Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 time: (7:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) E-mail Mike at: hussonwgnu@aol.com

All right quiz show fans, your next category is notable duos. Let's begin. You have Abbott and Costello. You have Tracy and Hepburn. You have beer and pretzels. You have Mc Gwire and Sosa. You have Laurel and Hardy. You have Batman and Robin.

Now, you have the St. Louis Rams and the Super Bowl.

Somehow it just doesn't sound quite right.

Yet, right, wrong, or indifferent, it is true: the St. Louis Rams are heading to Atlanta to play in the big game with Roman Numerals. Yes, these are the same blue and gold heroes who prior to 1999 lost one less game in each of their previous four St. Louis seasons. Still, they will be on Ted Turner's turf aiming for the top prize of that rich and arrogant cartel, better known as the National Football League.

Is this a great country or what?

Historically here in St. Louis, the Super Bowl has been the benchmark for local sport fans to begin their countdown for the arrival of pitchers and catchers in Jupiter, Florida. January 2000 has proven to be an exception.

The Rams earned their trip to Dixie by playing just good enough to defeat the outstanding Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game at the Trans World Dome.

The Bucs game plan was superb: holding the NFL's top offense to only three points after three and one-half quarters. Still, in this apparent season of destiny, Kurt Warner found Ricky Proehl in the end zone for the first time this season and the only time in this game.

Tampa Bay's defense took early control of the Rams offense. They frustrated and at times intimidated our blue and gold heroes. Tony Dungey's troops came within five minutes of an upset trip to Georgia before Warner's touchdown pass.

Dick Vermeil warned us throughout the week that the Rams offense would be "conservative" against the Bucs. What he did not tell us was that his offense was playing the game not to lose it: rather than trying to win it.

But thanks to a staunch defensive stand and a very generous going away present from the referees, the Rams held off a late Tampa Bay surge for an 11-6 victory.

After the game, there were high-fives, low-fives, kisses and hugs (as well as silly trash talk) in the St. Louis locker room. Outside the Dome, the fans danced in the icy streets of the Gateway City as they looked for scalpers with those lucrative Super Bowl ducats.

Time to look ahead. The Tennessee Titans will be the Rams final opponents in 1999/2000. You may recall that St. Louis' first loss of the season was in week seven on Halloween Sunday in Music City.

Yet, optimism runs high in the Gateway City. After the NFC Championship game, callers on squawk radio reminded the listening audience that although the Titans did indeed defeat our heroes in week 7, "the Rams still could have won that game. Jeff Wlikins missed late field goal, remember?" " Now the game will be indoors on artificial surface. Those Titans can not keep up with the Rams speed, right?" "Tennessee will be missing two of their better players on the defensive side of the ball, you see?"

Have you ever heard the old expression that if you keep repeating something over and over, it must be true? Just because you say it, doesn't make it so. I remember hearing the locals justifying a Cardinal World Series championship in 1985 and 1987, also. The Red Birds are still trying to win Game Seven in each of those series.

A St. Louis/Tennessee Super Bowl match-up has the makings of a terrific football game.

The Titans are a very good football team that must not be taken lightly. Aside from the Rams, Tennessee has defeated Jacksonville three times, Washington and the Colts at Indianapolis. Jeff Fisher's team will not be intimidated by anyone. Quarterback Steve Mc Nair's scrambling ability provides a dimension that could give the Rams defense fits.

It should be quite a contest. The Rams better be prepared to play.

Hopefully the NFC Championship game will serve as a wake-up call to our Gateway City heroes not to underestimate any opponent. The quality of the opponent increases as the number of opponents decreases. One could make a good argument that the better team did not win in Sunday's NFC Championship at the Dome.

All last week we heard the local and national football geniuses predict that the NFC Championship game would be lopsided. We were told that the Bucs don't have enough players to score enough points, and that the Rams should be able to score at will. The talking heads insisted that the Rams/Minnesota game from the week before was the "real" NFC Championship game. Even the bookies got in the act: tabbing St. Louis a two touchdown favorite at kickoff time. Everyone believed this tale: except the Buccaneers.

The Rams need to dance with the date they brought to the ball. In other words, set that high-octane offense in motion and let it fly. More importantly, the Rams need to take control of this game early and force the Titans to play catch-up football. Especially, in a Super Bowl game, it is much more desirable to be the pursued than to be the pursuer.

Bob Gibson once said: "there are no losers in a World Series. One winner is simply bigger than the other". You can draw the same parallel with the Super Bowl.

Perhaps that's true. But while in "Cold-lanta", it would be nice if the Rams could win.

To the Rams team, enjoy your experience because you may never come this way again.

For the PSL Holders in particular, and St. Louis football fans in general, savor this week.

Who knows while in Atlanta, perhaps our local blue and gold heroes may perform several renditions of the bob and weave, which can be added to the quiz show list of notable duos.