The New York Giants are on top of the football world after a stunning 17-14 upset of the, up until early yesterday evening, undefeated New England Patriots. For the first time in a long time the Super Bowl lived up to its lofty name.
What a phenomenal performance by the Giants. Some serious proppage has to be given to Eli Manning and the New York defense. What a comeback. What a game. What an upset.
And to think, It wasn't supposed to be this way. The Giants were supposed to be but the final footnote in the perfect season of the New England Patriots. Books had already been written about the Patriots and their perfect season. Well, the G-Men had other plans.
I had a feeling it was going to be close game. The Giants gave the Patriots a run for their money in week 17 of the regular season, and New York was feeling good about themselves after a marvellous run to simply make it to the biggest stage the NFL has to offer.
I didn't, however, think that the game was going to be this good. Although it was a defensive struggle, it was a game for the ages. It had it all. Great performances by both quarterbacks, inspiring defense, and big, big plays.
None bigger than Eli Manning's 32-yard toss to David Tyree, with the Giants trailing 14-10 with just over a minute left on the clock in the fourth quarter. On a third-and-five play, Manning was somehow able to avoid the sack, even though it looked like he was only a moment away from being brought down. Four Patriots were all over him, but they couldn't bring him to his knees. Manning somehow scrambled out of the pocket, got his head up, and chucked the ball, along with a prayer, down field. Into the hands of wide receiver Tyree the ball went, and somehow, someway, Tyree was able to hold on. It was an unbelievable catch; an unbelievable play to cap off an unbelievable football game. It kept the Giants drive, and their title aspirations, alive as well. After the game, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin called Tyree's catch one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. I don't think I can argue with him.
What a game-winning drive orchestrated by the young and unflappable - and Super Bowl MVP - Eli Manning. He looked confident out there. Like it was any other game. Who would have thought Peyton's younger brother would be winning the Super Bowl, and the MVP award, only a year after his older brother did the same? What a story. Archie Manning created a couple of special quarterbacks.
An 83-yard drive to lead your team to the title with just over two minutes to go in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl against the heavy favourites Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. No Hollywood writer can script it any better than that, folks.
For some reason, I like Eli Manning. I like him a lot more than Peyton. Maybe it's because he was able to reach the NFL's pinnacle while playing in the shadow of his brother, and in the toughest market in pro sports. Maybe it's because he's been vilified by the New York media for so long, and had his character questioned time and time again. Maybe it's because it took the younger Manning only four years to get to the top, compared to nine years for Peyton. Maybe it's because even his former teammate - Tiki Barber - dissed Eli after he retired (how you like him now, Tiki?). Maybe it's because Peyton is so damn country it pisses me off. There's a lot of reasons why I like little Eli and after tonight's performance, there's even more.
Speaking of Peyton Manning, it was cool to see him so pumped up watching the game from a luxury suite. I'm not sure if he was so into the game because baby bro was playing in it, or because of his hatred for Tom Brady, his nemesis and sworn enemy. Either way, Peyton's got to be a happy camper today because Brady wasn't able to add number four to his Super Bowl ring collection. And he can thank baby bro for that. And by thank I mean buy him a car, or a house. Something millionaire-ish.
What makes New York's win even more incredible is that the Giants were said to have no business even being in the Super Bowl. There were calls for coach Coughlin to be dismissed only a few weeks into the season, along with calls for Eli Manning to grab some pine on the bench. The Giants were given no respect all year, but all they did was go out and play. They made the playoffs as a wildcard seed, and went on to defeat the first, second, and fourth seeds in the NFC, all while playing as the road team. They went into Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay, and came out victorious. If you know anything about football, you know that Dallas and Green Bay are two of the toughest teams to beat in their own backyard. For the Giants, their improbable victory last night was their 11th straight on the road. They had no business being in the Super Bowl? Rubbish. They had every damn right to be in the big game, and were more than deserving of the honour of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Eli Manning isn't the only member of the Giants who is deserving of some love right today. How about good old Michael Strahan? Or Strah-dog, as I like to call him. He got his ring. Finally. Back in September, Strahan was rumoured to be joining Tiki Barber on the sidelines this season. He held out of training camp while debating whether or not to return for his 15th season in the NFL. Hey Strahan, good call on coming back.
