The Horseshoe » Issues

Issue #200 – No Joy in Naptown

thehorseshoe — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:47:02 +0000

Super Bowl 44: Colts 17 Saints 31		Haiku Count: 1533
Early lead squandered Momentum shift in second Six snaps on offense.		Key plays define game. Garcon’s drop, onside fumble, and Manning’s pick six.
Costly injury not Freeney’s bad ankle but Jerraud Power’s foot.		Big coaching blunder Stover’s kick from 50 yards None made in 4 years.
Massive fourth down stop means nothing when offense can’t convert third and one.		Bright lights on big stage Normally resil’ent Colts crack under pressure.
Despite ev’rything Colts had ball and chance to win with three minutes left		Deep disappointment will not make true fans forget fantastic season
All credit to Saints Fortune favors the bold, and this night, they were bold!		No joy in Naptown No parade or vict’ry tour Just thoughts of August.

Issue #199 – Catholic School’s in Session

thehorseshoe — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:01:58 +0000

Super Bowl XLIV Preview		Haiku Count: 1523
Little known factoid Ponies are migratory Wint’ring in South Beach		Scant three years ago Dogged by “Can they win big game?” Now seen as fav’rites.
Gone are paper bags Fleur de lis now sign of Saints’ sure Esprit de Corp		No mean nuns needed Catholic school’s in session Colts must know their Saints
Gimpy pass rusher A cause for consternation? Colts say, “Next man up.”		Saints’ Williams stirs pot Bounty placed on Peyton’s head Team won’t take the bait.
Bring your umbrella Brees, Manning forecast touchdowns pouring down like rain.		His loyalty split Big Easy’s favorite son will cheer for his own.

Issue #198 – Brash Brutes from Broadway

thehorseshoe — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:18:33 +0000

AFC Championship: Colts vs Jets		Haiku Count: 1515
Upstarts land first punch Ready to plan their parade after first quarter.		Pride of Port au Prince No quake can shake his resolve For team or country.
Unconcerned with stats Workman like efficiency Reggie plays decoy.		Fleet-footed brick wall Colt defenders fly to ball Soon, names known to all.
Studying old film from Rex Ryan’s Ravens days Manning beats the blitz.		Somehow soft Dome team Out-muscled and out-hustled Brash brutes from Broadway.
Play action miscues give Jets chance for big play scores Second half, shutout.		18 surveys field Given time and exposure Defense unravels
Regardless of rest Fact remains perfect season Was within their reach.		No greater reward For fans, city, players Chance to be Champ’on.

Issue #197 – Twenty ticks, Eternity

thehorseshoe — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:23:19 +0000

Div. Round: Colts 20 Ravens 3		Haiku Count: 1505
Manning, the Time Lord Twenty ticks, Eternity Four chances to score.		Raven runners swarm’d by sea of would-be tacklers No daylight; no holes.
Brackett tilts with Rice Unheralded Scarlet Knight wins battle and war.		Fleet footed waiter won’t let Reed feast on bad throw Great Haitian hustle!
AFC Championship: Colts vs Jets
Real pigskin karma Colts hand Jets free playoff pass Now they take it back.		Sixty separate Colts from second Super Bowl Miami awaits.
Remind Rex Ryan Revis can cover one man Others will break free.		New week, same gameplan Stop run, limit turnovers. Recipe for win

Issue #196 – Paintered Into Corner

thehorseshoe — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:55:14 +0000

Week 17: Colts 7 Bills		Haiku Count: 1497
Coach sets team adrift Paintered into a corner Real snow job: press room.		Curtis a Trekkie? His Kobayashi Maru No Gorn; just Jets, Bills
Personal milestones are worth risking injuries, not so, perfection.		Polian’s belief in his plan becomes blindess when faced with logic.
Playoff Preview
Two game boondoggle Should not deter team from goal Lombardi Trophy		Bye week heals all wounds Players bounce back ready; so too Outraged fanbase
Leader as always, Manning quells teammates’ strife & asks fans, “Let it go.”		Playoff map takes shape. Naptown to Miami trip takes two games, three weeks.

