There was a lot of pre-emptive backlash on Sunday night when the Ravens advanced to the Super Bowl to play the 49ers. That backlash was against the perceived media narrative of the “Harbaugh Bowl.” Normally, I’m a big fan of cynicism and contrarianism. That doesn’t work for me here though. The Harbaugh brothers coaching against each other in the Super Bowl is a remarkable story. To have two siblings raise to the ranks of their profession to be the very best (of course, coaching in a Super Bowl doesn’t make you the very best, but work with me here) is rare in any profession. The Harbaugh brothers were the sons of a football man. I get that. But their father, Jack, wasn’t exactly a high profile NFL coach. He was a coach at noted college football powerhouses Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.

We’ve reached a point where it’s become very hard to embrace the good in sports. The Harbaugh Super Bowl is a great story, just like a Manning Super Bowl would be. There’s compelling drama in family members competing at the highest level against each other. People, I think, forget that the Harbaugh brothers are real people. They had a childhood. They grew up playing backyard football, driveway basketball, and living room go-fish. They fought.  They raced. They got along. They loved each other. Now, they have to compete against each other for the ultimate prize in their profession, while hundreds of millions of people, around the world, watch and scrutinize.

This is remarkable and it deserves every bit of coverage is gets.

For more on this, HBO’s Real Sports re-aired a two-year old interview this week with Jim and John Harbaugh. It’s great television and well-worth your cynical 20 minutes.

————-

For a number of reasons, the west coast is the best coast. This works  This certainly pertains to the NBA in 2012-13. In the East, the Miami Heat are the absolute cream of the crop. There’s absolutely no argument that can be made for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, or Brooklyn Nets being better than Miami, especially in a 7-game series.

Out West though, every night is a battle. The top 3 teams (Spurs, Thunder, and Clippers) are separated by a 1 ½ game. And that doesn’t include the Golden State Warriors, who beat the Thunder and Clippers earlier this week. Nor does it include the Memphis Grizzlies, a team so deep, they traded 4 players for Jon Leuer earlier this week. You’re forgiven if you have no idea who Jon Leuer is.

I would be very surprised if Miami didn’t make it to the NBA Finals. In the West, I have no confidence picking anyone. The Clippers could win the West. The Spurs could. The Thunder are probably the favorite. But don’t sleep on Memphis. Or Golden State. Or Denver. Or even the Lakers. I’m just kidding. Sleep on the Lakers. But don’t go to sleep until you stay up late to watch some of the great games out on the best coast.

———————–

In my 2012 NBA draft preview, I discussed, at length, my infatuation with point guards. You’re just not going to be a successful team without someone who can play the point. And don’t give me some nonsense about the Miami Heat. LeBron James is a point guard who just happens to be built like an NFL tight end.

We’re in a golden age right now for point guards in the NBA. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, and Tony Parker have been doing it for years. And Derrick Rose will soon rejoin his point guard family. Those guys get their ink though. I want to talk about the new wave.

I have been blown away by Kyrie Irving. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t think Irving would be able to score as well as he has because I didn’t view him as a good enough shooter. Irving is a good enough shooter. And he’s a pretty good at everything else. He runs the court at a blistering rate. Earlier this week, Irving dribbled 80 feet faster than Paul Pierce could backpedal 10. I was thrilled to see him make the All-Star game despite playing for one of the worst (but very much on the rise) teams in the NBA.

Joining Irving in the All-Star game is Jrue Holliday, another player I was very wrong about. In the absence of Andrew Bynum, and while battling injuries, Holliday has averaged 19/9, while shooting 45% from the field. He’s been the lone bright spot on a very disappointing Sixers squad.

There’s also likely NBA Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard. Oh, and Russell Westbrook. And Stephen Curry.

What I’m saying here is, next time you stop on a Cleveland Cavs or Portland Trail Blazers game, there’s a very good reason to put the remote down. The NBA is in good hands with the young crop running the point.

—————————

I’ll end on football.

I’ve already made very apparent my adoration for Colin Kaepernick and the myriad ways in which he can dominate a game. I do not think the Super Bowl will be any different.

Sure, there’s probably some of that magic narrative dust on Baltimore’s side with Ray Lewis retiring. But magic dust can only go so far when you’re playing a team that is firing on all cylinders. The 49ers are the most complete team in the NFL and I expect them to show that next Sunday in NOLA. 49ers win by 9.