Strahan and Amani Toomer were the only current members of the New York Giants who were on the team that got spanked 34-7 by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2001 Super Bowl, and both Toomer and Strahan were huge last night. Toomer had six catches for 84 yards to lead the Giants, while Strahan was a menace on defense - the catalyst of one intense pass rush - finishing with three tackles, one sack and two quarterback knockdowns. I'm mad happy for Strah-dog right now. I hope he retires. Ain't nothing like going out on top.
Speaking of a chase for a Super Bowl ring, it's hard not to feel for Junior Seau today. I'm not sure you can get any closer to a championship than Seau did last night. On a team with an 18-0 record, and only two minutes and change away from that elusive title. Yet for Seau it wasn't to be. Now that's a heart-breaker if there ever was one. All the Patriots - especially Tom Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison - wanted nothing more than to get Seau a ring, but they couldn't get the job done. My close friends will understand this one: seau, Junior Seau.
In the what-I-thought-to-be-physically-impossible category, I also feel a little bit for Tom Brady right now. I thought it wasn't possible to feel for a guy who only wins Super Bowl's and dates and impregnates beautiful women, but I guess I was wrong. It turns out "Mr. Perfect" Tom Brady isn't so perfect after all. He is a mere mortal; a man actually capable of losing a Super Bowl game in which his team trails during the fourth quarter.
I must admit, though, that Brady battled last night. He showed a lot of grit and character. Nothing came easy for him last night, but when the Patriots were down in the fourth quarter and needed him to rise to the occasion, he did just that. He worked his standard fourth quarter magic. He marched the Pats down field and hit Randy Moss with a touchdown with only a couple of minutes left on the clock. Brady did his job. He left the fate of the game in the hands of his defense. They were unable to hold the lead he gave them.
Before I leave you, Wes Welker is also deserving of some serious butt-slappage after his performance last night. I think Randy Moss being traded to New England was the best thing that could have ever happened to Welker's career. While the defense was busy focusing on Moss and Dante Stalworth, Welker was running wild all over the field, as he did all season. Welker caught 11 passes for 103 yards and had the Patriots been able to hold on and win it all, he most surely would have been awarded the MVP award.
I've got to admit that it would have been special to watch the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl last night and complete a 19-0 perfect season. It would have been nice to be witness to history. The New England Patriots were ever so close; only two minutes and change from going down as the best team in NFL history. Talks of a dynasty, and of Brady being the best quarterback of all-time, would have begun in earnest today had the Patriots celebrated victory yesterday in Arizona.
At the same time, I always love a good underdog (who doesn't?), and the New York Giants were certainly up to the task yesterday. And, honestly, it's about time a team from Boston lost already. When it comes to pro sports, that city is out of control right now.
Congratulations to the New York Giants and all their fans. All in all, a super Super Bowl.
February 04, 2008
A Super "Super Bowl"
January 22, 2007
Patriots and Colts - One For The Ages...
Wah-Wah-Wee-Wah, what a football game.
The Colts are going to the Super Bowl. They defeated the Patriots 38-34 Sunday night, in one of the best football games I have ever seen.
Tom Brady is human, after all.
Manning is a loser, no more. Like Ace Ventura Pet Detective, he has "exorcised the demons".
What a game. I've seen a lot of football games in my day. I watched the Bills lose four straight Super Bowls. I watched John Elway and the Broncos win their titles, and Brett Favre and the Packers win their titles. But tonight was a classic. I know it's been said a thousand times before, but it really was One For The Ages. Brady and Manning, round three, and Manning finally came out on top.
The Colts came from behind and won after being down 18 points. No team has ever come back from such a deficit in a championship game. From the start it seemed that Brady and the Patriots would better Manning and the Colts again - this time in Indianapolis, in a dome, where the weather didn't matter. But Manning wouldn't let it happen. He was amazing in the second half and no one can say that Manning and the Colts don't deserve to be going to the big dance.
