Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. Thanksgiving provides one of the few opportunities to spend time with loved ones and eat some of the most delicious food man can make. Such joy is rare. Days like today remind us how fortunate we are to be Americans and enjoy the freedoms that our Founders fought for and our generation works so hard to preserve. On a day that is truly American, it seems only fair that America's game captivates the homes of millions. But tonight's final game is unlike any other ever played in the history of the National Football League.
Like every year, my brother is town for Thanksgiving. He lives in Chicago and rarely gets the opportunity to come to the west coast. We cherish the few moments we spend together and try to avoid fights as much as possible. The same cannot be said for John and Jim Harbaugh, two brothers who will meet in one of the biggest regular season showdowns in the history of the league. John, head coach of the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens, and Jim, head coach of the 9-1 49ers, are making headlines for coaching the first game in NFL history in which brothers are opposing head coaches. The only thing bigger than the matchup of Harbaugh's is the matchup between their respective teams, as the Niners and Ravens come into the game as two of the top teams in the league.
The Ohio natives grew up not only best friends, but fierce rivals. John, the elder by only two years, was a standout player at defensive back but was always overshadowed by the younger Jim, a star quarterback. Jim matched John in intensity and competitiveness at every stage of his life and overshadowed him on the football field, earning a scholarship to the University of Michigan while John earned a scholarship to Miami University of Ohio. While Jim starred in Ann Arbor, John realized his playing days were numbered and turned his sights to coaching. After several assistant coaching jobs in the college ranks, John was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to be their Special Teams Coordinator in 1998. A decade later, the Baltimore Ravens hired him as head coach and he has returned the franchise to their winning ways. John's toughness and defensive prowess have fit perfectly in Baltimore's system and he looks to be the long-term solution to the once great franchise.
Jim Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl in his senior year and finished third in the Heisman voting. Jim was a first round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1987 but was unable to live up to first round expectations. He would play for the Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Ravens, Chargers, Lions, and Panthers in his 15 year NFL career. Jim was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" by fans after several come from behind playoff wins with the Colts but could never get to a Super Bowl. Jim has said that John's coaching success sparked his interest in the profession and many believe his competitiveness with his brother was the main reason he started coaching. After several assistant coaching gigs, Jim would become the head football coach at the University of San Diego in 2004. "Captain Comeback" turned around the Toreros' program and won back-to-back Pioneer League championships in 2005 and 2006. It didn't take long for major programs to take notice and Jim would take over the farm in Stanford in 2007. Once again, Jim re-energized a program and led the Cardinal to an Orange Bowl victory in the 2010.
After being hired by the 49ers this past spring, many wondered if Jim could extend his success to the pro game. The 49ers were coming off almost a decade of mediocre performances, draft busts, and an assembly line of quarterbacks, but had a core that many thought could win. Jim has led the Niners to an unbelievable start to the 2011 season and has turned around the career of almost-forgotten quarterback Alex Smith. John Harbaugh has been impressive on the other side of the country, as the Ravens are 7-3 and have beaten the tough Pittsburgh Steelers twice thus far in 2011. The Ravens have looked inconsistent at times and have faltered in games against inferior teams but, luckily for Harbaugh, the Ravens have done well against elite teams.
The 49ers will travel to Baltimore in a game both teams need the win to remain in the hunt for the top seed in each of their respective conferences. Although the game features many of the top players in the NFL, I expect more camera shots of the Harbaugh brothers' reactions to the game than of the players themselves.
The Harbaugh's stand out above the rest as two of the top men in the game of football. They are the good guys. They are classy. They are passionate. They are leaders. They exhibit everything that is right about the game of football. They have always cared about their players more than the final score. Although the players won't be with their families on this holiday, both John and Jim Harbaugh have created family atmospheres within their locker rooms and this closeness has directly translated to the field. At a time when child sex abuse scandals and various other coaching violations are all over the sports pages, the Harbaugh's are the shining lights in the coaching world. There is always hope for the good guys. Tonight, we are lucky enough to sit back with our families, enjoy football, and, in one of the rare moments in sports, root for the good guys.
My only problem with the game is that they have yet to establish a special overtime rule for these two teams. Instead of the normal overtime system I think these two coaches need a more fitting way to end tonight's contest. My proposal: John and Jim meet up at midfield and brawl it out until one surrenders or is unable to continue. As you know, it is Thanksgiving. Brothers fight.
PICK: 49ers
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