I was actually pulling for the Giants and Patriots [to make it to tomorrow’s big game], respectively. Because my fallback allegiance [after my team Philadelphia didn’t even make the playoffs] is now with the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. And I would like nothing more than to see the Patriots get some measure of payback for the way the Giants ruined their chance at NFL immortality by defeating them in Super Bowl XLII (in 2008), ending their pursuit of the elusive perfect season.
(“NFL Championship Sunday,” The iPINIONS Journal, January 26, 2012)
Frankly, I don’t like the Disneyesque spectacle Super Bowl Sunday has become. And do we really need the five-hour build up; especially given that a mere half hour on any given Sunday is usually more than enough?
As for the game, it did not get off to a very auspicious start for my Patriots when Brady absent-mindedly gave up a two-point safety on their first possession.And this, after the Giants demonstrated that they would have no difficulty moving the ball. In fact, halfway through the first quarter they had already amassed over 100 yards on 19 plays; meanwhile, the Patriots had 0 yards on only one play. Even more foreboding, the score was 9-0.
In other words, I was beginning to despair for the Patriots. Then came the longest drive to the end zone in Super Bowl history when they marched 96 yards in 14 plays in just over two minutes to go into halftime leading the Giants 10-9.
This was all the suspense I needed to stay tuned. Especially since the prospect of watching a heavily botoxed Madonna perform her old songs held about as much suspense as the prospect of watching the overhyped commercials that had already been “previewed” ad nauseam over the past two weeks.
I suppose this latter point reflects the need in this twitter age not just for instant but for prequel gratification. Which it begs the question. What is the point of shelling out $3.5 million to air those same commercials again during the game if everyone has already seen them a thousand times?
The notable exception was the commercial, It’s Halftime America, on the revival of Detroit featuring Clint Eastwood. Admittedly, my enjoyment had much to do with the fact that this was the most admired and respected Republican celebrity effectively singing hosannas to President Obama for saving the auto industry and telling the American people that it’s only halftime on this road to recovery … so stay the course. Obama could not have said it better himself; particularly given that Clint intoned his words with biblical authority that would make Charlton Heston as Moses seem like, well, a charlatan.
Not surprisingly, this commercial sent Romney’s campaign strategists into apoplectic fits – not least because they know he’s going to be dead meat when Obama’s campaign strategists begin juxtaposing Clint’s words about the resurrection of Detroit with Romney’s infamous pronouncement that Detroit should be left to die….
I have to admit, however, that where all of the other commercials turned out to be every bit as overplayed as predicted, Madonna’s performance was a delightful surprise. Granted, she had some technical (mic) issues, but these only proved she was singing live … Elton.
There’s no denying that when it comes to stage presence and performance, this old broad puts to shame today’s young chicks who can’t even lip-synch, let alone sing live and dance … in synch.But the time has come for Madonna to stop trying to perform gymnastic moves on stage and save them instead for the bedroom….
Anyway, back to the game:
After the Patriots took the opening possession of the second half 76 yards for a touchdown to go up 17-9, my spirits began to soar…. But back came the Giants with two equally impressive drives. My frazzled nerves were only spared by the fact that they were forced to settle for field goals each time, such that at the end of the third quarter the Patriots were still ahead by a nail-biting margin of 17-15.
Then it was déjà vu all over again when Manningham made what had to have been the best and most-critical catch in NFL history: it put the Giants within game-winning, field-goal range with just 3:39 to play.
All they had to do was milk the clock. But when the Patriots defense fell apart they ended up rushing in for a relatively quick touchdown.
This inadvertently set up the tantalizing prospect of watching Brady exact perfect revenge by leading his team to a game-winning touchdown to snatch victory away from the Giants – just as Manning did in the waning seconds of Super Bowl XLII (in 2008) to snatch victory away from the Patriots.
Alas, it was not to be. The Giants held them off – as Brady’s Hail Mary from beyond the 50-yard line with no time left was not answered. (This is why I only ever put my abundant pride on the line when I wager on sporting events: Patriots over Giants 38-17? What was I thinking/smoking? Well, at least I got one of the scores right.)
I just wonder why, given that catch alone, it was Manning not Manningham who won the MVP award….
On the other hand, am I the only one who finds the dynamic playing out in NFL football between the Manning brothers just as intriguing as that which is playing out in Grand Slam tennis between the Williams sisters – with the younger sibling in each case dominating the rivalry between them? Eli now has two Super Bowl rings, big brother Peyton just one. And it must have been bittersweet for Peyton to watch Eli get his second last night in the Indianapolis stadium he built.
But their parents must be awfully proud; especially Daddy Archie – himself a former NFL quarterback who never even made it to the Super Bowl but has now enjoyed the elusive thrill of that victory three times through his sons.
In any case, this had to have been the most exciting game in Super Bowl history. And it won’t surprise me to learn that it was the most-watched too.
Congratulations NY!!! (Enjoy the parade.)
NOTE: The only thing I can say in the Patriots’ defense is that Brady’s wife Giselle is probably as much a curse on them as Tony Romo’s girlfriend Jessica was on him and the Cowboys. Do the right thing Brady….
Related commentaries:
Patriots over Giants 38-17
* This commentary was originally published last night (Sunday) at 10:39
UPDATE
Giselle’s potty-mouth pout (February 6, 10:14 am)
Many of you have written to say that it was mean and unfair for me to not just ridicule Giselle for asking people to pray for her husband, but also insinuate that he should get rid of her.
But nothing demonstrates how wise and prescient my ridicule was in both respects quite like reports that she was overheard saying the following in a damning rebuke of Brady’s teammates after the Patriots’ loss last night:
My husband cannot fucking throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.
(New York Post, February 6, 2012)
What a class act, eh? And please bear in mind that it was her husband who got the Patriots off to a lousy start by giving the Giants that careless, two-point safety. More to the point, though, when you add to this my-man-can-do-no-wrong attitude the fact that the wives and girlfriends of the other players all probably hate (i.e., envy) this skinny, rich, supermodel bitch, it becomes clear that the chances of this team ever reestablishing the esprit de corps necessary to win the Super Bowl is now nil to none.
Therefore, I repeat: do the right thing Brady!