Manning deserves all the credit in the world. He refused to quit; he refused to let his team and his fans down once more. I don't know if it's possible to change your legacy in one game, but if it is, Manning did it tonight.
Brady and the Patriots were on tonight - they were solid. They played classic New England football, but the Colts were better. The second half was phenomenal and once the Colts tied the game at 21 a piece, it was a see-saw battle. The two teams went at each other drive for drive, score for score. In the end, Manning drove his team down the field 80 yards to seal the victory with a minute left on the clock.
At that point, I still thought Brady had one more comeback in him. I figured if anyone could do it, it was Brady. He's freakin' SuperMan. And he almost did it. But tonight was Peyton and the Colts' turn. It was their destiny to go to the Super Bowl. A very Brady interception with 24 seconds left sealed the game for Indy, and they deserved it, straight up.
It was just a great battle. An epic battle. Yeah, I'm trying to be dramatic as possible here. But if you missed the game, the highlights won't do it justice.
The camera shots of Manning on the sidelines when New England got the ball back, down 38-34, with a minute left, were amazing. He just couldn't even look at the field. He didn't have the heart to do it. Those shots were really provocative. Manning admitted after the game that he said a prayer. That's what you've got to do against Tom Brady and the Pats - pray. For all of us Leafs fans out there, we know exactly what that's all about.
Coming into this game, Bill Belichick was 8-0 in playoff games decided by seven points or less. What a statistic. You can say a team gets lucky only so many times - that it's luck that a team wins the close games. But you can only say it a couple of times. Belichick and the Pats always won the close games, and that's what made them so amazing. Their run finally came to an end tonight though, and the Colts were deserving of their fate.
The Super Bowl will be the Colts vs DA BEARS in Miami, and it should be a great game. I think the Colts will walk out of Florida as Super Bowl Champions, but only time will tell. For Manning and the Colts to lose to the Bears would just be a shame. Tonight was practically their Super Bowl. They beat the team they so badly wanted to beat. Now, they've just got to win one more game, to complete their magical season.
As a newly bred Patriots fan, and a lifelong fan of the underdog, it sucked to watch the Pats lose this game. But Manning and the Colts have paid their dues. They deserved to win. In order to become a champion, a team and its players have to learn how to lose. The Colts know all about losing the big game. But no longer can they be labelled chokers, because today they won the big game. The choking label belongs to teams and players that deserve it - like Daniel Alfredsson and the Ottawa Senators - and Manning and the Colts shook that label off tonight, in emphatic fashion.
It should be a great Super Bowl. The Bears stingy defense, led by warrior Brian Urlacher, up against Manning and the Colts, and their high-flying offense. Get the nachos and brews ready, because it's going to a be a barn-burner.
A big shout out to Peyton Manning - loser no more.
Goodnight Toronto...
January 17, 2007
Welcome Back
I don't know who the hell that was playing goal for the Leafs tonight, but it sure as hell couldn't have been Andrew Raycroft. He was amazing tonight! Stoning Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis left and right all game, and they're not exactly the easiest guys to stop.
Certainly a standard Maple Leafs win. Coming off a pathetic performance at home against the Canucks, in which Raycroft probably had his worst game of the season - that one goal he let in, which bounced off his glove after his pathetic attempt to catch it, was really sad - and playing a Tampa Bay Lightning team that had won five in a row.
Yep, of course the Leafs would win this game. And win it they did. 4-2 final, with Steen potting the winner. And Raycroft was the number one star. Hard facts to believe eh? I know, tell me about it. Steen scoring game winning goals - assisted by Stajan to boot - and Raycroft turning away two of the hottest shooters in the league. Classic Leafs hockey, baby. When you least expect it, they turn in a solid performance.
Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky returned to the lineup tonight. And I guess the good version of Andrew Raycroft also returned to the lineup tonight. Welcome back, boys. See what happens when you get good goaltending? The penalty kill actually kills off penalties, and the team wins the game! The penalty kill has been atrocious recently and like Joe Bowen always says, the goaltender is the most important penalty killer of all. So as Raycroft goes, so goes the PK. And since Raycroft sucks 85% of the time, so does the penalty kill. Yes, it's true, you really do learn something new every day.
On a side note, Antropov and Poni were outstanding in their return to game action. Both finished with a goal and an assist and played solid all around games, especially Antropov. Poni potted the empty netter, and that's fine by me. He just needs 9 more!
Sorry, I'm having a hard time focusing. Just can't believe how well Raycroft played tonight. It's kind of infuriating, because you see that he does have some talent, it just seems to come out only once every 15 games. The Leafs are so terribly inconsistent, and for some reason they play much better on the road. They keep their game simple on the road, and it's paying dividends. I'm not sure why they stink at home, it may be that they're just trying too hard. They definitely need to get better at the ACC if they want to make the playoffs.
But the immediate future has a lot of road games in store, so hopefully they can continue their success away from home. Another big game is on deck Thursday night in Miami. The Panthers embarrassed the Leafs last time these two teams met, so hopefully the Leafs remember it and return the favour. And Raycroft better play just as well as he did tonight, otherwise Aubin needs to see some ice. One good game by Raycroft should not, by any means, solidify him as the Leafs' number one goaltender.
Enough about Raycroft. Shout outs to John Pohl and Bates Battaglia tonight. Pohl's goal to tie the game up wit six seconds left in the 2nd period was huge. It gave the Leafs life and they played a determined third period, and held the Bolts to only two shots in the final stanza.
Oh yeah, funny thing about the winning goal. If you see the replay, Stajan totally fanned on his wrist shot attempt, and the puck just rolled onto Denis, who was in position to stop an actual shot, not Stajan's putt for the hole. The puck hit Denis' pad, went right back to Stajan and he fed Steen for the game winner. For once, Stajan's ineptness paid off. Well done Matty.
On another note, I spoke to a friend of mine, Karn, who lives in Boston. He read the post about the Patriots - yes, people actually read this blog sometimes - and was telling me what an intense football fan he has become.
He said the anticipation is building for the big game this weekend.
Now my friend is a Torontonian at heart, but has been studying in Boston for the past four years. He mentioned how it's cool to live in a city where the sports teams actually win sometimes.
I found that rather poetic.
Clearly he forgot about the Toronto Argonauts and the Toronto Rock.
I guess he meant the sports teams that actually matter.
Yeah, it must be nice.
Goodnight, Toronto...
January 14, 2007
Brady's Bunch...
Tom Brady has done it again.
The New England Patriots are on their way to another AFC Championship Game after they knocked off the #1 ranked San Diego Chargers.
I was talking to a buddy before this game, and we both agreed that if anybody could beat the Chargers in this game, it was Tom Brady and his Patriots.
The Chargers are led by super-human running back Ladanian Tomlinson, this season's MVP, and up-start quarterback Philip Rivers. San Diego didn't lose a game at home all year - they were 8-0.
Only one man could take his team on the road to one of the tougher stadiums to play in, and beat the "team to beat" in their own building, against the MVP. That man is Tom Brady.
Tomlinson still had a great game. He's a touchdown machine, and he still got two of them, and ran for over 120 yards, but it wasn't enough to break the unflappable Tom Brady.
I wish I was Tom Brady. He's like the Don of football in the 21st century. He just wins. He's got the game, the confidence, and the looks. He's got it all. If I could be any athlete on the planet, it would be a tough call between Brady and Derek Jeter.
New England continues to lose key players every off season - this year it was Dieon Branch - but they just keep winning, against all odds.
Brady didn't even have his best game today. He threw for two touchdowns but in very un-Brady-like fashion he also threw three interceptions. But when the clock ran out, it was his Patriots who were up 24-21, and once again marching towards another Super Bowl.
