The Sports Rumors

One For the Ages

There may be no other venue of entertainment in which we witness as many bittersweet moments, as many David vs. Goliath scenarios play out, or more outcomes filled with irony.  Most of us are familiar with the Godfather trilogy, or at least Godfather I and II.  In Godfather I, Michael Coreleone convinces his wife that he will never be like his father, the mob leader at that time.  By the end of the movie and into Godfather II, we see that Michael is not only just like his father, but gone beyond his father’s peak of power and arrogance.  The New England Patriots upset of the St.Louis Rams in the Super Bowl years back was one of the biggest upsets in championship history.  One of the key motivating tools that Coach Belichick used was the fact that the Rams had already planned their Super Bowl parade, days before the game even took place.  Fast forward a few years and it’s those same Patriots, the once underdogs with the “nobody gave us a chance” mentality, who planned a Super Bowl victory parade in downtown Boston days before the game.  It’s the Patriots who have trademarked the “19-0” term, before ever reaching their 19^th victory.  It’s the Patriots sportswriters who already began selling books about their perfect season on amazon.com, a full week before the players even took the field.  So it is clear that sometimes, everything you try not to be and the very things you looked down upon in the past, are the very things that you can one day become. 

The Giants may not go on to be a dominant team that wins two more Super Bowls like New England did after beating the Rams.  The Giants may very well not even make the playoffs next year for all we know.  But for one night, on the biggest stage of them all, the Giants were the best football team in the world.  They were more intense, more physical, and played with more passion.  They never let up on their intensity.  Even in the fourth quarter when the Patriots were putting together a long drive and Giants defenders were visibly gassed, substitutes kept coming in and keeping the fort together.  When the Giants defense gave up what seemed to be the back breaking touchdown with 2:42 left in the game, the team stuck together.  Michael Strahan didn’t go sit on the sideline to mope.  He immediately got infront of the offensive linemen and gave them a pep talk.  Who knows what was said?  Whatever it was, it worked.  Eli Manning didn’t hang his head knowing that he had the daunting task that only the likes of John Elway, Joe Montana, or oddly enough, Tom Brady could pull off.  He got ready for a drive; a drive that will live in Super Bowl infamy. 

Perhaps the most symbolic play of the Giants season and the game against the Patriots occurred on third down near midfield with less than 1:20 to play.  Eli Manning dropped back for a pass and was blitzed.  He stepped up into the pocket, only to find himself in the grasp of two Patriot linemen, with a third approaching to bring him down.  Anyone watching that game knew that he was about to be sacked for a loss.  Even the referee came running in, ready to blow his whistle.  Somehow, Eli escaped the clutch of 300 pounders and broke free.  He lobbed a pass down the middle of the field to David Tyree, who was surrounded by three Patriots.  Tyree caught the ball using his hand and his helmet, held on to it, and gave the Giants new life inside the 25 yard line with less than a minute to go.  Had to be one of the most spectacular catches I’ve ever seen.  Fittingly enough, the game winning touchdown pass came moments later to Plaxico Burress of all people, who took a lot of heat for guaranteeing a win. 

As a fan of the game, I don’t think I could have asked for a better Super Bowl.  Unlike so many other Super Bowls, this one had the feeling of a real playoff type of game.  You could feel the intensity and pressure through the television screen.  By the fourth quarter, I was cheering for the Giants so hard, I had forgotten that they are an arch rival of my Washington Redskins.  But that’s what I mean when I say that the game completely drew me in and there’s not much more you can ask for.  The only other time I saw a Super Bowl filled with this much anxiety and suspense was the Patriots upsetting the Rams. 

Ironic.

Random Thoughts

*Quote of the Night:  “18-1.  They can go trademark that!” – Osi Umenyora in reference to the Patriots trademarking “19-0”. 

*It was great to see Peyton cheering so hard for Eli.  Sibling rivalries are nice but it’s even better to see the bond between them in moments of triumph; as cheesy as that is. 

