I cannot begin to express how happy and satisfied I am that the New York Giants won Super Bowl 42. Talk about a “Team of Destiny,” this past Sunday’s game was without a doubt the most exciting Super Bowl I have ever seen. The only other one that comes even close is when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 23.
I remember that one from my youth quite well. But the famous Montana scoring drive is nothing compared to Eli Manning’s phenomenal play and effort to get his team into the end zone in those final minutes. He and David Tyree will live in infamy. Eli’s “never say die” attitude and Tyree’s superglue grip are the stuff of legend.
Regarding that infamous play where Manning was scrambling to get away from the defenders, it was easy to see the hopes and efforts of an entire team and an entire season in one gallant feat of athleticism.
None of the team members ever gave up on that play; you could even sense the spirit of the players on the sideline willing them to greatness. Eli’s skills at eluding the pass rush were simply amazing. You sense the line closing in one him and almost feel the hands coming down on him, grabbing for his head, jersey, the ball, anything. And then being able to fine David Tyree 30 yards downfield was even more astounding.
The catch he made will be the source of highlight reels for many championships to come. Tyree actually caught it off his own helmet! I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching that one.
I was a little disappointed at the Patriots for some of their shady practices. They knew that time was a factor and made a point to waste the precious seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter by stripping at the ball after the plays were called dead by the referee. Their feeble attempts to win the game in a dishonest way backfired. It goes to show you that good can triumph over evil every now and again.
Their head coach leaving the field with time still on the clock does not surprise me in the least. Belichick strikes me as a man who does not handle loosing well. Needless to say, he’s no role model for sportsmanship.
I thought it only appropriate that several NY Giants in their post game press conferences told the media about the dirty play of the New England team. The winners’ having the last laugh seems very appropriate.
While we can talk about Manning to Tyree or Manning to Buress for ages, the real star of the NY program remains the defense and linebacker core. The G-Men dug in deep and gave the offense the opportunity to win that game. They played hungry, scrappy football all night long.
They pressured Brady throughout, sacking him more times than anyone had seen all season. It was obvious that the Golden Boy heartthrob had trouble establishing any lasting momentum in the pocket.
Surprisingly, Randy Moss never became a factor. I was surprised by how efficiently the defensive backs took him out of the game. Looks like Coughlin can write the book on how to beat Belichick.
The 18-1 Patriots certainly had a chance to extend their dynasty, but it looks like a new one will be created in New York instead. No doubt about it, we saw a game for the books. History was made with the Giants victory and I am just thrilled that I got to witness it as it happened.
Super Bowl XLII just happened to be the most widely viewed sports broadcast in history and the second-most watched TV show in history, (the last episode of M*A*S*H was number one).
The media seemed infatuated with crowning the Patriots the Super Bowl champions before the game was even played. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the sports writers and columnists turn on the one time legendary team now that their perfect season has come crashing down all over them.
With Moss being brought up on charges of beating a woman and with Belichick and his staff admitting guilt in the “Spy-Gate” scandal, I wouldn’t be surprised to see fines and suspensions handed down in the near future. Their brand of cheating will serve as an example to the league and I’m pleased that the bad guys did not win this time around.
The Giants proved that you can have flaws and still be victorious. A different kind of history was made once the play clock read double “0” and a new breed of champion was crowned.
The win is especially incredible for the Giants because Manning was getting ready to be benched by the fourth game of the season, and the Giants were already considering Coughlin’s firing.
Both player and coach went to work and Manning really honed his skills as a QB.
He came of age in the biggest game possible, on the grandest stage imaginable. Seeing greatness in people we had already counted out makes life worth living in my humble opinion.
Comebacks make a good angle for a news story, but when we can see the devotion and hard work finally pay off, than everyone’s faith is renewed. Eli Manning can now enter the ranks of the top signal callers playing today. He also came out from under his brother’s shadow.
The Mannings have shown their true love and devotion to the sport. I think that two brothers winning back to back Super Bowls and being named MVP’s is a far more prestigious record than a perfect season. It makes me happy to know two brothers can come so far and root each other on. I can only imagine how great their parents must feel.
The football season is officially over now. Being a Notre Dame fan and enduring their monumental fall this past season makes this Giants win a little sweeter. The fact that I am also a New Yorker and can’t stand the Red Sox makes the defeat of a Boston area team a little more enjoyable as well.
In a year when the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots were all expected to win Championships, it’s nice to know that team with genuine, hard-working players can defy the odds and give something for every underdog out there to aspire to. I only wish I could have made it back home to the Big Apple for the ticker tape parade.
Thanks are an order to the 2007-2008 New York Giants. They not only showed the world that a Goliath can be defeated, they also demonstrated what it means to never stop fighting, and to never give up. I am proud of this squad for not only defining smash-mouth football but also for bringing back a certain New York swagger that has been missing for a time. Great job guys.
