Although Marquette University has not been exactly prominent in student diversity, those looking to find a more varied population just need to know the right place and the right time, to find it. At noon on Sunday at 804 N. 16th St., fans can find the most multi-faceted site on campus: the Union Sports Annex. John Marston, a junior in the College of Communication and Minnesota Vikings fan, has been coming to the Annex since his freshman year.

“The atmosphere is so incredibly loud,” Marston said. “When Rex Grossman throws an interception, or sometimes a touchdown, everyone in the restaurant will find out because the Bears fans are excessively loud.”

What other place can claim a restaurant, bar, dodgeball court, bingo arena, bowling alley and game room all wrapped into one?

But what has made the Annex distinct has been its Sunday afternoons, when National Football League die-hards can all gather together in one place; and also trash-talk to their hearts’ desire. On a typical Sunday, pro football teams from across the entire nation will be represented, including Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills’ fans from the East Coast or Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers’ fans from out West. While out-of-town students make up a handful of the regulars at the Annex, midwesterners have dominated the scene. With Bears, Lions, Vikings and Packers’ fans filling up most of the tables and constantly cheering on each other to lose, Sunday afternoons at the Annex could be confused for a NFC North convention promoting non-violence. Most of the jeers will be in jest and fans have their hands full trying to keep track of all the games rather than arguing with the opposition.

With over 20 televisions throughout the complex and the television package NFL Sunday Ticket, the Annex is capable of showing seven different football games at the same time, a football fan’s dream. The vast array of screens includes one large screen in the main dining area, a number of small televisions inserted into the walls of each booth as well as a gigantic screen in the dodgeball court for the most popular games. (When Bears’ games have been scheduled at the same time as Packer games, the Bears’ game can’t be seen locally.)

In addition to the viewing capabilities, the Annex also offers a variety of food options, most of which perfectly supplement a long day of footballwatching. The menu consists of both “build-your-own” burgers and pizza, a number of appetizers and sandwich platters and perhaps the most popular item, the Annex Golden Eagle wings, which come in a variety of flavors in regular or boneless style.

It will not be the healthiest or cheapest meal, but the service is very quick and friendly, and there’s no better way to celebrate a fantasy members’ touchdowns than with a burger or some wings.

Mike Lavender, a junior in the college of Arts & Sciences and a big fan of Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans, gets up early every week to get a good view of the TV his team’s playing on.

“I’ve only been coming here this year, but it’s really a unique experience,” Lavender said. “I just like all the different fans cheering on their respective teams, plus it’s a lot better than watching it by yourself at home.”

Lavender also showered praise on other aspects of Annex Sundays. “You can see all of the games at once, which is really convenient,” he said. “The service is great and you can spend six hours of your Sunday sitting in a chair and not get sick of it.” “It’s incredible to go to the Annex and see fans of almost every NFL team huddled together around one of the many TVs,” said Marston. “When the Vikings lose and I’m really frustrated, it’s nice to look around the Annex to see fans of other teams that got beat-up worse. Getting to see the expressions of joy and pain from all these fans around you is just heavy.”

Popularity: 13% [?]

Each year, nearly 100 million people tune in on Super Sunday to watch the worldwide phenomenon that is the Super Bowl. Football fans, party goers and commercial enthusiasts alike all watch the “big game,” and, for roughly four hours on the first Sunday in February, the world seemingly comes to a stand still.

But have you ever wondered what it was like to actually be in attendance for this cultural giant of a football game? This year, 93.2 million people viewed the game on television, whereas only 75,000 people where fortunate enough to be in attendance. This reporter happened to be one of those 75,000 football aficionados at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Fla.on Feb. 4, 2007.

As any sports fan can attest to, the Super Bowl is the single most momentous game in all of sports; it is the climax of arguably the most popular sport in the United States. After having the opportunity to actually attend the event, I would argue that it is in fact the most enjoyable weekend any sports fan ever has the chance to experience. Perhaps it is because this year’s game was held in Miami, or maybe it is because the Super Bowl has a magical aura about it, but the feeling of being there simply cannot be recreated.

