance.  When asked about the New England secondary, Mitchell called out superstar safety Rodney Harrison by saying he had “something” for #37.  What Mitchell “had” was 1 catch for 11 yards.  Meanwhile, Harrison had 2 picks in the 24-21 Patriots win.

 Written by Kelsey McCarson