Issue #195 – One They Gave Away

thehorseshoe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:31:10 +0000

Week 16: Colts 15 Jets 29		Haiku Count: 1489
One they gave away. Coach, GM shirk from success As if from disease.		Fear of injury Destroys team momentum and Confidence in coach.
Play your best and lose No shame; Pulling best from game insults team and sport.		Ignore the fan rants, Starters WANTED chance to play Good leaders listen.
Coach Caldwell’s gamble: Team health matters much more than Team psyche. He’s wrong.		To see the brass ring and refuse to grab for it? Most live for that chance!
Blind, deaf to hist’ry Coach trades team morale for health. Safe choice not so safe.		Years from now, even if team is crowned Champion One “What if?” remains.
Back-ups lose to Jets Pre-season at end season Dishonest contest.		What bizzaro world is this, where fans want to win more than their own team?!
Submissions from Rex Stocklin
Fans lost perfect Colt season to tyranny of the Rest of the team		Bill drawing up plans Painter in the Big Picture Artless!…off the dial
What WERE we thinking? Historic near-perfection A win…no Shoes-in		Local, league-wide grief That’s about the sighs of it Our crest has fallen
Colts try to save face Such drama in Peyton’s Place We still lead the race		Staff misheard the line “There’s no trying in football” Blue’s our Field of Dreams
Mad fans are sicced (sic) “Secondary” licked this week Col. L gets ticked…eek!		The signs are still there Shula stays dry, Fins high five, Mercury rises.

Issue #194 – Seventh 11th Hour Win

thehorseshoe — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:18:47 +0000

Week 15: Colts 35 Jaguars 31		Haiku Count: 1471
Can’t kick comeback fix. Seventh 11th hour win. Blowout not bad word.		Near flawless first half No, reins have not been let up. Team preps final charge
Stalking wounded prey Mathis, Freeney pace sidelines Final drive, they pounce.		Oh sweet irony. First kickoff score comes against Purnell, their old coach.
Week 16: Colts vs Jets
If you’re hurt, you sit. If not, play and play to win. Coach Caldwell’s motto.		Page from Steve Job’s book. Media distortion field Keeps pundits guessing.
Fear of injury. Fear of losing momentum. Which one guides this team?		Despite what they say, Ev’ry player wants to play for chance at hist’ry.

Issue #193 – Decade Dominance

thehorseshoe — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:19:05 +0000

Week 14: Colts 28 Broncos 16		Haiku Count: 1463
Decade dominance No team has won more games in all of football		The pick chill factor Like wind chill, turnovers make lead seem much smaller.
B is for balance. D crushes all comeback hopes O scores early, late		Lacey on Marshall TV terms, think Diff’rent Strokes Arnold fights Willis.
Week 15: Colts vs Jaguars
To rest or to play? Caldwell takes first tentative steps from Dungy’s shadow.		Playoff game for Jags Pre-season game for ponies? Colts will play to win.
Courting perfection, Colts are coy, feign disinterest. Saints are brash suitors.		Still sore from Sunday, both teams tape up and grit teeth for Thursday night tilt.

Issue #192 – Upset That Wasn’t

thehorseshoe — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:49:19 +0000

Week 13: Colts 27 Titans 17		Haiku Count: 1455
Upset that wasn’t Six loss team unfit equal to unbeaten Colts.		Swarming Colt defense Kept Johnson & Young in check with two fourth down stands.
Late in half, punch thrown. Undisciplined and stupid. Titans gift: three points.		Addai sustains drives. No splash, but plenty of dash. Keep moving the chains.
Week 14: Colts vs Broncos
Tale of two equines Both with plans for post-season One’s skittish; one runs.		Regular season Twenty-one wins ties record History next week?
Former Patriot has castoffs clicking out West. Will they cheat and whine?		Ex-Boiler Orton will receive a warm welcome Freeney’s outstretched arms.

Issue #191 – Sign Says Play 60

thehorseshoe — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:07:29 +0000

Week 12: Colts 35 Texans 27		Haiku Count: 1447
Sign says, “Play 60.” Texans celebrate at half Colts at end of game.		Up two scores early Against Colts no lead is safe They finish. They close.
Big hit. Snot-knocker! Texans thump chests, pose for crowd. Colts quick snap; big play.		Safety more than name Errant fluttering pass nabbed Antoine Bethea.
Week 13: Colts vs Titans
Titanic savior? Did Young earn five game win streak or defense, run game?		Runaway freight train Engine stoked, full head of steam Johnson blasts through line.
Seems crazy, yes, but Best way to contain Vince Young is to make him pass.		TItans haven’t lost Since coach donned Manning’s jersey. Sunday, it comes off.