We arrived in Miami around dusk on the Friday, Feb. 2 and headed directly toward the vicinity of Dolphin Stadium to check out what was going on down there. Upon arrival, it was amazing to see all the preparation the NFL and the city of Miami put into this event. Everywhere you looked, you were constantly reminded of where you were. Whether it was one of the thousand decorative signs donning the XLI logo, over-priced memorabilia vendors or the abundant media outlets from around the globe that surrounded the stadium, it was quite obvious that the Super Bowl was to be played at this location in two short days.

After Saturday’s mid-day festivities (including beach dwelling because when you leave Milwaukee for Miami it is essentially required) came to an end, it was time to spend the evening down at the party on South Beach. Musicians such as Jimmy Buffet, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez all performed, and celebrities such as Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman could be seen carousing down the crowed streets.

When Super Sunday finally came, it was time to experience the chance of a lifetime. There are no words to describe the sensation one feels when attending such an event, not even long and heavy rain could spoil it. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. Everything from Devin Hester’s opening return for a touchdown to Peyton Manning’s hoisting of the Lombardi Trophy was emotionally stimulating given the cultural importance of this game.

There is nothing that can be put into print that does this event justice. It is simply one of those things where you just have to be there and experience what it has to offer. Luckily, I can now say I have been.

Popularity: 10% [?]

The USA Today reports today that the NFL has returned money Darrent Williams paid in a fine back to his family. The fine ($15,000) was for arguing with officials in a game in week 11. Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting after an altercation in a nightclub which he reportedly was not involved in. The fine money had probably been long forgotten, but the NFL did the right thing in realizing that the family now needs the money more than them.

Popularity: 11% [?]

With the Packers out of the playoff race and 3 weeks left in the season is there anything for Packer fans to look forward to? Yes. Of course, when any team is out of playoff contention it is always popular to root for a high draft pick. You could turn your attention to dreaming about which favorite college player you’d like to see in the Green and Gold next year, but before you look ahead to next year there are still a few things left to enjoy this season.

First, Brett Favre is only seven touchdown passes away from breaking Dan Marino’s career touchdown passing record. It sure would be nice to see Brett break it before the end of the year so that no offseason craziness could prevent him from breaking it as a Packer.

The second thing to look forward to is the Packers last three games are against divisional foes. It’s always nice to beat a divisional opponent even when the game is meaningless for us. How nice would it be to see the Packers ruin the Bears season by beating them at Soldier Field? With some luck the Pack’s victory would prevent the Bears from securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It is always common to see Packer fans with a my favorite team is the Packers, my second favorite team is whoever plays the Bears t-shirt. With the Bears a legitimate Super Bowl contender this year rooting against them takes on added importance. Rooting against the Bears for the remainder of the season could provide ample enjoyment for the true Packer fan.

Continue Reading

Popularity: 14% [?]

With the Packers out of the playoff race and 3 weeks left in the season is there anything for Packer fans to look forward to? Yes. Of course, when any team is out of playoff contention it is always popular to root for a high draft pick. You could turn your attention to dreaming about which favorite college player you’d like to see in the Green and Gold next year, but before you look ahead to next year there are still a few things left to enjoy this season.

First, Brett Favre is only seven touchdown passes away from breaking Dan Marino’s career touchdown passing record. It sure would be nice to see Brett break it before the end of the year so that no offseason craziness could prevent him from breaking it as a Packer.

The second thing to look forward to is the Packers last three games are against divisional foes. It’s always nice to beat a divisional opponent even when the game is meaningless for us. How nice would it be to see the Packers ruin the Bears season by beating them at Soldier Field? With some luck the Pack’s victory would prevent the Bears from securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It is always common to see Packer fans with a my favorite team is the Packers, my second favorite team is whoever plays the Bears t-shirt. With the Bears a legitimate Super Bowl contender this year rooting against them takes on added importance. Rooting against the Bears for the remainder of the season could provide ample enjoyment for the true Packer fan.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Last time I checked, a suit never won a championship. Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry and Mike Ditka never won games based on looks. Bill Parcells, the only coach to take four different teams to the playoffs, didn’t do that based off looks alone. These coaches won because they have learned amazing strategy, brilliant play calling and because they have some of the best players on their respective teams. Lombardi and Landry and any of the other great coaches would have won games with or without a suit. Make Vince Lombardi wear a visor and a Packers polo. Does his name change? Does his mastery of the game change? No. Continue Reading

Popularity: 10% [?]

