I honestly did not care one way or another about the outcome of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but there was one glorious moment that made me glad I tuned in.
Mike Vanderjagt, wide right - waaaaay wide right.
Don't get mad at me for taking pleasure in another human being's failure, my distaste for Vanderjagt is legitimate and goes back a few years.
Let's flash back to the 2002 NFL season which, for the Colts, ended in a humiliating 41-0 loss to the New York Jets.
It was a regular season filled with highs and lows for Indy, but many more lows. Injuries, inconsistency and back-to-back-to-back losses to the Steelers, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans had Colts' fans booing in the RCA Dome.
Regardless, the team fought its way into the playoffs with a wild-card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars before ultimately losing handily to the Jets. But it was during the post season, right around Pro Bowl time when things really blew up in Indy.
While doing an interview on television in Canada, Vanderjagt made a few derogatory comments. He questioned Peyton Manning, saying the quarterback lacked emotion, while also implying coach Tony Dungy failed as a motivator.
Sports organizations are like families, and Vanderjagt publicly ragged on his more-successful big brother and wisdom-filled father. It's deplorable.
Instead of enjoying his third Pro Bowl selection, Manning had to defend himself against his kicker's cutting words and he did, calling Vanderjagt our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off.
Things settled down momentarily in Indy during the 2003 season, a stellar one you could say for Vanderjagt who went 37-for-37 in field goals and 46-for-46 on PATs. He was also perfect in the post season.
But, again, the kicker began talking trash - this time to the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2003 playoffs. He said the Patriots were ripe for the picking and not as good as the beginning of the season.
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison called him Vanderjerk in response while his teammate, linebacker Willie McGinest, zinged the Indy kicker with a bit more flair.
There's going to be a whole bunch of plays when (Vanderjagt's) not going to be out there. The rest of his guys will be
McGinest said in an interview.
Result: Patriots won 20-3. McGinest was right. It is hard to put actions behind words when you spend 99 percent of the game on the sidelines.
Let's return to the present and Indy's 21-18 loss to the Steelers this season.
As it started getting down to crunch time, the cameras turned their focus more and more towards Vanderjagt on the Indy sidelines, I found myself rediscovering my dislike for him. There he was, Mr. Vanderjerk himself, looking calm and cool on the sidelines in a backwards Indy hat, gold chain and diamond studs.
Finally, thanks to a fluke Jerome Bettis fumble on the two, a TD-saving, one-armed tackle by Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and 20 more yards through the air from emotional Manning, Vanderjagt got the call.
With 17 seconds remaining, Vanderjagt booted his 46-yard, game-tying field goal attempt wide right before slamming his helmet to the field and costing his team 15 yards - about the same distance his kick seemed to miss the right upright.
Defend Vanderjagt and call it nerves, I call it karma.
- Shugar is a junior journalism major and sports editor for The Post. Send him an e-mail at ms314803@ohiou.edu. 17
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Mark Shugar
