Beth and I were discussing in the fourth quarter last night whom would be the MVP of Super Bowl LV. It was a bit painful to talk about since I had predicted Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to be the victors.

Tom Brady was our choice of course and he was the selection by the media. But I said to Beth during our discussion, “What about this Tampa Bay defense?” There was linebacker Devin White (12 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 int, runs a 4.42 40 at 6’0”, 237 pounds), linebacker LaVonte David (6 tackles), safety Antoine Whitfield, 6 tackles, an int, and safety Sean Murphy-Bunting, 6 tackles and 3 interceptions in the postseason overall. The defense was beyond stellar in leading the Bucs to the dominating 31-9 victory.

Then this morning, Beth sent me a column in The New York Post, best paper in America, by sports columnist Mark Cannizzaro. Cannizzaro said that the real MVP of Super Bowl LV was Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. His column was very convincing. Bowles, the 57 year old from Elizabeth, New Jersey, was masterful in confounding Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense. He kept mixing up corner and safety blitzes with pressure from both sides and totally shutting down the electric Chiefs offense. The secondary had tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill blanketed throughout the game. Mahomes is having toe surgery very soon, so he was banged up some with a turf toe suffered against Cleveland in the Divisional Round, and it’s probably worse if there is surgery involved. He looked a little slower to me. And the fact that the Chiefs starting 2 offensive tackles were out, was a major advantage for the Bucs and Bowles and his front four and defense made the Chiefs pay.

Brady was spectacular, no doubt. He was 21-of-28, 75%, for 201 yards, 3 touchdowns against 0 interceptions. Superbly efficient. His quarterback rating was 125.8, which is outstanding. 158.3 is perfect and anything over 120 is terrific. And TB12 was Tom Terrific once again. Mahomes quarterback rating was a paltry 53.2, but he did have drops and had no time to throw. Bowles and his defense just took everything away from Patrick and his offense. But also, how about the play of Gronk, 6 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TDs? And Leonard Fournette was amazing, rushing for 89 yards on 16 carries, 5.6 yards a pop, including a beautiful 27 yard scamper for a TD. And that offensive line of center Ryan Jensen (6’4”, 298, 29 years old, Colorado State-Pueblo), right guard Aaron Stinne (6’3”, 312, 26, James Madison), left guard Ali Marpet (6’4”, 307, 27, Hobart College, brains on this line), right tackle Tristan Wirfs (6’5”,320, rookie, Iowa), and left tackle Donovan Smith (6’6”, 338, 27, Penn State) were beyond impressive and totally dominant.

So it was a totally perfect team effort by the Bucs. I’m not knocking TB12 getting the MVP. The quarterbacks certainly get the glory when their team win a Super Bowl, and Brady has now been to 10 and won 7 in his 20 years in the NFL at 43 years old. By the time Tom is done he could have a ring for every finger on both hands. That might be a stretch, but he’s such a motivated guy, who keeps himself in spectacular shape and if this team can stay together, they have more Lombardi Trophies in store for themselves.

But I, like Cannizzaro, want to give Bowles a tremendous amount of credit. There is still the Rooney Rule, which requires each team when they’re looking for a head coach, to interview an African American Coach. But there are only 3 minority coaches in the NFL and 70 percent of its players are black. Bowles may be an African American coach, but the other real issue here is this guy is a superb football coach and deserves another shot. He was head coach of the Jets from 2015-18, and went 24-40, but the Jets have been such a dysfunctional organization through the years, that it’s a coaching graveyard. Give this man a shot. He deserves it. And for that matter, so does offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. Leftwich, the 41 year old from Washington D.C. handles the Bucs offense superbly. He is another African American coach who deserves a shot. Eric Bienemy, the Chiefs offensive coordinator at 51 years old from New Orleans, is another. He, Andy Reid and Mahomes got schooled by Bowles, Devin White and company, but he keeps on putting together stellar offenses. These talented coaches need an opportunity. For Bowles, it would be his second attempt, but Mike McCarthy at Dallas and Ron Rivera at Washington got second chances. The NFL is comprised of 70 percent Black players, so it needs to be represented by more than 3 minority coaches in Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rivera of Washington Football Team. Rivera’s father is Puerto Rican and his mother is of Mexican descent. Bowles, Leftwich, Bienemy and 61 year old Leslie Frazier, the outstanding defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, who was head coach of the Vikings from 2011-13, all should be head coaches in 2022 if there are multiple openings.

Bowles certainly proved his worth to the NFL yesterday. It’s too late to hire a head coach now as all teams have their new coaches in place, and that’s a shame for these guys. But next year, all four of these men deserve head coaching opportunities. They don’t need preferential treatment. They just need an equitable opportunity. If they can’t get the job done, the owner and general manager can move on. But these guys are elite coaches and have earned the opportunity to become head coaches in 2022.

Regardless, Bowles proved what an exceptional defensive coach he is yesterday at Raymond James Stadium. He and Leftwich deserved the MVP just as much as Tom Brady did. And I’d put 68 year old head coach Bruce Arians in there too. Brady and the players love the guy. He’s terrific as well.

Australian Open

The fortnight in Melbourne, Australia started last night central time in the U.S. and continues on to Sunday February 21st, as the best players in the world compete for the professional tennis season’s first major, the Australian Open.

