Reality is Better than Fiction

Tonight's Colbert-ism: "If it was in my best interest to know the CIA was kidnapping people they would have told me. And then kidnapped me."


I saw a commercial today that took a real historic event and changed the outcome. The commercial was for a video game. I think it was "NCAA Football '08" by EA Sports, but that's not really important. The commercial changes the end result of last seasons' Fiesta Bowl when Oklahoma and Boise St. met and went to overtime. Here's how the commercial plays out the last play of the game (you can watch the actual spot by going here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBk80OIvcvk):

Boise naps the ball from the three yard line, going for the two point conversion. If they make it, they win. If they come up even an inch short they lose. It's that simple. Boise quarterback Jared Zabransky drops back and flings his throwing arm forward, faking a pass, causing the defense to freeze for a split second. The quarterback then reaches behind himself with his left arm and slyly hands the ball off to the running back Ian Johnson, never once even turning his head. Johnson cuts back left. He has a clear shot at the end zone when out of nowhere a linebacker from Oklahoma stands him up at the goal line. Game over. Oklahoma wins the game and the trophy. The crowd chants, "Boomer! Sooner!" (Quite possibly the second gayest chant in college next to Arkansas' "Pig Sooo-ey!") Anyway, the tag line at the end reads, "How does it feel?"

Here's what really happened:

Zabransky made the same pass fake and the same no-look hand-off to Johnson. Johnson DID cut back left except this time he went into the end zone untouched. Boise St. shocks Oklahoma with yet another trick play (I'll explain in a moment). David has beaten Goliath. But Johnson didn't stop running when he hit the end zone. After the scored the winning points of the best game of the year, century, and millennium he ran over to his hot cheerleader girlfriend and like the stud he is, proposed to her. On national television.

She said yes. How does that feel.

That play happened after Boise St. drove 78 yards in 62 seconds to tie the game. During that drive, Boise converted a 4th and 18 for a touchdown by running a hook and ladder play. THAT NEVER WORKS. I guess my point is that the reality of that situation is better than the fiction that can be created by any video game. And that's the case with most things in life. Except for Transformers. That movie is awesome. The end.

peace sign,
p