The executives at ABC Sports couldn’t have asked for a better matchup for this Sunday’s Super Bowl.
If you’re looking for storylines off the field, then this is the game for you.
The four-hour pregame show actually will have ample topics to delve into. The following are sure to be fodder for conversation:
Oakland owner Al Davis and his on-going battles against the National Football League.
Davis vs. his former coach Jon Gruden.
The first Super Bowl appearance for veteran Oakland wide receiver Tim Brown.
The fourth Super Bowl appearance for Oakland wide receiver Jerry Rice.
Tampa Bay’s rise from the laughingstock of the NFC to Super Bowl contender.
The mouths that roared — otherwise known as Tampa Bay’s defensive tackle Warren Sapp and wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Once you get past all the pregame hype, the game, at least on paper, is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing matchups in recent history.
How will Oakland’s high-powered offense fare against the league’s top defense?
The latest line has the Raiders as a 31/2- to 4-point favorite, a view that is held by three of four “football experts” I talked with this week.
The lone Western Conference 4A South Division football coach to pick the Buccaneers is Shorecrest’s Mike Wollan, who admits he is definitely not a Raiders fan.
“I like Tampa Bay (because of) their defense,” he said. “Defense wins championships.”
Jackson coach Joel Vincent agrees that Tampa Bay has a great defense but picks Oakland in large part because of its personnel.
“You’ve got the MVP of the league (Rich Gannon) as your leader,” Vincent said. “You’ve got guys like Jerry Rice and Bill Romanowski. As good as the Bucs defense is, I’m not sure if they can take away all of the weapons that the Raiders have.”
Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart also thinks Gannon and company will be tough to stop but expects a close game.
Stewart has more than a passing interest in rooting for the Raiders since he followed the team while growing up in San Jose, which is about 40 miles outside of Oakland.
Edmonds-Woodway coach John Gradwohl also gives the edge to Oakland but by not more than a couple of points.
“I can’t see either one blowing each other out,” Gradwohl said. “I think it’s going to come down to special teams and turnovers.”
Making predications is a risky business, especially in light of last year’s upset by underdog New England over heavily-favored St. Louis.
But this time I think the experts are right. I’ll take Oakland’s Rich Gannon and Jerry Rice over Tampa Bay’s Brad Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson any day.
Not that the Raiders need any added motivation but a Super Bowl trophy will more than erase the painful memories of last season’s controversial loss to New England.
David Pan is sports editor for The Enterprise Newspapers. Questions and comments may be sent via e-mail to entsports@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-774-8622 or by mail to: Sports editor, The Enterprise, 4303 198th St. SW., Lynnwood, WA 98036.
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