*A lot is being made about Belichick walking off the field with 1 second left.  I don’t think it was a big deal.  He had already met with Coughlin at midfield and that one second was put back on the clock after it initially said zero. 

*Here is where Belichick deserves to get railed on.  Up 7-3 in range for a 48 yard field goal, and he goes for it on 4^th and 13?  That makes absolutely no sense to me at all.  It would be one thing if the Patriots offense was clicking, but even then, it’s a stretch.  If you don’t have confidence in your kicker, punt it down inside the 15 and let your defense do their job because they had only given up 3 points up to that point.  Bizarre decision by Belichick. 

*Eli Manning got the MVP award but Justin Tuck deserves a mention.  He was a monster in the first half and continued to play at a high level in the second half. I believe he had six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the first half alone!  He was pivotal in the Giants winning that game. 

Favre vs Brady? Not So Fast

Unbelievable.  That’s the only word I can think of that accurately describes the Giants season, from start to finish.  I’m talking about when they were 0-2, down to the Redskins in game three with their season 30 minutes away from being finished.  They followed that up with a six game winning streak.  Then they began slumping towards the latter part of the season with everyone, including myself, saying that it’s the same old Giants who collapse in the final stretch of the season every year.  There was a point in the final two weeks where it looked as if the Giants could possibly miss the playoffs entirely.  Had they not beat Buffalo, it probably would have been the case.  However, they got through it and made the playoffs with a 10-6 mark.  The path to the Superbowl?  At Tampa Bay, at Dallas, at Green Bay. 

There is no one out there, including all the Giants fans, who thought that they could have won those three games when the playoffs started.  Nobody.  The Tampa Bay game was a 50/50.  I didn’t think it really mattered who won.  The Dallas game was one where I would have liked the Giants to win, but didn’t think it was all that likely.  The Green Bay game?  I gave the Giants no chance.  But here they are, winners of three straight road playoff games and on their way to the Super Bowl. 

Eli Manning hasn’t played at a level that is unforeseen, but he has played good enough to keep the Giants in every ball game.  He has stayed away from the mistakes that have cost him to be called out by any and everybody.  He’s not fumbling the ball, not throwing interceptions, he’s managing the clock, and he’s throwing the ball away when needed.  You can’t ask for much more at this point.  The Giants defense has played superb.  You take away that one 90 yard touchdown pass that Favre had and you can see that the Packers had a miserable game offensively.  They couldn’t run the ball.  They were inconsistent in their passing game.  Even the Giants special teams played decent.  Most of all, this team has confidence that is through the roof right now.  That’s dangerous. 

Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin have shut up the critics in New York, at least for the next two weeks.  As much as I hate the Giants, given they are an arch rival of my Redskins, it is a lot harder to route against them than I thought.  I guess it’s because America loves the underdog.  It’s hard to route against a team that was already officially a 14 point underdog in the Superbowl before they even got to thaw out their fingers.  Sometimes it’s nice to see a great story rather than a great team win a title.  The Giants are a great story. 

And oh by the way… Tiki Barber.  Eli Manning says what’s up. 

Coughlin Coaching for His Job?

Word out of New York is that Tom Coughlin’s noose is tighter than ever.  I know what you’re thinking.  Every single year, every head coach in New York faces the threat of being fired, but it rarely happens (See: Isiah Thomas).  However, I am really buying into this Coughlin rumor for a number of reasons.  Once again, the New York Giants have begun collapsing in the second half of the season.  They sit at 9-5, and face the very real possibility of ending up 9-7.  Even if they win one of their last two and hold the fifth seed of the playoffs, it would take more than just a wild card win to keep Coughlin in town.  Why?

There is a growing sentiment that Eli Manning hasn’t matured into the quarterback he was expected to because of Coughlin’s coaching style.  The playbook isn’t open enough to give Eli the freedom to make his own decisions and fully utilize talents like Plaxico Burress and Jeremey Shockey.

The team would be much more willing to part ways with Coughlin than to admit that they made the wrong choice in taking Eli.  The coming weeks will not only determine the Giants’ 2007 season, but quite possibly the direction of the organization for years to come.