SPORTS & MORE

Super Ending For Super Bowl Lvii

Police Chief Sean Brandenburg named Tyler Getchel Officer of the Year for 2022 during the department’s recent annual awards ceremony at the Grand Key Resort. Getchel started with the Key West Police Department in October 2018.

“During his time with the department, he has earned a reputation as an individual who never says no,” said Brandenburg, noting that Getchel has served on road patrol and in the marine unit.

“In a year when our resources have been stretched, Officer Getchel’s willingness to take on the lion’s share of work has been invaluable to the department,” Brandenburg said. “He offers to take on extra days and assists outside agencies. He works to train his fellow officers to ensure that the duties of protecting our port are up to federal standards.”

Keys Federal Credit Union sponsored the award and presented Getchel with a check for $500.

“Officer Getchel conducts himself every day with enthusiasm, passion, pride and compassion,” the chief said.

— Contributed

MORROW

t halftime of Sunday’s Super Bowl, my friend, Jerry, asked me what I thought of the game. I said I thought it was rather boring. At that point, we had two quarterbacks getting ready to collapse, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes from his bad ankle and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts from his sore shoulder.

If I had written my column at that point, I would have praised the people at Fox who put together the pregame program that seemed to go on for hours (and did). It was entirely enjoyable, however.

In the second half, both QBs seem to find some energy reserves that would have carried either team to victory.

But in the end it was Kansas City that got the boost for the win.

Rihanna probably got the energy boost, too. I’m not a fan of hers, but, already pregnant with another child, she put on quite a show, performing high above the crowd, mostly on platforms that put her in the stratosphere. Most people, including the 20 or so watching with me, seemed to enjoy it. I thought the hype overwhelmed the performance.

Meanwhile, back to one of the best of the 57 Super Bowls in history. Early in the fourth quarter, Kansas City took a 35-27 lead. But with 5:15 left, Philadelphia caught up with a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Getting the ball back, the Chiefs were having difficulty moving it back down the field, needing only a field goal and the elimination of time.

AThey got part of the first when Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was caught holding. It put the ball easily within field-goal distance and allowed Kansas City time to play around with the ball as the clock counted down.

Finally, with eight seconds left, Kansas City lined up in field goal position with Harrison Butker in the kicker position. With an estimated 100 million people watching worldwide and holding their breath, Butker kicked it straight through the uprights.

As the noise of celebration settled down, Bradberry was asked if he had really committed holding in the end zone in the final minutes. The Eagle defensive back admitted he had, hoping the official wouldn’t see it. The player easily could have said he didn’t. His coach and his teammates were just as honorable, praising the Chiefs as the better team.

The commentators went even further, wondering whether coach Andy Reid, quarterback Mahomes, and tight end Travis Kelce were the best of all time.

Maybe they hadn’t watched Bill Belichick. There was a period when it seemed he was coaching the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl every year with quarterback Tom Brady, who then collected another Super Bowl ring with his next team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Regardless, though, the ending of Super Bowl LVII was nothing short of super.

Tracy and Sean McDonald

The Scoreboard

This Week In Keys Sports

Senior, Key West Soccer

Key West’s soccer squad has made most of its wins this year in undeniable fashion, outscoing opponents 63-24 throughout the season. But when the Conchs won an at-large bid in the playoffs against top teams in the state, they knew their typical high-scoring victories would be unlikely.

“Karel’s contribution in the playoff run was crucial. He came up clutch in the PK shootout vs. MAST and kept us in the game with numerous big saves vs. Gulliver.”

That’s where senior Karel Bublak came in. In multiple sudden-death scenarios with the season on the line, Bublak made valiant saves to keep the Conchs alive in the FHSAA District 4A tournament, most notably against MAST Academy. When the game went unresolved in double overtime, triggering a shootout, Bublak toed the line in goal and made the saves that sent Key West into the next round and ended the season for their opponent.

The Key West keeper puts in the work and leads by example. “Karel guides the defense into their proper positions,” said Key West coach Marc Pierre. “He also encourages his teammates to keep working hard.” For his leadership on the pitch and amazing saves in the net, Karel Bublak is this week’s Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.