Winners and Losers of Super Bowl Weekend
Image: hiphop24×7.com
By Jonathan Reed
The weekend has come and gone. There were some winners. There were some losers.
Let’s take a look.
WINNERS
3) Jameis Winston
The former number 1 overall pick turned journeyman turned mascot had a new evolution into burgeoning sports media superstar.
Jameis was in one of his cities this weekend, and he did not disappoint. From his jazz club performance to his time as a wannabe rickshaw driver, Winston’s personality was on full display. I’m not sure how much he has left in the tank as a player, but he’s got a very bright future with a microphone in his hand, whether it be talking sports or leading prayers and asking for donations.
Hell, after this last week, I think I’d be okay with the Titans letting him be the starter in 2025. If we’re going to suck, we might as well be likable.
2) Haters
Few things in life are as fun as being a hater. Yeah, it’s nice and cool to root for people’s success. It’s way more fun to root for their downfall.
Sports and competition are the only safe avenues where you can do it semi-guilt free. You kind of feel like a jerk for fist-pumping when that guy you didn’t like in school gets laid off. It’s not nice to have celebratory drinks when your ex-girlfriend gets divorced. It’s an awful feeling when the little jerk on your son’s baseball team strikes out after the high wears off and you have to look yourself in the mirror. I know you’re probably saying, “Wait, Jon, didn’t you just say that it was okay to be a hater when it comes to sports? Why can’t I be happy when Little Jimmy strikes out?” To which I would reply that it transcends sports and is more a parenting issue that Little Jimmy struck out. But then that would go back to competition since everyone knows that raising a child is really just a battle to do better than everyone else raising kids, and that IS covered under the guilt-free-hater-guide. Fist-pump away.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes both have a lot of people who are sick of their success and antics. Those haters are happy today. The haters that loudly questioned how you could trade Luka Doncic for ONLY Anthony “Day-to-Davis” must feel vindicated after AD got hurt in his first game. It was great to see that very unlikable senior citizen Auburn Tiger basketball team get beat on their homecourt.
And then there’s Kendrick Lamar.
Yeah, your boomer uncle is justified in hating on the halftime performance. I get it. Kendrick’s songs aren’t really popular or catchy enough to warrant a halftime performance at the Super Bowl. Well, except for THAT one song.
Imagine hating someone. Now, imagine you get to make a list of reasons you hate that person and are rewarded with the most prestigious award in your industry because of how effectively you did it. Lastly, imagine you get to do that at America’s largest event in front of 100 million people.
Yeah. That’s what Kendrick got to do. 100 million people were watching a show that was meant for one single person.
We should all appreciate that type of hate.
1) Jalen Hurts
Hands up. I didn’t think Jalen Hurts could carry a team to a Super Bowl win. I thought maybe he could game manage his way to one if everything around him went perfectly.
And, sure, the Eagles defensive line wreaked havoc on Mahomes and the Chiefs all night, but that was after Jalen Hurts showed that he was ready for the moment. Even on their first drive that resulted in a punt, Hurts threw a perfect ball to AJ Brown on a big throw that was negated by penalty. He kept doing it all night. Even after the Chiefs were already dead.
Good for Oklahoma’s own son. (Go to hell, Alabama).
LOSERS
3) The Dallas Mavericks
Anthony Davis looked like a top 7 player in the NBA on his way to 26 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists in his Mavericks debut. The home crowd had embraced him. He looked ready to flourish in his new-but-old role as the alpha dog.
Then he got hurt.
And now he’s going to miss an extended amount of time. And the Mavericks, who are fighting for their playoff lives, are in even more danger.
Add that to the fact that Luka’s debut with the Lakers is coming, and it’s not a good time to be a Maverick.
Except for Tom Cruise who got to lead us all into the Super Bowl for some reason.
2) Drake Fans
It’s been a rough go of it for Drake fans. Your guy called a psycho to the carpet for a little verbal competition. What’s the big risk in that? Drake beat Meek Mill. Sure, Pusha T bodied him, but it’s not like it led to Pusha being any type of star. Most of the people reading this probably don’t even have any idea who Pusha T is. I’d put the over/under of readers who have even listened to Story of Adidon.
That’s not the case with Not Like Us.
No, everyone’s now heard the lines “Say, Drake…. I heard you like ‘em young.” and “Certified Loverboy? Certified pedophile!”
Annnnnd they have heard a stadium full of people scream the punchline of “a minooooooooooor.”
Drake said he wanted Kendrick to pick up the pen. It resulted with Kendrick winning 5 Grammys this year and Drake getting called a pedophile in front of the entire country.
1) Patrick Mahomes
He was set to be the first quarterback in NFL history to win 3 straight Super Bowls. He was about to be more than halfway to Tom Brady’s total number of rings. He was one win away from being seen as Brady’s equal (at the very least).
It all went away in sixty minutes.
Mahomes played maybe the worst game of his career last night. It was clear from the get go that he was off of his game. Then the Eagles defensive line starting hitting him. And kept hitting him. Then came two awful interceptions that effectively ended the game.
Now, instead of GOAT status. He’s just the goat of a disappointing loss.
Now, instead of comparing him to Tom Brady all offseason, we will debate how impressive it really is to beat Jimmy Garoppolo and an inexperienced Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts in Super Bowls, especially when the latter just clearly outshined him in the rematch.
And, with all of the conversation surrounding Luka Doncic being fat and out of shape, some people are going to be waiting to see Mahomes still has his gut when he shows up to training camp in a couple of months.
Added insult to injury that Tom Brady was maybe* present to watch it all unfold.
*It’s still not certain he has not been overtaken by a lizard person wearing his skin.