Picture Vince Lombardi or Tom Landry. You identify their hats and jackets as much as you do the men themselves. Now picture the modern day coaching genius Bill Belichick in his ratty hooded sweatshirt with the cutoff sleeves. His outfit gives him a completely different image, but Coach Belichick says he would prefer to dress in a more formal, distinguished way, like his predecessors. What’s stopping him? The NFL dress code. Continue Reading

Popularity: 8% [?]

Before the season, the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals were popular sleeper picks by the “experts” to be Super Bowl teams this season. They are a combined 3-13 through week nine. Pittsburgh, last year’s Super Bowl champion, is 2-6. Spontaneity is what makes sports exciting, and the NFL’s parity gives it an anything-can-happen atmosphere that has made it the most popular professional league in our country – but also wildly unpredictable. Just this past Sunday the one-win Miami Dolphins shocked the previously undefeated Chicago Bears. It seems like a better idea to bet the sky will be green tomorrow than to bet on any certain team winning the Vince Lombardi trophy. With that in mind, here are some teams to watch.So the Bears lost a game to a crappy team? They still have the best record in the NFC at 7-1. Well, before writing this off, take a closer look. Six of their games were against teams with losing records (we’re talking a combined 14-34). The other two were 4-4 Minnesota and 5-3 Seattle, and the Seahawks were playing without last year’s MVP Shaun Alexander. Rex Grossman needs to show he can win a big game, starting this Sunday.

The 6-2 New York Giants have big names at every skill position on offense, and a solid defense headlined by Pro-Bowlers Michael Strahan and LaVar Arrington. Tiki Barber, currently the NFL’s leading rusher, has already declared his intention to retire at the end of the season. We all saw what this did for the Steelers last year.

It may not even matter who wins the NFC. Glance quickly at the AFC standings and you will find five teams who are 6-2 or better (Indianapolis, Denver, New England, San Diego, Baltimore). With Jacksonville and Kansas City sitting at 5-3 and looking stronger in recent weeks, it’s tough to count them out as well. Yes, the Indianapolis Colts are undefeated again and coming off back-to-back thrilling victories over the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. They still have to prove they can win in January, however. The San Diego Chargers have arguably the league’s best player in LaDainian Tomlinson and a strong defense. However, they still have to prove Marty Schottenheimer can win in January. The Baltimore Ravens have the top scoring defense in the league, and in this instance it does not mean just preventing other teams from scoring. This defense goes ahead and scores on its own and does so more reliably than some other teams’ offenses. The offense has not looked bad since Brian Billick took over the play-calling duties two weeks ago.

Before we go and hand the trophy to an AFC team, let’s not forget that everyone said an American league team would win the World Series. Remember how that turned out?

Popularity: 6% [?]

Like the news, it is too easy to focus on the negative in the sports world. While thinking of a topic for this column, I kept coming back to the Miami-FIU brawl. Since the incident, I see a clip of it every time I turn on my TV. It is a shame that this story is getting so much attention when there are a lot of positive stories to focus on instead. Last year, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast and forced the Saints on the road for their entire season. This year, the Saints have given their fans something to cheer about. Through some clever scheduling work and the Saints’ strong commitment to play their home games in the Superdome, the team is currently undefeated at home after three games and will play a full contingent of eight home games this year at the Superdome.

Just getting the Saints to play games in New Orleans might have been enough good news, but they have also been downright good. The Saints are 5-1, and coming off their bye week, they sit atop the NFC South, a division that is supposed to be one of the strongest in the NFL. Drew Brees has been amazing in his first year, leading an impressive offense that has made the Saints an exciting team even for the non-fan to cheer about.