It's going to be another classic Brady-Manning encounter next week when the Pats and Colts meet in the AFC Championship, and I can't wait. No one can say anything about Peyton Manning's abilities and what he has done with the Indianapolis Colts, but Tom Brady just gets the job done, with surgeon-type precision.
Right now, Brady's a winner, and Manning is a loser. Those are the legacies, as I see it, of two of the finest QB's of the 21st century.
I've never really been a "fan" of Brady and the Patriots. Unfortunately, my allegiance lyes with the pathetic Buffalo Bills. But I respect Tom Brady and how he finds a way to win. And that's kind of making me a Patriots fan, as disturbing as that is to me. It's easy to hate on a winner, but the way Tom Brady goes about his business, it's hard to hate him.
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Anyways, speaking of losers, how about Andrew Raycroft and the performance he put in on Hockey Day in Canada?
What a stinker.
The Leafs outshot the visiting Vancouver Canucks 36-21 and came out losers 6 to 1. Absolutely ridiculous.
Raycroft is a sorry excuse for a number one goaltender, and he knows it too. He makes me sick.
The boo-birds were out in full force last night, and deservedly so. Granted, five of the six goals were scored on the power play, but three of them went right through Razor's legs, and those are saves he just has to make.
Andrew, listen up. Close your god damn legs and put your glove higher. Jesus freakin Christ!
Supposedly Sundin was really upset about the fans booing Raycroft and even swore during his post-game interview, saying how Raycroft has played really well for the team so far this season.
Mats, I know it's your job as the Captain to support your teammates, and you do a great job of it, but saying he's played really well this season? Give me a freakin' break man. Even Raycroft knows you're lying.
The Leafs, with their penchant to take the most ridiculous penalties, and their sub-par goaltending, are going absolutely nowhere. I keep thinking they'll turn it around the next game, but there isn't a magical switch they can just turn on and off in order to win some hockey games. They're just not good enough.
Tucker, Poni and Antropov are slated to return this week, which means the inevitable trip back to the minors for some of the Marlies who were called up from the farm.
Ondrus, Devereaux and Newbury should be suiting up for the Marlies, if it were up to me. Their service has been appreciated, and they stepped in admirably, but the Leafs need some healthy NHL-calibre forwards.
It's tough to send Devereaux back to the farm after he's played so well since getting called up, but I just don't see any other options. There's always the dream that Stajan will be sent down, or altogether released, but I know that's not going to happen.
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The Raptors lost a heartbreaker today to the Dallas Mavericks, 97-96, on a last second shot by Josh Howard. It was a game the Raptors led most of the way, and led handily. The Mavericks proved what a good team they are and showed the Raptors that they have a lot to learn before they can become an elite team in the NBA.
For a young team like Toronto, losses like these are good ones. To quote the great MC, Talib Kweli:
"Even when we suffer losses I count the victories."
Today was one of those games. The Mavs showed that no matter how many points you're down by, you keep battling and you keep playing defense and you keep hustling. The game is 48 minutes long, and it's never over till the last second has run out.
The Mavs are also blessed in that they've got MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki on their team. He's an amazing player. He took the Mavericks on his back all day, and hit some really difficult shots. He can put the ball on the floor and dominate inside and can light it up from three-point land as well. He really is the total package, and he plays hard, with passion and fire. He loves to get dirty on the boards and he's got an amazing fade-away jumper that is one of the best in the league.
Dirk's the real deal, and that's why it's so encouraging to know that people are already comparing my main man Andrea Bargnani's game to his. Bargnani's got the tools to become just like Disco Dirk, and that's music to my ears.
Hopefully the young Raptors, like Chris Bosh and Bargnani, were taking notes out there today. They have to learn be play like Nowitzki and always be aggressive, and to never give up.
Yes, it was a tough loss for the Raps, in a game they probably feel like they deserved to win, but it's losses like these that build a champion, and as long as the Raptors are headed in the right direction, I'm not concerned.
Bryan Colangelo, you're a rudey, keep up the good work.
Goodnight, Toronto...
