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I Guarantee it!

By Giantsfan227, Section NFL
Posted on Thu Dec 13 2007 at 10:12 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

   In major sports these days, there is only one guarantee, and that is that there are no guarantees. So why is everybody running their mouths?

   Unknown to most sports fans outside of Pittsburgh, Smith could have taken the easy road. He could have complimented Tom Brady's ability and his core of receivers. He could have said that Polomalu's shoes would be tough to fill. He could have said this defense picks their teammates up when they get down. But he didn't. What Smith said was simple; "We're going to win, I can guarantee a win."

    Looking back on it Sunday night, after a 34-13 loss to the undefeated Patriots, and a miserable performance by Anthony Smith, it made me think about this attention grabbing bold statement, the guarantee.

   In 1962, a man by the name of Muhammad Ali came onto the scene as the self affirmed greatest. Then known as Cassius Clay, Ali guaranteed a victory over then champion Sonny Liston and won the heavyweight championship in one of the greatest upsets of all time.

    A few years and a few beers later, Joe Namath, quarterback for the Jets, continued the trend that Clay had set. The heavy underdogs in the Super Bowl, Namath proceeded to guarantee a victory over the star studded Baltimore Colts. Namath certainly made good on his word as he lifted the team to a 16-7 victory and made the Jets the winners of Super Bowl III.

    Most of the time, however, guarantees aren't so peachy. In fact, I think the word "guarantee" is one of Rasheed Wallace's favorite words, ranking just slightly behind many expletives that have led him to be ejected more than any man in history. As many would say, if Joe Namath established the guarantee, Rasheed Wallace beat it to death. Not surprisingly, it has been noted that Wallace guaranteed yesterday he would have Lucky Charms for breakfast this morning. He had Frosted Flakes.

   Jerramy Stevens came into the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers guaranteeing a victory. He told reporters that the Jerome Bettis and his return to Detroit was a great story, but he wouldn't be leaving with the trophy. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Jerome Bettis left with the trophy. We may have given some pity to Stevens if he at least put on a good show, but Stevens dropped four crucial passes in the game, one a wide open touchdown.

   So what exactly is the point of a guarantee? Is it to motivate your team in a big game? Can't be. Most of the time, you are just angering the opposition and in turn, motivating them. Is it to show off your incredible knowledge and mind reading ability? Doubt it. If you were so smart, then show me where Serbia is on a map.

    This, of course, leads me to my conclusion. There is no point of making guarantees, even if you do prove to be correct. Congratulations, you are the next ghost whisperer, now shut up and play the game.

    So what have we learned? If you make a guarantee, more times than not, you are going to regret it.

   I guarantee it.