Even though Reggie Bush has not been quite as much of a game breaker as he is on Madden 2007, he has been a perfect example of how NFL stars should act. After falling to the second overall pick back in April, it would have been easy for Bush to complain about going to New Orleans. Instead, after a brief contract holdout, Bush came to practice and has acted with the utmost respect for the Saints organization. He has not whined about having to split playing time with Deuce McAllister, or opened his mouth to the media to voice any petty complaints. Instead, he has made the best of the situation, allowing the team to utilize him as a decoy and a receiver. After week six of the NFL season, Bush had 38 receptions, tying him for the third most in the NFL. More importantly, Bush has made headlines and turned heads by pledging to donate 25 percent of his share from the sale of his jersey this year.

Bush has also teamed with Diet Pepsi to raise money to rebuild New Orleans. Diet Pepsi has pledged to donate money to Rebuilding Together for every yard Bush gains. Diet Pepsi and Bush have also combined to auction items on e-Bay to further aid rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region. This effort is collectively called “Yard by Yard,” and donations can be made through their Web page, www.yardbyyard.com.

Saints games have also been exciting. (Many of us recall the Packers-Saints game that ended in dramatic fashion.) Five of the Saints’ six games have been determined by seven or fewer points. The Saints are 4-1 over that span with their only loss being against the Carolina Panthers, a potential Superbowl contender.

I bet it feels good to be a Saints fan these days; I cannot wait to try it out in week eight.

Popularity: 17% [?]

So here we are in the third week, and your fantasy team is looking a lot less appealing than it did in those ecstasy-filled, early morning hours immediately following your draft. That is certainly not anything to be ashamed of; in fact, most of these fantasy squads can still salvage their season by out-working other teams and acquiring talent from the waiver wire or through trades. What follows are several tips that should be able to help your team improve and steal some games in the weeks to come.

First and foremost, fantasy GMs should be looking for long-term solutions. These are most easily found via trades. Let’s say your team has two top-12 quarterbacks. This is entirely possible if you were fortunate enough to grab some early overachievers like David Carr or Charlie Frye. Or you could try to deal a wide receiver like the Panther’s Keyshawn Johnson, who has performed admirably so far, but will likely be less stellar once Steve Smith returns. Other early achievers, likely to disappoint from this point forward include: Darrell Jackson (WR), Amani Toomer (WR), Rex Grossman (QB) and Frank Gore (RB). Try to package players like these to acquire an early underachiever with good potential to improve, like Santana Moss (WR) or Hines Ward (WR).

These trades may be tough to work out depending on the willingness of other owners in your league to make trades, so that means the waiver wire is your best option for a lot of franchises. There are two ways to utilize the waiver wire: targeting players with good upside who could become weekly contributors and the more difficult option of playing week-by-week match-ups.

For long-term waiver solutions, backup RBs can be a great play. If your RB stable is thin, you might want to take a chance on getting this year’s Larry Johnson. Stock up on backup RBs on good teams. Johnson pushed many teams deep into the playoffs last year, and a few backs have a better-than-average chance of doing so again this year.

Ladell Betts, the second RB on the Redskins’ roster, is likely to continue getting play time even after Clinton Portis is fully recovered. Washington’s offense also looks better, so Betts should be a good bet.

Maurice Morris of Seattle has been good in limited action the last few years, and could be a star when Shaun Alexander falls victim to the dreaded “Madden Curse.”

Mike Anderson could also get a chance to help you out in Minnesota given his abilities and Minnesota’s strong offensive line. If you are going to try to play the week-to-week match-ups, you will have to be willing to work pretty hard. This means monitoring injuries closely on a daily basis. A team’s passing game can be greatly improved in this way. What follows is a list of teams and their third wide receivers who could potentially put up big games against some atrocious passing defenses.

- Week 4 – I like the Patriots’ Chad Jackson against a depleted Bengals secondary. The Cowboys’ Patrick Crayton could have a great game against the Titans, who were the only team to allow over passing touchdowns a game last year on average.

-Week 5 – Any WR with a pulse for the Colts could have a huge week against the previously mentioned Titans’ defense. I also like Randle El against a Giants defense that has given up a lot of points so far this season.

-Week 6 – Randle El could be a two-week addition for some teams, as he faces the Titans this week. David Kircus could be used in an extreme pinch when he could join in on a Broncos route of the Raiders.

Popularity: 10% [?]