The weather in Melbourne will be pleasant. Thursday will be a little hot at 91, but temperatures will mainly be in the high 70’s and low 80’s as it is summer in Australia. Many times it gets up to triple digits during this tournament and this is a 2-week forecast, so it’s subject to change. Right now, it looks outstanding weather- wise with very little rain chances.

ESPN2 and ESPN will televise. Coverage started last night on ESPN2. And live coverage on ESPN2 continues tonight from 8 CT-6 AM CT tomorrow. ESPN2 will have most of the coverage later at night and into the early morning this next 2 weeks. The women’s semifinals will be on ESPN2 on Wednesday, Feb. 17th from 9 PM CT-1 AM CT on Thursday. The first men’s semifinal is on Thursday Feb. 18th from 2:30 AM-5 AM CT or however long it lasts on ESPN.The second men’s semifinal takes place Friday, Feb. 19th, from 2:30 AM-5 AM CT on ESPN.

The women’s final is Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 2:30-4:30 AM CT on ESPN with the encore from 7-10 AM on ESPN2. The second option sounds a little more reasonable unless the weather is good and you want to play golf or get outside for other purposes.

The Men’s Final is Sunday from 2:30-5:30 AM CT on ESPN with an encore from 7-11 AM CT on ESPN2. There may be some Church interference on the encore, but you can have Church on your computer and have the volume down on the TV with the action on. Because with the competition in the women’s and men’s games right now, these semifinals and finals matches should be exceptional. The whole fortnight should be superb with time being the only detriment. Taping is advised unless you’re a serious night owl.

Roger Federer is not playing due to injury and Rafa Nadal is tied with Federer with 20 Majors to his credit. Novak Djokovic has 17, so he’s right on the heels of both men. Djoker has won 8 Australians and is going for 3 in a row. The 8 titles at Melbourne is a record. Rafa has 13 French titles which is by far the record. So the competition is even more rich. So who do I like.

Here are my predictions for the 109th edition of this Australian Open, tennis’s first Grand Slam of 2021..

Men’s

Semis

Djokovic over Dominic Thiem 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3

The top seeded Djoker survives the 27 year old No.3 seeded Austrian, U.S. Open Champion who came back from 2 sets down to German Alexander Zverev to capture the Open last September, 2020 in a herculean effort, one for the ages. It was spectacular. The 33 year old Serb moves on in pursuit of his 9th Australian and 18th career major. This will be a rematch of a 5 set final last year at the Australian that Djoker won.

Daniil Medvedev over Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

I like the soon to be the No.4 seed, the 25 year old Russian, he turns 25 this Thursday, to outlast a tough effort by the 22 year old No.5 seed from Athens, Greece.

Final

Sunday, February 21st, 2:30-5 AM CT, ESPN 7-11 AM CT ESPN2 (Encore)

I’m going to take the upset. Medvedev is ready to take the next step. It’ll be a classic. The Russian has a great personality. Never takes himself or anyone else too seriously. His irreverence is refreshing.

Medvedev over Djokovic, 7-6 (7-5) 4-6, 6-4. 3-6, 7-5

****Rafa Nadal is the No.2 seed, and he, of course, won another French title last at Sept. of 2020, but this hard surface at Melbourne is not really his thing. He’s only won once at Melbourne in 2009 and he’s got some back issues, so I’m seeing Tsitsipas knocking him out in the quarters. But Rafa won’t be down for long. Roland Garros is in late May and he owns that surface, where he has won 13 times, and does well at Wimbledon, where he’s won in 2008 and 2010, but gets to the semis a lot with a shot to win it all many times. And he’s won the U.S. Open 4 times in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. So this will be a temporary blip on his radar. The Nadal-Djokovic rivalry for the all time career majors victories is a fascinating one. Federer may be done winning majors at 39 years old and battling through a variety of injuries , though I don’t count him out at Wimbledon, where he’s won 8 times, with the latest in 2017, his last major title.

I’m not totally counting Rafa out here, I just don’t see this as his best surface and he’s a little nicked up.

Women’s

Semis

Victoria Azarenka over Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 4-6, 7-5

The 31 year old 12th seed from Belarius outlasts the 24 year old top seeded Australian. Azarenka won the U.S. Open in 2007 and the French in 2008, and lost to Naomi Osaka in the final of the U.S. Open last Sept. of 2020. Her best finish in Melbourne is a finals appearance in 2007. She lost at the U.S. , but has been on a comeback tour after dealing with some personal problems involving her young son and her derelict former husband. She gained custody of her son and is in an excellent place in her life right now and playing like it. I heard a quote last night that said, “Are you happy because you win or are do you win because you’re happy?” I like the latter and Azarenka is a great example of that.

Serena over Osaka 7-5, 3-6, 6-4

This will be a major battle as 10th seeded Serena goes for her 8th Australian title and 24th overall Major breaking her tie with Margaret Court for most majors won all time. Third seeded Osaka is a major talent at 23 years old from Japan, she grew up in America. But I’ll take the 39 year old veteran Williams.

Final

Saturday, Feb, 20th, 2:30-4:30 AM CT, ESPN, Encore 7-10 AM CT, ESPN2

Azarenka over Williams 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-5

Like Victoria to break through in her comeback bid in another classic.

Here’s a super commercial with Brady and Gronk.